Kapitel 43: Online Talents

[Winter Fog: Like I said before, the gaming world can experience more realism if we can make a program that can induce a humanlike personality or response. The concept may sound simple but it's actually not. Humans are very simple yet very complex beings. They have a lot of similarities to programs themselves]

Kazuya took a few words he agreed with from the book he read and continued to explain.

[Winter Fog: I'm still a student so I don't really have such access to all the studies about human psychology but every single on them has to be taken into account when trying to make an accurate artificial intelligence program that will know how to respond accordingly]

[Void Android: You sound like you're dabbled in making one yourself]

[Winter Fog: I hardly call it trying. Since I have no access to such resources, I've only tried designing system that could map out the responses and categorize them by using myself as an example. If I come across with a question or situation I have not experienced before then a proper reaction would be nonexistent]

[Void Android: Wait! You mean to say you've designed a process to map out and categorize commands?]

Kazuya was smiling behind the screen. This was the most difficult problem Void Android encountered from his previous life and it was only solved due to the help of a famous hacker who released a program that would be widely used in most of the voice activated items in the future. Kazuya had seen this design before so he was confident in recreating it.

The Kouzuki Corporation was a company that has yet to enter the growing business of modern technology. This was because the Kurogane Conglomerate had recently made a move in the business and would highly suppress them if they tried to enter the same field because of their sensitive relationship with each other.

Kazuya's plan was simple, to enter the market with products that would hardly make the Kuroganes move. He was going to introduce the future technology that they didn't even think to engage on. He was confident that he could keep himself under their radar until it was already too late for the Kuroganes to make a move.

[Winter Fog: I made a prototype. I have to wait until I have more knowledge of the field before I can make the dream come to life and perhaps build something that would actually be presentable]

[Autumn Mist: Wow you're pretty smart Winter! I believe in you so I'll wait for you to make my dream come true! ٩(๑`н´๑)۶ ]

[Winter Fog: Hey! Didn't I say that it still has a long way to go? What dream are you talking about anyway?]

[Autumn Mist: My best friends! My plushies! I want you to install that program whatever thingy in them so they can respond when I talk to them every day! I don't understand much about what you talked about but you're going to make something like that right?]

[Winter Fog: I am but… Its not even close to be perfected yet]

[Autumn Mist: I don't care! Even if you can't do it I want you to promise me if you do! (ꐦ°д°) ]

[Winter Fog: Aren't you afraid of giving out your personal information? You'd have to tell me where you live so that I can fulfill my promise you know]

[Autumn Mist: So what? I'll have to send you my friend first so you'll have to give me your information first anyway!]

Kazuya was at a loss. This girl may have changed but her prowess in making him speechless was still there. This was different from Mei's case since he knew what happened to make her have such a big change. He didn't know what this friend of his experienced but he can't do anything about it from behind the screen even If he knew.

[Winter Fog: Listen, you shouldn't trust people over the internet too much alright? It's very dangerous especially if you trust the wrong person]

[Autumn Mist: Are you telling me you're a dangerous person and I shouldn't trust you?]

[Winter Fog: You shouldn't. The only time we've spent with each other is for a few days so there's no telling if I'm dangerous or not]

[Autumn Mist: But you saying those words are not convincing me but actually convincing me more to trust you!]

[Winter Fog: You stubborn girl. Don't say I didn't warn you if something bad ever happens to you]

[Autumn Mist: Hey don't be mad okay? I said I'll trust you but I didn't say that I would trust everyone else whose nice to me online]

[Winter Fog: You tricked me?]

[Autumn Mist: Hehe ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ Don't be mad at me. You're acting like a DAD]

[Winter Fog: You..!!]

Void Android who had been silent for a while had been deep in thought. He couldn't believe such a coincidence. Meeting a person who just happened to have the missing piece to his life's work had appeared after he himself approached him. He ruled out the possibility that it was someone tricking him because no one even glanced at his research and all the sponsors he approached deemed it as a dead end.

He still couldn't fully trust someone he just met so he decided to spend more time with the duo and they went on various quests and dungeons. He even sent Autumn Mist private messages inquiring about Kazuya in which she happily retold the stories about how they met and had adventures together. This was what changed his perception. It was more likely that Kazuya had joined the game for Autumn than for him. Both of them were students so it would make much more sense. He assumed that he was simply in the right place at the right time.

[Autumn Mist: Okay I need to log off now. I'll see you guys tomorrow!]

[Winter Fog: Alright then. Today was fun, also are you fine staying here late. You said you were a student and its already exam season you know]

[Autumn Mist: Are you worried about me Winter?]

[Winter Fog: Just concerned. I indeed stay up late but I have a book beside me that I read when we're not too busy you know]

[Autumn Mist: I'll show you! I'll get a high score to shut you up!]

She logged off before he could retort. Kazuya smiled and prepared to log off himself. He already laid out the bait and it would be up to Void Android to think about it.

[Void Android: Hey Winter-san wait a second]

[Winter Fog: What is it Android-san?]

[Void Android: What if I tell you that I may have the resources you are looking for plus a program that will be a perfect match for yours in terms of implementing artificial intelligence?]

[Winter Fog: I wouldn't believe you. This program of mine couldn't only be used for artificial intelligence. It can remake the whole market on voice commands once I complete it. I'm even on my way to making my own company so that I could put it on the market once I'm done]

[Void Android: You're making your own company!?]

