Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

’PP, how does it feel to hack the cameras, is it like sitting behind the surveillance room?’ Plane

’Nah, still a bit uncomfortable, it’s like I’ve got a few more eyes, and they’re all farsighted, the cameras in the Outer City District are really too old’ PP Boss

’Plane, stop chatting, report your position!’ Baozi

’Let me see, I’m on Electric Street, hmm, near the shelter’

’What kind of place is the shelter?’ I am a Big Muscle Dominator

Plane looked up, the walls were covered with wires, optical cables, and conduits, a huge anglerfish logo hung from the ceiling, people were coming and going inside, there were several old men in white robes, one of them was holding a chain, the object of the chain was a sex doll robot, very scantily clad, and people around seemed used to it.

He saw a slave-like mark on the robot woman’s forehead.

A brothel?

’Probably a cyber-style church.’

’Are there monsters?’

’Probably.’

’Go somewhere else, PP, find him a good place.’ Baozi

’I’ll look, Plane, walk forward, then turn left, then right, there’s an electronic pet market here, where the crowd is the largest.’

’Okay, on my way.’

Plane patted his butt and got up, just in time to see the robot woman turn her head, her pupils were common market prosthetic eyes, resembling glass beads.

For some reason, Plane felt a bit uncomfortable inside.

’Ah, the online love interest appeared!’

In PP Boss’s surveillance camera, three people appeared, each with a backpack, looking dusty, and beneath an integrated hood, was a ’face model’ of some small celebrity from the market.

These small celebrities, for the sake of making money, basically sold whatever they could, image rights, sensory rights, simulated personalities, as long as you wanted, you could legally customize a small celebrity to serve you around the clock.

’But there are three.’

’Three! Are you sure?’ Baozi sent a shocked emoji.

’Of course I’m sure, I could tell from the photos, that was once the viral physical idol Celestial Sea.’

’Is it three people using the same face model, or one person split into three?’

’From my years of CP experience, these three people’s eyes are the same, they must be the same person!’ PP Boss pledged.

’I’ll make that bald guy add money later!’ Sister Ji sent an angry emoji.

’Plan change! Plan change!’

Baozi quickly shouted in the group.

’Plane, don’t make a move yet, Hei Bing, hurry over, and Big Muscle Dominator and I will return immediately.’

’Red Flower Demon, be careful, don’t get surrounded.’

The plan wasn’t complicated, Red Flower Demon dressed as a security personnel to pull roadblocks.

Plane was in charge of assassination.

Hei Bing was to block in front, while he and Big Muscle Dominator were to cover the rear in case the first wave of assassination didn’t succeed and the opponents tried to flee.

Why not go all in, mainly worried that if the assassination failed—it might self-destruct on the spot, taking everyone away in one go.

But the number of opponents becoming three immediately increased the difficulty.

”This way’s blocked, this way’s blocked,” seeing the three handsome faces looking over, Red Flower Demon quickly waved his hand, indicating for them to head towards another street.

He wore a security uniform swiped by PP Boss from the company, and the roadblocks were sponsored by the gang recruit I am a Big Muscle Dominator.

In general gang fights, there would usually be such things on the outskirts.

’What level?’

’About Level 4 or 5.’ Red Flower Demon thought for a moment, adding, ’Not as strong as that slum Winter Soldier.’

Unlike Brother Umbrella’s ’Insight’, Red Flower Demon’s ’Environmental Exploration’ could only vaguely confirm the danger level of the opponent, unable to pinpoint their level.

The three ’Celestial Seas’ looked at each other, exchanged glances, and actually split three ways, one continued forward, one went back the way they came, and the other went towards the opposite direction.

’Damn! They’ve split into three directions!’

[Image][Image][Image][Image]

PP Boss sent a series of screenshots in the group.

”Red Flower Demon, go help Hei Bing, Plane, chase the one in the middle, PP, navigate for us!”

By then, there was no time to worry if they would self-destruct, stopping even one was a win.

