Chapter 111: Choice (2/2)

Old Pang pondered, silent for a long moment before speaking solemnly, ”If you do not wish to leave, then we bid you farewell. Should we meet again some day, please don’t hesitate to let us know if you’re in trouble, I and Ka Sang will be most willing to help!”

Ka Sang’s expression was one of uncertainty, but he managed to nod and announce loudly, ”That’s right! I, Ka Sang, will help you, even if it costs me my life!”

Old Pang could not help but glared a little at Ka Sang, and the man swiftly lowered his head!

”Then we’re off. You take care, I hope we’ll meet again!” Old Pang grabbed Ka Sang with him and left hastily amidst Ye Chong’s silence.

Ye Chong watched the two of them left without a word!

In truth, Ye Chong had considered it before. Ever since he stepped into the outside world, he knew exactly how different he was from everyone else. It was only natural for others to not understand his methods. Ye Chong had tried to change his ways, but his habits were already an integral part of him, and whenever a situation arose, he often unconsciously resorted to his usual methods to handle the crisis.

Habits were not developed overnight. Similarly, habits developed from more than ten years could not be changed overnight.

Besides, he still did not know when he would have another episode of his odd condition. Ye Chong did not trust the two men the way he would trust Mu and Shang.

He withdrew Shang. The mech was excited from finally coming out. ”Heh, the weather’s wonderful, the composition is very suitable for human breathing! Ye, you should’ve let me out sooner. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe and sound! Mm, while I’m slightly worse off than that crazy Mu, but compared to you I’m still very capable! Besides, with me by your side, hehe, you’re going to enjoy life to the fullest! I, for one, am not as dull as that old hat …”

Ye Chong ignored Shang’s blabbering and continued with checking out the spoils.

He found nothing similar to any form of currency. ”How could these people be so poor?” Ye Chong was baffled.

Shang laughed teasingly at him. ”Ye, you can be a real fool sometimes. There’s a 90 percent probability that the money is in the identity cards. See the number on the lower left corner of the cards? That should be the money digits!”

Ye Chong checked out the lower left corner of the cards as Shang suggested, and found the numbers. Each of the cards had a different number on them.

Shang’s bionic eyes flashed wildly, obviously scanning the card.

”Hmm, Ye, see the slot at the bottom of the card? Fit the slots of 2 cards together. Yes, just like that, then configure one of the card’s digits, and you can now transfer money from this card to the other! Tsk tsk, such crude technology. There’s no identity restriction or authentication steps, this is really blood money!” Shang lamented!

For a mech to express such lamentations was more than a little odd.

Ye Chong, however, was used to it. Besides, Shang was right. There were no safeguards in place, a constant temptation for people. It was most likely that blood was spilt and lives lost in the course of the money’s passage from owner to owner!

Ye Chong transferred all the money to a single card, and the total came up to 6446. Ye Chong had no idea how much that was worth. ”But, this came from more than a dozen identity cards, so it should a good sum,” Ye Chong muttered to himself.

”Huh?” Shang exclaimed out of the blue.

”What?” Not many things could surprise Shang, and Ye Chong was now curious. Shang may enjoy making a big fuss out of nothing, but Ye Chong had never seen him truly surprised by anything! In this respect, Shang and Mu were very much alike.

Shang’s tone was serious, and Ye Chong, used to the mech’s usual attitude could not help but thought it comical.

”Their technology is very advanced, the card’s central design is reasonable, the encryption is also cutting-edge. WIthout entering the root of their system, I can’t modify anything!” Shang explained solemnly.

Ye Chong asked, curious, ”Why would you want to modify it?”

Shang’s seriousness immediately turned to a light jeer, ”Hmm, I’m just trying to see how much the money’s worth! This money we have, what’s it good for? It might not even be enough for a hot sexy battle, I’ve always wanted the real thing! Ye, we should discuss this, let’s buy the latest hot sexy battle …”

Ye Chong immediately broke into a sweat!

”Sidetracked, sidetracked!” Shang asked, embarrassed, ”Hmm, where were we?”

Ye Chong was not sure if he should laugh or cry. ”You said you couldn’t modify the card!”

”Ah! Right!” Shang’s tone as he remembered what he was talking about made Ye Chong felt very weird. Was it even possible for a PSI [1] to forget?

”Ye, have you ever wondered, if not even I can modify it, then their technology must be very advanced! But this advanced technology was not used to provide any authentication or safeguard for these identity cards! Isn’t it curious?”

”You have a point!” Ye Chong agreed after a moment’s thought.

”Moreover, how can the card’s designer not think of this problem? It’s impossible! That would mean that this lax security is deliberate! It also means that the local governing quarters intentionally allowed activities like stealing and robbing. If that’s the case, then we have to think really carefully about the things going on around here!” Shang was now speaking like a wise person.

”You have a point! But, er, what does this have to do with us?” Ye Chong was confused.

Shang’s wise demeanor immediately wilted. ”I’d expected you to say something like that. Heavens, Ye, are you not the least bit excited? Don’t you think there’s a huge conspiracy in this place? Have you never thought of becoming a hero? …”

Abruptly, Shang stood up straight, and said lowly, ”Ye, we have a situation!”

Translator's Thoughts

mole mole

[1] PSI: Photon Simulated Intelligence, a consciousness that arises from a very advanced photon processor.