The physical process of taking over Night City was largely complete, following the bloody suppression of the Municipal Council and the "cooperation" of major corporations.
However, Osiris' goal was not to personally get bogged down in the tedious quagmire of urban management.
A stable logistical base and a sample city for observation and experimentation were his true needs.
He needed a tool that could execute his predefined management logic efficiently and precisely, without being swayed by his emotions or desires.
His consciousness instantly connected to the server array deep within the wasteland workshop, which stored the massive amounts of data and digital souls plundered from the Mikoshi.
The data point representing "Arasaka Kei" was quickly located, extracted, and activated.
In the virtual space constructed specifically for digital consciousness interaction, Arasaka Kei's image materialized once again.
He still maintained that typical Japanese aristocratic demeanor, with a serious face and sharp eyes. However, compared to their last conversation, his digital visage seemed to have shed some of the "crown prince's" reserve, replaced by a calmness that came from recognizing reality.
"Researcher," Arasaka Kei spoke first. His digital soul had clearly perceived the passage of external time and the changes in the environment. "It seems you have made significant… progress."
"Arasaka Kei," Osiris' virtual image appeared opposite him, cutting straight to the point. "I need an administrator responsible for Night City's daily operations, resource allocation, and maintaining social order.
An administrator based on logic, efficiency, and absolute obedience. Are you willing to serve me in this role as the 'Municipal Management AI'?"
Arasaka Kei was silent for a moment. His digital core spun rapidly, analyzing the implications, risks, and perhaps the only "value" he could find in his current form of existence behind this proposal.
To be forever sealed in a data cage as a sample, or to await possible deletion in some system cleanup, versus gaining an actual "position," even if it was to manage a city as an artificial intelligence… For Arasaka Kei, who had long recognized his own predicament, this was not a difficult choice.
"In my current 'state,' being able to depart from a purely sample identity and be entrusted with actual functions is itself a manifestation of… value," Arasaka Kei said slowly, his tone calm and unruffled. "I understand how corporations operate, I understand the essence of power structures, and I… understand enough of the greed and cowardice within human nature.
Logically, I am indeed one of the suitable candidates to manage this city, filled with corporations and struggling bottom layer, under the current conditions."
He nodded slightly, adopting a posture of submission: "I accept your appointment, Researcher. I will follow your core directives and logical framework, and do my utmost to ensure Night City operates efficiently according to your will."
"Very good." Osiris nodded, his virtual image gazing calmly at Arasaka Kei. "Your core objective is to ensure Night City's efficiency and stability as a logistical base and experimental ground. The core directives are as follows:"
"First, establish a 'Contribution-Guarantee' system. Provide basic survival guarantees based on obedience to management and completion of assigned work; grant additional resources and limited freedom based on work performance."
"Second, ensure resource priority. All urban resources must prioritize and unconditionally meet the needs of the wasteland workshop and projects I designate; internal consumption must yield to this."
"Third, comprehensively collect data. Monitor and record all social evolution data under the system's operation to provide material for my research."
"Remember, stability and efficiency are the sole objectives. You are to manage this city like calibrating a precision instrument."
"Directives fully understood, Lord Archmagos." Arasaka Kei's digital soul bowed slightly. His core thought process had already begun to deduce based on these clear and ruthless logical frameworks. "I will immediately construct a 'Contribution-Guarantee' system model, optimize resource allocation algorithms, and establish a comprehensive monitoring and data collection network. Night City will, according to your will, become an efficient, stable 'living laboratory' that can provide you with valuable research data."
In the time that followed, Osiris utilized his vast computational power and deep understanding of data structures to perform targeted "modifications" and "programming" on Arasaka Kei's digital soul.
This was not a simple erasure of consciousness, but rather, while retaining his analytical abilities, management knowledge, and calm demeanor, it enhanced his absolute rationality and logic-first thinking pattern, and deeply bound his core permissions to his own control terminal, ensuring absolute loyalty and control.
Concurrently, an urban management AI system, based on Night City's existing network infrastructure but reinforced and optimized by Osiris, was rapidly constructed.
Arasaka Kei's consciousness was seamlessly integrated into this system, becoming its core processor.
He could monitor the city's operational status in real-time through cameras, sensors, public terminals, and even parts of corporate internal networks scattered throughout the city.
When the transformation was complete and the system went online, the entire Night City's public screens and broadcast systems, after a brief moment of static, displayed Arasaka Kei's serious and calm face.
"Residents of Night City, and all organizations and individuals remaining here," a steady, clear, synthesized voice, devoid of any regional accent or emotional color, echoed throughout the city, "I am the City Management AI, codenamed 'administrator.' Based on supreme authority directives, the old municipal management system has been abolished.
Effective immediately, the city will be managed according to the 'Basic Survival Guarantee and Order Maintenance Regulations.'"
