My cyberpsychosis is a task prompt

Chapter 264: Archive

A strange female voice came through, clearly indicating that Raphael was once again "requisitioning" his employees' bodies to contact mercenaries.

[Raphael: Long time no see, John. You read the text message and did what you asked... right?]

"I always work alone, so just say what you want to say."

John could feel the chip getting hot.

Kenichi Sora is definitely listening in on the call, and might even be trying to hack it in reverse.

This roaming AI is very restless; in some ways, it's even more unruly than Blacklight.

[Raphael: I wasn't referring to a person.]

"..."

John could detect a fleeting fluctuation in the apartment system.

Kenichi Sora is like a thief locked in by police lights.

A cold laugh came from the other end of the phone, followed by a tone of expectation.

[Raphael: Several companies' cybersecurity departments are working overtime, cybersecurity inspectors are offering bounties all over cyberspace, and the municipal government and ECPD are also preparing to get involved. It seems like something's been lost, but if you go over and ask... nobody's willing to go into details.]

The point has been made very clear.

Raphael seemed to know that Kenichi Sora was with John, or at least he was certain that John had the trail and contact information for this roving AI.

Bringing up the company and the police isn't about intimidation, it's about negotiating a price.

Confidentiality requires payment.

Raphael's decision not to sell John directly suggests that she intended to keep him for herself.

John made his point clear.

"You're really well-informed. Okay, what kind of work do you want me to do? Tell me. You have so many businesses and companies under your control, you can't possibly be after my meager earnings, can you?"

[Raphael: You're getting smarter, John.]

Judging from your tone, you're not planning to sell it externally? Think about it some more. I can help you make connections, or if that's too much trouble, you can just transfer the business to me. Big clients are fighting tooth and nail for this opportunity; it could be a life-changing chance.

"I believe you, but money can't solve my problem."

John doesn't intend to bet on both sides.

[Raphael: What a shame. If it wasn't a dumping of goods, why did you call me?]

"Um... I want to get a decent weapon."

John had barely finished speaking when he heard a cold laugh from the other side.

The intelligence trading of roving AI, which is so sophisticated, suddenly turned into illegal arms trading, and it's not even a large-scale arms smuggling, just a mercenary wanting to buy some rare items.

Such a trivial matter is a waste of the opportunity to call Raphael. It's like inviting the president of Gaia Cell Company out just to buy two treatment needles, maybe with some hemostatic supplies.

But Raphael was a professional middleman.

She not only has the contact information for legendary mercenaries, but also mentors newcomers on the streets.

So John's needs really are within her business scope.

The voice on the other end of the phone was very patient.

[Raphael: Finished product or bulk?]

"Anything is fine, the rarer the better, and it would be best if there was a little bit of a process involved, just think of it as me wanting to have some fun!"

John felt like he was nitpicking.

The person on the other end of the phone was very agreeable.

[Raphael: I understand the collecting obsession. Many mercenaries have similar habits. I know one legendary mercenary who loves collecting commemorative weapons... I just didn't expect you to have reached this stage. Your psychological needs have grown quite rapidly.]

"Can you handle it?"

[Raphael: Wait for my message, it will be soon.]

The phone hangs up.

【Wow!!】

"Damn it, stop yelling in my head!"

John resisted the urge to pull out the chip.

Kenichi was very excited.

The presence of roving AI hidden within game servers is an absolute trade secret.

The fact that Kong escaped couldn't possibly be "common knowledge" as Raphael claimed. The fact that she knew about it meant that her information channels were sophisticated enough, and that she was certain Kong was in John's hands, which was enough to send chills down one's spine.

This is a terrifying thing, yet it seems to have hit Kong's excitement point.

[Mysterious, powerful! You should live like her, John. Lone wolves get tired of it eventually. You can't spend your whole life shooting and risking your life. You need to plan your career, build your own power base, and create your own business!]

Where did you get these theories from?

John could sense that Kenichi Sora was serious.

[Management is a very important part of the game!] "Don't apply your gaming experience to real life. Do you know how many street legends die every day from the most ordinary stray bullets?"

John was often mocked by Orlos for being "willful".

But only today, with deeper contact with Kong, did I realize how terrifyingly naive this roaming AI is.

"There's no save/load feature in reality; focusing on the present is the most important thing."

【I know……】

"No, you don't."

John casually interrupted it.

Do you know what it's like to have a prosthetic transplant?
[Becoming...more powerful?]

"It will hurt."

John got up and went to the last row of clothes.

He would pick it up and squeeze it, rub it, weigh the whole thing in his hand, or pull it forcefully.

John remained expressionless and spoke in a flat tone.

"Replacing a prosthetic body requires surgery. You'll be naked, ice-cold, and if you wake up from a bad anesthetic while they're peeling away your skin and removing your bones, it'll scare you back into the dark..."

John picked out a vest.

It looks ordinary; it's only displayed alongside fancy clothes because of its high price.

"Games won't tell you that besides looking good, clothes also need to be breathable, comfortable, and even heat-resistant."

【high temperature?】

"That's right, because many prosthetic bodies, including S. A.S ...

John put on his vest and turned to the side.

"These games won't tell you that."

The workshop door was open, revealing a dissolving tank and a mirror embedded in the wall.

John tilted his head and pointed to the tip of his spine that was visible in the mirror.

"Just like why the control system and the tip of the spine are positioned close to the back of the head, so that they are less likely to break if you fall, and the part that extends beyond the collar won't burn the collar."

John lifted his work jacket and slipped his hands through the cuffs.

The cooling patch adheres perfectly to the spine.

He was dressed, and his appearance was not much different from his usual self.

Kenichi fell silent until John left the apartment and took the elevator directly to the underground parking garage.

He returned to the streets of the West End, bathed in the neon lights.

The empty voice rang out again.

Hmm... okay, if we think about it this much, it'll be pointless, and the pressure will be too much, right?

"Yep, living isn't easy~"

John stood with his hands in his pockets, his steps steady.

"So discussing the future is a luxury. Those legends didn't know they would become famous from the beginning. Everyone has lived day by day until now. If you're not dead, you've already succeeded."

Kenichi Sora did not refute.

Its data core is trying to understand John's words.

Meanwhile, through John's eyes, they passed by countless people, some going with them, some going against them.

Not only can you see them, but you can also touch them and even smell them – some smell so good they make you dizzy, while others smell sour and rotten.

John is right.

You can naturally distinguish between street youths and gang members, or even homeless people and unemployed citizens, just by looking at their clothes.

Some people dress provocatively and are flamboyantly rebellious.

Some people have exaggerated muscles and fierce expressions.

Many more remained silent.

The neon lights illuminated them from different angles, making each person's silhouette more three-dimensional and vivid.

Water mist poured down from the towering skyscrapers, creating a sense of unease.

You can't even tell if it's raining.

Water, steam, holographic projection, the black asphalt road gleaming with silver light, the roar of traffic, the clamor of music—humans live, reproduce, and expand like bacteria in this steel jungle.

You can't say their lives are interesting.

But every encounter is a unique record.

(End of this chapter)