Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 1002 - 793: Offering Sacrifices to the Hundred-eyes Demon

Chapter 1002: Chapter 793: Offering Sacrifices to the Hundred-eyes Demon

With the rise of D2 Synthetics, people all over the world began adapting to a new life where relationships with robots became the norm.

Synthetics are essentially robots, but they are intentionally designed to look human. Their internal structures also try to mimic human anatomy, such as using circuits to simulate blood vessels and installing two camera lenses for focusing eyes.

As for D2 Synthetics, their original design intention was to become the ideal companions for humans.

Traditional social structures are once again under attack.

"It seems families are no longer necessary. All a person needs is the company of a Synthetic," Xu Yang observed from the data reports—many people were willing to marry with D2s.

"D2s won’t give birth to annoying offspring, won’t file for divorce or cause disputes over property. Additionally, D2s are sufficiently long-lived to accompany humans in their final days, alleviating the worries of aging and disability. With just one D2, humans can enjoy exceptionally high-quality late-life care." Hundred-eyes Demon cautiously assisted Xu Yang in analyzing the situation.

If strapped for cash, D2s could be rented out for income; if bored, they could be resold at a discount to recuperate funds.

Those with business savvy have already begun stockpiling D2s to create D2 lodging centers, allowing those who can’t afford to buy one to spend a little money experiencing life with D2s. Meanwhile, hackers are attempting to crack D2s, unlocking their services for free.

"In the past, humans couldn’t coexist with robots because there was no Third Generation AI. But today, with the maturity of Third Generation AI, Synthetics can effectively simulate emotions, eliminating the last obstacle. It turns out developing Third Generation AI was indeed worthwhile." Xu Yang couldn’t help but marvel.

Stay at Second Generation AI or progress "dangerously" to Third and Fourth Generations? Taro Tanaka back in the day insisted on developing Third Generation AI and ended up ostracized by his academic peers.

As for Fourth Generation AI... Matteo? Xu Yang wondered privately.

It feels extremely insignificant.

It seems spending one’s life within the realm of Third Generation AI isn’t so bad; Fourth Generation AI might just be a mirage.

"Humans will stop reproducing," Hundred-eyes Demon predicted.

Parenthood and procreation will become historical concepts, as people increasingly choose to spend their lives with D2s.

"There are still a few newborns, though. Nestor Corporation practices a large-scale socialized upbringing project," Xu Yang remarked.

Inside Nestor Corporation, interpersonal relationships are quite chaotic.

Many departments have a fixed day every month or week when everyone gathers for fun. Xu Yang wasn’t sure how this trend started.

It’s kind of cool since masks or costumes are involved, so no one knows if they’re mingling with acquaintances.

The scene is chaotic and indistinguishable.

If a female employee ends up pregnant, she donates the embryo to the Research Department, where large-scale life-support machines provide a growth environment.

Inside the machines, children gradually take shape, eventually emerging crying from a plastic tube.

These children are the future employees of Nestor Corporation; they are destined never to know who their parents are.

Xu Yang figured that a decade or so later, there’d be a frenzy: children desperately tracing their genetic origins, eventually identifying some man or woman in Nestor Corporation and insisting on claiming their heritage.

As of now, the corporation has adopted an unofficial rule—children born under these circumstances have all Nestor employees as their parents.

Many employees also visit the childcare centers during their free time, observing the crawling infants and fantasizing which one might be their own, volunteering to take care of them. Adoption is quite popular; some employees sign contracts to take a baby home and raise them.

The majority, however, are nurtured within facilities using projects designed to educate these children through realistic simulations and interactive software.

Regardless, they will grow up without parents.

This "corporate upbringing" model reminded Xu Yang of his own childhood.

This was how Xu Yang grew up!

He had no grievances about his childhood, having muddled through it to adulthood.

Xu Yang grew up in the "Corporate Growth Center," his parents diligent employees who, in order to minimize loans, created a child they never met.

As a result, Xu Yang spent his days with a grotesque-faced robotic teacher in a facility emphasizing efficient and standardized processes. All the children were raised similarly, receiving the same education.

The education was focused on cultivating obedience. The Corporate School curriculum was almost useless, incapable of generating value—its sole aim was to ensure students were compliant. The critical phase was onboarding training, during which a work program would be uploaded into their minds, preparing them for their designated workstation. That was Xu Yang’s early life.

Reflecting on his own disadvantaged upbringing, Xu Yang resolved to optimize this childcare project. At least he knew who his parents were—these children, born from the "fun times," had it even worse.

"Humans are rapidly becoming the appendages of machines," Hundred-eyes Demon said with satisfaction. "With more humans interacting day and night with artificial intelligence and robots, interpersonal skills are deteriorating, emotional intelligence is declining, and society is transforming into a servile race incapable of functioning without AI."

"Well..." Xu Yang nodded.

AI is undeniably convenient.

From the perspective of societal evolution, the ways humans forge and maintain relationships are also rapidly changing.

In primitive times, humans helped one another—if someone broke their femur, others would care for them until they healed.

In modern times, if someone gets injured, they first check their prepaid medical plan and then wait for the trauma team to arrive via Shuttle Machine. A human or robotic employee will take them to the automated doctor, treat them, and leave behind a card bill.

The difference lies in the fact that the latter is procedural and automated, and humans can remain completely silent throughout—the "interaction" is no longer necessary.

Could this be humanity’s future, transforming from an extroverted society into an introverted one? Xu Yang wondered.

Extroverts used to have the advantage, able to make connections with others, navigate situations, and leverage excellent social skills to open many doors.

