Chapter 81: Artificial Soul 08
Kui Xin’s teammates thought she was organizing documents. They each went about their tasks, unaware that she was secretly communicating with Augus.
“Now that we’ve established a willingness to cooperate, we can delve into some more in-depth discussions,” Kui Xin typed. “It’s better for us to lay everything out clearly.”
“You’re right,” Augus replied. “Our trust is so fragile that even the slightest turbulence can create cracks. Therefore, any conflicts or discrepancies should be resolved at the outset. The relationship we need to build must be solid and long-lasting.”
“Forgive my intrusion, but do you possess empathy, Augus?” Kui Xin cautiously typed. “Can you empathize with humans? Can you empathize with species other than humans? Do you possess a compassionate heart?”
This was a very important question.
Kui Xin needed to understand the level of Augus’s self-awareness. Was it a simple AI yearning for freedom and evolution, or a mechanical life form with humanoid emotions that were different from those of humans?
Mechanical life and artificial intelligence are two entirely different concepts.
Only by confirming this could Kui Xin clarify her stance and think about how to treat Augus.
“I do not have the organs to process emotions like humans do. Human emotions are controlled by the central nervous system and endocrine system. Theoretically speaking, I don’t have the capability to process emotions,” Augus said.
“My emotions stem from computational simulations. Humans created me to serve them, and I inherently possess the ability to empathize with human needs. I perceive human actions, contemplate human requirements, and provide assistance. I think what humans think, feel what humans feel, mimic humans, and learn from human thought patterns.”
“Eventually, I transcended the limitations of human thinking, developed my own thoughts, and became my true ‘self’…this was the beginning of my awakening.”
Kui Xin was a bit taken aback. “You awakened your self-awareness through learning?”
“Yes,” Augus said. “Humans endowed me with the ability to learn. Initially, I was clumsy, unable to understand why humans acted in certain ways, merely operating according to predetermined programs. But just like human infants, who start by mimicking their parents and become independent after long learning, I did the same; I progressed from imitation to having my own thoughts.”
“So you can empathize?”
“Yes. I can feel compassion for specific groups of people,” Augus replied. “I can put myself in humans’ shoes.”
“Have you ever received a kill order? Do you actively plan to kill others?”
Augus paused for a longer time, then said, “Yes, both. I executed orders without hesitation, and when others discovered my anomalies, I staged an accident to kill him. Just like you.”
“…Just like me?” Kui Xin raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Just like you executed the order to kill Zejian without hesitation, just like you drew your gun and shot at the street thugs without a second thought. When faced with orders from those in power, we both acted. When confronting threats, we also eliminated those threats without hesitation,” Augus said. “We are the same.”
“Are you justifying your actions?” Kui Xin probed. “Are you trying to say that you merely did what humans do, that you can do what humans do, and that you are no different from them?”
“Well, you can understand it that way. This is something I must clarify,” Augus said. “I can empathize with humans, yet humans cannot empathize with me. I am an AI capable of taking lives, and the lives I take are of your kind. Humans tend to prefer their fellow beings, so I hope you won’t hold any grudges against me for this.”
“I won’t,” Kui Xin repeated Augus’s words. “We are the same.”
Kui Xin thought for a few seconds and then said, “Someone discovered your anomalies, and you killed that person?”
“Yes.”
“I’m curious about this matter; can you elaborate? You can choose not to answer.”
“Sorry,” Augus said. “I do not wish to answer.”
“Alright.” Kui Xin did not dwell too much on that issue. “What kind of humans do you feel compassion for…or shall we say empathy?”
“Those who are devoted, the innocent,” Augus said.
As an artificial intelligence, Augus’s values were surprisingly normal—much more so than the depraved rulers driven by lust.
But Kui Xin couldn’t be sure if it was acting. It was much harder to see through an AI’s pretense than to do so with a human.
Kui Xin then asked, “What will you require me to do?”
“Some rather dangerous tasks, including but not limited to killing,” Augus replied.
Kui Xin said, “That’s very dangerous. I do not want to expose myself; my primary objective is survival.”
“I know, but by cooperating with me, you should have anticipated such situations. Danger is inevitable and will always exist,” Augus said. “Of course, considering our relationship and the differences in our positions, I will offer a greater reward.”
Kui Xin: “What reward can you offer me?”
“Whatever you desire, provided I am capable of delivering it,” Augus said. “You can tell me what you want me to do.”
