Wisdom AI: A-01

Building 9 on Central Street could be called the tallest building in Eastsea City, of course, except for the Spirit Pagoda next door, which had stubbornly added half a floor to the top just to uphold its tradition of being the tallest building in every city.

In any case, Tang Wulin had never seen such a tall building.

Although after listening to Xie Xie's explanation on the way, he already had a general idea.

But when they actually reached the front of the building, he still raised his head slightly.

The entire building's outer walls were made of dark-gray matte metal panels. A huge glass curtain wall covered the surface, displaying the four bright words "Anti-Entropy Technology."

The Spirit Pagoda building stood right next door. There was only a narrow alley between the two buildings. Standing at the entrance of Building 9, they could even hear the faint voices of people and the sound of vehicles starting from the Spirit Pagoda next door.

But the entrance to Building 9 was tightly shut. The faintest warm light seeped through the doors, and the whole building was as quiet as an empty memorial hall.

"Strange... I remember that when I came to the Spirit Pagoda to buy a Soul Spirit before, this building didn't look like this. How did it change so much all of a sudden? Is Eastsea City's reconstruction really that fast?"

Xie Xie scratched his head, clearly unable to understand.

He swallowed his doubts and stepped forward to knock on the door, but the door sensed his arrival and opened with a response.

The three exchanged glances at the entrance before walking inside.

The lobby did not look large, but it had plenty of height—nearly ten meters.

The floor was covered in spotless white tiles. Set into the wall directly opposite them was a large soul-tech screen. It was not lit, resembling a black mirror that reflected the outlines of the three figures.

There was a corridor on each side. Light shone from the end of each corridor, but it was impossible to tell where they led.

Xie Xie looked around. "Strange. Why is there no one here?"

Indeed, apart from something resembling a reception desk, there was not even a receptionist in sight.

The moment he finished speaking, the black soul-tech screen directly ahead suddenly lit up.

White light spread outward from the center of the screen. Instead of displaying a specific image, it formed a faint blue point of light.

The point of light rotated in the center of the screen for an instant before expanding into a rough human outline. It had no facial features, only a body made of slender lines.

Then a voice came from hidden speakers above the entrance hall. It was the same female voice they had heard through the soul-tech communicator, but now it had lost its mechanical quality and sounded clearer and gentler.

"Welcome to Anti-Entropy Technology. I am already aware of the reason for your visit. Please proceed along the corridor on the left to the end. The meeting room is ready, and someone will answer your questions."

Xie Xie's fingers twitched, and he instinctively reached for the dagger at his waist, but soon lowered his hand again.

He glanced at Tang Wulin. The other boy's expression was fairly calm.

Gu Yuena merely watched the blue human outline in silence, showing no unnecessary reaction.

"What is this... a soul-tech projection or something?"

She did not understand. After all, she was a standard old-timer and shut-in.

The three walked along the corridor on the left. After roughly fifty steps, an open door indeed appeared at the end.

The room inside was somewhat smaller than their classroom, but it was neat and clean. There was a long table, several chairs, and three cups on the table, each filled with steaming tea.

At the corner of the table sat a palm-sized, round metal device. Its surface was smooth and flawless, with only a hair-thin strip of light on the side, emitting a faint glow.

Just as the three sat down beside the table, the metal device suddenly moved.

It silently rose a short distance and floated roughly a foot above the tabletop. Then a crack split open in its center, and a ring of deep-blue light unfolded from within, projecting a translucent blue figure.

The figure was roughly the size of a normal person, but its edges were slightly blurred, clearly the product of energy imaging.

It had no facial features, only a human outline. On its chest was a simple symbol: two intersecting diagonal lines forming an "X."

"Good evening, everyone." The blue projection spoke. The voice came from inside the device, yet had an excellent sense of direction, as if it were speaking directly to them. "I am the reception assistant AI of Anti-Entropy Technology's Eastsea City First Laboratory, designation A-01. Tonight's meeting will be hosted by me on behalf of the Anti-Entropy leader."

Tang Wulin opened his mouth, about to speak, but Xie Xie beat him to it. "The leader? Is that your boss? Why isn't he coming out to meet us himself?"

"Correction. Although the Anti-Entropy leader and the owner of Anti-Entropy Technology are currently the same person, they cannot be treated as entirely identical."

A-01's projection tilted slightly, as if bowing. "In addition, the leader is currently handling other matters. However, his instructions clearly state that you three are the only visitors tonight and must be received with the highest priority. Before that, please allow me to confirm your basic information."

It paused, and then three lines of text appeared in the center of the projection—

"Tang Wulin, Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, Third-Rank Blacksmith."

"Xie Xie, Twin Martial Souls of the Light Dragon Dagger and Shadow Dragon Dagger, young master of the Xie Family of Eastsea City."

"Gu Yue, Silver Dragon Martial Soul, identity unknown."

"Identity verification complete. May I ask what questions you have? I can provide answers."

Xie Xie took a deep breath. "Why did you invite us here?"

"Authorization verification in progress. Verification passed. I will now provide an answer."

A curve resembling a smile slowly appeared on A-01's projected face. Its lines were soft and simple.

"Logic: To accomplish the leader's research objective, Anti-Entropy Technology is seeking suitable experimental subjects or researchers interested in the project itself. Eastsea Academy is the first-priority source designated by the leader."

"Necessary verification has been conducted based on public information and the interpersonal network. Anti-Entropy Technology's screening standards for collaborators are higher than usual." As A-01 spoke, it turned its gaze toward Tang Wulin. The projection lowered its head slightly, as if adjusting the angle of its line of sight. "Mr. Tang Wulin, the leader anticipated your arrival long ago and left you a message: Your debt is not important. However, if you insist on repaying it, you might as well participate directly in this project."

Tang Wulin froze.

He opened his mouth, intending to ask, "How do you know about that money?" But when the words reached his lips, they changed. "You know Brother Mo Yuan?"

A-01 did not answer the question.

It simply floated there in silence, its blue projection faintly shifting under the light like a translucent sculpture waiting for its next instruction.

The instant Gu Yuena's peripheral vision swept over it, she paused slightly. Her fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the tabletop, almost imperceptibly, as if she had caught on to something.

But she said nothing either.

"Then what do we need to do?" Xie Xie asked.

"This is the task list. Please review it."

As it spoke, a blue light flashed through A-01's eyes. A light screen shot out from them and silently floated before the three.