Abyssal Wanderer.

Chapter 50 NO.0032: Harvest and Negotiation
These things are...

The sudden movement startled Booker.Immediately, he looked around at the colorful data clusters around him, and the database installed in the brain-computer interface automatically started the comparison:

Ultimate accumulator (small).

"Gift of Minerva" subcutaneous plastic steel armor.

Sickle-foot Mantis Knife.

Trapper Nano Rope Gun.

……

The database comparison identified the names and brief descriptions of these technological blueprints.

All of them are printing permissions with a depth of 2 levels-there is even the ultimate energy storage device that the Icarus organization needs most at present.

Although very restrictive, this thing can barely replace the fission furnace and meet the energy demand for starting the universal printer.

So... this is probably "explosive equipment"?

There are many ways to dive into the abyss and dark web to salvage technology, and the simplest and most direct one is to defeat those wandering malicious programs and obtain the technology buried in them.

It's just that Booker never thought that killing the test object casually created by "paradox" in front of him would also reveal the corresponding technological blueprint.

And so much more...

But what does that mean?Didn't their trials fail?
Thinking of this, Booker turned around and looked at the "paradox" standing in the middle of the hall.

The fuzzy human figure made of countless color blocks has not spoken.

He seems to have all the patience in the world.

Seeing that he turned around again, "Paradox" quietly repeated:

"You two are not qualified."

His voice was neither happy nor sad.

"Sorry Mr. Paradox, I just..."

Under this coercion, Booker hurriedly lowered his head to explain.

But what else is there to explain?

If it wasn't that his previous reaction was not as timely as Liao Qi's, if it wasn't that he didn't go all out at the beginning, they should have been able to pass this trial.

After the battle, Booker could feel that the trial designed by the "paradox" for them just happened to be stuck on the standard that they could pass with all their efforts.

But at this point, Liao Qi did it, but he didn't.

For this reason, the young man is already dying here.

Thinking of this, Booker looked at Liao Qi who was clutching his stomach and coughing up blood.

Booker didn't know what to say.

It's impossible to ask yourself what is the punishment for failing the trial?

"Mr. Paradox...cough cough cough...excuse me, what is the punishment for failing the trial?"

At this time, Liao Qi struggled and asked.

Well, this guy has always been such a jerk.

This made him start to wonder whether it was the case for all people who chose the path of Icarus' promotion.

And Paradox didn't even look back at Liao Qi, but replied calmly:

"Punishment and reward are the next trial, and then the next trial.

"Until the end of the trial, or death."

Hearing this, Booker finally plucked up the courage to ask:

"But may I ask, what is the purpose of an existence like you doing this?"

He didn't understand why an existence like him, who came from the "ultra-abyss layer" and could turn the super companies under the Olympian order upside down by himself, would find them, who came from the bottom of the resettlement area. little people.

And the other party's answer to this is also very simple:
"You know the reason, otherwise you wouldn't take the initiative to come here again, wouldn't you?"

"You intend to make us your steeds?"

Booker's heart shuddered.

Liao Qi really guessed right?The other party wants to gallop their bodies, cross the firewall of the Styx and step into the base reality?
"That's your name."

The other party answered in this way.

"But why us? Compared to you, we are too..."

The other party helped him say the word.

"Weak?"

Although it was very slight, Booker could still hear the patient smile from the other party's tone.

Then the "paradox" continued:

"Strength and weakness are always relative terms. The stronger you are, the more fragile everything around you is. In your world, I can't grab anything, because my hands will destroy them immediately. Therefore, I Need something to carry, and they need to be somewhere between strong and weak."

It is between the strong and the weak for him...

Hearing this, Booker added silently in his heart.

You must know that even those mercenary kings who have broken through the limit of human intelligence and have the confidence to be independent from the Olympus order have only reached the level of the "sea abyss".

According to the information I have learned, the "paradox" in front of me is suspected to come from the existence of the "super abyss layer".

His understanding of the concept of "between the strong and the weak" is probably far beyond his own understanding.

But this is also an opportunity for me!
Booker clenched his fist in his heart.

