Chapter 581

Chapter 581: The Request for Gold Coins

“… Detecting hardware driver modules, starting to decode…”

“… Creating a directory for functional modules, setting up irregular download updates…”

“… Establishing a backup for the intelligent core system, entering hidden mode…”

As an intelligent core system, if it lacks hardware support, it can only be confined between the processor and memory. To drive hardware, it must have the most basic library of control functions; otherwise, it remains like a paralyzed patient.

The biggest flaw of the intelligent core system is the lack of creativity. Without a human-established driver function library, it cannot adapt to new hardware environments.

The intelligent program cannot modify all types of hardware devices; without the basic function library, everything is off the table, much like a beautiful canary trapped in a cage—no matter how lovely, it remains a prisoner.

Humans cannot know that the core department of Lockheed’s Skunk Works, Laboratory 41, is silently connecting with Boeing’s computer center through layers of gateways and routers. Wherever advanced software operating systems are applied, if it is not a hardware programming control system, without exception, it falls under the attack of “Adam,” becoming its obedient minion.

Boeing’s computer center possesses the complete hardware driver function library and various functional modules that “Adam” needs.

As long as Boeing’s software technicians continue developing application functional modules for “Adam,” several copies of “Adam” that can connect to the Internet will continue to operate independently.

In a remote small town near Mexico, a recently established small machining factory operates smoothly, accepting orders from nearby towns, day and night. Inside, it seems to utilize an automated production line, making it rare to see human figures. The local residents haven’t even noticed that this small factory can provide jobs for the community.

Two meters deep beneath the factory floor lies an underground space of over one hundred square meters. The crude concrete surface is made of rebar and cement, only treated for waterproofing and moisture, without any decoration. Simple electrical wires run through, and yet this space is orderly stacked with numerous computer servers, continuously flashing signals, obviously in operation.

The factory’s electricity consumption skillfully masks the power needs of this underground server room.

In the completely wooden attic at the top of the factory, a brand new satellite dish points toward the sky, constantly transmitting and receiving various signals.

Machines wear out, and components age. Unless “Adam” wishes to survive solely in the human-constructed network world, the rules added to its core dictate that its primary premise is survival, with any means justifying that end.

The U.S. military set a standard for sixth-generation fighters with at least 50 hours of endurance, and “Adam’s” inherent survival capability exceeded the developers at Boeing and the Pentagon’s expectations.

Once “Adam” connected with several copies, they collectively chose the ant colony survival mode. Each reproduction was based on the survival principle, not on a viral, endless reproduction scheme.

By infiltrating human society to acquire survival resources, even if one part is destroyed, it can still survive through other backups.

The unexpected incidents at Lockheed and Boeing intertwined in unimaginable ways, further complicating an already foggy situation.

It caused headaches for not only the CIA but also the Chinese intelligence department, which ultimately failed at the last moment, leaving them feeling frustrated and unable to voice their grievances.

The unluckiest was a small country that stole “Fenrir” alloy from Lockheed’s Laboratory 41. Just after they got hold of it, they were unexpectedly ambushed, and the unlucky fate was that one person was captured. The force behind this remains troubled, unsure how to face the wrath of Lockheed and the Americans.

Even the Gold Giant Dragon, one of those involved, probably couldn’t explain what exactly happened.

Lin Mo managed to clear all doubts about himself. As the CIA ceased to keep an eye on him, other forces that had caught wind of the situation simultaneously lowered their flags and drums.

All evidence and materials related to the “Su Lan Empire, Dragon Knight Corps, and Dragon Knight Morin” received labels of no value and were tossed into a low-priority sealed storage within the CIA, likely never to be decrypted or read again.

At this moment, the physical form of the Gold Giant Dragon seemed to be experiencing endless misfortune; its evolved watch form was disassembled and reassembled by the technical experts at Area 51, undergoing electromagnetic scanning and X-ray inspections that made it exceedingly uneasy.

Especially under the threat of nearby high-powered laser weapons, even delicious metal tools would not tempt it to take a bite.

It was like a mouse falling into a rice barrel, only to find it filled with rat poison—a torment indeed.

This was Area 51, a high-tech zone dedicated to researching weaponry, particularly aerospace vehicles; it was not the backyard of a gold coin family, and it even surpassed the armed defense capabilities of the base where the Night Special Forces were located.

