"Anyway, to become a force to be reckoned with, you’ll need to train in skills and not just have your AI feed you the information. If you want to be a mediocre player, fine, continue to depend on your AI to such an extent, but you’ll never be able to handle rank A let alone rank S threats. Of course, your AI will be an immense help with your training, at least up to a certain point, but AIs are only able to master most skills to a proficiency two ranks below their Computing Ability, thus in Eve’s case most of the skills are at an E or F rank. Although, as I see you’ve discovered, they can help you quite a bit with various abilities, like sniping or hacking, so you should be able to get a high proficiency easily in some subset of abilities dependent on calculation.
"Now, an AI, like a computer, can be improved in two ways. Software, and hardware, software being the programs that the AI uses, hardware being the capsule that you’re using, and its storage, memory card and what-not. The max computing ability of an AI is equal to the rank of the capsule you’re using, so you need to have a highly ranked, specialized capsule. Simply having a better capsule isn’t enough, it must also have the programs to effectively facilitate its actions, which is where software comes in. I’m surprised that your AI has a rank C computing ability already, but I suppose that it did merge with a Haxlardian AI.”
Alan nodded along with Phantom’s explanation, taking all the information in.
“Okay, but where can I get such a capsule and software?”
“Well, the Black Rose guild can help you with getting a rank A capsule for a few million guild points through the Mercenary Bloc, but for the software you’ll need to develop a high reputation with either the Administrators or the Revenants. The upgrade will be quite costly as well, requiring either a number of platinum marks for the Administrators or a piece of advanced technology to trade with the Revenants. Additionally, each faction has its own specialized software, the Administrators focusing on defense and the management of large forces, while the Revenants focus more on offense and exploration. There are other factions specializing in other fields, maybe even hidden civilizations or pieces of software in dungeons, but those are the two paths I’d recommend.”
“Um, all right,” Alan answered.
“Now, speaking of upgrades, you recently hit level 100, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well, have you thought what you might do with the extra biological and mechanical implant slots?”
“No, not really, why?”
“Because I have just the thing for you,” Phantom said, eyes gleaming, the microscopic gears within his pupils spinning like mad.
“As you’ve no doubt noticed,” he continued, “my eyes are augmented. This is actually my own revision of a cyborg implant that takes both a biological and mechanical slot, which the Game has graciously named Phantom’s Enhanced Visual Prosthesis. It’s basically a bionic eye that will improve your vision, but it allows for so much more. It will prove to be remarkably beneficial for you especially, allowing you to zoom in on things in your view, up to 800x magnification, which is helpful for both sniping and working with micro-sized objects. It will allow you to see in the dark, or at least in low light situations. It will let you see through certain materials, which can be quite useful, if you know what I mean. It will upload what you see so that everything is recorded, available for your viewing even if you die, or to report to me. But that’s not all.
"You see, it will allow you to see different spectrums of light. This means that you can see not only in infrared, but also in electromagnetic spectrums that will allow you to see digital signals. So, what do you say, interested?”
“Yes, that does sound impressive, but what’s the catch? How much will this cost me? Also, I was sort of hoping to maybe try to get a flying augment or some other sort of movement upgrade.”
“Let’s just call it a sign-on bonus. Also, trust me, you don't want a flight skill or augment. All you'll be able to do for the first few years is hover off the ground a little bit. Honestly, you’ll be only the second player to receive this implant, which is saying something, and I’ll be able to install the standard kill switch as well—”
“The what!?” Alan exclaimed.
“Well, in our line of work it’s best to have some easy way to get out of capture, so we don’t divulge any information. Trust me, you don’t want to get captured by an enemy faction without a kill switch. It will simply let you restart at your respawn point quickly and easily,” Phantom calmly explained.
“Now, that may be, but I’m not sure if I like the sound of this, as it sounds like you’ll be able to activate it at will.”
“Yes, well, if you’re knocked unconscious during a mission, I’ll need to activate it, won’t I?”
“So, wait, you’ll be coming along with me on missions?”
“Weren’t you listening earlier? I’ll be following along through the cybernetic eye implant. I’ll be what I suppose you’d call your handler for most missions. Also, even if I were to betray you, which I promise I won’t, you could disable the implant while at your Home Base. I wouldn’t be able to kill you over and over again, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Alan narrowed his eyes, glaring at Phantom, then slowly mulled over his options. He doubted that Phantom would let him go on missions or be his Squire without this implant. After about a minute, he finally said, “All right, fine, I’ll agree to the implant, but only on two conditions.”
“All right, and what’s that?” Phantom inquired.
“First, tell me why you distrust AI so much. You clearly have some issue with them, and as I have one basically living in my head, I think I deserve a clear answer on this.”
Phantom frowned, then replied, “I wish I could, but I don’t think you’re ready for this information. I promise to explain it to you after the war for Earth is over, and you reach the rank of Knight within the guild.”
“What? Not ready? So I’m ready to fight and spy for you, but not ready for some warning or information that could possibly be quite relevant to me?” Alan cried out.
Phantom once more closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. When they opened again, his pupils were red. He said in an ominous tone, “No, you are not ready. You are a foolish young man with no clear concept of right or wrong, whose whole world has recently been upturned. Trust me when I say that this information could get your planet annihilated, and not just in the Game, but in real life as well.
"You do not realize how backwards your concepts and morals are. You say that you wish to save Earth. Why? Because you were born there, because you and all the other earthlings descended from the same strain of DNA? You do not understand how stupid such reasoning is. Your planet is still full of concepts of discrimination because of race, of sex, of culture, of class, of disability, of sexuality, of age, of species, of point of origin. You still have obscure, esoteric religions that people wholeheartedly believe in, for goodness’ sake. The Game was created to prevent wanton destruction for such idiotic reasons!
"And do you really think you are wrong, that your ideals are backwards? Of course not! This is going in one ear and out the other. But you’ll learn. When you see the universe, the Game in all its glory and shame, perhaps your mind will slowly open. Perhaps not. You were born on a small planet, and have only just begun your journey. You are not yet ready, Traveler.”
“How stupid such reasoning is?” Alan shouted back. “I don’t think you understand. If such bonds are meaningless, does that mean that I should not care about my family? How can you assert that I should not care for other humans? What do you propose I should fight for instead, myself? With what aim, to simply get stronger?