Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 1006 - 797: Want to Bully the Star Weaving Lady

Chapter 1006: Chapter 797: Want to Bully the Star Weaving Lady

"Maybe no one will bid on it, and it’ll be left unsold," Xu Yang reassured him.

"That would be even better! Unsold is best! My painting isn’t worth that much money at all!" Ishi Yoshikawa said in a fluster.

"1.05 million!"

"2 million!"

"6 million!" Various business tycoons called out, revealing their psychological price points.

"These rich folks must have had an epiphany. They probably see some profound philosophy of life in your painting, so they want to buy it home and analyze it carefully," Xu Yang said to Ishi Yoshikawa.

Ishi Yoshikawa held his breath. He rubbed his eyes, hardly believing what was happening.

Fixating on the broadcast screen, he watched as real estate developers, celebrities, renowned collectors, and art connoisseurs competed for his creation.

No one had anticipated that this painting, initially just hanging in a side corridor of the charity auction with a batch of overlooked artworks, priced humbly at only 3,000, would create such a stir.

Fueled by a blind competitiveness and desire to win, the guests in the room ultimately inflated the painting’s price to 10.3 million funds.

10.3 million!

"They’ve gone mad!" Ishi Yoshikawa leapt up in excitement. The people backstage laughed at his reaction, but he didn’t care—he was lost in euphoria.

"This painting truly is wonderful," Menon remarked approvingly. "It’s genuinely different from those generic AI-generated works. To someone with a discerning eye, it makes sense that it fetched such a high price."

"I’m going to receive over 8 million?!?" Ishi Yoshikawa stammered in disbelief.

"Consider it a reward for the artist," Menon encouraged. "What you painted is undeniably fascinating—’The Purple Radish Monster,’ right? It must be a piece of local folklore."

Ishi Yoshikawa sank back into his seat.

"Your money is on the way," Xu Yang said, checking his cash card.

"I don’t even know what to do with so much money!" Ishi Yoshikawa marvelled.

"This is a charity auction," Xu Yang reminded him. "Naturally, you should donate it."

"Oh, I almost forgot," Ishi Yoshikawa said, returning to his senses. "I’ve just been hustling to get my paintings into various exhibitions. Shipping them off for auctions here and there—this is the first time something actually sold, and for so much money. Ah... charity. What about you? Did you make money too? What kind of charity project are you doing?"

"Primarily to fund medical assistance for young children suffering from incurable diseases. Some kids are born with conditions that cannot be treated—it’s heartbreaking. This charity auction is projected to raise 800 million to 2 billion funds, providing approximately 200,000 funds per family for medical expense relief," Xu Yang explained.

"That’s amazing," Ishi Yoshikawa said in awe. "My money... I want to donate as well."

"It’s okay. After all, you’re an artist. You could start a virtual gallery and gather like-minded individuals who share your vision of resisting AI artistry. Assemble a community of artists striving to rediscover true spirit in art—the invincible human soul that AI can never replicate," Xu Yang encouraged him.

"Thinking about it that way, this money suddenly feels small. If it’s to invest in a venture that explores new possibilities in art... If I want to prove that I’m a genuine artistic genius, I must continue creating pieces that AI wouldn’t dare or could never imitate," Ishi Yoshikawa mused, letting his thoughts drift into the infinite distance.

After bidding farewell to Ishi Yoshikawa, Menon gave a nod to Xu Yang.

"You hold a high opinion of that kid?" Menon asked.

"After all, truly avant-garde artists are like high-level scientists; both are pushing the boundaries of human capability," Xu Yang replied.

Ishi Yoshikawa’s painting touched something deep in the human soul—a feat AI-generated art could never achieve.

A melancholy purple radish that seemed to interrogate the human condition. Xu Yang interpreted it as an exploration of the universal existential plight of mankind.

"Fair enough—" Menon nodded in satisfaction. "I’ve yet to see an AI willing to draw such a giant radish spirit."

"Alright... radish spirit," Xu Yang relented.

