Chapter 265 - 246: The Network Supervisor’s Replay, The Gloom of the Soul Killer

(Note: If you have questions about the settings or plot expansion in these two Chapters, please refer directly to the author’s commentary.)

In the Cyberpunk Era, the value of information is beyond imagination.

As a top company in network information technology, Network Monitoring always maintained a mysterious image in public, often touting itself as the last barrier between humans and AI.

In this incident, they were essentially the original clients who initiated the appointment, but they kept their usual low-profile style throughout the event—

Of course, this was actually due to Lille’s arrangements, which essentially highlighted the team’s professionalism.

And in the end...on the matter of Soul Killer, they also appeared ruthless and focused.

Firstly, Blais hadn’t lied to Lille, and considering the capabilities Lille demonstrated, a sixty percent chance of escape wasn’t made up.

But everything was based on him being human.

"...because of this operation, you intercepted part of the Soul Killer’s code, and then deployed some sort of cyberspace weapon targeted at AI.

This weapon identified the source code of the Soul Killer, but once the progress of the Soul Killer reached a certain level, that weapon would also attack me—

are you planning to kill me along with it?"

Blais frankly admitted, "That’s the risk I mentioned, which you also accepted—as for the other possibility...

As part of the deal, take a look at this, it’s very valuable information."

He handed over a chip.

The content in the chip was top secret for 99% of the people in this world—

It was about the Black Wall.

The Black Wall in cyberspace appears as a digital barrier of black and red hues, with no visible top or bottom.

It monitors all data flow across various subnets, blocking sensations is felt within cyberspace, a more logical explanation is...

It directly eliminates AI that matches specific data characteristics.

Blais continued:

"You might wonder, isn’t all AI considered a scourge to human society after the collapse of the old net?

Why would I use a program in cyberspace that qualifies as AI, why do large corporations still use AI to assist in production and various activities?

The Black Wall—blocks all AI, but why doesn’t it eliminate these AI?"

And what is AI? Simply put, it’s something that can replace humans to some extent in thinking and acting, so the Black Wall can be considered a type of AI.

AI needs training, just like humans, and like humans, they vary.

As a super-large AI, The Black Wall does not self-iterate rapidly, equivalent to a human lacking self-awareness, lacking motivation to learn and evolve.

One of Network Monitoring’s jobs is to help the Black Wall keep up with the iteration speed of rogue AI outside the Wall, to prevent these highly aggressive AI from finding a way to invade the new network one day.

For example: in cyberspace, human consciousness and AI are both data streams, essentially no big difference.

But the Black Wall doesn’t actively attack humans, there’s definitely a recognition mechanism in effect.

So what if an AI resembles a human too closely?

Will the Black Wall still attack it?

This was Network Monitoring’s concern about the Soul Killer.

They’d want to know the answer, but Arasaka certainly wouldn’t cooperate and hand over their secret weapon for research.

Secondly, even if Arasaka agreed, given their style of operation, Network Monitoring wouldn’t trust them to honestly hand over the source code of the Soul Killer.

Moreover... theoretically speaking, the Soul Killer had been deleted by Bartmos before the collapse of the old net, but the fact is, Arasaka had later redeveloped this thing.

They claimed to have redeveloped it themselves, but Network Monitoring had sufficient reasons to believe that Arasaka had sneaked past the Black Wall to access the old net and dug it out.

Lille put down the chip.

"So the one attacking me is the Black Wall."

Blais nodded, "That’s right, since the collapse of the old net, nearly 90% of the network activities in the world were under our control.

Only a small number of super-corporations would engage in illegal activities within their secret networks.

And we’re only concerned that AI wouldn’t bring down human society, we hardly interfere with much more—"

The hacker behind the massacre in Atlanta, the guy who hired you, also showed capacity for covert operations.

Absolutely an AI, and a very dangerous one."

Listening to this, V paused while biting an apple, and Jack scratched his head; all these reactions were noticed by Blais.

Lille also noticed and said, "No wonder he’s always so secretive.

So your plan is to use me as bait and lock me up with the Soul Killer, intercept the Soul Killer code when Arasaka launches the attack,

and employ this... experimental technology to execute the attack.

If I am human and haven’t been recorded with too many characteristics by the Soul Killer, I’ll survive.

But if I am an AI, or too similar to the transformed AI of the Soul Killer—"

"You’ll die, the Black Wall will instantly fry all devices related to you, to put it precisely, they’ll blow up."

Hmm... Lille nodded.

A clever method; if he were Network Monitoring, he’d use that way to verify whether the suspected target was AI.

Network Monitoring’s style of operation was exemplified here: they truly weren’t targeting you specifically, but when it comes to network security, they could pay any price, regardless of collateral damage.

