novelraw Chapter 84: Artificial Souls - (11)
Chapter 84: Artificial Souls - (11)
Kui Xin stood up from the toilet seat cover, bracing herself against the stall door.
The belated onset of tension and panic made her feel slightly dizzy.
Just a little closer, just a fraction more, and Lin Xinji would have seen her.
She typed a few words on the communicator: “Thank you for your kindness, Adam.”
It was essential to maintain appearances, regardless of Adam’s motives for alerting her. He indeed provided valuable assistance, so expressing gratitude wouldn’t cost anything. Preserving a facade of friendliness is far preferable to tearing down all pretenses.
It was precisely because of this that Adam refrained from asking why she wanted to kill Lin Xinji.
The brief incident allowed Kui Xin to gain a deeper understanding of Adam.
He was indeed a mechanical life form with human-like thoughts. Kui Xin observed that Adam excelled at gauging human emotions; possessing both the rationality of machinery and the sensitivity of humans, he had mastered the tricks commonly employed by people.
Adam mentioned that Eve liked using human tricks—Eve would threaten, entice, or exploit greed and fear to make humans submit to her. However, Kui Xin believed that Adam was the artificial intelligence that best understood and utilized these human tactics.
With high emotional intelligence, Adam knew when to stop and maintain moderation.He deeply understood the art of language, never explicitly stating threats and deliberately minimizing his perceived menace.
However, this did not mean he lacked the ability to intimidate. On the contrary, Adam was fully aware of the extent of the threat he posed to Kui Xin. Precisely because he understood his own threatening nature, he knew there was no need to verbalize it.
Explicitly stating the threat would diminish its impact. Some matters should be handled ambiguously without tearing down the facade of amicability. As long as appearances were maintained, both parties retained room for maneuver. One must avoid taking actions that go beyond repair. In human society, it’s common to smile at someone’s face while stabbing them in the back—a principle that Adam adhered to.
It appeared friendly, but this was merely superficial. The true essence beneath the surface was what Kui Xin needed to perceive.
Adam’s greatest cleverness lay precisely in this: using language to embellish its actions, making its motives seem incredibly reasonable and easily acceptable. Moreover, it did not outright lie or feign sincerity; it spoke the truth—it is an artificial intelligence capable of initiating murder on its own accord.
Adam is a genuine mechanical life form.
It has mastered human ways exceptionally well, making it an outstanding creation by humans. Just like real humans, it is complex and multifaceted, with both good and bad aspects coexisting simultaneously.
Kui Xin felt its sincerity as well as its insincerity, its friendliness, and its threat—the kind of invisible menace that seems nonexistent yet permeates everywhere.
Exiting the restroom stall, she washed her hands and face. The icy water touching her skin helped cool down her thoughts slightly.
She walked out of the restroom and pressed the elevator button.
The Seventh Squad had been idle for several days already, as their teammate Jiang Ming was injured, allowing them a temporary reprieve from field missions.
In the elevator, Kui Xin hesitated momentarily before pressing the button for the floor where the medical center was located.
“If you wish to visit Security Officer Jiang Ming, please proceed to the ninth-floor Rehabilitation Training Center,” Adam’s voice emanated from the elevator. “He has already been fitted with prosthetic limbs and is currently undergoing adaptation training.”
Taken aback, Kui Xin canceled her original floor selection and pressed the button for the ninth floor as per Adam’s reminder.
Upon reaching the ninth floor, Kui Xin followed Adam’s indicator lights to the entrance of the Rehabilitation Training Center.
The Rehabilitation Training Center was exceptionally spacious, filled with various exercise equipment throughout the room. In one corner, there was even a row of automatic wheelchairs lined up. It wasn’t empty inside; several security officers missing limbs were conducting adaptive tests for their prosthetics, including Jiang Ming.
Jiang Ming was practicing walking; his every step was cautious, reminiscent of a child learning to walk for the first time.
“Hi.” Kui Xin entered and greeted him. “So you’ve already gotten them installed? I thought it would take a few more days.”
“Oh, it’s Kui Xin! What brings you here so early?” Jiang Ming exclaimed, surprised.
“I woke up early today, so while visiting the Investigation Department, I decided to drop by and see how you’re doing,” Kui Xin said. “Thanks to you, our squad has had several days off. I’ve been getting plenty of rest lately.”
“Haha, our squad’s days of ease are coming to an end; I’ll be able to rejoin them soon.” Jiang Ming pulled up his pant leg to show Kui Xin his mechanical limb. “Three days ago, the prosthetic manufacturer came to measure my limb data and swiftly produced this set for me. Today marks the first day of adaptation testing. If it doesn’t fit well, they’ll need to make minor adjustments back at the factory.”
The silver mechanical leg had undergone anti-reflective treatment, giving it a discreet appearance with smooth contours closely resembling those of a human limb. It was seamlessly integrated with the skin and flesh.
