Chapter 247

“Please take care as you enter, Chairman. If there are any unusual occurrences, I’ll leave a message with the secretary robot immediately, so please rest assured and hand it over…!”

A cheerful farewell was thrown toward us as we departed.

From a little kid to a young lady, from a young lady to a CEO… and just a few dozen minutes later, now a chairman.

It’s not as if there’s a separate executive committee; when I demanded to exterminate a starfish-like virus by increasing market share—while phrasing it a bit vaguely to avoid blatant intentions—someone naturally took a liking to the title.

Is there a case where titles switch so frequently in such a short period… As I marveled at this, I awkwardly waved at Hemet, who resolutely bowed, saying he would do his best in his position.

In addition to the combination of ‘a furry little man who smiles so brightly that you’d never find another like him,’ I quickly left the office before revealing my trembling body.

“…It’s more difficult than I thought. Selling something is.”

– Mr. Hemet, as a member of the commercial security industry and a representative for Ahsa’s goal achievement. Moreover, I believe it’s a compromise that considers stability across all fields while pursuing personal profit as a merchant. –

Though somewhat exaggerated, as hoped, the work went smoothly.

I had to remodel the program I worked hard to create… diversify the versions as requested….

To set up a profit settlement interface~ Hemet, via Zero, was also looking for means to produce copies~ Checking around Paradise to find Aron Drayfuscus, and so on, I let out a frustrated breath while finishing things up.

In the end, pitifully. Without reward.

The unfortunate prototype, designated as a destructive species beyond ecological disruption by an expert, was sealed away.

Instead, at Hemet’s request, we banged away at the castle walls to create some weak gaps, added intentional blind spots to the surveillance cameras, and included some soldiers who could afford to work a bit more leisurely; thus, Ground Zero version 1.0 was released.

From my old-fashioned perspective, even if it was pushed away and no longer visible in my cyberware, blocking those annoying advertisements would be a popular feature.

If a simple program suddenly tightened up weak regulations that enterprises had neglected, there would surely be simultaneous noise everywhere.

To quote Hemet’s expression, the performance of the completed software, of course, as well as its convenience. And the quality is assured, so it’s a fact that even without deliberately taking on a hated role, it will invade the market… so he says.

To be honest, the parts I understood far outnumbered the sentences I half-heartedly nodded at, but to summarize, it would be something like this.

‘Unlike the naming convention, the downgraded Ground Zero will definitely sell without worry!’

‘If they’re selling bulletproof vests at a bargain, anyone who doesn’t buy them is stupid! Worrying about such idiots would be a waste of life!’

‘As we release version 1.0, we can package missing functions as high-end models, charging exorbitant usage fees for each one we reintroduce!’

Hmm….

“…Isn’t it just theft to take something that existed?”

Isn’t that so? Still, it’s better than removing the nutritional components for a wellness emphasis or excluding sweeteners and additives from production and slapping a non-added label on it.

– Isn’t it said that the current Metropolis system runs better when the general public doesn’t know it? If only three people know this fact, then only the manifest parts would be considered the truth. –

“Well, that’s true….”

Regardless of the era, if an individual knows too much and compares everything at hand, it can lead to disaster.

For instance, if you see a massive market research report or the lifestyle of the upper class, and feel disillusioned wondering what it means to work hard and make choices, it wouldn’t leave a good impact.

Though everyone openly knows that certain malicious companies operate with a mindset of ‘if the previous user dies, we can just hire a new one since there are plenty of applicants~,’ it’s something they shouldn’t confirm out loud.

But is it included in the notion that it’s better to use something without knowing there’s a prototype? I’m not sure.

Speaking of which, Hemet, who was uncertain about profit distribution, immediately opened both dedicated and laundering accounts right after the downgrade version was released.

For me, it felt like loosening a tightly wound bolt slightly on the spot, yet it seemed it wasn’t a very common sight.

After all, modifying drafts on request is different from restructuring product architecture as an engineer. Next time, I’ll make an excuse that I had something prepared in advance for just such an occasion.

– So, shall we head home? The summoned Entercruise taxi has been waiting across the street since earlier. –

“Oh, damn….”

Clunk! As I opened and closed the Staff Only stickered door and stepped out, Zero made me self-aware of the bad news that my credits were leaking.

Didn’t I estimate at least two hours when I came in?

How much time was exceeded—oh dear. My sense of finance has become lax with my recent earnings improving, committing such unnecessary waste.

“Ha… Since I’m already late, I might as well do some shopping. Hemet assured me he wouldn’t regret doing business with me until the first settlement next week, so I should at least be able to cover the taxi fare.”

