With no immediate solution to their predicament, the rhythm within the geothermal road settled back into a tense, five-minute cycle.
Li Fang would dive into the swirling data streams of the Bank's sub-ledgers, guided by the QFS, execute the Karmic Micro-Skim with nanosecond precision, then surface our of the Frozen Time module, clutching another 1.8 or 2.3 Qi-Credits like pearls rescued from an abyss.
Meanwhile, Xie Ruolan monitored the digital perimeter established by Lilypad-01. Her fingers never stopped dancing across her console as she put up reinforced firewalls of her own craft or diverted Crimson Abacus network probes.
After nearly two hours, Li Fang's balance had painstakingly climbed back to over 350 Qi-Credits.
He'd netted roughly 50 Credits through the continued arbitrage. But despite the module abating most of the mental strain, it was still draining him. Furthermore, the foreclosure clock now showed less than 14 hours.
"This is brutal," Rubbing his temples, Li Fang gasped after one particularly taxing Micro-Skim. "System, isn't there a way to automate this? Some kind of… script or sub-routine? My brain feels like it's being wrung out like a dishrag."
[Automating Karmic Micro-Skim v1.0 (KMS-A) is theoretically possible, Host. However, direct execution via QFS core processes while simultaneously managing Lilypad-01 and other active modules would introduce unacceptable latency and risk of detection due to focused processing signature. KMS-A requires a dedicated, external 'Execution Medium'. A sufficiently complex computational device capable of housing the arbitrage algorithm and interfacing with both Lilypad-01 for secure Bank access and the QFS for timing synchronization and karmic signature masking.]
[Potential Execution Mediums: Repurposed High-Tier Logic Core (e.g., Class-4 Sect Databanks, Military Grade AI Processor – Currently Unattainable), certain advanced cybernetic brain implants (Requires surgical integration – High Risk, High Cost), or… a sufficiently 'attuned' spiritual artifact capable of data processing. ]
"A spiritual artifact?" Li Fang blinked. "Like those 'Thinking Jade' slips scholars use? Or a sentient weapon?" That seemed even more far-fetched than finding a military AI core.
[Affirmative. Certain geomantic crystals, ritually prepared divination tools, or even exceptionally complex, data-infused soul remnants could potentially serve, Host. Procurement would require significant resources or opportunistic acquisition. For now, manual execution or Passive Mode remains the most viable option.]
Li Fang sighed. Another resource bottleneck. For now, he was the execution medium. "What is this Passive Mode?"
[Host can set aside a part of your mental capacity for minimal cognitive load to execute the Micro-Skim with reduced efficiency. Yield will be 20% than the original.]
20%. That meant around 0.4 Qi-Credit every five-minute cycle. It isn't that bad to use if he has to do something else, or if he just wants to relax. But could he afford to relax at the moment?
"Li Fang. They're persistent," Xie Ruolan reported from her side as she frowned at her console. "The network probes are becoming more sophisticated. They stopped brute-forcing and started using pattern analysis. They must've noticed that something is interfering with them. They're trying to isolate Lilypad-01's disguised energy signature."
[ALERT: Sophisticated Intrusion Attempt Detected! Crimson Abacus deployed 'Debt Hound' data-sniffer algorithms.]
[Current Defenses: Holding (85% Probability)]
[Recommend deploying 'Karmic Scrambler' countermeasure. Cost: 50 Qi-Credits. Duration: 1 Hour.]
Another 50 Qi-Credits. Li Fang felt a surge of frustration.
Every step forward seemed to demand a toll. The Crimson Abacus was bleeding him slowly, forcing him to spend his hard-won arbitrage profits on defense.
"What else can I do? Authorize it," He clenched his teeth as he ordered. It's better than not doing anything.
Right at the same time, a wave of chaotic, meaningless karmic data flooded the local network streams around their node, layering another obfuscation of the Lilypad-01's real signature in a fog of digital noise within their vicinity.
Xie Ruolan nodded in satisfaction. "That should confuse their sniffers for a while. But it's temporary."
"Right. Everything feels temporary. Can we find a better solution than just reacting?"
The fatigue was setting in so deeply that he couldn't help but continuously rub his temples to soothe the pain. The module helped lighten the load on him but he couldn't maintain this level of stability indefinitely. He also needed a break from the mental strain of the Micro-Skim.
Just then, a discreet ping from Lilypad-01 signaled an incoming order via Dao Broker Xun's anonymized channel.
A request for three Ghost Candles v1.3, 'Spark's Ambiance Regulators' as Xun now billed them, to be delivered to a dead drop in Sector Gamma-7, near the old ventilation hub. Payment: 45 Qi-Credits, Xun's 20% commission already deducted.
"A delivery," Li Fang announced, a sliver of relief in his voice. "Ghost Candles. Sector Gamma-7." It wasn't a pittance compared to their current financial maneuvering. It's also a substantial sum that offsets their current expenditure on digital security.
Xie looked up. "Gamma-7? Be careful. That sector is notorious for signal interference and... less scrupulous elements, even by Lower Layer standards. The Crimson Abacus might have physical eyes there too, if they're serious about their informant network."
"Got it. Maybe I can scout a little too," Li Fang said as he already sensed the familiar itch taken from his scavenger days. "See if Xun's client is legitimate, get a feel for the area and check on those chasing after you. If the Crimson Abacus is physically probing around the data markets, this might be a chance to spot their methods. Besides… 45 Credits is 45 Credits."
He hefted a small, lead-lined pouch containing his freshly assembled Ghost Candles.
After that, he slipped into his worn enviro-cloak, the QFS overlaying a route through lesser-used service tunnels onto his optical implant.
He paused at the node's exit. "Keep the Micro-Skim running on semi-auto if you can, System. Lowest risk parameters. I need every fraction of a Credit."
[Acknowledged. Engaging 'Karmic Micro-Skim - Passive Mode'.]
[Reduced yield, minimal Host cognitive load.]
[Host physical activity may cause minor fluctuations.]
The journey to Sector Gamma-7 was a descent into familiar territory: dripping pipes, flickering lumen strips, the scent of stale synth-protein and desperation. Li Fang moved with the quiet efficiency of a shadow, his senses heightened. The QFS highlighted potential ambush points and monitored local comm chatter for keywords related to "Crimson Abacus" or "bounty."
The journey to Sector Gamma-7 began as a descent into familiar territory: dripping pipes, flickering lumen strips, the scent of stale synth-protein and desperation. The QFS guided him towards a network of old, mostly forgotten drainage conduits. Narrower and more hazardous than the main service tunnels, but far less likely to be patrolled or monitored.
As he squeezed into one such conduit which was barely shoulder-width, the stench of chemical runoff and something else pervaded his senses. A musky and predatory scent reminded him of the things he had to watch out for when he was scavenging out in a data tomb that was formerly a chemical research center.
[Warning: Bio-signatures detected ahead. Multiple small, aggressive lifeforms.
[Classification: 'Sewer Skitterers' – mutated arthropods, venomous mandibles, minor Qi-dampening aura.]
[Proceed with caution.]
Li Fang grimaced as his suspicion was spot on. Skitterers. Nasty, fist-sized pests that hunted in packs. Their chitinous shells were surprisingly resilient, especially against someone like him who only relies on his physical strength and whatever enhancement his weapon has – literally none.
He drew a length of reinforced, retractable plasti-steel pipe he carried as a makeshift cudgel. It could turn into a fist-sized ball of metal, his trusted partner during his soul-scavenging days.
While he could blast them by spending his Qi-Credits to produce a shockwave, that would be a wasteful expenditure. He'd rather rely on his physical strength and run away from them if possible.