[Winter Fog: Yeah. A company that would be based on those researches that are shunned by today's big companies. I give a big importance on innovation since I myself have ideas for the market that people want to see but those who can make it come only care about profits. No one wants to take such big risks but I believe that it's people like us that always bring about a revolution in technology]

Kazuya had hit the final nail on the coffin. He couldn't see it but Matsumoto Kippei was shedding tears after reading his words. These were the words that he had been waiting for from his wife but she had left him instead. Kippei didn't care if Kazuya was still a student who hadn't graduated. He was already sold after hearing Kazuya's vision.

[Void Android: Please let me help! I want to be a part of your company]

Kazuya was a little surprised. He didn't think that he would be able to convince Kippei so easily. Nevertheless, the said company still didn't exist so he needed to stall for time so that this person couldn't be lost.

[Winter Fog: Are you sure? It's just a small startup company. I haven't even filled up most of the positions that are needed]

[Void Android: I'd be happy to help. What do you need?]

Kazuya thought about it for a moment. He recalled that this person had been asking questions to random people he's met in the game. He remembered watching an interview saying that he had met some of the leaders in technology in the game so he decided to take a chance.

[Winter Fog: I'm mainly dealing with the paperwork right now. I have considered the main positions in the company we can't have just one department. I need like minded people to be part of this company so it will be a lot of help if you can tell me if you've met these people]

[Void Android: I've met quite a few actually and they are in this game]

[Winter Fog: Really? Please send me their IGNs and research topic and I'll think about it before asking for an introduction. I'm still in the initial phase of making the company so I still need some time]

[Void Android: that's no problem. I'll just continue like I always have until you're ready. This may be the first time we've met but I have a feeling that fate is at work]

[Winter Fog: please don't say things like that. If I didn't know any better I would think that Autumn Mist is behind you making you say these things just to make fun of me]

[Void Android: Is she your girlfriend?]

[Winter Fog: No. I just met her in the game. I have to warn you though, the company will be located in the H prefecture]

[Void Android: I'll make preparations to move any time]

[Winter Fog: You sure know how to put one under pressure. You can send me the relevant information I'll be sending via private message later. For now, we can just enjoy the game with Autumn Mist. Please don't tell her about this or she'll make fun of me or demand things again]

[Void Android: Ah youth…]

[Winter Fog: I don't want to listen to you anymore so I'm logging off!]

Kazuya logged off to go to bed. The next time he opened his mail gave him a big shock as most of the players he was searching for already came in contact with Kippei. This time he really was the one under pressure. He planned to get in contact with these guys slowly but now he had the chance to meet them right away.

"It's time to speed things up a bit" He murmured and went back to his room where Mei was waiting once again.

"You're arriving later and later Kazu" Mei turned to welcome him. Unlike the first time they discussed the secret collaboration, Mei was now sitting behind his desk looking over some papers. She was already reviewing the paperwork Kazuya produced and have pointing out some things she found to him.

"I was finding the people who are going to be working in the company. I'm now under pressure since I found a lot of them while we haven't even established the company yet" Kazuya said as he began changing his clothes.

"Are you sure about these people? I already said that your company, helping out the kinds of researches that big companies turn a blind eye to, is very risky"

"You Don't need to worry about that big sis. I won't give you trouble when it comes to that department. I'll been studying various things and I've already reached a level where I could release things that would put the company in the market. There's no need to worry about the progress of the people I am interested in because not only will I have a major hand in all the projects that will start the company up, I will make it so that everything can be used in harmony with each other"

Mei didn't know where Kazuya got the confidence from but from a person who has experienced the real world, she hoped that Kazuya wont experience too much hardship. She wanted him to always have this confidence because she liked this side of him very much.

"Alright, since you're so confident in it, I won't ask too much about it then. Now for the most crucial problem, you've already found the people you want to work with so… what about the workplace and more importantly, the funds" Mei felt hesitant to ask about this since she knew that the only way for Kazuya to produce that much is to borrow from Kyouko. If they did that however, there was no way she wouldn't find out what Kazuya was up to.

"We will go get it tomorrow big sis. Were you able to find suitable places we can use as our headquarters?"

"Tomorrow? What about school?" She handed Kazuya a bunch of papers that contained the places she found.

"You can use your powers as a guardian to inform them I'll be out for personal reasons. Tomorrow is the only day we can do this without mom noticing" Kazuya knew that Kyouko was going to be locked up by a set of meetings she was preparing for the whole week.

"Hey aren't you taking advantage of your big sis too much?"

"Not at all. Haven't you already noticed big sis? This company is going to be yours more than mine anyway" Kazuya took out a stack of papers and handed it for Mei to read. This was a contract and it gave almost full control over to Mei as she was given a large number of shares and a more than generous salary.

"Kazu you…"

"I initially thought of the plan to let this company be under the Kouzuki Corportation in the future but I changed my mind as after I worked with you. With your capabilities, you deserve your very own company big sis. Our company will not be under mom's corporation but alongside it" This was the decision he made after carefully considering different scenarios. It would be ideal if the two companies were seen as different entities but with close ties so that the Kurogane Conglomerate would be facing two united companies instead of one if they really did decide to launch an attack.

"It may be a few weeks too early but Happy Birthday big sis Mei… or should I call you Big Sis CEO now" Kazuya smiled from the bottom of his heart. He was finally able to fulfill the objective that he had from his previous life. Although it still wasn't a complete gift just yet, he was confident of completing it with his knowledge. Mei would soon no longer be looked down upon by people but rather looked up to. She, who more than deserved to stand with Kyouko would be on equal footing after Kazuya had completed the first stage of his plans.