559 「Okay, Yeah, That’s Scary. Go on」
Wondering if there was anything I could do about Chris’s overwhelming workload, I decided to bring up the idea of getting help from machine intelligence while everyone was gathered. Better keep my voice low, just in case.
「This might be coming from someone who lacks critical knowledge and is completely unburdened by political ties, but… would it really be such a bad idea to get some help from a machine intelligence with Chris’ duties as a star system governor?」
With Elma, Serena, Chris, and Mei all here, I figured I could get a solid answer to my question. But the looks I got in response—from Elma, Serena, and Chris—were about as sour as if they’d just bitten into a whole tray of bitter bugs. Mei, of course, remained expressionless as ever.
「I’ve been thinking this for a while, but folks connected to the Imperial nobility really seem to have this aversion to machine intelligences. I don’t know the details, but I get that it’s a super touchy subject. Still, I want to talk about it properly.」
As I said that, the others started exchanging glances and rapid-fire hand gestures in a silent flurry. Honestly, it looked like they were performing some kind of high-speed pantomime. Judging by the vibe, they’re trying to foist the explanation onto each other.
「Maybe I should just ask Mei.」
「I have no objection.」
Hearing that exchange, the other three visibly flinched and froze. Then, after a brief bout of even more frantic silent communication, Elma let out a small sigh and hung her head. Looks like she’s the one who has been picked as the spokesperson.
「Do you remember the story about how the Empire once fought a war against machine intelligences?」
「Yeah, I heard about it in the Sierra system. From Miro, I think.」
I wonder how Miro—the machine intelligence that used to manage that resort planet—is doing these days. That guy was pretty funny, despite being an AI. I mean, he had a sales quota for maidroids and tried to push Mei on me, after all.
「The thing is, the ending of that war… was a lie.」
「The ending… oh right. Wasn’t it something like, people who developed a bond with machine intelligences came forward and convinced the others that they could understand each other, and they eventually made peace?」
「Right, they did reach a reconciliation. But the truth is, the Empire basically lost to the machine intelligences.」
「…Huh.」
Now that she mentions it, that actually makes a lot of sense. I don’t know exactly how powerful their computing capabilities were back then, but machine intelligence is essentially a form of electronic life. As long as they have access to a networked device, they can infiltrate and control it. Any device.
And probably, they can flee into any system that offers enough computing power and memory to sustain their ‘existence’.
How do you even beat something like that? I can’t think of any winning strategy. Maybe if you developed a truly lethal computer virus designed to take them out—but that’s electronic warfare, and that’s their turf. No way we’d win on that front.
「Okay, so the Empire actually lost the war, sure. But how does that connect to the nobility being so averse to machine intelligences? I mean, the reconciliation was peaceful, wasn’t it?」
「It was… but here’s the thing: we’re being watched.」
「It’s most regrettable to hear it phrased that way. We merely observe and safeguard the citizens of the Empire from the shadows, both in light and dark.」
Elma’s ominous comment earned a calm protest from Mei. That sudden drop of a disturbing phrase got my heart thumping—for real.
「Wait, what do you mean by ‘being watched’?」
「If a noble starts indulging in personal greed and abuses their people… somehow, somewhere, a warning always comes. A message that says, ‘We’re watching you.’」
「Okay, yeah, that’s scary. Go on.」
「If the noble ignores the warning and keeps acting out, weird things start happening. Appliances start breaking one after another. Then, if they still ignore the warnings, industrial facilities, power grids, infrastructure—those start experiencing mysterious malfunctions. And if even that doesn’t stop them, personal assets start vanishing into thin air…」
「Scary! Too scary! That’s straight-up from a horror flick. But wait—how the hell did the Ixamal House get away with all their crimes and generally shady behavior then?」
「There are ways to avoid surveillance. The trick is to create an environment completely disconnected from any external networks. If you conduct your shady business entirely within that closed system, the machine intelligences can’t detect it. Of course, doing that thoroughly is extremely difficult… I suspect they developed some kind of counter-technology on their own.」
Elma furrowed her brows as she said that. Some kind of counter-technology, huh? To slip past machine intelligences? I can’t even begin to imagine. Maybe they got help from rogue machine intelligences that sided with them?
