In Fuuto: Starting as a Kamen Rider 01

Page 19

"The manufacturing process for the combat-type Humagear 'Ya' has been initiated."

"Base body construction, AI core infusion, system debugging... all processes are proceeding simultaneously."

"The activation of the host body is expected to be completed in 72 hours."

72 hours.

Three days later, he will witness the birth of his first pure AI elite warrior.

Su Chen turned his gaze to the window again.

The night in the windy city remains deep.

But at this moment, the future of this city seemed to become a little clearer in his eyes.

The vast Zero One Technology Empire, a rising star in the world of technology, is now officially beginning to build its military power, which lies hidden beneath the surface, under the codename "Blade Yua".

This is just the beginning.

Chapter Eighteen: A Huge Funding Gap

The "Second Wind Tower" project was officially launched with the joint efforts of Su Chen and Councilor Takashima.

This news was like a bombshell, causing a huge stir in the city.

The project's grand blueprint was presented in detail to the people of the entire Fengdu through a grand press conference.

On the screen, the colossal skyscraper, a fusion of cutting-edge technology and futuristic aesthetics, resembles a sword piercing the sky, heralding the arrival of a new era.

Inside and outside the venue, cheers and shouts rose and fell like a tsunami, lasting for a long time.

The public's expectations and enthusiasm were completely ignited, reaching an unprecedented high.

Without exception, the front pages of major media outlets were dominated by the names of "Second Wind Tower" and Zero One Technology.

As a result, Zero One Technology's reputation soared to an unparalleled peak.

In Fengdu, Su Chen's name has almost become synonymous with legend and the future.

However, behind this dazzling honor and unparalleled prestige lies a bottomless pit of financial investment.

The initial budget for the project, even just a preliminary estimate, was already an astronomical figure that would suffocate any consortium.

The towering structure requires state-of-the-art shape memory metals and special composite materials, each ton of which is priceless.

The city’s network of smart sensors, which covers the entire city, is like the city’s nervous system, and the cost of its deployment and maintenance is staggering.

Furthermore, the planned next-generation urban three-dimensional transportation system, the research and development of maglev trains and unmanned aerial vehicles are burning through money like crazy.

Every sub-project and every technological milestone is consuming Zero One Technology's financial reserves at an alarming rate.

Despite the powerful female legislator, Takashima, making a solemn promise at the press conference to provide financial support from the government.

However, this huge sum of money needs to go through layers of approval from the city council and then through the cumbersome procedures of the finance department.

This process is lengthy and complex, and the money will never arrive immediately.

Before government funding arrives, the vast majority of the huge initial startup capital for the project needs to be advanced by Zero One Technology.

This was merely the first major obstacle weighing on Su Chen.

Su Chen's own grand plan is also an absolute money-devouring behemoth.

His vision for future technology goes far beyond just a single tower.

Shark Tear Programming Sublimation Key.

Flying Falcon Programming Key.

Frozen Polar Bear Programming Key.

The development of these Ascension Keys, each with special capabilities tailored to different combat environments, involves every theoretical breakthrough, every experimental failure, every data correction, and every successful finalization, all accompanied by the consumption of extremely expensive special materials and the wear and tear on precision instruments.

A small mistake could mean losing millions or even tens of millions of dollars.

The construction of the "Ames" unit, on which he placed high hopes, was a money-draining affair with no upper limit.

As the core combat force of the unit, Kujo Aya's existing weapons and equipment are somewhat outdated and urgently need to be comprehensively upgraded to adapt to stronger enemies that may appear in the future.

The soon-to-be-born "Blade Yua" model combat Humagear, as Kujo Aya's successor and technology demonstrator, has a manufacturing cost that, according to preliminary calculations, is more than ten times that of Kujo Aya's current equipment.

This is just the cost of a single machine.

Su Chen's final plan also includes the large-scale production of combat Humagear units.

That would be a truly immeasurable and enormous expense, enough to empty the treasury of any small or medium-sized country.

With this shift in power, a real and serious problem, like a cold blade, pressed against Su Chen's throat.

A terrifyingly large funding gap appeared in his accounts.