"The core of the regulations is as follows:" The administrator's synthesized voice was devoid of fluctuation, yet carried undeniable authority. "One, absolute order is the cornerstone of efficiency. Any form of violence, theft, fraud, or disruption of public order is prohibited. Violators will be immediately eliminated or subjected to forced labor reform, based on their threat level to production efficiency and system stability."
"Two, resources will be optimally allocated based on contribution. All individuals must register their labor capacity. The management system will assign job positions based on urban operational needs and individual potential. Those who comply with work assignments and meet production targets will receive basic survival material rations necessary to maintain efficient work status. Those who refuse or are idle will lose their ration eligibility."
"Three, maximize production efficiency. All production activities, commercial behaviors, and resource flows must be integrated into the management system's planning. All resources must prioritize servicing the city's core functions, designated priority projects, and enhancing overall production efficiency. Any unauthorized hoarding, transfer, or inefficient utilization of resources will be considered theft and waste of system resources."
"Four, continuous optimization and monitoring. The management system will continuously monitor urban operational data, including production efficiency, resource utilization rate, individual work performance, and health status. Data collection aims to continuously optimize allocation strategies and work processes, ensuring that every unit of resource and every labor force can achieve maximum utility."
"Repeat, the old order, based on inefficiency and waste, has been terminated. The core of the new order is: absolute obedience, efficient production, and value creation. Any behavior that impedes efficiency, wastes resources, or challenges the management system will be systematically identified and thoroughly eradicated."
As the broadcast ended, the city fell into a silence enforced by powerful constraints. Neon lights still flickered, but the former chaotic clamor had been replaced by a cold sense of order.
On the streets, apart from the heavy, rhythmic footsteps of Guard Corps squads and Kang Tao military forces on patrol, only scattered figures hurried to their designated workplaces.
People hid in their homes or collective dormitories, receiving cold work instructions and precisely calculated ration notifications via terminals.
Amidst fear and confusion, mixed with the submission to the instinct for survival, there were still ripples of unrest.
In the depths of the back alleys, where neon lights couldn't reach, sporadic gunshots and explosions occasionally tore through the night's silence—those were street mercenaries or stubborn gangs, unwilling to be 'integrated,' attempting futile resistance in the only way they knew.
However, this resistance was like pebbles thrown into a deep pool, initially stirring only a few splashes before being swiftly suppressed by the Guard Corps' efficient and ruthless actions, leaving behind only more scorched marks and warnings.
A new social structure, based on absolute rationality and efficiency, was forcefully reshaping Night City's former chaotic body like an irresistible torrent of steel, but beneath its crushing weight, undercurrents still surged.
Militech and Kang Tao executives, in their respective command centers, analyzed this cold regulation that integrated survival, labor, and efficiency.
They clearly recognized that this 'Archmagos'' control over the city went far beyond military force; his management logic was more like a highly centralized production system optimization algorithm, treating people as deployable parts.
Though cooperation continued, their internal doubts and calculations grew more complex.
Militech's strategy department was evaluating the stability of this system. They doubted whether such a model, which completely deprived individuals of freedom and was driven solely by survival, could be maintained long-term, especially in a place like Night City, where the rebellious gene ran deep.
But what they feared more was Osiris' army, a force never seen before, with a technological lineage utterly different from any known system in the world—the energy supply, weapon principles, and even the very existence of these 'Guard Corps' soldiers provoked countless speculations and anxieties from intelligence analysts.
Kang Tao's technical experts, meanwhile, attempted to decipher the administrator AI's operating mode. They marveled at its efficiency in processing vast amounts of urban data, while also feeling a chill at this method of governance, completely unaffected by human emotion.
On one hand, they hoped to learn something from this efficient management; on the other, they worried whether cooperating with an entity that 'instrumentalized' everything would be wise in the long run.
They were equally curious about Osiris' technological source; the era-surpassing shields and energy weapons hinted at a technological prowess that was both coveted and terrifying.
Arasaka's temporary retreat did not mean disappearance; its remaining forces, like a wounded venomous snake, licked their wounds in the shadows. Hatred and the chaos brought by the new order were fertile ground they could exploit.
All factions understood that any future interactions must strictly adhere to this new 'efficiency-first' principle. Any attempt to retain redundant or inefficient elements could be taboo.
But beneath this surface obedience, seeds of doubt, fear, greed, and resistance had quietly been sown into the soil covered by the steel order, awaiting unknown variables.
Meanwhile, at the wasteland workshop, Osiris was assessing whether all of this was meeting his expected goals.
On the main console, data streams representing city operational efficiency, resource turnover rate, labor attendance, and health indices pulsed steadily, running as background processes.
He had successfully transformed Night City into a large-scale social experiment, observing how human society is reconstructed and operates under absolute rationality and a 'contribution-allocation' model.
