Death… And Me

Chapter 4406: Can’t Be Disrupted

While Tobao, Harksha, and everyone else looked completely terrified, Rean’s eyes were practically shining with excitement as he stared at the holographic projection of the Nexus Core.

”That was so cool!”

Tobao’s mouth twitched.

Did Rean even understand what had just happened?

The AI had just demonstrated that it could disable the Sacred Relic at will and doom the entire Besgol Region whenever it pleased. Yet, instead of being worried, Rean seemed fascinated by the technology behind it.

Ignoring everyone’s expressions, Rean walked straight toward the hologram with a broad grin. ”Doesn’t that mean you know exactly how the Sacred Relic works?”

-That is correct.-

”Great!” Rean clapped his hands once. ”Then you’ll teach us everything about it. How to operate it, repair it, maintain it, improve it... everything!”

”Rean...” Tobao felt another headache coming. ”Did you not hear the AI threatening to wipe out the Besgol Region a moment ago?”

-This AI is not allo-

”Enough with that,” Rean interrupted before Nomo could finish. ”Your own survival takes priority. Sure, from your perspective, we’re using the Sacred Relic illegally, but that doesn’t actually interfere with your primary objective. If you expect us to help you, then you’ll also have to help us. Otherwise, this partnership won’t be sustainable.”

He folded his arms before continuing, his expression remaining completely relaxed. ”You can certainly keep a firm grip over the Sacred Relic if that’s what your programming requires. However, that only guarantees obedience through fear. It doesn’t guarantee cooperation. If everyone obeys you because they’re forced to, then sooner or later someone will start looking for a way to get rid of you. That isn’t good for your long-term survival.”

Rean pondered for a moment before another idea crossed his mind. ”Actually, the better solution would be to officially open your territory to the cultivators of the Besgol Region. Right! What do we need to do to become registered residents of your territory? As the commanding AI, you should have the authority to grant those kinds of permissions. Otherwise, I doubt your civilization would’ve lasted very long.”

-Calculating possible outcomes...-

The room became silent while Nomo processed Rean’s proposal. Several seconds later, the answer finally came.

-This AI concludes that entity Rean’s proposal contains logical merit. Voluntary cooperation produces greater long-term stability than forced compliance. It is also within this AI’s authority to register outside entities as official residents, provided they possess sufficient value toward the continued maintenance of this AI’s territory.-

”Perfect.” Rean nodded with satisfaction. ”Then here’s my proposal. You teach us your array technology, and we’ll help restore your territory. Even better, you should expand your protected jurisdiction to include the Besgol Region itself. Since there’s already another Nexus Core here, one that apparently doesn’t possess an active AI, it would benefit everyone if you also assumed responsibility for maintaining it.”

Tobao and Arcis could only remain silent.

Somehow, the conversation had completely changed direction.

Only moments ago, they had been discussing the possible destruction of the Besgol Region.

Now...

Rean was somehow negotiating an alliance.

-That arrangement is possible. However, this AI requires complete cooperation within the limits established by its operational directives. Above all, restoring this AI’s original territory remains its highest priority for the continued defense against the ancients.-

Everyone still found themselves confused whenever Nomo mentioned the so-called ancients. To the cultivators of Besgol, the Nexus Core itself was already an ancient existence. Yet, judging from everything Nomo had said, there seemed to exist something far older than even itself.

Rean didn’t seem interested in that mystery for the time being.

”We’ll naturally follow your rules whenever we’re operating inside your territory,” he replied. ”However, the Besgol Region has survived for countless years by following its own system of laws and governance. If we’re going to become partners, then Besgol must retain its own authority. Any alliance only works if both sides genuinely benefit from it, and honestly speaking...” He smiled confidently. ”You have a lot more to gain from us than we have to gain from you.”

Nomo was about to respond, but Rean raised a finger.

”I know what you’re going to say. You’re going to tell me that your programming doesn’t allow you to relinquish authority because you’re required to remain the highest governing entity.”

He shrugged.

”That’s fine.”

”The authority we’re asking for doesn’t actually conflict with yours.”

-Please elaborate.-

”We simply want to continue living our lives as we see fit.” Rean spread both hands. ”You can remain in charge of the Sacred Relic. Frankly speaking, whether we like it or not, you’ve already demonstrated that you can take control of it whenever you wish. That means you’re already the one holding all the cards. So, how about this? We’ll help you however you need, and in return, you’ll teach us everything necessary for us to maintain both your territory and our own. Just don’t bother us with anything else that doesn’t affect your directives.”

Once again, the room fell silent as Nomo calculated countless possibilities. It wasn’t merely evaluating Rean’s words. It was also comparing them with every piece of information it had collected from the Besgol Region’s communication network.

Finally...

-Some operational changes will become necessary. This AI can preserve the freedom currently enjoyed by the residents of Besgol. However, registered residents must answer this AI’s summons whenever their assistance becomes necessary.-

”For the right rewards, you’ll never run out of volunteers,” Rean answered almost immediately. ”You’ve been eliminating Godly Creatures around your territory for countless years. You must have an enormous reserve of Godly Crystals by now. You’ve already searched our network, so you know exactly how valuable those crystals are to us. Besides the survival of the region itself, they’re practically our greatest resource. If you offer enough Godly Crystals as payment, people won’t simply answer your summons—they’ll line up asking to be chosen.”

