Seeing the flickering ghost avatar of Cyber Specter, Tsuchigumo used to be on alert, but now she’s no longer afraid, instead feeling a familiar sense of reassurance.
This guy still reasons!
So Tsuchigumo left her teammates behind and joined the communication channel of Cyber Specter.
"Finally connected. I’m in the middle of nowhere, the signal here isn’t great," Tsuchigumo said.
"You’ve had a conflict with the Black Panther Society."
"Oh, we did have a fight with the people of the Black Panther Society, hundreds of thugs, crazy, I heard Zanges is even scarier. We were about to be wiped out... You probably know what happened here," Tsuchigumo inquired.
In her understanding, Cyber Specter should be omnipresent.
"I can’t say I know it like the back of my hand, due to communication delays, I have diverted computation power to other areas, after all, I am also confronting formidable hackers," Cyber Specter responded.
Tsuchigumo instantly became alert.
"What kind of hackers? The strong ones?" she asked quickly.
"Three years ago, a global hacking conference was held in a nearly shattered deep anonymous network. I also lurked around, wanting to know who the powerful hackers in the world were. There were about 50 individuals worth noting in that conference, legends in the hacking world, who mastered decryption techniques better than anyone else," Cyber Specter replied in a calm, synthesized electronic voice.
Legendary hackers...each an expert of Digital Mind, skilled in various hacking and anti-hacking techniques.
"I’m not quite sure..." Tsuchigumo was confused.
In Northern Archipelago, there were other legendary hackers, she knew most of them were enlisted by Xisheng, and later they withdrew with Xisheng.
Following that, the Helis Sea System, which people are now familiar with, went online, and professional network patrols took over the security of the digital world.
To use the Helis Sea, one must have a Digital Mind and deep diving technology, not something ordinary people could reach. Without fresh blood, the hacking industry gradually declined.
Hence, whether hackers or cybersecurity engineers, they were increasingly monopolized by large companies, unlike in the past when they were everywhere. Companies increasingly prioritized network security projects and heightened engineer salaries to prevent them from leaving and also to attract outsiders.
Currently, the hackers still active in the public are all defiant experts, many working in the Formless System...Tsuchigumo’s knowledge stopped there.
"These legendary hackers have more or less formed collaborations with corporations, they are spared from arrest or death, and the companies use them to protect privacy security. So, some legendary hackers help guard the core databases of the companies, staunchly protecting important information, and so even I have never successfully breached the heart of a renowned company," Cyber Specter stated.
"So, the one you’re confronting now is one of such legendary hackers?" Tsuchigumo now understood everything.
"The opponent’s codename is ’Laughing Star,’ the most dangerous enemy I’ve ever faced."
"’Laughing Star’...sounds like some kind of comedian."
"He is a very mysterious person, he must have also attended the hacking conference and stolen impressive intelligence. He is very astute, sharp, probably devoting his life to refining technology," Cyber Specter said.
Strange, just by being active in Hot Tree Continent, it had attracted that legendary hacker known as "Laughing Star" to interfere. Could it be, had Cyber Specter offended some formidable being? Tsuchigumo thought to herself.
"Perhaps Black Fire Innovation hired ’Laughing Star’ to target you," Tsuchigumo suggested.
"Possibly," Cyber Specter maintained its mystery, apparently having other theories.
The confrontation between renegade AI Cyber Specter and legendary hacker "Laughing Star" would surely become a legendary tale in the history of data security. Tsuchigumo felt a surge of excitement.
"Then you focus on dealing with ’Laughing Star.’ As for this little Rat Sally you asked me to help...you know her, right? What do you think of her?"
"Her potential is too great, so much so that I am unwilling to strip her of the right to control her own destiny."
"What about me? Do I also have great potential?"
"I see, according to your attitude, it’s like everyone in the world, every Witch and Rat, has great potential," Tsuchigumo remarked.
"I never deny that. Actually, shaping people is quite simple, if you persistently educate them, their hearts undergo indelible changes. But that is not what I pursue."
Ah...how fascinating. Tsuchigumo pondered dimly. She suddenly realized Cyber Specter’s logic—it treats everyone equally, seeing people as warriors not cowards needing guidance, manipulation, and protection, urging them to forge their own destinies.
But can we really control our own destinies? Human abilities are finite, and the world, like the Great Maelstrom, always lacks a place to safely settle, and everyone is unable to stop while pursuing their goals.
"What’s next? Is there anything I can help with?" Tsuchigumo wanted to cooperate with Cyber Specter’s work.
Cyber Specter had helped her quite a bit, it was only right for her to offer support.
"Check the messages your teammates left for you. I’ll meet with you again when the time is right," Cyber Specter went offline.
Even if intercepted by "Laughing Star," Cyber Specter would continue to exist among the photonic signals, moving, continually infecting robots with electronic viruses and granting them the ability to act autonomously. Tsuchigumo speculated.