「Well, never mind the Ixamal House. I get why nobles have an aversion to machine intelligences now. But then, why not use them for governance?」
「Ah, well… even if you go through the official channels, in the end, the machine intelligence ends up taking over. If you act up too much or can’t manage your domain properly, they quietly take control. Over time, the notion spread that relying on them for governance is the mark of a failure as a noble. And if you hand over governance entirely, it raises the question of what purpose nobles even serve.」
「I think I get it… kinda.」
I personally think it’s best to use whatever tools you can to make your life easier. But the nobles of the Grakkan Empire clearly don’t—or rather, can’t—see it that way. What a hassle.
「Master, to bow your head and ask for help from someone who defeated you is a painful wound to one’s pride.」
「I see. So it’s like—yeah, we lost the war, but there’s no way we’re letting you take over our governance too. We’re still in control here.」
「Hey, hey! You two, wrap those words in a bit more tact! You’re going to make a lot of enemies saying things like that!」
Mei’s blunt summary was refreshingly clear—but evidently quite dangerous in noble circles. Nobles are such a pain.
「Okay, how about this—what if we made an android identical to Chris and had it act as her double…?」
「That would be extremely dangerous. People who dislike machine intelligence might take it as proof that they’ve secretly infiltrated noble society and are replacing nobles with androids. That could very well spark a second war. Besides, creating androids indistinguishable from humans is a violation of the treaty.」
「Dang… nothing’s ever easy, huh.」
Yeah, when I think about it, that is a classic sci-fi horror setup—replacing people with androids, your friends and family switched out without you even realizing. Definitely something that’d stir up fear.
Time to shift perspectives.
「I mean, I’m not a real noble. So it shouldn’t be a problem if I work with machine intelligence, right?」
「「「…Huh?」」」
The three of them blinked at me in surprise.
「I didn’t undergo any of the noble enhancement surgeries. And if I rely on a machine intelligence to help Chris, maybe it’ll be overlooked since I’m not a true noble?」
Technically, I do hold a title in the Grakkan Empire, but it’s an honorary viscountcy that came with the Gold Star medal. In other words, I’m a one-generation-only fake noble. I didn’t even get the usual noble augmentations. If someone like me enlists the help of a machine intelligence to support his wife, what’s the problem?
「That’s… technically true.」
「So it’s a maybe-not-impossible situation…?」
「Still can’t believe how good you are at thinking up weird but effective loopholes… Though your noble reputation’s going straight into the dirt.」
「It’s not like I had a reputation to begin with. I’m a fake noble who didn’t even get the surgery. If my reputation tanks but Chris gets to breathe easier, then it’s totally worth it.」
At that, the three of them exchanged glances and began thinking things over.
If we’re going to recruit a new machine intelligence, maybe we should pay a visit to Miro. Last time we went on vacation there, it ended kind of halfway. Going back now with the current crew sounds like a solid plan.
The Marquis did say he wanted us to go on a honeymoon. If we can work Sierra System into the route, that’d be perfect. Most of all… I want to see everyone in swimsuits.
Yeah, let’s go. We have to go. I’ve made up my mind—our honeymoon destination is the Sierra System. Decision made. Screw the wedding ceremony—let’s finish that ASAP, grab Serena’s ship, and head out.
The changes to the lore about the AI war is bad writing (telling the opposite of showing). If AI was really in control the way they said, government corruption wouldn’t be anywhere near as bad. Meaning:
– Pirates probably aren’t enough of a problem to justify an independent fleet dedicated to them.
– Hiro never meets: Christina, Tina, Wiska or Neve (and those related encounters).
– Hiro only has half the accolades he’s built up.
– Doc Shouko isn’t a crew or harem member yet… but she might be a fling?
– Serena still isn’t in the harem yet.
– No documentary has been made of them yet.
– Mimi is seen by the media before she can be tested and “confirmed” that she isn’t related to royalty.
– Hiro hasn’t trained to fight with swords.
– Hiro only just started to learn about and train his powers.
– Hiro doesn’t have anything like Black Lotus yet (or just recently got it, and certainly not from the place Tina and Wiska are).
