Chapter 261

The monitor light dimly illuminated the room, serving as a side dish.

I lightly raised my hand to my eyes and adjusted the fashion glasses I had purchased along with the air purification mask (Cybernetic Breather).

The first impression is assessed by appearance. In a world where cyberware and implants are so common that to be sure someone is truly known by that face, you often have to check the components inside.

Especially in my case, where I can relatively freely access recorded data and materials stored in various surveillance networks, I thought it unnecessary to act uncomfortably or attract attention and instead went about outdoor activities in a natural state.

However, inspired by the efforts of some people I saw recently—specifically, Martina, who wore it to give her impression a unique point, and our Korean friend, who endeavored to hide her face—I finally went shopping after postponing it for a long time.

And the reason I suddenly put it on now is simple. Officially, Mr. Hemet sent me a confidential document titled “Direct Sales Report for the Chairman,” and I wanted to create the right atmosphere for it.

……Hmm, if merely putting this on would allow a basement hacker to become a career woman, who would waste time studying and endure the hassle of jamming a data chip into their head?

“First, review it, and if there are any of its typical useless embellishments, take them all out. Summarize it like a brief dialogue… no, just leave only the important sentences in a way that even someone like me can understand. If there are important numbers I must see, include those too.”

– Confirmed. Initiating cell data rebuilding process, and I will organize it for your convenience shortly. –

Nevertheless, given that even a private space to me, who preferred corner tables over open central ones when sitting in restaurants, would consist solely of imagination and personal cyberware, Zero was sneaking its grasp over this solitary computer, meaning I simply needed to set the mood, and it would be done.

The rest was just like unwrapping a gift box; I waited for its assistance in a semblance of formality… akin to imitation.

So, up until this point, rather than questioning how much our starfish virus had diminished after running away too early from home into the vast world,

it was merely my expectation to receive a kind of written letter or evaluation detailing how Neo Haven’s market reacted since it was the first time I would be graded publicly.

Not a year-end report including a pile of receipts with such insane profit margins!

[3,486,120,000 C]

…Isn’t that a truly strange and unfortunate occurrence?

The one who received my assistance boasted about being able to wage a virtual war against the Elysium central AI, decorated with supercomputers, yet still made such a minor mistake.

With this happening, I would question whether it’s okay to trust blindly and continue asking for tasks from a secretary when there isn’t even a secondary reviewer. Moreover, what if I overworked someone and caused serious damage?

“Um…, did you possibly misplace the digits while replacing the file extension format? It seems like one or two zeros might have gone wrong.”

– I have not converted the entire file, but have created new data after reviewing all content over a hundred times in accelerated mode, so you can rest assured. If you wish to blame Mr. Hemet for the small amount, feel free to contact the call sign Dwarf urgently… –

“It’s not that it’s small, but rather it seems like there are a few additional zeros…! Wait, let me check the detailed breakdown first.”

I would save questioning the suspicious nickname following different phone numbers for later.

Right now, it was crucial to check the soundness of that account, which likely was used in someone’s criminal fund concealment, highly probable if a large-scale inflation hadn’t occurred.

Swish!

As I widened the electronic document, the sound of pages flipping was out of the question, but I somehow felt like I heard a hallucination. Contrary to the expectation of seeing a series of heavy anonymous deposits, small contract and sales traces meticulously stacked like a foundation welcomed me instead.

[Advance payment for the ‘Partial Pilot Implementation’ contract with Studio Nebula, 240,000 C]

[Total sales from low-end version civilian sales, 78,000 C]

And various others….

“…Looks like I managed to find some companies showing interest?”

Whether it was effective networking or Hemet’s sales skills, the fact that there were significant initial results from corporate dealings right from the first day is quite encouraging.

Considering the sales hovering in the tens of thousands, could they be experimental? Or did they buy from a professional reverse engineering company intending to analyze a new program?

What was marked as civilian sales seems to have come from early adopter friends who jumped at the chance.

Honestly, I had no particular thoughts, and we didn’t do any advertisements, but if this was the level of performance on the first day after the launch of software developed ambitiously with hundreds of people, it might be a bit desperate given my almost negligible initial investment of time and money.