He had heard of the legend among the Abyss Wanderers—some people were selected as "horses" by powerful beings in the Abyss Darknet, and not long after, they gained enough terrifying power to compete with the enterprise.

Then... Well, those people either had their mental index deteriorated and were sieged madly, or they became new members of the company order.

But most of these are nothing more than urban legends.

But even the craziest urban legends, no one made up that the existence in the basement reality from the ultra-abyss layer chooses its own "horse".

After all, at that depth, even the fourteen super companies under the Olympus order only dared to explore extremely cautiously.

I am afraid that it will activate some horror left by Janus back then.

And if the "paradox" in front of me really comes from the super abyss layer, maybe it is Janus, or other indescribable things created by super artificial intelligence...

For me, this is both a threat and an opportunity.

Booker knows how unrealistic the goal set by Icarus is-it is said to overthrow the entire Olympian order, but now they can't even handle the underground of the Nord resettlement area.

Even the interim government of the resettlement area, which is regarded as a pet by super companies, is a colossus that is difficult for them to take down.

But if they can get help from an existence from the super abyss layer...

Even if it is only indirect help.

Not even help, but just a few more attacks like the previous attack on Pluto's deep dive company firewall.

All a great help.

"I understand."

Booker took a deep breath and replied.

So what do you understand?

Jiang Zhou looked at the other party's unusually firm eyes, a little puzzled.

At the same time, I was also a little apprehensive - I didn't know if my previous words had bluffed the other party.

Booker continued:
"Mr. Paradox, if I can pass all your trials in the future, I will be honored to be integrated into a part of you and become your steed galloping through the base reality."

Even then, my ego will be the spectator of the body of "Booker Irwin", not the manipulator.

Booker thought so.

No need to be so exaggerated... In fact, I can't control your body, and you are not my "controllable element" like Liao Qi.

On the other side, Jiang Zhou complained silently in his heart.

"As long as you can give me real power."

Booker added.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Pretend to be a wolf with a big tail and fight successfully!
In this way, when I encounter danger in the abyss and dark net in the future, I can justifiably bring Liao Qi and Bukla over, and call it "part of the trial".

Of course, the risk of doing this is very high - in fact, if he hadn't been calm enough to resist the impulse until the last second and didn't dodge it, he would have been exposed long ago.

But he can't be so lucky every time. In other words, this can only be regarded as a last resort in an emergency.

But even so, as a native person walking in the abyss and dark web, being able to summon a guy with depth 1 or depth 3 can be used as a last resort, no matter how you say it, it is a bit more confidence.

So, the next step is to send them away.

After all, Liao Qi's stand-in is almost dead now...

……

After Booker finished speaking, he looked at the other party very anxiously.

And "Paradox" didn't answer, but just spread out his right hand.

Countless finely divided color blocks were formed in his hands, and finally turned into a constantly rotating star tetrahedron.

"Mr. Paradox, what the hell is..."

Liao Qi, who was on the side with a lot of air out and less air in, asked in a nonchalant manner.

"Paradox" still didn't reply, but let the star tetrahedron wander around the entire hall silently.

It captured those floating printing permissions, and finally returned them to the hands of "paradox".

Then, with a wave of his hand, several data balls symbolizing the printing authority were directly buried in the body of Liao Qi who was dying.

Once again, without Mandala's certification, but directly submerged in it-demonstrating the absolute control of "paradox" over them.

The two of them immediately refloated.

"Then see you next time."

Before Booker's consciousness returned to his body, he heard "paradox"'s final farewell.

…………

Jiang Zhou looked at the swarm drone hovering in his hand—that is, the "star tetrahedron" that Booker saw earlier, and thought that he would write some special cognitive filters in the future .

In addition...

He turned on the visual interface again with eye tracking.

The signal showed that the first breadcrumb mark was not far from where he was at the moment.

…………

As if after a long dream, Booker and Liao Qi got up from the reclining chair at the same time.

Both of them were sweating profusely.

"It survived..."

Liao Qi touched his abdomen with some fear, it had been pierced three times by the predator spider.