In the cold and silent president's office, the air seemed to freeze due to the heavy pressure.

The intelligent secretary, Izzy, stood respectfully beside Su Chen, as always.

Her blue electronic eyes remained completely expressionless as she reported the latest financial statements in a purely rational tone devoid of any human emotion.

Each number was like a small hammer, striking Su Chen's heart.

"Reporting to the president."

"Based on the company's current cash flow situation and the speed of capital expenditure for each initiated project, we have made precise calculations."

"Without a new large injection of funds, our company account will show a deficit in 17 days, down to the hour."

Seventeen days.

This number is like a death knell.

"At that time, the expansion plan of the 'Ames' forces will have to be suspended."

"The development of all subsequent program sublimation keys will also face the huge risk of complete stagnation."

Izzy's report was clear and ruthless, showing no mercy.

Su Chen leaned back deeply in the large leather chair, his slender fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the smooth mahogany tabletop.

The "knock-knock" sound emanating from the desktop was particularly clear in the quiet office.

He underestimated the true difficulty of building a multi-field technological empire from scratch in this unfamiliar world.

The company's current project profits are far from sufficient to meet his enormous investment needs, which are like a black hole in the universe.

His ambitions were too great, and he moved too fast.

He needs money.

A lot of money.

Moreover, this money must be a large cash flow that can be quickly received in the short term and can solve the immediate crisis.

Conventional financing methods, whether bank loans or seeking new investors, all take time and cannot meet his urgent needs.

Su Chen's eyes narrowed slightly at one point.

A glint of light, usually hidden deep within him and carrying a hint of danger, flashed across his eyes.

“Iz”.

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness.

"Is there... any unconventional way?"

In Izzy's electronic eyes, which were like the purest sapphire, the blue light suddenly intensified.

She seemed to instantly grasp the deeper meaning behind Su Chen's words.

"Yes, sir."

Her voice remained steady, without any hesitation.

"The Yake AI system will immediately conduct high-level in-depth data mining and multi-dimensional analysis of all underground economic networks in Fengdu."

"Our core objective is to find the most efficient and direct funding options."

A "data hunt" targeting the dark gray areas of Fengdu, and even the pitch-black underworld, began silently at this moment.

Ark's terrifying computing power, like an invisible giant hand, reached into the unknown corners of this city.

Chapter Nineteen: The Arena on the Dark Web

The word "terrifying" is an understatement when describing Ark's computing power.

When this super artificial intelligence satellite, suspended in geosynchronous orbit, focuses its vast computing power, as boundless as the stars, into the depths of the intricate underground network of the city of Fengdu.

Those digital barriers that countless hackers consider insurmountable and that major organizations are proud of are as fragile as the morning mist in front of Ark.

The seemingly impenetrable firewall was instantly reduced to dust.

The encrypted data stream melted away quickly, like ice and snow exposed to the scorching sun.

Countless secret deals hidden in the shadows of the city are exposed.

The mysterious flow of funds was precisely tracked.

Various shady underground industries have been completely stripped of their disguise.

Everything was transformed into the coldest, most direct raw data, cascading down like a waterfall, ultimately converging into a dynamic panoramic view of evil, presented with unparalleled clarity before Su Chen's eyes.

Iz stood quietly beside Su Chen.

Her demeanor was more professional and composed than that of any of the world's top financial analysts.

In the icy blue electronic eyes, data streams flashed by like a waterfall, transforming the information analyzed by Ark into language that Su Chen could easily understand.

"President."

"According to Yak's in-depth scan and ranking of all illegal financial flows in the underground world of Fengdu, the top three categories with the largest financial volumes are: the trafficking of highly toxic drugs, the forbidden human trafficking, and the highly profitable arms smuggling."

Izzy's voice was calm and devoid of any emotion, as if she were reciting an insignificant weather report.

"But all three of these points are seriously contrary to our pre-established principles of action."

"Moreover, they are extremely likely to touch the sensitive nerves of international organizations, thereby attracting unpredictable excessive attention and chain reactions."

"The risk rating is determined to be 'extremely high'."