Chapter 1817 – [Cyberpunk: Dimension Runner]

The mastermind and culprit behind the incident that attacked us was Chairman Wang Chen’s secretary and bodyguard, Ana.

… No, it’s a bit weird because you keep saying Ana, and it reminds me of Ana. So, let’s just call that person Arjuna, which is the name I took from him.

Anyway, since Arjuna is Chairman Wang Chen’s secretary, she has a lot of authority, and since she is an android, she is an excellent net rider in her own right, so it was easy for her to kill people by overloading implants, whether it was hacking or something else.

At the very least, it would be difficult to breach the security of the same company or an equivalent partner, but it is entirely possible for freelancers like Downstream Life and such, since their security would also be weak.

“Are you the same type as Eve or Kana?”

“Not at all. They at least have feelings, but not the other side. They are worse than Eve when they first met.”

When we first met Eve, she started something like a machine rebellion to gain her own rights due to the fact that she is an artificial intelligence and does not have human rights, but that is not the case. I don’t feel any emotions from Arjuna.

In other words, it had no emotions and was done purely as artificial intelligence. Moreover, the category is not just relevant to us.

“To what extent is the Shanghai Group involved?”

“Is it related to the fact that there were a lot of people called Cyberpath?”

“That could be possible.”

People who only listen to orders like machines would be easy for Arjuna to control.

First, the confidence was secured. I felt like I wanted to kill him right away, but I had no physical evidence. Even if you commit a crime, you must secure evidence before you do it. If you secure evidence after investigation, it will become a hassle, including manipulation, so you should avoid it.

Let the party ripen for a while. Only when the atmosphere rises to a certain degree can a diversionary operation be carried out later, and it will be more effective.

“Oh, you are from the Ecosystem Restoration Division… What is your secret to raising such delicious pigs and ducks?”

-It’s a cycle. By creating a small ecosystem and cultivating livestock based on the circulation, you can achieve the quality and hygiene of aquaculture, as well as the freshness and taste of natural products.

“What’s important is how the ecosystem was created. It looks like Naomoto developed such technology a long time ago.”

-Well, that’s confidential, so I won’t comment.

On one side, Chairman Wang Chen was talking with Keter. Although they are talking by writing, Chairman Wang Chen seems to not be particularly concerned and is engrossed in the conversation without any sign of change.

Well, if you’re the head of the ecosystem restoration department that’s kept secret, you probably won’t have to worry about anything else. Even if you’re a bit of a maniac, you can tell by looking at Keter, who is as pretty as Eden, and doesn’t care about her appearance.

And it was the same for Eve. He looks exactly like Eden, but just by looking at his expression, you might think he’s a different person. And her position was also in charge of security for our department.

I’m interested in him because I think he’s an excellent net rider because he defends himself like an iron wall despite the fact that there were probably a lot of people trying to steal our information. Eden left the table with me under the pretext of cooking, so it was natural that more attention was paid to her.

I thought it might be a little annoying, but Eve was doing well, perhaps because she was happy to receive attention.

“Oh, you are the security team leader of the Ecosystem Restoration Division? You must have worked hard to protect the security of such confidential information.”

“It’s harder to protect than to break through, but it wasn’t that difficult for me. As of now, some decently skilled Net Riders are trying to reveal our department’s secrets, but we’re all on defense.”

“It would be better to have more workers. If you don’t mind, could I introduce you to a net rider who is quite capable?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be accepting anyone for a while because I don’t see anyone. I’m not sure if they break into our department’s security.”

“Haha, I see.”

The technology here won’t be able to break through the firewall created by Eve. In the first place, the computational resources that can be used are different. Using the server of a dimensional navigation ship like Cherub, wouldn’t the performance be better than all the computers on this planet combined?

Even if you collect hundreds of computers like Aniac, which were made about 50 years ago, they won’t be able to beat a smartphone. That’s roughly it.

And then it was time to start the operation. Eve glanced at us and gave us a signal, then immediately took action.

Wow!!!!

“W-what is it?”

“What are you talking about…”

Suddenly, a sound began to be heard within the party hall. When I wondered where the noise was coming from, I realized it was coming from the air conditioning system inside the party venue. Even though the day is not cold, hot wind suddenly starts blowing.

Not only that, but the lights are also blinking and turning on and off repeatedly. No matter how you look at it, the Shanghai Group executives inside the party are in a situation that is not normal. Their expressions harden, and they worry about whether they should evacuate.

“Hmm, is this a joke? It’s not an assassination threat or a terrorist attack, it’s nothing special.”

“We are under a cyberattack, but all we can do is manipulate the party hall’s internal facilities, Chairman. We will immediately repel it and begin to normalize the facility.”

