Chapter 15 Maintenance

Xu Yang was taken away for repairs, and Farosa, unable to set her mind at ease, followed closely. Kanako felt it wasn't proper to run off to play games alone, so she chose to follow as well.

In a guest room, Xu Yang was led behind a folding screen for repairs, while Kanako and Farosa stayed on the other side.

"I never thought he would deal with the Gang," Kojima Kanako muttered.

"To avoid more violence and bloodshed, he must have racked his brains," Farosa said, "this guy is always looking for ways."

"How did you meet him?"

"That's a long story." Farosa had no desire to reveal her own affairs and shifted the conversation back to Kanako, "Look, your bag seems so heavy."

"A lot of game data cards."

"What's that?"

"Data cards, haven't you ever played games?" Kanako took out a blue data card, "The card contains the game itself, saved files, and personal editing records; they're incredibly precious. Look, this one is from Rainbow Corporation, compatible with all systems, the design is a commemorative edition representing the classic original released 60 years ago. See this, the Rainbow logo at the top right corner of the card is misprinted, which makes it quite collectible. It took a lot of effort to collect all 8 versions with errors, and here are the other seven..."

"I see..." Farosa didn't want to appear ignorant, so she just kept nodding.

"I love the games from the past, they feel so fake once loaded, you can tell they're not real life, but they're fun! Game companies seem to have stopped exploring gameplay mechanics 30 years ago, only tricking those who seldom play games. Nowadays they only promote graphics, special effects, and emulation technologies, bold enough to imprint images and sounds directly into your brain, yet completely neglect gameplay. Even the stories are haphazard, like those generated by AI, all just clichés, you know what's going to happen right from the start."

"Can games... interact with the brain? Is it the work of technology..." Farosa said.

"Yes, gaming pods, simulating inside your nerves, making you fully immersed. Many games are too realistic, making people stay for months on end, not wanting to leave, surviving solely on Nutrient Solution in tanks. Some people run out of Nutrient Solution and don't come out to refill, eventually going lights out and passing away while playing."

"After all, it's just a 'game,' meant to pass the time, right? You shouldn't get addicted to it."

"No, no, no, if there were a gaming console here, I'd show you and you'd understand; you'd definitely start liking games. Gaming is the real life, while reality is full of idiotic stuff, better to enjoy games. When I was born, my family had a lot of high-end gaming consoles, and it was so much fun."

"So you were rich?"

"I had a bit of money. When I was 10, I spent 10 million to have the LC17 Armor League change its rules, lifting the ban on minors from participating in esports, finally fulfilling my wish to perform on a big stage! Unfortunately, I was beaten badly and made a laughingstock by my family."

"It seems Xu Yang doesn't play games," Farosa said.

"Hmph, are corporate people even worthy of playing games?"

Kanako looked down on corporate people. Farosa pondered.

Corporate people... Xu Yang had said that a corporation is a business entity, so corporate people must be businesspeople or assisting businesspeople. That seemed not too bad; merchants could promote product exchange between territories, likely more useful than gamers.

This world is truly marvelous, with people not working and willing to indulge in virtuality.

Alas, now in this so-called Underground City, with no farmland, castles, or churches, and Ratmen rampant, there's no local Lord leading troops to sweep through, nor any powerful company sending soldiers with technology to clear them out, relying instead on Gangs for defense.

The most incomprehensible thing is...

Why after a thousand years with science, corporations, and so many novel things like games, do people still live such boring, miserable lives? Tons of poor people are minced by Ratmen like stray dogs, living in the darkness below, devoid of sunlight. Why isn't everyone wealthy and free? It seems that in this era people aren't lacking bread and candles, but they lack everything else.

And Kanako, able to spend 10 million on games at age 10, can people here earn 10 million by age 100? Speaking of money, Xu Yang doesn't seem to lack it at all, where does his money come from.

Farosa slowly savored the information in Kanako's previous words, combining it with her own observations, and judged this world to be hollow and beyond saving.

The best solution would be to awaken the Divine Power, with the help of divine might, welcome back the glorious Witch Era, burn away diseases with a rain of fire, and wash away all absurdity.

Relying on human rule, another thousand years would still not bring genuine progress. Witches, possessing power, wisdom, beauty, and longevity, were clearly more suited to be the dominant race.

She looked meaningfully towards the standing screen; Xu Yang was right there behind it.

On the other side of the room, Xu Yang sat beside a low table, extending his right hand.

He didn't expect them to fully fix everything, but even a slight improvement on his implant's malfunction would be enough to alleviate his urgent problem.

Knowing Digital Mind as he did, Xu Yang believed that his skills were still salvageable.

The redhead delinquent knew a bit about repairs; the Gang members numbering over a hundred outside who played with mobile bots and the rifle mobile bots on the parapet were maintained by him.

Now, he was starting to attempt repairs on the burnt circuits in Xu Yang's body.

Asa Katsuragi sat cross-legged on the other side, like a guardian deity.

She turned on the television, but the signal was very poor, only vague images were visible, and the only sounds coming out were static.