Chapter 179: Twelve Million
Natalie noticed Jack was done asking her questions and asked again, "Please tell me where we are and how you were able to make a copy of me. The curiosity is killing me!"
He told her about Genesis Heart, templates, simulations, soul bonds, and even described his remote-presence technique.
When he was done she said, "Damn. Part of me wants you to soul bond me so we can take advantage of your remote-presence technique and gain true insider information. We could rule the market. But I must resist."
He’d already considered the insider-trading aspect. If he could be the invisible fly on the wall during company boardroom meetings, he could use that information to make profitable stock trades.
But if he did that too often, the SEC would notice, and he wouldn’t have any explanation for how he was so lucky, so often.
"Resist?"
"Yes. I want to beat the market through my own mind, not through," she waved her hands at him, "magic. It’s tempting. Very tempting. But the SEC would come knocking eventually and I would not be able to show the trail of logic that led to each trade. My pride won’t let me make use of your advantage."
"But doesn’t everyone else cheat every way they can?"
"Yes, we all do. But I want to compete on a level playing field. If I make use of your remote-present technique, then I’m no longer pitting myself against all the other traders. I’d be shooting fish in a barrel. And that’s boring."
He’d heard students arguing over this very idea. Some argued that a win was a win, no matter how it was achieved. Others argued that cheating was boring, and a win was only rewarding if it was achieved fairly.
In her case, Natalie relished the challenge of beating the market at its own game. Of using all the same cheats as everyone else, just better.
"Alright. One last question. What are the chances that you will betray me and either skim off some of my money or run with it all?"