An obelisk as tall as the eye can see, reaching limitless heights, protruding from the center of the city.
Dubbed “THE NEW TOWER OF BABEL”, the obelisk shaped space elevator is the united government’s effort of creating a unified database on neutral ground.
Here is where all the new comers go to register to get their permit, designation, and finally, their access clearance to the knowledge stored inside the tower.
Everyone starts out as equal, having commoner level clearance, yet also the ability to raise their clearance through various merits.
Like everyone else, I came here to access the tower, to explore the myriad truths inside, to enlighten myself, and ultimately to gain transcendence.
Achieving that goal is possible if one were to gain the highest level clearance in the city.
To be honest, the crystalline structure of the tower is breath taking.
Even so, I need to focus on the task at hand.
I’m not here to sight see after all.
The entrance to the tower itself looks like a normal glass door, but the security posted nearby makes even the pentagon feel shame.
The security checks are brief yet thorough, making full use of the latest technology available so as to prevent discomfort.
Afterwards the newcomers were shown where to register by one of the security.
The registration wing is located to the right side of the main hall where they hold security checks.
As I enter the registration wing of the tower, there are several lines leading to registration booths.
After lining up, it is finally my turn to register.
The lady at the registration booth greets with a smile.
“Hello, are you here for registration?”
“Ah, yes I’m here to register for the permit and everything else that comes with it.”
“Please wait a moment, could you tell me your name as well as your test number”
“Test number 011709701, RASHID AL-HADHRAMI at your service”
She then checked my name and number on her computer.
After confirming my identity, she prepared my permit, as well as the device containing the personal designation which will also function as my clearance for me.
“Here you go, thank you and have a nice day”
Quickly taking my leave, I head back towards the main hall.
For some reason the guards left me alone now, must be because of the fact that I’m a registered personnel now.
Checking the device they gave me, it turns out that I’m designated as “PRAETER-117” with the epithet –those who live beyond the realms- attached to it.
The designation and the epithet, it is the result of the questionnaire we filled before entering the city.
It consist of a single Latin word that describes our goal, our reason for entering the tower, followed by a number that is significant to us, as well as an epithet that further describes the goal.
The access level I have is a common one.
The hierarchy goes:
Commoner 10^1
Contributor 10^2
Officer 10^3
Enforcer 10^4
Faction leader 10^5
Arbiter 10^6
Administrator 10^7
For a total of 7 levels, with each level being an exponent for 10 to the power of level.
This signifies the minimum required contribution points.
Registering earns you 10 points which of course will instantly make you have a commoner level access.
Moving on, now I need to check the place they gave to me to live in.
The location is in the same district as the tower, only a few blocks away.
On that topic, the district is called the METAPHILOSOPHICAL district.
As the center of PHILOSOPHIA, it is the home of the obelisk signifying human arrogance, as well as the space elevator that contains myriad truth.
Although the main feature of the district is the tower, there are also other facilities such as the shopping area, schools, and other accommodations.
The residential area where the apartments are located is one of the accommodations.
Located a few blocks to the west of the tower, the elegant crystalline spires of the apartment blocks could be seen.
The apartment itself is a clean white twenty-five story building, and my room is on the 17th floor.
Room 1707 will be my base as I live here.
I opened the door and check the inside, the suite is actually already furnished.
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Although it is called a room, it feels more like a suite of a fancy hotel.
Consisting of a master bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, a restroom (not including the one inside the master bedroom), and it even has a laundry room close to the balcony.
I go to the master bedroom to unpack, put my clothes away, and rearrange the furniture to my liking.
Satisfied with the changes, I went ahead and rearranged the living room as well.
Next is to check the kitchen, like the rest of the suite, it comes fully furnished; the problem is that the pantry is not yet stocked.
Guess I’ll spend the rest of the day grocery shopping.
The device that was given along with the permit and the clearance is useful in a situation like this.
Not only does it work as an access card, it basically has the same function as a Smartphone.
I can either use it to directly order grocery to be delivered to my suite, or i can just use it to browse for the nearest supermarket and do the shopping the old fashioned way.
Since I just moved here, I might as well do the grocery myself while scouting the neighborhood.
The shopping area is just across the residential area
Consistent with the district’s theme, the architecture consists of white crystalline buildings.
Even the traditional shops are futuristic and sleek.
The greenery is also well taken care of.
And there is even a park in the center called the market plaza.
Certain events are usually held here, and even when unused, the park is nice place to relax after visiting the surrounding shops.
The scenery is like a futuristic Elysium.
But that is not all.
There is even an underground mall beneath the market plaza
Everything from electronics to groceries could be found down here
As expected of the united government, they poured a lot of funding into PHILOSOPHIA.
For now I will just shop at the underground supermarket for convenience.
There I bought enough grocery for a month; I even got ice cream for myself.
Heading home while enjoying ice cream and the afternoon breeze, it really is blissful.
When I got back to the apartment, I put away the grocery, and head into my room.
It’s time to start planning how to increase my clearance level.
To increase one’s clearance, one needs to contribute to the city.
Contribution can come in many forms, such as doing useful research for the city, doing missions for the city, or even doing your job diligently in the city.
Different things earn contributions differently.
Doing something for the city on a large scale will of course earn more than doing small scale stuff.
Of course, large scale contributions are either high risk, time consuming, rare opportunities, and even all that and more.
Because I am in no hurry to raise my access level, I will just do missions that i can do for now.
Focusing on building relationships with the surrounding people will be better in the long run.
Who knows, maybe I could even befriend someone influential.
Missions could be accessed from the device as well.
Acceptance and completion will be automatically recorded.
Physical rewards will be sent to your home for convenience, while things like contribution points will be automatically be received on the device.
I check the device for the list of missions, one stood out from all the rest.
The mission reads:
ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE FROM EACH DISTRICT.
EACH PERSON MUST HAVE DIFFERENT SPECIALIZATION.
REWARD: 750 CONTRIBUTION POINTS, FOUNDATION FOR AN ORGANIZATION.
That amount is 75% of what is needed to achieve officer level.
This mission will be a good short term goal for now.
Because it is already in line with my current goal, I accepted it knowing there is no time limit.
But that does not stop me from taking other missions.
Might as well take missions that require me to go to other districts too.
This way I can get companions for the 1st mission.
Well, time to rest.
Hopefully nothing goes wrong tomorrow.