SA Chapter 2: SkyNet Architect System
The grogginess made Sifan almost believe he was dead, but the constant pinging of the system alerts in his mind kept reminding him that everything was real, and he was now bound to something called the SkyNet Architect System.
It seemed his life was about to take a turn.
During his university days, Sifan loved reading novels—urban, fantasy, sci-fi, online games, historical—almost every genre of online novels, he had devoured them all! He knew very well what the appearance of a system implied.
He tried desperately to open his eyes, wanting to see what his system was actually like, but the name "SkyNet" gave him an ominous feeling. It couldn’t be the world-destroying machine system from Terminator, could it?
It might have been a second, or it might have been a lifetime, but after an indeterminate period of grogginess, Sifan suddenly saw a light and stepped into an elevator.
It turned out that the groggy feeling and the incessant electronic prompt had lasted for less than a second.
As he entered the elevator, he heard someone outside hurrying to send Zhang Mingyu down quickly.
What was there to hesitate about? Sifan gently pressed the button for the first floor, then frantically started pressing the door close button!
Amid Zhang Mingyu's pitiful howling, the elevator quickly descended. The benefit of a single elevator per unit.
Now, he finally had time to check out his system.
"System, come out! Didn’t you say it was time to name you?" Sifan whispered.
"Host, hurry up and name me! No more nonsense, system functions will activate after naming! Choose a nice name, otherwise I absolutely won’t accept it! Also, you can communicate with me directly in your mind, no need to speak out loud, dummy!”
Damn! This system is so temperamental.
In front of Sifan appeared an extremely beautiful woman. Truly the most beautiful woman in five thousand years—not just the kind hyped up on the internet, but genuinely a super beauty.
"Let's call you Red Queen," Sifan said, somehow drawn to this enticing name.
"System naming successful, name is Red Queen. The system comments... Your naming ability is simply pathetic!”
Then, a string of sesame-sized characters flashed by, reading… System delegated to sub-system management.
"Red Queen functionality activated successfully, please upgrade to unlock more features!"
Curious, Sifan listened to the system's explanation and watched as an interface that seemed touchable appeared before him. He lightly placed his hand on the interface, glowing with three options at the forefront.
The first option was a task with an exclamation mark, showing available tasks. There were two newbie tasks.
Task 1: The first order (construction or renovation).
Task Reward: Random design style template library.
Task 2: The first Terminator,
Task Reward: Unlocked technical lead-type intelligent chip.
These tasks left Sifan utterly confused. Design styles as rewards? So without unlocking, the system had nothing?
Then Sifan clicked another option, which was the main system’s basic interior design feature, but as soon as he did, he understood why there was a reward for templates.
It was like buying design software that came empty. Design templates required additional fees.
Fortunately, he was now given a set of the most basic templates called "Simple Style Interior Design".
Looking at the name—Simple Style—it really was the most cost-effective style. Materials and design styles were so basic they could hardly be called styles, more like puzzle-like interior decorations, prettily named "Simple".
Most suitable for those on a tight budget and with small living spaces.
The only advantage of such a design was its cost-effectiveness.
So, looking at this design style, Sifan suddenly became interested in the random design style template library. Who knew what style it would actually give him?
Chinese style? Modern style? The highly admired European style or the luxurious Baroque?
He was genuinely looking forward to it. Although it was useless as he couldn't even view the Simple Style design without a proper layout and orders, the design feature was unusable.
Then, looking at the Terminator manufacturing option, his eyes filled with anticipation.
If! If this Terminator thing from the system really was awesome, then he was going to be thrilled.
As for destroying the world, Sifan selectively chose not to inquire.
Who knew, the system seemed to be able to read Sifan’s thoughts, suddenly speaking up: “Please rest assured, host, this system has no intention of destroying the human race. The purpose of this system is to construct the universe’s finest buildings, to create the world's greatest wonders, to build... other answers are beyond the host’s authority to inquire."
Damn! Already calling him host and still saying he has no right to inquire.
However, Sifan’s attention quickly shifted back to the Terminator construction option, selectively forgetting the system’s words—as long as it didn't destroy the world, that was fine.
Opening the Terminator option, what Sifan could see was only the most basic type of Terminator construction.
Terminator T300 (All-purpose type)
Basic Parameters
Height: 170-220 cm
Weight: 200-400 kg
Energy Support: Miniature nuclear fission battery (safety type)
Sustainable Working Time: 5 months
Additional Chips/Devices:
All-purpose interior design technology chip
All-purpose flexible mechanical arm
Self-destruct system
Incomplete???
Incomplete???
...
Production Cost
: 300,000 yuan.
The T300 Terminator specifications gave Sifan a moment of awe but also trepidation. The details were straight out of a science fiction movie—especially the part about a miniature nuclear fission battery. It seemed outlandish, yet there it was, listed as casually as if it were a standard component.
His financial status, however, brought him quickly back to earth. The cost of 300,000 yuan was astronomical for him. Considering his current situation, this was not just a river but an entire ocean away from his reach.
Curiosity piqued, Sifan explored deeper into what the "self-destruct system" entailed, but clicking on it only brought up a warning: "Insufficient clearance." It seemed that many secrets of the Red Queen would unfold only with time and his progression within the system.
Feeling slightly dejected by the unreachable cost of the Terminator, Sifan turned his attention back to the tasks. The idea of completing these tasks to possibly unlock more of the system's capabilities seemed the best way forward.
**Task 1: The first order (construction or renovation)** had an element of the unknown to it, a kind of gamble with the "Random design style template library" as the reward. Given the minimal resources at hand, it could either be a boon or just a small upgrade.
Deciding he needed to make a start somewhere, Sifan began formulating a plan to achieve this first order. His thoughts ran through potential clients—friends, family, acquaintances—anyone who might need even the simplest of design work done. He also considered leveraging social media platforms to offer his services; after all, the simplicity could appeal to those on a tight budget.
With a strategy starting to form, he also reflected on **Task 2: The first Terminator.** While currently out of reach, the mere existence of such a task suggested that accumulating resources and scaling up his operations might one day make it achievable. The mention of an "intelligent chip" as a reward suggested enhancements to future Terminators, potentially increasing their utility and marketability.
As these plans and ideas swirled in his head, Sifan realized the importance of approaching each task methodically. He needed to start small, perhaps with basic designs and minor renovation projects, and gradually build up both his capabilities and reputation. Each step forward would hopefully unlock more of the system’s potential, bringing him closer to understanding the full scope of what the Red Queen could do.
Resolved, he set a small, immediate goal: to create an eye-catching online portfolio showcasing the Simple Style designs, positioning them as an ideal, cost-effective solution for young homeowners and small businesses. If he played his cards right, the tasks might just be the stepping stones to something truly groundbreaking.
Sifan felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty as he navigated his new reality. With the Red Queen system at his disposal, the possibilities seemed both exhilarating and daunting. Nevertheless, he was ready to embark on this adventure, wherever it might lead.