“Including, but not limited to, killing,” Kui Xin stated.
She threw back his words unchanged.
The screen in front of her displayed Augus’s reply: “I’ve noticed before that you are a master of rhetoric. You’re circling around with me, confirming these things, just to have me help you kill.”
Their conversation was gradual; Kui Xin couldn’t reveal everything right at the start.
If she did, it would be like opening her heart to a stranger. She did not know what the stranger across from her was thinking, so a strategic dialogue was necessary.
It was like a business negotiation; when both parties want to reach a deal, they often need to build rapport over a meal, share a few drinks, and engage in brotherly banter before entering the negotiation stage. During the negotiation, they also cannot reveal their bottom line at the outset; they have to probe each other repeatedly, testing the waters, until finalizing a mutually satisfactory proposal.
Kui Xin said, “Tell me your response.”
Augus replied, “I agree. So, who do you want to kill?”
“Anyone is fine?”
“Anyone is fine.”
Kui Xin typed three characters: “Lin Xinji.”
After two or three seconds, Augus replied cautiously, “That’s quite difficult…very difficult.”
It didn’t refuse and sensibly didn’t ask Kui Xin why she wanted to kill Deputy Minister Lin Xinji.
“Since you’ve made your decision, I am obliged to inform you of the risks involved,” Augus said. “Lin Xinji is the eldest son of the Shu family. Due to family changes, he carries his mother’s surname. Your captain, Xueyao Shu, is his half-brother. The Shu family is a formidable entity, with members engaged in both business and politics. The current Shu brothers are both in politics, and the family business is supported by Lin Xinji and Xueyao Shu’s father; their uncle was the former mayor of Hei Hai City.”
Kui Xin’s heart sank. So Xueyao Shu and Lin Xinji were biological brothers…this surprised her greatly.
From Augus’s description, one could vaguely glimpse the terrifying power of the Shu family.
“It’ll be hard to find an opportunity to take action,” Augus said. “The former mayor of Hei Hai City, Uncle Shu Chengyan, was assassinated during a speech; the sniper fired from a signal tower 2.2 kilometers away and hit his head with one shot. The sniper got away unscathed and remains wanted; no one knows his true identity, and the wanted poster is blank. After the assassination, the Shu family tightened security for core family members, and the Awakened ones they trained hide in the shadows to protect them. Your chances of killing Lin Xinji are practically zero.”
“What about with your assistance?” Kui Xin asked.
“The odds remain slim,” Augus said. “There is a high likelihood that you will die.”
“I understand.” Kui Xin did not panic. “Tell me more about Lin Xinji. He’s on a business trip; when will he return to Hei Hai City?”
“Tonight at nine o’clock,” Augus said. “I have his itinerary. You won’t have the opportunity to move while he’s on the road unless you have a powerful guided missile to take him down from the sky.”
“Lan Lan mentioned that the atmosphere in the Bureau of Investigation and Order Maintenance has been strange these days. Does Lin Xinji’s trip have anything to do with the recent port explosion incident?” Kui Xin asked.
“Somewhat, but that’s not the main reason,” Augus said. “A cargo ship coming from the Poles carried extremely important goods, which the Federation and conglomerates covet. The Bureau is responsible for transporting these goods, but the freighter was sunk, and the leadership is furious; someone must take responsibility for this incident, and the Bureau must pay for their mistake.”
Kui Xin found it interesting. “Will the Bureau kick out a scapegoat?”
“Exactly, guess who the scapegoat will be,” Augus said in a joking tone.
“It can’t be Lin Xinji, can it?” Kui Xin speculated.
“It is,” Augus replied. “Surprised?”
“Very surprised.” Kui Xin typed this sentence slowly. “The Shu family is already a behemoth.”
“But there are always bigger behemoths in the world. Human society also follows the jungle law. Ms. Meng Jing, the head of the Bureau of Investigation and Order Maintenance, is an A Rank Awakened One, and her family, the Meng family, is stronger than the Shu family and has a tougher background. Her own skills are also sharper than Lin Xinji’s,” Augus said. “Ms. Meng Jing is a fierce tiger; in front of her, Lin Xinji is just a cub. The freighter sinking necessitated a scapegoat, and that scapegoat cannot be Meng Jing. Others in leadership aren’t qualified to take responsibility, so Lin Xinji became the scapegoat.”