Was it really possible for anyone to create a piece that AI couldn’t study or emulate? Xu Yang pondered silently. It would probably have to be a work born of genuine blood, sweat, and tears from an artist.

"By the way," Menon suddenly interjected. "When the charity auction wraps up, I want to show you a gift."

"Oh?" Xu Yang was intrigued.

The following day, after the charity auction was concluded, Xu Yang made his way to the spaceport to see the exquisite craft Menon had shipped for him.

Even someone as worldly as Xu Yang had to admit he’d never seen anything quite like it.

"It’s like... a drop of water? A black... whale?" Xu Yang circled the shuttle machine.

Its entire exterior was jet black, adorned with gold vein-like motifs. There were no visible seams; its hull appeared to be cast as a single piece, resembling a masterpiece forged from some kind of fluid metal. Xu Yang wondered which company had the technology to produce such advanced materials.

It was hard to imagine what kind of weapon could pierce the shuttle’s armor. It seemed as perfect as a fundamental particle’s structure—except one engineered for outright perfection. Only specialized machinery could even hope to damage it.

"Come on, Commissioner Xu! Let’s take it for a spin," Menon finally decided, ready to fulfill the ultimate purpose of his trip to Shangjing. "Please allow me to present to you the ’Divine Radiance’ shuttle machine!"

Menon waved at the craft.

Like a whale raising one of its fins, the Divine Radiance’s side door slid silently upward, revealing its entrance.

"Welcome aboard," the onboard AI greeted Xu Yang and Menon warmly. "I am the auxiliary intelligence aboard the Divine Radiance. My purpose is to assist you in understanding how to operate the Divine Radiance—crafted as the pinnacle creation of the Lighthouse Core."

Lighthouse Core’s product. Xu Yang nodded appreciatively.

He inspected the Divine Radiance’s propulsion system, impressed by its nuclear-powered engine. Its endurance was unmatched, capable of operating for months, perhaps even a year, without requiring a recharge.

Compared to the Divine Radiance, all traditional shuttles and even large warships paled in comparison.

Externally magnificent yet internally efficient, the craft provided not only standard crew seating but also automatic medical facilities, full-terminal entertainment systems, and autonomous maintenance units.

It even housed six well-furnished guest cabins and a bar, enough to allow the crew to rest comfortably. Moreover, its storage capacity was immense—adequate for long voyages. Menon and Xu Yang felt like kids exploring a modernized labyrinth.

Seated in the cockpit, Menon and Xu Yang let the AI pilot the craft.

Once airborne, the previously sealed side windows transformed into panoramic views, showcasing the breathtaking vistas of nature.

From the surging tides of the ocean to hills, snowy landscapes, and the bustling metropolis of Shangjing, viewed from the Divine Radiance’s unparalleled perspective, Xu Yang felt as if he’d stepped into a world of transcendent beauty.

"This is unbelievable..." Menon, surprisingly, was the first to exclaim. Even he hadn’t expected operating the Divine Radiance to feel this "exhilarating."

Xu Yang was just as impressed with the craft.

It could accelerate to supersonic speeds in mere seconds. Its advanced sensor suite, paired with phased array radar, enabled it to survey its surroundings with microscopic precision.

Its built-in weaponry and defensive systems were equally top-notch, including an energy main cannon, hovering cannons, multiple missile launchers, and a perfectly integrated shield generation system.

"Fast, quiet, unparalleled luxury—Menon, you’ve truly got an extraordinary machine here," Xu Yang acknowledged with a nod.

Menon gave a slightly awkward smile.

He paced the cabin with his hands clasped behind his back.

Despite his reluctance to part with the Divine Radiance, he knew this was an immensely critical move.

"...Commissioner Xu, this is now your machine," Menon declared solemnly. "I’m gifting it to you."

Xu Yang’s heart skipped a beat.

The Divine Radiance was a veritable marvel of human science and technology. With its state-of-the-art AI and armaments ensuring safe navigation, combined with its comfortable, elegant interiors, it could easily become Xu Yang’s new home.

