Chapter 725: Experiment (1)
Of course, I didn’t think our plan would simply become successful, considering it wasn’t easy to work on people.
However, the more rationally I tried to judge it, the more I thought people became likely to fall into such traps. Many individuals didn’t think that they would get caught. They a.s.sumed they would be safe no matter how many fraud cases they had seen through the media or stories.
But all around the world, right at that moment, there were victims everywhere.
Many of the crimes couldn’t be caught on the web because their targets were irrational or dumb. We also lived in a world where scammers who lived on the back of others were also being deceived.
Not only highly educated people but also veterans with rich social experiences had a hole drilled into their backs. Of course, some people were naturally easier to deceive, like our regressor, but they were rare occurrences.
Most were cautious. Even the beasts moved carefully when giving out something they had.
Seraphim was no different. I knew from what I’d seen so far that my theory had potential, but coming up with what I had to offer was a completely different matter.
Hence, what I needed was…
‘The perfect balance.’
The perfect balance was important. An amount that wasn’t burdensome yet an amount that wouldn’t be too little. Of course, it would be appropriate to increase it gradually, but I didn’t think that the starting price set by Jihye and I would be a burden on Seraphim.
That was just the amount of liquidated a.s.sets he could use at any time.
Objectively, it wasn’t a small amount, but it was divinities that I thought was worth investing for Seraphim, who had piled up a.s.sets. It wouldn’t be strange for him to suddenly think about coming aboard the plan when I was abandoning him.
If he felt like I was trying to exclude him, he’d be more suspicious. He would for sure be anxious, thinking he might not be able to get on the parents-of-new-humans train on time and be left behind on the way.
From his perspective, his biggest mistake would probably be that.
Unlike other pigeons, Seraphim was quite self-directed. I couldn’t say he was as in control as Jihye and me, but he was still quite similar to us.
If I were asked which one he was more similar to, the answer would probably be me. Even the way he tapped his thigh was similar. If I were in his position…
‘I would read the proposal one more time.’
I didn’t like gambling, but I wasn’t foolish enough not to throw it when I needed it.
However, the first thing to do was determine if it was really worth the risk.
As expected, I saw him carefully scanning the plan once again without saying anything.
Of course, he wouldn’t be able to find the problem in the plan. Wasn’t it a fact that he knew there was danger in the first place?
Except for that, there were no other notable obstacles.
Nevertheless, if he still had any doubts…
‘He’ll ask me again.’
“How exactly does the test server work?”
“It works exactly as you read. Think of it as programming a small place first. I mean, in this huge map.”
There, I needed to take out what I had.
As Dominions snapped her fingers, a small map began to appear in view.
Although minuscule compared to its real size, it was a replica of the continent. It felt like looking at a tiny world from above. There were even miniature houses and natural environments.
Of course, that was the result of my hard work.
To someone who had doubts, we had to show results so that they could be convinced.
As expected, a very surprised face stood out. It seemed that he didn’t think things could come that far.
“In fact, it’s been quite a while since the programs have created a livable environment. Since we designed only the major cities and important places on the continent, the error won’t be that large. There may be detailed errors, but in this way, they can be corrected immediately.”
“Interesting. Are you saying that human miniatures live on this small continent as well?”
“To be precise, it is a program that imitates humans, and it is correct to call them dummies, but… You’re essentially correct.”
“How are you going to give them personalities? I don’t think artificial humans can live like real humans. At best, it will only be imitating them. It could be a meaningless act.”
“I have some piled-up data.”
“Can you tell me where it’s from?”
“It’s a little difficult to tell you right now.”
“Dominions knows…”
“Yeah. I know.”
I actually had. That wasn’t a lie. I really had enough data gathered, and I really intended to run that meaningless experiment. That way, he would know that it was worth the risk.
“You’ll tell me if I join?”
“It’s not a big deal for you to be that interested. In fact, it’s not really a matter that I should hide, so it doesn’t matter if I tell you… I have data of most of the humans on the continent. I’m not sure if it will act like actual living beings, but at least it will behave similarly.”
“Hmm…”
“We currently have 5 million people.”
“What?”
“5 million programs will do different things. I can tell you with confidence that they won’t do the same thing or even copy-paste. Yes. There are 5 million different personalities and dispositions in that small world right now.”
“Even though they’re dummies, that much…”
“I’ll tell you if it’s possible. The divinity written on the budget is enough.”
“That’s why an experiment like this can be done, Seraphim. If it weren’t for Lee Kiyoung, I wouldn’t have been able to even try. This is no different from what actually created the world. Of course, it’s more like a replica of the continent, but that’s why it has more meaning.”
“…”
‘I’ve done this much, and you still won’t fall for it?’
Everything was real, and I was honest to the dot. Of course, I wouldn’t even turn over the plan in the middle. Our experiment would continue, and the creation of new humans would proceed as scheduled. If he invested in it, that was.
