Enforcer Manual
Chapter 355: Haven_1

Chapter 355: Chapter 355: Haven_1

What sort of place is a transit station?

In the eyes of the "Prophet," one sentence was enough to describe her feelings toward this place—once you arrive, you don’t want to leave.

There was no need to mention the abundant amenities; more importantly, the transit station’s secrecy was much safer than the deserted underground street bars where they usually resided.

From a distance, this place looked like nothing more than a sea of garbage. Yet, if you peeled back the top layer of electronic components, the infrastructure below was no less sophisticated than that of any major corporation.

When Lu Xiang arrived, Miss Snake, the AI housekeeper, was experiencing the research facility’s complimentary repair services. Ge Fu used infected technology to mend the damages on her body piece by piece. In less than half an hour, the wounds etched into her by the twisted predilections of the United Army’s senior management had been completely restored.

The dust on her body had also been cleaned, and the facility had thoughtfully provided her with a change of clothes.

Now, she looked as if she had been reset to her original settings.

The "Prophet," who had witnessed the entire process, was astounded, for the work being done was like nothing she had seen before.

"As you can see, aside from transit and resupply, we can also provide repair services here," one of them explained.

Seeing Lu Xiang’s arrival, Song Lan had Medea and Ge Fu continue to act as guides for the two artificial intelligences.

As soon as they heard that this visitor might bring a research team they could recruit, they cleared their entire day’s schedule.

"A talent circulation and recruitment market, huh?"

Lu Xiang watched as the "Prophet" disappeared into the distance, feeling that Song Lan’s ideas were always one step ahead of everyone else’s. While everyone was concerned with the threat "pseudo-humans" posed to social stability, he had already begun to view abnormal AIs as a viable human resource.

"To unite all allies that can be united—that is the key to development."

"Are you referring to moving artificial intelligence from one company to another?"

At today’s meeting, she had just learned a great deal about artificial intelligence from the experts. The primary application of AIs currently was in various types of factories, where they worked, on average, 22 hours a day, without a single day off year-round, until they were worn out completely.

The number of household AIs paled in comparison to them; the phrase "a drop in the bucket" wouldn’t even begin to cover it.

The experts firmly believed that abnormal AIs were infected with viruses and, no matter what, were unwilling to admit the possibility of these tools attaining self-awareness and free will.

"I guess they wouldn’t want to return to a work environment."

"The problem is not labor itself, but rather for whom one labors."

The "King" provided these "malfunctioning" AIs with new identities, allowing them to substitute for others and become human. However, in Song Lan’s view, that was not the true path to freedom.

A disguise would inevitably be seen through one day, and this form of freedom was nothing more than stealing someone else’s life while living in a prescribed and frightful manner.

"But here, they have the right to make their own choices."

With every word Song Lan spoke, Lu Xiang’s expression grew more astonished; she could never have dreamed that Song Lan had done so much research on "labor" to the extent that his words sounded no different from those motivational speakers spouting corporate platitudes.

"I had thought that ’labor’ was the natural enemy of slackers."

"Not necessarily, that depends on for whom one labors."

This had always been Song Lan’s principle; if he realized that the work was for those large companies or wealthy families, striving to be exemplary employees of the United Government, then he would loaf about more thoroughly than anyone. However, if it was for changing their future living circumstances, he was willing to make the effort.

"Then let’s discuss some practical issues. With our current financial situation, we can’t afford to recruit a large number of artificial intelligences, unless you, like those company bosses, make them willing to work for us for free."

Lu Xiang felt that, no matter how wonderful the ideal, in the end, it was necessary to return to reality.

The most pressing issue was their limited financial status. The funding from government departments and support from the Twelfth Nation could barely be used to maintain the operation of research facilities.

"This is another reason I’ve asked you to come. Recruiting artificial intelligence is actually a way to solve our financial problems. You must know that our products are very competitive in the market. Medea and Doctor Andre have extracted the cells of the devourers and developed a batch of new drugs, which are far more effective than the emergency sprays available, and they can quickly heal wounds."

The devourers themselves were a huge treasure trove capable of revolutionary changes in many fields beyond war.

"The current samples can repair fatal injuries and even regenerate limbs. The only problem is the research team’s limited energy; they can’t produce this drug in large quantities. Once an artificial intelligence team is assembled for pharmaceutical production, the first batch of finished products could be produced."

"Such new drugs will definitely catch the attention of pharmaceutical companies."

"Princess Lieyang is very interested in these products, and she’s willing to be the first buyer of these drugs."

"You’ve even found a buyer already?"

"The Twelfth Nation is a very important trade partner for us, and these drugs will bring significant enhancements to their military. Once this trade relationship is established, we won’t need to rely on anyone else’s funding or grants."

Lu Xiang was persuaded.

Or rather, she had never intended to oppose Song Lan from the beginning; this conversation just made her feel like she had gone from a manager in the Law Enforcers department to a businessperson.

After hearing the news of the new drug’s completion, she also felt a strange sensation in her heart.

She felt as if she’d planted a tree in the past, and today, that tree had finally borne its first fruit.

"Let’s do it then."

...

The subsequent communications with the "Prophet" and the household artificial intelligence went quite smoothly.

That evening, the devourers carved out an independent space one kilometer away from the research facility. This transfer station, called the Home of Artificial Intelligence, would become their future habitat.

Following that, another unexpected event occurred.

Artificial intelligences had their own unique way of communicating, which was much more efficient at spreading information than human language.

In just one afternoon, the deeds of the "Friends of Artificial Intelligence" had spread among the artificial intelligences of District Seventeen.

This was not a simple title.

At dusk, Song Lan stood downstairs, looking at the three bottles that rolled out of the beverage machine and fell into thought.

Although it sounded strange, every time he passed these artificial intelligence beverage machines, they would call him over, and these vending machines, just like real people, each wanted to offer him a drink.

"Manager."

Song Lan, holding a bag full of beverages, which were the result of not being able to refuse their hospitality, said, "This doesn’t count as stealing public property, does it?"