There’s no specific target amount I set; I didn’t even specifically mention the initial sales volume, so why stress about it?

I had given complete power of attorney, but I still remembered the sight of the little one starting to show a wild gleam in his eye… before quickly shaking it off.

I’ll leave it to him; he’ll handle it well.

– Are you looking for something? If it’s software, you could have collected it from home. If necessary, you can leave it to me. –

“Um… It’s more like a manual? A training guide?? Anyway, I thought searching the internet would yield only provocative results.”

I tried to calm down the fool trying to ignite in a ‘I will do splendidly!’ manner, like Hemet, and changed my steps not toward the exit but toward the displays.

People who prefer beds over cafes typically want to accomplish everything in one outing, even squeezing out tasks they didn’t intend to do, so how could one be oblivious to that?

Feeling as though I had to explain that to him, I managed a small smile.

By the way, didn’t I remember that the chip shop was selling skills for characters on my way here?

That part hasn’t completely disappeared in reality. They exist in different forms, blending into the city’s daily life and extraordinary moments as products.

Click!

I grabbed a chip case from a prominently displayed shelf with an unmistakably bold ‘SURVIVAL’ sign.

The cover featured a photo with a muzzle flash indicating it was during a well-aimed shot.

On the back, it read, ‘If a cook-off phenomenon occurs, learn about real experiences and coping methods.’

“…Hmm.”

Heavy weapons… It’s true that firearms have become much lighter thanks to material advancements, but will I ever have a chance to use something like that directly?

I placed it back lightly, as if putting a book back on a shelf, and checked another one with impressive desert photos attached.

‘Environmental threats to remember in case of being stranded while moving between Metropolises.’

Survival in this world is not about leisurely chopping wood for fire or getting lost in the mountains, but rather about enduring conditions when things go bad in and out of the city.

Could those specialized shooting techniques and stealth techniques I was looking for also be around here?

Pitter-patter.

While it’s most efficient to access the store network and search for a specific product type if you have one in mind, there might also be other decent finds I haven’t thought deeply about, prompting me to move my feet.

Oh, should I continue that story I was just mentioning?

It might have seemed like I was rambling randomly, but I was actually discussing the same theme.

What does it mean when a game character acquires skills? Have you thought about it much?

Usually not, but since I’ve been living apart from the ordinary, even while living with a lively roommate, I find myself pondering such things in the tranquil mundane.

Through growth, learning, and mental shifts.

I think it’s a process of enlightening oneself to suddenly awaken something that was previously unachievable.

Therefore, beyond the simple pleasure of using something new and cool, unconsciously empathizing with the character’s development and rejoicing together makes players enjoy acquiring skills even more, wouldn’t it?

Returning to the main topic, data chips can hold anything that can be documented.

In other words, in this era where even virtual spaces, absurd fantasies of someone, and unoccurred futures can be replaced with data, unique products exist.

They sell accumulated knowledge, precious memories, and rare experiences in the form of chips.

This is different from textbooks trapped within the limits of text and images. If attached to implants in the central nervous system and properly refined, one could directly implant this into the brain, even saving study time.

It’s true that absorption rates and skills acquired would depend on the recipient’s talent, making it difficult to standardize, yet it’s a clear example that creating elites is even possible.

Most people sing praises of credits~ credits~ and it’s not exaggerated, you know?

For me, I don’t have a place to directly insert anything like that, and while I have visual communication implants and brainwave-controlled cyberware, I heard from a doctor that I should only use them for reference.

…And of course, extracting-copying and selling them would also mean personal information and identity would transfer together.

Judging by the products filling the shelves, there seem to be a staggering number of people looking to monetize such invaluable and worthy rewards.

Recover fragments of lost lives with chips!

Surely, the advertising slogan flowing over there isn’t just an empty exaggeration.

Furthermore, to put it another way, perhaps someone with the ability to read fragments of myself that I didn’t even know were embedded in my program using my abilities isn’t too far-fetched?

Hmm, that’s scary.

“Ah.”

Oh, found it. ‘Handling the Haylong firearm + personal review’? The title is a bit rough, but will this do?

My contemplation was brief, and my actions quick. But before my outstretched hand could grasp the case, a voice that restrained my choice resonated beside me.

“If it were me, I’d probably pick something else. Given that it’s an old chip, the person who made it is known for being particularly stingy, and I doubt they’ve even held a Peacemaker pistol, let alone handled it.”

“!?”

Right, even if such a fortunate circumstance seems almost impossible.

Reactively turning my head, I found the spider’s vanguard—someone I didn’t particularly want to get entangled with—smiling at me.

“Hello? ‘Ivory’! It’s nice to meet you in person.”

…I really don’t feel that way. Sigh.