How to Live as an Immortal - Chapter 266
Only Noblemtl
How to Live Immortally Episode 266
266 That’s right, thank you
“… … .”
Cheshire was leisurely picking at his fur, not giving him time to respond.
I know about you―there had to be some kind of evidence for the electronic spirit that traversed virtual reality to be so sure.
I dreamed of the day I would make contact with him, but I never imagined it would be now.
It was even more surprising that Cheshire would approach them so readily.
But that’s why I couldn’t help but feel reluctant.
“You call me Baek Ga-on… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Are you going to ignore it after hearing everything? Don’t do that. If you told Moo-myeong, it would have been over. The person who invited Bang-ju was Baek Seok-do, not Baek Ga-on.”
Did the Ark have something to do with it, or was this truly Cheshire’s own doing?
“Don’t waste this moment. The moment you disconnected, I just grabbed you and increased the time multiplier. If you’re honest, I can continue this conversation.”
That’s right. Even if I cower and deny it, it’ll only lead to a turning point. But even so, I couldn’t help but be on guard against that one chance.
“How rude. It’s rude to see someone unilaterally push forward with what they want to believe.”
“Since he has maintained self-awareness despite receiving a brain transplant from Baek Seok-do, it must be related to his supernatural powers. It’s something to be wary of. But personally, I welcome it. It’s not some sinister old man, but Dobi’s best friend who has come in.”
Dobby.
That word sums up a series of events. As expected, Cheshire was definitely Aaron Howard, the former president of Maximum Noise. He had probably been watching him since he came to Mars.
It would be difficult to fool him since he would have finished cross-checking a long time ago―
“What do you want, Aaron Howard?”
Cheshire, with his eyes wide open, wags his tail as if he is happy.
“You’ve already guessed my identity. Yes, that’s it. Contrary to your crazy nickname, you’re still sane. That’s a relief.”
It was a no-brainer. Since the mask was taken off, at least I should know the other person’s intentions.
“Unlike before when he ignored his grandson, he seems to be interested in him.”
“It’s not that I ignored it. I just couldn’t.”
“Isn’t that a bit of a lame excuse?”
“Even if it looks like that, there’s nothing I can do.”
The cat, who was laughing self-deprecatingly, looked sad for some reason.
“In exchange for teaching me how to become an electronic spirit, I will cut off all ties and support the Ark. That was the deal.”
“You even sold off your communications satellite and changed your business to a game developer?”
“It was a price.”
It was a guess. Paying for technology and resources in exchange for clues about eternal life was the Ark’s way.
No matter what anyone says, the main axis of the ark was the virtual reality that Cheshire had created. He was a masterpiece that could penetrate all electronic worlds.
If he wanted to, he could see through potential enemies and allies. What if he was so absorbed in family relationships that he leaked information without anyone knowing?
‘A second ark may be born.’
There was no other reason for the excessive restrictions.
“And at that time, I wasn’t in my right mind. It wasn’t long before I was able to function normally. Before, I was a completely automated program, nothing more, nothing less.”
I heard you had a lot of hardships in your later years.
I thought he had even suffered from dissociative identity disorder, so I thought he had managed to enter the ark.
Yeah, that was the point that Gaon was curious about.
“From what I’ve heard, it doesn’t seem like you have any regrets about life, so why are you hanging yourself on a leash?”
“I thought it was worth it.”
The very idea of the ark fascinated him, ― the black cat was saying so clearly. Although Gaon found it hard to believe.
“After all, it’s an interest group.”
“I know. But the benefits include humanity. You’ve probably heard of the Four Fundamental Laws.”
“The Four Basic Laws?”
A constitution representing the 24th century, integrated with the Clone Human Control Act, Gene Protection Act, Virtual Reality Special Act, and Artificial Intelligence Restriction Act―
“no way…….”
“That’s right, we made it.”
It was a very sacred achievement. The reason why the future of cyberpunk, where human ethics and morals fall underground, does not come is because of the Four Basic Laws.
“The Ark is blocking technology because it is worried that it will go beyond human cognition.”
As a result, it leads to a monopoly, but it is not all bad. It is applied after calculating the aftermath and ramifications. What Cheshire is talking about is the part about necessary evil.
As Gaon works as a problem solver, he couldn’t help but feel even more sorry.
“The basic income system is one of them. Extreme wealth distribution could be the starting point of World War 4.”
“Ha. So they wish for their power to continue for eternity and shine like a civilization?”
“Because that’s what we share in common destiny.”
I know how deep the karma of the inner circle called Ark is, but that was only a secondary factor.
“Well, I understand the basic background. I also got a subtle warning that it wouldn’t be wise to oppose the Ark. The consideration for me, who has no memory, seeps deep into my bones.”
“I’m relieved that you seem to have the brains to understand that. I’m glad Dobby made some good friends.”
I felt it from the beginning, but this cat has a foul mouth.
“That’s not all I want to say. If you know me, you probably know the general story of what happened at Maximum Noise.”
