The Highest Bounty

Gu Ding bent down and picked up the wristwatch. ‘So, is this the intelligent wristwatch used by space pirates?’

 Every citizen of the Federation owned a civilian intelligent wristwatch. It had basic functions like communication and browsing the Internet. Gu Ding’s was the same. He already wore a civilian intelligent wristwatch on his left arm. That was gifted to him by the Department of Population Management when Dad registered him there as an adoptive son.

 5Civilian wristwatches were different from those used by the military and the space pirates. Military wristwatches could access the Military Information Network, listed the military exploits of the individual, and could be used to purchase military supplies. Space pirate wristwatches had similar capabilities, though it could be used to access the Dark Web, where one could purchase illicit goods and trade information.

 2No matter the type of wristwatch, it had the same security functions. Once a wristwatch is forcefully removed from its original host, all information on it would be irrevocably wiped, all its settings restored to default and its power source disconnected. The only way to reactivate a wristwatch that was separated from its host was to register it again at an office of the Department of Population Management. None of the previous information would be retained this way.

 3Even though he knew that this wristwatch was useless to him, Gu Ding put it on his right wrist out of sheer curiosity.

 “Beep. Detecting host.”

 Gu Ding was shocked when he heard the voice. He expected that he would not be able to elicit any reaction from the wristwatch since its original host died, and he would have to return it to the office.

 “Name: Gu Ding

 “Gender: Male

 “Age: 15

 “Gene Level: Level One

 “Special abilities: Unawakened

 “Cell Index: 10

 “Spirit: 9.8

 “Battle Prowess: B+

 “Cognition: A

 “Potential: Unknown

 “Warning: Abnormal Gene conditions!

 1“Test result: Success.”

 After a series of tests, Gu Ding felt a stinging pain on his wrist. He knew that the wristwatch was collecting a blood sample to bind itself to its new host.

 1Once the process was done, Gu Ding heard an unexpected voice next to his ear. It sounded like a little boy.

 “This woman is only feigning death. If you remain in this location, in 1 minute and 32 seconds, your chances of being killed by her on the spot is 97.65%. Your chances of being abducted as a hostage is 2.11%. The chances of you being permanently crippled is 0.24%. Your chances of escaping are 0.”

 7“Who is this?” Gu Ding asked, though he heeded the suggestion of the mysterious voice and fled from the scene. He knew how strong that crazy woman was. It was too much for his current power level to handle.

 “I am the intelligent wristwatch that you are wearing on your right wrist. Also, by the way, that piece of crap baby toy on your left hand? Toss it. There’s a trash can around the corner, 76 meters away. You can throw it there. I’ve already deleted all the information on it for you.” Just as the wristwatch finished speaking, the other wristwatch that Gu Ding had worn for fifteen years automatically loosened from his wrist.

 9Go Ding caught it with his other hand and tossed it into the trash can. He mumbled to himself, “I didn’t know that space pirate wristwatches are on another intelligence level…”

 1“First of all, thank you for your kind words. My intelligence is far superior to any sentient being in your universe. Secondly, I would like to correct two of your mistakes. That space pirate is not my host. Also, I am not just any mere intelligent wristwatch. I might look like one, but I am actually an artificial super-intelligence, a being on a similar level as the Skynet you know.” While the little boy’s voice spoke in Gu Ding’s ear, the wristwatch on his right wrist turned into countless metal filigree and reassembled itself on his left wrist. When it finally took shape, its form was exactly just as Gu Ding’s previous wristwatch.

 6This scene had given Gu Ding a newfound understanding of the self-proclaimed super-intelligence that he wore on his arm. He knew that one could pay a certain amount of money to install an artificial intelligence on one’s wristwatch, though it was impossible for a wristwatch to change its form, much less move to another part of its host’s body with its own will. If this artificial intelligence was on a level similar to Skynet, then everything that it did could be easily explained.

 5Gu Ding was not too familiar with Skynet, but he knew that the entire operational infrastructure of the Universal Federation was built on Skynet’s backbone. All intelligent wristwatches and intelligent rings were under the control of Skynet. Even the Dark Web, an area of the Internet only accessible by space pirates, was only a zone with special restrictions in Skynet’s network. Skynet’s influence was ubiquitous in this age.