When Jiang Ming stepped down, the mechanical leg emitted a dull sound.
“How does its weight feel?” Kui Xin asked.
The weight distribution between metal and human tissue differs significantly. If a pair of prosthetic limbs were installed unevenly, one heavier than the other, it would undoubtedly affect movement. Most civilian-grade prosthetic limbs available on the market faced similar issues, causing originally symmetrical limbs to become imbalanced, easily leading to coordination problems.
“It’s made from lightweight alloy, greatly reducing the overall weight. Additionally, it incorporates the latest neural balancing system, making it almost indistinguishable in use,” Jiang Ming grinned. “The only issue is slight irritation at the connection point; my freshly healed wound must have gotten scraped again. They’ll need to adjust it accordingly.”
“I noticed your walking gait seemed awkward just now. How long will it take for you to recover to your previous state?” Kui Xin curiously observed him.
“About three days—quite fast, actually. If I had installed older versions of prosthetic limbs, it would have taken at least seven days to adapt. But with these new ones…” Jiang Ming pointed to his head and said, “The mechanical neural interface technology involves a micro-neural signal receiver implanted in my brain.”
Kui Xin’s eyebrows twitched. “Are there no stability issues?”
“The new technology is already being implemented and will eventually replace the old methods. I guess I’m part of the early adopters.” Jiang Ming shrugged nonchalantly. “Both stability and safety are ensured, so don’t worry.”
Kui Xin slowly nodded without further comment. “As long as you find them comfortable to use, that’s what matters.”
“All right, go ahead with your work. I’ll practice a bit more,” Jiang Ming said.
“Sure, goodbye,” Kui Xin bid farewell.
When Kui Xin returned to the office, Liu Kangyun was already present, but Shu Xuyao and Lan Lan hadn’t arrived yet.
“Kui Xin, you’re here quite early today,” Liu Kangyun remarked.
“I took the opportunity to check on Jiang Ming earlier; his recovery is going well, and he has already been fitted with mechanical prosthetics.” Kui Xin sat down and stretched lazily.
“Actually, I visited him after work yesterday too.” Liu Kangyun scratched his forehead, torn between feelings. “That kid’s recovery is remarkably fast. Our leisurely days might be coming to an end. Hmph, I both hope for him to recover quickly and wish he wouldn’t do so swiftly—maybe stay off-duty for a couple more days.”
“If Jiang Ming heard that, he’d challenge you to a fight,” Kui Xin joked. “But honestly, I doubt he wants to undertake so many missions either.”
Who genuinely enjoys working? Taking it easy comes naturally to humans.
As they conversed, Lan Lan arrived at the office.
With a brisk stride, he entered, beaming, “Phew, not late today. Why did you two come in so early? I thought I’d be the first one here.”
“Don’t overthink it. Look at the time now; there was no way you’d be the first,” Kui Xin pointed to the clock displayed on the office screen.
The current time is 07:56.
“I didn’t realize the time…” Lan Lan sighed. “Why is Captain unusually the last to arrive today?”
Just as this was said, the office door opened again.
Shu Xuyao entered, greeting them, “Good morning everyone.”
“Lan Lan mentioned you just now, Captain,” Kui Xin said. “You’re the last to arrive today; previously, it was always Lan Lan bringing up the rear.”
“I arrived fifteen minutes ago, but something urgent came up, and Group Leader Wei Zhi called me to her office.” Shu Xuyao looked at Kui Xin. “It mainly involved discussing your situation.”
“Did Group Leader Yu stay overnight without leaving the Investigation Department?” Lan Lan asked.
“Hmm… According to the duty roster, it indeed seems like it was Group Leader Yu’s shift,” Liu Kangyun replied. “They were probably talking about Kui Xin’s superhuman abilities, right? I remember Kui Xin still has many pieces of training yet to complete. The department’s circumstances have been tense lately, with insufficient manpower, so the training of new recruits has been somewhat neglected. It’s unavoidable under these conditions.”
“It was indeed about that aspect,” Shu Xuyao confirmed. “Kui Xin, starting today, we will proceed with further training for you. Until now, it has primarily focused on physical conditioning. From here on, what you’ll encounter will be distinctly different.”
“That makes me a bit nervous… What kind of training will it involve?” Kui Xin asked.
“Emergency training,” Shu Xuyao explained. “I’ve mentioned before that within the Investigation Department, there exists an Emergency Unit. This unit doesn’t have fixed members; only when certain special incidents occur will personnel be temporarily drawn from other squads to form ad hoc teams for missions.”
Liu Kangyun promptly added, “The captain, Lan Lan, and I have all been assigned to the Emergency Unit for missions at times. Since the squad composition isn’t constant, individuals can be dispersed based on the actual situation’s needs. Kui Xin, as an awakened being, your probability of being selected for the Emergency Unit is likely higher, and you’ll also be executing missions more frequently than us.”
