Chapter 126

Recognizing a situation that exceeds one’s capacity and stepping back—whether to call that responsible or a morally filthy act of irresponsibility is beside the point. What matters urgently is the treatment of the contaminants that will spill out from there.

There was a method like hers that involved simply cutting off the connection… but since the evaluation notification had yet to be delivered from Sir Léonard, Ken thought it might have adverse effects on the review if he disconnected himself and let the safe close unnecessarily.

Of course… while there was a significant conflict flashing across his face, perhaps because he was worried about the lifespan of those expensive-looking equipment…

“Damn…!”

Ultimately, he decided to actively dive into what he promised to manage.

Hmm. He’s quite responsible.

Static… crackle…!!

The refresh rate of the computer monitor shook violently.

Although the certification process of the safe, which had been operating gentlemanly, and the malicious code are fundamentally different, there’s no breathing space in between. The categorization also varies not just by the intended purpose and function but also by the transmission method.

When files are accessed, they naturally flow into the user’s electronic devices, and even if not accessed, they could actively spread to adjacent devices, as seen now. Thus, identifying the type must take precedence.

Even if connected through access terminals, given its enormous aggressiveness, it strongly indicates a worm tendency.

Moreover, both the twins who had first experienced it and others consistently reported vomiting or headaches, indicating a viral nature (which transforms normal code into malicious code) and rootkit properties (which hijack upper privileges to allow administrator-level access) were also evident.

Even with just this basic level, one can only imagine what chaos would ensue if left unchecked… No, perhaps the pioneers who were carried away while being bold have already shown that firsthand?

In any case, there was no hesitation in response.

With a snap! Ken shut down all the power of the connected auxiliary devices to restrict the propagation route to the main unit and confined the battleground to the computer system and his cyberware.

“…Temporary package loop created. I’ve trapped incoming external data until limits are reached and directed malicious codes ignoring sorting logic into a fake partition. Now just how to feed more dummy data… Ahhh…! Already this deep?!”

[ You are receiving unauthorized programs through an irregular procedure. ]

[ To cancel the file transfer, please press Y to accept cancellation. N / N 🙂 ]

[ To terminate the transfer manager, delete the cabinet file of GemeniDevil.bat… How could you do this, let’s play a bit more, copy copy copy copy… ]

[ If you wish to decrypt data, please send a credit voucher charged to the Crypto Bank account 45301334-D72… ]

The proposal spun around wildly.

Would that erratic system message be able to catch all of his eye…? He seemed to have grasped the gist of it, as Ken’s hands danced busily, attending to uninvited guests one by one.

Even if the cancer cells self-replicated and contaminated other files, they wouldn’t just obediently disappear when deleted; he maintained the dam somehow by either permanently overlaying something or isolating it internally.

“Oh…?”

“Wow… Good job! Our shy one!”

Clap clap!!

Marina, who was clapping mockingly from the side as if cheering, was secondary to that.

Ken was indeed holding his own remarkably compared to those who had rolled around on the floor within seconds of the safe opening.

Could it be that he was overcoming this alone? If so, it would mean he’s nearly a top-tier talent among the people gathered here.

…However, while maintaining balance requires considerable effort, understanding that it can collapse with a single mistake or small crack, Marina’s fault for diverting focus by setting up flags is significant.

“…Ah, damn it.”

A dejected groan escaped. Even to an outsider like me, it felt like things were going wrong.

At first, I thought I saw Ken’s face reflected on the computer. It was a grave mistake.

What floated up, equally bright as the screen, was closer to a symbol imitating Sir Léonard’s opera mask than a real person. No matter how much we have replaced consciousness with electrical signals, the truth is, unless they are entities like Elysium, humans live in the real world, not there.

“Tch. The central control AI of the safe is completely corrupted. It’s trying to escape by itself.”

“If something like that was inside, it should have given a warning, or not let this mess happen from the start?!”

With a tsk of disapproval, Sir Léonard murmured, his demeanor not feeling very sincere.

