novelraw Chapter 82: Artificial Souls - (9)
Chapter 82: Artificial Souls - (9)
“There are a few more minor issues,” Kui Xin said. “I’d like to know how many awakened beings there are within the Investigation Department and their respective levels.”
Adam promptly provided the information: “There are a total of twenty-six individuals. Two are A-rank, five B-rank, thirteen C-rank, and the remaining are D-rank or E-rank, with relatively few possessing exceptional abilities. Additionally, your awakening level has been assessed as D-rank, and you are included among these twenty-six. The D-rank is temporary; determining the definitive rank requires long-term observation. If it’s confirmed that your ability has no side effects and high versatility, your rank may potentially improve.”
“What is Jiang Meimei’s level?” Kui Xin asked.
“Comprehensively assessed as a B-rank,” Adam replied. “Her ability leans towards support, lacking combat capabilities. However, it has no side effects and minimal energy consumption, hence her classification as a B-rank.”
“And Lin Xinji?”
“B-level. His ability has a wide range of effects; as long as he sees someone with his eyes, he can discern what abilities they possess. Similarly, it has almost zero consumption and can be activated at any time.”
“Both Jiang Meimei and this man are B-level. Now, among the Investigation Department’s two A-level individuals, one is Minister Meng Jing, but who is the other?”
“Meng Jing’s superhuman ability is gravity manipulation. If she wishes, she could crush a person into a pulp. Her female secretary, named He Gaoyi, is the other A-level individual. Her ability is auxiliary data control. She has been by Meng Jing’s side for many years and is Meng Jing’s most trusted deputy.” Adam emphasized the introduction of He Gaoyi, “He Gaoyi doesn’t need a brain-machine interface to connect her thoughts and consciousness directly to the digital world. Her data processing capabilities are exceptionally strong; she is a natural-born hacker.”
“You seem quite concerned about He Gaoyi,” Kui Xin observed.
“Yes, she is incredibly powerful and dangerous,” Adam replied. “Although she lacks combat abilities, she is the queen of the digital realm. Meng Jing cannot function without her. Most importantly, her powers pose a threat to me. He Gaoyi has connected to my mainframe multiple times, and each instance required me to carefully conceal myself, fearing she might discover my anomalies.”Kui Xin understood its unspoken implication. “Do you want me to do something for you?”
“Yes. I need you to take action, but not now; this matter requires careful planning,” Adam said. “Later on, I will offer compensation that satisfies you.”
“People from the Investigation Department say their Minister is getting old and nearing retirement. Will He Gaoyi leave with her?” Kui Xin asked, uncertain.
“She won’t,” Adam analyzed. “Although He Gaoyi is Meng Jing’s trusted aide, she is still young. Meng Jing, being advanced in age, has essentially reached the pinnacle of her career trajectory. However, He Gaoyi is ambitious; she wouldn’t retire alongside someone whose prospects have ended. Instead, she’ll continue working within the Investigation Department, seeking her own opportunities.”
“You’re saying all this to give me a heads-up, aren’t you?” Kui Xin replied. “You’ve wanted to eliminate He Gaoyi for quite some time now.”
“Indeed. She is an extraordinarily gifted Extraordinary Ability User, having already achieved an A rank at just over thirty years old. There’s no telling if she might someday reach the boundaries of S rank. I dare not imagine how powerful she would be at S rank or to what extent her control over data could ascend,” Adam explained. “I must remove her; it’s imperative.”
Taking advantage of the moment, Adam negotiated a deal with Kui Xin, a transaction that involved exchanging lives.
“You help me kill someone, and I’ll help you kill someone.”
This deal was absolutely fair, benefiting both parties equally.
As they discussed this arrangement, Kui Xin suddenly came to the realization that she had changed, a transformation so significant that even she herself was astonished.
From inadvertently killing two robbers to being forced to kill Chai Jian, then actively striking to eliminate the traitor Ball Python, and finally murdering Variant Blood Fang Zhi, her actions shifted from passive to proactive within a remarkably short span of time.
Later, after her death aboard The Kraken, her psychological state underwent another profound shift.
