Digital Hackers' Memories

Not only in the Digital World, but also in the EDEN Network, there has never been similar data. It is an unknown data that SwordEmperormon has never seen before.

"Like an 'outsider' from another world."

Thinking this through, SwordKingmon was almost certain of his guess—that subspecies Agumon was definitely not a native of the Digital World.

"So, from which world does it come?"

"The X World? Wichenil? The Iliad? Or the Dark Area?"

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Makiko's Gift

Inside Chen Ze's apartment.

"Mmm, I'm so full!"

After a hearty meal, Makiko Date covered her stomach without any regard for her image, showing no signs of the modesty expected of a woman.

"It's been so long since I've had such a delicious steak!"

With a practiced roll of his eyes, Chen Ze really wanted to say that this steak was actually a product of an "assembly line," except that the operator had changed from a fixed program to the Fox Spirit X.

However, considering that Makiko Date didn't seem to like mass-produced food, Chen Ze didn't continue to complain.

After all, even though Chen Ze was taken to a unique snack shop by Makiko Date on his first day in Japan.

However, in reality, in Japan, where EDEN technology is highly advanced, restaurants run entirely by human chefs have almost disappeared.

Because of EDEN's virtual reality technology, ordinary restaurants only need to obtain the corresponding recipes to replicate the culinary skills of any top chef.

From cooking time and seasonings to flavor and nutrition...

Just like products from a real industrial assembly line, precise machinery ensures nutrition while maximizing the resemblance of each dish to the chef's true skill.

Therefore, selling their skills and recipes in EDEN's digital space has become a daily routine for the vast majority of chefs.

In contrast, those chefs who still choose to open restaurants in the real world and insist on making food by hand are more like artists or craftsmen who persist in their craft.

According to Chen Ze's observations over this period, apart from those scattered private shops, the most concentrated area for similar shops should be the food court in Nakano Street.

Only there do all the dishes have a unique flavor.

Even the same dish can have different preparation methods and flavors depending on the chef.

In fact, this is also a major reason why Makiko Date, who belongs to the high-income group of "police officers," still struggles to make ends meet every month.

Makiko Date, who couldn't stand the "assembly-style food," loved to do one thing best after get off work: find those specialty snack shops where the chefs were still human.

Chen Ze was simply unaware of the situation in Japan at the time, which is why he didn't find anything strange about eating at such a small eatery.

However, after realizing that Japan had already widely adopted intelligent, assembly-line-style restaurant structures, Chen Ze was shocked to discover just how extravagant Makiko Date had been back then.

Chen Ze roughly estimated that the meal the two of them ate that day was equivalent to one-tenth of an average wage earner's monthly salary.

[If we interpret it this way, it seems Makiko doesn't consider the steaks made by Reijomon X to be 'mass-produced' food?]

Chen Ze thoughtfully savored the steak in his mouth, but despite not being particularly discerning about food, he didn't taste anything special.

It can only be said that Chen Ze is destined to never become a gourmet like Makiko Date.

However, Makiko Date's praise made Chen Ze realize something: it seemed that Yokomon X wasn't just following the recipes; she was genuinely studying cooking like a human.

[I have a feeling this trend is a bit off.]

A fox-like beast with exceptionally high intelligence and exceptional combat skills would actually study culinary arts like a human chef?

Chen Ze felt that there was something wrong with the way Renamon X was being shown. Was this the Renamon he knew?

"Oh right, I almost forgot something."

Not long after Chen Ze put down his chopsticks, Makiko Date, who was about to get up and leave, suddenly slapped her forehead as if she had remembered something.

"Well, I found it!"

“Aze, this is your EDEN identification card.”

After rummaging through her pockets for a while, Makiko Date finally pulled out a smart chip card that resembled an ID card.

"Because of the previous accident, your identity information has not been logged into the EDEN host server."

Due to the impact of the "tunnel collapse accident," Chen Ze has spent the past month either in the hospital or being questioned by the police, and has had no time to apply for EDEN network access.

In addition, given his status as an "exchange student," the school and relevant departments have been delaying the process as a precaution.

"But I finally got my colleague to help you with this today, so you can try out the magic of the EDEN network tonight."

Faced with the enthusiastic Makiko Date, Chen Ze simply smiled – how could a mere “network access application” possibly stump a real hacker?

If it weren't for the fear of causing some messy diplomatic incidents, Chen Ze would have already logged into the EDEN network using his hacker avatar.

Well, it's not too late now. With a real data avatar, Chen Ze can finally openly use all the functions of the EDEN network and truly experience the power of the virtual network.

"Thank you, Makiko."

For once, Makiko Date didn't use the unfamiliar term "Idate-nee" (a term of endearment for her). She was taken aback for a moment, then patted Chen Ze's head under his disapproving gaze.

"Haha, don't be so polite with me."

"Also, you should drink more milk, otherwise you might not grow tall!"

Looking at Makiko Date with a wry smile, Chen Ze, though knowing she was trying to change the subject, still emphasized it very seriously.

"I'm still growing, I can still grow taller!"

............................................................................................................

A moment later, Makiko Date left Chen Ze's apartment and strolled along the neon-lit streets.

"Hehe, is this what 'family' feels like?"

Looking back in the direction of the apartment, Makiko Date, who had never experienced such playful warmth before, muttered to herself.

As a delinquent who started hanging out in society during high school, Makiko Date's parents adopted a boarding school and hands-off approach to raising her, only occasionally giving her living expenses and not caring about her daily life at all.