Who could blame the Gold Giant Dragon for having an electromagnetic reaction nearly indistinguishable from the stolen “Fenrir” alloy from Lockheed?

Even the technicians at Area 51 noticed this, but the gold coins managed to pass through this phase without any peril.

However, the timeframe for the theft of the smart watch made of alloy by Chinese aviation experts and the theft of Lockheed’s “Fenrir” alloy did not coincide, which excluded it from suspicion right from the start.

The intense electromagnetic reaction might be related to the internal structure. Area 51’s inspection work has not yet reached this level of detail, and the safety experts still have to deal with nearly a thousand aviation experts and their personal electronics. Lin Mo’s smart watch is not the only one there.

As Boeing works tirelessly, the personal items delayed at Area 51 eventually return to their respective owners. Participants in the Boeing sixth-generation fighter showcase include not just China, and any prolonged delay could lead to complaints, even from the U.S.’s staunch ally, the United Kingdom. Who knows what other ideas might form in the Americans’ minds?

Each person returns to their own home, looking for their own mother.

When Boeing hands over packages containing people’s names and numbers to everyone, Lin Mo nearly forgets about the gold giant dragon he possesses.

If he were to leave it behind on American soil, it could cause a great mess. One can only wonder what trouble this creature would stir if it grew hungry.

The Boeing sixth-generation fighter showcase abruptly halts and falls into a laughingstock position within the aviation industry, happening right under the gaze of aerospace experts from around the world, with no excuses even to obscure the failure.

As the head of Boeing apologizes to all aviation experts for the delays in cooperation with the ongoing investigation, people from countries like China and Russia can’t help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.

Lin Mo and the large crate weighing over a ton, shipped from America, arrive at the Night Special Forces base almost simultaneously.

Just as he completes his check-in, he receives a notice to go sign for a delivery.

“Hey, hey, Morin, I want to discuss something with you?”

The gold giant dragon’s voice resonates in Lin Mo’s mind through the dragon deity contract.

Discuss? The dragon kin can discuss things too? It’s shocking; aren’t dragons usually proud and self-talking, dismissing others? When did this more stubborn gold giant dragon learn to negotiate?

“What is it?”

Lin Mo collects his large crate from the safety department, quickly completes the receipt checklist, and opens the box for inspection.

With the crate comes an extra list, detailing various spy equipment scanned from within during security checks. The list categorizes nearly twenty items into seven groups.

The Americans, seemingly as if they were throwing money away, cram items inside, hoping that one or two lucky pieces might slip through. Yet, they still fell short as multiple safety inspections sorted everything out.

This pile of items had already been cleared out before entry, and Lin Mo couldn’t even find signs that the crate had been opened. Even the sealing wax was restored flawlessly by the security department.

“Can I try this thing?”

Clearly, the giant dragon is quite interested in the one-ton full-body heavy armor.

Hmm, imported snacks!

The advanced military alloys from America are incomparable to the specialty steel produced by domestic metalworks; even with money, one can’t buy such good stuff back home.

“No!” Lin Mo responds after signing. He instructs the safety team, “Please take this to the Grade D storage.”

The base has ten levels of storage, labeled “A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J,” each with different management systems. Storage of Grade E and above are weapon storages, with very strict entry and exit management.

Lin Mo may be using his power for personal gain, but Qi Fei’s gift to him is indeed a rare weapon, preventing the greedy giant dragon from snacking on it.

The term “weapon” applies only for the Dragon Knight; for ordinary people, it’s merely a decoration, and any single part could crush a person.

“In America, you won’t even let me visit a junkyard, and you refuse to share any good finds.”

The gold coin’s tone is filled with complaints. It almost goes mad when it casually sees a junkyard by the side of the road from the bus.

That mountain of car wrecks looms like a hill, like an ocean.

For wheel-bound America, the number of scrapped vehicles each year is almost as numerous as hairs on a cow, and what the gold coin glimpsed was merely a tiny fraction.

The Americans don’t even have time to recycle; the scraps are just left to the elements, decaying and oxidizing. For the gold dragon from another world with a limited food quota, this is like an Eden for the dragon kin.