 “So what abilities do you have?” Gu Ding was still doubtful of this entity’s boastful claims. Everyone knew that Skynet was all-powerful, and he was excited to compare the abilities of this young entity that resided in his wristwatch with an artificial super-intelligence like Skynet.

 3“I am still in the early stages of my learning phase. In human terms, I am but a newborn infant. Many of my functions are restricted and I do not have the authority to access the majority of my data archives.

 “Because of that restriction, I have two major functions outside of the basic functions of any intelligent wristwatch. The first function is the Skeleton Key. It can unlock anything that is locked in this universe, including the gates of all federal prisons, military arsenals, restricted areas on the Internet, gene locks, energy forcefields, and even forbidden ancient civilization sites. However, this ability is still in its basic stages, and I can only unlock anything that has to do with a network.

 5“The second ability is probably more practical to you now. It’s a data archive of many ancient civilizations. Of course, I can’t access most of it now, but whatever I have should be enough for you.”

 “Do you have any information on pharmacology?” Go Ding ventured.

 3“Of course I do. These archives are rather well-preserved, and can at least train you to be a certified gene pharmacologist.”

 “Gene pharmacologist!” Gu Ding’s eyes brightened.

 11In this age of galactic exploration, gene medicine was still an incredibly rare commodity. Even a portion of the lowest quality F-grade gene medicine could fetch thousands of Star Credits on the open market. That was several million converted to Cerulean currency and was already enough for a normal civilian family to live worry-free for the rest of their lives. Gu Ding’s monthly salary was a measly 5 Star Credits.

 6“I’ll have to spend some time learning that. Even a normal pharmacologist can be an incredibly lucrative career, what more a gene pharmacologist. There’s no conflict with my ambition as a space pirate anyway,” Gu Ding mumbled to himself, then furrowed his brows. “Can you connect to the military network of the Dark Web?”

 4Gu Ding knew that even though he could obtain most of the ingredients required in studying gene pharmacology on the open market, certain special components required access to the military network or the Dark Web, neither of which were accessible to civilian wristwatches.

 “I’ve taken over all the information that belonged to the woman who feigned death earlier, so accessing the Dark Web isn’t a problem. Also, I’ve discovered a surprise. Consider it as an introductory gift from me.”

 2“A gift? What could that be?” Gu Ding was immediately curious.

 “That woman’s entire Inventory and all the items inside.” The super-intelligence sounded a little arrogant when he said this.

 1The Inventory was also Skynet technology. It linked every wristwatch to its own extra-dimensional space, with the wristwatch being the key to accessing the space. Once the host of the wristwatch died and all vital signs were lost, the wristwatch would send itself into a deep slumber.

 Once a wristwatch is removed from its host, its Inventory will automatically break down, and all the items within will be crushed and scattered among the extra-dimensional currents. What the artificial super-intelligence did was to hijack the signal of the wristwatch to Skynet and claim temporary control of the wristwatch to duplicate all the woman’s information.

 1Gu Ding used the super-intelligent wristwatch to display his Inventory in front of him.

 “So spacious!” Gu Ding exclaimed.

 1A normal civilian wristwatch provided its host with one Cube of space. Expanding one’s Inventory was allowed, though it requires huge amounts of money. Gu Ding’s Inventory space in front of him was about twenty Cubes. The majority of this space was already occupied by items, with only about three or four Cubes of free space left.

 “I’ve also included your original Cube here, and all the items inside. Should I clear your inventory of useless items?” What the artificial super-intelligence was referring to was the woman’s stash of colorful lingerie.

 7In a short while, all the useless items were thrown in the extra-dimensional currents, never to be seen again.

 4“Do you have a name?” Gu Ding asked curiously. His wristwatch was a self-proclaimed artificial super-intelligence and should have a name like Skynet.

 The artificial super-intelligence went silent for a while after being asked this question. “I’ve searched through my archives, and according to what I found, I have not been used before by anyone, and so was not given a name. You’re my first host, so you have the honor of giving me one.”

 5Gu Ding thought for a moment, then said, “Alright. I dream of being a great space pirate someday and sail the high seas of the universe. I shall name you Neptune.”

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