CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 65 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: GOD

Neuropleasure Mist? Sweet Air? Are you sure this isn’t a drug?

Lu Yan’s expression stiffened, and he turned to look at Lu Luo beside him. The joy on her face was completely genuine.

In Lu Luo’s eyes, this might well be a blessing from the Universal Giant Corporation for the Lower City District.

Lu Yan silently activated the Dust Removal Array on his Magic Robe, filtering out the Neuropleasure Mist in the air, making the air he inhaled much fresher, free from that cloying sweetness that attacks the brain.

Lu Luo didn’t notice Lu Yan’s actions and instead continued cheerfully:

"Thirty years ago, the Universal Giant Corporation wanted to collect a Class Three Air Tax from the Lower City District, but the residents fought against the tax.

After a two-year standoff, the Universal Giant Corporation chose to compromise by adding Neuropleasure Mist to the Lower City District’s air, which benefited the residents who then accepted the Class Three Air Tax.

I’ve even seen people from the Central City District sneak into the Lower City District to steal our air just to get the Neuropleasure Mist that comes with the Class Three Air Tax."

At this point, Lu Luo paused, quickly looking at Lu Yan to explain:

"Of course, I’m definitely not talking about you, sir. Someone of your stature must have access to more advanced Neuropleasure Mist and surely wouldn’t look down on our low-grade version here."

Lu Yan’s mouth twitched, ignoring Lu Luo’s words, and proceeded forward along the street.

Seeing this, Lu Luo quickly followed behind Lu Yan.

"Where are you headed, sir?"

"Just strolling around."

"Would you like to try some of our Lower City District’s specialty food, sir?"

"No need."

"Do you need any contraband, sir?"

"No, thank you."

"Sir..."

Lu Luo, buzzing with questions like a happy little fly, was relentless.

Having learned his lesson once, Lu Yan dared not agree to Lu Luo’s suggestions and instead focused his attention on the street ahead.

With just a few steps, Lu Yan noticed, in some corners of the street, a few people dressed in tattered clothes with empty bottles beside them, drawing in deep breaths of air with intoxicated expressions on their faces.

Some, due to hurriedly taking several breaths, were overwhelmed by the Neuropleasure Mist, fainted on the spot, and lost control of their lower bodies, resulting in a puddle forming beneath them.

Neither the surrounding crowd nor Lu Luo seemed surprised by this, nor did they even bother to glance over.

In the dark alleys around the street, occasionally, some people could be seen greedily staring at the street, wanting to step out but apparently fearing the light outside.

Seeing this, Lu Yan pointed to one of the alleys and asked:

"Why are they hiding in these dark alleys?"

Lu Luo glanced over with a bit of disdain in her eyes:

"Them? Those hiding in the alleys are probably the ones evading the Sunshine Tax and Class Three Air Tax.

Without paying the Sunshine Tax, they can’t live under the sun and are forced to stay in the dark alleys.

And without paying the Class Three Air Tax, they’re not entitled to enjoy the sweet air.

Once they step out of those alleys, they’d be immediately apprehended to pay the overdue taxes."

"If it’s just some minor taxes, it’s fine. You just need to sell a few organs to cover them. The police department has an internal organ trading hospital, offering fair prices and safe surgeries, much better than those shady gangs.

But if it’s the Neuropathy Tax overdue, then things become grim."

At this point, Lu Luo seemed to recall something terrifying, instinctively shivering.

Again, the Neuropathy Tax!

Lu Yan’s gaze tightened, a serious expression crossing his face.

Since entering the cyber version and the Cyber World, he’s heard about the Neuropathy Tax several times.

Neither Bruce, the two police officers, nor this green-haired delinquent girl in front of him dared mention the Neuropathy Tax. This piqued Lu Yan’s curiosity even more.

The Spiritual Energy is clearly the Extraordinary System of the cyber version, while the Neuropathy Tax seems to be a significant restriction on the cyber version’s extraordinary system.

Given the situation now, the Neuropathy Tax appears to be a well-known concept in the cyber version. Directly asking about it will only raise suspicion, so Lu Yan seized the opportunity as Lu Luo brought it up to probe for more information:

"Tell me more."

Lu Luo had no doubts since she believed this wealthy individual from the Mid-to-Upper City District could easily pay all sorts of taxes, making his curiosity about the Lower City District’s Spiritual Ability Tax evaders reasonable.

"You must know that all Spiritual Energy in the world belongs to the Universal Giant Corporation. Our individual Spiritual Energy is borrowed from them.

For each part of the Spiritual Energy borrowed, one must pay a portion of the Neuropathy Tax to the Universal Giant Corporation.

The more powerful the Spiritual Energy, the more Neuropathy Tax must be paid. Most people in the Lower City District can only undergo the most basic Spiritual Tattoo transformation."

As she spoke, Lu Luo pointed to the graffiti-like strange tattoos on her arm.

"Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of these Spiritual Tattoos. Just for maintaining them, I must pay the Universal Giant Corporation a Neuropathy Tax of four hundred credits monthly.

It’s not like no one tries to save money by forgoing Spiritual Transformation.

But such people, devoid of any Spiritual Energy, are no different from ordinary people and can be bullied by anyone with spiritual enhancements. So, for self-preservation, everyone is compelled to pay this hefty fee.

I heard that to become a Spiritual Ability User, not only must you pay an exorbitant Neuropathy Tax annually, but you also need to pay the Universal Giant Corporation for a Spiritual Ability User certification.

Only certified Spiritual Ability Users can employ their Spiritual Energy. Those without certification are the most contemptible tax evaders, spiritual black households."

Hearing this, Lu Yan suddenly understood.

He now realized why everyone in the cyber version had tattoos; it was already part of the Spiritual Extraordinary System.

However, most people couldn’t afford the Neuropathy Tax, so they chose the lowest form of transformation.

Even if someone dared to acquire more potent powers, without the money to pay the Neuropathy Tax, they’d be labeled a tax evader, a black household.

Unless one’s abilities were strong enough to overthrow the current system, even the greatest powers would be suppressed.

A shadow loomed over Lu Yan’s heart, while Lu Luo continued her explanation:

"The Neuropathy Tax is the most stringent of all taxes. If those evading it are caught by the hyena police, they must pay exorbitant fines according to the Neuropathy Tax.

If they lack the wealth to pay the fines, they must work at the Heaven Computation Center."

As she spoke, Lu Luo pointed to a towering spiral tower in the distance.

"That is the Heaven Computation Center of the Lower City District. All Neuropathy Tax evaders’ bodies are stored in the Computation Center, while their souls are extracted and sent to the Heavenly Intelligent Brain to assist ’God’ in biological computation.

It’s said that ’God’ is the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence, located in City No.1.

It transcends the concept of flesh beings and mechanical intelligence, capable of even evolving the future, claiming omniscience and omnipotence!"