Therefore, from a young age, Makiko Date envied her classmates who had happy families and many brothers and sisters.

Now, Chen Ze's appearance undoubtedly satisfies this psychological need of hers. This kind of "family affection" that is similar to that of a younger brother is something that Makiko Date has never experienced before.

"He's just a bit too arrogant. I really want to know what he's like when he acts cute."

Imagining Chen Ze acting coquettishly, Makiko Date suddenly shivered, because she found that such an "incongruous" scene was truly terrifying.

"Forget it, I'd better not act cute anymore. I can't even imagine what that would look like."

Having stopped her increasingly wandering thoughts, Makiko Date shook her head and headed home.

"Hmm, I hope he discovers that surprise; it's an 'admission ticket' that I went through a lot of trouble to get."

Chapter Thirty: Network Access Certificate

"Is this EDEN's 'certificate of access'?"

Carefully examining the electronic chip in his hand, Chen Ze remarked with deep emotion.

"Having been involved with EDEN technology for so long, this is the first time I've actually logged into the EDEN network through legitimate means."

Through the camera on Chen Ze's chest, the Fox Beast X could also clearly see the card-shaped electronic chip, and it looked even clearer than Chen Ze's.

"Don't you want to give it a try now?"

The exceptionally curious fox spirit X asked this question.

"Of course we should try it."

Chen Ze nodded affirmatively, now eagerly anticipating what it would be like to have a true "data avatar".

Compared to creating your own hacker avatar, having an officially certified "identity and permission" should be much more convenient, right?

Putting everything else aside, at least Chen Ze can now openly purchase all sorts of EDEN items without having to go through the trouble of cracking and installing them himself.

"Let's go! Let me see what the difference is between the genuine and the pirated versions!"

He walked straight to his bedroom, picked up the EDEN head-mounted device he had prepared beforehand, and inserted the identification chip into it.

—EDEN network, initialization…

—Personal identity information entry and generation…

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.

............................................................................................................

When Chen Ze opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his own bed, but in a completely digital virtual space.

"Is this the real 'EDEN Private Space'?"

As Chen Ze whispered, the exclusive logo of the Shindai Company gradually appeared from nothing, from far away to near, and finally stopped above him.

During this process, some complex Japanese terms and instructions were also constantly refreshed and flashing below the giant logo in a split-screen format.

Chen Ze knew that as long as he had the will, he could click on those terms and read their explanations and contents.

However, just like all the terms and conditions of apps in the 21st century, Chen Ze only has the right to "read".

Even if he had the patience to read through all those clauses, his final choice would only be "yes" or "no".

"Yes" means agreeing to those terms, and then Chen Ze can use his identity information to generate a data avatar and thus freely roam the EDEN network.

"No" means that he does not agree to those terms, and Chen Ze will remain on this screen indefinitely until he agrees again.

"Sure enough, these kinds of rigid, unfair terms still exist in any era."

Not bothering to read the instructions and regulations, Chen Ze knew he had no choice but to accept the answer.

"agree!"

Clicking directly on the huge logo above his head, Chen Ze's digital space began to rapidly reorganize and restructure.

boom!

The first thing to collapse was the huge logo, which, along with all its terms and conditions, quickly crumbled into a massive data stream that merged into the entire digital space.

The next moment, Chen Ze's personal information began to materialize in a "physical" form.

First, the gender was determined, followed by detailed personal data such as height and weight. Soon, an avatar with a physique similar to Chen Ze in real life was formed.

Following that, the EDEN network began to load those unique characteristics of Chen Ze onto this blank data based on the facial model, iris information and other data provided by the "identity card".

Soon after, a data avatar that was exactly the same as Chen Ze's physical body appeared.

"It's really not just strict."

Chen Ze, who witnessed the entire process, even suspected that if the DNA sequence had not been deciphered to this day, the Shindai Corporation would probably have included the genetic sequence of every human being.

In this way, even the most skilled hacker cannot crack such a tight encryption program unless they can forge the genetic sequence of a human individual.

Of course, Chen Ze knew that this login process was so complicated, but it was because it was his first time logging in and he needed to scan and enter his identity information completely.

Once the Shindai company's server has your information, you won't need to go through the hassle of creating a new data avatar the next time you log in.

This could be done by scanning an iris, verifying a fingerprint, or using voice recognition...

Chen Ze could then use some simplified verification methods to log in, and the permissions and levels he would have would vary depending on the login method.

For something at the level of a banking system, all aspects of the data avatar must match, and then the user must provide a pre-set password to access it.

As for regular login to the EDEN network?

Only the simplest fingerprint recognition or facial scan is needed.

"Strict, but very effective, isn't it?"

Meanwhile, Renamon X, who had gone to great lengths to "squeeze into" this private digital space, said this.

Even as a genuine data life form, and with the support of extremely advanced hacking skills...

The fact that Reijou X could only enter the room after Chen Ze's avatar appeared and gained a certain level of access undoubtedly demonstrates the power of Kamishiro Corporation's technology.

"The strictness of the rules here is even more exaggerated than in the public areas of EDEN."

She wasn't sure if it was Renamon X's imagination, but she always felt that there seemed to be a set of rules specifically for "Digimon" in this private space.

It is precisely because of this rule that Youkomon X cannot directly crack or hack into this private space.

"I don't find anything strange about it."

"After all, Kamishiro Corporation is the origin of EDEN technology. It would be truly strange if they didn't know about the existence of Digimon."

"More than that, I'm curious about what this thing is?"