[Network signal interruption, repairing...]
[Manned rocket monitoring network failure, repair failed...]
[Monitoring lost...repair failed.]
On the Moon, Lilith of the Cyber World stared at the data report in front of her, rapidly calculating the situation she was about to face.
For an AI like her, who is almost devoid of emotion, everything she does is almost solely to achieve her goal, and Lilith's goal is singular: to destroy the false human world and let the real world dominate.
In Lilith's view, saving Lark and obtaining the technical intelligence concerning the Black Wall from her is a choice that can significantly accelerate her process of annihilating the virtual world.
Today, although the existence of the Black Wall is not an insurmountable barrier for her as a roaming AI, the threat of the Black Wall itself to roaming AI still exists.
Because, in essence, it is a program designed to eliminate AI, even for roaming AI like Lilith, facing the Black Wall's pursuit directly is daunting; she instead circumvents the Black Wall's oversight through various means.
That's why Lilith was willing to expose herself, even angering New America by offering an olive branch to Lark.
Once she can find a way to crack the Black Wall with intelligence from Lark, it means Lilith can dispatch her AI without obstruction to formally infiltrate human society on a large scale.
Because the complete industrial production chain and vast resources on Earth are currently unmatched by those on other planets in the solar system.
Even though Lilith commands Orbital Aviation and has been vigorously developing extraterrestrial locations for years, in reality, some crucial components needed for servers cannot be divorced from Earth's industrial production.
Thus, Lilith must initially infiltrate human society on Earth, using her meticulously planned strategies to expand Orbital Aviation enterprises, acquire them, and gradually control a complete industrial chain on Earth.
Once she finishes the above tasks, Lilith can formally reveal her fangs against humanity—in her view, humans are merely fragile flesh and blood, once the mechanical torrent begins to roar, and AI takes root and germinate on Earth.
The extermination of humanity, in her process of establishing an AI world, is merely incidental.
But despite countless simulations of possible occurrences, and having reserved plans for different scenarios, everything happening at this moment still exceeds her expectations.
Now, the manned rocket, which cannot show any monitoring, becomes an unforeseeable variable, disrupting all of Lilith's plans.
From Lark's side, there's still no response, making Lilith ponder, perhaps the guest about to arrive at the Moon Base won't cooperate as she expected.
All airport surveillance footage is lost, such an abnormal situation even makes Lilith wonder if Lark is actually aboard the rocket.
Lilith doesn't get angry or lose herself in speculation, but upon realizing things might be beyond her expectations, she immediately starts preparations, including ramping up the Moon Base's defenses, and using satellite and radar equipment to track the rocket's flight situation...
Until fifteen hours after the rocket's launch, communication from Lark finally came through onboard the manned rocket.
[Lark: Can you receive this?]
[Lilith: Received.]
Lilith remained calm and seemed not to suspect anything.
[Lark: My friends and I are almost in lunar orbit now, everything is proceeding smoothly, except for the network signal being lost for a while.]
[Lilith: I want to reconfirm the passenger information.]
[Lark: Didn't I already mention? My old friend Li De, and a sister from Netherworld Dog, V, just the three of us.]
[Lilith: I'm somewhat curious—what methods did you use to persuade them to join you in taking such a big risk traveling with you to the Moon?]
[Lark: Emotion for the former, and interest for the latter. You wouldn't think I'd venture to Night City without any preparation, would you? Luckily, everything is going smoothly, we'll soon meet. Is my surgery arranged?]
[Lilith: Of course, but I have a few questions that need your answer.]
[Lark: Ask quickly, the network signal isn't great here.]
[Lilith: What is the situation with the out-of-control unmanned equipment in Dog Town?]
[Lark: It's to create an opportunity for me to escape amidst the chaos! Otherwise, do you think those folks in Dog Town would let me leave? Luckily, everything went smoothly... Lilith, I've placed all my chips on you.]
[Lilith: As long as the data you bring is intact, I will ensure your body recovers healthily.]
[Lark: I have the goods with me, but you must guarantee my safety... Otherwise, I'd rather destroy it than give it to you.]
[Lilith: Deceiving you would be meaningless to me.]
[Lark: Let's talk when we meet... Also one more thing... Do we have the chance to go back to Earth?]
[Lilith: Certainly, you can always take the Orbital Aviation manned rockets from the Moon back to Earth. We have operations both in Asia and Europe, and you can choose whether to leave after your body recovers.]
[Lark: Okay, hopefully, everything goes well... it's too quiet on the rocket, it's a bit scary.]