However, Lille went on to say, "I still have questions, how did you confirm that Arasaka would attack me? Also, besides the Soul Killer..."

"Let me answer your second question first, yes, this is also a major focus of our activities inside the Wall, some AIs that are very human-like.

The good news is, the Black Wall has overwhelming power against nearly all rogue AIs, and strong identification ability, almost no rogue AIs can escape the Black Wall—

unless they are willing to mimic a human living in society from the ground up.

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck, the same goes for AIs.

Such AIs have limited capacity to disrupt the network environment, but we still need to remain vigilant at all times, as they may cause harm to the world from another dimension.

Like your previous employer, and... the damn Voodoo Gang!

I suspect their leader is just such an AI!"

It was apparent that Blais had strong opinions about the Voodoo Gang, his tone becoming firmer as he spoke, as if he wanted to devour them whole.

Lille waved his hand, "Prepare the money, and I will consider taking care of them for you."

"Uh... I will need some time to prepare.

Now let’s get back to the first matter, about Arasaka."

Blais’s expression turned grave, "We have to thank you for the incident you caused in Company Square, the EMP disrupted most of the companies’ covert devices.

We captured traces of Arasaka using the Soul Killer in Night City—strangely enough, we did not observe any unusual deaths of network hackers in Night City.

Remember, I mentioned, the Soul Killer is a bug in the Black Wall, a dark cloud looming over the Black Wall—"

Lille immediately understood what Blais meant.

The Soul Killer kills a person, but it also acquires a person’s digital consciousness.

If Arasaka can silently replace a person without the Black Wall, net monitors, or the world knowing,

then Arasaka can silently replace one person...

it can silently replace many people.

Blais continued, "Of the three assignments I’m giving you, two will involve Arasaka. You are professional mercenaries, failure is not an option.

I am fairly confident that Arasaka will take drastic countermeasures when you get to the heart of the matter.

Of course, it isn’t necessarily the Soul Killer, but in this world, nothing ever goes 100% according to plan."

Lille nodded in agreement, indeed that was true.

So the ability to improvise is incredibly valuable, there is no such situation where things go 100% according to plan.

Plans will encounter mishaps, unforeseen events can arise at any time, it’s even possible to fail, to experience painful failures—

These are the normal state of survival, this is the normal state for top-tier special duty personnel like them.

As for things that go exactly as expected, either the issue is too small, or the planning phase is not long enough, the impact too minor.

If the H8 Skyscraper cannot fish out Arasaka, then we will continue to trace other leads and pressure Arasaka. That’s why Blais says, these missions are only for the Burger King squad to handle.

Because only they three, using limited resources, can back Arasaka into a corner, making a convincing enough honeypot.

Blais shifted back to the topic of the Soul Killer: "Furthermore, we still do not know whether Arasaka can adjust digital souls to transform these digital personas into what they desire.

But just thinking about it, it’s a terrifying prospect, we need the truth."

This time you did well, headquarters engineers are currently decoding and analyzing the intercepted data flow; we are closing in on that truth—

Something huge is happening in Night City, we’ll figure it out, what Arasaka intends to do with AI."

The issues Blais mentioned were truly terrifying.

Silently replacing a person, becoming someone who doesn’t even realize it, naturally thinking they like Arasaka, identifying with Arasaka’s style and philosophy.

Just slowly implementing such actions, the entire society will unknowingly become a quagmire that recognizes Arasaka.

Lille tapped on the table, pondering the feasibility of this matter—

However, there’s hardly anything in the game related to this, what left a slight impression on him about AI were either Otto or the brainwashing case of mayoral candidate Perares.

Lille also needed to gather more intelligence for further analysis, making judgments too early would interfere with subsequent thoughts.

But... Lille looked at Blais: "Is it you guys, or is it you?"

"I..." Blais hesitated, "Does it make a difference? It’s a mission of network supervision, and also something I want to do."

"It doesn’t seem so now, but you act very passionately, like a street kid."

Blais stopped talking, pouring himself a glass of True Water.

"...I’m British, I’ve seen... similar things, I think they’re similar.

People overthrew something they thought they ought to under the leadership of someone they wanted to overthrow.

If the Soul Killer can achieve this level, history may repeat itself in a more brutal form."

"This room is really nice, and the taste of the True Water is good too, no flavor."

Setting down the glass, Lille could see a red indicator light flashing behind Blais’s neck—

This booth could block signals; it’s one of the few legitimate reasons for company personnel to willingly turn off networked prosthetics.

It seems he’s a corporate dog with a story.

Lille nodded, "Now let’s continue talking about the compensation, and that glass of water is 1000 euros."

Blais: "..."