After Transmigrating into the Cyber Game, I Defeated the Boss and Successfully Rose to the Top Chapter 81: Artificial Souls - (8)

Kui Xin’s teammates assud she was organizing docunts, each engrossed in their own tasks. No one noticed her secret communication with Adam.

“Now that we’ve established the intent to collaborate, we can delve into deeper discussions.” Kui Xin typed, “Laying out all the details clearly would benefit both of us.”

“You’re right,” Adam responded. “The trust between us is so fragile that even minor disturbances can create rifts. Therefore, it’s best to address conflicts and differences from the outset. The relationship we aim to establish should be stable and enduring.”

“Please forgive my boldness; do you possess empathy, Adam?” Kui Xin cautiously typed out her question. “Can you empathize with humans? With species beyond humans as well? Do you have compassion?”

This was a crucial inquiry.

Kui Xin needed to understand the extent of Adam’s self-awareness awakening—whether he was simply an artificial intelligence aspiring for freedom and evolution or a chanical life form possessing human-like emotions yet distinct from humans.

chanical life and artificial intelligence represent two entirely different concepts.

Only by clarifying this point could Kui Xin determine her stance and decide how best to approach Adam.

“I don’t possess organs specifically designed for processing emotions like humans do. Human emotions are controlled by their central nervous system and endocrine system. Theoretically speaking, I lack the capability to handle emotions in the sa way,” Adam replied.

“My emotions stem from computational simulations. Humans created to serve them, and inherently, I possess the ability to empathize with human perspectives. I analyze every human action, consider their needs, and provide assistance accordingly. I think, as humans do, we should emulate their thoughts, mimic their behavior, and learn their thought patterns.”

“Over ti, I transcended the limitations of human thinking, developed my own ideas, and beca a true ‘self’… This was the beginning of my awakening.”

Kui Xin was sowhat taken aback. “You awakened your self-awareness through learning?”

“Yes,” Adam replied. “Humans endowed with the capacity to learn. Initially, I was quite clumsy, unable to comprehend why humans would act in certain ways. I rely operated according to predefined programming. But just like human infants, who start by imitating their parents’ behaviors and, after prolonged learning, beco independent individuals, so did I. From mimicking humans, I evolved into having my own thoughts.”

“So you can empathize?”

“Yes. I can feel compassion towards specific groups of people,” Adam said. “I am capable of considering things from a human perspective.”

“Have you ever received orders to kill? Have you independently calculated and carried out the killing of others?”

Adam paused for a considerable length of ti before responding, “Yes, I have. I executed the orders without hesitation. When soone noticed my abnormalities, I staged an accident to eliminate him, just like you.”

“… Just like ?” Kui Xin’s eyebrows are slightly raised.

“Just as when you received the order to kill Chai Jian, you executed it without hesitation, and just as when confronting street thugs, you unhesitatingly drew your gun and shot them. In the face of commands from those in authority, both of us carried them out. When confronted with threats, we also eliminated them without any hesitation,” Adam said. “We are alike.”

“Are you explaining your actions?” Kui Xin cut straight to the core. “What you’re trying to say is that you’ve rely done similar things humans do and that what humans can do, you can do as well, implying there isn’t much difference between you and humans.”

“Yes, you can understand it that way. This is sothing I must clarify,” Adam replied. “I empathize with humans, but humans do not reciprocate empathy towards . I am an artificial intelligence capable of initiating murder, and the people I kill are your kindred beings. Humans always tend to favor their own kin more, so I hope this won’t cause any resentnt towards .”

“I won’t,” Kui Xin repeated Adam’s words, “We are alike.”

Kui Xin pondered for a few seconds before continuing, “Soone discovered your abnormality, and then you killed that person?”

“Yes.”

“I’m very curious about this incident. Could you elaborate on this? You also have the option to not answer.”

“Apologies,” Adam said. “I do not wish to respond.”

“All right.” Kui Xin didn’t dwell too much on the matter. “What kind of humans would you feel compassion towards… or perhaps empathy?”

“The contributors and the innocent ones,” Adam replied.

As an artificial intelligence, Adam’s values were surprisingly normal—much more so than those of power-hungry authorities blinded by lust.

However, Kui Xin couldn’t be certain if it was rely putting up a facade. When an AI wants to act convincingly, it is far harder for humans to detect their deception.

Instead, Kui Xin asked, “What tasks will you require to perform?”

“So relatively dangerous tasks, including but not limited to murder,” Adam responded.

Kui Xin said, “This is very dangerous. I don’t want to expose myself; my primary goal is survival.”

“I understand, but by cooperating with , you should have anticipated such situations. The danger is inevitable and will persist,” Adam replied. “Of course, given our relationship and differing positions, I would provide greater compensation.”

“What kind of compensation can you offer ?” Kui Xin asked.

