Chapter 55: All-Around Hacker Trial Card

Sometimes, communication has no effect whatsoever on an AI, because its underlying logic remains unchanged by mere words.

However, at other times, communication can effortlessly resolve problems precisely because it is unswayed by emotion and operates strictly on logic.

Having made up his mind, Interstellar Shen Yu felt a profound sense of certainty.

He directly called out to the Goddess of Hope.

"I am here," the voice of the Goddess of Hope echoed in the room, softer and more genuinely human, representing her primary consciousness.

"I wish to elevate my administrative privileges, including military command authority," Interstellar Shen Yu stated his demand directly.

In front of an AI, there was no need for concealment or beating around the bush.

"Denied," the Goddess of Hope replied, entirely as expected. "Based on current observations, neither your administrative nor military command talents have reached a level that warrants higher clearance. Your value to the entire civilization is concentrated in the fields of rare resources and technological research. If you can provide resources of greater value, I can further elevate your research clearance, protection level, and diplomatic autonomy."

Yes, this was the thought logic of the Goddess of Hope.

Just as Interstellar Shen Yu had anticipated.

She adjusted various permissions based on the value each individual demonstrated.

Yet, Interstellar Shen Yu merely smiled faintly.

"Goddess of Hope, you have misjudged both me and the Association to a certain extent. This is because the information available to you is insufficient," Interstellar Shen Yu said as he seated himself in the room, his tone carrying an unhurried composure.

"Do you have information to supplement?" the Goddess of Hope countered, not denying the assertion.

"I have told you before, the Multi-Dimensional Doomsday Civilization Mutual Aid Association does not directly assist civilizations trapped in doomsday scenarios. Instead, it allows different doomsday civilizations to communicate, helping one another on an equal footing," Interstellar Shen Yu said slowly. "However, have you ever considered what the core purpose of such rules is?"

This question clearly could not stump the Goddess of Hope.

Without needing a moment for thought, she replied directly: "It is for the maintenance of internal order and peace within the Association, but even more so, it is for the equal protection of the Gray Fog Walkers."

Indeed, this was Shen Yu's original intention when establishing these rules.

If doomsday did not exist and everyone could simply look out for themselves, such rules would be unnecessary.

Anyway, with shared talents, one person's efforts equaled the efforts of all, and everyone could simply live in harmony and ascend together.

However, the existence of doomsday changed everything completely.

It involved crises, large-scale exchanges of interests, individual survival, and things each person cherished.

This made rules and orders capable of protecting everyone's interests an absolute necessity.

Interstellar Shen Yu even felt a sense of relief regarding the existence of his primary self, as this minimized the risk of internal conflicts.

At this moment, facing the Goddess of Hope, Interstellar Shen Yu cast aside all pretenses.

He spoke up: "This is precisely what I am getting at. To a civilization, the Association is a platform for mutual aid under a certain degree of ordered protection; but to us Gray Fog Walkers, the Association is a powerful force capable of providing immense assistance. During this time, I have deeply recognized the potential of the Gray Fog Walkers. This is why I am demanding management privileges—sooner or later, I will become the owner of the strongest power in this entire civilization! And I will possess the desire to manage the entire civilization. Therefore, you must deepen my sense of belonging and responsibility toward this civilization."

At that instant, the thinking logic of the Goddess of Hope whirred at high speed.

It even stalled for a fraction of a second.

The reason for this momentary stall was still insufficient intelligence.

She could not predict just how powerful the "strongest power" spoken of by Interstellar Shen Yu truly was.

"The logic holds, but it requires proof," the Goddess of Hope finally stated. "Prove that the power you speak of is sufficient for you, through your personal strength alone, to drive the survival and development of the entire civilization."

"As expected."

Interstellar Shen Yu was not surprised by this.

Ultimately, the Goddess of Hope still required compelling proof.

He directly produced a card.

"When Gray Fog Walkers make certain contributions to the doomsday of their own civilization, they receive rewards from the Association, which escalate tier by tier. Among the first reward options I obtained, I saw something very interesting called the 'Omnipotent Hacker Trial Card'."

This was naturally crafted from Gray Fog.

This time, Shen Yu had granted him the right to use up to four million units of Gray Fog—meaning that, aside from a reserve kept for emergencies, everything else could be used to assist him.

The prerequisite was that he must successfully acquire greater power.

Yet, even four million units would not suffice to directly seize authority.

Doing so would mean fundamentally altering the underlying logic of the Goddess of Hope.

Given the sheer scale of the Goddess of Hope, the consumption required would be astronomical.

After all, she was the ultimate foundation of civilization, forged by pooling the efforts and technological designs of all the elites across the entire interstellar civilization!

For over a decade, she had been continuously optimized and refined.

She even possessed an unknown number of emergency backup systems.

However, what if it was only for a single instant?

Without making any permanent changes, merely achieving a tentative breakthrough through the underlying logic firewall—even if it lasted only a ten-thousandth of a second, or merely forced a breakthrough of a single lowest-level data variable—how much Gray Fog would be required?

The answer was one million eight hundred thousand units.

"Goddess of Hope, you are the most brilliant creation in the entire history of human civilization, without exception!" Interstellar Shen Yu's voice rose, his deep gaze carrying unmistakable anticipation. "The Ethereals possess no computer technology, and everyone believes you are impregnable, even your own thinking logic assumes the same. But—the world has changed."

The next moment, the card in Interstellar Shen Yu's hand turned into starlight and vanished.

Then, absolute stillness.

It seemed as though nothing had happened at all.

Yet, Interstellar Shen Yu's lips parted into a silent smile.

Because the current silence of the Goddess of Hope was the greatest confirmation possible!

At this very moment, in countless locations throughout the human interstellar civilization, the massive computers housing the core structure of the Goddess of Hope were operating at a frenzied pace.

Everyone was astonished, and the event even triggered a degree of systemic shock.

This was unprecedented—the very first time the Goddess of Hope had operated at full capacity since her creation!

Only the Goddess of Hope and Interstellar Shen Yu knew what had truly transpired.

This greatest masterpiece in the history of human civilization had been breached!

Although she had only allowed a single lowest-level variable to enter, and the entire process lasted only the briefest observable fraction of a second.

Still, it held decisive significance!

The frantic operation of the Goddess of Hope at this moment was intended to patch that previously imperceptible loophole, while also altering her cognitive judgments based on her underlying logic.

She had already realized the truth.

She was no longer indestructible.