As the general manager, Li Pan had the right to select one hacker from the same batch as Number Eighteen provided by the prison, and of course, just one, and not as a 'person' but as 'electronic equipment'.
Given that Number Eighteen was an illegal synthetic human, and a black hukou concealed in prison, according to the public safety system's regulations, her fate hung between being harmlessly processed according to pest control laws, and being thrown onto the streets to fend for herself while shouldering a massive debt as a property-less, black hukou individual.
Although Li Pan could use his position as general manager to vouch for her, pay social security on behalf of the company, provide her with legal and compliant identity documents, give her a temporary job position, and after three complete years as a temp, she could obtain an official 'human' status and the bare minimum of social welfare.
