Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 377 - 341 Synthetic Human Industry

Chapter 377: Chapter 341 Synthetic Human Industry

Xu Yang and Taro Tanaka met with Kanako in Aizu City to discuss investing in the Nestor-Tanaka Company.

Kanako arrived via Shuttle Machine, still maintaining her reserved demeanor, followed by her protector, the female ninja Senjunin. Dressed in fashionable attire, carrying an expensive backpack, and with shoes bearing the trademark of Delares Salt Pillar, a brand under Divine Daylight, which, along with the Iris Group, monopolized the luxury brand industry.

Xu Yang believed that her outfit must have been purchased during her refuge in the Taixi Continent, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt the distance between them grow, only when the distance was negative could he feel Kanako’s warmth.

Do all the children of Xisheng inevitably become like this? Xu Yang wondered.

They continued towards the depths of Suzuki Springs. The massive projection facility "Canopy," which simulated a 24-hour climate, was damaged during the battle. Later, the Myriad Dreams Entertainment Company, which invested in the short video industry, subsidized the repairs, and now, from 8 AM to 8 PM, the citizens of Aizu City could look up without opening an app to see entertaining news and trending fun. According to the city’s districts, different contents were broadcast in Hui City District, Number 26 Highland, and Katagi District.

Taking into account that the weather and sunlight were also virtual images with no actual benefit, selling the Canopy to Myriad Dreams received 54% support in the vote. The rest complained about the endless noise.

Kanako lacked attention towards such lowbrow entertainment until she followed Xu Yang to Suzuki Springs, where she became somewhat amazed, finding everything unexpectedly different.

The brand new decor, hot spring features, and buffet seemed impressive to her, not because they were high-end, but because they were far from the run-down estate she had imagined.

When she saw Asa Katsuragi, Kanako couldn’t help but laugh, looking at Asa’s newly fitted metallic right arm.

"It’s really pretty," Kanako said. "I’ve never seen such a beautiful hand."

"I also feel it’s very powerful," Asa Katsuragi, dressed in a dark red suit, lifted her metallic fist, clenched it tightly, not knowing if she detected the mockery in Kanako’s words.

Kanako felt that she had found someone she could talk to about her distant life. She pulled Asa along, showing her photos of the Taixi Continent she had taken herself. Asa was overwhelmed, having never imagined there were so many gorgeous and splendid places in the world. Asa had never dreamed of stepping outside of Aizu City, and the images brimming with exotic scenery and luxurious tastes broadened her horizons.

She saw Kanako seated on a yacht deck wearing a white swimsuit, smiling at the camera with an array of fine wines and fruits beside her; she also saw how Kanako hosted parties on mountain peaks at sunset, leisurely mingling with affluent and well-heeled people. The lifestyle depicted in the images evoked an indescribable sentiment in Asa, who managed only a strained smile in return.

"You lead an amazing life," Asa Katsuragi said.

"Yes," Kanako said, "it took a lot of effort to adjust to the pace and rules of life there... In the first few months, the toughest part was my face! With so many sleepless nights and cheap injections, you can imagine what my skin was like. Many suggested I switch to a synthetic beauty prosthesis. But in the end, I decided to keep it..."

Kanako went on and on about her gilt-edged life until she entered the room and saw Xu Yang, which made her pause. She twisted a stray lock of hair behind her ear and bowed to Xu Yang.

"We meet again," she said.

"Please, have a seat," Xu Yang said casually.

As Kanako’s incessant descriptions filled the air, Asa Katsuragi felt her mind grow cloudy up until the food arrived, which finally quieted her thoughts. Taro Tanaka had spent quite a sum to prepare an extensive spread of barbeque and pollution-free seafood.

Half of the room was occupied by Taro Tanaka, the enormous eyeball robot stretched out octopus-like appendages, ceaselessly fetching condiments and slices of raw fish from all directions, arranging them on the table with dizzying speed, setting up charcoals and grills.

"It’s rare that we have such an opportunity," Taro Tanaka’s electronic voice emitted from the eyeball robot, "please enjoy, everyone."

Facing the massive Taro Tanaka, Kanako managed a forced smile and sat across from him.

At that moment, she suddenly felt like an outsider, watching others casually chatting. All her manners, financial knowledge, and interpersonal skills failed her one after another.

For a long time, she had stopped using the Retainer series assistance judgment systems, but their logic patterns inevitably fused with her own brain circuits.

Not only that, but every day this month, she had taken fixed time to listen to her mother’s teachings, it was only today that she realized she had become just like Kurokawa Kana, unable to live without her mother’s incessant guidance.

Even now, Kanako was supposed to communicate with Honma Noriko in a few hours, but she felt glad that Xu Yang had brought her to such a deep place, an Underground Metropolis so hidden from daylight that if she missed the communication, she could blame the shamefully cheap internet service provider.

The best way to handle social discomfort was to drink, and Kanako sipped beer after beer. She had specially practiced her drinking to partake in parties, managing beer was no longer an issue for her. She was only using it to enter the conversation, and succeeded smoothly, seamlessly joining their casual talk. But when Kanako was slightly buzzed and ready to speak nonsense, Taro Tanaka started talking business.

"So... Synthetic Human," Taro Tanaka said. "We need to make it a profitable industry, to have the Nestor-Tanaka Company increase the shipments."

