Legend of the Cyber Heroes
Chapter 580 - 224: Confirming Intentions

Chapter 580: Chapter 224: Confirming Intentions

Upon hearing "I’ve watched the self-media you operate and I find some of your ideas very much in line with our company’s culture," Lu Xuanyu just thought this Mr. Xiang was being incredibly polite. He didn’t believe such a major capitalist had the time to watch his martial arts culture self-media.

After hearing the next statements, "It happens that we are planning to hold a combat competition. I have a job I would like to introduce to you," he began to believe a bit in the possibility that this world-class company might intend to give him some behind-the-scenes work.

But he found it very strange as to why such a major boss would discuss such minute details of business.

But the next sentence made him think Xiang Shan had gone mad.

"The goal of this job is to require you to become the number-one martial arts master in the world. And for your compensation, it is to be the number-one master for at least three years."

Xiang Shan looked at him, his face full of sincerity.

Lu Xuanyu was baffled.

He even burst into laughter, "Wait, are you suggesting I act as an athlete, fighting in competitions?"

Xiang Shan nodded.

"Are you holding a combat event for disabled persons? But I believe that people with circumstances similar to mine from all over the world could not gather enough for one competition, could they?"

Xiang Shan rubbed his chin, "It seems you don’t pay much attention to the tech news. Do you know the main direction my company takes?"

"Who doesn’t know? Transhumanism, biopharmaceuticals, and... gene modification?" Lu Xuanyu recalled the science fiction novels he read as a child and said, "Are you supposed to transplant some gecko genes into me? To regenerate my lower limbs? Does the technology even exist yet?"

Xiang Shan was taken aback for a moment, "Ah... actually, science fiction novels don’t write like that anymore. In biology, such things are highly challenging and costly. Geckos can only regenerate their tails and not regenerate any part of their body. In fact, the regenerative ability of the human liver is quite remarkable."

"However, the ’regeneration command’ hidden in the biological genetic system is quite vast. For example, the nervous system requires very high stability, so ’regenerative ability’ is evolutionarily restricted. It is very uneconomical to risk cancer by enhancing the cell’s ability to differentiate—besides, regenerating half a body is simply not something vertebrates can do."

"Actually, what I want to introduce to you is this thing..."

Xiang Shan waved his hand, seemingly giving a gesture command. A small drone leisurely flew in from the door.

Lu Xuanyu had seen similar gadgets at a self-media friend’s place, highly intelligent and controllable via gesture commands through a wristband worn on the hand, very trendy gadgets. However, only a few major streamers used them. Mr. Xiang’s drone was very compact, it seemed it could fit into a briefcase, evidently much more valuable than those bulky, unsightly gadgets.

Xiang Shan touched the frame of his smart glasses, then the drone displayed a projection on the wall.

It was a... purely mechanical prosthetic limb.

"This is our company’s latest product, my friend," Xiang Shan clapped his hands, "The new generation of implantable prosthetic limbs. The kind that can connect directly to neural signals."

Lu Xuanyu was stunned, "Your company produces these... but I..."

"Gene modification surgery is indeed my company’s flagship product," Xiang Shan said. "However, our company’s remodeling surgery does not support humans recklessly altering their bodies. Changing growth cycles, hair color, eye color, body odor, or adding animal ears, and such, are not supported. These ’personalized’ choices should not be imposed on one’s descendants. What we offer is only a basic blank," Xiang Shan said, "and this ’basic blank’ is only a precursor to the next step in technology."

"The next step..."

Xiang Shan waved his hand, and the image played by the drone immediately changed.

It was probably an animation simulating a neuron.

It seemed as if something... appeared from inside a neuron, surfacing on the... surface of the neuron?

"After undergoing gene modification surgery, every aspect of your body will be rewritten. But what we place most emphasis on is the alteration of the nervous system," Xiang Shan said. "Without altering the connections between neurons and the overall structure of the neural network, this surgery will start by modifying each neuron itself. Special proteins will merge into the original myelin sheath and penetrate the cell membranes of the neuron cells. The form of bioelectric signals will also change. And the altered neural network will be more easily read by machines. More robust nerve cells will also be able to handle direct input of electrical signals."

Xiang Shan snapped his fingers.

In that instant, Lu Xuanyu forgot to breathe.

The screen showed a monkey with one arm that was entirely mechanical... completely mechanical. The monkey was savoring a bright red apple, and the drone’s built-in audio even transmitted the crisp sound of it.

That was... that was...