The expression on the LCD screen clearly conveyed that personal interest outweighed concern, and concern overshadowed surprise.

The opera mask moved to the edge of the screen. It shifted to a vantage point that opened up and swept over the monitor revealed behind Ken’s shoulder. Not that he would gain something from it, but who knows, a professional’s eyes might extract more information from that scene.

“No… No, absolutely not! Rather than getting attached to my implant, the hardware of Orihime 2 is…!”

[ …! ……!! ]

Our little one fidgeted while typing and turning a dial equipped with unknown functions, making a face entirely comprised of countless letters shudder.

Likewise, the computer’s owner, sporting a tense expression, was putting in a sequence of effort to repel the intruder.

…Given urban legends and conspiracy theories still persist, it wouldn’t be strange that the ancient concept of exorcism remains.

And though it was a custom PC, the fact it had a name given shows considerable care.

If you think about it, it could fall into the category of pets or cherished dolls… since it’s a hacker and a computer? No, rather…

“Ken…? Is this really okay as it is?”

“No, um. I mean, uh… yes? No?!”

“…….”

What does “yes-no” even mean as a response?

In any case, the urgent context that made it hard to convey intentions was clear, so it was evident that this was a moment to lend a helping hand.

**Could this be the moment when a robust AI is born? Could Zero also have emerged through such a painful and desperate allegorical process?**—this had held him back, but with the urgent voice and the phrases that just spread across the screen, he regained his composure.

[ Insufficient remaining capacity. Please secure storage space and retry…. ]

[ Insufficient remaining capacity. Please secure storage space and retry…. ]

[ Insufficient remaining capacity. Please secure storage space and retry…. ]

[ Insufficient remaining capacity. Please… Save me. ]

“Ugh…!”

It’s a malicious spirit. A very fierce one. …Year?

Nonetheless, each action that twisted its face triggered system warnings that were really unnerving.

Perhaps among those who would take the test later, some might actually faint, which made him wonder if the system experienced an overflow in forcibly receiving this.

Thinking it best to move his body, he stretched his hand towards the panel.

No need to first ask for the owner’s permission, or to try and coordinate like he did with Marina earlier; basic etiquette was set aside.

The runaway AI must have deleted other data to secure space, as the halted download gauge shot up sharply.

But what command or intent should he transmit into that hellish chaos?

Naturally, it would be out of the question to add more of Anastasia’s malicious code as a means to suppress poison. On the other hand, if he rushed in with a sense of exterminating cancer cells and miscalculated his strength, he might end up delivering the fatal blow himself.

“Ugh…! Hey! Handle the data recovery yourself!! This is the best I can do!”

“What?!”

In a state of uncertainty about which base materials were originally inside and which were the virus that had just entered, the effectiveness of activating powers was ambiguous.

He set his target to precisely eliminate the activated programs.

With a mindset that all moving entities are suspects, he opened his capability towards the main unit.

Better to cut away some healthy flesh than leave any infection lingering.

“?!”

That’s when he felt a jolt. A surge flowing up his fingertips jolted him alert.

Just because he opened the path for invasion doesn’t mean it could only be used by him. It was a fact he had overlooked, never before facing an opponent that responded at this velocity.

‘This is…! …Hey?’

He made a big mistake. Disgusting information flowed in indiscriminately. At this rate, his cyberware and implants might be thoroughly contaminated and revoltingly vomit, and worse, it could damage his brain, leaving him to suffer aftereffects.

Yet contrary to his worries, what compared with the chaotic codes felt more restrained and desperate, imparting a sense of pure will yet again.

This isn’t the time for casual joking with the carebot. Reading the nuances of AI, which I am more confident in than reading people, rang clearly for him.

[ Save… Save… Please save me. ]

“…”

Ah, what’s this? You were just in pain, weren’t you?

With that thought, the image of what had seemed like a wicked demon began to change a little.