"No, no, no." Kanako waved a finger in the air. "You need to market first, come up with a concept to advertise... Make it so exaggerated that people remember it instantly, describe your product as if it were designed for aliens and humans of the year 5050. Get the hype blowing up, hold a couple of flashy launch events, pump up the company’s market valuation, secure a lot of funding and debt."

"What if I can’t create a Synthetic Human that lives up to the advertising?" Taro Tanaka wondered.

"By that time, we’ll have money," Kanako said, "oh, we, we’ll already be rich and ready to cash out and enjoy life, Doctor."

"We already own a factory," Taro Tanaka said incredulously.

"Exactly! That’s the plan. If anyone asks what we did with the money, we’ll just say we’ve already got a factory," Kanako opened another bottle of beer.

"I just can’t understand," Taro Tanaka said blankly, "the world is burning, and we’re still playing financial games."

"Yeah, there’s always the risk of an explosion," Kanako said lightly, "so we need to stuff our pockets full before the fuse burns down to the end!"

Taro Tanaka’s mechanized arms almost poked Kanako in the eye, while Senzoune, holding her ninja sword, was ready to protect her master at any moment.

"Does Mr. Tanaka have any suggestions?" Xu Yang asked, his gaze fixed on Taro Tanaka until he retracted his many mechanical arms back to his sides.

"Synthetic humans are a technology that changes the world," Taro Tanaka said, "I’m also planning on designing Type B and Type C Synthetic Humans, but I don’t know what they should look like or in which direction they should develop."

"Are they going to use the same mold as Type A Synthetic Humans?" Xu Yang was curious.

"Of course, there are other models, and in the future, I will design them with multiple faces," Taro Tanaka shook his head, "All the current Type A Synthetic Humans look extremely similar to A40, for better or worse. Some people don’t want to bring this wanted criminal into their homes, while others think having one at home is cool."

"The only difference between synthetic humans and intelligent machines is that synthetic humans have a human face," Xu Yang said, "Besides that, third-generation AIs can learn and grow. We need to capitalize on these two features to differentiate ourselves from ordinary second-generation AI robots."

"The first thing I thought of was combat synthetic humans, evolving through battle," Taro Tanaka said, "That’s why we have Type A Synthetic Humans, but right now they can’t be mass-produced, they’re expensive to make, and their use cases are limited."

"Synthetic girlfriends," Kanako lifted her head, "Yes, many ideas have touched on this point. We must develop the world’s premier synthetic girlfriend... that’s what third-generation AI is for. Otherwise, why bother giving synthetic humans a human face!"

"We already have companionship and venting synthetic humans equipped with third-generation AI," Taro Tanaka said, "In this respect, we’re not original."

Xu Yang thought of Seeking Shadow and those synthetic maids; they were examples of this kind of usage.

Listening to the tense discussion at the dinner table, Asa Katsuragi silently contemplated the bravery and dedication of the underworld synthetic humans. They were the pride of the Underground City and were still fighting valiantly, equipped with first-generation or second-generation AI. She had yet to understand why humans were still looking to develop third-generation AI and even what was known as mystical technology, the fourth-generation artificial intelligence.

"Then we use stockpiling, logistics, and mergers to crush all other companies," Kanako said after downing another drink, "The market just needs us, that’s enough."

"I think we should start by optimizing the design experience of Type A Synthetic Humans," Xu Yang said, "and initiate the production lines of Type B and C Synthetic Humans, all in service of warfare and security."

"You’re right," Taro Tanaka said, "since we have the best data reserves for combat synthetic humans, we shouldn’t dabble in domestic, service, and love synthetic humans anymore."

And the situation demands that we assemble a synthetic human army as soon as possible, Xu Yang thought. Black Fire Innovation would be back, and there was unrest within Xisheng.

"Type A synthetic humans excel in close combat, but why?" Kanako asked in return, "Nowadays, who resorts to just swords and sabers?"

"They can also shoot, but since the swordplay is readily available, it’s more convenient to load. Also, the previous buyers of Type A Synthetic Humans were only from Anjiu City and Aizu City; people here need personal bodyguards," Taro Tanaka explained.

"Then Type B synthetic humans are military units specialized in shooting," Xu Yang said, "The third-generation AI allows them to accumulate experience in war, and their sleek artificial intelligence makes them precise shooters. They can also manipulate any vehicle at will, making them versatile soldiers."

"Human life is cheap," Asa Katsuragi thought of her experiences over the years, "But one feels pain when robots are scrapped."

"So Type C Synthetic Humans will be specialized for repairing and coordinating other synthetic humans," Xu Yang said, "They can maintain their own kind on the battlefield."

"That settles it," Taro Tanaka sounded very satisfied, "These are the three types of synthetic humans we’ll be producing in the future: Type A martial arts experts, Type B battlefield warriors, and Type C logistics staff."

"It’s as if we’re going to conquer the world," Asa Katsuragi wondered, "But where will the money come from?"

Kanako placed a black cash card on the table and pushed it toward them, displaying a 10-digit number.

"To create a synthetic human army of limitless scale?" she asked, "Count me in. Let’s turn this money into production capacity and expand outwards like a bulldozer, all the way to the ends of the earth!"

The large eyeball robot Taro Tanaka was sitting in stood up, its many mechanical arms sweeping through the room with exaggerated motions, making Kanako step back in alarm.

But Taro Tanaka didn’t make any further movements, just sounded even more cheerful.

"Let’s go take a look at that factory," he said, "The perfect synthetic human factory."

Everyone looked at Taro Tanaka, while only Xu Yang’s gaze lingered on Kanako.