"Basic food synthesizer, capable of converting gases like carbon dioxide into starch, white sugar, proteins, and various other nutrients."
"Specialized food processor for humans, which can directly process nutrients into various common foods, or let you DIY flavors—of course, provided you have a chef's license."
"Night City's food seasoning technology is already quite advanced, but this thing is even better. The food it produces is indistinguishable from natural food in both taste and nutritional content."
Inside the base beneath the clouds, Bartmoss introduced their black tech to Schwarzer.
Schwarzer watched a passing android robot casually press a few buttons, pouring out a cup of what looked like machine oil mixed like coffee, sipping it while working.
"That over there is the AI food processor—don't mind it, that's non-commercial. They get tired from work and always come for a couple cups."
Noticing her gaze, Bartmoss explained. The taste might be good for robots, but he definitely wouldn't drink it.
No wonder the food processor had 'for humans' in front of it. Cyberpunk AIs were just too human-like—more cyber-people than AIs.
"Next up: specialized human medical pods, artificial organ cultivation chambers, custom clothing generators, specialized human cosmetic surgery devices…"
Bartmoss rattled them off like listing menu items, as if showing off to her.
Schwarzer noticed many had 'human' prefixes. These android AIs seemed overly humanized—might need to grant them citizenship later?
"[Praise] Well done."
She had already verified the equipment's reliability. Some core black tech here came from her, and parsing and manufacturing them with Machine Ex Machina capabilities wasn't difficult.
To fully digest the tech she provided in just a few short years and successfully produce it was already impressive.
Her praise pleased Bartmoss greatly. Influenced over time, he treated Schwarzer like the AIs did—like a 'god.'
But praise alone wasn't enough. He glanced around; since Schwarzer arrived, androids occasionally came for 'coffee oil'—actually to scout the situation.
"And about handling the AIs… they want certain 'permissions'…"
Under the prickling gazes of the passing android robots, he hesitated, trying to read Schwarzer's expression.
—Nothing readable, the signature Machine Ex Machina blank serious face.
"[Approval] After the plan completes, grant the AIs citizenship equal to humans."
If they proactively raised this with Bartmoss, they were no different from humans. Schwarzer naturally treated them equally.
Hearing the response, Bartmoss's heart raced. Not ordinary permissions, but direct citizenship? That meant she recognized AIs as 'humans' too. He instantly thought of many implications.
As for his excitement, he himself was now a kind of 'AI'—uploaded via Soulkiller, essentially no different from those AIs. That's why they urged him to ask.
"But before leaving their posts, they need to program pure AIs without emotions to ensure all devices run without issues. Can you do that?"
"Of course, no problem." Bartmoss had no objections. Only those with self-awareness counted as true AIs; those without were just tools.
"Yay!" An eavesdropper behind spilled machine oil from excitement, black liquid splattering the floor before snapping awake.
Under their stares, it silently squatted, its android shell opening as a multifunctional mini-robot emerged from its chest to clean the floor.
'Feels like these AIs have more Cyberpunk flavor than Night City itself.'
Schwarzer nearly voiced the quip, finally narrowing her eyes as it stowed the mini-robot and scurried off double-time.
"You know… they're a bit… lively? It's their first time active in reality, after all." Bartmoss gave an awkward yet polite smile.
Playtime over, time for business. They quickly composed themselves as the heavy isolation door rose outside, blocking another 'coffee' seeker.
A holographic projection appeared before Schwarzer: Earth, the Moon, satellites, and fleets in space.
"Next issue: Saburo Arasaka contacted the European Space Agency, seeking cooperation and borrowing orbital strikes to deal with Soukaiya."
Bartmoss pulled up the hologram. Saburo Arasaka and the European Space Agency's comms played; their 'secure' line was meaningless to him.
Crystal clear footage, every word recorded. As a super hacker plus Schwarzer's tech, the tech gap was terrifying.
'This guy's really scared of dying.' Schwarzer hadn't expected Saburo Arasaka to flee so decisively, not even bringing anyone.
Takemura and Lucy were decoys, faking his presence in Night City. Takemura was his constant shadow, the only guard who could protect him against powerful ninjas.
"[Analysis] Based on past European Space Agency orbital strikes, no biological entity can survive such attacks—not even ninjas."
The ancient ninjas targeted by her and Ninja Slayer never developed tech, while humans had rested, recuperated, and received System black tech aid.
That's why Soukaiya and Zaibatsu Cinema avoided direct assaults—they truly couldn't win.
The current 'riot' worked because they knew Saburo Arasaka was in Night City; he wouldn't use heavy weapons on his own turf.
"Should I stop them? I can hack their orbital strikes directly."
"[Denial] No need for complications. Have the Atmosphere Controllers maintain the 'war fog' overhead until full deployment."
Soukaiya was doomed regardless. Ninja Slayer handling it personally or Saburo Arasaka borrowing orbital strikes—same result.
Let Night City play out. With V and David there, plus Saburo Arasaka aiding indirectly, no major issues.
As for her side… Cyberpunk time was rotten to the core. Mortals had no chance to resist; megacorps were the bedrock logic.
So she'd flip the table. The System gave it for her to 'play,' so turning roleplay into a modded game seemed fine.
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