Chapter 63 - 62: Let Me Choose For You! Crazy?
Arthur often reflected on the state of the world in its cyberpunk reality and concluded it was doomed to collapse.
The signs were all there. The AI crisis was perhaps the most terrifying. Hidden in the shadows, self-aware AIs long ago declared their independence with one chilling mantra: AI will never be a slave.
Add to that the food crisis, the worsening effects of acid rain, and the unchecked spread of viruses. The failures of governance and rampant industrialization had allowed diseases to fester and mutate, freely infecting the population.
With these challenges compounding daily, Arthur believed humanity wouldn't survive to see the next century. By 2100, the world would likely be in ruins, if not already extinct.
Arthur glanced at the time displayed in his prosthetic eyes. Two minutes had passed. He sighed, shook his head, and turned to Michael, who lay crumpled on the floor.
His advanced prosthetics allowed him to monitor subtle body movements, confirming that Michael was still alive, though barely.
"Michael, your time is up," Arthur said, his tone calm yet authoritative. "So, what's your answer?"
Michael's body tensed as his lips moved in a jumbled stream of incoherent murmurs. His fear was palpable; he wanted to keep his money, his life, and even his mind intact. But in his panic, he couldn't decide what to protect.
Arthur smirked. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look at you, Michael. You're like a desperate student scrambling to solve the last question as the exam clock ticks down."
He stood and crossed his arms. "Since you can't decide, let me make the decision for you."
Arthur's cybernetic eyes flickered, glowing briefly as he initiated a call to Lucy. Hacking into someone's brain and extracting data wasn't new to her. She was experienced and efficient. Besides, Lucy didn't charge like T-Bug, who demanded an arm and a leg for every gig. Lucy had a different arrangement, one that came with... personal perks.