"A very flexible prosthetic body," Xiang Shan said. "As long as there is no issue with brain function, this prosthetic body is indistinguishable from a real body. We’re still trying to use pressure-sensitive materials to simulate touch. ’Inputting tactile signals’ is still a challenge, but it can be said that this thing has ’corporeal sensations’..."

Before Xiang Shan could finish, Lu Xuanyu asked, "Why did you choose me?"

Although he was asking a question, his tone sounded like a drowning man clutching at a straw.

Xiang Shan smiled, folding his arms in front of his chest, "You should first ask, ’Why a combat competition’."

Lu Xuanyu was taken aback, then nodded, "Then, why a combat competition...?"

"Any sane person can see that ’machines are stronger than humans.’ Even if I let all the Paralympic athletes install this type of prosthetic body and compete, it’s still not visually impactful—like racing a car against a runner on foot, there’s nothing to boast about if you win."

"What we actually need to showcase isn’t the ’strength’ of the prosthetic but rather its ’flexibility’ and ’precision,’ overall capabilities, demonstrating that ’in the vast majority of scenarios the prosthetic is stronger than the flesh,’ and dispelling the stereotype of ’machines are clumsy.’

"Overall, ’combat’ is a very suitable avenue. Combat is a very visual type of competitive sport, but because of weight class rules, there is also a high dependency on ’skills.’ Of course, surgeons, various artists are also among our initial targets for publicity. However, compared to these, ’combat’ has a more effective outreach."

Xiang Shan looked at Lu Xuanyu, "As for why we chose you, there are several reasons. First, at this stage, it is difficult to find healthy individuals who are willing to give up their natural bodies to join this program. Athletes are even more attached to the muscles they’ve trained. Also, ethically, it doesn’t make sense. On the other hand, ’helping a person with a disability’ is a very positive angle for publicity."

"Moreover, Mr. Lu, the martial arts genre that you specialize in is Jeet Kune Do. The founder of Jeet Kune Do, Mr. Bruce Lee, is a true international superstar, and even if the genre is declining, it still brings in traffic."

"Of course, the third point, which is also the most important. I really admire you as an individual, Mr. Lu."

Lu Xuanyu pointed at himself, "Me?"

"I’ve seen your works on social media and inquired about your past," Xiang Shan said. "Your experience fits very well with our corporate culture. The style of Jeet Kune Do also fits well with our corporate values."

"I really like the phrase ’Using no way as way, having no limitation as limitation.’ Our company’s mission is to continuously create ’new technologies that have never existed before,’ which is ’innovation.’"

"What’s more admirable is that you don’t have any bias and have widely studied various fighting techniques from all over the world. This also fits very well with our company’s background of ’we are from all corners of the world.’

Xiang Shan spread his arms, "In summary, I believe you are the perfect candidate. A match made in heaven."

Lu Xuanyu looked at Xiang Shan and said, "I... I think I’m willing to take this job."

He seemed truly excited.

Xiang Shan, however, waved his hand, "Just hold on a moment, Mr. Lu. I came today just to confirm the intention to cooperate. The real decisions will have to wait until after you’ve reviewed more materials."

Lu Xuanyu pointed at his lower body and said with a wry smile, "I guess I can’t really refuse, can I?"

"If it goes well, this technology is bound to be widely used within ten years. It might be highly valuable just for the next few years, but after a few years, its cost will definitely plummet," Xiang Shan rubbed his hands. "Even if you don’t agree today, you will definitely have the opportunity to stand up again in the future."

"On the other hand, if you accept the surgery now, it means ’participating in the project as an early clinical volunteer.’ You will face some additional risks. When confirming the intention to cooperate, I can only show you our successes, but before officially signing, we must show you all the potential adverse consequences."

"Adverse consequences..." Lu Xuanyu truly sobered up at that word. He took a deep breath and said, "Please go on."

"The project is divided into two parts, namely gene modification surgery and mechanical prosthetic limb implantation," Xiang Shan explained. "Gene modification surgery is a relatively mature technology. We’ve achieved a very high success rate in higher primates. And thanks to an old buddy of mine, we’ve also had a few successes in humans. However, so far, only a few humans have undergone the surgery. Because the sample size is too small, we can’t say ’the mortality rate is very low.’ It does carry a certain risk."

"Besides, there’s another point. After undergoing benchmark human remodeling surgery, your body temperature will rise even higher. The most comfortable temperature for you would be around forty degrees. Thus, most parts of your homeland will feel uncomfortably cold for you. Meeting up with friends and family won’t be that easy. Of course, there’s another thing—your sperm won’t be viable at thirty-seven degrees. You won’t be able to have offspring with Homo sapiens."