Chapter 7: Study Begins—Diving Deep!

The next day, Morse received a harsh reprimand from Dr. Tian. Excessive studying did not promote brain nerve development, and he had personally verified this. Yet, Morse had no intention of stopping—his reasons were simple.

First, his learning efficiency was astonishing. It wasn’t just about having a photographic memory—in fact, that required no special talent at all. The specialized learning supercomputer provided by Arasaka was designed specifically for study, capable of forcibly implanting knowledge directly into the brain. In this world, where even consciousness could be stripped or altered, cramming information was hardly a challenge. Perhaps for students before the crossing who had to endure painful memorization, this was a blessing.

But in reality, in a world where every student could be machine-fed knowledge, the students’ burden was far heavier than before. First, they had to digest and truly understand the information. Second, this knowledge transfer was a brutal, overwhelming flood. The amount of material to be learned and memorized in an hour was terrifying—equivalent to a month’s worth of knowledge for ordinary students before the crossing.

Each beginner course contained twenty-eight class hours of content, intricate and comprehensive. Advanced courses were even more demanding. Take the hacker tutorial, for example; by then, it wasn’t about simple memorization but practical application. You had to complete countless hacking and defense exercises, design and run numerous programs, and even deal with disgusting tasks like fixing messy code.

Beyond that, there were lessons on constructing enterprise-grade forms within large servers, using hacking skills for stealth and assassination, and single-molecule line technology... Damn it, you even had to learn to design intelligent systems for weapons and vehicles. To design such systems, you needed knowledge of weaponry and vehicle mechanics, which meant adding introductory courses on vehicle and weapon design to your schedule.

Even Morse, who prided himself on AI-level intelligence, felt like his “pig brain” was overloaded and about to crack. After finishing his scheduled lessons, he almost forgot to report to the infirmary from sheer exhaustion.

When the pale-faced Morse appeared in the cafeteria, everyone showed concerned expressions—except Lucy and a few others, whose faces looked strange. But when carefree Kyoko cheerfully approached and pressed his head, asking what happened, even Lucy and the others looked somewhat ashamed. Even Kyoko seemed under a lot of pressure, prompting Morse to smile and gently ruffle her hair. Surprisingly, her little red hair was quite smooth.

“Don’t worry, this was all part of my plan. There aren’t many institutions stronger than Arasaka’s education. I’m fighting hard to earn money—once outside, there won’t be any chance for such systematic learning.”

Two other hackers who hadn’t joined any small group showed cold indifference to his words; one gave Morse a strange look, while the other seemed lost in thought.

“Study? Better to think about how to survive the mining process later.”

Kyoko pursed her lips and nodded, “I understand. I will study hard too!”

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You’re already an excellent hacker. Outside, you’d be an undisputed genius.”

Morse offered reassurance.

“But I’m still far behind you... and behind Lucy and Daichi too...” Kyoko sighed, then sat beside him to eat ramen. The flavor of the synthesized noodles was questionable, but the nutrition was definitely maxed out. The broth was full of potent ingredients; taste aside, it was packed with energy.

Morse could only say, “You’re younger than all of us. When you reach our age, you’ll definitely do better—well, except me. I might really be a genius.”

“Pfft... I know, genius senior,” Kyoko drawled playfully, grinning.

Morse, a bit of an otaku himself, couldn’t help but chuckle at her authentic Japanese loli voice.

After some lighthearted banter, lunch ended, and Morse dove back into his studies. Having learned from yesterday’s experience, he scheduled sufficient breaks between lessons this time, which greatly reduced his discomfort. Correspondingly, he extended his overall study time, including breaks, to a grueling seventeen hours daily.

With this schedule, he could tackle thirteen to fourteen class hours each day. Naturally, sleep time was shortened to accommodate the rest intervals.

Dr. Tian only advised him twice before falling silent, merely monitoring that his brain nerves were healing without worsening. No matter—if he didn’t die from studying, he’d study himself to death.