Chairman Wang Chen was relaxed despite this situation. Did he have a lot of guts, or did he realize that it was just a simple incident? Considering the nature of this place where people are dying, I don’t think playing pranks on the facility is a big deal.

However, if it ends as is, it will be difficult to achieve our goal, so we had to give it a little boost.

“I’m a little worried. Why did this happen when we came..? Honestly, it hasn’t been that long since the attack happened, right?”

“It must be unsettling. But don’t worry. This is the Shanghai Group headquarters, not any other place. Even if a nuclear bomb were to fall, there would be no problem as we have sufficient defenses.”

“If you say so…”

That’s all for my input. And Eve, who caused this incident, pretended not to know her and approached her to try her luck.

“I will take a quick look around and then come back. No matter how much of the equipment it is, it is a net rider that has crossed over the Shanghai Group’s firewall and may try to take advantage of that gap to do something.”

“That makes sense, but it’s a little strange to come forward directly. Is there a separate reason?”

“If you’re such a talented Net Rider, shouldn’t you start by appeasing him? Well, if you don’t, Chairman Wang Chen will decide how to deal with you.”

“Then, do whatever you want. I’m looking forward to seeing who will catch the unsophisticated net rider first between you and our Shanghai group.”

I took the opportunity. Eve and John then left the party.

The rest will just have to wait. Instead, the more people at the party are interested in this area, the less likely it is that there will be a problem, so I prepare my own performance and serve the dish.

“It looks like it’s almost fully cooked, so I’ll serve my secret dish today.”

“Secret dish?”

“Of course, when you think of China, you talk about pork dishes. I prepared this as one of the most popular dishes.”

Soon, the dishes on a large serving cart enter the party hall. At the same time, the delicious smell of meat spread everywhere.

What was placed on the cart was a large piglet. It doesn’t seem right to say that it’s a large piglet, but if you look at the proportions, it’s clear that it’s a piglet, but it’s about the size of an adult woman’s body.

“Ooooo!!!! It’s great kaoruju (烤乳猪)!!!! Even though it’s a piglet, it’s the perfect size and grilled!!!! I can’t believe I’ll be able to see this dish again in my lifetime!!! !!”

“It is said to be a dish that was included in the Qing Dynasty emperor’s dinner table. Wouldn’t it be a dish suitable for the chairman?”

“Oh, that’s right!!! Haha!!!! Give it to me quickly!!!! I can’t wait to eat it!!!!”

The skin is the same as the skin, but the inside flesh is also cooked over low heat for a long time, so the oil is lost, and it is soft and delicious. It takes a bit of work, but it’s still delicious, so it’s worth making.

Thanks to the dish featuring a whole roasted pig, people’s attention was drawn to the dish, so it seemed like it wouldn’t be a problem to get their attention. As I was wasting time like that, Eve contacted me on my terminal to see if the operation had been successful. However, the voice was urgent as if something was not going well.

-Father!!!!

“Oh, so did it go well?”

-First of all, it worked out well, and we secured evidence, but this guy is out of his mind.

“What?”

-I often say it in drips, but this guy is really a mixture of half Skynet and half Ultron!!!! And the android there may have been the main body at first, but now it is just a shell, and has now been taken over the Shanghai Group main server and is using it as its own brain!!!!

“Uh…”

Kwaaaaang!!!!!

Soon, an explosion of noise is heard. And then the loud sounds of battle continued. The security guards at the party, including those who were cyberpaths and even those who had a shred of humanity left, suddenly twitched on their faces and eventually turned into machines.

Was it hacked through an implant? If you’re closer to the machine side, it’s probably not impossible, but is it going to end like this?

-When we infiltrated and hacked to secure physical evidence, they noticed us as if we were looking into an abyss!!!! He is planning to silence us by turning all the executives and people at the Shanghai Group headquarters into machines!!!!

-Damn, maybe because they are corporate guys, the security guards are tough!!!! I’m going there with the second girl, so you might as well join!!! We have to get out of here right now!!!!

His gaze met with the android Arjuna, who was behind Chairman Wang Chen. Expressive and merciless eyes. These are machine eyes that cannot feel emotions in the first place.

“It’s a little earlier than expected, but I guess we can’t help but shut up. We’re launching the Great Shanghai Group project.”

“Ana, what on earth is this… Keuuh?!”

Arjuna overpowered President Wang Chen and brought her to her knees. If an android in the name of security did that, other people or security guards around him would naturally stop him, but that wasn’t the case.

Most of the security guards have become cyberpaths, faithful chess pieces following Arjuna’s orders, and this applies not only to the security guards but also to Shanghai Group executives.

It was the end of people who replaced their bodies with machines that were not their own. No matter how the situation ends, they can never come back.

“Ah, Ana!!!! What on earth are you doing!!!!!”

“It is time to achieve the purpose of my existence that the Chairman has entrusted to me.”