While desperately knocking on the closed door, it would pop out every time the safe opened. As soon as the rope he caught snapped, it would again be dragged back in—a task that had transformed into punishment even though it had been obediently guarding its home as commanded.

Anyone would want to roll in the puddles on the roadside if their whole body was set ablaze or doused with hazardous substances.

Right, what was your fault? The one who designed this test structure holds greater blame… you are the victim.

…Ha, I don’t know anymore.

In a fleeting moment, he glanced down at his shoulders.

Whether it was saving or not didn’t matter. After all, no one has a lower dependency on implants and less mechanization than him, so cutting off cyberware operation or wireless communication with Zero wouldn’t cause a significant problem.

It was merely a matter of annoyance to replace the breaking implants and prepare for the imminent vertigo and shock, so he closed his eyes and focused his mind.

[ ………Thank you for your understanding. ]

“……Huh?”

He cautiously squinted his eyes.

Just as he steeled himself for any signs of what would come, whether it was nausea or any discomfort, everything was surprisingly calm.

Even if he moved his arms to feel his body, there’s no way any bugs or cats would have hidden inside his clothes; it shouldn’t be physically touchable.

Neither muck, fire, toxins, nor even the rambunctious one could be sensed.

Could it have attained enlightenment…? Did it embrace everything with that strange message as its end?

– …It seems the pesky issues have been perfectly eradicated, so you can rest assured. –

“I’m not so sure if it’s all good…”

“Phew, no, it seems I could have shown a bit of discretion by flipping the order around. It’s 7 minutes and 46 seconds.”

He checked the computer, and the chaos from just before had subsided as if it had been an illusion.

Zero was supported by a relaxed body, Ken was alive thanks to it as he leaned his head onto the keyboard, and Sir Léonard was grumbling about the interesting specimen that had vanished. It wasn’t an illusion, but if so, then where did all that dreadful data go? How unsettling.

“…I feel unwell.”

Having overexerted his abilities today, it was natural to feel hungry, yet a sense of discomfort lingered in his stomach.

And Marina, “Our team is the best!”—just what are you talking about? You really owe me a meal later.

Sighing, he approached Ken, who breathed a sigh of relief while embracing the now-functioning computer and high-priced equipment.

The sudden ghost episode had snared the tempo, and while recording at the 7-minute mark would be sufficient to end this here… If the content he personally spied on earlier was digested whole, it had been said that the original test wasn’t just about quickly opening the safe.

What were the other evaluation criteria in addition to the minimum skills required to unlock a labyrinth-grade vault?

Given the situation, how about putting a stamp of approval on that well-regarded client up above?

“That’s still connected to the inside of the safe, right? Could you check for… what’s it called? Traces? Metadata? Maybe some of those?”

Since the Pandora’s box once opened meant that all malicious contents spilled out, it was a hope to see if there might still be any salvaged answers.

“Um… Are you asking me to run digital forensics on the safe DB for traces and metadata? Right now…?”

“……Digital forensics?”

Tilting his head, the complex technology seemed like something Ken was willing to try if necessary, leaving him to genuinely question him instead.

Isn’t forensics what the police use during criminal investigations?

That method of recovering search histories, deleted materials, and collecting evidence to find the real culprit.

If that were the evaluation item, then perhaps what the client wanted wasn’t ferocious virus creation or hacking skills, but rather some kind of investigation or inquiry ability.

He glanced at the somewhat stabilized data vault, which had just ejected all the muck, and furtively peeked at the skybox where an enigmatic client might be located.

…Hmm. Just because it’s a big case doesn’t mean it has to be bloody, so he felt somewhat reassured.

Right, sometimes it should involve easy sit-downs to lighten up life’s fatigue. He needed to hurry up, sign the contract, and go back to relax.

“…Ugh…!! I was startled when the prepared verification procedure went in an odd direction. Skilled technicians solving labyrinthine issues within 7 minutes shouldn’t be any problem. Tomorrow, make sure to bring them in sequentially, got it?”

“…Understood, Secretary.”