Chapter 2: Silicon Eden

MacroStrategy's headquarters pierced the Taipei skyline, a monument to corporate power in an age of quantum supremacy. As Wen Moon stepped onto the 418th floor, the entire city-state of New Taiwan sprawled beneath her feet, a glittering testament to technological progress and economic disparity.


Fiona Fang stood before a holographic display of global markets, each pulsing line representing billions in wealth. "Dr. Moon," she greeted, "welcome to the top of the world."


Moon cut straight to the chase. "You wanted to discuss the God Protocol. Why?"


Fang's laugh was like breaking glass. "Because, Dr. Moon, anything that can reshape reality is our business. And your creation? It's a game-changer."


With a gesture, Fang brought up a new simulation—a more advanced version of Moon's own work. "Our models show fascinating results. Chaotic in the short term, yes, but with potential for a new kind of stability. A true meritocracy, unshackled by inherited privilege or systemic bias."


Moon leaned in, scientific curiosity overriding caution. "You've achieved longer-term stability than I have," she observed. "How?"


"Resources, Dr. Moon. Quantum computing power beyond your wildest dreams. AI systems that can model human behavior down to the individual neuron. And data—more data than any entity in history has ever possessed."


The implications were staggering. With such tools, the God Protocol could be refined, perfected. It could actually work. But at what cost?


"What exactly are you offering?" Moon asked, her mouth suddenly dry.


Fang's smile was triumphant. "Everything. A blank check for R&D. A dream team of the world's best minds. And when it's ready, a global launch backed by the full might of MacroStrategy and New Taiwan's technological dominance."


It was everything Moon had ever dreamed of. A chance to change the world, to fix the broken systems that had haunted her since childhood. To create true economic justice on a global scale.


But a nagging doubt tugged at her mind. "Why?" she pressed. "Why would MacroStrategy want to upend a system it has mastered so thoroughly?"


Fang's expression turned grave. "Because the current system is unsustainable, Dr. Moon. We're heading for a collapse that will make previous crises look like mere hiccups. Your protocol could be the reset button the world needs."


Moon stood, walking to the window to gaze at the city below. The gleaming towers masked deep inequalities she knew all too well. Could she really pass up this chance to fix it all? Or was she just trading one master for another?


She turned back to Fang. "When do we start?"


And just like that, the die was cast. Wen Moon, would-be savior of the global economy, took her first step down a path that would either lead to utopia or tear the world apart.