Chapter 88 Predicting the Future with Algorithms
Ning Shuyin checked the space again, but it was still not there.
[Host, stop looking. Items from the virtual world cannot be brought into reality.]
Hearing the system's reply, Ning Shuyin could not hide her disappointment.
After all that, this thing that sounded so amazing turned out to be just a "virtual prop" that couldn't be taken out.
It was all for nothing.
[Host, although the physical form of that crystal has disappeared, you have brought with you the information mapped to the item. The moment you left the virtual world, a piece of code was completely imprinted deep within your consciousness.]
"System, can you please stop speaking so dramatically!" Ning Shuyin couldn't help but complain. "Quickly scan what this is."
[Host, scanning items, analyzing...]
【1%……】
[10%...]
The system's progress bar continues to advance.
Ning Shuyin held her breath and waited.
[Host, this is a high-level creation of the Machine Race called "Mind Chains".]
It is a control core capable of analyzing and overwriting the target's underlying mental logic, reshaping their will and emotions, and completely transforming them into a servant.
"Turning people into servants? That's way too domineering."
[Host, you're mistaken.]
"Huh? This thing isn't that powerful?"
No, it can not only modify humans, but also mechanical life forms, and even god-like beings.
Gods?
No wonder Robert said before he died that this was something that could control those "high and mighty beings".
These words stirred Ning Shuyin's emotions.
[However, host, my scan shows that the structural integrity of this "mind chain" is only 98%. The crystal you obtained may be defective. It's missing that 2% of emotional dependency code.]
Even reformed servants can still betray you.
One sentence deflated Ning Shuyin's spirits once again.
But upon closer reflection, it is indeed true.
Robert's betrayal before his death is enough to illustrate the flaws in this mental chain.
Moreover, such a bug-level existence is not something that can be obtained so easily.
98% completeness is better than nothing, I suppose.
The most urgent task is to earn points and make money.
She composed herself, temporarily suppressing the secret of the mental chains in her heart, and focused her attention back on reality.
She operated the computer and brought up a control panel.
It was Zhou Zhiheng's "Super Dimension Ledger" that he gave her.
She then took out a small black box from her spatial ring—a black box operator terminal she had bought from the Chaos Trading Star.
"System, recall my memories of the main storyline. Combine the ledger data flow and the operator's deductive model to help me predict the next navigation mission that is most suitable for me to take on."
[Host, command received. Hyperdimensional deduction begins...]
To outsiders, she looked like she was playing a handheld game console with her head down.
In fact, she was using the information and tools at hand to try to deduce her own opportunity from the few words and phrases in the novel.
Time passed by, second by second.
As the black box operator ran out of power, the "green tea punishment" time on her also ended at roughly the same time.
The simulation results have been presented.
[Host, this is a navigation mission that can earn you over 500 points, and there's a high probability it will also come with Star Coins.]
"I hope my navigator certification will be ready for this mission," Ning Shuyin thought to herself.
However, when she scanned the first row of results, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
[Crisis Event: The Interstellar Alliance has been invaded by a virus. Known infected individuals: ..., Su Qianqian, ... Status: High risk.]
Qianqian is poisoned?
Didn't we agree on the phone just now?
How could that be?
This scene wasn't in the story at all!
Just as she was in shock, hurried footsteps came from outside the ward, accompanied by whispers from medical staff.
She only vaguely heard bits and pieces of the words "navigator" and "Galaxy Cinema".
Ning Shuyin's expression changed, and she threw off the blanket and rushed out.
At the end of the corridor, an emergency bed was being rapidly pushed into the gene stabilization room, surrounded by several doctors with solemn expressions.
Ning Shuyin recognized the person lying on it after just one glance.
Familiar faces.
But it wasn't Su Qianqian, but Lily, her supervisor at the Rose Club.
"What's wrong with her?" Ning Shuyin stopped a nurse and asked.
"Who are you?"
"I'm her colleague!"
The nurse hurriedly replied, "She was among the last group of moviegoers evacuated from the Galaxy Cinema. She suddenly collapsed in the plaza outside."
Galaxy Cinema!
Su Qianqian also went to see a movie.
Could it be... that all the viewers have been poisoned?
Her deduction was immediately verified by reality.
Ning Shuyin disregarded everything else and immediately turned on her personal terminal to call Su Qianqian.
"Beep...beep..."
No one answered.
She forced herself to calm down. Standing in the shadows of the corridor, she swiped through her contacts and dialed Guree's number.
The light screen lit up, and Gu Lei's face appeared.
"Miss Ning, hello. Is there anything I can help you with?" Gu Lei remained calm, appearing unharmed and showing no sign of panic.
Ning Shuyin had long suspected that the male protagonist of this novel was not simple and probably had more secrets than she did, so she simply got straight to the point.
"Professor Gu Lei, the situation is urgent. I suspect there is some kind of virus outbreak at the Galaxy Cinema, but I can't get in touch with Qianqian right now."
Gu Lei's face remained as calm and serene as ever.
"I see."
There were no further questions, no doubts. Only an unusual calm.
"Miss Ning, don't worry, I will find her."
He cut off the communication unilaterally as soon as he finished speaking.
Ning Shuyin looked at the now-off screen and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Gu Lei's promise put her at ease for the time being.
Ning Shuyin composed herself and strode toward Luo Lan's office.
Knock on the office door.
Zhou Zhiheng was also there.
The two were facing a screen of light, their expressions extremely serious.
But as soon as Ning Shuyin entered, the atmosphere in the room immediately became strange.
Luo Lan and Zhou Zhiheng looked at her at the same time, their eyes filled with mixed emotions.
That chaotic farce is still vivid in my mind.
Their emotions were all affected by the green tea aerosol.
The two SSS-level powerhouses naturally knew that something was amiss.
Simmering anger, embarrassment, and other things deliberately buried.
Ning Shuyin touched her nose, not intending to respond.
Extremely low pressure was pervasive.
Only the official news from the Interstellar Alliance was being broadcast in the quiet room.
[...Regarding the small number of cases of people falling into comas on Planet A, the preliminary diagnosis is an allergic reaction triggered by a cosmic storm. The public is advised not to panic...]
"An allergy?" Ning Shuyin frowned. "It's probably a virus."
Zhou Zhiheng frowned.
Ning Shuyin knew she was right.
Loran glanced at Zhou Zhiheng, her mind racing, and skipped over what had just happened to get straight to the point: "How did you know it was a virus?"
Ning Shuyin pointed to the corridor outside and explained, "My supervisor, Lily, was just brought in. It might be related to the mental attack on Galaxy Cinema."
Zhou Zhiheng was fully aware of the incident at the cinema.
Loran had also learned the general outline from Situ Linchen. At this moment, he pulled up a mental health assessment chart.
"The virus that Lily contracted appears to be an attack targeting the navigator's mental state. The patient's consciousness will fall into a state of high chaos. Existing medical treatments are ineffective."
“Even if we develop a new drug to suppress it, it will only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. It will take at least a month,” Loran said.
It turns out that the virus wasn't targeting all spectators, but rather the female navigators.
This is tantamount to directly targeting the alliance's most valuable strategic resource.
"Perhaps I could try using my healing power?" Ning Shuyin said.
Loran pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "Although you have awakened healing abilities, you probably don't have much experience. Healing at the level of the sea of consciousness is extremely dangerous; if you're not careful, you could lose yourself. Let's wait a little longer."
Just as Ning Shuyin was about to ask what they were waiting for, Luo Lan's assistant rushed over:
"Dr. Loran, Professor Jiang Yao has arrived."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
