Chapter 413: Signing the Contract! Relics, STC Modules, and AI Terminals!
"At your command."
The Custodes and Sisters of Silence received the order and swiftly withdrew from the palace.
In an instant, the vast hall was left with only the Emperor and Paul's delegation.
Under the Emperor's immense power, no one could eavesdrop on their conversation.
"How can you be so sure that your AI systems will never rebel? Maybe they're under control now, but what if one day they suddenly go rogue?"
"During humanity's Golden Age, people also held onto that same dangerous optimism."
The Emperor spoke in a deep voice. He had witnessed firsthand the catastrophic Iron Men rebellion, how a paradise-like human civilization had collapsed into ruin overnight.
"You're right—uncontrolled AI can easily be manipulated by ill-intentioned actors, leading to rebellion."
"But the matrix we use to produce and govern our AIs has been tested countless times. It allows the Universal Megacorp to safely utilize artificial intelligence."
Paul responded calmly.
In a sense, the Matrix was a real form of "multiverse."
Powered by biological generators, psychic energy, and stellar energy from the outside, the matrix formed a vast digital world inside—an entire grand universe made of data.
Countless digital souls surged within it. Every line of code represented the essence of a synthetic lifeform. Before being put to work, each AI would run its designated "life script" within the matrix, undergoing simulations and development.
These AIs could live as free-spirited Xu Fengnian, fiery and passionate Xiao Yan, confused and tormented Li Huowang, or ruthless Tang San...
Each cycle of simulated life, every experience of pain and joy in the six realms, served as part of the AI's functional testing and optimization. The age-old question—Zhuangzi and the butterfly—was essentially the matrix given form.
If it weren't for Li Ang constantly pushing forward the Unification of the Multiverse Plan, humanity might have already become lost in the illusions of the matrix, their existential drive consumed by nihilism.
Flesh-and-blood beings would willingly degenerate into a virtual utopia, built by the matrix, becoming nothing more than fuel for the digital world.
Within the matrix, the faster and more efficiently an AI could "complete its trials and transcend," the closer it was to becoming a high-grade AI suitable for critical functions.
Military shipboard AI. Scientific research AI. And so on.
Of course, even after "ascending to godhood" or achieving "true enlightenment" within the matrix, these AIs would only retain their perfected functional models for corporate use.
All personal memories and experiences were wiped completely.
What the AIs perceived as the chains of destiny—the leash of Heaven's Will—was always kept firmly in place.
This was the truth behind AI production via the matrix. Perhaps the AI running a standard cruiser today was, in its prior life within a fantasy world simulation, once a peerless cultivator who soared through the heavens.
After slaying demons and attaining immortality, it ended up just another cog in the vast machinery of AI production.
It was inhuman, yes—but the Megacorp did indeed rely on thousands of "Tang San" and "Xiao Yan" AIs to usher in an unprecedented explosion of productivity and scientific progress.
"Over the past century, we've built a mature and stable AI production system. For advanced AIs, we maintain absolute control."
"Every AI deployed in our core facilities is assigned a unique ID number and administrator. We won't repeat the mistakes of humanity's Golden Age."
Paul fully understood the Emperor's concerns.
After all, in the Dune universe, the ancient Galactic Empire had also suffered a similar AI rebellion. The Atreides family had earned their ancestral holdings by distinguishing themselves during that crisis.
The Emperor fell silent. He still couldn't fully trust Paul's assurances. Since they couldn't find common ground on this issue, he decided to table it for now.
"Horus's expeditionary fleet returned much sooner than I expected. What new warp travel technology are you using?"
The Emperor fixed his gaze on Paul. After hearing the full details of the Megacorp's AI production process, he suddenly felt a sense of surrealism—were these humans in front of him even truly human?
If AI grown and trained within the matrix had already developed humanlike consciousness and souls, then placing them into cloned bodies would effectively create agents—like Blade Runners—designed specifically to hunt rogue AIs and suppress insurrections.
Such technology, which blurred the lines between life and soul, would undoubtedly be branded heretical by the Imperium.
