The basic merger details were settled.

Kart Sigma began introducing an overview of the city.

"Recursive City is a service-oriented city, and our three core services include, stack services, database leasing, and data models."

"Everyone knows about stack services, I won't mention them here."

"Database services provide organizations and individuals with storage mediums to house their proprietary databases. Fees are calculated based on the amount of stored data, ranging from ¥0.08 Light Seed/GB/month to ¥0.12 Light Seed/GB/month."

"For example, the Alchemist Association rented a database in our city to store some encrypted data for 3 years. It was only until last winter that they decided not to renew. New cities often offer the same services at a cheaper rate, usually with certain discounts and promotions."

Zhou Yi understood.

The Alchemist Association also knew how to take advantage of promotions, specifically seeking out freshly opened city facilities to cut costs.

Sigma said, "Data models involve turning the objective phenomena or happenings in the world into data. Through data processing, we derive solutions to problems."

"This application is quite extensive. It can calculate the temperature and soil changes of a region, and can also construct technical models to simulate the outcomes of new technologies. With sufficient resource investment, it's even possible to simulate the evolution of a city."

"It was through data models that we discovered the continuous decline of Recursive City, identifying that traditional methods could not resolve the issue."

Zhou Yi noticed that these services were great, but there was a small problem.

Expensive.

Since he was investing in Recursive City, he needed to consider the city's future development plan.

Zhou Yi called over Bone Man Sun Chonglai, Qian Su, Yuan Tong, and 703.

They were the main revenue generators for the company.

Hearing about the company's investment in Recursive City, everyone was excited and offered their suggestions.

Qian Su's opinion was, "As long as Recursive City transforms, it can see a profitable future. Although the current environment is turbulent, the more chaotic it is, the more valuable certain resources become."

Sigma paused, with the lights of the kart flickering: "Are you referring to Light Seed, or Light Imprint Devices?"

"Neither, it's news, news!"

Iron Head Girl slammed her fist on the table in frustration: "You are not at all sensitive to market demands! No wonder the profitability is poor!"

Zhou Yi nodded in agreement, greatly approving: "Qian Su is right. Mechanical City is releasing a large amount of news these days, dominating the informational space of various cities, thus guiding public opinion."

"All groups seeking real intelligence are extremely reliant on their own information networks. If Recursive City can gather its own information, becoming a third-party news provider—we don't even have to set our standards too high, just mark the source of the information, release the news under Mechanical City's censorship, and keep it updated, we'll have plenty of audience."

"Take this occasion, for instance, Mechanical City warned all stacks against publishing news unfavorable to them. We can reveal the actual situation, such as Turbo City being besieged, Chuneng City being destroyed."

"Of course, this information won't be free but visible only to our subscribed customers, as part of a VIP-level news service. There will also be first-hand technical consultations, such as Floating Heart, gliders, refrigeration boxes; we would premier these as well."

Zhou Yi smiled: "I believe, many customers would be willing to pay for this. People like me, Duke Destructive, Lord Dominator, would definitely be willing to spend their budget on this service. Reducing information asymmetry would aid in making the right decisions."

"Relevant services can also be differentiated, with multiple tiers. The higher the customer level, the greater the confidentiality of the information received, such as Death Light Weapon intelligence, which could be offered to high-tier customers."

Sigma fell into thought.

"That is indeed... We have quite a few intelligence sources, but in the past, due to universal protocol controls, much information had to be audited before releasing to the public."

"If we turn it into a customized service, not only could we earn continuous service fees, but we can also reduce the pressure from public exposure of sensitive information."

"That's a brilliant idea!! Plus, it's a sustainable revenue source!"

Zhou Yi gave Qian Su an approving look.

Iron Head Girl and he were on the same wavelength this time.

"Chairman, about that... Actually, I wasn't talking about news."

Qian Su adjusted her hat, gauging the mood cautiously: "My idea is about instant messaging communication."

Eh?

Zhou Yi became serious: "Let's hear it."

Encouraged by his gaze, the girl eased up and opened up: "Currently, our communication relies on stack services. It's only usable by Mechanical life, and the equipment requirements are high. Even for a regional sea lord, just one stack service is enough."

"I think what's lacking even more is the internal communication technology within a territory."

"Standard enhanced controllers can exchange information, but the distance requirements are stringent, and they need accompanying Transmission Piles. The price of a Transmission Pile is 50 Light Seeds each, but its coverage is only 500 meters, which is clearly too expensive."

"I'm thinking of producing a device similar to walkie-talkies."

"Walkie-talkies are technology from the age of the gods. Although there are many prototypes, the price is still steep. Can we not make a simple replica that allows conversation covering a region?"

"This way, orders and messages can be rapidly transmitted. It would have significant meaning for local security, trade, emergency response, construction, research, and urgent measures."

Zhou Yi turned his gaze to Sigma: "Can it be done?"

"It's not difficult."

Sigma immediately replied: "But will such a rudimentary tool actually be needed? Can it really be profitable?"

