Basilio asked Osian, who was coming forward confidently.
"Well, even if you suddenly show up and make such a request, there's nothing I can do for you."
"Let's drop the unnecessary modesty. You assigned this request to me because you want something from me. At the very least, you probably wanted to confirm my abilities."
No matter how good-natured Basilio was, and even though Osian was the newest addition to Violet Fox. It doesn't make sense to just hand over a request from a major corporation.
Of course, there had to be a corresponding reason for it. The most certain fact Osian could assert was that Basilio wanted to confirm his abilities.
"You've already proven your abilities sufficiently. Not only did you return safely from District 49, but you also successfully completed the request."
"That's not enough to satisfy you, is it?"
David, who was watching from behind, gasped at Osian's provocative tone toward Basilio. Though he's a knight now, he was once a fixer who had worked in the industry.
Though fixers are freelancers, there are those among them who are counted as legendary. Basilio was always a fixer competing for the top spot among them.
When he met him again, he already had a firm goal of becoming a knight, so he didn't make a fuss or show reverence.But Basilio's accomplishments and reputation were beyond what he could acknowledge or handle. Even though he's no longer a fixer, considering the industry he once belonged to, Basilio was still extraordinary.
In fact, the Basilio he encountered was a far more dangerous and frightening figure than he had thought. Though on the outside, he seems like a nice uncle who reveals everything.
Perhaps it was because his senses had become extremely sensitive during knight training? Like Osian, David could smell the dangerous scent emanating from Basilio.
It was natural to be worried when Osian confronted Basilio so boldly.
'Of course, Mr. Osian wouldn't lose if he fought, but still, considering who the opponent is.'
Just as he was anxiously watching how their conversation would continue. Basilio laughed.
"Kuhahahahaha!"
Basilio, who was cackling and holding his stomach as if he truly couldn't contain his joy, soon stopped laughing and said.
"It's been a while since I've laughed so heartily. I don't know how long it's been. Yes, as you said. To be honest, I want to see more."
"Right. Finally, you're being honest. So quickly, tell the Antique Gear people. Tell them I'll show them properly."
"Ah. You don't have to worry about that."
Basilio said, showing both his hands.
"I anticipated this and already called them."
No sooner had those words ended than the door of Violet Fox opened and a group entered.
At the lead was a woman wearing glasses with her hair braided into a braided bun. Her light pink hair was particularly striking.
"Hello. I'm Manager Shaloni from Antique Gear. Are you Osian?"
Osian stared at Shaloni and then glanced slightly at Basilio. He shrugged as if asking why Osian was looking at him.
Osian chuckled at that. Yes. Indeed, being a legend in the industry meant something different.
Probably this wasn't his intention from the beginning. After talking with Osian, if he hadn't been satisfied, he would have sent the Antique Gear people away.
'When working as a fixer, betrayal happens frequently, so you can't approach things simply.'
Basilio's rise to a high position in the industry was due not only to his skills but also to his world-class interpersonal abilities.
Suddenly, Osian wanted to see the face behind his mask, but now wasn't the time to worry about that.
Osian turned to Shaloni and replied.
"Yes. I'm Osian from Violet Fox."
[204th experiment concluded.]
The researchers at Battle Trench who meticulously checked Neo's condition couldn't hide their frustration.
"What exactly is the problem?"
"No matter how I look at it, the general structure and circuits are identical to automatons from 50 years ago."
"Even though that fellow has replaced and repaired his own body parts, the core components haven't changed."
Arms, legs, and joints were estimated to have been replaced with different parts of similar specifications. However, the core circuits and internal components remained the same.
Therefore, despite thoroughly examining Neo's body everywhere, the answer to artificial intelligence remained elusive. Even the head section, which controls the data, was the same.
In an automaton's head, there exists a computational device that produces output values in response to input values.
The reason for controlling automatons with magical threads was precisely to inject input values quickly and concisely into this computational device without any interference.
Therefore, most researchers speculated that the artificial intelligence of automatons was mainly due to the alteration of this computational device.
They thought that some kind of change occurred in the computational device, causing output values to emerge even without input values. Moreover, it didn't stop but continued to chain and even caused a kind of chemical reaction.
But during more than 200 experiments they only realized that the computational device of Neo, the AI automaton, had no issues whatsoever.
"Does this make any sense?"
"If the computational device that essentially makes the automaton move is intact, how do we explain that automaton's behavior?"
The computational device is akin to a human brain. Naturally, if intelligence were to develop, it would be there.
But no matter how many experiments were conducted, no anomalies were found in Neo's computational device.
"Still. There's exactly one thing we haven't touched."
The moment one researcher uttered those words, the other researchers all fell silent. Yes. They knew too.
The only place they hadn't touched despite examining Neo's body thoroughly through hundreds of experiments.
"The core."
The place that could be called a heart for humans. The mechanical spring mechanism that provides the driving force for the automaton.
"But."
"If we accidentally mishandle the core and it stops functioning."
Then, what might be the only specimen would be gone. That's why they hadn't been rough with Neo during more than 200 experiments.
The moment there's even a slight malfunction, the only possibility towards artificial intelligence would be closed.
Even the researcher who first voiced the opinion reluctantly closed his mouth at those words. It was then that the director and head of the researchers here spoke up.