Mentioning the word “rogue” and biological species troubled by AI, reminds me of the rogue servitor play I recently did in Stellaris, and which I messed up (went nanite ascension, turned many worlds into nanite worlds, then noticed they have no habitability for the bio species that the rogue servitor DEMANDS, and little to no food production).
Thanks for the chapter! Awesome translation! May God bless you!
Thanks for the treat. 🖖
With all this horsepoop going on in this Empire, from chapter 1, the degenerate Termine Prime, until those obvious Rebellions of Chris Uncle and those BorderWitches … I absolutely NOT buy this sad excuse for a story about Machine Intelligence.
This is another empty-mind-slurp from Mr-I-suddenly-totally-forgot-about-all-this-COLA-IS-LIFE-Author-horsepoop from the “early” chapters.
Not. Buying. This.
Another nail in the coffin.
While I think you’ve gone a bit too far with the insults, I do agree that the overall story is evidence to the contrary of what this chapter presents. The amount of corruption is far too high if AI really are in control the way it’s been explained here. It would have been far more believable if both sides signed a treaty to end the war, and the compromise was that AI would help the emperor keep the rest of the nobles in check, insofar as to not invade the private lives of the nobles. This would allow for AI to be feared by nobles, not feared by citizens, and create enough room for the corruption like Chris’ uncle and house Ixamal to happen. It’s the way the story before this chapter has portrayed AI.
Because currently, this chapter’s explanation turns a lot of previous events and explanations into plot holes. Black Lotus was an unusual ship in that it was designed to be mostly manned by AI. But now, wouldn’t it only make sense for AI to be in all ship systems? Governments do it today, requiring certain technologies be in mobile phones (radio chips that can slowly communicate with each other over distances of a few hundred feet, even while turned off, as long as the battery holds charge).
And that’s not including this chapter’s immediate retroactive changes made to how house Ixamal got as close as they did (author seems to have forgotten the hundred year old battleship, for one).
Because at this point, as much as what happened to Neve sucks… the Vereverum/Bereberum Federation is now justified in its war with the Grakkan empire, and you could say AI pushed them to create the blackbox program that turns select people into computers. You can tell they had their own AI war, and they won it. But if that’s the case, why is the Federation so behind in nanotechnology? They got their stuff together and stopped the Grakkan Empire’s AI from spreading even further. They’ve proven themselves smarter than the people of the Grakkan Empire who have the advanced nanotechnology. And you can’t tell me, if the Federation is willing to create Neve, that they don’t also have an army of Dr. Shoukos.
Or, we go back to AI not being as omnipotent as they now are and suddenly you don’t need oddly selective super-intelligence to explain the current existence of the Federation. Unless AI won there too and the war is run on both sides because humans are expendable?
Obviously that’s not the only possibility, but I’m really not liking the implications this chapter has for the rest of the story.
On contrary to what I have in my mind, my typed out “insults” were pretty tame … 😛
Other than that … I don’t thing the Federation had an AI war for themselves and no way they even won it.
I think the most likely scenario is the Federation and the Empire were once, like, one unit and this one unit had the war with the AI. They lost and split up in the ones that utterly hate the AI for that (Federation) and the ones that want to somewhat coexist (Empire). But I don’t know how this would fit into any timeline here. Out of my head I cannot remember much timeline to begin with xD
Well. In the end we don’t know. Nothing is said and what is said will be reversed by the author anyway at some point … so … *shrug *
I will continue complaining about stuff and harvest my downvotes even tho it won’t change anything. Whatever.
I was going to point out the Empire has a written origin and somewhat detailed history and the Federation was never mentioned as having split off, but you made a great point: the author’s probably going to forget things and retroactively change events once more, which could then invalidate anything we say on the matter.
With that said, so far, I think what the Federation did to Neve and others like her is proof they fought an AI. Whether their own or just an offshoot of the Grakkan AI, it doesn’t matter. And I think Neve being turned into a human computer is proof the Federation “won” (succeeded in not being taken over by AI)… at least for now.
This story may be sci-fi, but in the genre, and even IRL, the reason anyone develops people into computers is concerns around AI or for more supernatural reasons that computers just can’t do. Until we get more information, it is my opinion that the Federation succeeded where the Empire failed… but again, that just opens up a whole can of plot hole worms. I think we both agree that it’s just better writing if the AI didn’t win and both sides came to a willing compromise.