"..."

Zhou Yi and Qian Su both had speechless expressions.

Now he realized that Mechanical City's innovation direction was completely off.

Only considering high-end demands, too focused on the perfection of tools, but neglecting the more important needs of the general masses.

Completely disconnected from the populace.

Of course, the goods couldn't be sold.

This also made it increasingly difficult for them to earn profits.

"It's precisely because of your lofty aspirations without considering the actual situation that the city's condition has continued to decline!"

"You can't pursue high-end R&D, and you're unwilling to handle ordinary low-end work. How can you run a city's economy like this?"

Zhou Yi rebuked Sigma, "With this approach, how can you possibly improve Recursive City!"

The go-karts trembled as they were berated.

After the scolding, Zhou Yi calmed down, "Sigma, you have to understand this. Technology that no one uses or needs is worthless."

"Two-way radios are devices and technologies needed everywhere, they may not be very profitable, but technology is constantly evolving and developing."

"Just like our company's products. The first-generation refrigeration boxes were crude, then we had bamboo-made refrigeration boxes, and more expensive cabinet-style refrigeration boxes. After the single-person gliders, we introduced manned gliders... Demand is upped step by step."

"If we can get everyone to use two-way radios, then once they become accustomed to the convenience of this technology, they will all pursue better quality products. It's like after using guns, it's very difficult to go back to using bows and arrows."

Ultimately, Sigma admitted their mistake.

"I understand, Chairman. Demand is critical."

"News services, two-way radios, after returning, Recursive City will immediately begin these two projects."

Zhou Yi nodded, "Right, 5 million Light Seeds, should I deliver them to your city or how should we proceed with the transaction?"

"This concerns city shares, it's best for the Chairman to make the trip personally, so you can feel assured, completing the company's stake in Recursive City."

Sigma said, "We are cashing out this portion of the shares mainly to settle an external debt of 5 million Light Seeds. This debt is from Holy Mountain and Mirror City, we need to resolve the debt to fully extricate ourselves from their influence and constraints."

Zhou Yi nodded.

"Then, I'll have Yuan Xiao and Red Kestrel make this trip, to hand over this batch of Light Seeds there, cleaning up the debt. Have Red Kestrel sign the agreement on my behalf and make a formal declaration to the public."

Angel of Death and the drone took their orders.

After the meeting concluded.

Yuan Xiao's entourage immediately set off on their journey.

...

Zhou Yi was about to take a short rest when he noticed Unit 703 stayed in place, without moving an inch.

"What's the matter?"

The robotic dog approached and said, "Chairman, there is an urgent matter that I need to report to you privately."

"Speak."

"I have received information that even though many Mechanical Knights have been captured, their community is growing rapidly, and the numbers are already very substantial, so the impact has been minimal. Today's Mechanical Knights not only include mechanical life forms but also Bone Men, Guangna Species, and even regular humans."

703 reported, "Many technologies and knowledge have been disseminated externally through the 'key'."

"In any city, there exist Mechanical Knights; they are impossible to capture entirely. Within the Knight orders, there is no complete list of all members, which is also a form of protection for everyone."

"We have no racial restrictions, we simply share knowledge, anyone can be a Mechanical Knight."

Zhou Yi was surprised and reflective, "Your vision and courage surpass that of the old Mechanical City. If everyone is a Mechanical Knight, then the spirit you promote cannot be eradicated."

703 said, "Furthermore, the Knight order's 'Laozi' and 'Zhuang Zi' have been reborn."

Reborn?

Zhou Yi was stunned, "You mean, these two names are just codes? It's hereditary."

"Yes! Could it be... that you are also a Knight!"

703 was shocked.

"No... just that from what you say, everyone would know..."

"Oh!"

Zhou Yi inquired further, "How do you choose Laozi and Zhuang Zi?"

"As soon as the former Laozi and Zhuang Zi were captured and imprisoned, file number five of the Knight order was triggered. The 'Torch' program began, selecting two new leaders according to a series of conditions."

The robotic dog explained, "No matter how many Laozi and Zhuang Zi are captured or killed, new ones will always emerge to continue leading the Mechanical Knights, pushing and promoting mechanical lives."

"This is also a challenging and dangerous job, becoming Laozi and Zhuang Zi means carrying the banner of the Knight order, and any targeting will be focused on them. Just like this time."

"So if the successor is unwilling, the 'Torch' will pass the responsibility onto the next candidate until a new inheritor is chosen."

This was something Zhou Yi had never heard of before.

Zhou Yi was curious, "What if everyone is unwilling?"

"So far, that hasn't happened, probably because there are enough Mechanical Knights."

"Can other human Knights or Guangna Species Knights be chosen by the 'Torch' program as well?"

"It's possible."

Zhou Yi suddenly realized, "These procedures, were they announced within the Knight order?"

"No. This is a secret, part of the confidential content of 'Torch'."

"Then how do you know about it?"

703's single eye emitted a red glow: "Chairman, because I am the new 'Zhuang Zi'."

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