2077: V really knows how awesome he is

V then added, "Arasaka 2077 doesn't have that much production capacity yet, so it only plans to implement a water source restoration project in Night City and doesn't intend to manage the entire Earth."

There was silence in the conference room.

The president of Zhenshui Group was already covered in cold sweat without realizing it.

Just because we don't have it now doesn't mean we won't have it in the future. We're not doing it now simply because our production capacity is insufficient.

Once the production capacity is sufficient, wouldn't that mean that V can truly manage the entire Earth and completely solve the water pollution problem?

At that point, the only outcome for Zhenshui Company will be bankruptcy!

The president of Zhenshui Group was startled again.

V said earnestly, "Night City will not abandon any sunset industry, which is why I'm talking to you. Sell me the water supply network now, and I'll give you a high price. This will allow you to give an explanation to the employees of True Water Group, and it will also allow me to give an explanation to the company's board of directors. Once Night City's water source is restored, True Water will be worthless. At that time, you won't be able to get this price for the water supply network."

The president of Zhenshui Group remained silent for a full hour. He had downed two bottles of V's tequila, but he still chose to refuse.

He knew V never made empty promises, but he still chose to take the gamble. It wasn't just because of greed, but also because he couldn't hand over the foundation that Zhenshui Group had built over decades just because of a few casual words from V.

"What a pity, people never learn until they see the coffin." V sighed as he watched the other person's departing figure, then said to Sasha, "Notify Nakamura Kayo to start the water source restoration plan."

"Yes."

The following day, Arasaka 2077 held a press conference, where chief designer Ms. Kayo Nakamura introduced the latest research results.

A test tube containing a pale blue liquid is displayed on the big screen.

"In order to further improve the quality of life of the people and enhance the tourist experience in Night City, under the leadership of President V and through the unremitting efforts of scientific researchers, a new generation of nanorobots has recently been successfully developed."

"Unlike traditional nanorobots with their purely mechanical structure, the new nanorobots are made of organic materials and contain micro-mechanical logic units only in their core."

"Its outer shell is composed of recombinant proteins, a kind of viral capsid, and its surface is covered with pollutant recognition receptors, such as metal ion binding proteins, hydrocarbon-degrading enzymes, and so on."

"Its core is embedded with silicon carbide quantum dots with a diameter of 5nm, which have both semiconductor properties and biocompatibility, and serve as the core for logic control and energy conversion."

"In our design, the outer shell receptors of the next generation of nanorobots will capture pollutants, such as heavy metal ions, microplastics and organic toxins, and then break them down into small molecules, such as amino acids, monosaccharides and elemental metals, through enzymatic reactions."

"Its energy source is the absorption of ultraviolet and infrared light by quantum dots to generate electricity, which then drives internal chemical reactions. Of course, quantum dots only respond to 300-400nm ultraviolet light, and the ozone layer has filtered out most of this band, preventing nature from providing excessive energy."

"It uses the decomposition products to recombine into a new protein shell through a built-in synthase system. Quantum dots can also guide the generation of a new core through self-assembly templates, thus achieving self-replication. But don't worry, each generation of replication consumes iridium isotope-labeled atoms stored in the quantum dots, and the replication limit is 20 generations."

"In addition, it also has an energy-saving mode. Its quantum dots regulate the replication speed through a mixture of electronic and ion signals. When the concentration of pollutants in the environment is below the threshold, these little guys will enter a dormant state and will only start up again when the pollutants exceed the standard again, thus avoiding blind reproduction and unnecessary consumption."

"This nanorobot is primarily designed for water pollution control. After being released into water, it can automatically adsorb lead and mercury ions, decompose them into lead sulfide and mercury precipitates, and then self-replicate until the metal concentration is ≤0.1ppm. Unfortunately, nanorobots for soil remediation and air purification are still under development. I'd like to take this opportunity to advertise that we welcome anyone with ambition to join this great cause. Night City will provide the most generous salary and benefits, solve all your worries, and ensure that every scholar can devote themselves wholeheartedly to scientific research."

"I firmly believe that with the joint efforts and wisdom of all mankind, we will eventually reclaim our homeland. At that time, the water will flow gently, the birds will sing and the flowers will bloom, our children and grandchildren will drink sweet spring water, and they will once again witness the wheat sprouting and cattle and sheep grazing everywhere!"

The audience erupted in thunderous applause, so powerful it seemed to pierce the sky.

