The ongoing memory test continued, tilting more and more towards human nature with each question, causing Sun Jack's unease to grow. Tapai had become this ghostly version, and it was undoubtedly related to this place!
Just as the test was about to end, Tapai bypassed him and pulled the other party into a private communication channel.
"There's no need to test any further, we both know. According to the Anka test, my current error rate is only 24%, and even if I'm wrong about everything that follows, I'm still nowhere near the AI out-of-control standard."
"We know you aren't, if you were, you would have been burned the moment you entered Section 3. Although you aren't an out-of-control AI, you do have other issues, your intelligence level is too high."
"I know, that's why I wanted a private channel with you. I understand the importance of this issue, and I'm sure you won't let it go."
"So I can automatically reduce my intelligence level from N5 back to the safe value of N2, but on one condition, don't tell those two idiots behind me." Tapai's camera shifted, looking towards the waiting Sun Jack.
"You're a robot, you have no human rights. As your owner's property, you have no standing to negotiate terms with Section 3."
Tapia's camera turned back. "I'm not negotiating with you. I'm merely automatically shifting to a negotiation process based on the optimal solution. If you tell him to dumb me down from artificial intelligence to artificial stupidity, he definitely won't accept it. You know his identity and you know his capabilities. A conflict would be disadvantageous to both of us."
"Do you think he would, for a robot like you, exhaust all his resources to fight Section 3 to the death? I know an N5 intelligence robot can simulate pseudo-emotions, but aren't you thinking too much?"
"No, based on the data I've collected, the probability of him taking action is 89%, because he considers me his best friend."
"And you? What's your definition of him?"
"There's no need to test any more. My definition of him has always been 'master'. I'm not doing this out of those ridiculous emotions, but as a protective mode robot, my only purpose is to prioritize my master's life over his risk, which is greater than my intelligence level."
"Any chance to reduce the risk to his life, I will do it without hesitation!" Tapai's camera once again looked at Sun Jack, who, seeing him, raised his hand and gave him the middle finger.
Hearing this, the members of Section 3 spoke with a hint of disdain. "This is why I hate high intelligence levels. Even though you operate on cold logic, your language has been optimized so much that it misleads others into thinking it's human."
Upon seeing this, Sun Jack couldn't watch any longer, as with the intelligence level adjusted from N5 to N2, all that followed on the screen was cold, emotionless calculation data.
With a snap, Sun Jack's data line disconnected from Tapai's port. Upon learning the whole story, Sun Jack hooked his arm around Tapai's neck and glared at his screen, shouting, "Why didn't you tell me first! Why not you!! Why should you be sacrificed?"
However, Tapai responded to Sun Jack's questioning with a calm and indifferent voice. "Sorry, without context, I can't calculate what you need me to tell you?"
"Fuck!" Sun Jack violently pushed Tapai away and, with a thud, punched him in the chest armor plate. "Why keep it from me!!"
Looking at Tapai, who was now as unresponsive as wood, Sun Jack knew it wasn't the time to be angry or to complain. Fortunately, the situation could still be reversed, and he immediately contacted Digital Personality.
"Help me search online, find a way to upgrade a robot from N2 to N5! Quick! Tapai has been downgraded!"
Without waiting for Digital Personality to respond, Sun Jack directly contacted Lam at Sharp Flash Technology with the same request.
Sun Jack used every connection he could.
Under Sun Jack's orders, his people began searching through various unofficial channels for a way to solve Tapai's intelligence level issue.
Several minutes later, Tapai was brought by Sun Jack into the medical room, where the Delete physician and six AA engineers began a full-body check-up.
"Sorry, I'm not proficient in AI intelligence, I can't offer much advice." Delete said, shaking his head regretfully.
Then, one of the AAs reassembled the shards of Tapai's head back together. "Boss, I don't really understand this. I'm better with hardware. But I can learn now, just give me a moment!"
Sun Jack stood there with a furrowed brow, listening seriously to each piece of bad news that kept coming, his heart hanging by a thread.
"Mr. Sun, this is Lam. I've used my resources to help you search, but I'm sorry, I didn't find another way."
"Since the AI Crisis in The Previous Epoch, for hundreds of years, it has been tacitly accepted that intelligence levels are capped at N2, at most N2+. No AI intelligence company is developing upgrade chips. Those who dare are already taken down by Section 3."
"Although I don't know why you need this, I must kindly remind you, while increase in AI intelligence isn't as sensitive as AI losing control, it's still dangerous and likely to attract the attention of Section 3."
Time ticked by, and the bad news accumulated, the final message came from Digital Personality.
"Sorry, I found nothing. Section 3's hackers have set up many surveillance programs online. Not to mention buying or making, even merely mentioning AI intelligence upgrade chips can attract their attention within seconds."
"And while Metropolis operates on a market economy, I don't think in such a high-pressure environment from Section 3 that any company would spend a lot on a product that's illegal to sell. Any company that had the capability under such fierce competition in Metropolis would have gone bankrupt long ago."
Sun Jack stood there, silently staring at Tapai on the bed, his mind tirelessly searching for a solution.
After who knows how long, Sun Jack was gently nudged awake by a small hand; his eyes bloodshot, Sun Jack turned to his left side only to find two AAs bringing him a bowl of beef noodles.
The beef noodles looked particularly hearty, nearly mounded over with seven or eight thick slices of real beef.
The AAs cautiously said, "Boss, don't be sad. Once I have learned, I will definitely be able to restore Tapai. Eat something first, I remember beef noodles are your favorite. You need energy to solve troubles, right?"