However, the magic of the market economy seemed designed to kick in the next day.

[Formal contract signing with Studio Nebula and total premium subscription service payment amounting to 9,600,000 C]

[Order won by Oracle Engineering Co., Ltd. Price negotiations are ongoing with a clause inserted to not supply to competitors informally. Despite being notified that there’s no designated reviewer, a ‘good faith gesture’ received 30,000,000 C.]

[Inquiry from Wicked Anthology Productions regarding original technology transfer or deep collaboration projects in development areas. High-priced artworks arrived as hush money to ask for temporary restraint from leaking it to the press. Cashing will be on hold until receiving the chairman’s approval.]

From subcontracting to general contracting, from subsidiaries to parent companies. As time passed, the additional sales smoothly progressed, with links found through commands rather than reports.

Sometimes flowing parallel into subsidiaries or perhaps, having gained word-of-mouth, unexpectedly signing contracts with unrelated companies, my ‘ground zero’ saw exponential sales growth in both light and shadow.

According to a note left by Mr. Hemet, despite the fact many credits had yet to be actually deposited, it seemed that a vibrant algorithm had emerged as it spread out, generating a net profit of nearly 3.5 billion, making it difficult to distinguish whether it was a virus or antivirus.

…It might not be my place to say, but I knew this guy was a money-obsessed lunatic, but was he originally this competent? I felt a bit dazed as if I had been hit on the head with a hammer.

– This is the result of giving such an excellent product to sales staff, so I think you should accept it gladly. Did you not nominate a proxy considering the market might react this dramatically? –

“That is certainly true, but….”

I had many quests and money-making methods I knew of, but without a clear judgment on which ones could be used prematurely, I was working as if what I was doing was trivial, even with this sequence of fortunate home runs.

No, at least it felt better in terms of my conscience to tread the path of ‘professional poker player’ or ‘super rookie self-employed developer’ than to rely entirely on Aaron or resort to shady lottery manipulation (…).

Although this seemed to be going excessively well and was rather frightening.

Perhaps I should show gratitude to Marina, who suggested selling the program seriously, or maybe lessen the blame for her sin of heading to Paradise right after parting to sell my current situation.

“…Hah, the more money, the better.”

Scratching my head with one hand while waving the other in the air, Zero quickly sealed those files and hid them away.

Having such a fixed income—though whether this is truly fixed or not is still uncertain—is a tremendous gain.

From my standpoint, with an increasing army of mechanical assets and soldiers, akin to living beings needing new clothes, the choices for arms were greatly widened.

However, this also raised a chuckle about me agreeing to feature in some disgraceful cosmetic advertisement with aspirations to quietly save up money…

Yeah, well, it wasn’t solely for the money. Hmm, that’s alright.

– What about the response concerning the disposal of high-priced antiques? Should we put it on hold? –

“If there’s something you want, take it as an incentive; sell the rest and deposit it into the account. It’s not that I don’t trust him, but to be precise, I need an extra laundering… and then have it transferred into our account.”

This income was legally earned, but I couldn’t help but pout at having to go through processes and words that felt so shady; I left the room.

I wasn’t really a ‘Chairman’ in my truest form, so there wasn’t any necessity to strictly adhere to the schedule, but I had become quite accustomed to doing some strength training and ability control practice followed by a good sleep.

So let’s muster up for the remaining day.

With the compensation for all the struggles and unfairness I’d dealt with lately, wouldn’t I need to perform even better when the world is willing to push me forward?

“First of all, I want to get out of this pink dumbbell predicament a bit!?”

– …Currently, with Ahsa’s expected muscle growth, it seems unlikely you’ll see progress in that area even after several years. Rather, you might aim for body improvement through your abilities. –

“Hey! Don’t discourage someone exercising like that!!”

Clutching the irritatingly colored exercise equipment that seemingly mocked me, I let out a pitiful shout in the living room.

Only a few days remained until I had to appear at the broadcasting station.

Despite the plump balance, I could simply say it was not a period likely to yield nice dreams.