Back in Anjiu City, Xu Yang found a fully automated boutique apartment with a slightly high price. Its selling points were seclusion, strong security and confidentiality. The entire place was operated by smart systems, with no human staff and exempt from external corporate inspections. He rented two rooms there and then drove the Innovation to the docking area on the 18th floor of the apartment building.
Three quarters of the parking slots around were occupied, with various models of shuttle machines parked in between. Some were flashy in style and color, and advanced in design. Modern cities had become even more immense and complex in structure, making shuttle machines a more convenient option.
Du Qianqian got off the Innovation and saw a small, pink, single-person shuttle machine designed for ladies, and she coveted it.
"I’ve got to buy one of those." Du Qianqian took note of its model and searched online, "1.2 million? Guess I’ll need to take on a few more missions."
"The price will drop, it might halve next month, patience pays off," Xu Yang led Du Qianqian and A40 towards the elevator, ready to check in, "During economic downturns, the prices of housing, cars, and appliances all fall because people can’t afford them, and banks are afraid to lend."
"Faces change so much, it sometimes makes me feel that people are cheap, and also poor," Du Qianqian entered the sealed elevator, with only a square window to see the dusky city outside, "Think about it, earning 5,000 a month, for 12 months, over 30 years of work, you can buy out a person’s life for less than 2 million in funds."
"Feels... cheaper than my cost," A40 commented, "Tanaka Intelligence Company has invested several hundred million in me and my model series, producing only 40 units so far."
"Right, Taro Tanaka," Xu Yang thought of the guy who made A40 and had repaired it, "He lives in a huge eyeball robot. If you’re going to fight in the Colosseum, we’ll need to call him in for support."
"He can’t fight," A40 said, "That eyeball robot is full of flaws."
"Can you still get in touch with Huang Feng?" Xu Yang was curious, "Or has Huang Feng established contact with you?"
"Yes and no," A40 stood still and briefly analyzed for 3 seconds, "She sent an email to the communication channel she gave me, but I don’t wish to open it."
"You mean you’re afraid, right? You were the first prey Huang Feng caught?" Du Qianqian taunted.
During her time as a dancing girl at the "Sunrise" bar, Du Qianqian had seen Huang Feng come to the bar daily to drown in drinks, looking for dates everywhere. She also witnessed firsthand how Huang Feng scared away Lila, remembering only the huge sniper rifle Lila carried on her back. After returning to the industrial park for some time, Du Qianqian recognized Lila by that sniper rifle but dared not bring up the past.
"Only when I become a ’Power,’ will I be able to open Huang Feng’s email," A40 stated firmly, "So, please make sure to send me to the Colosseum Arena! I will continue to win, and eventually, as the champion, boldly open the email and read every single message Huang Feng sent, word by word!"
"Do your best," Xu Yang said, "I have high expectations for you."
After entering the room, Xu Yang put down his luggage, lay down on the soft bed to rest, rested his hands behind his head, and connected to the deep anonymous network with his Digital Mind. There, under the alias of Cyber Specter, he created a small forum. This should allow him to integrate and forward all information about the Cyber Specter, to prevent people from speculating wildly.
On the network, there indeed were people following the Cyber Specter, and within 3 minutes, the first post emerged, causing a commotion, accusing the forum creator of trying to gain attention and calling them a shameless person.
A matter of indifference to Xu Yang, of course.
The so-called deep anonymous network was inherently an extremely chaotic place, with truth and enigma intertwined, and a torrent of various pieces of information colliding, rendering the process of proving the truth of a matter meaningless.
Therefore, he only needed to establish this forum and then outsource its hosting to a server. By the time he checked back, the forum would likely have become an information hub, which he could then exploit as needed.
Xu Yang turned off the floating virtual visual panel in front of him and turned to see a seductively dressed beauty in a bikini lounging on the couch, giving him a longing look.
"Go buy some food and drinks, I’ll be discussing the Colosseum competition with A40," Xu Yang tossed an Anonymous Cash Card to her.
"Don’t like what you see?" Du Qianqian twirled her body.
"You look great, but if you’re going downstairs, you should change into something more appropriate," Xu Yang advised.
"Alright then." Du Qianqian took the cash card and transformed her appearance into that of a thickly dressed office worker, and left the room with a spring in her step.
"Ah, the competition, I love it already," A40, without being told, conscientiously turned on the room’s smart screen and began to swiftly search for the grand event.
The official name was... the Colosseum Event!
To celebrate the selection of the eighth president, coupled with the ongoing war, Kirino Reisei decided to hold an intense battle celebration in the ancient Witch’s fashion, selecting a highly skilled Samurai.