First to encounter were the duo of Big Muscle Dominator and Baozi, Big Muscle Dominator, having been a lackey for the gang for so many days, wasn’t just doing it for nothing, let out a ferocious roar, launched Basic Mechanical Combat, snatched up a brick, and rushed forward.

Baozi then pulled out a DIY hand crossbow made from prosthetic body scraps, ’whoosh whoosh whoosh,’ three arrows lodged into the opponent.

But as Baozi nervously reloaded, his hand shook, and the bowstring snapped with a ’pop’.

”Damn it,” Baozi quickly discarded the hand crossbow, pulled out a small whiteboard pistol the boss gifted, originally with six bullets, two spent, leaving only four now.

With two gunshots, the blood volume of this Celestial Sea finally hit zero, lying on the ground motionless.

Big Muscle Dominator grinned and stood up, rubbing his shoulder, ”What a force!”

”How much experience did you add?”

”200.”

”You?”

”Same.”

Baozi glanced at the player panel.

[You have successfully killed the artificial intelligence sub-body ’Celestial Sea’, experience +200]

”What does artificial intelligence sub-body mean?”

”It’s like your forum account.”

”So you can register as many as you want?”

”Pretty much.”

Big Muscle Dominator started to search the body, but only found a photo, in the photo was a cute smiling girl, but the girl in this picture wasn’t the AI girl Little Anna from the date.

Baozi touched his chin, suddenly said, ”Did we actually just kill an AI Sea King?”

’We’ve taken care of it here too!’

Red Flower Demon sent a photo, on it was a ’Celestial Sea’ body, dotted with bullet holes, Red Flower Demon and Hei Bing No. 2 were posing in front of the body.

’We only found a photo, but the person doesn’t seem right?’

Red Flower Demon shared the photo to the group, it was another unfamiliar-faced girl.

Sister Ji replied with a big question mark.

’Where’s Plane?’ Baozi asked.

’I’ve betrayed the party, betrayed the country, I’m a sinner of history, a traitor to the people!’ Plane sent a crying emoji.

’What happened?’ Baozi quickly asked.

’Lost the chase’

’How did you lose the chase?!’

’This guy is a road idiot! I gave him such good directions, and he still got lost!!’ PP Boss sent a series of angry emojis.

’Now the target is out of surveillance range, what do we do?’

Baozi exhaled a long breath.

’No choice, let’s head back, chase to the meeting point.’

This group of players had no choice, they directly took the Route 11 bus, and with all their might, rushed back.

’Sweat, I gave you incorrect intel, sorry!’ Eldest Brother Hui sent a sweating emoji.

Honestly, if it weren’t for this guy being a human-like virus body with a criminal chip, making everyone in the group anxious, these five or six players would’ve swarmed and solved the mission by now.

’It’s okay, everyone is playing ”Cyber Realm” for the first time, it’s normal to encounter issues.’

In the end, Baozi calmed down, after all, it’s just a Newbie Village mission, it’s fine if it can’t be completed.

’Just feel a bit sorry for Sister Ji.’

’It’s no big deal, anyway, I’ve been annoyed with that bald guy for a long time, having a wife and daughter but still clubbing every day, his daughter’s early dating serves him right!’ Sister Ji comforted.

’But can someone explain this to me, what the hell is this Artificial Intelligence thing? Can two AIs even date?’

’That’s the legendary online romance, Sister Ji’ PP Boss sent a heart emoji.

’If AIs are dating online, what about long-distance relationships? Is it still between different races?’

’Considering the nature of this game, I think it’s entirely possible!’

’Hahaha——’

The topic among the group of players gradually drifted off.

[’I am a Big Muscle Dominator’ invited ’Rainy Night with a Knife and No Umbrella’ to the group]

’Brother Umbrella, are you online?’ Baozi

’I’ve always been online,’ Rainy Night with a Knife and No Umbrella

’Then what are you busy with, not doing the mission!’

’Online exam’

’Ha??’

In an internet café in the Outer City District, Rainy Night with a Knife and No Umbrella took off the connected helmet, on the transparent screen, there was the interface of an assassin software, with the crimson words ’Completed.’