While all the big corporations are constantly manufacturing all sorts of murder weapons, only Arasaka 2077 is striving for the survival and well-being of humanity.

why?

Because this is V's company, because this is V's will!

May President V live a long and healthy life!

Everyone watching on television offered their heartfelt blessings.

Of course, there are also those who disagree.

A reporter asked, "Do you think we'll believe you just because you say so?"

"It's okay if you don't believe me, because the facts will change your minds." Nakamura Kayo, holding a test tube, looked at the camera and said loudly, "This afternoon at 3 PM, I will release the first batch of nanobots into Laguna Lake Bend from the Badlands Dam. News Channel 54 and WNS will broadcast the entire event live. Please stay tuned!"

Chapter 72 To the Moon

By 3 p.m., the Badlands Dam was packed with people, news hovercraft hovered in the air, and the NCPD was working hard to maintain order. The whole world was watching this moment.

Kayo Nakamura held the test tube up to the camera, then flipped her wrist and poured the "blue liquid" inside into the 200 million liters of toxic chemical water in Laguna Bay.

Those blue liquids are not actually liquids, but aggregates of a trillion nanobots. As soon as they entered the toxic water, they were activated due to excessive pollutants, and high-definition cameras could clearly capture the lake water near the nanobots rapidly becoming "clear".

But that wasn't all. With a wave of Nakamura Kayo's hand, the two hovercraft of Arasaka 2077 took off. High-powered ultraviolet lamps were installed on their bottoms. As the 350nm ultraviolet light shone on the lake surface, the nanoscale robots, having gained sufficient energy, began to multiply rapidly, from one trillion to two trillion, two trillion to four trillion, four trillion to eight trillion, eight trillion to sixteen trillion... and so on, replicating up to 20 times, reaching an astronomical number.

The more nanorobots there are, the higher the purification efficiency; the higher the purification efficiency, the more decomposition products there are; the more decomposition products there are, the faster the nanorobots multiply, thus creating a virtuous cycle until Laguna Bay is finally completely purified.

"According to calculations, without any interference or the addition of new pollutants, the nanorobots will completely purify the 200 million liters of toxic water in Laguna Bay in six months. At that time, it will complete 12 self-replications, and the final number will be around 4,096 trillion."

Kayo Nakamura smiled and had her staff collect some water samples from near the nanobots: "Now let's take a preliminary look at the effects."

As the numbers appeared on the holographic screen, everyone was stunned. The pollutants in the water sample had dropped to a very respectable level. Although its cleanliness did not meet the standards for direct drinking, it was not much different from the filtered water that most people drink. And this was only the result of the nanorobots working for five minutes.

Everyone was greatly encouraged, and thunderous applause immediately erupted and lasted for a long time!

Kayo Nakamura was very excited. Although she was better at designing weapons, she preferred to use her products to save lives rather than kill people.

"Arasaka2077 will collect water samples daily and publish the results in real time. We welcome supervision from all sectors of society. Does anyone have any questions now?"

A reporter immediately raised their hand and asked, "What is the cost of these nanorobots? Can they be mass-produced?"

"Currently, the cost per milliliter is around 100 billion euros, which is still quite expensive. But 1 milliliter contains 1 trillion nanorobots, and 3 milliliters is enough to purify the entire Laguna Bay."

Another reporter asked, "Does Arasaka 2077 have any plans to reduce costs?"

"Of course, Arasaka 2077 is also further improving its technology, and the cost will definitely be gradually reduced. Our ideal goal is to reduce it to about 65 billion euros per milliliter. To go any lower, we would need new technological breakthroughs."

"Are these nanorobots harmful to humans? I mean, could these tiny things enter the human body through water, like microplastics?"

"Nanobots are connected by biomagnetic fields, and theoretically they should be tightly bound together. However, it is possible that some nanobots may break away from the group due to unforeseen circumstances. But according to our research, nanobots will not cause any harm to the human body. Although they resemble living organisms, they are not bacteria or viruses. In fact, they possess extremely high intelligence and can assess the current situation on their own. Their design purpose is to remove water pollution, and they will absolutely not attack human cells. You can rest assured."

At this point, an idea-taker asked, "So, can I understand it this way: if I swallow some nanobots, they won't harm me, but will instead help me clear out the waste in my body?"

