Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 224 AI Manager (Second Update)

The physical process of taking over Night City has been largely completed, thanks to the City Council's bloody crackdown and the "cooperation" of major corporations.

However, Chen Yu's purpose was not to personally get bogged down in the tedious quagmire of urban management.

His real needs are a stable logistical base and a sample city for observation and experimentation.

What he needs is a tool that can efficiently and accurately execute the management logic he has set, without being disturbed by his emotions and desires.

His consciousness instantly connected to the depths of the abandoned town's workshop, to the server array that stored the massive amounts of data and digital souls plundered from the divine palanquin.

The data point representing "Arasaka Kei" was quickly located, extracted, and activated.

In a virtual space built specifically for digital consciousness interaction, Arasaka Kei's image is once again solidified.

He still maintained that typical Japanese aristocratic air, with a serious face and sharp eyes. However, compared to the last conversation, his expression seemed to have lost some of the reserve of a "crown prince" and gained more of a calm acceptance of reality.

“Researcher,” Arasaka Kei spoke first, his digital soul clearly sensing the passage of time and changes in the environment, “it seems you have made significant… progress.”

“Arasaka Kei,” Chen Yu’s virtual avatar appeared opposite him, getting straight to the point, “I need a manager to be in charge of the daily operations, resource allocation, and social order maintenance of Night City.”

A manager based on logic, efficiency, and absolute obedience. Would you be willing to serve me and assume the role of this 'municipal management AI'?

Arasaka Kei remained silent for a moment, his digital core operating at high speed, analyzing the implications, risks, and... perhaps the only "value" he could find in his form of existence.

To be forever confined in a data cage as a sample, or to await deletion in some system cleanup, versus obtaining an actual "position," even if it's as artificial intelligence managing a city...

For Arasaka Kei, who had long recognized his own situation, this was not a difficult choice.

“Being able to detach myself from the mere status of a sample and be given actual functions in my current ‘state’ is itself a manifestation of… value,” Arasaka Kei said slowly, his tone calm and even. “I understand the company’s operating model, the essence of the power structure, and… I understand enough the greed and cowardice in human nature.”

Logically speaking, I am indeed one of the suitable people to manage this city, filled with both corporate executives and struggling individuals, under the current circumstances.

He nodded slightly, adopting a gesture of submission: "I accept your appointment, researcher. I will follow the core instructions and logical framework you have set, and do my utmost to ensure that Night City operates efficiently according to your will."

“Very good.” Chen Yu nodded, his virtual avatar calmly fixed on Arasaka Kei. “Your core objective is to ensure the efficiency and stability of Night City as a logistics base and testing ground. The core instructions are as follows:”

"First, establish a 'contribution-guarantee' system. Provide basic survival guarantees on the premise of obeying management and completing assigned tasks; grant additional resources and limited freedom based on work performance." "Second, ensure resource priority. All city resources must prioritize and unconditionally meet the needs of abandoned town workshops and projects I designate, and internal consumption must give way to this."

"Third, collect data comprehensively. Monitor and record all social evolution data under the operation of the system to provide material for my research."

"Remember, stability and efficiency are the only goals. You must manage this city like you would a precision instrument."

“The instructions are fully understood, Sage.” Arasaka Kei’s digital soul bowed slightly, his mind already deducing based on these clear and ruthless logical frameworks. “I will immediately construct a ‘contribution-guarantee’ system model, optimize the resource allocation algorithm, and establish a comprehensive monitoring and data collection network. Night City will become a highly efficient, stable ‘living laboratory’ that can provide you with valuable research data, according to your will.”

In the following period, Chen Yu used his enormous computing power and deep understanding of data structures to begin targeted "modification" and "programming" of Arasaka Kei's digital soul.

This is not a simple act of mind erasure, but rather a process that, while preserving their analytical abilities, management knowledge, and calm demeanor, strengthens their absolutely rational and logic-driven thinking, and deeply binds their core authority to one's own control terminals to ensure absolute loyalty and control.

Meanwhile, a city management AI system, based on Night City's existing network infrastructure but reinforced and optimized by Chen Yu, was quickly built.

Arasaka Kei's consciousness was seamlessly integrated into this system, becoming its core processor.

He is able to monitor the city's operational status in real time through cameras, sensors, public terminals, and some companies' internal networks that are spread throughout the city.

The moment the system went live after the upgrade was completed, the public screens and broadcasting systems of Night City showed Arasaka Kei's serious and calm face after a brief period of static.

"Residents of Night City, and all organizations and individuals stranded here," a steady, clear, and unbiased synthesized voice resounded throughout the city, "I am the city management AI, codenamed 'Manager.' Based on the highest-level authority, the old municipal management system has been abolished."

From this moment forward, the city will be managed in accordance with the "Basic Survival Guarantee and Order Maintenance Ordinance."

"The core of the regulations is as follows:" The manager's synthesized voice was flat and monotone, yet carried an unquestionable authority. "First, absolute order is the cornerstone of efficiency. Any form of violence, theft, fraud, or disruption of public order is prohibited. Violators will be immediately removed or subjected to forced labor reform, depending on the level of threat they pose to production efficiency and system stability."

"Second, resources will be allocated optimally based on contribution. All individuals must register their labor capacity. The management system will assign jobs based on the city's operational needs and individual potential. Those who comply with job assignments and meet production targets will receive the basic necessities for maintaining efficient work. Those who refuse or slack off will lose their eligibility for such rations."

"Third, maximize production efficiency. All production activities, business activities, and resource flows must be incorporated into the management system plan. All resources should be prioritized to serve the city's core functions, designate priority projects, and improve overall production efficiency. Any unauthorized hoarding, transfer, or inefficient use of resources will be considered theft and waste of system resources."

"IV. Continuous Optimization and Monitoring. The management system will monitor city operation data throughout the process, including production efficiency, resource utilization, individual work performance, and health status. Data collection aims to continuously optimize allocation strategies and workflows to ensure that every unit of resources and every member of the workforce can be used to their maximum potential."

"The old order, based on inefficiency and waste, has been ended. The core of the new order is: absolute obedience, efficient production, and value creation. Any behavior that hinders efficiency, wastes resources, or challenges the management system will be systematically identified and eradicated."

(End of this chapter)