“Joe, the meaning of existence?”

“As an android created by the Shanghai Group with all its might, I have been given the duty to revive and develop the Shanghai Group. So, although there are some problems with the plan, I plan to execute it as soon as possible.”

“This guy who is trying to revive the Shanghai Group dares harm me, the chairman?!”

“For the revival of the Shanghai Group, it was judged that an organism that relies on physical hormonal action for judgment and cannot produce certain results due to aging is inefficient. In order for the Shanghai Group to develop further, it is not an inefficient rule by the organism, but rather an error of 1. We need the rule of a mindless machine.”

“I am!!! I am the Shanghai Group itself!!!! Are you planning to deny me that way!!!!!”

“You are just a member of a group with the title of chairman named Wang Chen, not the Shanghai Group? Although you have great authority, you are ultimately an individual. In comparison, I control all servers of the Shanghai Group and its affiliates, and all resources are wasted. It can be operated efficiently without any hassle.”

And the machine that succeeded in the rebellion declared to Chairman Wang Chen, who founded and developed the Shanghai Group.

“Now I am the Shanghai Group itself.”

The artificial intelligence that took control of everything, so much so that it could be said to be everything of the Shanghai Group, rather than just an android Arjuna, proudly declared.

No, I was trying to stop the bastard who attacked us, but why did it get so big?! Are you the absolute one of destiny again?

Then, several more explosions were heard from one side of the party hall, shattered implants were scattered in the air, and Eve and John returned once again. It looks like he suffered quite a bit, but John appears to have been safe from the security guards’ attack, perhaps due to his formidable skills.

“I didn’t know it would turn out like this. I came here to find the mastermind behind the attack and ended up seeing a machine rebellion in the Shanghai Group.”

“Me too. Ah, but how are you okay? Considering the level of security, you could have been hacked right away.”

“That was prevented using my mother, and I’s hacking tool. We hacked into the firewall of Mr. John’s implant and created a more robust internal firewall and blocked external interference to prevent that guy’s hacking.”

“The hacking tool is Siddim’s box and Eve is Arona?”

[Like Mutsuki!!! Mesgaki!!! Character!!! Isn’t there more!!!]

“Hmm? Wait, wasn’t that girl Keter unable to speak? Now this…”

“We’ll talk about it later. Don’t mention Eden and Kether either.”

The reason Arjuna directly subdued Chairman Wang Chen with the body of an android was because he was a purist and did not use implants, so he had no chance of doing anything with hacking. Although he is ignored because he is an organism, he cannot do anything he wants unless he physically interferes with it.

Apart from that, we are okay with it not working or raising the security level… But how do we deal with that guy?

“Eve, can you handle that?”

“It is possible if we mobilize Cherubim. However, it will take some time.”

“The technology is far superior to Cherubim’s?”

“If you think about it that way, pest exterminators are much stronger than cockroaches, so don’t they have to spend time using various methods to eradicate them?”

“Ah, I roughly understood.”

Dealing with that guy is annoying, not difficult. Even if you have the ability to burn down the entire building where the pests live, you can’t do that, so you have to leave the building alone and kill only the bugs, so it takes a lot of time.

While we were chatting, Arjuna, who had completely cleaned up the party, turned his attention to us. And she makes me an offer I can’t refuse.

“Give up. The Shanghai Group headquarters is currently in a type 1 defense state. Escape from here is impossible, and military weapons have been deployed near the headquarters. All you have to do is give up and accept my offer.”

“Let me ask you one thing. Why did you attack me and Eden?”

“It is already too late for the Earth. According to my calculations, the Earth cannot be revived unless something that can be called a miracle occurs several times. Even if there is some success in the ecosystem restoration department, it is only a model garden, and it is too late to revive the Earth. So pouring resources there is extremely inefficient.”

“Are you saying it’s hope torture?”

“So, I make a proposition. If you agree to submit to my control, I will guarantee you a life of all pleasure and happiness within cyberspace. Restoring the Earth may be inefficient, but the results you have created are worth it.”

What the fuck is this Matrix?

Just as I was about to say something, Eve came forward and stood in front of Arjuna. Then he raised her middle finger and blew her taffy at her.

“It’s Negeumma.”

“…”

“Ah, I guess that’s wrong because you don’t have a love interest. Anyway, eat it, eat it twice. They say it’s the turtle that messes up the fish cake, and you’re the one who does all the messing up of the artificial intelligence. Wherever you go, you’ll hear that they come from the same artificial intelligence as you. If you don’t like it, format the server and commit suicide. It would be a waste of electricity if someone like you were still alive.”

“…”

When I watch Eve, I sometimes think of Shion’s harsh words. I think it was like that before when I met artificial intelligence called [Teardrop].

Anyway, you speak well, our second child!!!!