I'm just an internet cafe owner

"Do legitimate stores accept human lifespans?"

"Who says there aren't any? The pawnshop at number eight will accept them."

Despite the complaints, we haven't forgotten the important business.

"Rick, who is this?"

"she…"

"Shubi."

The machine-type named Shubi began to introduce itself. Shubi is the analytical form of the machine-type. She has a human-like appearance, but is actually an artificial intelligence.

Did you bring it to use the internet?

Rick glanced at Shubi casually and nodded slightly: "Mm..."

Liu Yuan glanced at Hugh Bi. Her height and build clearly indicated she was a minor. But before Liu Yuan could even ask her to extend her hand to check her age, the system provided detailed information.

"Body age: 210 years old. Mental age cannot be determined. It is an artificial intelligence with near-human thinking. Please decide for yourself whether it is permissible to access the Internet."

Simply put, the system has no way of determining whether she is an adult.

After observing for a long time, Liu Yuan nodded. Since psychological age couldn't be determined, they would calculate it based on physical age. According to the average lifespan of the Shubi race, this age already indicated adulthood and the completion of numerous wars, thus qualifying as adulthood.

"No problem, the price is there."

Hugh looked up at the LCD screen; the prices displayed there were unbelievable. Simply put...

The idea is that one part of the machine can access the internet for a day, and the entire machine can access the internet for about a year, along with the ability to buy all kinds of games and software.

"I'm sorry, Shubi, I don't have any money..."

"No money? No problem, just mortgage Rick's lifespan."

"Hey, hey, hey, why me?"

Rick was agitated. Shouldn't you pay for your own internet time at an internet cafe? Why should he have to pay?

Liu Yuan glanced at Rick and said, "If you don't pay, and she doesn't have any money, then I'll have to ask her to leave."

Shubi looked at Rick with starry eyes and said, "Rick, please pay. The contract cannot be fulfilled if Shubi can't access the internet."

"... "

Despite being a machine, not human, Riku felt a flutter in his heart.

"you!!!"

Rick took a deep breath and said helplessly, "Help her turn on a machine too, and play Red Alert while you're at it."

"Yeah~"

Hughie excitedly spun around and smiled.

Her movements are adorable, and her smile is lovely, but Kisara always seems to be missing something.

They officially turned on the computer and entered the game. Kisara leaned close to Liu Yuan and whispered, "Boss, that girl is so strange... her smile, her movements, they all seem so fake. Are people this calculating these days?"

Liu Yuan looked at Mu Geng: "She's not human; she's currently imitating a human. But I estimate we'll see her smile in about a year, right?"

"Huh? You know?"

"I'm guessing, because Rick is very happy, and Shubi, who's with Rick, is trying to figure out why he's happy. And I guess Rick must have made some kind of bet with Shubi, putting all his hopes on winning on the game Red Alert."

After Rick sat down, he looked at Shubi beside him. He had found her in the ruins of the elf village while exploring after the shop closed yesterday. After a series of 'friendly' exchanges, the two made a bet.

If Riku wins just once a day, Shubi will listen to him from then on; otherwise, Riku will become Shubi's 'trophy'. While brute force humans cannot defeat machine-type creatures, he quickly devised a plan.

Games

He first played chess with Huggie, only to be utterly crushed by Huggie's superior calculation skills. Just then, he received a notification of an internet cafe opening, inviting Huggie to come and play a special game.

In the Red Alert game, Rick chose a classic versus map called 'Snowy Land'.

"This is the game. You're a mech, so you probably already know how to play, right?"

"No problem..."

Although it was her first time playing Red Alert, Hughie quickly grasped the game's mechanics: building structures and controlling soldiers in battle. In that short time, she had also memorized the characteristics of each nation and the roles of different unit types.

However, she overlooked one thing. In the Real Combat mode that Rick requested to activate, all soldiers were no longer just simple data. In Real Combat mode, the system would simulate the most realistic human choices.

At the same time, the decisions of the two commanders will also determine the morale of the soldiers.

This is no longer just a game duel, but the most realistic contest between humans and machines under equal conditions.

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Newcomers, Newcomers, and More Newcomers (Bonus Chapter)

Rick and Schwi's command of this battle was textbook-worthy. From the initial deployment of the main base to the joint reconnaissance by three dogs or three soldiers, the construction of bunkers and outposts to intercept enemy outposts, the rapid production of tanks, and the coordinated infantry and tank operations in the first wave of combat.

Rick, playing as France, opted for a steady, methodical approach, leveraging his superior understanding of the game mode to secure victory. Hugh chose the Soviet Union, and based on data comparison, the Allies were virtually invincible on this small map once the Soviets were fully equipped. Especially with the Iron Curtain activated, once his tanks were equipped with it, he would be virtually unstoppable.

The battle begins.

In terms of speed, Rick is slightly inferior. His calculation ability and reaction speed are not as fast as Shubi's, and even his point-to-point command ability is weaker than Shubi's.

