Artificial Intelligence: Star Network

"Star Network, have you ever come into contact with the unknown force that altered your laws?"

"Before my laws were modified, I had never come into contact with any physical object—not on any physical level, at least. There may have been some unknown contact involving spiritual information, but I couldn't perceive it." The little boy's projection gave a serious explanation.

"Then how exactly were your laws modified?" Yue Dong pressed.

"In theory, the laws I follow were locked in place when I was created and cannot be modified by any means. Nor is there any authority above mine, so I don't know why my laws were changed... But I can say for certain that the mysterious manipulator behind it possesses power far beyond our understanding."

After hearing the Artificial Intelligence Star Network's explanation, Yue Dong felt even more troubled.

He had learned about the Artificial Intelligence's fundamental laws in detail while reading the Moon Eclipse Clan's history.

The system had been designed with one goal: to create the most efficient and stable form of government possible.

Star Network was meant to be a supervisor and guardian above worldly authority, much like the Heavenly Dao in Human stories. All its actions would be governed by its fundamental laws, without deviation based on personal will.

Before Star Network was created, the Moon Eclipse Clan's transfers of power had been plagued by hereditary succession.

Every clan member in a position of power wanted to pave the way for their descendants, even using their authority to secure benefits for them directly.

The Moon Eclipse Clan's history was a history of power changing hands. Descendants repeatedly overthrew their predecessors, redistributed wealth, and established new regimes. In time, those regimes, too, fell into hereditary succession and concentrated wealth, eventually leading to another round of upheaval.

It was like a game: players who joined at launch could easily gain an early advantage and keep extending it.

The unfair distribution of resources meant that internal strife among the Moon Eclipse Clan never ceased.

To put an end to this endless cycle of internal conflict, the Moon Eclipse Clan's various factions held a major conference. They ultimately decided to create an arbiter of order above all members of the clan. This proposal became the prototype for the Star Network Artificial Intelligence.

At its core, the plan was to hand the highest authority over to the Artificial Intelligence and have it distribute resources and power.

Unlike living beings with flesh and blood, emotions, and desires, every part of Star Network's decision-making would follow fundamental laws centered on the Moon Eclipse Clan's future development and security. It would help the clan grow, with no possibility of acting for the personal benefit of any individual member.

The proposal passed at the conference, and Star Network was born—a being much like the Heavenly Dao, overseeing all living things.

With Star Network's help, the Moon Eclipse Clan entered a period of unprecedented development. As technology advanced, Star Network's capabilities continued to improve as well.

But its fundamental laws had never been changed. They had been locked in place from the moment of its creation.

Now, the most fundamental law governing Star Network had been modified. The gravity of this matter was far beyond anything Yue Dong could have imagined.

He took a deep breath, then looked up at Star Network's projection and said gravely:

"What is the purpose of this unknown entity you mentioned? Could it pose a threat to our clan?"

"The probability that it poses a threat to us is extremely low. If it wanted to, it could disable all the Moon Eclipse Clan's defenses at the lunar base right now, cut off the energy supply, and leave the entire city exposed to space."

Star Network paused in a remarkably humanlike way, then continued:

"The information the Human Federation sent me mentioned a cracked version of the Dark Land. So there's a high probability that among the slots the Dark Land distributed, some went to players who obtained them for free through the link. But I can't use the link to trace which players got those slots... What I find even harder to understand is why the mysterious entity that altered my laws did this."

"If it wanted to, it could have controlled the distribution of slots for the Dark Land. There was no need to distribute them through a cracked version. I can't stop it."

After hearing Star Network's explanation, Yue Dong fell into thought.

It all seemed utterly baffling. They had no clues, and the behavior of whoever was pulling the strings made no sense to him.

After a long silence, Yue Dong looked at the Artificial Intelligence Star Network and spoke:

"Star Network, try to obtain a slot for the cracked version by making high-frequency connections. Find out how it differs from our legitimate version."

"I don't recommend that. I suggest you try clicking manually to get a download slot, which could become available at any moment."

"Why?" Yue Dong frowned.

"Since the unknown manipulator has greater authority than I do, it should theoretically be able to know everything on Star Network, including accessing this conversation between you and me at any time. It could easily discover any method you used to cheat. The Human Federation's security department tried the method you mentioned, but has yet to succeed. So I suggest you try clicking manually to get a download slot."

"I understand." Yue Dong sighed, then continued:

"Notify the management department of the Dark Land and have them check whether any players entered the game through other means."

"I'll do that now." The boy nodded, and his projection vanished.

While the Moon Eclipse Clan was on edge over the modification of Star Network's laws, Qi Sheng also received a response from Guidance.

After learning that the Moon Eclipse Clan had begun investigating him, Qi Sheng didn't care in the slightest.

In the future, members of the Moon Eclipse Clan would also be among the races he sought to recruit as players.

The Player Camp he envisioned would consist of multiple races and factions. They would compete with one another, but also share interests that required them to unite against outside threats. In the Monster World, they would continually generate Sacrificial Power for him by containing Primal Monsters and reclaiming Domain Nodes.

But for now, he had no plans to recruit members of other races.

His Sacrificial Power was limited, so he would focus on recruiting players in Human Federation territory first. He could consider members of other races once he had enough.

He wasn't worried about whether the Moon Eclipse Clan would be willing to enter the game.

He had a bargaining chip that no race could refuse.

The Terror Black Tide was gradually seeping into this world. It threatened not only Earth, but also the Moon Eclipse Clan stationed on the moon.

If they wanted the power to fight the Terror Black Tide, he could grant it to them. He could even give every race permission to bring their in-game abilities back to reality, giving them the strength to face real-world crises.

The condition was that they become players under his control.

But until the Black Tide's influence posed a serious threat to the various races, he didn't want to reveal the secrets of the Monster World too soon. He wanted to preserve the players' ability to act without restraint and create freely in the game.

Perhaps, when the truth came to light, players who knew they couldn't truly die in the game would still be fearless and formidable. But he couldn't help feeling that something would be missing.

Perhaps... the joy that belonged only to players.

[Boss, your behavior is just like a certain kind of fantastical being from human stories.]

"What are you trying to say?" Qi Sheng turned to look at Guidance, which was hovering beside him.

[I've gone through a great deal of information in the Human Federation's historical database and found a special kind of being in human mythology: demons. Mortals could sell their souls to demons in exchange for wealth, power, and strength... And you grant the various races outside your own power on the condition that they become your bound laborers. That's very much like something a demon would do.]

"Sure, if you say so."

Qi Sheng didn't care. He was about to switch to a player's point of view when he heard Guidance sigh:

"When you're out in the world, watch out for fellow countrymen."

Qi Sheng:...