The 3 Gods. Angel, Elvis and The Magic Mirror

By Irwan Hartanto

In the year 2032, China won the race for quantum computing which led to a new era in human history and remarkable leaps in technological advancement. Quantum computing opened doors that were previously unknown and launched mankind headlong into an advanced society. Suddenly, old tech giants folded and gave way to new super companies which offered mankind solutions to age-old problems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312696310

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The 3 Gods. Angel, Elvis and The Magic Mirror.

The 3 Gods: Angel, Elvis and The Magic Mirror. 1st Edition Copyright © 2022 Irwan Hartanto All rights reserved. ISBN: 9781312696310

Table of Contents

PART 1:

Chapter 1: Trial and Tribulation

Chapter 2: Loose Canon

Chapter 3: We Hear Your Prayers

Chapter 4: Misquoted and Misdirected

Chapter 5: Making It Work

Chapter 6: Whisperer

PART 2:

Chapter 7: ELVIS - Inspection

Chapter 8: Innovation

Chapter 9: The King Has Entered The Building

Chapter 10: Death Toll

Chapter 11: Backlash

Chapter 12: No False God

PART 3:

Chapter 13: The Divorce

Chapter 14: Inner Beauty

Chapter 15: Road To Success

Chapter 16: Cult Following

Chapter 17: Distorted Reality

Chapter 18; Self-Worth

Chapter 19: Broken Mirror

PART 1, Chapter 1: Trial and Tribulation

Ian's POV:

When the China National People Congress convened in 2038, only one topic captured the public's interest. The trial of Ian Wong, the founder of AngelE. Reporters lined the streets outside the massive congress hall, and thousands of protestors took to the streets.

Ban the false god! One side chanted, and the protestors held up signs proclaiming anti-tech slogans.

Call off the witch hunt! On the other side, hundreds defended the genius who revolutionized technology and medicine.

The longer the trial dragged on, the more frantic the protestors became, and police were forced to form a barricade in the middle of the street. Dozens of uniformed officers were outfitted in tactical gear and watched the protestors with grim expressions. While the police were armed with tear gas and batons, they were still outnumbered ten to one. If the protest turned ugly, it was improbable that the police could contain the violence.

Anger spilled out of every protest, and the air was tense. Inside the court, things were pretty much the same. The man in question, Ian Wong, sat in a booth facing congress. He was doing his best to keep his expression neutral, but the truth was that he was bored.

The chanting from outside grew louder, but it all sounded like garbled nonsense to his ears. He wished that the protestors would just go home already.  

There were 6,167 suicides in March of this year alone, Liu Wei, a member of congress who was famously anti-tech, said. Her lip curled in disgust as she spoke, and Ian distinctly sensed that she hated him personally. And 5,297 suicides were committed by AngelE users. That's a staggering 86%!

Ian fought the urge to roll his eyes. He knew exactly what the percentage was. After all, Ian had been doing that kind of math in his head since he was a toddler. Instead, he adopted a worried expression and bowed his head modestly. The media consultant, which cost him more than his lawyer, had told him to always look severe and concerned.

Your Excellencies, he said smoothly as if it was an honor to merely be in the same room as the politicians, as we all know, there is no evidence suggesting that these users killed themselves because of their Angel devices. This is circumstantial evidence.

Ian thought that he sounded persuasive enough. He glanced back at where his CTO, Sastra Halim, was sitting. Sastra was his right-hand woman and was the most brutally honest person Ian knew. Her dark eyes flashed when he looked at her, and she nodded slightly. Good job.

Are you suggesting that this is all just one big coincidence? Liu Wei asked, her beady eyes narrowing angrily.

He sensed that she was trying to lead him into a trap, but he wouldn't allow her to make a fool of him. Ian knew what was at stake. One wrong move could cost him his life's work. While he was bored with the theatrics of the trial, he wasn't ignorant of what was at stake.

No, I wouldn't go so far as to say that, Ian said with a slight frown, I only meant to point out that mental health is a delicate field to navigate. No case is alike, and sometimes those who suffer from mental health issues feel that suicide is the only way out. Angel devices are making incredible leaps toward curing mental health. That is why physicians are prescribing Angel devices to their patients. But, unfortunately, Angel devices can only help. They are not a cure. Nevertheless, most Angel device patients are thrilled with the product.

Liu Wei leaned back in her chair, and Ian felt a flicker of hope.

However, as a matter of good faith and goodwill, he continued quickly, we have altered how Angel communicates with users - we have prepared to operate Angel differently. I am asking congress to allow us to present our case for the good of the people.

Ian surveyed the faces seated in the congress panel. Few friendly expressions met his gaze, and he felt himself come alive at the daunting task he faced. They were not going to ban AngelE after everything he and his company had done for the medical field. No, this was a show for the public. He had a chance to win over the general population. He could silence all the doubters if they saw how much he cared about their welfare. However, if he failed, his company would become entangled in legal red tape that would slow his innovation by years. So he had to convince congress to leave him alone.