Two days later, the server reconstruction was completed, or more accurately, expanded. At the same time, Lucy sent Morse unsettling news via encrypted communication.

The number of security personnel and staff had increased.

Original research staff had left after the project director was replaced. In their place came three specialized teams totaling over twenty Arasaka employees focusing on network technology.

Perhaps due to the project’s upgraded importance, even the number of Arasaka agents responsible for security monitoring had risen significantly.

According to Lucy’s estimate, at least fifteen new Arasaka agents had been added—five specialized hacker operatives focused on cybersecurity and ten combat soldiers equipped with cybernetic enhancements.

The squad leader was an elite agent equipped with lab-grade Stanwistan cybernetics.

The purpose of such an elite agent wasn’t only to defend against possible enemies but also to intimidate their own people. His cybernetic components were fully visible; any glance of his cybernetic eyes revealed a chilling array of combat augmentations:

[Operating System: Arasaka “Shadow Warrior” S2 Experimental Stanwistan]

[Arasaka Agent ICE Model V.2]

[Pain Editor]

[Neural Processor: Arasaka NP-Mk.2 “Obsidian”]

[Combat Goggles: Military Tech “Night Owl” Mk.2 (Arasaka Modified)]

[Skeleton: Universal Enhancement Components]

[Arasaka Special D.2 Subdermal Armor]

[Hand: Universal Collaborative Processor]

[Arm: Arasaka “Demon” Prototype Mantis Blade]

[Circulatory System: Bioconductor “Blood Pump” Beta Test Model]

Morse, upon reviewing this, immediately enrolled himself in two cybernetic courses overnight—if there was a way to kill him, he didn’t want to lose out on the chance to loot the gear.

As for whether it was disgusting or cruel... he was certain that if his escape failed, the best outcome would be to die on the spot and pray his corpse wasn’t too intact. After all, if dead, he might as well leave something behind for his buddies—like Stanwistan cybernetics, which could easily sell for ten to twenty thousand euros in reality, far more than in the game. That could be his startup capital.

Who knew what else might be useful? Morse wouldn’t mind—it could all be used blindly to grow stronger and survive.

Could they kill him? Well, that depended on how powerful his personal ICE was to fend off hacking attacks launched through the Arasaka servers. After all, everyone in the underground facility was connected to the same server network.

Ah, such was the strength of the hacker’s path!

Forget about Stanwistan’s time slowdowns, aerial jumps, and mantis blades—try to challenge my rapid synaptic dissolution! Let your brain fry and see how fast your corpse can run.

Morse indulged in the fantasy for a few seconds before quickly immersing himself back in study.

Unsurprisingly, the day after the server reconstruction and personnel reshuffling, all the young hackers were ordered to gather again in the server room on the second underground floor. Giant blue glowing neural conduits hung from the ceiling like vines, converging in the center of the room. The humming servers lined the walls, generating an irritating low drone. Countless flickering indicator lights and glowing neural wires almost replaced the need for lighting.

At this moment, the acting project director, Ena Tanino, wore an excited smile as she stood before a hacker’s chair.

“Good morning, children.”

“I know many of you are meeting me for the first time and aren’t familiar with me, but that doesn’t matter. You only need to know that I am the new project director of the ‘Stellar Project.’ My name is Ena Tanino.”

“From now on, our ‘Stellar Project’ will enter its second phase. Our goal will no longer be limited to data mining in the old net but will focus on capturing special AI behavioral data within the old net.”

“Don’t be afraid... I see the pale looks on your faces. Rest assured, I am different from the previous director.”

“This time, while you dive deep, you will be protected by the latest Arasaka Guardian Firewall. Although our firewall cannot extend into the old net to provide fortress-like protection, see this server?”

“Yes, this is the subprogram server of Arasaka’s Guardian AI! It doesn’t possess AI traits itself to prevent being corrupted by AI in the old net.”

