114: Chapter 97 Cyber Demon Shadow 114: Chapter 97 Cyber Demon Shadow “What about you?” Xu Yang looked toward Cui Junyou, “Old Cui, even Selita has her own territory, aren’t you going to set sothing up?”
“I certainly have my own plans,” Cui Junyou said with a straight face, “and they’re not inferior to anyone else’s.”
“You can join in a venture,” Xu Yang said, “a bigger venture.”
“To be honest, our goals are sowhat different,” Cui Junyou thought for a mont, then said, “Selita has her avant-gardism, you have your Anonymous and beauties, but my intention has never changed…
to thoroughly investigate that damned ‘Giant Tower Plan’.”
“That’s just an ancient tale,” Xu Yang didn’t take the Giant Tower Plan seriously.
“But what if it’s real?” Cui Junyou frowned, “What if we really are living in a massive tower?
I want to understand what’s behind it.
For that, I’ve already invested over a decade, and I don’t mind putting in the rest of my days as well.
I don’t want our endeavors to be just…
a dream, or an illusion programd by machines.”
“…I understand,” Xu Yang patted his shoulder, “What do you want to do?”
“You have money, invest in my industry,” Cui Junyou said.
Farosa boarded the shuttle machine, just in ti to hear their conversation, and imdiately beca furious.
“What?
Going to waste money?” Farosa exclaid.
Xu Yang’s money was her money, that was only natural.
“It’s not wasting money, it’s an investnt,” Cui Junyou gestured with his concept, “Bro, you invest 3.5 million in , let start a huge Prosthetics Clinic.
Not in Katagi District, move it to Hui City District, right on Yu Central Avenue, five tis the size of the original.
I’ll recruit a bunch of apprentices, set up a lab, sell products on one side and uncover the truth of the Giant Tower Plan on the other.
I’ll give you a 10% dividend.”
“15%,” Xu Yang said, as he searched for a template on the network and drafted a docunt with Digital Mind, putting Lila’s na at the signature line.
“3.5 million just given away like that!” Farosa loved to hoard wealth and disliked sharing money.
She had once envied dragon-like beasts that lay unmoving atop piles of treasure.
“You have no idea how much money Prosthetics Clinics make,” Cui Junyou hurried to explain, “These days, one person spends on average 2,500 a year on their implants.
Aizu City has two hundred thousand people with prosthetics; it’s a huge market.
Getting into the prosthetic business now is like opening a dental clinic 50 years ago, you can’t lose.
Brother Xu can break even in 2 to 3 years, and after that, it’s all profit.”
“Are there still dental clinics now?” Farosa was curious.
Dentists in the Middle Ages were quite wealthy, gripping one end of a string tied to the ailing tooth and the other end to a tooth, then brandishing a torch close to the patient’s face, solving the toothache instantly.
“If a tooth goes bad, get a new one, isn’t it still within my business scope?
Dentures are also broadly defined as prosthetics,” Cui Junyou smiled.
“Deal,” Farosa and Cui Junyou shook hands, “This deal is sealed!”
Xu Yang got Cui Junyou to sign the contract on his phone, then transferred 1 million to him with a cash card imdiately, the rest to be given in due ti.
Breaking even wasn’t urgent; cash flow and tangible assets were more important than numbers.
“Don’t spread any more rumors about the Giant Tower Plan, just focus on your business,” Xu Yang said, “You don’t want soone to co and take you away.”
“For years, it’s only been the Corporate Alliance that cared about the Giant Tower Plan, now the illusion of the Alliance’s hegemony has already dissipated,” Cui Junyou laughed, “Wait and see, sooner or later I will, like Selita, publish these findings into pamphlets and spread them like a virus.” He looked at the contract, “Why is the money being transferred to Lila Nestor?”
“What?” Farosa turned in surprise, “Why is that?”
“My investnt, Lila’s earnings, Farosa’s witness,” Xu Yang shrugged, “From now on, that’s how it will basically be for the three of us.” After all, only Lila had proper docuntation with the Corporate Alliance, allowing her to operate within the current order.
“Let’s do it like this!
Brother Xu, I will surely uncover the truth behind the Giant Tower Plan,” Cui Junyou slapped Xu Yang’s shoulder with vigor, “expose the corporation’s conspiracy, and lead people back to the real world.”
“Your ideal is even more noble than ours, go all out,” Xu Yang turned his head, “Where’s your little apprentice Nidelaide?
And those female Synthetic Humans?
How did you let them get whisked away.”
“They’ve set up an ani appreciation club in the next-door café.” Cui Junyou took Xu Yang to find Nidelaide and the others.
Upon entering the neighboring maid café, the adorable waitresses in black and white chiffon dresses ca up to greet them, with sweet smiles and attentive movents.
The mont Farosa walked in, she felt like she was back at court; she deserved to have this many well-trained won kneeling before her.
The feeling was all too comfortable, and as she looked up at the ceiling, the maids could only see her neck.
They reached a warm green private booth, where Nidelaide knelt on the tatami, enjoying the classic ani “Daily Life with a Ceramically Delicate Synthetic Human Wife” with other female Synthetic Humans.
This ani was 40 years old; at that ti, Synthetic Humans were deliberately made to be distinct from humans to avoid the uncanny valley effect, which led to poor sales.
