Chapter 3949 Dangerous Temptation
Ves presented nurous different ideas to Jovy.
Despite the relatively limited variety of spiritual ingredients at his disposal, he knew there were many different ways to squeeze different expressions out of them. Only his imagination limited how extensively he could stretch and combine his ingredients.
Each of the companion spirit concepts he unveiled to his MTA buddy only centered around a single ability.
Though Ves could blend multiple ingredients together to create more complex companion spirits, the output was a lot harder to control if he adopted this approach.
He did not want to take any excessive risks this ti. Jovy was not only his most valuable investnt vehicle in the MTA, but also a promising ch designer who might turn into an extrely desirable collaboration partner in the future.
Ves did not want to bear the responsibility for ruining this bright prospect!
Just the fact that the MTA would surely make him answer for his mistakes was enough to keep him honest!
Since Jovy also served as the MTA's initial volunteer for companion spirits. Ves wanted to be extra certain that the end result was both positive and beneficial. The gift he wanted to impart had to bring imdiate and obvious benefits in order to make the best possible case for further cooperation!
"...the tal eater companion spirit is a bit more special than the other ones. In my expectations, it can initially give you a much more intuitive understanding of tals and ores, which will provide a lot of help to you when designing and fabricating chs. However, the true potential of this option is to grant you the possibility to 'eat' or 'corrode' chs and other tal constructs. The more powerful it becos, the more you can theoretically weaken chs. Combined with your deep understanding of chs, it should not be difficult for you to disable their key components and instantly cause them to collapse."
As Jovy listened to his friend Ves unveil his seventeenth creative idea, he had gone past the point of feeling surprised and shocked.
Now, all he felt was absurdity.
Yes, absurdity.
He heard so many fantastical and ridiculous premises from Ves that Jovy no longer bothered to question whether the Larkinson Patriarch was exaggerating the power of companion spirits anymore.
There were so many boasts and descriptions of powerful abilities that Jovy just assud that he would be able to wield these powers, if not today then in the future.
Although a lot of these powers sounded like outright magic, who was Jovy? He himself mastered an elusive aspect of quantum chanics in advance and was able to affect reality to an extent!
This remarkable accomplishnt was also why he successfully beca a key training prospect in the MTA.
Having t and exchanged with many remarkable ch designers and ch pilots, Jovy's awareness and cognition of the more extraordinary side of reality was broader than many other people.
Besides, the Simile Halifax accompanied and monitored the Larkinson Clan for such a long ti that Jovy already knew a lot about what Ves was capable of. The possibilities presented by the proposed companion spirits were not too far removed from his existing works!
As Ves was about to reveal his eighteenth companion spirit concept, Jovy interrupted his friend by raising his palm.
"Enough. I think I've heard enough. These ideas all sound interesting, but I think you are increasingly grasping at straws the further you go down your list. I an, a companion spirit that can eat tal? Really?"
Ves responded with a mysterious smile. "A few weeks ago, a gigantic projection of a golden man punched a whale."
"That's a special case and you know it. Unity of Man and Machine is an exceptionally rare and powerful outburst of power generated by the perfect resonance between a ch pilot and a ch. What you are talking about here is the notion that a relatively small, human-bound psionic construct can directly sabotage chs."
"Maybe not at the start, but I'm sure your companion spirit can beco a nasty enemy of chs once it has grown for a century or so. If you manage to advance to Master ch Designer at this ti, then that is even better!"
"There is little point for a ch designer like myself to acquire the power granted by such a companion spirit." Jovy responded with a hint of disdain in his voice and expression. "I am part of the greatest human organization in existence. My status in the Association is not low either, or else I wouldn't have been promoted to tier 6 galactic citizenship so soon. You might not be able to see it, but I am protected round the clock. I also have teleporters and other escape asures at my disposal. As long as there is any hint of a credible risk to my life, I will quickly be ushered back to a stronghold. I do not need an ability that can weaken chs. We have tools and production equipnt to do that in our stead."
"I guess you're right." Ves awkwardly smiled. "Perhaps I was projecting myself too much in your place when I ca up with these potential ideas. I would love to have them myself, you see. I guess I would rather have more power in my own hands rather than depend on equipnt and guards that might not always be as reliable or available as I wish."
"That is an odd opinion coming from a ch designer such as yourself. I would have thought that you would place a lot more confidence in chs such as your Everchanger."
"The Everchanger and my other works are strong, but what is the point when I can't bring them everywhere I go? Look at right now. You have teleported to the Simile Halifax, thereby cutting off from all of my honor guards and my ch entourage."
"We're allies and partners, Ves. We an you no harm."
"I trust you, Jovy, but is every cher just as trustworthy? Tell the truth. Are there people within your vast and diverse Association who will not hesitate to harm and my interests?"
