Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

With Noldrei's approval, Heliopolis Life Sciences immediately launched a promotional campaign for their androids.

The campaign caused an uproar in the international community.

No one knew whether these androids should be classified as human, material products, or something akin to domestic helpers.

Should Heliopolis sell them or rent them out? If they were rented out within Academy City, would it be considered prostitution, leading to their arrest by the head of the security forces?

But these were just online discussions.

The average person didn't care about such questions. Only one thing stopped them from taking action...

Cost!

"How much for one of these androids? My brother should be able to afford one with the money he makes, right?"

Komachi Hikitani curiously looked at the ad that popped up on her phone. She tugged on Miyuki Shirogane's arm, hoping her senpai could offer some advice.

What advice could Miyuki Shirogane possibly give? He was just an ordinary researcher. How could he advise a high-ranking official's sister? Hachiman Hikitani was probably still out in the Middle East, racking up a body count with a rifle. He couldn't possibly be in need of an android girlfriend.

With that in mind, Miyuki said, "I think if your brother really needed a woman, he could get any woman he wanted with his current status. Komachi, you really shouldn't worry so much about your brother."

Komachi shook her head. "It's different. You see, the main purpose of this android is to satisfy a person's emotional needs. Although my brother has solved that problem due to his high position and power, what he wants is an emotional connection where they can understand each other. I think even if it's not a woman, he would still accept it."

Miyuki stared at Komachi in shock, wondering if the young girl was hinting at something.

"Is... is that so? Shinomiya, what do you think about these androids?"

Kaguya Shinomiya was reading the introduction to the android's emotional and cognitive systems.

The "White Tower" was actually a collective consciousness, an entity composed of numerous individuals with subtle differences. All "White Towers" shared the same memory, but each "White Tower" had its own experiences and personality. The androids could continuously absorb memories through the "Network," perfecting and repairing their incomplete personalities.

This was to complete the process of the androids continuously becoming more human-like.

Kaguya silently flipped through the materials, a trace of confusion in her heart.

"Look at this information about the androids. Why do I feel like something is strange?"

Miyuki Shirogane and Komachi Hikitani gathered around to look at the android introduction in Kaguya's hands.

Miyuki soon realized that something was indeed not right.

"It's true. If the androids can transmit memories among themselves to perfect themselves, yet each develops their own personality independently, then this network is a bit like a blockchain. The only difference is that compared to humans, the communication between androids is more efficient due to the 'Network'."

"They can directly share memories, which means they don't need to use inefficient methods like sound, light, and physical sensations to communicate."

"In other words, these androids would make the best... spies?"

Miyuki then remembered that he had no privacy in Academy City anyway, and he instantly relaxed.

If you never had something in the first place, why would you care if a few more people were watching?

"It's not about being spies. The surveillance in Academy City is much stricter than we imagine. What I mean is, aren't these androids better at learning than humans, and also more organized?"

A subtle waver appeared on Kaguya's face. "What I mean is, could these 'androids' actually be humans wearing android bodies? Komachi, isn't your brother's body, except for his head, completely replaced by bionic machinery? How can you be sure that these androids aren't just real people who have been modified and are now controlled by the network?"

"Or let's think of it another way. Through cloning, we can create an active human brain with the ability to think. Then, we transplant the brain into a device that communicates with the network, and then... control the brain's cognitive system, directly implanting corresponding experiences into the brain from the network."

"What do you think? Wouldn't that create a person that the 'Network' needs? And then they could be designed as 'androids' and sold?"

As Kaguya spoke, she almost felt she was overthinking it. But then she remembered the insane nature of Academy City, and realized this group of people was more than capable of doing such a thing.

"Hiss..."

Miyuki sucked in a breath of cold air, the hair on his body standing on end.

"Shinomiya, don't just say things like that when you're outside. No one will care if we just brainstorm crazy ideas privately, but if someone thinks you're slandering 'androids,' you'll be in trouble."

Kaguya had no intention of spreading her theory. She had just thought of this way of creating "androids" because she herself lacked the ability to create new technology and could only combine existing, mature technologies from Academy City in her thoughts.

In fact, Kaguya believed that Academy City had a sufficient technological foundation to create such "androids."

"I know. I'm just telling you a possible way to construct 'androids'. This is just an 'android' I've conceived based on my own abilities."

Kaguya felt she was overthinking it. There were too many people in Academy City who were more capable and crazier than her. They didn't need her for another "android" idea.

"No, what you said is indeed possible..."

Miyuki felt that what Kaguya said was not impossible. He worked in a research institute himself; how could he not know what went on inside?

The amount of undeletable electronic records alone, including documents and video recordings, had piled up to the point where they needed an internal search engine to navigate.

Whenever a newcomer wanted to "brainstorm," it was best to first try searching keywords in the search engine, just in case a senior had already beaten them to it.

"Shirogane-niisan, are you serious?!"

Komachi had thought she was gradually getting used to the wildness of Academy City, but hearing their conversation, it seemed far more terrifying than she had imagined.

"It's indeed possible. I'll go ask my mentor about it first. Besides, with Academy City's review process, they probably wouldn't leave such a big loophole."

Miyuki reassured the two, then called his sister to say he had to go out for a bit.

Welt Yang would never have imagined that one of his students would think of such a high-end, terrifyingly horrifying scheme of faking "androids" with clones.