Before long, I heard him speak.
“I’ll join you.”
“…”
“…”
“You don’t have to, Seraphim.”
“No, I want to. I’m going to invest twice as much as the existing budget.”
“Seraphim! Really?”
“Yes.”
‘Our new boss is really generous. Really.’
“Seraphim, didn’t I say it was okay?”
“No. Dominions. Wouldn’t it be better to do good things together? I’ll send it to you right now.”
‘You are also cool-minded. I will be grateful, new boss.’
“I said there’s no need to do that…”
“It would be better to have a contract written.”
As Dominions threw a little comment saying that he didn’t have to do that, I noticed he tried harder to proceed immediately, as if he felt uneasy.
“When can I see the results?”
“Five days will be enough.”
“That’s fast.”
“Because we’re running out of time. Of course, it is a secret to Thronus and Cherubim. They’ll probably keep trying to keep us in check. I hope that Seraphim will keep them away in return. Empower the elders a little too.”
“Of course. I am fully aware of what I can and should do. Are you sure I can see the results soon?”
“Yes. I promise.”
“Good. Then I’ll be leaving. As you said, we must persuade the elders and others… I’ll finally get busy after such a long time.”
“I’ll be counting on you, Seraphim.”
‘Thank you, b.a.s.t.a.r.d.’
“Okay.”
‘Thank you very much, b.a.s.t.a.r.d. ‘
Of course, it wasn’t yet a burdensome amount of divinities, but that was just the beginning.
The way he left while humming was quite a spectacle.
After some time, Dominions, no, Lee Jihye said, “Twice the budget… we couldn’t get more than I thought. I must have settled on too little.”
“No. I think this is just right, Jihye. If we asked a little more, he would have been much more alert. What’s more, his purpose might become something else entirely…”
“Ohh. The data?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“It’s surely appealing. If things fail… he would think that it would be advantageous to get the original technology. I would’ve thought the same way. There is a high probability that things will work out well. If you can really pull out 5 million dummies with different personalities, wouldn’t he think other experiments are possible? He can’t use it, but… the only ones that can access the Benignore Net operator system and extract data are you and our Max, right?”
“I guess?”
“Can’t you give me the permission too?”
“Even if I wanted, I couldn’t. You need to have the t.i.tle of museum manager. Anyway, this is fun. We should start experimenting right away, Jihye. Our investor wants results, so shouldn’t we try hard?”
“You’ve already tested it.”
“I’m talking about another experiment.”
As Lee Jihye tapped the air, I saw humans the size of a fingernail appearing with light in the small map. They were basically dummies, but they moved pretty realistically. This was because it was made based on the data stored in Benignore Net.
It could be considered a copy of Benignore Net users or those on the continent.
It felt like playing a game. When I spread my fingers in a motion like zooming in on a smartphone, a landscape greeted me with an enlarged view.
It was the Blue Guild. They were having a meal together, and although I didn’t know what they’re talking about, their conversation looked pretty fun.
Park Deokgu, Ahn Ki-mo, Kim Ye-ri, and the three siblings Park, Gi, Lee were applauding as if they were the most excited, and Jung Hayan was still right next to me.
Sun Hee-young and Elena were having a conversation, and Alps was holding her dog. Kim Chang-ryul, Yoo Ahyoung, and Han Sora were also there. No one was missing.
Cho Hyejin’s appearance stood out. She was sitting while keeping a straight posture and eating in an uncomfortable position. The dummy really did seem to have replaced her.
Of course, Kim Hyunsung was there too. He wasn’t the life of the party, but he was getting along well with them as if following the wind.
‘Is this an error?’
I thought he would be more awkward, but that was surprising. Perhaps Kim Hyunsung’s social abilities had risen.
“Do you want to return to the Blue Guild?”
“What, do you think I’m getting emotional?”
“It looks a little like that. I was also watching my guild. It’s like a home now. It deserves it. I’m completely settled in this life.”
“I’m similar, Jihye. I don’t miss it that much, but I sometimes think of it.”
“But this is really hard. I wanted to create a new human race, but it’s difficult to do so even with an experiment. I don’t know if this can be done.”
“This is enough for now. In the next meeting, we’ll only reveal that we made dummies, then we’ll get a little more funding. Well, we just need to adjust it slowly.”
My dummy was heading to the Red Mercenary Guild riding a griffon.
Lee Jihye was tapping something next to me. She was probably trying to see how her disposition would change. I did the same thing last time, but the results were no different.
Upon entering the Red Mercenary Guild, my dummy desperately knocked on the door to get out, but I watched his head get grabbed by Cha Hee-ra’s dummy.
‘The new human race, my a.s.s.’
It was a plunging stock anyway.
“It’s a terrible sight. It seems that your dummy will really die. Ah. Still, it’s better than before. I guess the fine-tuning worked.”