"No. It makes sense. If we've searched all the parts and still haven't found an anomaly, then by process of elimination, the core is the last clue."
"But it's that much more dangerous. If the core is mishandled, it can be irreversible."
A human with a damaged brain may enter a brain-dead state but doesn't die. One might argue what's the difference between that and death, but biologically, they're still alive.
But the heart is different. If the heart breaks, you definitely die. That's no exception even for automatons.
The director knew that too.
"Because I know, we need to be even more certain."
"Director!"
"Have you forgotten? We don't have that much time right now."
The researchers' expressions darkened at those words. That's right. They needed to obtain data on artificial intelligence as quickly as possible because their rival company was already choking them with even more advanced technology.
"If we give it more time and accumulate more data, we might figure it out. But we're short on time. In that case, we have no choice but to be equally extreme."
It was a situation where they had no choice but to take sufficient risk. Pursue stability? The director knew that was right intellectually, but his intuition said otherwise.
"Check the core. Of course, we won't extract it immediately. Start from the surface of the core and connect the circuits."
"Understood."
Soon, an announcement echoed inside the laboratory.
[205th experiment. Starting now.]
The researchers entered the pristine laboratory. They opened the chest hatch of Neo, who was tied to a chair, revealing the core.
Despite its name, the core looked nothing like a heart. It was closer to a metal sphere. If anything, its design was similar to what's commonly called a "capsule".
The core was connected to the circuits that made up the body. The researchers brought external circuits and plugged them into Neo's core.
It was a dangerous act where, if they inserted the external circuit incorrectly, there was a high chance of device error and damage.
But
-Fwoosh!
Seeing the light emanating from Neo's core, the researchers behind the glass window couldn't close their gaping mouths.
Like an aurora unfolding, or like looking at outside light from inside water. The beautiful and brilliant multi-colored light patterns scattered in the air were not the radiance a normal core could produce.
Even the director, who had given the instruction with some doubt, was equally surprised. He clenched his fist.
'It worked. We've finally found a clue.'
The answer to artificial intelligence was in the automaton's core. Now they just needed to analyze the altered parts of that core in detail and transfer it to the company's new prototype.
'Of course, in the process.'
The first artificial intelligence. Prototype Neo would follow the finalized disposal procedure.
Osian faced Shaloni in a specially prepared private space. Shaloni, with an expressionless face, immediately touched the table.
"Since we both don't have time, I'll skip the formalities and get straight to the point."
Osian liked that too, so he nodded.
-Click.
Light flowed from the projector on the ceiling and illuminated the table. A complex map and blueprint made of black lines were drawn on the white table.
"This is Battle Trench's factory located in District 38. It's called a factory, but it also serves as a secret laboratory. The experiments are being conducted right here."
"In District 38?"
Don Quixote, who was attending this meeting, voiced his confusion from inside his helmet.
It's not unreasonable for him to react this way. Battle Trench is a major corporation. It was hard to understand why they would conduct such an important experiment in a district in the late 30s.
If they're a major corporation, they could conduct this kind of operation in a district in the 10s if they wanted to. There's no reason to choose a place with poor security.
"Yes. Normally that would be the norm, but they deliberately chose a dangerous location to avoid the eyes of others. In places like this, regulations on buildings are also greatly reduced. Lobbying becomes easier too."
"Indeed. If it were a district in the 30s, one wouldn't think of conducting such secret experiments."
The idea of targeting the blind spot where people would expect important things to be kept inside was not bad. But they were overlooking one point. Other major corporations probably weren't unaware of the location of that secret laboratory.
"Thanks to that, we can take action."
Even if not in the 10s, even in districts in the 20s, the idea of fixers meddling with a corporate factory was unimaginable but District 38 is different.
Their intention to avoid the eyes of the city government for secret experiments had, conversely, given them an opportunity to intervene easily.
"Yes. But don't approach recklessly just based on appearances. Inside, there are already Battle Trench's military automatons and their private forces."
Shaloni said in a grave tone.
"And this is something that our information team hasn't properly confirmed yet...but there's evidence that large quantities of materials have been entering that factory in District 38 recently."
"Large quantities of materials, what kind?"
"Special materials used to manufacture military automatons. I'm not sure for what purpose they brought this much material to the factory."
Shaloni said that with this amount, they could build several airships. It's also incomprehensible that they would do this to mass-produce military automatons.
Typically, automatons supplied to the military aren't made in places with weak security like District 38. In fact, District 38 was also a factory that officially produced industrial automatons.
"Whatever it is, they've undeniably been preparing something in secret beforehand."
"Yes. Therefore, our headquarters is thinking of lodging a major protest against Battle Trench."
"Planning to stir up their intentions by bringing up this data?"
"We need to shake them up first."
"But that will be too late."
They are likely continuing their artificial intelligence experiments through Neo inside. Shaloni knew this too, so she didn't deny Osian's words.
"Yes. To stand at the pinnacle of the industry, they broke the agreement and took the automaton as they pleased. The process was all prepared, and they're probably continuing the experiments even now. I'm not sure how long the analysis of artificial intelligence will take, but we can't be optimistic."
So Shaloni presented an alternative plan.
"That's why I want to ask you all. We judged that you, who successfully completed the mission in District 49, would be able to do the same in District 38."
Yes. In other words, before they achieve something properly. The core of this operation was for a small strike team to quickly enter and rescue Neo.