Chapter 223: Members on Earth
This made Harvey realize that while the members of the Void Cult had become increasingly powerful, they still did not adopt an overbearing attitude toward ordinary people. This was undoubtedly a good sign.
Regardless of how they treated outsiders, maintaining a friendly attitude towards their own kind, or those who might become part of their group in the future, was the solid foundation of the Void Cult.
After taking a shower, Harvey went to bed, feeling quite relaxed.
The next afternoon...
Tony, after receiving an invitation from Miss Sonya, installed J.A.R.V.I.S. and then headed to the mountain villa.
Sonya had called Tony over to discuss the management of the gravity devices, as well as to go over reports and transfers regarding the needs of various planets.
With Tony present, it made sense for him to review some of the management aspects of the gravity devices. This would allow him to understand the needs of their clients better, and perhaps find ways to meet those needs through new technological products.
This approach could bring greater profits to Void Island as well as Tony himself, further enhancing their reputation.
"How much are they willing to pay?" Tony asked after learning about some of the clients' requirements.
"At first, some of them noticed your expertise in AI," Sonya explained. "They hope that you could create additional independent AI assistant functions to enhance the computational capabilities and efficiency of their space battleships."
"They're offering between ten million and thirty million as a price range," she added. "However, they need the AI to have a strong firewall to prevent hacking and control attempts."
Hearing this, Tony nodded and looked thoughtful.
A large space battleship typically costs between 200 million to 500 million and requires a synchronized team effort for proper operation. Having an advanced AI assistant could speed up various processes significantly.
However, creating such advanced AI systems is not something that many people can do. Typically, most battleship AIs are priced between 5 million and 20 million.
As for the more advanced "light brains," those are usually only developed by civilizations like the Kree Empire and the Nova Corps, and they keep their technology closely guarded.
The clients didn't expect a top-tier light brain, but they were willing to pay up to 30 million in hopes that Tony could produce more advanced AI technology.
If Tony could achieve this, it would undoubtedly bring in substantial wealth.
"I can guarantee that the AI won't be hacked by other AIs of a similar level," Tony said as he reviewed the data related to the space battleship AI on the holographic display. "But ensuring that it can't be compromised by a light brain is a different challenge."
Technology, especially in AI, is a competitive field where even a small advantage in processing speed can make a huge difference.
This requirement was a bullseye for Tony's goals, especially since he intended for Earth to secure a position in the interstellar era.
Therefore, ensuring that Earth's AI technology doesn't fall behind others is critical.
"If this is too challenging for you right now, then set it aside for the moment," Harvey chimed in after listening to their conversation. "You can always look for assistance later on."
"You have plenty of other technological projects you can focus on in the meantime."
Harvey, recognizing that Tony was facing difficulties, offered his advice. Though Harvey himself couldn't match Tony's genius—having once been a prodigy on Earth, but only among peers of his age—he knew Earth still had other geniuses.
Individuals like Bruce Banner, Shuri (the Black Panther's sister), and Dr. Helen Cho were all experts in their respective fields.
"Yeah, I'll revisit the AI project once Banner has developed his skills further," Tony agreed, thinking of Bruce Banner.
Banner had recently joined the Void and was still adapting to his powers, so this matter could be delayed a bit. Ideally, Tony wanted to develop a powerful light brain, so even if they created high-level, independent AIs for other civilizations, Earth's position wouldn't be compromised.
"Who's Banner?" Sonya asked, curious about the name that Tony and Harvey had mentioned.
"His full name is Bruce Banner. He's a super genius whose intellect rivals mine, and he's also a member of the Void Cult," Tony explained. "However, he's currently dealing with some physical issues and hasn't fully mastered his powers yet."
"That's why he's still on Earth for the time being."
"Mr. Kassadin, have you recruited others from Earth?" Sonya asked, turning to Kassadin. "If so, you should inform me. I need to keep track of all the members of the Void Cult."
Her tone wasn't accusatory, merely formal. It was important to maintain an accurate record of the Void Cult's members throughout the universe, especially in case of any emergencies where communication and coordination might be required.
They had already recorded that there were fifty-seven members on Mogry Planet, where the Void Cult had a branch. The Mogry inhabitants often visited the island to pay their respects.
From her encounters, Sonya found the Mogry people to be fervent believers, even more passionate in their devotion to Kassadin than those residing on the island.
They were a formidable force, and if the Void Cult ever faced a battle, Sonya knew the Mogry people would be the first to charge into combat.
"Excluding Tony, there are currently four members from Earth who have joined the Void Cult," Harvey replied after a moment of thought. "One is Tony's wife, Pepper—someone you should be familiar with."
"The other three are Steve Rogers, Peggy Carter, and Bruce Banner."
He realized that he had forgotten to mention these members earlier, so he provided the details now.
"That brings the total number of Void Cult members on the island to 512," Sonya noted as she quickly updated the records.
She had already been aware of Pepper's membership in the Void Cult, so she simply added the three new names to the list.