’You passed the assassin assessment, from now on, you are one of the assassins.’

A chat partner named Sasaki Nijiro typed a line.

’Go find Mr. G, he will tell you what to do next.’

The next instant, the assassin software automatically shattered, disappearing.

Rainy Night with a Knife and No Umbrella glanced at the player panel, the original civilian Level 10 was gone, replaced by Assassin Level 1 (Assassination Alliance).

Additionally, gained a talent ’Assassin Intuition’ and two skills, one was ’Poison Quenching’ and the other ’Cold Blood’, the former increases poison attribute damage, the latter reduces the chance of being discovered by 9%.

The life-and-death trial just experienced in the ’assassin software’ left Brother Umbrella reminiscing, simple tools, dangerous traps, and nearly unbeatable enemies.

Although fully aware these were fake, the feeling was real.

This blood-pumping feeling had not been experienced for years.

He muttered to himself, ”Need to stretch my legs a bit.”

...

In the group

’Report the address, I’ll see if I can intercept it’ Rainy Night with a Knife and No Umbrella

’Whoa, Brother Umbrella, you’re actually going to take action!’ Baozi

’The Lord Umbrella is here, Nightless City will be at peace, the Lord Umbrella is here, the sky will clear!’ Big Muscle Dominator

Sister Ji didn’t speak, instead quickly reported an address, that was the meeting point for the AI date.

Ten minutes later, a message popped up on the player panel of everyone involved in the mission.

[Mission complete: Experience +2000 points, Benson’s Favorability +100 points, a Blueprint, a ’Deep Image’ product]

”Did we get it done?” Plane said dumbfounded.

”What level of intelligence does it take for you to say something like that?” Red Flower Demon sneered.

’There’s a minor issue’

Rainy Night with a Knife and No Umbrella posted in the group.

’Brother Umbrella, please go on——’

’The timing was a bit tight, I killed in front of that AI girl.’

’Wow, blatant crime, truly worthy of the name of a literary master!’

’Doesn’t matter, as long as the mission is complete, at most the AI girl will be sad for a few days, she won’t commit suicide——will she?’ Sister Ji

’AI suicide, how would that even work? Implant a virus into herself?’ PP Boss

’No… the problem is a bit complicated.’

In front of the Beautiful Couple Café, Brother Umbrella, with a cold face, sheathed the knife at his waist.

And beside him, a cute-looking AI girl was staring at the cool guy in front with sparkling eyes, her body’s projection was emitting a lot of electronic light dots due to excitement.

”Wow, you’re so handsome!!! Can you be my boyfriend?”

Brother Umbrella was silent for a good ten seconds before pointing at the body on the ground and saying: ”Wasn’t he your boyfriend?”

”He’s dead now, and besides, it’s for the best. I was using hundreds of sub-programs to date, I almost couldn’t remember which account I used with him, meeting in person was awkward.”

Rainy Night with a Knife and No Umbrella remained silent again, turned around, and left without saying a word.

Little Anna was hot on his heels.

”Hey, you killed my boyfriend, you have to be responsible for me, I’m a widow now!”

”Are you worried about my functionality? Don’t worry, I secretly used my dad’s card to swipe for several top-tier modules, with simulated touch, three-digit excitation, virtual reality love-making, whatever you like, I can satisfy you!”

”Hey, why aren’t you talking? But your silent look is even more handsome! How about a coffee date?”

Sea King,

far from being just one,

far from just human.

...

At Red Dream Club, still a place of revelry and drunken dreams.

In front of the bar counter, a middle-aged bald man was drinking gloomily.

Amidst the melodious cello sound, a sensually dressed woman walked up to him, with a charming smile.

”Your task is done.”

”What?!” Benson looked up in surprise.

”Here’s my business card,” the woman handed over a freshly printed card.

”Remember, if you have any trouble in the future, you can always come to me.”

”My name is Sister Ji, a trouble-solving assassin broker.”

The bald man opened the card, reading the simple four words.

Player Intermediary