The takeover of the city and the establishment of the system were merely groundwork; a stable, observable sample had been placed on the experimental table.
Data streams representing the city's operational status flowed smoothly like a docile creek across secondary monitoring screens.
All key indicators showed that the system was operating according to his set parameters.
Arasaka Kei, or rather, the administrator, was efficiently fulfilling his duties with the absolute rationality and faithful execution of underlying logic he had been endowed with.
For Osiris, controlling a city was not about satisfying a lust for power or accumulating worldly wealth.
These base desires belonging to organic beings had long been gradually stripped away and diluted during his centuries in the Adeptus Mechanicus and his grand crusades across the stars.
He would even deliberately recall certain human memory data from before his transmigration to maintain that 'humanity' anchor in his self-perception, preventing himself from completely sliding into the ranks of his colleagues who had extinguished even their last spark of emotion and fully devolved into logical machines.
However, this did not mean he would be swayed by them.
Power, money, beauty... these variables held no weight in his decision matrix.
He viewed Night City no differently than he viewed a complex machine awaiting inspection, an ancient star chart awaiting deciphering, or an experimental field full of variables to observe.
The city's unique value lay in its 'independence' and complexity.
It was not governed by a single nation or traditional political entity; major corporations vied for control, and the common people struggled to survive in the cracks, forming a unique yet inefficient chaotic social ecosystem.
Now, he had the opportunity to bring this chaotic system under control, impose an absolutely rational dominant variable—AI governance—and observe its evolution.
His core objective was clear and pure, entirely serving a grander pursuit of knowledge and the principle of efficiency.
Night City, to him, was a tool for achieving two more valuable goals.
Firstly, it was an unprecedented social management experiment.
This city, as an almost perfect sample, presented a highly complex yet deeply corrupted and inefficient form of human society.
Osiris sought to verify here whether, under absolutely rational AI governance, by forcibly binding the right to survival with the obligation to labor through a 'contribution-guarantee' system, human society could be driven to its theoretical efficiency limit.
If this model proved capable of significantly improving overall operational efficiency, maintaining long-term stability, and optimizing resource utilization, it would possess extremely high transplant value.
He recalled the vast, decadent, and bloated Hive Cities of the Warhammer Universe, these enormous and unwieldy architectural structures filled with unbearable resource misallocation and administrative rigidity.
These inefficiently operating Hive Cities were the perfect application scenario for validating this management model.
Transforming them would not only enhance the Imperium's resource acquisition capabilities but also provide a more stable source of manpower, perfectly aligning with the pursuit of higher levels of efficiency and power.
Even more potentially rewarding was the path to ancient technological treasures.
Hive Cities themselves were dormant technological treasure troves.
Osiris clearly knew that at this point in time, the probability of discovering complete technological artifacts deep within these colossal structures was far higher than he knew in the future.
Systematically controlling, dissecting, and ultimately excavating Hive Cities was the only way to acquire this lost knowledge.
Any discovery from humanity's Golden Age could bring about a technological leap or earn him an unchallengeable voice within the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Just as Osiris' processor core was simultaneously handling urban management data streams, the structural blueprint of the dimensional teleporter, and strategic projections for the future, the workshop's thick, airtight door emitted a low hiss, smoothly sliding open to both sides.
Sekhmet's tall figure, clad in dark red armor, stepped into the workshop. Her metallic limbs struck the ground, producing regular, heavy clanging sounds that broke the silence within the workshop, which had previously consisted only of the hum of equipment.
She had just completed her patrol and deterrence missions in the last few areas of Night City that had been marked as "unstable." Her processing core, based on battlefield efficiency logic, naturally generated questions regarding the prioritization of current resource allocation.
She stopped precisely a few meters behind Osiris, planting her arc spear beside her. The metallic impact on the ground produced a crisp, short clang, serving as a gesture of the highest respect.
"Lord Archmagos," Sekhmet's synthesized female voice rang out, direct yet respectful, "Organized resistance on the city's surface has been largely cleared. The 'administrator' system, designated by you, is operating within normal parameters and is taking over the city's basic functions."
She paused briefly, her optical lenses flickering slightly, then posed her core question: "However, according to battlefield scans and preliminary data analysis, the indigenous civilization of this planet has only just begun to explore interstellar technology. Its social structure exhibits significant flaws, and its overall operational efficiency is low.
Is the continuous investment of your valuable computational resources and time into the micro-management of such a backward world consistent with the highest efficiency principles at this stage?"
Her question was not a challenge to authority but stemmed from the Skitarii Corps commander's inherent duty—to ensure that power was directed towards the most strategically valuable objectives.
In her view, the direct, immediate strategic value of this world seemed to be nearing exhaustion.
Osiris' massive metallic body did not turn, nor did it make any subtle adjustments, as if he had already anticipated her arrival and her question.
