Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 624 - 155: The Truth of Electronic Ascension

Scorpion froze.

She couldn’t understand at all how the core of the Mechanical Brain Project, Dou’s super neural network, that massive Buddha head, could have been suddenly cracked.

She even forgot she had just barely survived a brush with death.

From the collapsed center of the forehead, a terrifying Flame Bird soared upward, the complexity and mystery of that code flame was so daunting that it made her shrink back in fear.

Perhaps it was noticing this gaze, the woman within the flames nodded slightly towards her, the intense firelight made it difficult for her to see the features clearly, she could only vaguely make out a unique scar on the woman’s cheek.

Paradise Bird!

The number one female hacker on the Mother City leaderboard!

She recognized the other from the data in her previous persona!

’Boom!’ A heavy sound, in front of her, a mountain-like golden nose was split in two, two massive arms rose from the depression, a giant of big data propped up its upper body amidst data stacked like mountains, with thick braids adorned with countless communication and control software.

Giant Spirit God!

The world’s second-ranked hacker!

Also the only one who can use virus-based big data modeling and purely rely on computational power to take down enterprise-level servers.

’Whoosh’ A colorful vortex appeared in the forehead area of the Buddha head, numerous images, windows, and process lists were absorbed like a whale sucking water.

Even the consciousness package was cracked and absorbed.

In reality, numerous data processing centers were frantically processing data.

Meanwhile, in a luxurious booth at the Other Shore of Freedom, a flamboyant man in a suit, holding a glass of red wine, shook his head, pushing away the bionic beauty in his arms, muttering to himself.

"The massive electronic network enveloping Cyber Space is rapidly expanding in the industrial world, our options are limited."

Phantom—the world’s third-ranked hacker!

A super-rich individual with Artificial Intelligence, and a top-tier hacker among the super-rich.

Possessing a hundred data processing centers, renowned in the underground world for complex and variable algorithms and endless cracking software.

Then suddenly, within consciousness packages, a human face emerged, curiously gazing at Scorpion.

"Isn’t this Sister Eleven, how has your software library deteriorated to this extent?"

"Personality Simulator!"

Personality Simulator, ranked 12th among the world hackers, a presence adept at selling electronic personalities and persona performances, neither resembling a human hacker nor behaving like AI.

Some suspect it is a string of virus code floating out of Cyber Space.

Others say its true form is a bionic man sent to a mental hospital.

Memories of the dead suddenly began attacking Scorpion.

Firewall roaring with flames, Electronic Defense Walls as thick as walls, corporate treasures that entice greed.

And... betrayed teammates.

Faces twisted and transformed in the flames, until finally revealing a youthful face.

The same face.

"It’s you!!"

Scorpion’s eyes shot out a gaze filled with hatred, she remembered it!

Ranked 11th and ranked 12th super hackers, recruited teammates for a hacker operation for some legendary corporate secret.

Frustration, plotting, betrayal, assassination.

Finally, it was the ’Personality Simulator’ who took action, consuming one hacker account after another, hacking into her smart vessel with a soul virus.

In desperation, she could only hide in Puppet City, replacing the first persona with a second, completely severing the opponent’s soul spyware.

’Personality Simulator’ quickly waved its hand:

"Oh, dear sister, you really misunderstood me, back then you spreading viruses everywhere, causing a bunch of perverted corporate executives to become impotent, the kind that couldn’t be cured no matter how hard they tried, this group set up a trap for you, and I was just a knife at their disposal."

"If you need it, I’ll give you the list later, whether you want to implant a mental virus in them or simply kill them off, it’s up to you, let’s not have internal conflict."

’Personality Simulator’ chuckled again:

"Besides, think about it, they have a grudge against you, but I’m kind to you, without the slumber of the first persona, where would the second persona have come from, right, Scorpion, or should I say, Ms. Du!"

Du Mei, the name of the persona that is Scorpion.

