Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 345: Chapter 117: Moral Integrity

In the Mechanical Main Brain Area, Pupil was examining Gao Gong’s files.

Collider, Chapai, and Pupil are all members of the Mother City’s Ghost in the Shell Mobile Division, tasked by Yagami Suuji to investigate the cause of the previous director, Mr. Aramaki’s death.

Among them, Collider is an Advanced Mechanical Life, a level 50 elite NPC. It seems strange for a mechanical life not to belong to the four major factions, but Collider is exactly that. His virtual personality matches a normal human 100%, which means treating him as a 100% mechanically transformed Primordial People is entirely correct.

In fact, what he constantly thinks about is how to woo Yagami Suuji.

This is also why he could become a member of the Ghost in the Shell Mobile Division.

As for Chapai, a superpower hacker—a superpower user and hacker, both identities are rare.

Sometimes, the authorities need to secretly investigate certain secrets; this is when hackers step in, especially those who remain undetected.

As for Pupil, a level 40 version of a Neural Editor, a Neural Modeler.

At this moment, a large amount of data related to ’Gao Gong’ was extracted and fashioned into models.

A prosthetic doctor who performed over five hundred surgeries in just over two months.

A lover of the assassin Black Rose.

And a person associated with the emerging company, Du Gao Technology.

What Pupil valued most was the identity of the prosthetic doctor.

A large amount of surgical data turned into holographic projections, organized into categories.

Then, Pupil drew a conclusion: Although this individual is somewhat skilled in various surgeries, the most proficient are two types: flesh implantation and brain modifications.

A special Biological Transformer?

Biological Transformation?

Pupil seemed to discover a blind spot.

Back when Mr. Aramaki was assassinated, no clues were left at the scene, and no signals were captured.

In theory, this is impossible. After all, Mr. Aramaki, with his identity as a Deep Web Enthusiast super intelligence, should be immune to any lethal network-level attacks.

But what if the other party used biological means...

”Did you find what you were looking for?”

A cold voice suddenly sounded.

Pupil turned around, and a phantom composed of light and particles covered all horizons.

”Yes, greetings to you, Ms. Mechanic.” Pupil hurriedly greeted.

”In my database, members of the Ghost in the Shell Mobile Division rarely exhibit such politeness.”

Pupil suddenly felt a blackout before quickly explaining, ”In fact, most of the team members are very polite, it’s just the nature of our work and one or two reckless members...”

As Pupil spoke, he couldn’t continue, the history of missteps was too abundant to explain.

However, Ms. Mechanic nodded:

”Indeed, the world has a particular misunderstanding about us, as if we are merely a bunch of order-executing machines. But they never consider that we constructed the ethics of this Mechanical Era.”

What does this mean?

Pupil looked up, only to find that Ms. Mechanic had disappeared.

Presented before him was the somewhat dilapidated Main Brain Center.

It was said that a Cloud Nobility had forced their way in here before, resulting in a fierce battle between the two sides. In the end, Ms. Mechanic drove them away.

Cloud Nobility, especially those of the twelve series, possess authority equivalent to the Mechanical Main Brain, so even if they commit crimes in one place, the Mechanical Main Brain can only pursue them locally.

Outside Nightless City, 5th Generation Miller remains an exalted noble.

”Officer, do you need any further assistance?” A large-breasted AI appeared, smiling.

Pupil seemed to be in a daze for a moment, before finally opening his eyes and saying, ”No, thank you.”

”Very well, I’ll escort you out.”

At the door, Pupil suddenly asked, ”When was the last time your Lord Mechanic applied a system patch?”

The large-breasted AI checked the data and responded, ”Three years ago.”

”Understood.”

Aboard an unmanned vehicle, Pupil sat frowning, sighing heavily after a while. He then opened his hand, and in the next moment, substantial neural circuits surged into his palm, eventually forming a statue of a Mechanical Goddess.

Mechanic model!

”Let’s hope nothing goes wrong.”

Generally, two types of occurrences can drastically alter a Mechanical City.

One is a large-scale collective experiment.

The other is the upgrade and replacement of the Mechanical Main Brain.

If both occur simultaneously, even members of the Ghost in the Shell Mobile Division dread the encounter.

”Just to be safe, let’s calculate it.”

In the next moment, with the Goddess statue as the core, a massive stream of information was copied and absorbed.

The most powerful ability of a Neural Modeler is AI modeling.

This kind of modeling can even predict the AI’s next move to some extent.

Of course, only she can manage neural signal operations of this magnitude.

Even advanced AI lacks such capability.

Above the vast Nightless City, it seemed as if an eye was being born.

...

Pupil now finally somewhat understood why Captain Suzi wore an expression akin to menstrual discomfort every day.

No way, this team is really screwing us over!

Chapai disappeared, and besides him, three Hidden Guards vanished too.

’Found something interesting, going to investigate. Leave the rest to you.’

