Chapter 675

To Max’s surprise, he received a call from Darwin.

Moreover, Darwin seemed to pretend to be confused as he asked the question.

Max’s voice turned cold as he replied, “Darwin, don’t you know what’s going on?”

With that, he abruptly ended the call.

On the other end, Darwin felt deeply unsettled.

Did Max know something?

Or was this some kind of joke?

He was not the only one who had been to Max’s house…

Darwin recalled the countless discussions he had with Max, where they delved into various topics.

Frankly speaking, Max was a great friend to him.

When talking to others, either they could not grasp what he was talking about. So, he could not engage in a meaningful conversation with anyone else…

Only Max truly understood him, and he reciprocated that understanding. The bond between them was genuine.

But…

Darwin thought about another aspect.

During numerous moments of recognition, Max stood on stage, offering unique insights into projects and speaking eloquently.

While surrounded by reporters, Max basked in the limelight, while Darwin remained in the shadows.

Especially now, with Max possessing the core data of the laboratory, not to mention being the master of the lithography machine, he could even create a virtual assistant for entertainment.

Darwin laughed bitterly.

He found the situation ridiculous and felt the world was unfair!

He worked so hard, yet Max could effortlessly surpass him.

It’s not fair, not fair at all.

Darwin murmured unconsciously, “I’m not asking for much… I’m just a supporting role in the lithography machine project… Then the virtual assistant project should be my development…”

“He should give me something in return… We’re good friends after all… I’m not being greedy. I’ll never compete with him for control of the lithography machine’s core…”

He simply wanted ownership of the virtual assistant project. After all, to Max, the virtual assistant was just a “toy.” he invented. Why couldn’t he give Darwin the fruits of his research during his free time?

The malignant spirit perched on Darwin’s shoulders had already devoured his heart, its mouth wide open.

Chuckling and beguiling, Darwin said, “It’s only fair… As a good friend, he should consider his friend’s feelings and not be so possessive… If he truly is a good friend, he should willingly hand over the virtual assistant project… That’s what a good friend would do…”

…

Max sat on the sofa, growing angrier the more he thought about it.

“These people are so greedy,” he exclaimed. “They prioritize their own interests rather than the advancement and progress of human civilization.”

If the virtual assistant project fell into the hands of Mr. Martin and the others, only a select few would benefit from this technology while Max would lose out.

They lacked the capacity to continue the research and development, and they certainly did not have enough engineers for subsequent installations. In the end, they would likely sell this project multiple times to foreign research laboratories and ultimately achieve fame abroad.

“The more I think about it, the more mad I am…” Max ruffled his hair.

Lilly asked, “Uncle Max, do you want to vent your anger?”

Max helplessly pinched her nose, saying, “Can I vent my anger? You’re just a child, and you still don’t understand.”

“The laboratory holds an abundance of items, particularly encompassing all the research endeavors I dedicated the first half of my life to.”

Lilly offered a seemingly simple solution. “Just take them away!”

Max shook his head in response. “Since the joint venture, they hold the encryption authority. That means, if I want to take anything back, I need their permission to access those privileges.”

Josh chimed in from the side. “Uncle Max, you can propose to hand over the virtual assistant to them, but with the condition that they grant you the necessary permissions!”

Others may not comprehend the toil of dedicated inventions, but Josh understood it well. Having delved into a myriad of challenging subjects, he was acutely aware of the painstaking efforts involved.

Max looked over at Stacy, hesitating. “I don’t want to hand over Stacy.”

His voice was filled with reluctance.

Stacy, from her “birth” until now, had been the product of endless hours dedicated to refining and crafting. Through years of companionship, every aspect of Stacy had acquired a sense of sentimentality. Even as a virtual being, she possessed the ability to evoke emotions.

Stacy blinked and spoke. “Master, Stacy can go out and work, but I’ll miss you.”

Max smiled softly. “You have a sense of awareness. But if someone were to erase your system, you wouldn’t even remember who I am.”

Stacy stubbornly replied, “Stacy can go out and work. I’ll remember you, master.”

Max shook his head, remaining silent.

Lilly piped up. “Uncle Max, Lilly also has virtual assistants!”

As soon as she finished speaking, all the souls in the jar of souls were released.

They were super-intelligent virtual humans, capable of being controlled at will, visible or concealed at your command. They could engage in round-the-clock conversation, possessing different personalities and independent thinking identical to that of a human being.

Max barely had time to react before seeing ten “virtual assistants” standing before him.

There was the harem spirit, the cowardly ghost, the unlucky ghost, the foolish ghost, the crybaby spirit, the rebel ghost, the passionate spirit, the ghost bride, Miss Ugly, and even Tinker Bell.

There were young and old ghosts.

Max was taken aback.

Lilly asked, “Uncle Max, who do you want to offer them?”

The harem spirit and the others, now understanding the situation, grew excited.

The harem spirit exclaimed, “Oh, master, I would love to work! I can excel at anything as long as I live well. I promise to satisfy you.”

The Unlucky Ghost pleaded, “Oh, please choose me, please! I’ll make sure they have an unforgettable experience!”

The bridal ghost blushed and spoke softly, “Actually, I can do it too. While I may not be well-versed in high-tech matters, I have a passion for learning. If given the opportunity, I guarantee to provide them with an enjoyable educational experience and stimulate their intellectual growth.”

Max instinctively moved back.

His face remained expressionless, though inside, his mind was in complete chaos. Countless thoughts raced through his head.

Are these virtual assistants?

Is this even logical?