“But it still retains enterprise-level ICE capabilities, providing short-term defense against AIs. This is enough to support your retreat behind the firewall and then log off.”

“Remember, the current rules of engagement remain: no one is allowed to log off directly in the old net to avoid AI capturing your IP. You must log off after crossing the black wall.”

Meanwhile, Tanino produced a box of chips:

“These are specially made chips by the lab. Some of you may have heard of Arasaka’s core product, the ‘Protect Your Soul’ project. Yes, these are Relic chips. Of course, these expensive chips are not for copying your soul but for capturing AI.”

“When you wear this chip, it activates upon encountering AI. The program will automatically record AI characteristics.”

“Your task is to do everything possible to record as many AI traits as you can.”

“This means, during AI attacks, you must use the ‘Guardian’ ICE to buy time. During program combat interactions, stay as long as possible to record AI features with the chip.”

“Our target AIs are only two, so you need not record other AIs outside our scope. If you encounter non-target AIs, you may retreat and log off.”

“The mission is simple: find AI, observe and record as much as possible while the firewall lasts, then return and log off.”

After Tanino’s cheerful explanation, many young hackers’ expressions calmed. She then quickly added:

“Alright, since everyone understands our objective, just proceed as usual. Positions and numbers are flexible. Hmm, I suggest you log in using the same IP—it’s better that way.”

“Now, begin the operation.”

Lucy instinctively glanced at Morse, who turned to her and smiled openly, saying, “You all go together. I’ll act alone first.”

“Okay.”

Lucy didn’t say more or dare message him privately under these circumstances. Like the others, she queued to receive a chip and then went to her hacker chair.

Morse also took a chip. As he did, Tanino suddenly spoke:

“Morse, you are different from the others. If you encounter AI during deep dives, I allow you to log off immediately under any circumstance, whether it’s Alter or the other male-featured AI.”

“...Understood.” Morse’s expression remained unreadable, but suddenly a wave of caution rose within him.

Don’t tell me my Relic chip is specially made? Like, as soon as it’s plugged in and I enter cyberspace, Johnny Silverhand appears and Alter really shows up? He definitely didn’t want to experience the main character treatment.

But with Tanino smiling at him so sweetly, he couldn’t afford to act out—this woman might look gentle, but he was certain that if he did anything strange...

What came next would likely be enforced.

In the end, Morse gritted his teeth and inserted the chip.

Damn it. If pushed to the brink, he’d find a way to cyber-ascend like Alter. Flesh and blood be damned. He’d become an AI and haunt these Arasaka fools.

Turning away, the moment he inserted the Relic chip, Morse immediately initiated a self-check program. His eyes lit up as he rapidly scanned data to see if the chip had activated.

Fortunately, it hadn’t.

This was indeed an unactivated Relic chip, with activation conditions just as Tanino had described.

Morse approached the hacker chair, exhaled deeply, and sat down. Before connecting to the server, he began programming.

He planned to modify the Relic chip’s activation conditions, changing automatic detection to manual activation.

Connecting to the server and programming using its computational power would leave traces unless he hacked the server’s permissions and altered the logs.

Luckily, his programming speed was superhuman.

Before the special plugin connecting the neural conduit from the hacker chair to the back of his head engaged, he succeeded in disabling the Relic chip’s auto-start routine.

Still, Morse was cautious not to tamper with the core program or attempt any crack.

He strongly suspected the Relic chip in his neck wasn’t a simple AI recording device but an AI-targeted “soul killer” program!

If it activated incorrectly or triggered its mechanism, the soul killer would immediately target him.

He wasn’t arrogant enough to believe his network receiver and brainpower could fend off a supervirus created over fifty years ago by the legendary hacker Alter and improved by decades of Arasaka research.

When everything was ready, staff who had quietly arrived behind him finished installing all the conduits.

Morse touched his specially made black Arasaka hacker suit, took a deep breath, and reclined in the hacker chair.

“Begin!”

“Deep dive, enter cyberspace!”