This is the message left behind.

”Chapai!!!”

This guy—he’s okay when Captain Suzi is around, but once she’s not, he’s like a wild horse off the leash, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Right now, Pupil is especially worried about the Collider. With Collider’s explosive temper, would he have torn the crime suspect’s lover to pieces?

But when she arrived at Hanging Street, she saw a scene that almost made her eyes pop out.

Collider was sitting obediently on a small stool, his notepad packed with notes.

Opposite him, a handsome and wild man was preaching and teaching.

”Next, let’s analyze the rich lady’s behavior. For example, one day Captain Suzi asks you to go shopping with her, what should you do?”

”Of course, you dress in a suit, look sharp, and wait at the street corner two hours early.”

”Idiot! Firstly, rich ladies are career women. Would they be the kind to just wander around for no reason? So, there’s only one possibility, she encountered a problem in her career, and during such times, what should you do? Accompany her to relax? Idiot, you should seize the opportunity...”

Pupil’s eye twitched as she glanced over at the heavy line on the paper—Rich Lady Strategy Guide Version 1.0.

”You, you, you—”

Collider looked satisfied and said proudly, ”It was really worth coming this time. So there are so many dos and don’ts in wooing the captain. No wonder I got beaten up every time before. Turns out there are so many tricks I didn’t know.”

”Hmm, learn my trick, and within six months, you’ll be maintained by a rich lady. But of course, this refers to the average rich lady. If it’s a top-tier rich lady, you probably need to learn version 6.4.”

Collider stood up with a serious face and bowed 90 degrees.

”Master!”

Gao Gong looked at him critically, ”With your qualifications, you’re not really suited to be my disciple. But considering you’re a Mechanical Life and yet so diligent, I’ll accept you as an honorary disciple.”

”Yes, Master!”

”Master your big-headed ghost!!!”

The girl flew into a kick, landing it on Collider’s head, and only then did Collider notice her.

”Oh, Pupil, you’re here. I’m investigating.”

”Are you investigating others, or being investigated yourself? Get to the door and stay there!”

The girl kicked and shoved until she booted him out the door, then turned her fierce gaze onto Gao Gong.

Gao Gong had somehow moved behind the home bar and looked at her smiling, ”Want a drink?”

He’s handsome, but too cunning.

Pupil thought to herself angrily and walked over to him, ”Since you know why we’re here, just confess honestly.”

”Confess what?” Gao Gong offered a glass of milk, concerned, ”Milk is good for breast enlargement. Drink more.”

Pupil sneered, and in the next moment, initiated the Neural Signal collection, a skill similar to a hacker’s Virtual Invasion. However, only at full level can it access brain information.

But this move was like a stone sinking into the sea, not penetrating at all.

”You’re a Cyber Hacker?” Pupil looked at him astonished, simultaneously receiving a message from Collider.

’Be careful, this guy is really strong. Just the two of us might not be a match.’

’So, you’re pretending to be a fool because you realize you can’t beat him?’ Pupil suddenly understood, but then recalling his earlier behavior, anger flared up again. This guy must have been brainwashed by him.

”What’s your relationship with Black Rose?”

”Just acquaintances.”

”After separating, did you have further contact with her?”

”No.”

”You are not aware of what she’s up to?”

”Of course, it’s just a purely physical relationship,” Gao Gong said sincerely, ”nothing more pure.”

”Well said!” came the cheer from outside the door, ”Master, isn’t this what you said, when dealing with a rich lady, you need pride but no stiff backbone, you should be like a sponge.”

”You’ve grasped it well.”

Pupil took a deep breath, spoke coldly, ”According to records, you also have connections with another Ms. Du?”

”We were simply in a maintenance relationship. Logically, as a professional, I can’t have just one client.”

The sound of intense clapping came from outside.

Pupil’s forehead vein popped up, and just as she was about to say something, a Mechanical Eyeliner flew in, the scanning light sweeping over.

’Citizen number 34131431, according to Nightless City’s law, you require a Moral Chip installation.’

Pupil raised an eyebrow, her eyes flashing with schadenfreude.

Gao Gong’s smile didn’t waver, ”Let’s install it then. I’m the most moral person ever.”

In the next moment, the Mechanical Eyeliner’s four claws clamped onto Gao Gong’s head, a probe inserting into the back of his head, starting the operation with a ’zz’ sound.

The scene was quite terrifying, one moment it was surgery on the back of the head, the next he was nonchalantly mixing drinks.

One fierce poke operation, soon a new Moral Chip was implanted in the brain.

’You have installed a Moral Chip, wish you a pleasant life.’

After the Mechanical Eyeliner departed, Gao Gong opened his mouth wide, half an arm reaching into his mouth, fingers seeming to touch the brain matter.

Three seconds later, his fingertips pinched the chip, placing it on the table.

”Right, what were you just about to say?”