"This..." Nakamura Kayo thought her imagination was wild enough, but she didn't expect someone to be even more outlandish than her. However, she still thought about it carefully and shook her head, saying, "We haven't conducted any relevant tests. Theoretically, it's possible, but the human body is a complex environment, and I can't predict whether there will be any side effects. I suggest that everyone not try it lightly."

The viewers in front of the TV nodded in agreement. They understood and agreed that it was okay to eat it, since they had nothing else to do and it might come in handy.

Who wouldn't want good health? And so, a trend quickly swept through Night City of taking nanobots to cure all diseases.

Of course, that's all in hindsight. Nakamura Kayo answered one question after another perfectly. At the end of the press conference, a scholar-like person raised his own question.

"You just said that nanorobots have extremely high intelligence and can make their own judgments about the current situation. But with current AI technology, it is impossible for their small bodies and thin core units to have that level of intelligence."

Kayo Nakamura nodded: "The AI ​​technology you mentioned should be mechanistic AI, but our Arasaka 2077 nanorobots use a new AI technology that we call bio-based AI."

"Bio-based AI? Interesting. Could you elaborate?"

"I'm sorry, this is a company secret and cannot be disclosed."

“Okay, I understand, but I will continue to follow up on this matter. Humanity has already been defeated by AI once, and we must never let something like this happen again.”

"Of course, Arasaka2077 is a socially responsible company, and we will cooperate with the supervision and investigation of all sectors of society in accordance with laws and regulations."

The press conference concluded successfully. The reporters rushed back to write their press releases, while ordinary people, having nothing else to do, gathered on the shore of Laguna Lake, shouting and chasing after the pale blue nanobots.

The old captain, Muammar Reyes, even tried to take a sip to taste the saltiness, but was stopped by a pair of hands.

He turned his head, a look of surprise on his face: "Dad!"

V was speechless: "I'm not your dad!"

"No, no, no, you purified the lake water and benefited millions of people in Night City. You are my father!" The old captain was usually very steady, but when he was particularly happy, he would become very unreliable.

Unfortunately, he's extremely happy right now.

"Alright then." Knowing the old captain's personality, V didn't intend to make him change his mind, but simply said, "This water isn't drinkable yet."

"Yes, I'll listen to my father." The old captain grinned a few times, then suddenly said, "How about you come to cut the ribbon for my car dealership opening in a few days?"

"Car dealership?"

"Yes, I've been working with used cars, but they're never as profitable as new cars."

"What about the middleman's job?"

“I’m quitting,” the old captain said heartily. “I used to work as a middleman to find a way to make a living for my brothers and sisters in Santo Domingo, but now that you’re here, there’s no need for me. I might as well go and sell cars and make big money.”

"Being a businessman isn't exciting enough."

"To hell with the excitement! Every one of us middlemen dreams of a peaceful life," the old captain said, rattling off a list of names. "The priest really went back to being a priest; he even officiated at a wedding last week. Okada Wakako is also planning to expand her pinball shop; she says she'll empty the tourists' pockets. Gianna Jones is back to being a journalist, mainly focusing on cyberpsychosis. Dainona's grandson has taken over a bar; he says Night City is overflowing with tourists, and running a bar is more profitable than being a middleman. As for Mr. Hanz, he went back to Russia to reunite with his daughter; after all, with you keeping such a tight rein on Pacific State, there's really no room for him to make a living. The only one still working as a middleman is the ruthless Dakota Smith from Badlands, but she knows it won't last long. Adcardo is now running a transport business, traveling between Night City and Badlands Prison. She said that once the Rascals are completely dealt with, she'll retire and open a car repair shop."

"Even heroes grow old," V sighed.

But the old captain shook his head: "It's the twilight of life. Sometimes, you have to let go of some things. All good things must come to an end, and outdated things will eventually be eliminated. Not everyone can be a hero who leads the times. For most people, being able to peacefully meet the end is also a good ending."

V could tell that the old captain's words came from the bottom of his heart.

“I’ll go to the car dealership opening. But I’ll skip the ribbon-cutting ceremony; it’s your big day, and I can’t steal your thunder.”

"That's a nice touch. Want me to reserve a nice car for you?"

V asked, "Do you have the Holy Sword of Refield?"

The old captain was startled: "A floating vehicle?! I really don't have one."

V chuckled: "That's why you're in such a hurry to retire. There are still many things you can strive for."

The old captain was somewhat touched and was about to say thank you when V said again, "Remember to pay your taxes. I know all about your little tricks."

"……Hold!"