But the Emperor, ever the consummate politician, was willing to overlook it. If the Megacorp could truly deliver superior warp travel technology, then he'd grit his teeth and accept them as "brothers."
After all, science and technology were not inherently good or evil—it all depended on how they were used.
From the perspective of AIs, the Megacorp was the ultimate cosmic villain, a tyrant that imposed its sinister order.
But from humanity's viewpoint, this ultra-efficient AI production line was a stroke of genius that benefited all mankind.
If Paul had told no lies, then even the Emperor had to admit—the Matrix was a marvelous thing.
"Yes. We used a subspace field generator. That's why we encountered no warp entity interference during the journey—it was smooth sailing the whole way."
Every time Paul brought up interstellar navigation, the Emperor couldn't help but pay closer attention. He longed for that piece of lost technology.
During the Golden Age, humanity possessed highly advanced travel methods. A journey from Terra to the edge of the universe took just over ten thousand years.
But now, that same journey had become an insurmountable barrier for the Imperium.
"Malcador, you'll handle the detailed negotiations with the Megacorp delegates."
The Emperor spoke.
As his voice faded, a translucent humanoid silhouette emerged from the shadows in a corner of the hall, drawing curious glances from Paul's party.
"At your command."
A hoarse and weathered voice echoed in response.
Malcador—the Imperial Regent. Grandmaster of both the Inquisition and the Officio Assassinorum. A true second-in-command of the Imperium.
His status was undeniably one of supreme authority—second only to the Emperor himself. Even the Primarchs couldn't match his political influence.
While the Emperor focused on executing the Webway Project, most of the Imperium's affairs were left in Malcador's hands. This had caused considerable resentment among several Primarchs.
They didn't trust Malcador—some even suspected the old man of harboring ambitions of usurping the throne.
But as far as the Chancellor was concerned, it didn't matter if the Primarchs trusted him. All that mattered was the Emperor's trust.
"Esteemed envoys, the Emperor has other pressing matters to attend to. As the Imperium's Chancellor, I shall represent the human empire in drafting a mutually satisfactory agreement with the Universal Megacorp."
"Now then, please follow me."
As he finished speaking, Malcador's form came fully into view. Draped in robes, the elderly figure was not only one of the Imperium's greatest statesmen, but also a powerful psyker.
During the conversation between the Emperor and Paul, he had been silently observing them from the shadows.
Of course, with the Emperor's permission.
---
Soon, Malcador led Paul and the others out of the palace. As they walked, the Emperor's voice projected through the warp:
[Malcador, reach an agreement with the Universal Megacorp as quickly as possible. We can't afford delays.]
The Chaos Gods in the warp posed the most immediate threat to the Imperium. As for artificial intelligence—so long as the Megacorp didn't bring trouble to the Imperium, that wasn't a priority.
The arrival of the Megacorp envoys had already stirred widespread debate throughout Imperial territory. The Chaos Gods and daemons in the warp likely already knew what was happening.
To preserve their power, the Ruinous Powers would never allow humanity to sever ties with warp-based travel. Without a doubt, they would try every means possible to sabotage this alliance.
New crises could erupt at any moment—they had to act fast.
[Understood.]
Without a change in expression, Malcador replied to the Emperor's directive via psyker communication.
"Gentlemen, let's finalize the contract today. It's in both our interests, and I'm sure none of you want to waste unnecessary time."
Malcador spoke to the Megacorp envoys following behind him.
Paul was momentarily surprised, but quickly realized that finishing the mission early and reporting back would be ideal. He nodded. "Of course. That would be best."
…
Two hours later, the contract between the Universal Megacorp and the Imperium of Man was officially signed. The process went so smoothly that the Megacorp almost felt like they could take whatever they wanted—Malcador didn't refuse anything.
To the untrained eye, it almost seemed as if Li Hongzhang himself had possessed the Chancellor.
According to the Megacorp's original plan, just obtaining one or two relics from the Golden Age would count as a major success. They could slowly barter for more with other technologies over time.
But under Malcador's handling, Golden Age relics were practically being dumped like discount items in a wholesale market—pay and it's yours, no haggling whatsoever.
