"The situation is critical, any amount will do," Xu Yang said.
"Five million!" the redhead hooligan stretched out a hand.
"Deal," Xu Yang agreed.
"Hiss..." The redhead hooligan showed an extremely curious expression, "No no, don't get me wrong, I mean five million per person! Give me fifteen million!"
"Deal," Xu Yang agreed.
"Five million? I don't want to owe you a favor!" Kojima Kanako stood up and said, "And you actually grovel to these gangsters..."
"Wow!" The redhead hooligan jumped back, pulling out a handgun, and the other gang members also drew their weapons, aiming at Xu Yang and his group, "Calling us a gang! What a huge slander! Add emotional distress and damage to reputation... Pay us thirty million quickly!"
"Continuing this dispute is likely to be disadvantageous for both sides," Xu Yang calmly took out a gun but did not aim at them; instead, he placed them on the ground to show he was harmless, then stepped back, shielding Farosa.
"What do you mean?"
"Actually, paying ten million is not a problem either, but it's best to avoid conflict. If you could get the money peacefully, I'm sure everyone would be happy, right?"
"Oh? But I'm not keen on it, is this money you earned through legitimate business? Let me check that cash card!"
Xu Yang whispered quietly behind him.
"Farosa... you understand."
"Hmm," Farosa clenched her right hand, trying to hide the gray glow of the Witch's Power from being seen.
Power, still usable once.
Although it might not be useful, she must not let herself be controlled by others, that is the bottom line.
Bang!
The door was pushed open once again, and the gang members turned their heads to see the newcomer, including the redhead hooligan who quickly bowed in greeting.
"Welcome, Boss Katsuragi!"
The voice reverberated like a large bell, buzzing in the air.
The person who came out was a muscular, tall woman, like a female athlete, with short hair dyed bright red just like the hooligan's, wearing a crisply tailored suit, likely with a tightly bound chest, pressed very flat.
She was not old, probably just over twenty, but she carried a deadly aura, with scars on her face from street fights, a ferocious demeanor, giving Xu Yang the sense that she was not easy to deal with.
This was someone who would not be easily knocked down, like steel, her fierce air and robust physique resembled a Battle Witch, making Xu Yang raise his guard.
Much more dangerous than the average gang member.
"Sister!" the redhead hooligan bowed and scraped, "These people attracted a bunch of Ratmen here, and we drove them off. I was just asking them for some bullet money."
"He's asking for fifteen million," Xu Yang said.
"Random charges are not Suzuki Group's style; he was just joking before," the woman said, despite her fierce looks, surprisingly reasonable.
"I see," Xu Yang gave her an out, too.
She walked up to Xu Yang and handed him a business card.
"Welcome to Suzuki Springs. I'm the manager here, Asa Katsuragi."
"Thank you."
Xu Yang accepted the business card; even though it was a gang, it seemed quite proper, donning a corporate facade.
"Suzuki Springs operates normally, and we have our own power supply. You can rest assured and enjoy the best hot springs in Katagi District here," Asa Katsuragi led Xu Yang and the others past the gang.
Xu Yang glanced at them; these gang members did not move, as if they had no reaction to external stimuli.
"They're like statues," Farosa couldn't help saying.
"They are standard-order enforcer type robots," Asa Katsuragi said with an easy tone, "equipped with second-generation AI, with excellent manners."
"Sis, you can't just expose everything like that," the redhead hooligan said.
"No matter, these people won't cause trouble," Asa Katsuragi said.
Dealing with so many robots would be tricky; it was good that he had managed to stabilize the situation as much as possible earlier.
Unfortunately, the implants were completely ruined, unable to even detect the gangs.
"Robots? Second-generation AI?" Farosa asked, puzzled.
"Robots are artificially intelligent machines, basically operated with AI. AI means artificial intelligence, and currently, there are four generations," Xu Yang said, "First-generation AI can only execute fixed commands, second-generation AI can autonomously handle and solve problems, third-generation AI actively learns, and fourth-generation AI has emotions."
"Oh..." Farosa still didn't quite understand.
The previous Matteo must have been equipped with a fourth-generation AI; he didn't act like a robot at all. Xu Yang thought bitterly. No company had publicly announced they were successful in developing fourth-generation AI, claiming the technology only existed in theory, but countless secret technologies were inside the companies.
AI comes in different types, some are masters of supercomputing, others excel in combat. The AI like Matteo's was good at combat and emulating human emotions; it performed well in these two areas, not so much in others.
"We provide bath and lodging services," Asa Katsuragi said, looking at Xu Yang. "Does the guest have the capability to send and receive messages?"
Digital Mind and the communication chip were both broken. Xu Yang felt a twinge of pain every time he thought about it. Without implants and Digital Mind, he was practically useless.
"Send it to my cell phone," Kanako quickly reacted, seeing Xu Yang's silence, and took out a mobile phone from her large bag.
Indeed, Farosa and I are essentially disconnected from this society. I threw away my cellphone a long time ago; I am a fugitive, Farosa is completely ancient, only Kanako is closer to the average person.
Soon, Asa Katsuragi sent the information to her phone.
"The cheapest package is 200 per person, the most expensive is 6600 per person," Kanako said.
"The most expensive package, for three people," Xu Yang took out a cash card, hiding the digit over a hundred million on the top right, "I will pay now."
"Suzuki Springs will make you feel right at home!" Asa Katsuragi smiled, took out a cash card and interfaced it with Xu Yang's, deducting 19800 funds from Xu Yang's card.
"Do you have game capsules here?" Kanako's eyes widened.
"Yes, you can ensure safety here, and someone will take you to the game room."
"You're still in the mood to play games now?" Xu Yang couldn't understand.
"Hehe," Kanako smirked, "after all, you paid."
"You owe me too much."
"I'm not forgetful," Kanako said.
"Games? Like hide and seek?" Farosa asked curiously.
"I'll show you how to play, and you'll know," Kanako was happy, "Games can bring joy and change a person's life."
Who knows if Farosa would become addicted to games.
"Now, please allow me to excuse myself; I still have rivals to deal with!" Asa Katsuragi said.
"Rivals?" Xu Yang immediately became alert, "What kind?"
"They are a host of our sworn enemies," Asa Katsuragi said seriously, "huddled in a robot megastore, defended by smart security and street missiles. This big blackout, cutting their connection to the 'big companies' behind them, is a rare opportunity. I don't want to elaborate, but I'm going to flatten them."
"In a hurry to act and quite troublesome, huh?" Xu Yang quickly said.
"The guest is so agitated, are you worried that the Suzuki Group can't handle it, leading to their counterattack?" Asa Katsuragi said loudly, "Don't worry! Watch as we take down that stronghold and declare our final victory!"
She was proud, but also angry and tense, perhaps she had lost a battle before. Xu Yang thought to himself.
"Help me out, and I can help you resolve this without the loss of a single robot," Xu Yang said quickly, "Black gadgets are my specialty."
"Oh?" Asa Katsuragi was curious, "What do you want me to help you with?"
"First, can you fix my implants?" Xu Yang raised his hand, pulling out the charred circuits on his wrist, staring intently at Asa Katsuragi.
"Yes," Asa Katsuragi nodded, "Our gang has skilled craftsmen who can take care of the repairs."
"With my assistance, you won't lose a single robot," Xu Yang said.
"Not 'robots,' though they may be made of copper and iron, they are brothers who fight together with the gang," Asa Katsuragi said.
"Then let's see that not a single brother is lost."
Once the Digital Mind is back online, many doors will be open to me.
"Come with me," Asa Katsuragi nodded.