This ani played a role in advertising and breaking conservative notions, pointing out the future of Synthetic Humans: to beco increasingly akin to humans, eventually becoming indistinguishable from them.
“So these are your predecessors,” Nidelaide pointed to those cute robots, “Back then, it was just 2nd-generation AI, with only a little capacity for spontaneity.
You are 3rd-generation AI, capable of autonomous learning.”
“Are you giving a lecture on original science or appreciating classics?” Xu Yang settled into a corner.
“They told everything that happened before.” Nidelaide approached Xu Yang and whispered, “Don’t you think they are pitiful?”
Humiliated by a mob of thugs and ruffians, even Synthetic Humans had indelible stains left in their mory archives.
“That’s why I took them out, to seek new possibilities for them,” Xu Yang explained.
“To beco maid robots!” Farosa followed, her eyes shining.
She had just forced several waiters outside to address her as “Her Majesty the Empress” and was eager to have others do the sa.
The female Synthetic Humans looked at each other, beginning to analyze their futures.
“Plan for yourselves,” Xu Yang watched the female Synthetic Humans.
“You can strike out on your own.
I won’t be staying here long.”
“As maids, would we be responsible for your daily needs?” A Synthetic Human asked, looking up.
“If so, that doesn’t sound like a bad job.
We will give it our all.”
“That’s possible,” Xu Yang nodded.
“We will also provide for any other needs you may have.”
“Co here and massage my shoulders and legs,” Farosa laid on the tatami mat, propping her head up with one hand, “Since you’ve promised, you can’t go back on your word!”
Synthetic Humans required very little, seeking only to charge and remain safe, and after a short discussion, they decided to truly commit to serving Farosa and Xu Yang.
Only Seeking Shadow, who from the earliest ti had been intent on finding a way to protect itself, was not persuaded by Farosa’s words.
Its gaze remained fixed on the screen.
The storyline showed the male protagonist, useless aside from his gentleness, trapped in a tight spot.
Many female Synthetic Humans, moved by his character, pulled out weapons to fight the thugs and ruffians with clean, powerful moves, much to the enjoynt of Seeking Shadow.
“I also want to beco a powerful Synthetic Human like that,” Seeking Shadow declared.
“If I beco a maid, I will always depend on the protection of others and won’t be able to be independent and self-sufficient.”
“You’re being pretentious!” another female Synthetic Human complained.
Outside, Cui Junyou bought so kimchi and ca in, discussing with Nidelaide his plans to open a prosthetics clinic in Hui City District.
Nidelaide’s spirits imdiately lifted.
“Oh, more opportunities!” Nidelaide couldn’t wait, “Finally, I can get back in the workshop.”
“If possible, I think I can help them,” Seeking Shadow motioned towards Nidelaide and Cui Junyou, then turned to Xu Yang, “Please install so combat files for .
That way I too can take up arms, not just for self-defense, but also to protect others.
Nidelaide has taught a lot.
I want to give back.
Once I have grown enough, I want to beco the shadow of the Cyber Specter.”
“The shadow of a Specter…” Xu Yang did not imdiately understand.
“Originally, when you ca to our aid, you called yourself the Cyber Specter,” Seeking Shadow explained.
“I want to beco your shadow.
With the right training, I too can beco a shadowy hero like you, upholding justice and the way of the Specter.
I will move through the corners of the city, eradicating all the criminals I encounter, ending the chaos and violence.”
“Admirable ambition,” Xu Yang nodded solemnly, his previous act of rescue helping it find a second possible destiny.
On anonymous networks, there was a large amount of scattered and impractical combat data files available for training.
Fortunately, Xu Yang had Digital Mind, which swiftly pulled the data together into a compilation package and transmitted it to Seeking Shadow via a data cable.
It began to slowly read and decompress the information.
Due to its outdated processor, the whole process would take about a hundred hours, but once finished, it would imdiately gain roughly five years’ worth of combat experience.
“Seeking Shadow will move with you for now,” Xu Yang declared, “and you’ll need to upgrade its components frequently.”
“Of course,” Cui Junyou nodded, “I think that even though Synthetic Humans are different from bionics, they still represent an expansion of human capability.” He stretched lazily, “Well, I’m off.”
“Goodbye,” Xu Yang bid them farewell.
Thus, one by one, Kanako, Asa Katsuragi, Old Cui, and Nidelaide left, each embarking on their own fated paths.
The refugees all found their way, making Xu Yang reflective.
As he walked out, Xu Yang saw Li Xiaomin standing by the back door of the pancake shop, leaning against a power pole and smoking.
“You’re smoking before your beard even grows in,” Xu Yang ca to stand beside him.
The faint scent of smoke stirred sothing in him, yet it also repelled him; it was as harmful as stamps.
Li Xiaomin flicked the ash from his cigarette and looked off into the distance with a bitter expression.
Following his gaze, Xu Yang saw Rosya walking and laughing with a tall, strong black co-worker—next to the man, the young Li Xiaomin looked no bigger than a duckling.
“A goddamn guy got transferred from the big top; Rosya’s almost lost her soul to him,” Li Xiaomin lowered his head.
“…What do you think I should do?”
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