Lassen sat comfortably in his leather armchair, feet propped up on the desk, his gaze relaxed and self-assured. The police director entered the room, his expression stoic and guarded.

    "Ah, you''re finally here," Lassen greeted without moving an inch. "Tell me, have you tried my latest masterpiece?"

    The director raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

    "Masterpiece? I don''t have time for distractions like that," he replied seriously.

    Lassen burst into laughter, leaning forward slightly to observe him more closely.

    "No time, huh? What a boring life. Lucky for you, I''ve got something that''s going to change your perspective. Sit down."

    The director hesitated, arms crossed, his skepticism plain on his face.

    "Is this one of your surprises again? I didn''t come here to play games."

    Lassen smirked, waving a sleek VR headset toward him.

    "Exactly. It''s not just a game. Sit down and try it. Trust me for once."

    The director stared at the device, the futuristic design catching his eye.

    "And what''s this supposed to be?"

    "The future. Go on, put it on. You''ll thank me later."

    The director sighed heavily but took the headset. Resigned to play along, he placed it on his head. As soon as the lenses settled over his eyes, the world around him dissolved.

    ---

    Suddenly, the director found himself standing in the middle of a breathtakingly realistic virtual world. A quaint, idyllic village stretched before him: cobblestone streets, wooden houses, and vast fields of greenery shimmering under the sun. The wind rustled the leaves in the trees; it felt almost real.

    The director leaned back, observing Lassen carefully.

    "I can''t promise anything. But I''ll see what I can do."

    Lassen nodded, clearly satisfied.

    "That''s all I''m asking. Oh, and do yourself a favor—try my game sometime. You''ll like it."

    The director let out a faint sigh, rising from his seat.

    "I didn''t say I''d play it. But... thank you for the demonstration."

    Lassen leaned back in his chair, hands folded behind his head.

    "Adrian will see you out. And don''t take too long to think about this."

    The director glanced one last time at the VR headset before leaving, his thoughts racing.

    ---

    As he stepped into the sleek car waiting for him, Adrian silently opened the door, watching the director''s contemplative expression.

    "Back to your office, sir?" Adrian asked politely.

    The director nodded, still lost in thought.

    If we could get our hands on this technology...

    He glanced out the window as the car pulled away, the weight of what he''d just witnessed sinking in.

    Lassen''s invention wasn''t just a game. It was a door to something much, much bigger.