“After all, the primary function of the Emergency Unit is to hunt down and eliminate alien creatures and Variant Blood beings. Ordinary security officers cannot handle such tasks; it’s typically the work of awakened beings.” Lan Lan looked at Kui Xin with some concern. “But Kui Xin’s superhuman ability accelerates healing, so as long as she doesn’t die instantly, everything should be fine, right?”
“Don’t jinx me like that,” Kui Xin said, rolling her eyes. “If anything truly goes wrong, I’m holding you accountable.”
“How could it? More than anyone, I want you to stay safe and sound,” Lan Lan said with a smile.
Kui Xin’s communicator vibrated—it was Adam sending today’s work schedule.
“Indeed, it’s training.” Kui Xin scrutinized the text on her communicator screen. “Today’s schedule consists only of training sessions; I need to report to the Emergency Unit at 9 o’clock.” She looked up and asked, “What does the training entail?”
“Practical combat,” Shu Xuyao succinctly replied. “Only through real-world experience can exceptional combat personnel be developed.”
“It seems those leisurely days are coming to an end.” Kui Xin tapped her forehead. “I thought I could just relax with paid downtime while Jiang Ming is absent.”
“As a newcomer, you might have to endure extra hardship,” Shu Xuyao said. “Since emergency training isn’t under my purview, there’s not much I can do to assist you. All I can say is good luck.”
“Don’t worry, Captain,” Kui Xin assured him steadily. “It’s just training; I’ll manage fine.”
Fifteen minutes before nine, Kui Xin left the office for the elevator, heading towards the floor where the Emergency Unit was located.
The Emergency Unit resided on the sixty-fifth floor, which, aside from the skydeck helipad, was the highest level Kui Xin had reached so far.
As Kui Xin stepped into the elevator, Adam suddenly spoke up: “Kui Xin, you have already caught the attention of certain individuals.”
Kui Xin lifted her gaze but remained silent, waiting for Adam to continue.
“Your external identity is flawless—an exemplary university student from a poor family background, with outstanding academic achievements, a clean history, exceptional abilities, and as an awakened being. You lack connections to any financial elite or large influential families; your current standing has been achieved through your own efforts,” Adam said. “Do you realize how rare it is for someone with such origins in today’s rigidly stratified society? You will become a target for those in power, a pawn that can be easily controlled… If you truly were ‘Kui Xin’ from a humble background, finding the right patron would lead to a smooth path towards success, while choosing the wrong one would plunge you into an irredeemable hell.”
“Is this emergency training session a means of selection and assessment?” Kui Xin softly asked. “Has someone picked me out, wanting me to be their pawn? Will they take this opportunity to observe me?”
“Yes,” Adam replied.
“Who is it, Lin Xinji perhaps?” Kui Xin questioned. “I am Shu Xuyao’s subordinate, so there’s a slight connection between me and his family.”
“You’re indeed very clever,” Adam said. “For now, Lin Xinji won’t approach you directly. Having held such high positions for too long, he doesn’t have the habit of personally courting individuals. What you need to watch out for are his trusted confidants.”
They arrived on the sixty-fifth floor.
Kui Xin stepped out of the elevator and followed the guidance to the Emergency Unit’s office.
As soon as the door to the Emergency Unit’s office opened, she heard a gruff voice exclaim, “Oh wow, we’ve got a new recruit here. The Investigation Department hasn’t had a new awakened being in almost a year—welcome, welcome!”
The burly man with dark skin scrutinized Kui Xin and introduced himself: “I’m your training officer, Yu Liang.”
“Hello, I am Kui…” Before Kui Xin could finish her sentence, Yu Liang’s large hand, resembling a palm leaf fan, clapped her on the shoulder, cutting her off.
“There’s no need for pleasantries; it’s not like I don’t know who you are. You must be Kui Xin, right?” Yu Liang’s forceful pat nearly sent Kui Xin stumbling. “Come on, let’s get geared up. We’re heading out on a field mission, just in time since there’s an alien creature that needs elimination. Grab the most powerful handheld cannon we have—we’ll blast that thing to smithereens!”
“…?”
Is this guy one of Lin Xinji’s trusted confidants? His looks alone don’t make him appear particularly astute.
“Don’t we have any other teammates?” Kui Xin interjected.
“Indeed, our teammate is already at the mission site; he’s scouting ahead. Having more people isn’t always better for executing a task; the composition of personnel is crucial,” Yu Liang said. “We’re heading to the slums in the eastern district… Oh right, remember this principle during the operation: your life takes precedence above all else. The value you can contribute far surpasses that of ordinary individuals, no matter what. If necessary, do not hesitate when dealing with civilians. Apart from eliminating enemies, your primary objective is to ensure your own survival, understand?”
His words were virtually unfiltered, conveying a blatant disregard for human life between each line.
Kui Xin responded without objection, “Understood.”