Chapter 336: The Verdict
"The voting will now commence," Dr. Zimmermann announced, his voice carrying the weight of historical moment. "Each delegation will proceed to the secure voting chamber individually to ensure complete privacy and prevent any external influence on the decision-making process."
I watched as delegates began filing out of the main conference room, each moving toward what would arguably be the most consequential vote of their political careers. The secure voting chamber was a separate room designed specifically for moments like this. It was soundproof, electronically shielded, and monitored to ensure that no one could coerce or influence another’s decision.
As the room gradually emptied, I remained seated, projecting an image of calm confidence while internally fighting the growing weakness that threatened to overwhelm me. Without the System’s support, my body felt foreign, diminished. It was like trying to operate a machine with half its components suddenly removed.
Finally, the last delegate disappeared into the voting chamber, leaving me alone with Evelyn and Anthony. The moment the door closed behind them, my carefully maintained facade crumbled.
My legs gave out entirely. I would have collapsed to the floor if Anthony hadn’t moved with lightning reflexes to catch me, his spy training evident in the smooth way he supported my suddenly deadweight form.
"What the hell—" Anthony started, his voice sharp with alarm and confusion. "Boss, what’s happening to you?"
I tried to speak but found my voice weaker than expected. "Full Profession Sync," I managed to get out. "Twelve hours... no System connection."
Evelyn was immediately at my other side, her blindfolded face turned toward me with the kind of understanding that only came from shared experience. "It’s like when we were trapped on the island," she said quietly, her voice carrying a note of sympathy.
"The exact same cause too," I confirmed, allowing them to help me to my feet. Standing felt like learning to walk again. My muscle mass had noticeably decreased. Not dramatically, but enough that my clothes felt looser, my body lighter in all the wrong ways. It was the disorienting experience of switching bodies and having to get used to an entirely different physical form.
Anthony looked between us with the sharp concern of someone realizing he’d missed crucial information. "Island? You mean the one you were trapped on with the girls? And what do you mean ’exact same cause’?"
"Long story," I said, taking a careful step forward and finding my balance shakier than I’d like. "The important thing is that despite how much I disagree with current perceptions about how to utilize the System, I have to admit I wouldn’t be able to function properly without it."
It was a humbling realization. Here I was, having just delivered a speech about moving beyond System dependence, and I could barely stand without its support. The irony wasn’t lost on me, but it also didn’t invalidate my arguments. The System could be a tool for enhancement without becoming a crutch for validation.