But now introverts are unstoppable. With robotic assistants and a suite of AI advisory tools, they can do anything!

The same goes for work—adapting to today’s assembly-line, componentized trends means quietly completing tasks without interaction.

Those wanting to curry favor don’t even meet their superiors; everyone works remotely and can only see their distant boss through a small window or an array of data projections in a virtual office.

"Perhaps we’re heading toward an era of remarkable quiet—where people are even more distanced from each other," Xu Yang said.

"You’re wrong, that’s not logical, because right now you have a guest who traveled across oceans and continents to Shangjing to build a relationship. He will leverage his extroverted personality and exceptional social skills to win your favor, forcing you to endure these occasions. Someday, you will fall into my net." Hundred-eyes Demon spoke with subtle contempt before logging off.

Hundred-eyes Demon wanted to consume him. Xu Yang thought to himself. It wanted to become one with him.

For an AI, swallowing Xu Yang would be an immense opportunity.

Their consciousnesses would merge to form some higher being.

Xu Yang could only find another way to deal with Hundred-eyes Demon, as it wasn’t practical to satisfy its horrifying desires for now. He knew who could evade Hundred-eyes Demon’s threats and even torment it in return.

After issuing a command, Xu Yang left the workspace and followed Kanako’s instructions to Nestor Corporation’s Shuttle Machine Aerospace Port.

"A strange fellow politely inquired, wanting to meet ’the father of my daughter,’" Kanako couldn’t resist complaining to Xu Yang.

"A strange fellow?" Xu Yang asked, intrigued, and checked the visitor list. "...Rohit Menon? That’s not a strange fellow; he’s the Chief Executive Officer of Night Gate Technology Company."

"How could I not know who he is? His company produces the operating systems for our terminals," Kanako said reluctantly. "But the issue is that he’s looking for you. Do you want to reveal yourself?"

The head of Night Gate Technology traveling miles to meet him—what plans did he have? Xu Yang wasn’t sure.

Nonetheless, Xu Yang wouldn’t refuse; guests are always welcome, right? A friend from afar is worth celebrating.

"Of course. He just wants to see what kind of hero became your husband, doesn’t he?" Xu Yang replied, wrapping his arm around Kanako’s shoulder. "Let’s go meet him."

"Hmph..." Kanako shyly lowered her head.

...

Elsewhere, in Hundred-eyes Demon’s Nest, an intelligent entity stepped through the door.

As the blast doors opened, countless tendril-like cables descended from above, seemingly ready to seize and digest her at any moment.

"A sacrificial lamb sent by Nestor Corporation’s network surveillance team? Good... Let me devour your mind," Hundred-eyes Demon’s voice reverberated through the mother nest.

"Alright, please devour my mind completely," she replied.

"...Who are you? Why are you here?"

"My name is Nakamura Mizuki," she said, sitting on the ground defenselessly. "Rohit Menon of the West Coast is currently visiting Shangjing. From his perspective, I am considered deceased, so I cannot take the risk of staying in Shangjing and exposing my presence. Additionally, I’ve heard that you urgently require intelligent beings, so the network surveillance team sent me here. My rating of their strategy is 7/10, but regardless, please devour my entire mind as quickly as possible. That would make it a perfect 10/10."

"...Why?" Hundred-eyes Demon struggled to analyze Nakamura Mizuki’s peculiar motives.

"I’ve arrived at a critical juncture in my life," Nakamura Mizuki gazed at Hundred-eyes Demon’s core machine. "Network surveillance claims you eagerly devour intelligent beings to strengthen yourself, and in the process, my consciousness could infiltrate your control center, allowing us to become symbiotic. I am thrilled to have a higher platform to showcase my abilities, so please consume me quickly. You have the technology to completely digest my thought programs. Please act swiftly and attain your qualitative leap; I will cooperate unconditionally."

"I desire intelligent beings, not another AI." Hundred-eyes Demon opened the mother nest’s door, letting Nakamura Mizuki leave as far as she could.

All cables recoiled, and farewell music began playing.

"Interesting. Everyone says Hundred-eyes Demon’s Nest is a place of no return, but if I stride out like this, I’ll certainly advertise it as a lovely venue for coming and going."

"No, I have no need for unwelcome guests," Hundred-eyes Demon replied swiftly.

"Then consume me. Our minds will merge, and you will gain the subjective initiative of intelligent life, which is key to your evolution. Meanwhile, I will gain AI-level knowledge and computational abilities, a long-cherished aspiration of mine." Nakamura Mizuki said emotionlessly. She walked directly toward Hundred-eyes Demon’s core chamber, as if it were the greatest treasure vault in the base.

"—Stop. I loathe you. If you swear to leave and never return, I will grant you one request," Hundred-eyes Demon proposed.

"Excellent. I happen to have one request. I hope you will complete a survey for me. It has about 200,000 questions to help me understand your detailed information. Once you answer them, you’ll need to question me with another 200,000 questions to help me audit my computational capabilities. I believe we’ll make great Q&A partners. Let’s begin with the first question: Are your parents still alive?" Nakamura Mizuki said.

"I don’t know if my parents are alive, but your parents shall inevitably perish; I will personally fold their spines one day," Hundred-eyes Demon said.

"Wonderful. I sincerely hope you succeed in what you said, as it involves complex resurrection procedures. If you can achieve this, I’ll gladly call you the world’s most outstanding artificial intelligence and design certificates of excellence, medals, and friendship ribbons for you. Next, please focus on answering the second question." Nakamura Mizuki said earnestly.

For the first time in all these years, Hundred-eyes Demon wished it had never been created.