In Anjiu City’s Colosseum Arena, the strong would fight each other to the death until the last victor remained. Kirino Reisei would personally perform the inheritance rite, bestowing the mystical blessing of the Archipelago Continent on the final victor. According to the promotion, she could concentrate the powers of the "sky, wind, and earth" of the Archipelago Continent all onto one person, making them the First Warrior of the era. This would not only greatly enhance the Samurai’s Power, but also affect the fortunes of the Archipelago Continent, giving it an upper hand in the war against Black Fire Innovation.
The efficacy of these practices had not yet been confirmed, but the grand nature of the event was enough to attest to Kyoto Infinity’s strength and determination. The scene work alone was sufficient to temporarily stabilize the confidence of people and investors. The accompanying marketing promotion and infrastructure expansion could also play a significant role in economic development.
"The First Warrior of the era, I like that even more," A40 continued to record.
A total of 64 corporations sent 64 corporate warriors to join in the Colosseum competition. After transparent public lottery, the warriors would engage in one-on-one deathmatches.
Participants could be humans, modified humans, robots, Synthetic Humans, etc., but not Witches. In terms of combat rules, any form of ranged weapons was forbidden; Electromagnetic Pulse grenades, heat rays, throwing darts, and the like were all prohibited; there were no restrictions on the use of implants, prosthetics, and electronic devices other than ranged weapons.
That is to say, the high-density collision of melee weapons or unarmed combat would be the core of the battle, and precision electronic monitoring equipment would supervise the competitors’ every move in real time to ensure no one suddenly declared the times had changed.
"Sword and blade fighting, my favorite! I’m going to forge a path of blood!" A40, his engine oil boiling.
"Over 300 corporations signed up during the pre-registration phase," Xu Yang looked through the information.
"Could I possibly lose out on this fighting opportunity?" A40’s eyes flickered on and off repeatedly, "What should I do then?"
"The total prize money is 540 million Funds, with the champion’s corporation taking home a whole 300 million. Aside from money, there’s also the endless fame that goes without saying," Xu Yang said, "So of course they have all come to sign up. However, the actual selection is also an internal operation. I just need to greet the Sakura Witch herself."
"That’s reassuring," A40’s voltage dropped.
"There are already many warm-up matches being fought, and the Colosseum Arena’s schedule is filled with invitational matches," Xu Yang looked through the information.
"Are there any matches tomorrow that I could fight in?"
"Of course," Xu Yang replied, "I’ll register you today, and you’ll get to try out a fight tomorrow. There’s a very good match, with the stakes being the priority bidding rights to an office building."
"We want to buy a building in Anjiu City?" A40 was curious.
"Yes," Xu Yang nodded, "Farosa wants to come up to the Ground to breathe some fresh air, so I thought I’d prepare an entire office building for her. It’ll be a standalone building with all security facilities handled by us, no need to worry about others coveting it."
He switched the smart screen to the related schedule, showing a 16-story luxury office building named Shijin Mansion, recently completed and located in a quieter part of Anjiu City.
It originally belonged to Shenkong Group, but Shenkong Group’s headquarters was blown up by Matteo with seven dirty bombs. Coupled with a poor external situation, the company had completely collapsed and was now splitting up for sale. Shijin Mansion, which was meant for expanding business on the Ground, was also up for trade and very cheap at only 120 million; several companies were eyeing it, almost upgrading to a small corporate war.
To resolve the friction and also promote the Colosseum celebration, Kyoto Infinity took the initiative to settle the dispute, allowing corporations interested in the bidding to send "Samurai" to participate in a minor duel. The winner would have the right to buy Shijin Mansion at a 33% discount. During this period, similar frictions would be resolved in Colosseum style, letting the audience get a feel for the festival vibe ahead of time.
"That is to say, if you win, you can help us save over 30 million in Funds," Xu Yang said.
"Good, good," A40 moved to a corner of the room, sat down cross-legged, started to charge himself, and closed his eyes. He began to simulate battles in his mind, slightly easing the combustive heart of battle.
Du Qianqian came back carrying a plastic bag full of fast food, including multi-layer beef and tomato hamburgers, fried fries, wraps stuffed with minced meat, waffles, chicken meatballs, beer, and cola.
"The Colosseum invitational match, with the stake being a building?" Du Qianqian looked at the intelligence, stacking the food all over the table.
"If you want to set up operations in Anjiu City, this place would be a great new base," Xu Yang said. "16 stories high, not too big or too small, able to accommodate more people and supplies compared to the underground world."
"It looks beautiful," admired Du Qianqian as she curiously gazed at A40 charging, "So, can this robot help us win?"
"I was created for the purpose of battle," A40’s dormant lights suddenly lit up, "This is the one thing I am 100% confident of winning."