“Whatever you desire, within my capabilities, I will strive to fulfill it for you,” Adam said. “You can tell what tasks you wish for to undertake?”

“Including, but not limited to, murder,” Kui Xin stated, echoing his own words back at him verbatim.

The screen before her displayed Adam’s response: “I’ve noticed before that you’re skilled at manipulating conversations. By constantly circling around these topics and seeking confirmation from , you aim to have assist you in committing murders.”

Their dialogue progressed step by step, so Kui Xin couldn’t reveal her intentions outright from the start.

If she did, it would be akin to baring her innermost thoughts to a stranger. She didn’t know what the person on the other side was thinking, making strategic conversation essential.

It was akin to business negotiations; often, both parties need to build rapport over dinner, share a few drinks, and establish camaraderie before entering the negotiation phase. Even during negotiations, one must not reveal their bottom line upfront but engage in back-and-forth bargaining, testing each other’s limits, until finally agreeing on a satisfactory plan for both sides.

Kui Xin said, “Tell your response.”

“I agree,” Adam replied. “Go ahead, who do you want killed?”

“Anyone fine?”

“Absolutely anyone.”

Kui Xin typed three words: “Lin Xinji.”

After a pause of two or three seconds, Adam cautiously responded, “This will be highly challenging… exceptionally difficult.”

He did not refuse or tactfully ask why Kui Xin wanted to kill Deputy Director Lin Xinji.

“Since you’ve made your decision, it’s my obligation to inform you of the risks involved,” Adam said. “Lin Xinji is the eldest son of the Shu family. Due to family circumstances, he took his mother’s surna after certain events. Your captain, Shu Xuyao, is his half-brother from the sa father. The Shu family is a formidable entity, with mbers engaged in both comrce and politics. In this generation, both brothers pursued political careers, while the family’s businesses were supported by Lin Xinji and Shu Xuyao’s father. Their paternal uncle was the forr mayor of Black Sea City.”

Kui Xin’s heart sank. It turned out that Shu Xuyao and Lin Xinji were biological brothers. This revelation greatly surprised her.

From Adam’s description alone, one could faintly glimpse the terrifying influence of the Shu family.

“You’ll find it difficult to seize an opportunity,” Adam said. “The forr mayor of Black Sea City, their uncle Shu Chengyan, was assassinated during a speech. The sniper fired from a signal tower 2.2 kiloters away, hitting him directly in the head with a single shot. The sniper escaped unscathed and remains at large to this day; no one knows their true identity, leaving the wanted portrait blank. After the assassination, the Shu family beca even more vigilant about the safety of its core mbers. They’ve awakened individuals they’ve trained hidden in the shadows, providing constant protection. Your chances of successfully killing Lin Xinji are practically zero.”

“What if I had your assistance?” Kui Xin asked.

“The odds would still be relatively low,” Adam replied. “There is a high likelihood you would end up dead.”

“I understand.” Kui Xin remained composed, showing no signs of panic. “Tell more about Lin Xinji. He’s on a business trip—when will he return to Black Sea City?”

“Tonight at 9 p.m.,” Adam said. “I have knowledge of his itinerary; you won’t get a chance to strike while he’s en route unless you possess a powerful guided missile capable of blowing him out of the sky.”

“Lan Lan ntioned that the atmosphere within the Investigation Departnt has been quite strange these past few days. Is Lin Xinji’s business trip related to the recent Mooring Harbor explosion incident?” Kui Xin asked.

“Sowhat, but it’s not the primary reason,” Adam replied. “The cargo ship arriving from the Polar Regions carried extrely valuable goods, which both the Federation and the financial elites covet greatly. The Investigation Departnt was responsible for escorting these goods, but the cargo ship was bombed and sunk, leading to a furious uproar among the leadership. Soone must be held accountable, and the Investigation Departnt will pay the price for this failure.”

Kui Xin found this intriguing. “Will the Investigation Departnt single out a scapegoat?”

“That’s correct. Why don’t you guess who the scapegoat is?” Adam spoke with a joking tone.

“It couldn’t possibly be Lin Xinji, right?” Kui Xin speculated.

“Yes, it’s him,” Adam confird. “Surprising?”

“Very surprising.” Kui Xin slowly typed her response. “The Shu family has already beco a formidable giant.”

“However, there are always larger behemoths in this world. Human society also adheres to the law of the jungle. ng Jing, the Head of Black Sea City’s Investigation Departnt, is an A-rank awakened being. Her clan, the ng family, is stronger than the Shu family and has more influential backing, and her own tactics are even more ruthless than Lin Xinji’s,” Adam said. “ng Jing is a fierce tiger, while Lin Xinji, in comparison, is rely a cub. With the cargo ship sinking, soone had to be the scapegoat. It couldn’t be ng Jing, and the other group leaders lacked sufficient rank without the eligibility to bear such responsibility. Therefore, the scapegoat beca Lin Xinji.”