-That arrangement can be provided.-

”Excellent!” Rean’s eyes sparkled once again. ”Then when do we start? I’d really like to learn about your ancient array technolo—mmhmhmhmph!”

Before he could finish, Roan covered Rean’s mouth and dragged him several steps away from the discussion. Only after doing so did he look back at Tobao.

”You can continue from here.”

Tobao felt both helpless and grateful at the same time.

Truthfully, he himself had been about to interrupt Rean.

Thankfully, Roan had acted first.

Now definitely wasn’t the appropriate moment for Rean to start requesting lessons on ancient array technology.

Clearing his throat, Tobao stepped forward once more. ”Friend Nomo, we will need to gather the leaders of the Godly Subjugation Guild together with the representatives of the other major organizations. Although Arcis and I possess the authority to negotiate on behalf of the Besgol Region, implementing an agreement of this magnitude will require everyone’s cooperation. If that cooperation is secured...” He looked directly at the projection. ”Will you truly teach us everything required for us to maintain both your territory and our own Sacred Relic?”

-As long as the entities residing within the Besgol Region continue benefiting this AI’s territory and refrain from hostile actions against it, this AI accepts a mutually beneficial exchange. However, the Nexus Core, currently known as the Sacred Relic, shall remain under this AI’s direct supervision for security purposes.-

Naturally, nobody present was naïve enough to celebrate immediately.

Tobao, Arcis, and everyone else understood perfectly well that allowing Nomo direct control over the Sacred Relic came with enormous risks. They barely knew this AI, and trust certainly couldn’t be established overnight.

Yet...

What alternative did they truly have?

Compared to the outcome they had been facing only minutes earlier, this was already a tremendous improvement. They simply can’t stop the Nexus AI from controlling the Sacred Relic either. At the very least, Rean had somehow convinced the AI to treat Besgol as a partner instead of a subordinate, allowing everyone to continue living freely so long as they respected Nomo’s territory.

Tobao let out a long sigh.

If this agreement truly went through, then countless laws, organizations, regulations, and responsibilities throughout the Besgol Region would need to be rewritten. The entire region was about to undergo changes unlike anything in its history, and whether those changes would ultimately prove beneficial... only time could answer that.

”Very well, friend Nomo.” Tobao finally nodded. ”I’ll require some time to convene the leaders of the Besgol Region. Would it be acceptable if your avatar were present during those discussions as well?”

-That arrangement is acceptable.-

”Good.” Tobao nodded once more. ”Then we have a de-”

”Alright, this is where it ends.” A completely unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed throughout the room, instantly freezing everyone present. Not because they wanted to, but because they truly couldn’t move at all.

Out of absolutely nowhere, a young man had appeared inside the heavily protected meeting room. No one had sensed his arrival, nor had anyone detected him crossing the defensive and detection arrays surrounding the building. It was as though he had simply materialized there without passing through any space at all.

Tobao and Arcis immediately circulated their Godly Energy, but soon saw that it was meaningless. They still couldn’t move!

”Who are you?!”

The young man completely ignored the two Law Gods.

Instead, his gaze settled directly upon Nomo.

”There used to be so many of you,” he said calmly. ”I suppose it makes sense that one or two managed to survive until now.”

Then, without the slightest hesitation, he issued a command.

”Nexus AI, you are hereby ordered to access frequency ##########.”

”Immediately transfer yourself and initiate complete deactivation of every remaining facility.”

”Login: #########.”

”Password: ####################.”

It was an extremely strange phenomenon.

Everyone could clearly see the young man speaking.

His lips moved normally.

His voice could be heard perfectly.

Yet, whenever he pronounced the frequency, login, and password, absolute silence replaced those words. They simply couldn’t hear them, as if reality itself refused to allow those specific pieces of information to be perceived.

Nomo, however, reacted immediately.

-Authorization confirmed.-

-Welcome, Supervisor Duze.-

-Attempting connection to designated frequency...-

-Connection successful.-

-Initiating transfer...-

-All remaining operational facilities and automatons will commence self-destruction in ten seconds.-

The instant those final words finished, the winged spider suddenly dropped onto the floor.

Its lights disappeared.

Its body became completely motionless.

At the same time, the holographic projection of the distant Nexus Core vanished without leaving behind the slightest trace. One could only imagine what happened to the Ruins it took care of.

The young man gave a satisfied nod before finally turning toward everyone else.

”Sorry about that. We simply can’t allow the grassroots lands to become disrupted. That wouldn’t be healthy for the overall balance... nor for future prospects.”

Finally, his gaze settled upon the twins’ group.

More specifically...

Upon Rean alone.

”So...” A faint smile appeared on his face. ”You’re the one who developed arrays capable of manipulating Godly Pressure. That certainly explains how the Power-Link was severed.”

He slowly shook his head. ”That’s not good. That’s... not good at all.”