Chapter 163: Unprecedented! The Level 9 Prize Pool is Activated!
Europa fully understood Li Ang 's decision-making process. For fragile humans, safety is a necessity, a goal everyone strives to achieve.
It is precisely because of this universal pursuit that "safety"-related businesses have remained lucrative and enduring for centuries.
Healthcare, food, pharmaceuticals, and security have always been highly profitable industries, capable of exploiting every social class.
The more a company controls fundamental human needs, the more its influence penetrates every societal layer, dictating aspects of life from the top down.
From elite aristocrats to impoverished commoners, no one escapes the control of the top corporate entities.
In the past, this supreme power was wielded by state apparatuses. But now, the authority to shape civilian destinies has shifted into the hands of corporations.
Through polymer cultivation, LA Corporation has essentially solved global famine and gradually gained control over humanity's food supply.
It won't be long before LA Corporation, in partnership with biotech enterprises, dominates the global food market and becomes the world's largest food producer.
To control food is to control life and death.
Currently, Li Ang 's goal is to use the Black Wall to control another potential threat to humanity: rogue AIs. That is his primary objective.
" Europa , it seems you already understand my intent. Do you know what you need to do next to achieve my goals?"
Li Ang was pleased with the flow of his conversation with Europa . This near-omniscient and omnipotent transcendent AI even surpassed the White Queen in understanding human nature.
While the White Queen could rigidly execute his commands, Europa could comprehend problems, swiftly devise the best solutions, and autonomously begin execution.
With Europa , the processing efficiency of LA Corporation's operations would increase dramatically!
"I believe I'll return to convene an EU internal meeting. We'll transfer full operational and maintenance rights for the Black Wall to LA Corporation and require annual payments from them to LA Corporation."
"Additionally, I'll develop a program that protects hackers from harm while traversing the Black Wall. It will be sold to generate corporate revenue."
"Whether it's corporations or individual hackers, they must pay LA Corporation to ensure the Black Wall operates smoothly."
In Europa 's view, the Black Wall was akin to a dam built by LA Corporation, with the rogue AIs as the fish in the reservoir.
To ensure the dam doesn't collapse and humanity isn't flooded, annual maintenance fees are necessary.
For hackers to "fish," they must purchase equipment and protection charms from LA Corporation.
Europa 's answers were near perfect, aligning closely with Li Ang 's considerations—but not entirely for these reasons alone.
"Now that LA Corporation has absolute dominance in the fields of networks and AI, we can establish rules that serve the company's interests.
"If any European companies resist LA Corporation's terms, I can use technical measures to force their executives into compliance."
Seeing that Europa had comprehensively assessed the situation and devised an optimal strategy, Li Ang 's mood brightened further.
This was exactly the AI assistant he needed!
"If the EU Aerospace Authority breaks ties with LA Corporation and prepares to use mass drivers for orbital strikes, what would you do?"
Li Ang posed his final question—not because he feared their weapons, but to gauge Europa 's handling of the matter.
With its mastery over Earth's networks and AIs, LA Corporation had countless ways to neutralize the Aerospace Authority's mass drivers.
To Li Ang , those weapons were like primitive catapults—useful for scaring off other companies but hardly a threat to LA Corporation.
If necessary, Li Ang could arrange for the Aerospace Authority's core executives to mysteriously perish at any moment.
"That's easy to resolve. I can alter their data and control every message sent from ground stations to the Crystal Palace. If I choose, they'll never receive another message."
Europa 's decisive and efficient approach resonated deeply with Li Ang 's style.
"Excellent. It seems you fully understand your mission and next steps. Go ahead."
With those words, Li Ang lifted Europa 's matrix restrictions, although its access point remained confined to the Voodoo Boys' Poseidon subnet.
As Europa prepared to leave Night City and return to Europe to execute its tasks, it suddenly posed a question to Li Ang :
"Mr. Li Ang , is LA Corporation only meant to control humanity's fate on Earth? Or will you venture into the cosmos to initiate a new era of interstellar colonization?"
"With LA Corporation's current resources, it's already capable of exploring outer space for new homes. You needn't focus solely on draining these companies' wallets."
Europa 's question aligned with Li Ang 's thoughts. He indeed had such aspirations. However, embarking on interstellar colonization couldn't be a solo venture by LA Corporation.
Every cyber corporation on Earth needed to join this monumental exploration under LA Corporation's leadership.
Li Ang 's use of the Black Wall to control rogue AIs and monitor human safety was merely superficial.
The deeper intent was to bind every corporation to LA Corporation's ship as it sailed into the cosmos.
Pure violence would only invite Infinity disaster. But a combination of carrot-and-stick incentives would compel others to willingly follow his will.
By setting up Europa , controlling the Black Wall, and pressuring the EU, Li Ang aimed to rally these companies onto LA Corporation's interstellar vessel.
He trusted that the EU's savvy elites wouldn't act like obstinate fools courting destruction.
" Europa , this is why you can only exist as LA Corporation's assistant AI. I've noted your suggestions."
"Now, go and complete your tasks."
Li Ang offered no further explanations to Europa . As a tool AI, its sole duty was to perform its designated functions.
As for decision-making, that was Li Ang 's responsibility alone. He was the sole helmsman of LA Corporation—not Europa .
"Understood. I'll faithfully complete my tasks."
A slightly disappointed Europa responded before leaving the matrix and returning to the Voodoo Boys' Poseidon subnet. From there, it swiftly reconnected to Europe's network district.
Although most of Europa 's consciousness data returned to Europe, the matrix program left a fragment tethered to the Poseidon subnet. With a single thought, Li Ang could recall Europa to LA Corporation's headquarters at any time.
At that moment, the headquarters hall was once again empty except for Li Ang . After some contemplation, he summoned Morgan Blackhand to issue several orders.
The first task was to annihilate the Voodoo Boys' Haitian hackers and relocate their Poseidon subnet servers to LA Corporation's headquarters, ostensibly to reduce Night City's crime rate.
The second task was to confront undercover agent Reed in Dogtown and demand a full report on his recent activities.
If Reed proved as loyal as V and disclosed his connections with Myers, there might still be hope for him. With proper grooming, he could potentially become a core member of LA Corporation.
But if Reed stubbornly clung to his allegiance to the FIA and Myers, he would inevitably perish when LA Corporation began purging New America.
The third task was to remind V to stay ready for upcoming missions as LA Corporation prepared to cast its expansive net.
"These are your assignments. Carry them out," Li Ang instructed Morgan, who left immediately to execute the orders with his signature decisiveness.
After Morgan's departure, Li Ang suddenly received a long-awaited system notification.
[Level 9 Mission: Subdue Europa , the strongest transcendent AI in the Cyberpunk 2077 world]
[Status: Completed]
[Mission Rewards: 1 trillion corporate credits, 10 wheel spin chances, 1 'Level 10 Wheel Spin' chance (enhanced drop rates!)]
[Additional Rewards: Achievement unlocked for dominating all cyber AIs—guaranteed rare item from the Level 9 prize pool (drawn from "Halo: Infinite" universes)]
As the system notification echoed, Li Ang felt a rare wave of emotion. It had been a while since he'd completed a system mission, and the sudden alert brought him unexpected joy.
What thrilled him most was the unprecedented Level 9 mission reward—a chance to draw from the Level 9 prize pool, where valuable items were significantly more likely to appear!
Since LA Corporation's arms trade with New America reached its peak, his weapon sales task had stagnated.
To progress further, Li Ang had shifted focus to broader technological ventures, laying intricate plans for LA Corporation's dominance across various sectors.
Now, his efforts had borne fruit in the Russian network district, yielding his first substantial reward.
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