Chapter 315
NO014a: The Underworld
This was the first time Jiang Zhou had encountered his controllable elements in reality.
Contrary to his previous expectations, he didn't seem to have any particular feelings about it.
There's nothing special about it; it's a bit like looking in a mirror, or a bit like staring at your own hand—it looks the same from any angle.
"Let me introduce myself..."
Seeing that Jiang Zhou and Jim seemed to be staring at each other unhappily, Booker, worried that the private investigator might have some prejudice against the company members, quickly stepped in and introduced them to each other.
"This is the private detective who previously provided information about the Thrace Club..."
"These two are special envoys from the Human Intelligence Ethics Oversight Committee, who previously cooperated with us..."
"And this is...?"
But when it came to Bai Rao's turn to be introduced, Booker hesitated—he genuinely had never seen this person before. However, the former, quite naturally, stepped forward and began to introduce himself:
“I am Bai Rao, the committee member sent to the Nord resettlement area. You can call me Committee Member Bai. However, something more important has happened right now, so let’s talk about the committee’s work on people’s livelihood in the resettlement area later.”
After saying that, she smiled and walked forward, shaking hands with Booker before he could even react.
"Ah... umm... well, you're right. There are indeed more important things to deal with right now."
Booker recalled that there seemed to be such a person on the committee's list, and nodded repeatedly.
The draftsman nudged Jiang Zhou with his elbow, then glanced at Jim and whispered:
"Isn't this the 'Ground Zero' suspect we were looking to arrest? The pharmacist even said he was going to arrest him for examination and interrogation as well."
Jiang Zhou twitched the corners of his mouth and whispered:
"I doubt the pharmacist even remembers this incident, and I wonder where he's going crazy now..."
That's true. Ever since Tian Shendao ran to the safe house to set up his gun, he has lost track of the apothecary's movements—he just hopes that the guy won't cause any big trouble during this time.
At this point, Bai Rao explained the purpose of her visit.
"Do you want to borrow our multi-printer to upgrade Mr. Jim Ritter to Depth 3?"
Booker instinctively frowned.
He glanced at the cartographer and the mortician's reactions to his words, then stared at Bai Rao and said:
“There’s no precedent for this… Although the current situation is special, the printer location is Icarus’s top secret, so I have to convene a meeting…”
"Don't worry, Jim Ritter is a native of Nord, and I'm the person in charge who will be stationed in Nord in the future. These two special envoys won't be coming with me... right?"
Bai Rao said, looking at the draftsman and the mortician to confirm.
After receiving a positive response, she continued:
"Moreover, this is also for the sake of the current investigation. A Depth 3 Orpheus path adjuster can synchronize with the thinking of others to a certain extent through a 'strong empathy circuit,' which can obtain important intelligence from witnesses."
Hearing this, Jim couldn't help but send a message asking:
Can't you obtain intelligence through implanted personalities?
Bai Rao replied:
Compared to Orpheus's abilities, the information a virtual personality can gather might be incomplete. Furthermore, if the primary personality's will is too strong, the virtual personality's effectiveness will be even more limited… Of course, if you strongly object, I'm not incapable of taking on this role. However, if you don't cooperate with our work, you can forget about this Depth 3 adjustment.
I was just asking, don't overthink it.
Jim quickly replied.
To be honest, he really didn't want to upgrade to Depth 3 if he could avoid it.
At his current Depth 2 stage, the ability to discern whether those around him are lying has already robbed him of much of the joy in life. Advancing to Depth 3, gaining the further ability to see through others' minds, would only make his already dull life even more dull.
But now is not the time to be sentimental.
The Dionysus virus, capable of turning a person into a paranoid hacker with a single simulated movie; technology that can create over twenty zombie warriors overnight; and a massive thunderbolt that could strike at any moment…
Right now, he must seize every opportunity that can improve his side's chances of winning.
The conditions proposed by Bai Rao made Booker hesitate for a long time. Finally, he walked up to Jim and asked seriously:
"Then let me ask you a question. If I were willing to let you use the printer to upgrade to Depth 3, would you be willing to swear an oath to join the Icarus Liberation Front?" Jim smiled and replied:
Don't even think about it.
…………
Booker eventually agreed.
Although Jim Ritter's firm refusal displeased him, he weighed the pros and cons and made a more rational choice.
After all, the Dionysus virus originated from within Icarus, so it would be unreasonable for them not to do something to make amends.
Moreover, what's the difference between loyalty gained through threats and the fanatical believers mass-produced by Ushō Jin'gor using the Dionysus virus?
So, after obtaining Bai Rao's promise that he would absolutely not use the "Thracist Club" incident to smear Icarus, Booker finally agreed to take Jim Ritter to the multi-printer.
Because the memory was encrypted using a white mandala, the committee member had to accompany him.
They were currently taking the elevator down. On the way to the multi-function printer, the white-clad committee member was also busy, explaining to Jim the various adjustments and modifications to the Orpheus path depth 3.
"The Orpheus Path Depth 3 modification consists of five parts: Strong Empathy Circuit, Night Marrow, Minard Field Generator, Alder Crossbow, and Lyra Network System."
"Could it all be something installed in someone's brain again?"
Jim asked with some concern.
In the first two depths, almost all the adjustments and modifications to the Orpheus pathway are installed in the brain—well, the "Night Echoes" used to produce Nyx Factors include some modifications involving the medulla oblongata, but that's about it.
There wasn't even a single adjustment to strengthen the body.
"Hmm... three of them are modifications targeting the brain."
Bai Rao said this.
"That's alright..."
Jim nodded, signaling the other person to continue.
“The strong empathy circuit, the Minard position generator, and the Lyra network system are all adjustments and modifications installed in the brain. Among them, the strong empathy circuit is the foundation. When the Nyx factor is activated, it can briefly create the feeling that you and the affected person are the same person—you can use this to peek into the secrets of other people’s hearts, or more subtle emotional thoughts.”
"However, this connection is two-way. Although it is not as strong as the other party's, the other party may still sense your thoughts at this moment, or know some of your secrets."
Hmm, this ability sounds so familiar...
Jiang Zhou thought to himself.
But then I thought, this is Janus's technology, so it doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with it.
"I feel like the side effects are a bit too strong..."
Jim complained.
Bai Rao did not comment on this, but continued:
"Next is the Mainard Position Generator—this also requires the Nyx Factor to take effect, or rather, it is essentially an upgraded version of the 'Lyre.' The 'Lyre' can activate some cognitive impairments, but if the subject of those perceptions chooses not to take action, then they will not actually be deceived by those illusions."
"The Minard Position Generator, on the other hand, allows you to hijack more functions of the other person's brain—for example, alien hand syndrome, which can make the other person's hand move uncontrollably and then shoot themselves at your command. Or, it can directly put the other person into a state of epilepsy or unconscious dancing... In short, it is a way to bypass consciousness to control the body."
Of course, the concentration of Nyx factor required to activate the Mainard position is also five times that of the Lyre.
Before Jim could finish getting excited, Bai Rao added this.
Without adjustments or modifications that could increase the production of Nyx Factor, relying solely on cleaning up the brain-computer interface to accumulate Nyx Factor would likely mean accumulating it until next year before it could be used.
Jim thought to himself. (End of Chapter)