V smiled and walked away. Learning about the other middlemen from the old captain was a truly unexpected bonus. Given her current status, she rarely paid attention to the streets anymore, but hearing that these "old friends" were all doing well put her at ease.

“V.” A deep voice suddenly sounded from behind her, startling her.

Turning his head, he saw Solomon Reed.

"You could at least make some noise when you walk," V couldn't help but complain.

“Sorry, it’s just my professional habit,” Solomon Reed said in a suit with a serious expression. “There’s a problem with the movie.”

"Judging from your expression, I thought Miles had come back to life." V leaned against his sword in the stone and asked, "Didn't our director Rachel Kasich say the movie was going well? What's the problem now?"

"The film itself is quite well made; the problem lies in the post-production editing." Solomon Reed, a man of great responsibility and dedication, meticulously reported the situation: "As you know, our film has many parts that cannot be made public, which makes post-production editing paramount. However, our editor, Mewtwo, has consistently fallen short in rewriting and channeling the emotions, mainly Miles. Her words and actions are contradictory, and if this isn't addressed, it will become the biggest flaw in the film."

“That is indeed a problem.” V stroked his chin, pondering what to do, when he suddenly saw Judy Alvarez strolling along the lake with the crowd. V immediately laughed and pointed at Judy, saying, “Look, she’s Night City’s best Mewtwo editor; she’ll definitely be able to solve your problem.”

Solomon Reed's eyes lit up with blue light as he scanned Judy's personal information, then frowned involuntarily: "The Mox Gang? They were cutting porn before."

"Don't underestimate porn. The girls talk sweet words, but all they're thinking about is business. Liz's films over the years have all been masterpieces, all thanks to Judy Alvarez. If she can edit sex puppets, she can naturally edit Miles. In any case, both of them are hypocritical and full of lies."

Solomon Reed thought about it and agreed with V.

Even Miles's character is worse than that of a sex doll. At least a sex doll will actually provide you with services when you pay for them, but Miles will only make you pay for your own work and then complain that you're not doing a good job.

Solomon Reed felt once again that he had been an idiot!

He walked over to Judy Alvarez, and the two quickly reached an agreement, not because the top agent was particularly eloquent, but mainly because the top agent offered a high price.

"Wow, it really is President V! I thought you were kidding me." Judy exclaimed excitedly, shaking V's hand. "President V, I'm your biggest fan! Can you sign my autograph?"

After all, she was his wife from a past life, so V naturally gave her face and nodded, saying, "No problem."

Judy was overjoyed and pulled open her shirt, saying, "Please sign my breasts!"

V: ...

Solomon Reed: ...

In short, V signed it anyway, and even complimented her at the end, saying, "The spider web tattoo is beautiful."

"Thank you, President V. Please continue to protect Night City. We will always support you!" Judy Alvarez clenched her fist and smiled as she followed Li De away.

V didn't say much. The reason she didn't try to keep her wife from her previous life was because she learned that Judy had recently married Evelyn.

This time, she was the one who planned the operation at the Azure Building, so Evelyn had nothing to do with it. She and Judy were already close friends, and it was only natural that they ended up together.

That's just how things are. If you gain more in one place, you will lose more in another. Life isn't always perfect. All we can do is try our best and leave no regrets.

V's wife from his past life has started a new family. He has no intention of disturbing her, but he is somewhat saddened. The best way to resolve his sadness is to find someone even sadder, so Kurt Hansen was summoned.

Why is this dogtown boss so aggressive on TV? Because his wife cheated on him.

The year after Kurt Hansen moved to Dogtown, his wife found another man.

The couple had been raising their child for six years when they were suddenly to be taken to Night City. Then their plane was shot down, and their son was seriously injured and admitted to the ICU. When their son finally woke up, Kurt Hansen immediately changed into new clothes and rushed to the hospital, only to find his wife and son tightly embracing another man.

Even the Dogtown boss would charge headlong into the Arasaka army, yet he couldn't push open the door to that small hospital room. He hid in a corner like a coward for a long, long time, and then, like a warrior, quickly divorced his wife.

"Do you regret it?" V asked.

"I regret it. I wish I hadn't left them." Kurt Hansen chuckled self-deprecatingly. "But regret is useless now. I abandoned them first, and they still have to live. I investigated that man. He has a stable job, no bad habits, and is better than me. I gave them all my money, enough for the three of them to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. I don't owe them anything."

Hearing Kurt Hansen's sad story made V feel much better.