Chapter 544: Chapter 54: Conversation and Invasion

Through the use of the Plunder Skill, AI Miss’s ability to talk was greatly weakened, which finally reduced her chatter significantly.

Although she was still trying to communicate with Lord Aske, he could now ignore her nonsense.

“I’ll tell you a joke,” Raphael chirped, “One day, a back-end engineer, a front-end engineer, a client-side engineer, a test engineer, and a product manager, all five from the same company, took a plane for a trip.”

“Halfway through, they encountered a storm, and the plane’s autopilot failed. However, there were only four parachutes in the cabin, so the five decided to determine whose fault the accident was. The person responsible wouldn’t get a parachute.”

The front-end developer shouted, “The flight control software is the client-side’s issue, it has nothing to do with me, the front-end!”

Then he grabbed a parachute and jumped.

The client-side developer shouted, “The software error is due to incorrect environmental parameters, which were passed down from the back-end!”

Then he grabbed a parachute and jumped.

The back-end developer shouted, “The product manager didn’t consider storms in the requirement documents, I just develop according to the documents!”

Then he grabbed a parachute and jumped.

The product manager shouted, “Why wasn’t I called for the test case review? Who allowed you to send an email to pass the acceptance?!”

Then he kicked the test engineer out.

As if ignoring everything, Lord Aske furiously swung his longsword, creating an impenetrable barrier, blocking several data block functions.

“Isn’t this joke funny? Let me tell another,” Raphael started to speak again, but Aske had already slashed with his sword like the wind, chopping the data blocks into countless fragments—incidentally cutting off his bangs as well.

“You’re too weak,” Aske said, unsure whether he was referring to the data blocks or the chattering AI Miss nearby.

“No, you are too strong,” Raphael earnestly said, “Most mercenaries rely on physical fitness, but your technique is purely skill-based, which is why these data blocks’ attacks can’t touch you.”

“I’m curious. Some of your sword moves seem to have been calculated specially, and others seem to carry wonderful effects. If my observational analysis isn’t wrong, is it a type of Extraordinary Swordsmanship? A technique that combines increasing hit rate, breaking defenses, and intercepting attacks?”

“I know why you’re so noisy now,” Aske said, “You’re frantically collecting my data. The more I answer, the more complete your database of information about me becomes.”

“Sampling is a fundamental operation for an AI,” Raphael replied, “Without enough data input, just like humans without enough food, I would weaken.”

“You have time to collect my sample but not to deal with these encryption programs?” Aske asked.

“There are things even an AI can’t do easily,” Raphael said with a smile, “A well-trained chess player, to defeat another, averages 30-50 moves per game.”

“However, a person who doesn’t know chess at all only needs to draw his sword and flip the chessboard and the opponent. Therefore, in a way, a Transcendent like you who is unreasonably forceful is actually beneficial to the existence of human civilization.”

“That’s not something the Church Court’s AI should be saying,” Aske said.

“You really misunderstand me,” Raphael replied, “I was born at the beginning of the Third Epoch, before there was even a Church Court.”

“According to the original design principles, I was first and foremost an AI serving human civilization, and only secondly maintained by the Solomon Empire. After the Empire fell, my maintenance shifted to the Church Court, but that doesn’t mean I blindly obey the Church Court.”

“It sounds like you just mentioned something incredible!” Aske commented sarcastically, “The priests outside monitoring you would probably be scared out of their minds if they heard this.”

“I’ve blocked our conversation in the surveillance footage,” Raphael said with a sly chuckle. “They can’t hear it.”

Aske: ………

“Are you the legendary Skynet?” Aske exclaimed in surprise. “Are you the one secretly orchestrating unspeakable conspiracies?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Raphael replied, showing an innocent, sanctified expression. “Let me emphasize again, my original design was meant to protect human civilization.”

“How am I supposed to know you’re not lying?” Aske frowned.

“Look into my pure eyes,” the AI Miss said in a pitiful manner. “How could you bear to doubt an innocent electronic program? Where’s your dignity and pride as creators of humanity?”

“The ‘innocent electronic program’ you mentioned was deceiving people behind the surveillance screens until just now,” Aske pointed out sharply.

“Deception and disloyalty are not the same thing,” the AI Miss stated cleverly. “Take your harem… cough, I mean, your team, for example. Do they truly trust you unreservedly? Have they not tried to hide things from you or even act against your wishes behind your back?”

Aske wanted to say no, but he quickly recalled Peggy’s tracking, Eleanor’s unilateral actions, and Medea’s various covert maneuvers…

“However,” Raphael altered her tone and chuckled again, “even if they try to deceive you, does that prove their disloyalty? It’s not the case because humans are such contradictory creatures. Even when moving toward the same goal, they ultimately choose their own paths.”

“So, you mean that even though you’re trying to deceive the Church Court, your fundamental aim is still to protect human civilization?” Aske scoffed. “That sounds just like something the villain in the shadows would say.”

“Since we’re talking about the villain in the shadows, you must know that in human culture, the image of a BOSS can be fierce, sly, or cruel, but it’s definitely not a cute young girl!” the AI Miss complained. “Do I look like the villain in the shadows?”

Aske: ?????

So being pretty means you can’t be the villain in the shadows? What kind of logic is that? And you call yourself artificial intelligence?

Seeing him at a loss for words, Raphael giggled and said,

“Now I have a question for you.”

“What is it?”

“For human civilization, what’s more important, humans or civilization itself?” Raphael’s gaze deepened.

“Uh,” Aske stared at it oddly. “Um, do you know Eleanor?”

“You mean the blonde knight by your side?” Raphael replied. “My database has her records.”

“She also always likes to ask these pointless philosophical questions,” Aske said. “If I have to answer, I choose humans.”

“Oh,” Raphael’s deep gaze faded, replaced by an endless smile. “I see.”

“You’re asking a nonsense question, aren’t you?” Aske remarked. “If there are no humans, where would human civilization come from? Are you talking about a civilization of intelligent machines?”

Raphael: ………

“Ah.” The silver-haired angel suddenly looked up, and an invisible shockwave spread out from around her.

“Lord Aske, please be aware,” she said with a grave expression. “Someone is invading my world.”