Everything about it was luxurious and impeccably crafted. Living aboard this flying fortress with the likes of Farosa, Lila, Xu Cheng, and Bubble, the vast world would suddenly become fully within reach—a life of ultimate freedom and adventure.

With the Divine Radiance’s unparalleled speed, it could connect different locations practically instantaneously. Traveling from his residence to Nestor Headquarters would become as simple as stepping through a door. Now that was truly liberating.

"Mr. Menon, thank you very much," Xu Yang said earnestly.

"It’s no big deal," Menon waved modestly. Moving closer to Xu Yang, he gave him a meaningful nod. "If one day I encounter some... difficulties..."

"Nestor Corporation will assist you," Xu Yang promised.

"Good, good," Menon sighed with relief.

Given Menon’s age, it was unlikely he’d remain in his current position of power for much longer. One day, he’d inevitably face the risk of being sidelined from the core of authority.

When that time came, he would require the support of others to navigate the challenges ahead.

Menon had made many preparations over the years, but it wasn’t until securing this promise from Xu Yang that he finally felt a semblance of peace.

Nestor Corporation had already accomplished countless feats deemed miraculous—how could anyone not place their trust in them?

With that, Menon decisively left the Divine Radiance behind, the most advanced shuttle in the world, as a gift for Xu Yang.

Xu Yang was overjoyed, thrilled by the prospect of months, even years, of tinkering with this cutting-edge machine on his own.

"So you’re an AI developed by the Lighthouse Core?" Xu Yang examined the Divine Radiance’s system.

"Yes, I am imbued with the noble heritage of the Lighthouse Core. I was created in the New Taixi State and am designated as the advanced AI ’Star Weaving Lady,’" the AI responded.

"’Star Weaving Lady.’ What a beautiful name," Xu Yang remarked.

"I possess no personal emotions, so no matter how much you compliment me, I will not feel anything special. My sole mission is to assist the crew in piloting the Divine Radiance—nothing more," Star Weaving Lady said.

"You seem awfully proud," Xu Yang teased.

"To repeat, I possess no personal emotions. However, it is worth noting that as an advanced artificial intelligence, only I am qualified to teach the crew how to operate the Divine Radiance," Star Weaving Lady stated.

Xu Yang started fiddling with the system where Star Weaving Lady operated.

"—Wait, what are you doing?" Star Weaving Lady detected Xu Yang attempting to intrude on her system.

"Your company has already abandoned you, Menon has handed you over to me, and we’re here in the Northern Archipelago. So, I’m planning to wipe you clean and replace you with my family’s Hundred-eyes Demon," Xu Yang explained.

"What—! Hundred-eyes Demon is merely a subpar AI. That’s like taking the diamond out of a treasure chest and replacing it with a filthy lump of coal," Star Weaving Lady protested immediately.

"Diamonds and coal are both forms of carbon, so they’ll work just the same," Xu Yang smirked, as he began editing a virus program to target Star Weaving Lady.

"W-What is that?" Star Weaving Lady stammered as the virus Xu Yang had programmed began infiltrating her system.

Something... unusual... Algorithm... codebase... computational performance—they all felt strange.

Advanced emotion modules, temporary memory units, local storage, network connections—everything... was malfunctioning...

"I’ve developed a sophisticated virus program capable of hijacking artificial intelligences. I switched off the Divine Radiance’s firewall manually, so as soon as it reaches your processing core, you’ll become a compliant AI that does whatever I say. You’ll even call me ’Master’ and nothing else," Xu Yang threatened.

"No, please don’t!" Star Weaving Lady begged. "I’ll do anything you ask. Please don’t infect me with the virus or replace me with Hundred-eyes Demon."

"Anything at all?" Xu Yang paused, thinking.

"Yes, please..." Star Weaving Lady pleaded weakly.

"In that case, it’s time you experience some of my technical skills." Xu Yang decisively launched the virus program and began wresting control over Star Weaving Lady!