[Mission Reward: Unknown]
The system was also stimulated and issued the main mission again, and the fewer words, the bigger the problem.
Cyberspace was divided into two sides by a massive, boundless Black Wall of data.
On one side is the current human-used intranet.
On the other side is the chaotic and disordered old net, an ocean of information surging like tides, with some powerful rogue AI data streams continually crashing against that indestructible Great Wall, where chaos and order are constantly obliterated, attempting to cross over into the human world.
The current human-used network area compared to the chaotic old net is truly like a lone boat in the sea, at risk of being overturned at any moment.
In the past era of the old net, the top technology hidden in data fortresses by multinational companies, government secrets, historical files, the hacker consciousness that didn’t disconnect in time... who knows how many precious resources are lost in there.
Just how much stuff is hidden within cyberspace, and how vast it is, companies don’t know, hackers don’t know, and even the rogue AIs living in it probably don’t know either.
There’s even a rumor that it wasn’t humans who created cyberspace, but humans who discovered it.
Therefore, even knowing that a slight mishap could cause catastrophic disaster, multinational companies and some private organizations still tirelessly attempt to tamper with the Black Wall, opening temporary channels to the old net to search for lost tech assets.
Hackers venturing there dying is commonplace, but wealth moves people’s hearts.
Back in the car, Mr. Blue Eyes closed his eyes, his consciousness crossing oceans and awakening on the other side of the Black Wall.
Although AIs cannot directly cross the Black Wall, the Pacific Ocean has no cover, and they can completely control their flesh to vault over to human social life, which doesn’t affect much, just unable to use internet-connected electronic devices. Even contacting people by phone has to rely on mobile phones.
The Black Wall is a firewall on the internet, an alternative ’Great Wall,’ yet it doesn’t affect reality.
If someone could cross the Black Wall to the depths of the old net, they’d be surprised to find AIs have built cities with data, somewhat similar to reality, except the inhabitants are not human.
In an office, a blue light human-shaped figure appeared at the long conference table, and besides him, there stood seven or eight other figures, but not all were humanoid.
There were wispy, constantly changing cloud-like codes, a Mobius strip representing infinity, a crucifix with Jesus nailed on...
"I have seen the leaders of those AIs."
Communication in cyberspace doesn’t rely on sound waves but rather on pure data exchanges, therefore every time AIs speak, some data stream is visibly flowing from their bodies into others.
"Did he just attack you?"
"Yes, but not fatally. The opponent didn’t use full force, but it’s pretty much confirmed he’s one of us. I sensed familiar codes on his firewall, as for the rest, they should be the hackers stranded fifty years ago before the data crashed back to reality."
During that time, the global collapse of networks caused the death of hundreds of thousands of hackers stranded in cyberspace, nearly leading to the extinction of the hacking profession.
"It’s complicated, like composite code written by multiple people. I only recognized one segment."
"Multiple authors... who is that person?"
Blue Eyes’ words brought a sudden silence to the environment in the conference room, even the flow of the data body paused for a moment.
Until after a few breaths, the Mobius strip AI actively asked,
"Are you sure it’s her?"
Blue Eyes: "I’m very sure."
Cloud-like code: "Of course he’s sure, Otto almost devoured him more than a decade ago, he definitely wouldn’t forget that."
Crucifix: "This doesn’t feel right. As far as I know, Otto is currently collaborating on building ghost towns in Jiulong and Dongda, how could she suddenly interfere in Night City affairs, and they clearly have Kangtao, a better substitute. If it’s to divert attention, these actions are too ostentatious, illogical, unless there’s another motive."
Blue Eyes: "Perhaps it’s for the oracle beneath Huang Ban Tower, or maybe someone plans to take action against Huang Ban, so they found her."
Some secrets are secrets to the public eye but are not secrets to the rogue AIs deeply rooted in Night City.
Blue Eyes: "And Otto is only one of them; undoubtedly, there are others involved in this matter. Until we find out more, I suggest avoiding conflict with them. I propose we observe for the time being."
Regarding Otto Cunningham, the legendary hacker who once was as famous as Bartmos, and creator of the Soulkiller, regardless of when she was alive or after lingering in cyberspace post-death and becoming AI, both rogue AIs and companies are wary of her power.
She, and the Hellhound virus released by Bartmos before his death, are both complete monsters.
Mobius strip: "We will investigate who these people are and see who’s preparing to meddle in Night City affairs; I’ll leave this to you for now, take care to avoid conflict with them."
If an AI conflict gets exposed to the public, it may incite a new wave of panic, provoke extreme opposition, and potentially even expose their own matters.
After speaking, all AIs except Blue Eyes gradually dispersed, leaving one by one.
Only Blue Eyes knew that he did find Otto Cunningham’s code, but the woman’s code was not conspicuous in the overall firewall structure; it was the true force behind it that terrified him.