Sun Jack would not easily let go of a brain expert like Xiao Ting, threatening her to repay the debt was one aspect.
Not to mention the grudges between the two, having someone of her caliber available after acquiring new technology at least provided some reassurance during the experiments.
Without having leverage over her, relying solely on her word without proof, who knew if such technology existed, and even if it did, whether there were any hidden dangers.
In case of any accidents, it was better to have insurance, after all, it concerned consciousness, and there was no room for carelessness.
"I won't do it!" Facing Tapai's proposal, Xiao Ting still refused.
But when Sun Jack dragged her to Gaofeng Technology's DNA Research Institute and she saw the abhorrent body experiments, she finally gave in.
Agreeing now still left her with a chance to turn the tables in the future, but if she refused, the outcome could be very, very grim.
She didn't dare gamble against someone cruel enough to use his own clones for human testing.
"However, 2000W is too much, I have some valuable copied consciousnesses, among which there are some valuable fragments in the memories that can be used to offset some of the debt."
"Alright, you can discuss these matters with the company's finance department when you get back. First, tell me where that technology is," Sun Jack said as he threw the other's upper body back onto the chair.
Hearing this, an indignant Xiao Ting scoffed, "Quit the act, you obviously really want it, yet you're stubborn as hell."
Seeing she wasn't speaking, Sun Jack quickly scanned her entire body, ready to reach out and turn off her Pain Editor directly.
The only reason she was capable of having a calm conversation with half her body missing was thanks to the Pain Editor blocking out the physical pain.
If the editor was removed, she could shock herself into unconsciousness from the pain.
As his fingers drew nearer, she spilled the beans quickly like pouring out beans. "Elise QD! His name is Elise QD! A wealthy man living in the Central Business District! His collection should include this kind of technology!!"
Her words made Sun Jack's reaching hand slowly retract. "Continue, tell me more about this person in detail."
"Due to having too many prosthetic bodies, he contracted a very special cyber-mental illness, an extreme form of nostalgia. In his heart, everything from the past is best, so he had a virtual world custom-made for his personal use, in which he collects everything from the past, including outdated prosthetic bodies, past cultural environments! Even obsolete technology!"
"Why is he so rich? What does he do?" Sun Jack kept pressing for answers.
How much the other party had decided the way he would communicate and the strategies he would employ.
"I'm not very clear on that, but I seem to have heard he has shares in a Breeding Factory, as for how much money he has, after the financial crisis, the currency changed, so previous data is obsolete."
Regardless, now that he had a name, Sun Jack quickly found the other party's ID number, then tentatively sent a communication.
If this technology was just an outdated one, then buying a copy outright probably wouldn't cost too much.
Realizing what Sun Jack was doing, Xiao Ting continued, "You won't be able to contact him, he's a Netizen."
"What's a Netizen?" Sun Jack discovered that in Metropolis there were always new things popping up that he didn't know about.
"Before we continue, shouldn't you first give me a complete body? Am I really supposed to just stay like this?" Xiao Ting pointed at her empty lower half.
Sun Jack, controlling the Sky-base Weapon, returned to Shendong Street. Xiao Ting was receiving body repairs from AA and Delete while she continued to explain to Sun Jack.
"Netizens are a group within the Metropolis who fully immerse their lives in the virtual world, having completely given up on the real one. Elise QD is just such a person."
"Just like I said before, she specifically had a large world created to immerse herself in for the rest of her life. If you want to meet her, it's best to go through the gaming company and enter her game to talk face-to-face. She is not a difficult person to negotiate with. If you go to her seeking a copy of the data, she probably won't make too many excessive demands."
Looking thoughtfully at the gradually reassembled body of Xiao Ting, Sun Jack said, "Why do I get the feeling that you're quite familiar with this person?"
"I've conducted a few business deals with her. Sometimes, when I clone a particularly old self-consciousness and personality, I sell it to her."
The curious Tapai asked, "Old stuff is normal, but consciousness and personality have antiques too?"
"Of course, there are, like this one here, who would be considered cream of the crop." Xiao Ting pointed towards Sun Jack.
Watching this scene, Sun Jack's fists clenched. He really wanted to kill the bastard.
Tapai reached out and touched Sun Jack's head, "Who would have thought your consciousness and personality could be so valuable. If Metropolis had a Cyber Pantheon, you might actually fetch a pretty penny."
"Bugger off!" Sun Jack impatiently swatted away Tapai's hands.
Xiao Ting picked up the leather tight coat, and with the zipper pulled up, she wrapped her white Simulated Skin entirely within it.
"Enough chit-chat, let's get to the Hover Shuttle and go find this guy, now!"
Sun Jack, of course, took Xiao Ting with him to meet the individual, as she was somewhat an acquaintance, which might help secure a discount.
The Hover Shuttle was fast, and it wasn't long before they arrived. However, much to Sun Jack's surprise, the individual didn't reside in any luxurious building in the Central Business District but took an elevator that descended underground.
But it made sense upon reflection, as a life lived entirely online naturally negated the need for windows and ventilation in one's living environment.
Watching the elevator numbers descend, they finally stopped on the 18th floor. As the elevator doors opened, various virtual network advertisements materialized in the air and around the walls.
"Oasis Entertainment, your only choice in the networked world."
"Oasis Entertainment, where you have a home of your own!"
"Full human NPCs provide an experience even more realistic than a level 8 intelligence robot."
At the same time, a variety of amazing virtual worlds appeared in midair, the images both high-definition and stunning.
"Who would have thought there'd be such a network gaming company underground." Sun Jack stepped out with his right foot, leading the two towards the reception area in the distance.
"Although you're quite popular recently, you're a mercenary, and your nervous system is external. Virtual ad conversion rates on you would be too low, so these companies generally prefer to have game streamers and well-known hackers for their promotion," Xiao Ting explained from the side.