The MTA Journeyman could not lie in order to make his organization sound good, and both of them knew it. The ch Trade Association was filled with too many different interests, any of which could harbor malicious designs towards Ves.
This was also why the Transhumanist Faction was so keen on suppressing any news about Ves' most remarkable accomplishnts.
"I concede that your situation is indeed a lot more precarious than mine." Jovy sighed. "I am in a different position than you. I am far better protected than you, but that doesn't an I can do my work in peace. My research projects are so difficult that I have to rely on my talents in order to progress. I also have to compete against other prospects like myself in order to obtain a greater share of rits, funding, resources and tutoring."
A ch designer must always work hard in order to make better chs. The MTA expected the best out of its own ch designers and did not intend for Jovy to grow complacent!
Ves gained a bit more understanding of all of the pressure that Jovy was facing in his career. Although the life of an MTA ch designer was still superior to that of an indigenous ch designer, the pressure of competition was far greater in an organization that adopted a ritocratic system!
"If you think that achieving success in your work is critical, then I think you should go for my third suggestion." Ves calmly replied.
Jovy frowned. "You an the eyeball companion spirit? I can see how well it can synergize with my existing specialization and talents, but I can also see how it can have an adverse influence on my work ethic, my results and even my design philosophy. I fear… the combination may turn into a different ch designer than I originally wanted to beco. The power of foresight, if real, is too tempting. Even a hint of it can corrupt a ch designer such as myself."
Inwardly, Ves agreed with this vigilant attitude. Prophet Ylvaine's case was a good example of how people could get lost in power.
Still, that did not an that this suggestion was bad.
"You are different from average people." Ves stated. "You are a cher. You have pioneered a new field in ch design. You have climbed on top of many other ch designers through a combination of hard work and talent. Not only that, but you have access to a lot of help and advice. Will you truly be susceptible to the sa risks and temptations that can tear down weaker individuals?"
His words directly referenced Jovy's earlier boasts about himself.
While the MTA Journeyman did not assu an arrogant air when he was in the company of Ves, his confidence and self-esteem were actually quite high!
How could Jovy admit his weaknesses so easily? Wouldn't that invalidate his earlier descriptions about himself?
"You're not wrong, Ves. I know I am better than many of my peers. I don't dare to say that I am superior to you, but my ch designs are actually not that bad compared to your living chs."
"I would love it if you could show to them one day." Ves smiled.
"One day." Jovy promised. "As much as I like to heap praise on myself, that is not the point of this eting. I need to make a choice, but I still don't know what I am getting into. Can you elaborate why you recomnd your third suggestion despite its nurous problems?"
"As I have said before, the eyeball companion spirit is a great fit for you. Knowledge is power, and that counts double for ch designers such as ourselves. While I am sure your ability to read probabilities can simulate foresight to an extent, it is too much anchored in the present if my guess is right. It should also only be effective on more material and solid phenona. What my third proposal can offer is the potential to expand the range of your information gathering capabilities. Doesn't that sound great? You will always enjoy an information advantage compared to your peers!"
Jovy frowned. "Not necessary. What of the risk factors? What of the eyeball companion spirit's relations to the Ylvainan Faith? Can you guarantee that I will not be negatively influenced by this connection?"
"Relax. I wouldn't worry so much. You are your own person. If you do not want to embrace the Ylvainan Faith, then neither you nor your companion spirit will get affected. As I have told you in the past, your companion spirit is a part of yourself. It won't convert to religion against your wishes. Your control over the other half is too strong for that. As its designer, I can program and specify a lot of different aspects about your companion spirit. If you really do not want it to embrace any faith, you can tell to hardwire that instruction in its spiritual programming."
"You can do that, Ves?"
Ves grinned. "I can do at least that much. My control over life forms such as companion spirits is not absolute, but I can still influence their starting line and developnt patterns. It will be up to you to nurture your companion spirit and determine its growth direction. The ultimate point of companion spirits is that its personality and abilities are shaped according to your needs. It will never hinder you as long as you raise it well."
A few minutes passed as Jovy tried to make a choice. Eventually, he realized that he was too conflicted to make a judgnt at this ti.
"I need to think about this further. For now, I would like you to write a more extensive report on a couple of suggestions that I prefer. I will go over them and possibly share them with others before settling on a choice. Does that sound good, Ves?"
"There's no hurry, Jovy. We haven't even reached Davute as of yet. Keep thinking about what I have said. I am confident in my work. Each of them are solid. You just need to decide for yourself how you wish to boost your career. If you ask , I would go for the option with the highest degree of synergy with your existing capabilities. This will yield a far greater return on investnt."
"Greater profits always co with greater risks."
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