The Genius System-Chapter 69: The stream begin

The room where everything was about to unfold looked like the perfect blend of a professional streaming studio and a minimalist space straight out of a futuristic film. The walls, painted in neutral tones, were softly illuminated by discreet LEDs, giving the place a refined yet ultramodern ambiance. At the center of the room stood a wide glass table with brushed steel legs, holding equipment that would make any tech enthusiast’s heart race.

A towering PC, encased in a matte black chassis with subtle neon accents, emitted a soft glow that seemed to pulse in rhythm with the room’s tranquil atmosphere. Three strategically placed monitors provided comprehensive views of the game, the stream’s chat, and technical configurations. Nearby, several high-quality cameras were mounted on articulated arms, ready to capture every detail of the action from multiple angles.

But what caught Ethan’s attention the most was the gaming chair facing the main monitor. It was a striking black model trimmed with gold accents, boasting a design that was both elegant and intimidating. It seemed almost too perfect, as if it had been crafted specifically for this moment.

Ethan lowered himself into the chair slowly, his palms slightly damp. Although he was used to streaming, his nervousness continued to build. This wasn’t an ordinary stream, and he knew it. Across the table sat Mr. X. Just that thought alone was enough to send his heart racing.

On the other side, Lassen appeared to be the complete opposite of Ethan. Sitting comfortably, he adjusted a headset with a casual motion, a faint, amused smile on his lips. His natural calm made the atmosphere both soothing and unsettling. To him, this seemed like just another day, an ordinary meeting.

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

In a corner of the room, Adrian and Alex were also present, standing back but observing. Adrian, arms crossed, watched the scene with an impassive expression, ready to step in if necessary. Alex, meanwhile, was distractedly scrolling through a tablet, though his gaze frequently drifted toward Lassen and Ethan, curious about how this improbable collaboration would unfold.

Breaking the silence, Lassen glanced at Ethan, his eyes glinting with quiet mischief "So, are you ready?" he asked, his relaxed tone cutting through the palpable tension surrounding Ethan.

Ethan let out a nervous laugh, trying to mask his stress "Ready? That’s an understatement. I feel like I’m about to explode! Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, you’re… you!"

Lassen shrugged, his sly smile widening slightly "You’re the pro streamer, not me. I’m just here to have fun. But if you mess up, I’ll make sure to mention it in my autobiography."

Ethan burst out laughing despite himself, surprised by Lassen’s disarming humor. That subtle touch of irony was enough to ease some of the tension knotting his stomach.

"Okay, okay" Ethan said, taking a deep breath as he tried to compose himself "If you promise not to be too hard on me, I’m ready."

"Don’t worry" Lassen replied, adjusting his glasses "I’m more of a spectator than a participant. I’ll let you shine, Carter. But keep in mind, I’m watching with a critical eye."

Ethan shook his head, smiling as he finally began to feel his nerves settle. This stream was going to be unforgettable,not just for him but for the thousands of viewers eagerly awaiting this unlikely duo to take the stage.

He took a deep breath, his fingers trembling slightly on the mouse. He knew this moment would be unforgettable, but that didn’t stop a wave of apprehension from washing over him. Adjusting his mic nervously, he pressed the "Go Live" button.

Instantly, notifications flooded his screen. His chat interface turned into an avalanche of messages as viewers rushed to join the long-awaited event. The view count climbed at an astonishing speed,hundreds, then thousands, and finally tens of thousands of viewers connected in under a minute. Messages flew by so quickly they were almost unreadable, but a few stood out due to their persistence:

"Is it true? Is Mr. X really going to appear?"

"Ethan, stop making us wait!"

"If this is a joke, I’m uninstalling Eternal Realm."

Ethan swallowed hard and adjusted his posture. He needed to stay composed "Hey everyone!" he began, with a burst of energy that only slightly betrayed his excitement. "Welcome to a stream... let’s just say, a very, very special one. I know you all have a ton of questions. But before I answer them, let me introduce my guest..."

He turned his chair slightly to reveal Lassen. In stark contrast to Ethan’s exuberance, Lassen appeared perfectly composed, as if this situation were entirely routine for him. Arms crossed, a subtle smile played on his lips as he leaned slightly toward the camera.

"Hello" he said simply, his calm and steady voice resonating through the viewers’ headphones.

The effect was instantaneous. The chat exploded.

