Shell Center

"Mr. Gao, may I know your true purpose?" Miss Shell asked calmly.

"Please rest assured. As the department's artificial intelligence, I serve only the successive highest-ranking department commanders. You don't need to worry. I won't reveal your secret to anyone, including Miss Motoko Kusanagi."

"I'll help you carry out what you want to do more effectively."

Gao Gong smiled, unconcerned.

Perhaps what she said was true, but a "secret" was itself a form of information.

"For example, I have a piece of information right now that might be useful to you."

"Oh?"

"On the third bookshelf, the fifth book from the left. You might find a surprise there."

Gao Gong raised his brows and walked over to the bookshelf. He found a book with yellowed pages—

It was a popular-science article about the evolution of ancient life on this planet.

Gao Gong opened it and quickly found a letter.

"What's this?"

"This was sent through certain channels by a former department head. I think he wanted you to see it. Of course, perhaps not immediately, but I don't think the current department head should be kept in the dark."

"Was it left for me by Aramaki?"

Gao Gong opened it, raising his brows. There was only a string of names on it.

"Would you like me to confirm these people's identities for you?"

"Mm."

Soon, the data of each marked individual appeared. Most of them were Cloud Nobles, and the cream of the crop at that. An elder of the Xie family, a core member of the Miller family, a cyborg tycoon, a descendant of a space colonist, a member of the Skull Society, an organizer of the Old Friends Club...

"The data on all these people is encrypted. Without the authority of the Observer Department, it can't be retrieved