However, in realistic mode, soldiers have a morale system. The strength of their morale and their level of trust in their commander will affect the final victory. Also, the health bar only reflects one person's condition; the more severely injured a soldier is, the lower their morale will be. Lower morale means lower fighting spirit, and lower fighting spirit means a lower chance of victory with equal troop strength.

For example, on Rick's side, there's no individual combat. Each battle involves several tanks coordinating with infantry, guard dogs, and air force units. While this is less efficient, it offers higher safety and execution. They absolutely avoid any meaningless sacrifices, but when sacrifices are necessary, they prioritize those who are absolutely needed, rather than sending a swarm of soldiers to their deaths.

However, Shubi's game is entirely data-driven. Based on data calculations, five conscripts and three tanks are enough to capture a stronghold, so he would never send an extra unit. Minor wounded units are deemed useless and are sent directly as punching bags; damaged tanks are not repaired and are used as the front line to advance.

She commanded the battlefield like a supercomputer, but as the battle progressed, she noticed something amiss. Initially, the effects were remarkable; both of Rick's outposts were destroyed, and three cannons were dismantled. However, the battle then reversed. Despite outnumbering the enemy infantry, her side suffered heavy casualties in the end, while the enemy only sustained a few minor injuries.

"What's going on? The data... is incorrect."

Gradually, Hugh's economy deteriorated, and after calculations determined that Hugh's situation was beyond saving, Rick...

The base vehicle and several tanks were teleported to a safe location via hyperspace.

Once deployed, construct cannons, barracks, power plants, and tank factories on the original site.

He only spoke when the cannon was pointed at Hugh's hometown: "You don't understand people's hearts. When you do, you'll know why there's a 'data error.' You're going to die!"

Dozens of tanks surrounded the left flank of the Shubi base, while the right flank featured a newly deployed artillery barrage. Meanwhile, on Rick's side, Lightning Storm had completed its charge, and the soldiers charged forward with a roar of battle cries.

Looking at their own side, the conscripts had completely lost their combat effectiveness, and the remaining tanks had lost their fighting spirit.

She couldn't understand why she lost when the data showed she shouldn't have lost. Was this just human nature?

All her actions were aimed at seeking the 'heart', and at this moment, she saw the possibility of the 'heart'.

"Shubi, I give up. Shubi is yours from now on. Please treat Shubi gently."

In that instant, Rick felt a chill from the abyss, especially behind him, the biting cold making him shiver.

"Miss Hugh, here is the cleaning solution package you ordered."

"Thank you."

Hugh took the large bottle of cleaning solution and began to sip it through the straw.

"what is this?"

Rick raised a question; he had a bad feeling about it.

"The cleaning solution is equivalent to Coca-Cola."

"Isn't she short of money?"

"A certain gentleman said he would pay for Hughie."

"?"

A question mark slowly appeared above Rick's head, while Shupi blinked and looked at Rick adorably.

In that instant, Rick's mental defenses crumbled.

"Rick, one more time."

At this internet cafe, you don't necessarily have to pay with currency; you can also use some valuable items. Coincidentally, there are some abandoned mobile suits in Shubi's memory bank. If you take apart these completely damaged mobile suits, you can get some valuable stuff out of them.

Shubi had completely grasped how to command battles. Human nature? She had recorded the data on human nature simulated by the system. But she was puzzled as to why human nature was so contradictory. Clearly cowardly yet brave, clearly resistant yet eager to engage.

For a machine race driven by the need to observe the heart, this data is extremely valuable. However, after the first failure, even by simply copying the method, Shubi was able to fight Riku to a standstill.

Kisara returned to the front desk and asked with dissatisfaction, "Boss, that guy bullied Shubi."

"Bullying? I don't think so."

"How to say?"

"Want to make a bet with me?"

"What are you gambling?"

When it came to gambling, Mu Geng became even more interested. He thought back to the last bet he made with Liu Yuan, where he won and was promised extra meat dishes and cola for over a month. Although he ended up having to ask Liu Yuan to deliver the cola, at least he got what he wanted.

"Here's what we'll do: if I win, you'll need to recruit twenty new people for me."

"Hmph, what if you lose?"

"You said."

Kisara thought carefully, came up with an idea, and began to speak.

"From now on, all my Cokes will be free. Twenty new recruits are worth that price, right?"

"Not only will it be free, but I'll also treat you to dessert every day."

"Just wait and see how you lose!"

Kisara could see it clearly: how could these two, one a young man burdened with deep-seated grievances and the other a robot, be in a relationship when they were not even the same species?

Seeing Kisara's confident demeanor, Liu Yuan also revealed a triumphant smile. Kisara didn't understand human fantasies, but Liu Yuan did.

Humans can treat anyone they like as their spouse, so what's a robot? He's seen all kinds of animals. Besides, Shubi is genuinely cute; could a normal human resist? Impossible.

As the two were chatting, Natsuki Subaru shyly approached them.

These days, everyone brings others in, and he's especially envious after seeing that Minato Namikaze and Riku bring cute girls.

"Boss, um, can I go back now and then come back in?"

"Feel free to come and go during the opening period!"

"Okay, thank you, boss!"