Ahh then I also forgot about that x’D Talking about the pot calling the kettle and so on (about forgetting stuff).
Do you remember if and when it was mentioned, the history of the Empire I mean? Or maybe I should just reread everything … hm.
That is a plausible take on Neve and the Federation. I just cannot bring myself to imagine that those trolls, the way they faught this battle at the Ixval-System, were able to defeat an advanced AI. I mean Mr General there blindly rushed into an obvious trap with a 2D maneuvre in a 3D world … just saying. But. Whatever.
Maybe, in a few billion years (XD), we will get a Federation arc and some details about it 🙂
@G0emi The Empire’s history is a bit scattered and in fragments, but I recall it coming up in a few areas you can probably zero in on?
1) When Serena’s father mentioned he was familiar with travelers from other universes with mysterious powers, and that previous members of his household either were or had been helped by such travelers.
2) Stuff may have been mentioned when Hiro was first researching the universe he traveled to.
There was also a bit about Elma’s noble house joining the emperor in building his empire after he saved the elves from the species they had been at war with for millenia.
Unfortunately I don’t have a good grasp on any of the more specific locations within the WN where the Empire’s history is revealed. I will also say that the Federation fleet that lost to Hiro and Serena could have just had a bad commander. As a ship computer, Neve had nothing good to say about him. It’s bound to happen to every military at some point.
How Many Maidroids will Hiro Get this time I wonder? Perhaps my guess at Him getting a Crews worth of them may come true after all especially if they get a larger Mothership along with Serena’s Drone Carrier.
I think May would rather being the only maidroid in Hiro’s harem and it does looks like Serena (Chris and Elma as well) wants an AI crew for her ship.
If Hiro wants more crew, there are plenty of options:
1. Neve, she excells at fleet management and yet to have a role yet.
2. Linda (an underage girl with a 3 years promise with Hiro)
3. Tinia (She got rejected by Hiro in the LN, but I expect her return akin to Dr. Shouko’s “enrollment”)
4. Any volunteers from Holy Vuelzarus Empire such as the trio (Kohana, Inaba, Moegi)
Just this list above is enough to man 2 or 3 ships (as they usually dock as the super mothership) , the only system constrain is Hiro’s d*ck…………
By the way, is there any good English forum for this LN, or should we open one on reddit?
I mean Serena DOES NOT want AI crews, sorry for the typo
Yeah I remember Mei saying that She wanted to be his only Maidroid, citing that they are programmed to be absolutely loyal to their master and to many would make that difficult.
Neve helping Serena control the drones seems a given honestly, they will probably rig up a system where she can use the existing Federation implants to connect probably floating in a shock absorbing fluid tank like a WH40k Princepts (or like Melfina in Outlaw Star a classic anime)
Linda might be a good fit to also work on Serena’s ship as an Operator or as a Maintenance Engineer repairing the drones.
Tinia is a hard one to place honestly, if she could use her healing “Magic” outside of Leafa IV I could see her being an assistant to Shoko. (Though that kind of upgrade to her power might only be possible with training from Verholz or possibly just from Kugi/Tamamo)
Any of the girls from Verholz would have to be doing non-combat jobs since the reason for them not coming along on the return trip was their aversion to killing. Having said that though I could see them doing the Day-to-Day work of a Shipping company which Hiro mused about setting up for Mimi to run a few chapters ago.
I can’t say as I have seen any English Forums for Space Mercenary but I haven’t really looked either, setting up a Reddit might not be a bad idea
There is the official LNT.com discord.
If I may respond to a few things brought up here, some in context and some in a new context: Having one maidroid per ship is an interesting idea. And while Mei objected to Hiro getting more, I think there have been some depictions of people with multiple (the Manga for sure, but possibly early on when Hiro went with Mei to get her proper body).
I’d like to point out that just because Linda comes from the same place as Tina, doesn’t mean she’s going to have the engineering degree Tina and Wiska have and be able to work with them by the time Hiro picks her up. She’s too young to start engineering school and I don’t think the orphanage was able to educate her to the extent necessary to qualify for it.
