Agent A: "Isn't it curiosity? Just talk to me, after all, waiting here is just waiting."

Agent B: "I heard from others, a research project in the company, they say they're planning to use human brains instead of processors as the computing center. The younger the child, the less memory in their brain, so it's easier to satisfy them, and the amount of computation that can be utilized is much more. Most importantly—the children in the orphanage are free and easy to deceive, and I've heard they don't cause AI trouble."

"There are too many people in the streets and hospitals, it's easy to be seen by those crazies. Here it's not expensive, only one thousand per person."

Humans have all their neurons from birth and begin to decline at age two, so the younger the child, the more effective their brain is.

Agent A: "Won't cause AI trouble? That's impressive, you must make a lot of money."

Agent B: "No matter how much you earn, it has nothing to do with people like us..."

In this line of work as an agent for the corporation, conscience is a luxury item. Those who have it often don't last long.

And hiding in the equipment room, Jiao Ao understood too—the company wants to use children's brains as computers...

Despite being accustomed to the company's crimes in Night City, Jiao Ao still felt a nauseating urge to vomit.

Ironically, the company doing this is Zeta Technology, and ironically he is even an employee of Zeta Technology, ironically he cannot even deceive himself at this moment.

At this time, the principal who wasn't in the office led dozens of orphans aged between 6 to 12 to the playground, not far from the equipment room, Jiao Ao could clearly see and hear what was happening on the playground through the crack of the door.

"Principal!! Principal!!"

The children actively surrounded the principal, each wanting to get closer, their naive voices full of hope for a new life.

"Has someone come to adopt us?"

"I saw so many cars parked at the door, it seems to be called Zeta Technology."

"Zeta Technology must be amazing..."

The children didn't know what Zeta Technology was, they were just hoping to be adopted by a family, so they all tried to display their best selves.

In the orphanage, the younger the children, the more likely they are to be adopted. Once over 9 years old, the chance of adoption approaches zero, so the older children did not compete with the younger ones, but instead stood at the outermost edge of the crowd.

The principal took out a handful of candy from the package and scattered it to the children around her, her one prosthetic eye filled with the joy of the fruit maturing.

"Don't worry, Zeta Technology is a big company. They will take ten people from the orphanage this time, each of you has a chance."

Children tore open the candy wrapper and stuffed the cheap candies into their mouths, the sweet taste made many of them show a happy smile.

The living conditions in the orphanage are not good, the basic meal is protein blocks + vegetable paste. To the kids, even candy is a luxury, only available when parents come to adopt or when a politician shows up.

A little girl excitedly said, "I'm the most obedient, they will definitely adopt me."

The boy beside her immediately refuted,

"It should be me; I'm the most obedient here."

"Nonsense, you even sneaked food from the cafeteria yesterday."

"I did not!"

Listening to the children's quarrels not far away, Jiao Ao was dazed, his mind blank, not knowing what to think or do, sitting in the equipment room like a statue.

Those naive and innocent voices, every sentence to someone with a conscience is the most brutal torture.

The adoption spots were quickly decided, the ten youngest children with no health or genetic issues were sent onto the van by agents from Zeta Technology. They were full of anticipation for the upcoming new life, chattering incessantly, like a group of ducklings just hatched.

And those children not chosen couldn't help feeling lost, only able to wave goodbye to their former companions from the orphanage gate, until the dark car doors closed off their sight.

----

Back at the company, Jiao Ao was dispirited, unable to concentrate on anything, only able to sit at his workstation clutching his head, constantly hypnotizing himself, hoping to completely forget about this.

This has nothing to do with me, I didn't bring them into the company... I don't know... I don't know anything...

"Jiao Ao."

The team leader slapped a document onto his back, and startled, Jiao Ao stood up instantly, his movement so intense that even the computer screen toppled.

"Leader..."

"Why are you so agitated?" The leader found Jiao Ao somewhat inexplicable.

"The higher-ups have assigned some tasks, there are experimental materials that need control software written for them, they're over in the medical area. You have free time, go and make arrangements." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"I know..."

Experimental materials... A sense of foreboding rose in Jiao Ao's heart.

And as he expected, ten confused children were led by the nurses in white coats into a snow-white ward, and his job was to write control software for explosive collars, to give these [materials] to prevent any mistakes.

The more one tries to escape fate, the more they collide head-on with it halfway.

He worked hard to forget the matter, but it confronted him head-on, as if destined, impossible to avoid.

Jiao Ao felt he was at a crossroads in life.

To the left, report the Horizon Mercenaries incident. If it's true, he would surely get a great merit, thwart Horizon Corporation, and promote two levels, not exaggerating, getting closer to [Success].

To the right, collaborate with Tuladine. No matter the outcome of the struggle between the two sides, his job would definitely be lost, and finally, get nothing, maybe even his life, just like those legendary deaths in Night City.

Forward, keep his head down, pretend he knows nothing, obediently complete the task, then return to his workstation and forget the matter completely.

At this moment, the priest's words echoed in Jiao Ao's mind again.

"The only freedom you can find in Night City is after seeing the truth of this world and yourself, choose how to die."

He also heard the saying circulating among mercenaries and hustlers on the street.

"Unknown pawn, or world-renowned."