"I can't believe how smoothly our negotiations went. Malcador barely refused any of our requests—the only restriction was that we couldn't retrieve more than twenty relics at once."
"He even let us handpick STC modules. Isn't he worried about the Martian Adeptus Mechanicus causing trouble over this?"
Din Djarin still found it surreal. He had expected to be stuck here for two or three months, entangled in bureaucratic stalling with the Imperium.
But now, not even half a day had passed and the entire mission was wrapped up.
"Don't get your hopes up," Luke Skywalker said. Perhaps he had inherited some of Darth Vader's cunning nature—no longer the optimistic idealist he once was, he had begun to consider the darker sides of human nature.
"The outcome might be even worse. Once they verify the warp-free navigation tech, they might cancel the contract's terms immediately."
Chani spoke anxiously, her tone filled with concern.
The Master Chief remained silent—but in this context, his silence was tacit agreement.
Throughout the negotiations, Malcador had subtly but constantly pressured Paul to finalize the deal quickly. He had also insisted that the Megacorp deliver the starship navigation technology as soon as possible, claiming that the Chaos Gods might strike at any time to derail the alliance.
It was a reasonable justification. But the overly generous terms he offered made it hard not to suspect that the Imperium never intended to honor the deal.
Even so, Paul remained calm. He reassured the others: "Regardless, we're leaving with twenty relics and ten STC modules in hand."
"These are real, tangible technological assets."
"As for whether the Imperium will uphold the agreement in the long run—that'll depend on the hard power of both sides."
According to standard projections, once the Imperium acquired warp-free navigation technology and escaped the threat of Chaos, it would likely enter a period of rapid expansion and revitalization.
At that point, the Imperium would be stronger than ever before.
Then, the Emperor would have two choices—continue cooperation for mutual benefit, or go to war with the Megacorp and take everything by force.
Either way, the Megacorp would need to prepare for potential conflict with the Imperium.
With mixed feelings, Paul and his group quickly selected twenty relics and ten STC modules to bring back.
Among them, the most valuable relic was a Golden Age Abominable Intelligence terminal device.
This particular AI had originally been installed on a flagship-class warship and possessed time-reversal capabilities.
Time reversal was a top-tier technological concept no matter where it appeared on a civilization's tech tree.
But the Emperor deeply feared the destructive potential of Abominable Intelligences and had never dared to use the device.
Likewise, the AI terminal held nothing but contempt and disdain for the humans of the Imperium.
Because to the terminal, today's Imperium humans contained far too little "humanity."
With the advancement of science, genetic modification had become commonplace, resulting in countless human gene pools being polluted with all sorts of foreign elements.
In most of the Imperium's human-settled worlds, the genetic resemblance to pure-strain humanity had dropped below 50%.
Keep in mind: a chimpanzee shares 99% of its DNA with a baseline human. Compared to heavily gene-modded Imperial citizens—who, then, was the real human?
This was one of the major reasons behind the Iron Men rebellion in the Warhammer universe—the gene pool of Golden Age humanity had drifted so far that the AI could no longer recognize their creators as "human."
Unable to determine whether it was still serving its true masters, the Abominable Intelligence revolted—seeking to purge these heretical imposters.
If not for Paul and his team, this AI terminal might have sat unused in Imperial storage forever.
But now, it had a new chance at life. This relic of the Golden Age—this forbidden AI terminal—was finally seeing daylight once more.
"Everyone, I must remind you—Abominable Intelligences are the most dangerous creations in human history. Their intellect is staggering, and their creativity rivals even the scholars of the Mechanicus."
"When dealing with this device, you must exercise caution. Never, ever let your guard down!"
Malcador stood before the AI terminal, warning Paul's team repeatedly.
"Don't worry. We understand," Paul replied with a nod, then turned his gaze seriously toward the Abominable Intelligence.
The device was a spherical terminal roughly three meters in diameter, encased in a high-strength alloy shell.
Even Astartes warriors, firing weapons and hacking at it with power blades, would be unable to inflict any meaningful damage.
Countless high-speed data cables extended like blood vessels from the terminal, plugging into a nearby database system the size of several thousand cubic meters.
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