“I’m talking about the incident where the adopted grandson crawled up without knowing any gratitude.”
It’s easier to explain if you know the circumstances.
“Then I guess you must have guessed that I received a request from Dobby’s father, Chairman Coln.”
“If you think about it, that’s why I called you here.”
My eyes lock with a round cat that looks like something out of a fairy tale.
The biggest reason I wanted to meet Aaron was because he had the clue to curing Dobby’s incurable disease.
“I heard you called in a metahuman and took away Chairman Coln’s powers.”
“Ah, you mean the consultant.”
For a moment, thoughts stop.
“who?”
“I mean, the consultant. He has some useful talents, and I’ve dealt with him a few times in the past. He was the one I wanted to talk to.”
Is that how it connects?
It’s not unreasonable. If it’s a transference with the dual properties of extraction and granting, it could easily reduce a metahuman to a normal human.
Haven’t you experienced it yourself?
“… … .”
The problem is that he is no longer of this world.
“You suddenly look worried.”
“Because he’s dead.”
“Dead? Who? A consultant? Wasn’t he alive until recently?”
“You saw it in the cabin, the spores were leaked. He couldn’t have been a consultant. He was taken by the punitive force.”
-Let’s do that.
The incidents that took place on Space Station 4 were all classified as top secrets. If Cheshire didn’t know about it, it wouldn’t have been recorded in the computer records. It was an appropriate situation to pretend not to know.
It’s a shame that Dobby’s treatment method has gone down the drain―
“It’s not like there’s no other way.”
“I mean, nectar.”
Cheshire adds, flicking his tongue at the sole of his foot.
“This is a child whose genetic manipulation failed once. No matter how innovative the technology is, we must approach it conservatively.”
“I know, too.”
I didn’t want to use my friend as a guinea pig.
“And while we’re on the subject, I think it was premature to tell the Ark about the nectar. After all, it could be a stepping stone to eternal life. If Noah had heard about it, he might have banned its sale.”
“Well, we’ll have to wait and see.”
As Gaon was immortal, he knew very well how difficult a wish it was to achieve immortality.
The biggest challenge is finding the amount of calories that cells consume to maintain their original shape within the body.
If you can’t break the laws of physics, then you’re halfway there.
In the end, it means that you have to borrow the power of a supernatural being.
“From the beginning, what I wanted was this structure itself.”
This is so that even if I suddenly achieve immortality later, I won’t be suspected. To put it bluntly, I guess you could say it’s preliminary work for an epic poem.
Even if the Emergency Disaster Response Team or the Mars Defense Forces look at us with suspicion, the Ark might come out and explain.
It’s an alliance that can’t be continued, but if it can be used, it can be used.
That was Gaon’s policy.
It’s just dangerous for Cheshire, who can’t see the whole picture.
“I can’t help it. I’ll cooperate as long as it doesn’t harm the interests of the ark.”
Cheshire, who said so, puts out his front paw.
“Oh, thank you.”
Gaon, who was holding the cute bulging ankles, smiled bitterly.
* * *
“… … So you want to put in place a safety device to prevent nectar from being abused?”
“In summary, that’s how it would be.”
The exchange meeting ended safely, but it was too early to feel relieved. Especially since we had decided to sell nectar, we had to make sure that there was no room for abuse.
The easiest thing to do is to put chains on the nectar.
“You are a troubled person, making such a request as soon as you recovered.”
“So you can, no.”
“If I say no, I will be considered ungrateful. After all, it is the order of the one who saved my life. And isn’t there still the ten days of loyalty that I promised earlier?”
“That’s a lot of words.”
Gaon’s eyebrows rose, but Croft pretended not to notice and continued talking.
“The important thing is to not get caught. It has to fit perfectly into the existing arrangement, and this seems to be the point where the difficulty level is high. And finally, the means. I’ll have to think about this a bit.”
“Take it slow, take it slow. You just have to finish it by the end of this month.”
Croft could see the expression of his former advisor in Gaon’s face, which seemed to be showing mercy to the topic of setting an unreasonable deadline that was not only urgent, but also merciful.
A professor who failed the tenure review because he only made absurd demands.
A professor who fell to a lowly position while personally expressing the phrase ‘karma and retribution’.
Of course, it was Croft who stabbed him.
“Really, you are a terrible person. My graduate school days are long gone.”
“It would be nice to be young now.”
Even Croft couldn’t help but sigh deeply in front of the invincible shield that said, “It’s not my job, so do what you want,” but thanks to that, it became easier to talk.
“Since you’ve asked such a big favor, I have something to tell you, too.”
“What is it?”
“That’s what we’re talking about here, so let’s get out.”
* * *
The place Croft led them to was Area 39. It seemed as if he had exploded from his rage, but Gaon could not dare to say those words. The closer they got to somewhere, the more the smile on Croft’s face disappeared.
There was no room for leisure, and it seemed as if blood was flowing from his tightly shut mouth.
Soon, Croft, who had come to a secluded alley, opened his mouth.
“Here it is.”