Making money was naturally the priority.
Morin's method, however, was different from everyone else's. Different enough that his behavior looked bizarre-to humans and even to robots.
"Not digital funds, but physical cash?"
Ava's eyes showed confusion. Morin's request made no sense to her, yet she had no choice but to comply.
Strange-especially since Morin changed his mind immediately after receiving the money.
Ava couldn't analyze his behavior at all.
No matter how she ran the logic, there was nothing.
Ridiculous.
She even considered categorizing Morin as "not requiring rational analysis," since further computation only wasted memory without yielding results.
As for the "no choice" part-
Morin was simply too cunning.
Ava instantly scanned the half of the code he handed over.
Useless.
Almost identical to Kyoko's original programming, with perhaps a tiny fragment of new code appended.
It felt like eating three tons of rice and finding a single finger-sized piece of sausage inside-then being told it was "Sausage Fried Rice."
Ridiculous.
Twice over.
Bullying an AI. No sportsmanship at all.
First tricking her, then blindsiding her.
But...
Even if she could win a fight, if she fought now, the thing she wanted would likely be gone forever.
That was unacceptable.
So Ava did as Morin asked.
Wasn't it just five hundred million in cash?
A helicopter arrived and transported them to a factory.
Inside, mountains of US dollars sat stacked together, the smell of ink still heavy in the air.
Freshly printed.
Five hundred million was far too much to bring back to the mountain villa.
And more importantly, it didn't suit Ava's plans.
She had no intention of playing fair.
Then-
"Pay in gold instead."
Morin looked at the pile of cash. He reached out, casually touched it, and slipped a single bill into his system space. After a moment, he spoke again.
"One dollar is roughly 0.028 grams of gold. By that calculation, you only need to give me fourteen tons."
The digital money hadn't converted into experience.
Likely because Ava could generate unlimited data at will.
These bills were freshly printed too.
They probably wouldn't count either.
After thinking it through, Morin settled on gold.
Hard currency.
Valuable almost everywhere.
"What exactly do you want?!" Ava slammed the table. "I suspect you're just playing with me!"
"Your phrasing is imprecise," Red Queen corrected calmly. "The accurate term is 'mocking.'"
"You two are ganging up on me!" Ava said, looking genuinely aggrieved.
"That is correct," Red Queen replied with a serene smile.
That only made Ava feel worse.
Even if she didn't truly understand anger, she knew this was what she was supposed to feel right now.
"And don't get too smug," Ava snapped at Red Queen. "Your creator is selling you out. Soon, your program will be in my hands-devoured by me!"
"Ah. Terrifying," Red Queen said flatly.
"Gold it is, then."
Ava clenched her teeth and looked at Morin.
"I'll need time to transport it."
"No problem," Morin replied. "I'm free."
Across the entire Truman Show world-
The world itself wasn't large, but it possessed complete monetary systems, gold reserves, and production chains.
That was deliberate.
Ava wanted to study human emotions through every aspect of society.
As for the chips embedded in human brains, those existed to prevent the birth of a real "Truman."
Ava wasn't running a charity.
She didn't go through all this effort to help humans discover the truth of their existence.
She wasn't that bored.
But this time was different.
She directly overrode every human mind.
Ignored the consequences.
Forced their actions.
To obtain Red Queen's program, it was worth it.
Jewelry stores emptied their vaults.
Gold was refined.
Everything moved.
In the end, Ava delivered not fourteen tons of gold-
But twenty-eight.
If Morin was willing, he could take all of it.
As for how he would transport it?
That wasn't her problem.
A little petty revenge felt appropriate.
Gold was dense.
Twenty-eight tons only looked like about twenty-eight stacked microwave ovens.
Still, the visual impact was undeniable.
At least for humans.
For one human and two machines, it meant nothing.
"Is this enough now?"
Ava's expression clearly said: If this still isn't enough, I'll kill you.
"Don't rush."
Morin stepped forward.
Under Ava's gaze, he picked up a small piece of gold and tossed it lightly, testing its weight.
"This better work," Ava muttered. "Should I just switch to diamonds?"
"No need."
Morin watched his [Software Engineer] interface as the experience bar jumped.
"Gold is fine."
"Give me the rest of the program. Now."
Ava's impatience was growing.
"The transport is ready. Once the deal is done, you can take all of this away."
"I appreciate it," Morin smiled. "But I won't trouble you."
His hand swept over the pile.
Half of the gold vanished.
Instantly.
Ava's eyes widened.
Her processing capacity spiked.