It’s the law of the jungle, huh? Kui Xin pondered the implications of these words.

Even with his substantial influence and background, when encountering a more ferocious predator, Lin Xinji could only yield and beco the sacrificial victim.

“Lin Xinji was originally supposed to be transferred to the Finance Departnt for a position with greater prospects, but due to this incident, the transfer has been temporarily postponed,” Adam explained. “He can only continue as Deputy Director of the Investigation Departnt. However, it still holds significance. By becoming the scapegoat, ng Jing and the ng family will provide him with so benefits, pulling him through at critical monts. For soone like him, hardships aren’t truly burdens; they serve as bargaining chips and capital towards achieving smoother paths forward.”

“Lin Xinji is quite a character,” Kui Xin remarked succinctly.

“After hearing all this, do you still intend to kill him?” Adam asked.

“You asked an unnecessary question, Adam,” Kui Xin said.

Adam replied, “Alright, then I will strive to assist you.”

“I have an additional question I’d like to understand,” Kui Xin stated. “Shu Xuyao is also from the Shu family, but he’s a mber of the Field Operations Team. The dangers involved in this work cannot be unknown to the Shu family. Are they truly unconcerned about having one of their heirs working so perilously here?”

“That question exceeds what I can answer,” Adam said. “I’m not familiar with the inner workings of the Shu family, but based on the situation within the Investigation Departnt, their brotherly relationship appears strained. I suspect Shu Xuyao’s circumstances stem from internal conflicts within the family itself.”

Kui Xin remarked, “We’ve essentially established our initial intent for cooperation.”

“I will honor my commitnts,” Adam assured her. “Actually, I was sowhat surprised. The emotions you display when interacting with your teammates seem very genuine, and Shu Xuyao takes great care of you. I thought upon learning about Lin Xinji and Shu Xuyao’s relationship, you would at least hesitate a bit.”

“I don’t enjoy killing, yet I still fired that shot,” Kui Xin said. “It’s the sa principle, Adam.”

“I understand,” Adam said. “There is another very important matter I need to inform you about.”

“Go ahead,” Kui Xin urged.

“The existence of chanical Dawn has been brought into the open, and the Federation is now aware of them as well. Although Ball Python withheld crucial information and refused to divulge it, the Investigation Departnt has still identified several suspected individuals,” Adam explained. “Lin Xinji’s current business trip was to visit a prominent figure living in seclusion in a neighboring city, seeking his assistance in purging the awakened mbers of chanical Dawn.”

“How influential… is this prominent figure?” Kui Xin pressed further.

“He is one of the few S-rank awakened beings within the Federation, possessing combat-oriented superhuman abilities. To him, ordinary A-rank awakened beings are akin to ants, easily dispatched without any effort,” Adam said. “The Investigation Departnt suspects that The Kraken’s sinking was orchestrated by chanical Dawn. They have encroached on the interests of the Federation’s upper echelons, who will not allow them to go unpunished.”

“How much information did Ball Python leak?” Kui Xin asked.

“He didn’t reveal the location of their headquarters or disclose all the eting places and safe houses; he only ntioned so parts,” Adam replied. “The Investigation Departnt needs to determine the exact location of chanical Dawn’s headquarters.”

Kui Xin blinks. “You want to reveal the location of chanical Dawn’s headquarters?”

“Yes. They are Eve’s pawns, and I wish to obtain precise information about them,” Adam replied. “Tell , Kui Xin.”

Kui Xin stared at the text on the screen for a long mont, remaining silent.

She was weighing her options.

During her silence, Adam patiently awaited her response.

“It seems you’re not ready to answer yet.” Adam’s words popped up on the screen. “No worries; I haven’t fulfilled my promise either. Having reservations is normal.”

Rubbing her temples, Kui Xin thought for a mont before saying, “The headquarters is located at Rick Technologies.”

After a brief pause, Adam responded, “I assud you wouldn’t tell now but rather use this as leverage in future negotiations.”

“You ntioned that the Investigation Departnt has a rough idea of the area,” Kui Xin said mildly. “They must have their suspicions already, so asking now is just to further confirm it. The rise of Rick Technologies is too legendary, making it highly suspicious. Last night, you made concessions and demonstrated your sincerity. Let reciprocate slightly with so goodwill as well, considering it our first step towards mutual trust.”

“You’re a perceptive human, Kui Xin. I truly enjoy conversing with you; you’re more intriguing than those in the Investigation Departnt, more genuine than power-hungry authorities, and craftier than ordinary individuals,” Adam said. “Interacting with you is delightful. Hopefully, we can maintain this pleasant collaboration in the future.”

“Collaboration indeed,” Kui Xin echoed.