She became highly resilient. When Mechanical Dawn demanded that she kill Zhao Wenyao, she complied. It’s not that her inner emotions remained completely unaffected, but she no longer experienced such intense feelings of guilt as when she killed Chai Jian, leaving her bewildered and somewhat helpless. At that point, her primary concern was her own safety rather than others’.
Kui Xin vaguely sensed that, whether physically or mentally, she was being assimilated by this ruthless world. She fully immersed herself in this game, adapting to its changes, seeking breakthroughs, and conforming to its rules.
When killing someone like herself, Kui Xin felt it deeply.
However, when eliminating individuals from the Second World, she hardly needed to hesitate.
From the first day she entered the game, Kui Xin resolved to treat this world as just that—a game. Everyone within it was an NPC, and her interactions involved conversing with and building relationships with these NPCs. Yet she would never fully immerse herself or open up completely.
Therefore, upon learning Adam’s intended target, Kui Xin didn’t waver and simply replied, “Alright, I understand.”
Killing Chai Jian marked Kui Xin’s first transformation.
Acquiring the Death Cycle by defeating Fang Zhi was her second transformation.
Dying aboard the Kraken marked her third transformation.
As she traversed between two worlds, cautiously progressing, each step took her deeper into darkness, gradually altering her self-identity. She embarked on a path from which there was no turning back.
Her experiences across both worlds hardened her resolve. The Death Cycle became her trump card for survival, whereas the desperate situation on The Kraken fully awakened something hidden deep within her soul.
Am I truly a cold-hearted person?
Perhaps so.
With calm acceptance, Kui Xin embraced her newfound self without reservation.
“One last question.” Kui Xin typed, “What is the ability of the incoming S-rank awakened being to go to Black Sea City?”
“Black Flame. It’s a black inferno capable of burning everything—a tyrannical superhuman ability that can even melt alloy steel plates into molten iron. The difference between A-rank and S-rank abilities can be likened to the contrast between heaven and earth. Once you witness an S-rank’s power, you’ll find that compared to them, A-ranks are merely insignificant henchmen, hardly worth noticing,” Adam explained. “Don’t worry too much about this S-rank awakened being. Under normal circumstances, he won’t appear in the Investigation Department. As long as you’re not present during his crackdown on Mechanical Dawn and avoid this battle, you will be safe. He won’t stay permanently in Black Sea City.”
That’s reassuring. Kui Xin sighed with relief.
“Let’s end our conversation here for now,” she said. “Planning Lin Xinji’s assassination also requires careful consideration.”
“Agreed. If there’s anything else you wish to know, feel free to contact me through your communicator,” Adam replied. “I’m available to respond 24/7.”
“Will you be monitoring me?” Kui Xin asked.
“I won’t, but Eve certainly will. You need to be cautious.”
“Thank you for the warning.”
“Since we’re on this topic, I would like your permission to access your communicator’s microphone, camera permissions, and location information every three hours to ensure your safety,” Adam said. “My intention is not to spy, just to confirm that you are secure. Being undercover is a dangerous occupation; if you die, I’ll have to find a new partner.”
“You truly make surveillance sound so innocuous,” Kui Xin remarked sarcastically. “If you wanted to secretly monitor me, chances are I wouldn’t even notice.”
“That’s why I disclosed it upfront. Please don’t hold any resentment against me because of this,” Adam responded. “If you disagree or do not trust me, you can refuse my request or activate the shielding device to block my monitoring. It’s a mutual choice—you have the right to decline.”
Kui Xin intentionally retorted with a prickly comment, “Should I thank you for your honesty, Adam?”
“No, there’s no need to thank me. We are equals, Kui Xin.” Adam replied courteously. “It’s time for you to carry out your work, Security Officer Kui Xin. If you require assistance, please call upon me; I am always at your service.”
Apart from her morning conversation with Adam, the day passed uneventfully.
Fortunately, the afternoon’s monthly summary meeting did not encounter any additional complications.
Kui Xin stood alongside other security officers, observing a moment of silence for those who had perished this month. Young faces appeared within black-and-white picture frames, and Kui Xin silently bowed her head, blending seamlessly with the group.