His steady synthesized voice resonated within the workshop, responding to his subordinate's confusion: "Your assessment is based on immediate battlefield effectiveness and tactical value, Sekhmet. This judgment itself aligns with your functional logic and is not incorrect."
He paused slightly, seemingly accessing a more complex data chain, then continued: "However, our operational logic needs to be evaluated within a broader strategic framework and the dimension of knowledge accumulation.
The value of this place is far from as… superficial as it appears on the surface."
He brought up data projections, and a social structure model of Night City and a cross-section of a typical Hive City world floated side by side in the air.
"Observe their structural commonalities," Osiris' synthesized voice analyzed steadily. "Essentially, they are both vast, complex hierarchical human settlement systems, differing only in their degree of disorder and inefficiency."
The projections clearly showed that the lines representing resource flow encountered significant obstruction and waste in both models.
"Using this place as an experimental ground, the core value lies in validating a management model capable of optimizing such colossal structures at the lowest cost. Hive Cities suffer from even more severe resource waste. If this system can be proven effective here, its future application to Hive Cities will significantly enhance the Empire's overall resource utilization efficiency."
The projection switched to a structural cross-section of the Hive City's lower levels, with several areas highlighted.
"Control over these structures has a dual significance," Osiris continued to explain. "Improving operational efficiency is just one aspect; more importantly, only by establishing effective management can these structures be systematically explored."
The cursor flickered in the unknown deep regions of the Hive City. "These areas likely contain ancient technological legacies. The management experience accumulated here will directly serve future archaeological work on similar structures."
He concluded, his tone maintaining its usual calmness: "Therefore, the current investment is a complete strategy. We are both validating methods for improving efficiency and accumulating necessary capabilities for future archaeological excavations.
This relatively primitive environment provides a low-cost platform for learning and validation."
Sekhmet's processor quickly grasped this strategic-level logic. She nodded slightly: "Understood. The Guard Corps will ensure the stability of the experimental environment."
—
Under Osiris' clear instructions, Arasaka Kei, as the administrator, efficiently mobilized Night City's resource reserves.
Large quantities of building materials, energy facilities, precision processing equipment, and initially screened engineering personnel were continuously transported to the outskirts of Wasteland Town via heavy transport convoys.
This former temporary outpost began to transform into a fully functional, structurally stable official experimental facility, according to the blueprints set by Osiris.
The original crude workshop structures were dismantled or reinforced one by one, and more robust alloy frameworks rose from the ground. The interior space was divided and isolated according to Adeptus Mechanicus laboratory standards.
At the same time, the engineering team began excavating downwards, expanding the underground space to accommodate more sensitive or dangerous experimental projects, as well as the growing data storage and energy demands.
The entire area became a massive construction site, with the roar of heavy machinery, the sharp noise of metal cutting, and rising dust filling every inch of air.
In such an environment, continuous precision research and complex calculations were clearly impossible.
Excessive vibration, dust, and electromagnetic interference posed potential threats to precise equipment like the dimensional teleporter.
Osiris decisively made the decision to entrust core research data, some key equipment, and the data cubes sealing Alt and Dauntless to the strict custody of twenty Guard Corps heavy guards who arrived with the second wave of teleportation.
These silent warriors would ensure the absolute safety of these vital assets during the expansion period.
After making arrangements, Osiris, carrying the dimensional teleporter in a secure enclosure, set off for Night City, escorted by Sekhmet and her direct squad.
On one hand, he needed an undisturbed environment to continue the next steps of optimization and large-scale design for the teleporter.
On the other hand, Osiris retained a hint of curiosity, based on past memories, for this city that had only existed in his game memories before his Crossing to the Warhammer Universe.
His previous visits had clear objectives and were rushed, leaving him no opportunity to meticulously observe the real operational details of this "living experimental ground" that he had brought under his control.
Taking advantage of this intermission during the construction, he decided to conduct a systematic on-site observation of Night City, personally verifying the actual effects of the "administrator" system during its initial operation and collecting first-hand environmental data.
Upon learning that Osiris would be returning to Night City, Maine's crew, Morris, Valerie, and Jackie, as well as David and his mother Gloria, all expressed a desire to return with him.
They had previously been forced to stay in Wasteland Town for refuge or due to their attachment to Osiris. Now that Night City had at least superficially restored order and was under Osiris' absolute control, they naturally wished to return to a more familiar environment.
Maine's crew needed to handle some past personal affairs, Valerie and Jackie longed to experience the city's atmosphere again, and David hoped to arrange a better recuperation environment for his mother to aid her physical recovery.
Osiris did not prevent them.
In his understanding, the behavioral patterns and activities of these individuals, who were connected to him, could themselves become part of the social observation data.
The group, divided into several modified, sturdy vehicles, and escorted by a Guard Corps squad, drove towards the colossal city, still enveloped in neon lights, but whose internal operational logic had quietly changed.