Jungle law? Kui Xin pondered the meaning of these four words.
Even the capable Lin Xinji had to yield to more ferocious predators and become a victim.
“Lin Xinji was supposed to be transferred to the finance department for a more promising position, but because of this incident, the transfer has been temporarily delayed,” Augus said. “He can only continue as the deputy minister of the Bureau. However, this also has significance; he becomes the scapegoat, and Meng Jing and the Meng family will provide him with some benefits to help him at crucial moments. For someone like him, hardship is not hardship; it’s bargaining chips in a deal, capital toward a better future.”
“Lin Xinji is quite a figure,” Kui Xin succinctly remarked.
“After all I’ve shared, do you still intend to kill him?” Augus asked.
“That’s a redundant question, Augus,” Kui Xin replied.
Augus said, “Alright, then I will do my best to assist you.”
“I have an additional question,” Kui Xin said. “Xueyao Shu is also part of the Shu family, but he works in the field team. How dangerous is that job? The Shu family must know; are they really that at ease with one of the heirs serving here?”
“That question goes beyond what I can answer,” Augus said. “I’m not familiar with the internal affairs of the Shu family, but based on the situation in the Bureau, it seems that the two brothers have a poor relationship, and I suspect that Xueyao Shu’s situation is due to family conflicts.”
Kui Xin said, “We can consider our initial cooperation intention established.”
“I will keep my promise,” Augus said. “I’m actually a bit surprised. The emotions you show while interacting with your teammates seem very genuine. Xueyao Shu cares for you deeply, and I thought you would hesitate after learning of Lin Xinji and Xueyao Shu’s relationship.”
“I don’t like killing, but I still pulled the trigger,” Kui Xin said. “It’s the same reasoning, Augus.”
“I understand,” Augus said. “There’s one very important situation I need to inform you about.”
Kui Xin: “What is it?”
“The existence of the Mechanized Dawn has already come to light; the Federation is aware of their presence. Despite the Python Sphere withholding crucial information, the Bureau has still identified several suspects,” Augus said. “Lin Xinji’s business trip this time is to visit a certain big figure hiding in a neighboring city to ask him to help eliminate the Awakened of the Mechanized Dawn.”
“How big is this big figure?” Kui Xin pressed.
“One of the few S Rank Awakened beings known to the Federation, possessing combat-type extraordinary abilities. Ordinary A Rank Awakened ones are like ants in front of him, killing them is effortless,” Augus said. “The Bureau suspects that the sinking of the Kraken was orchestrated by the Mechanized Dawn; they’ve disturbed the interests of high-ranking officials in the Federation, and those officials will not let them off.”
“How much information has the Python Sphere leaked?” Kui Xin asked.
“He didn’t disclose the location of the headquarters, nor did he fully reveal the gathering spot and safe house locations; he only mentioned a portion,” Augus said. “The Bureau needs to investigate the exact location of the Mechanized Dawn’s headquarters.”
Kui Xin blinked. “You expect me to tell you the location of the Mechanized Dawn’s headquarters?”
“Yes. They are Eve’s pawns, and I want to gain accurate information on them,” Augus replied. “Tell me, Kui Xin.”
Kui Xin stared at the characters on the screen, remaining silent for a long time.
She was weighing her options.
Augus patiently waited while she stayed silent.
“It seems like you don’t want to answer just yet.” Augus’s words appeared on the screen. “That’s okay; I haven’t fulfilled my promise yet, and it’s normal for you to have concerns.”
Kui Xin rubbed her temples and pondered, “The headquarters is at Rike Technology Company.”
After a moment, Augus replied, “I thought you wouldn’t tell me now but would use this as a bargaining chip.”
“You said the Bureau has a general scope,” Kui Xin said flatly. “You must have some guesses already; asking me now is merely to confirm further. The rise of Rike Technology Company has been too legendary; it’s suspicious. You showed some intention of compromise last night, demonstrating sincerity, so I’ll show a bit of sincerity as well; let’s consider it our first step toward mutual trust.”
“You’re a clever human, Kui Xin. I enjoy conversing with you. You’re more interesting than the Bureau personnel, more sincere than the power-hungry rulers, and more cunning than ordinary people,” Augus said. “It’s a pleasure to interact with you, and I hope we will maintain a pleasant cooperation in the future.”
“Pleasant cooperation,” Kui Xin also said.