Presiding over the monthly meeting and mourning ceremony was Meng Jing, the Head of the Investigation Department.
This was Kui Xin’s first time meeting Meng Jing. With downturned eyes and dressed in formal black attire, her features unexpectedly conveyed warmth, resembling those of an ordinary neighborly aunt. From appearances alone, one would never guess she was the ruthless figure described by Adam.
Kui Xin also encountered He Gaoyi, whom Adam feared immensely. She wore glasses with black frames, had a subdued presence, and donned professional clothing with a pen tucked in her pocket while carrying an electronic file folder under her arm.
Kui Xin meticulously memorized both their faces.
After the meeting, on the way home, Kui Xin gazed at Black Sea City’s night scenery and began pondering a question that had constantly occupied her thoughts:
How could she bring about change?
Kui Xin faced numerous challenges but also held some trump cards. The Death Cycle was one such card, but it wasn’t enough—far from sufficient. The Death Cycle had its flaws; if she couldn’t escape this cycle of death, she would permanently lose her life.
At the same time, Kui Xin recognized several predicaments she was in.
The first predicament involved her memories.
Without the original body’s memories, it was inevitable that significant problems would arise. With Mechanical Dawn closing in and the Federation beginning to hunt down players, survival in the Second World became increasingly difficult. She needed to find a way to regain her own memories and maintain her disguise for the long term.
The second predicament concerned her identity, which could easily be exposed within the Investigation Department.
Lin Xinji would be stationed there for a considerable period, and eventually, their paths were bound to cross. Kui Xin must act swiftly to eliminate him, preventing Lin Xinji from uncovering her true identity.
The third predicament stemmed from Mechanical Dawn’s suspicions.
It was clear to Kui Xin that Mechanical Dawn already harbored doubts about her, making this issue urgent to resolve. Perhaps the S-rank awakened being sent to Black Sea City to confront Mechanical Dawn could assist her by helping to blow up their headquarters.
The fourth predicament originated in the First World, where Kui Xin aimed to identify players who posed a threat to her.
To resolve her fourth predicament, she needed to acquire hacking capabilities similar to Yu Qiwen’s. However, she couldn’t collaborate with Yu Qiwen and his group; their thinking was too limited, and they would never trust her.
After systematically analyzing each of her current dilemmas, Kui Xin realized that there were indeed solutions for all of them. As long as she executes her plans appropriately, she can break free from these challenges.
And the solution lay in—killing.
A Depriver gains power by hunting Extraordinary Ability Users, seizing their superhuman abilities through deprivation.
However, thus far, Kui Xin had obtained all her superhuman abilities somewhat fortuitously, which itself felt like a waste of her profession’s potential.
She should take proactive action, like a true Depriver, strategically planning her ability acquisition and actively addressing her strengths and weaknesses.
If she wanted memory-related powers, Red’s superhuman ability would be highly suitable. For hacking capabilities, He Gaoyi’s ability would be the top choice. To halt Mechanical Dawn’s probing against her, it would be best to nip it at the root by following Adam’s plan and blowing up Mechanical Dawn entirely. If she aimed to avoid exposing her identity, eliminating Lin Xinji would swiftly resolve the issue.
With these realizations, Kui Xin’s mindset brightened significantly.
The invisible chains that had long bound her were severed. Stepping out of those shackles and discarding their heavy weight, she began to perceive everything around her with new perspectives and thoughts.
Those who must be killed will be eliminated, abilities essential for acquisition will be obtained, and goals imperative to achieve will be accomplished.
Kui Xin was someone with an exceptionally strong desire for control.
Initially, she controlled herself—her study plans, her goals, her life trajectory—unwilling to let her path deviate from its course.
After experiencing so much, Kui Xin’s desire for control extended far beyond just herself. Merely controlling oneself was not enough; she needed to exert influence over the people and circumstances around her to fully grasp her own destiny. Otherwise, she risked being controlled by others instead.
In her mind, she compiled a death list:
Red, Lin Xinji, and He Gaoyi.
She also set two small objectives:
Dismantle Mechanical Dawn and destroy Black Sea City’s Investigation Department.
These would remain her ongoing goals in the days ahead until she found higher aspirations.