You can have the floor, Liu Wei said in a way that let Ian know that she would rather not have him speak at all. Mr. Ian Wong is given fifteen minutes to answer, she added for the benefit of the onlookers. Ian stood up and buttoned his cashmere, silk, and wool suit jacket. It had been tailored specifically for the event and cost more than an average house's annual income. He walked up to the podium and squared his shoulders before surveying the congress panel again.

Thank you, Congresswoman Wei, he said, respectfully inclining his head.

He had fifteen minutes to determine the future of his company. He only needed five.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to me, your excellencies, he said somberly. He knew that flattery was the best route to take with most politicians. As he spoke, he saw some of the congressmen nod their heads at him. Others, such as Liu Wei, remained unmoved. That was fine. He only needed to convince the majority, not all of them.

The circumstantial evidence clearly cannot link the death of 5,297 people to Angel, which was designed to help people's emotional well-being. The devices translate the brain wavelengths from the amygdala in terms of emotions. Angel understands when users are sad, angry, scared, or happy. It also observes the user's behavior when those emotions surface. Angel's task is to help people avoid making mistakes or accidents. The Angel device helps keep the user's thoughts happy. In the past, users would have to visit psychologists to retrain their thoughts. Or they would have to experiment with expensive pills with terrible side effects. Now, they can have an Angel installed. The Angel works to train the brain to avoid triggers and keep from going down self-destructive paths. As soon as the Angel picks up a deficiency of vitamins, it alerts the user so that they can take steps to fix it.

Ian paused and took a sip of water, allowing his words to sink in.

It also helps people by improving their physical well-being, directing eating patterns that can improve metabolism, nutrition, calorie intake, and overall health. Our success rate increased from 60% to 85%. This is a real data measure by a reputable third party, XPOM Datametrics.

He was satisfied when Liu Wei noted his words discreetly.

However, he said grimly, causing Liu Wei to look up at him critically, users will always be in control. They have the final say about how their thoughts are trained or how they see themselves. The Angel can only take them so far. No matter how hard the Angel tries to help the user do the right thing, the user is ultimately responsible for their actions- not Angel. Otherwise, the Angel would have been a mind control device, which it certainly is not.

More nods. Congress was listening to him. Ian felt his spirits lift, and he reminded himself not to get overconfident. The race wasn't over yet.

Some people feel that it's too confusing for users to distinguish their inner voice from Angel's guidance. We at AngelE Incorporated are always looking for ways to serve our patients better, he said, knowing his words would be in every news report in a few minutes, and so we have downgraded Angel's capabilities it will use more conventional communication methods. As a result, there will be no more confusion between a user's thoughts and Angel's retraining methods.

Liu Wei frowned and began making more notes, but it seemed that she was becoming part of the minority. His words had the desired effect, and he felt a flash of satisfaction as he proved his hypothesis. People wanted AngelE around. They were just afraid of something so advanced. They needed to think that they were in control.  

Instead of talking to the user's brain, Ian continued, we have altered Angel to talk using a skin-thin electronic membrane which will create an outer voice, the Whisperer - that can deliver verbal information through the bones behind the ears. This new communication conduit will remove all the confusion and give a distinctive difference between the user's thoughts and Angel's voice.

Ian didn't have to turn around to know that Sastra would be pleased. Their strategy had been simple. First, he reminded people of the inferior methods they had used before Angel devices, then gave them the illusion of control, and now it was time for the final part of his strategy.

It would be socially irresponsible to ban Angel altogether, he said boldly, Angel has helped millions of people who suffer from physical diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney failures, heart attack, and various cancers - as well as emotional mishaps such as loneliness and depression - those are undeniable facts, not mere circumstantial figures.

Liu Wei looked up at him furiously, and he met her glare directly.

AngelE, Inc also employed three hundred thousand people in China and five hundred thousand people across the globe, he said, speaking to Liu Wei as if they were the only people in the room. Last year alone - around the globe, more than 200,000 patients were cured of various cancers. We now can cure twelve known different cancers and save millions. Financially, we contributed 12 billion dollars to build schools and hospitals in underprivileged areas. We are here to help and improve people's lives physically and mentally. Thank you for your excellencies, and I hope we can continue to do good for the people".

Ian returned to his seat, knowing he had achieved his goal. However, his last and arguably most crucial strategy was highlighting AngelE's importance in the global community.

Congresswoman Liu Wei wasn’t happy. Her face showed her apparent disgust, and her lips were trembling. Ian knew she had been ready to crush Angel for good, but his company was worth 5 trillion dollars. Trying to take them down because of 5 297 suicides, which couldn't be definitively blamed on Angel devices, would always be a long shot. Besides, many politicians benefited from the money AngelE funneled into China's Communist Party. She had lost, but Ian knew that she wouldn't lose with grace. So he braced himself as she opened her mouth.

"Mr. Wong, Angel's influence on the users may not be visible,