Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 837: Chapter 5: Sword Holder

The middle-aged woman found it hard to imagine that she actually had a five-year-old son. However, the birth certificate, video materials, and small details in daily life, like the children’s toothbrush on the sink, all proved it.

She indeed had a son she had never seen before, and this son was indeed her biological child.

”So, Dad, Mom, have you forgotten me now?” said the little shota calmly, sitting on a small stool in contemplation.

The salty fish husband was still in shock, unable to comprehend, while the middle-aged woman was examining the ’son’s’ appearance. Despite his childishness, he was somewhat handsome, and the more she looked, the more she liked him. How did that happen?

”Indeed, the worst outcome has occurred,” the little shota sighed, ”I saw this news at school and worried you would forget about me. Now it seems you both actually forgot me.”

The little shota stood up, brushing off his pants and butt.

”Alright, Dad, Mom, it’s time for us to head out.”

”Head out, where to?” the middle-aged woman wondered, ”Oh, right, the news said we’re supposed to go to the Memory Department for registration, so they can check things out.”

The little shota shook his head and said seriously, ”Mom, I specifically looked up the news. It said that any device related to memory could potentially experience a ’disappearance phenomenon.’ That means memory implantation machines, short-term memory reset devices, human brain servers, all of these could malfunction. Do you know what this means?”

”Uh, no.”

”This means that in a short period, scam incidents will occur frequently, even without hacking techniques. With just a little trick, a lot of money could be swindled from some savings institutions. The most important thing for us right now is to withdraw the money from home first; that’s the first step.”

”First step? What’s the second step?” asked the dull-witted salty fish husband.

”The second step is to buy a large amount of reserve food because, given the global memory loss, security in the city will quickly deteriorate. It’s best to stay indoors during this time. I’ve already requested a long leave from school, and you both need to take leave too; that’s the second step.”

”Is there a third step?” the middle-aged woman couldn’t help but ask.

The little shota shook his head, ”The third step depends on how long this memory loss lasts and whether it was caused by an illegal experiment by some super corporation. There’s too little information to analyze, but I’ll try to gather intelligence from the Dark Net to protect our home.”

”Wait, the local network, how can you access the Dark Net?”

”Mom, did you forget even that? I taught myself basic neural editor and hacker skills, and as long as I don’t visit some dangerous underground networks, I can access most virtual spaces.”

The middle-aged woman and the salty fish husband exchanged glances, and the middle-aged woman murmured:

”With our intelligence, how could we have given birth to such a smart kid? Is he really ours?”

”He is ours,” the little shota said while packing clothes for the two of them, without even looking back. ”I also used to doubt this, so I secretly took your hair and did a blood relationship test. Unfortunately, I’m biologically yours.

...

Meanwhile, in the Ghost in the Shell Mobile Division’s data research room, a massive virtual planet was divided into 22 areas, each containing a lot of red markings.

Experts from the Five Shells and colleagues from the Memory Supervision Department were conducting data analytics.

”According to the data analysis, this type of memory loss is random and uncontrollable, unrelated to your status, personal power, or anything. Even within our Six Ministries, quite a few people have been affected.”

”Moreover, many memory storage devices have also begun to experience massive data loss.”

A neural expert from Five Shells breathed a sigh of relief and said thankfully:

”Fortunately, the Minister had foresight and copied the memories for all internal members to the Shell Attack Center; performing neural repairs will naturally restore them.”

”Our Memory Supervision Department also received a reminder from the Ghost in the Shell Mobile Division. Without your reminder, we would have lost a lot of memory data.”

A senior executive from the Memory Supervision Department showed a grateful expression towards Gao Gong.

”If there’s an opportunity, we would still like to invite Mr. G to give us some guidance at the Memory Department.”

For some reason, Gao Gong always felt the other party was a bit too familiar.

’Miss Ke, do I know this person?’

’The Memory Supervision Department, Deputy Minister Huang Cong. According to my records, you have never met nor had any business dealings.’

’Deputy Minister—’

Suddenly, Gao Gong thought of Guu Yitong. If that old man had forgotten about him, wouldn’t this Deputy Minister Huang Cong now be in charge?

’No wonder.’

Memory loss was not uncommon in the Cyber Test Field. In fact, much like catching a cold, everyone had some memory issues to a certain extent. The installation of prosthetic bodies, mechanical transformation, organism transplants, usage of various sensory equipment, and dependency on psychiatric drugs constantly increased the probability of such illnesses. But large-scale, synchronized occurrences like this had never happened before.

With Gao Gong’s prophetic foresight, the Ghost in the Shell Mobile Division had made preparations in advance, and it was precisely because of this that internal chaos within the Six Ministries was avoided.

This also laid the foundation for cooperation between the two departments.

After a heated and content-rich meeting, everyone present reached a consensus that the primary goal was to ensure the stability of social order amidst the ’memory loss’ backdrop.

”Phew, I’m exhausted.”

After endorsing dozens of action plans, Gao Gong finally had a moment to rest.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang in Gao Gong’s head.

”Boss, Boss, it’s time to get to work, Boss.”

”Huh?”

Gao Gong gently snapped his fingers, and with a flash of purple radiance, a mechanical girl leaped out from the light.

”Oh, it’s Xiao Yu. What do you have for me?”

”Boss,” Xiao Yu widened her eyes, ”Have you forgotten?”

”Forgot what?” Gao Gong asked curiously.

”Boss, in these two days, we’re supposed to sign a contract with the Eternal Life Conglomerate.”

Gao Gong paused, then memories flooded back like a tide. Previously, the Eternal Financial Group wanted to acquire shares of Du Gao Technology, and Gao Gong planned to make a move at the onset of the Cyber Tide.

It seemed this was precisely the time point.

How could he have forgotten?

Say what you will, as a 6.0 version biological computer, his data storage capacity was terrifying; photographic memory had become second nature.

The Cyber Tide launched, and the Memory Mother transitioned from the Unconscious Stage to the Conscious Stage.

Damn it, that Tier 5 monster had set his sights on him!

No doubt, the temporary memory loss just now was the work of that thing.

”Alright, I understand. I will awaken them.”

”Okay, hurry up. I haven’t seen Sister Du for a long time,” Xiao Yu said impatiently, feeling stifled during this period.

”By the way, who is this Sister Du you mentioned?”

Xiao Yu’s pupils suddenly widened, nearly jumping up, but fortunately, Gao Gong was just joking.

”I can forget anything except a rich lady,” Gao Gong paused, then mused, ”But I should have kept the Sword Holder, and the Sword Holder should be the Paradise Bird, right?”

”Boss, are you joking again?” Xiao Yu asked.

”Am I making jokes?” Gao Gong wondered.

”Because that Sword Holder isn’t me,” Two virtual doors opened, revealing not only the hacker big sister Hee Guanlan but also a young girl in a white dress.

”You’re here. Huh, who is this pretty little lady?” Gao Gong cheerfully greeted.