She is Du Mei, not Scorpion.

Sure enough, Du Mei’s angry expression gradually disappeared, after a long silence, she said:

"What is the situation now?"

’Personality Simulator’s eyes lit up, a mask threaded with silk threads floated directly beside her.

"I told you, these super hackers are fierce-looking, but only we’re truly allies."

"More than half of the top 20 hackers in the world have come, anyone unaware might think you’re going to conquer Mother City."

"Not just that, a dozen of the strongest ferocious tigers and wolves, there are also limited numbers eating," ’Personality Simulator’ giggled foolishly:

"Take a look below, see how many hacker organizations are supporting this operation."

Du Mei glanced downward, taking a sharp breath, the cracking software was like plankton in the sea, the sheer numbers made her scalp tingle.

"Are you trying to start a hacker war?!"

"We have no choice."

’Personality Simulator’ lifted its chin.

"Moreover, it’s not only us who came, but those old guys of the Electronic Ascension arrived as well."

Du Mei looked up, toward the end of the Buddha head, where three ordinary old men sat.

Although they appeared ordinary, their aura was the same as that of the destroyed Buddha head itself.

Du Mei inhaled sharply.

In the memory of her first persona, and throughout the information she sought in the underground world these days, there wasn’t a single trace of these three elders.

"Who are they?"

"The so-called hacker world ranking is essentially just the sorting of the Mother City Wanted List.

But Sister Du, you should know that since the 60 years of the Cyber Era, this wanted list has been altered several times.

The old generation of hackers, the dead are dead, the changed numbers have changed numbers, those who haven’t changed and haven’t died, they’ve succeeded in Electronic Ascension."

"There really is Electronic Ascension in this world!?" Du Mei couldn’t help but say.

"I didn’t believe it at first either," ’Personality Simulator’ showed a zealous look.

"But with the real person appearing, it’s something you cannot deny."

"What is Electronic Ascension?"

"Hey, one of the elders actually told us."

It made a few horizontal cuts with its fingers.

"Source Code layer—Network layer—Transport layer—Software layer."

"Downward, we have no way, because the source code of the Planet Host, it’s not open-source, and no hacker has the skill to obtain Mother City’s source code."

"But upward, there are still pathways."

’Personality Simulator’ said word by word:

"Mother City-level user administrative permissions!"

Du Mei was stunned, after a long time, she blurted out:

"So the truth of ’Electronic Ascension’ is, defecting to Mother City?"

"Ahem, don’t say it so harshly," ’Personality Simulator’ rolled its eyes dramatically, "Killing and arson is easy, but wearing the golden belt isn’t easy, isn’t it? Don’t you realize how enviable it is?"

Du Mei, of course, understood.

Below only one, above thousands.

Mother City-level permissions, on this planet, enough to make anyone bow.

No matter if you’re a Cyber Killer, Ghost in the Shell Mobile Division, or an Electronic Network Department of a Super Corporation, if an ’Ascender’ wants to control, he can!

If a hacker has achieved this, then truly they are the ancestor of all thieves.

Du Mei realized: "I wondered why life for hackers has been getting tougher over the years. It turns out it’s not people targeting us, but professionals doing professional things?"

"Ahem, keep it low-key, low-key."

The Buddha head fully collapsed, suddenly a black light rolled in from reality, enveloping the three elders, and within the black light, a portal faintly appeared, the three said nothing and stepped into it.

From within that black light, Du Mei sensed changes in ancient data.

Another group of old-timers?

A thought flashed through Du Mei’s mind, and she asked another of her very interested questions.

"Why bet on Du Gao Technology?"

In her view, Du Gao Technology is just a recently risen military organization, what reason does it have to warrant the allegiance of so many hackers?

This time, ’Personality Simulator’s expression was no longer mischievous, but slightly forlorn.

"We have no choice."

Du Mei pondered for a moment, figured it out, and sighed, saying:

"Indeed, we have no choice."