"IT’S HIM!"

"No way, is that really Mr. X?"

"Why is he so calm? I’d be shaking in his place!"

"MR. X ON STREAM?! This is insane!"

Ethan, keeping an eye on the screen, couldn’t help but let out a nervous laugh. The speed at which comments were flying far exceeded what he was used to managing. He tried to catch a few messages before raising his voice to be heard over the chaos.

"Yeah, it’s really him!" he announced, a wide grin stretching across his face "I know it’s crazy, but yes, you’re not dreaming. We’re about to have an incredible time together. So, fire away with your questions, and let me just say,I’m not responsible if you lose your minds."

Lassen, watching the chat with evident amusement, raised an eyebrow "Already absolving yourself of responsibility?" he asked, his tone laced with dry humor. "Not bad. You might want to consider a career in politics. They love moves like that."

Ethan burst out laughing, relaxing a bit in the face of Lassen’s impassive humor "Trust me, I’d rather stay in my gaming chair. Politics isn’t for me."

Lassen nodded, an enigmatic smile lingering on his face "Probably a wiser choice. After all, you already make people suffer in your own way, don’t you? Why change a winning formula?"

This comment sparked another torrent of laughter in the chat, with some viewers claiming that Lassen was as formidable as his creations.

"He’s even more sarcastic than I imagined."

"Ethan finally met someone who can actually shut him up."

"If he criticizes my builds, I’m uninstalling Eternal Realm, just so you know."

Ethan laughed along, waving his hands to calm his audience, though his smile betrayed his own amusement "Alright, everyone, take a deep breath. We’re here to have fun, okay? Get your questions ready, and promise me you won’t harass Mr. X too much. Otherwise, he might never come back."

Lassen crossed one leg over the other, casually resting a hand on the armrest "Oh, don’t worry about that. I can handle far worse. Go ahead, ask your questions. But be creative, because if you ask me how many hours I sleep at night or what I eat for breakfast, I’m leaving the stream."

The chat was inundated with questions at lightning speed, turning the screen into a relentless flood of messages. Ethan tried his best to read some of them, but many were either too fast or too absurd to follow. Eventually, he picked a few that stood out for their boldness or humor.

"Let’s see..." he said, squinting at the screen to decipher a comment "Ah, here’s a good one: ’Mr. X, how much time do you spend playing your own games?’"

Lassen stretched lazily, draping an arm over the back of his chair "Good question. But the answer might disappoint you: not as much as I’d like. I rarely play for fun. Usually, it’s to test features, identify bugs, or observe how the mechanics hold up. Basically, I’m the worst kind of player—the one who ruins the illusion."

The chat exploded:

"That’s sad, but fair."

"The guy plays for work. Respect."

"So, who’s the real boss of Eternal Realm?"

Ethan burst out laughing as he read another comment aloud: "’Are you really an alien?’"

Lassen raised an eyebrow, a sly smile lighting up his face "Ah, that one comes up a lot. So, to answer: I can neither confirm nor deny that rumor. But if I were an alien, trust me, I’d have done a lot more than just design a video game. Let’s just say the mystery remains."

The chat went wild, flooded with wild theories and jokes about aliens.

"He’s not denying it, so it must be true!"

"Eternal Realm = Area 51 confirmed."

"Mr. X, king of the little green men."

Ethan, still laughing, quickly moved on to another question: "’Can you confirm that the hidden zone in Eternal Realm is inspired by a parallel dimension?’"

Lassen leaned forward slightly, his expression taking on a mock-serious tone "Ah, the infamous hidden zone. Let me just say this: every great game needs its mysteries. But whether it’s inspired by a parallel dimension or just my caffeine-fueled imagination... well, I’ll let you decide."

The chat erupted once more:

"That’s not a no!"

"Confirmed: Lassen drinks coffee and sees into other dimensions."

"I’m spending all night in the hidden zone now. Thanks a lot, Mr. X!"

Ethan grinned as he glanced at Lassen "You really know how to keep people guessing, huh?"

Lassen shrugged nonchalantly "It’s not about keeping them guessing. It’s about giving them something to dream about. A good mystery is the best way to keep people coming back."

Ethan nodded, impressed "Well, mission accomplished. You’ve got everyone hooked." He turned back to the chat "Alright, folks, keep the questions coming! Let’s see how far we can push the man of mystery tonight."