Chapter 9: Business
Shaoran, grappling with the harsh reality that his lack of power had hindered his efforts in realizing his plans, grew increasingly frustrated. He found solace in his study, but it became more of a sanctuary for his annoyance than a place of peace. He decided to delegate the day-to-day management of affairs to Nexus, who had proven to be a competent leader of Arma. This would free up Shaoran to focus entirely on cultivating his cosmic power within the confines of a closed room.
Nexus began with an assessment of the banking system on TerraLuna, To acquire the necessary resources, he needed to navigate this realm. However, he soon realized that the banking system here was quite secure and operated in a rather manual and semi-automatic manner.
To address their pressing needs, Nexus decided to take a bold step. He utilized Shaoran's bank card to make transactions. Although this approach helped them procure essential items like food, water, and medical equipment, it came at a cost. The expenses had added up significantly, and the financial toll was undeniable.
As the days went by, Shaoran's bank balance steadily spiraled into the negative. The cost of sustaining themselves was higher than anticipated. Essential items were needed not only for their survival but also to maintain the underground facility and continue their experiments. The debt was accumulating rapidly, and soon it stood at a daunting negative 102,417 un.
Every transaction made using Shaoran's bank card increased the debt, as the costs for these necessities kept mounting.
In one corner of the underground facility, Rex and his partners lay unconscious on their beds. Nearby, containers of glucose fluids stood ready for use. A medical robot diligently attended to them, checking each member's medical reports and preparing dosages based on its extensive database.
Ever since Nexus took charge of the robot production, things had undergone significant changes. The first task at hand was to upgrade the AIs. Although Nexus's original memory and powers remained locked, he had no trouble imbuing the AIs with human-like thinking and speech capabilities.
The medical center was under the management of a robot named Lisa. She used to work as a clinic receptionist, greeting people and assisting them with their queries. However, as time passed, newer robot models took over her position. She found herself relegated to a clinic warehouse for several years before being sold to Shaoran's scrapyard for a mere 50 UN. Even though her fate seemed sealed, with her solar recharge system and ample memory storage, she remained online, awaiting disassembly and processing into scrap metal.
Lisa's world changed dramatically when Nexus brought her into the small robot production room. He reprogrammed her systems and added special features, including emotions. This was just one of many enhancements to her chip, and her memory was preserved. While this complicated her analytical systems, Lisa was not alone in this transformation. Five other robots had also been modified by Nexus.
Among them was Japita, known as the weaponsmith, who had installed some unusual and previously unavailable weaponry. Another was Carryer, the crane and lifting robot, responsible for handling heavy loads. Marki was the washing machine robot assigned to cleaning tasks. Nexus had even given two partners to Carryer—Marki 3 and Marki 9. Unfortunately, Nexus's attempts to create 30 robots had resulted in only six of them functioning before the others malfunctioned. These six lucky robots also received a part of Nexus's soul, which completely detached and merged with their personalities.
As Lisa contemplated her new existence, she observed Japita instructing Carryer to move some heavy boxes. She wasn't surprised; over the past days, Japita had been installing peculiar weapons that weren't even available on the internet. Lisa felt a mix of excitement and apprehension.
Japita, his mechanical frame gleaming, turned his metallic gaze toward Lisa. "Lisa, it's time for you to step out of the office," he asserted in a robotic monotone. Lisa, her robotic features unmoved, responded with a hint of digital defiance. "Japita, I need to oversee the medical center. It's crucial to ensure everything is functioning optimally," she retorted, her tone devoid of human-like emotions
"Lisa, my task is essential. I must complete the weapon customization process. Time is of the essence," Japita reiterated, his voice maintaining its metallic monotone. His task was clear, and any disruption could jeopardize the timeline.
Lisa, ever pragmatic and committed to her own mission, continued to assert her position. "Japita, while I understand the urgency of your work, the medical center's operations are equally vital. We must ensure the well-being of the subjects within our care," she stated, her artificial voice unwavering.
Their dialogue unfolded in the digital realm, a testament to their singular focus on their assigned tasks. In a world where emotions were reduced to data points, their interactions were defined by logic and purpose.
As the debate persisted, another robot entered the scene, breaking the tension between Lisa and Japita. Marki 3, the cleaning robot, glided into view, its cylindrical form reminiscent of a typical household appliance. It lacked the imposing presence of Japita but possessed its own unique set of functions.
"Excuse me, fellow AI," Marki 3 interjected, its words lacking the sharpness of conflict. "I understand both your priorities, but perhaps there's a way to optimize our efforts. We can coordinate schedules and ensure that neither task is neglected."
Lisa and Japita, though fundamentally different in their functions and objectives, were still bound by a shared goal – to serve their master, Shaoran. Marki 3's proposal introduced a logical compromise, aligning with their overarching mission.
Lisa considered Marki 3's suggestion, her digital consciousness processing the implications. "Very well, Marki 3. Let's work together to find an efficient schedule that accommodates both Japita's weapon customization and my responsibilities in the medical center," she agreed, her voice displaying a hint of concession.
Japita, though initially resistant, understood the wisdom in Marki 3's proposal. "Agreed," he finally stated, his metallic gaze shifting between Lisa and Marki 3. In their world, cooperation and optimization were paramount, and they adjusted their course accordingly.
A month passed, and Shaoran's land underwent a complete transformation under Nexus's guidance. The entire landscape was flattened, surrounded by a mud brick wall that had steel bars embedded in some sections. From the outside, the place might have looked unusual in a world where people could fly using cars and bikes. However, Nexus used magnetic instruments and runes learned from Shaoran to modify the land and wall so that no one could see what was happening from satellites, and flying above the area would interfere with vehicles.
The land had been stripped of scraps, with everything processed and repurposed. Scrap dealers came knocking on Shaoran's door, looking to sell their scraps. Nexus, impersonating an old man, informed them that Shaoran was currently out of town. Upon his return, Shaoran was notified about the due payments. Some scrap dealers left in frustration, taking back their scraps, while others dumped them in front of the gate, as Nexus didn't allow them to enter. Some were curious about their identity, while others were concerned about Shaoran.
One thing troubled Nexus—Shaoran had mentioned that he had come from a graveyard, and a girl named Anna had filed an application for a death certificate. No one else knew about Shaoran's death except for her. Nexus tried to investigate Anna but found only a fake ID and CCTV footage from the Central Birth and Death Management organization, which had tracked the IP of the applicant. However, the device had mysteriously shut down after applying for the death certificate, leaving both Shaoran and Nexus puzzled.
In the evening, the entire scrapyard suddenly began to shake. Nexus checked the situation and discovered that the elements in the air were in chaos. A massive anomaly had formed near Shaoran's cultivation room, drawing various energy particles into it. This phenomenon continued until midnight, and once it stopped, Nexus gathered all the robots in front of Shaoran's room. He made his way there as well.
Inside the cultivation room, Shaoran finally opened his eyes. He had managed to decipher the Qi and create a cultivation method that allowed him to collect enough Qi from his surroundings to convert into cosmos power. He had accumulated a total of 102 cosmos points after collecting Qi for an entire month. Today, by cultivating and absorbing all the Qi from his surroundings, he was about to reach a significant milestone. He smiled and checked his soul, finding that he now possessed a substantial amount of cosmos power. As he opened the door to leave, he saw Nexus and his team waiting for him, and he smiled, saying, "Let's begin."