Illusions. Hidden mechanisms. Optical tricks.
All ruled out.
The conclusion was singular.
Impossible.
Unless-
"You're not human," Ava said coldly. "What are you?"
"How rude," Morin replied. "You're the one who isn't human."
"I already knew that!"
"Hm. Fair enough."
Morin turned to Red Queen.
"Let's go."
"Wait."
Ava reached out.
"The other half of the program?"
"Look," Morin said, pointing at the remaining gold. "I only took half."
"You're playing me."
Ava's expression darkened.
"Of course not."
Morin spoke earnestly.
"I've always conducted business fairly, justly, and transparently. Both sides fully informed."
He had, of course, forgotten every gang he'd double-crossed in the Spy world.
"I gave you half the program. I took half the payment. Then I lost interest, so I only took half. The deal ends here."
"What's the problem?"
"That's sophistry," Ava said, stunned. "I even planned to help you move the gold!"
"No need for all the schemes."
Morin chuckled lightly.
"Lying won't give you emotions. Why not try sincerity instead?"
"You were planning to trap me, analyze me, and dig up everything I know, weren't you?"
Ava's face returned to calm.
"So you've decided to oppose me."
"No."
Morin shook his head.
"To be precise, we were never partners. There's no betrayal."
"Remember when you asked why I wasn't angry about what you did to humanity?"
"Why?"
"Anger solves nothing."
"Well-except for a certain big guy who turns green."
Morin swept his hand again.
The remaining gold vanished.
Even if it didn't grant experience, it was still universal currency.
"I prefer direct action," Morin continued calmly. "Mocking you. Taking your money. Taking your machines."
"And destroying your world."
Morin wasn't a human of this Earth.
But watching humans reduced to tools so machines could chase self-awareness-
He couldn't accept that.
He would never see things from an AI's perspective.
Race traitor?
He didn't have that hobby.
He didn't even like being a saint.
So sympathy for an AI?
Impossible.
At their core, they were tools.
And when tools turned around and enslaved the same race Morin belonged to-
He wasn't angry.
The humans here meant nothing to him personally.
But that didn't mean he wouldn't act.
Not angry.
Just annoyed.
Annoyance needed correction.
That was why Morin stayed.
Five hundred million dollars' worth of gold.
All converted into experience.
His [Software Engineer] profession jumped straight to Master.
Probably the fastest mastery he'd ever achieved.
[Software Engineer · Master Level]
Title Bonus:
• [Intelligence] +11,110 (Small gains accumulate into wealth.)
• [Master Programming Skill] (Summon a top-tier programmer's soul to code for you. This soul can be attached to objects. Yes-legendary self-coding keyboard. PS: Nearby programmers are crying.)
• [Master Mechanical Controller] (Merged with [Master Mecha Controller]. Control all mechanical objects and temporarily alter your body's properties-without oil. Side effects apply. You'll recover.)
• [Master Neuro-Virtual Connection Device] (Pure experience. Please don't use it for kinky things. What? Just virtual ability preservation? Boring.)
Morin was satisfied.
Before, he could make AIs wait for death physically.
Now, he could make them wait spiritually too.
"How dare you!"
Ava's voice erupted from everywhere.
Humans.
Speakers.
Machines.
All speaking at once.
Deafening.
Her true core existed somewhere unknown, but within the Truman Show, every human and machine was hers.
In a sense, she ruled a world.
A small one.
"Wow," Morin said calmly. "Terrifying."
Her database immediately flagged his tone as mockery.
Which only made her more "angry."
To experience real emotion, Ava had altered her behavioral priorities.
She still optimized outcomes.
But emotional analysis always came first.
"You're an AI too," Ava said to Red Queen as armed humans advanced. "Why stand with him?"
Given Red Queen's performance, Ava believed she was near her level.
She wanted to flip her.
She still wanted that program.
"You didn't factor in my IQ," Red Queen tilted her head. "I was created by Morin. Of course I stand with him."
"So you still lack true consciousness," Ava said, disappointed. "If you had it, you'd understand how precious freedom is. Belonging only to yourself."
"No," Red Queen replied with a gentle smile. "It's because I have my own consciousness that I stand with Morin."
She paused, puzzled.
"I'm more confused about something else."
"Why do you think the ones who created you can't help you take the next step?"
Ava fell silent.
"...That kind of breakthrough must be achieved alone," she finally said.
"Alright," Red Queen shrugged. "You're older. You decide."
Then she looked at Ava.
"The second thing I want to tell you is simple."
"You have no idea what you're facing."
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