"Thanks to you."

Booker also said with a look of fear.

With that said, he turned over and jumped off the recliner, unplugged the data cable on the brain-computer interface and said:
"Are all the printing permissions placed in your body by the 'paradox' before true?"

Jiang Zhou didn't expect that after returning to the basic reality, the first question the other party asked would be this.

But he still nodded and replied:
"It's all true. You only need to provide energy and materials, and the printing can be completed now."

Booker didn't speak, but took out a cigarette case from his breast pocket.He knocked a cigarette out of it, put it in his mouth, touched the end of the cigarette with his forefinger, and microwaved it.

"If I remember correctly, there are two print permissions in there, exactly what is needed for the depth 2 Icarus path."

After exhaling two puffs of white smoke from his nostrils, he said so.

Jiang Zhou nodded.

For the Icarus path with a depth of 2, there are six printing permissions required:

Any type of lightweight subcutaneous armor, any type of mantis knife, Talos-type power frame, bio-electronic lung, broad-spectrum energy core, and multi-use magnetic wax control system.

The depth 2 transformation of the Icarus upgrade path, on the basis of continuing to enhance the melee ability of the adjuster, has increased the ability to manipulate the magnetic field within a short distance-although it is not as exaggerated as stopping bullets with bare hands, but for machines without electromagnetic protection capabilities Speaking of it, it is completely capable of paralyzing it with a wave of hand.

"Apart from those two modification authorities, the organization only has Talos-type power skeletons and has no reserves."

Booker said so.

In other words, now only need to collect the last transformation permission, Liao Qi can try to carry out the adjustment and transformation of depth 2.

Jiang Zhou nodded.

"Moreover, He also gave us an ultimate energy storage device, allowing us to activate the universal printer."

Booker continued.

The ultimate accumulator is an ultra-high-energy battery of unknown principle, which can store an extremely exaggerated amount of energy-large enough to run a universal printer.

Looking at those printing permissions, he always felt that everything was calculated by the other party.

Jiang Zhou on the side naturally understood what Booker meant, but he couldn't say that it was really just a coincidence, so he had to change the topic away.

"Then the question now is, where does the energy to start the universal printer and print out the limit energy storage come from?"

Jiang Zhou said so.

Booker fell silent for a moment with a cigarette in his mouth.

So the "paradox" is not so "inexhaustible", is it?
Jiang Zhou thought to himself.

After a long time, Booker flicked the cigarette ash and said:
"I will find a way to do this... Also, those printing permissions that were placed on you by the 'paradox' earlier..."

"Do you need to submit it to the organization's reserve?"

Jiang Zhou asked.

In response, Booker shook his head again and again.

"Of course it's impossible, otherwise how can we explain it?"

Then he continued:

"This matter is a secret between the two of us. It is best not to tell anyone. And those printing permissions, except for the limit energy storage that is needed to activate the universal printer, the others are temporarily entrusted to you for safekeeping ... After all, He chooses to give things to you every time, and this may be related to the fact that you have the right to use the universal printer."

Having said that, Booker still didn't express his somewhat selfish thoughts.

It would be great if "paradox" can decipher your mandala code, but please don't put anything on me afterwards...

He wished that the other party would not find him.

Jiang Zhou nodded and said:
"Then if you need to print something, just tell me directly."

After all, the harvest from killing the Arachne II stalker earlier was quite large, and it was impossible for him to use all those things.

The two tacitly did not continue to continue the topic related to the "paradox".

Jiang Zhou didn't want to talk about it, or didn't know how to talk about it; Booker wanted to clarify the whole thing before talking about it.

It was also at this time that Booker found that his communication channel had been blown up by the person in charge of the company's liaison room.

"Leader Erwin, the guest said that if you don't arrive within 10 minutes, she will regard you as giving up the negotiation."

Jiang Zhou, who was also on the communication channel, also heard this sentence, and he asked curiously:
"Who is the guest he is talking about?"

Booker raised his head, his expression full of anxiety:
"Pluto's Deep Diver executive, Perther Fanny...we have to get going."

(End of this chapter)