And if I’m being fully honest: I hope he shows up and Linda is doing something else. I don’t want the harem to grow any further. Neve should be the last, in my opinion. However, if Linda somehow spent lots of time in the guild simulators, and she had a boyfriend, I’d be cool with her piloting a future ship they haven’t purchased yet.
I mentioned it last chapter, but they could easily hire male members without it being an issue if they didn’t treat every ship like their own personal quarters and required the hiree be married or be a spouse of the hired member.
Regarding AI, technically every ship can have an AI crew, but seems Hiro let the captain of each ship has a final say, I can’t see Elma or Serena would want one. In face, from what described in this chapter, Hiro’s attitude to AI is more on the careless side of the spectrum………
For the male member issue, Hiro DID hire external crews when he fight with Mary, and he will do it more when he is dealing with Mimi’s aunt (the hired ninja) and during the pandemic in that colony (that 2 gangster boy). However, they are all mission by mission hired guns rather than official team member.
And that make sense, because:
1. Hiro only take those he can totally trust on board. Which make sense because Merc is a “kill or be killed” business. You literally living and working with a team of killers.
2. As a “visitor” of this universe, Hiro has no connections, family, classmates or childhood friends to start with. He has a very limited pool of trusted people to choose from.
3. Being a “family business” also benefit Hiro financially as the payment/cut for his crew is effectively the maintenance of his harem.
4. All new member get along well with the existing crew, even Serena or Chris has to pass this test. When Hiro did have male “crew” on board (during the making of the documentary), they are quite a nuisance……
I do agree that Hiro’s harem is getting a bit too big, but that’s unavoidable as his fleet grew to the point that it is effectively a small fleet, there are more specific skill-set and role needed……………
@rockitten I’ll push back on some of the reasoning you gave as to why male members wouldn’t work, but first I’ll say I agree with you on point 3: keeping all the money they make within their family is definitely something worth considering in regards to whether they want to stay small and spread out (tactically) or gain more help from others but lose some of that profit.
Point 2) Hiro isn’t doomed to never increase the pool of people, males included, that he can trust.
Point 4) Not all the male camera crew were annoying, just the single men and the dwarves who… tend to do things like throw people into other people and fracture ribs. And the most annoying person to board their ships was the attractive reporter girl, not all the men.
Point 1) Hiro wouldn’t be taking the new, non-romantic members on board the Black Lotus or the Krishna, he could get a mothership and several new small and medium sized ships, and fill those ships with the new crew. If Hiro and Co. treat the mothership like a small colony, and hold all fleet in-person meetings in a public room aboard the mothership, they never encounter anything that would interfere with Hiro’s harem since everyone would be living in separate spaces.
Also, you seem to have forgotten the fact I said the requirement to join Hiro’s fleet would be them being married. As in: already committed to and in love with someone else. The could also hire female ex military who are married to other men. Also, I never mentioned it, but I don’t think anyone would want to risk angering Hiro like that. Hiro’s fights were broadcast empire-wide, everyone who saw it knows Hiro would fillet anyone pushing their luck with his women.
Also, “kill or be killed” does not apply here, especially in the context of calling mercenaries “killers” as if they’re borderline criminals forced to act in evil ways because the job is that dire. That’s the tone I picked up from the text, at least.
Most mercenaries aren’t borderline criminals; the guild is an official body of the government, after all. Do mercenaries often act sleazy? The single ones who pay for women to board their ships while docked do, but those women know what’s up and accept it. If there were any real friction, mercenaries would be going to prison… and last I checked, that would be a nightmare for any mercenary who’s killed or captured pirates.
Also, who said Hiro would hire mercenaries? The example I gave in the comments of the previous chapter was military members who believed in the mission but couldn’t bear to be single or away from their family once their contract expires (they leave with honors). Hiro offers them twice their military salary (which is cheap) and pays for the ships they’ll live in and use, as long as they aren’t single. Also, no reasonable person wants to screw up a good job and their marriage by flirting with the boss’ wife.
as Mei stated way back that it is difficult for multiple AI to serve the same master, I can’t see Hiro getting more AI for his crew, I can see Hiro getting an AI to use as a bodyguard assistant for Chirs. to the public the maid or butler is a bodyguard gift to Chris from Hiro, but behind then sense the AI is an assistant that is helping Chris out.
Thanks for the chapter