"Who told you I have the Eternal Technology of the Holy Grail?" Sun Jack frowned, looking at the Holy Grail Federation before him with surprise.
"I don't have it. After the Holy Grail fell, that everlasting technology disappeared."
A member of the Metropolitan Federation, number 7, spoke up, "Mr. Sun, there's no need to play dumb with us now. We know you have it, and making this choice is in everyone's best interest."
"Even if you've taken control of BCPD, United Fruit, and the Breeding Factory, even if we've been repeatedly stripped of our flesh, we still haven't resorted to armed resistance, instead choosing to peacefully resolve our issues with you, showing sincere intent."
"Haven't I paid money? I have paid, those companies were purchased by me. And I've also exchanged shares with Utopia Security," Sun Jack said with full conviction.
"As the one in power, isn't printing more money just a word away for you!"
Number 1 suddenly stood up in anger. "Even if we owned all the stocks of Utopia Security, what difference would it make? Does that company belong to us? They still listen to you all the same!"
Upon hearing this, Sun Jack spread his hands, "If you're going to put it that way, then I have nothing more to say. Just tell me what exactly you want to do."
"Although we're no match for you, that does not mean we're without any means. I'm sure you would not like to inherit a Metropolis that is battered and in ruins, right?" They obviously knew what Sun Jack was wary of; no ruler likes destruction.
"Fuck, you dare to threaten me? Then just fucking bring it on." Although he spoke this way, Sun Jack knew he couldn't really afford to fall out with these capitalists. The great war had just ended, and if another one were to break out, many, many people in the Metropolis would die.
Sun Jack turned to look at Tapai standing beside him, leaning slightly towards him. "What do you think?"
"Do you have the Holy Grail's eternal technology?" Tapai asked, staring into his eyes.
"Nonsense, of course it's kept with the Clones. Such a thing is a very precious bargaining chip; how can I just give it up?" Sun Jack glared back at him.
"If you do have it, I suggest a trade. Although the Metropolis will lose some resources due to these companies moving away, it will also indirectly vacate a portion of the market. As long as we block the intrusion of capital from other cities at that time, this market will significantly increase the employment rate in the Metropolis, making life much better for the lower classes. This aligns with your demands," Tapai recommended.
After pondering over these words for a few minutes, Sun Jack looked back at the people before him, "Fine, you can leave, I agree. But shouldn't you leave something behind? Just walking away like this seems rather indecent, doesn't it?"
Following several hours of wrangling and negotiation, Sun Jack ultimately managed to retain some of the physical industries in the Metropolis.
As this meeting came to an end, and Sun Jack prepared to stand up and leave, he unexpectedly found that three people hadn't left—one was number 13, another number 4, and number 6.
"Why aren't you busy moving your company, what are you still doing standing here?"
The three of them simultaneously bowed their heads in front of Sun Jack, "We're not going anywhere; we will always be loyal to you!"
Seeing the agreement for a gratuitous transfer of shares popping up on the system, Sun Jack began to smile. It seemed not all capitalists were fleeing; some were capitulating.
"Alright then, as long as you give me face, I will definitely not let you suffer. Let's work together to make the Metropolis even better. From now on, the Metropolitan Federation will be re-established with you three at the core." After appeasing these few, Sun Jack stretched his muscles to relieve the numbness from sitting too long.
But as soon as he turned around, he saw Tapai standing right behind him, staring straight at him. "What's wrong with you? Why the hell you keep staring at me?"
"Nothing, I just want to watch you."
"Damn, you creepy freak." Sun Jack flipped him the bird and turned to leave the conference room." Let's see what's next on the agenda...."
Meeting with representatives of the Metropolitan Citizens, doing an interview for the NK network channel, and having an internal meeting with the accountant and Abu.
As Sun Jack started to get busy, he had almost no rest, working from morning till night, and throughout the entire day, Tapai was closely following him every step of the way.
It wasn't until late at night, right before going to sleep, that Sun Jack turned his head towards Tapai, "Do you have something on your mind or what?"
"Yeah." Tapai responded naturally." I'm having trouble distinguishing what's real and what's fake."
"What's the matter, going through an AI crisis again? Wake up and let me know when you've figured it out." After saying that, Sun Jack lay down on the bed and fell straight to sleep.
Feeling Sun Jack's breathing grow long and slow, Tapai approached, with numerous translucent sensing threads extending from inside him, moving towards Sun Jack's brain—he wanted to confirm one more time.
The very second those sensing threads touched Sun Jack, he abruptly opened his eyes, and after seeing it was Tapai, he adjusted his sleeping position and went back to sleep.
As the sensing threads delved deeper, Sun Jack's brain unfolded before him without any defenses. With thorough investigation and verification, Tapai was very certain this was Sun Jack, with not a single false memory or any additional ones.
Moreover, he had followed him all day without noticing anything unusual; he had caught all the bait he had thrown out.
No matter how you looked at it, this was Sun Jieke's original body, and even if he was mistaken, at most it was a clone of Sun Jack—it couldn't possibly be something else.
Just then, a 'ding' sound signaled a message arriving in Tapai's system. "Hello, I am Guan Sanke, the director of "Revolution Sun Jack". I'm not dead, I've just temporarily sought refuge in another city. I need some startup funds to reboot everything, if you transfer 300,000 Dogcoins to me now, once we make it, not only will you be the leading lady, but I will also pay you ten million Dogcoins as a reward."
Tapai looked at this poorly-crafted scam and calculated, recalling the words he had heard earlier.
He was about to dismiss it, but then a voice rose up again by his ear,"What if, what if it's true? What if the real Sun Jack is being held somewhere unnoticed?"
Everything regarding Sun Jack is more important than anything else.
After thinking it through carefully, Tapai decided that since he couldn't discern the truth for now, he would leave this matter be and focus on tracing the source of that voice.
Once he could find the source and make a comparison, everything would become crystal clear.
Having made up his mind, Tapai quickly logged onto the network, "I need your help."