[NR] Rosha And Courtney Remembers Stuff - Chapter 742

Back in the clearing, Jason continues his training. Except now the three realize they should probably be talking more. Though Courtney also realizes a problem. They’re in NeoRealm. Not that being irl would be much better. About the only place they could really chat about some secrets would be their private rooms.

Because despite all the horrible things to happen over time, someone has managed to do the private vr rooms correctly. What with them being one of the few places with actual privacy that don’t cost an arm and a leg on a meter counting minutes.

Rosha and Courtney are sitting next to one another while watching Jason beat himself up. Rosha takes a moment to consider what Courtney had just said before shrugging. “I don’t think privacy is much of a thing when it comes to the System, even outside of NeoRealm.

“I would bet, even the special privacy options aren’t quite as private as the corporations like to believe. Rather, the System is simply amoral and chooses not to act on information it receives from areas so protected.”

Courtney, “But it is the polite illusion of privacy that is important for us. We’re talking about world-shaking stuff. Just the fact that we are cultivating irl would change so many things. But the System is keeping it a secret. At least for now. Though that may partly be to reveal any pitfalls and because we plan to release the information later.”

Jason, “At this point? The System likely has us under a microscope. Which to be fair, I assume that doesn’t actually change the level of observation. Rather, it simply means that what is observed will be gone over with a fine-toothed comb.”

Courtney, “I guess that raises the question of whether we should still try to be secretive?”

Jason, “Oh, don’t get me wrong, we should. Rather, I’m more pointing out the edges. The System likely has reams of data on everyone, but processing power isn’t infinite. There has to be a limit. Except that no longer matters for us. So we can assume anything we’ve said outside of our private VR rooms is a known quantity. And might I remind you, we’ve only gone over the details of the later stages of cultivation within our private rooms.”

Rosha, “Blarg, maybe we just need to take the time to have another meeting there.”

Courtney, “For some things? Most certainly. Though any knowledge of NeoRealm is probably safe to say within NeoRealm. If only because making use of the knowledge would reveal it.”

Jason, “So, I guess we can string together what we know of the System. Who wants to start?”

Rosha looks at Courtney who shrugs, but then nods.

Courtney, “I guess I can go first. Especially since I will know some things that haven’t been shared yet. Though I will be thorough.”

And she begins to recount the history of NeoRealm and the System. Of particular interest was that one of the main programmers had actually been interested in the “spooky particles” high-end equipment could pick up. Which, of course the three knew to be actual magic from beyond this universe.

This was important because the guy was a mad genius of sorts and had built his own idea of how the particles should work into NeoRealm. Not that other companies didn’t later try such things after NeoRealm’s success. Just that whatever he did with NeoRealm, was either truly unique or he stumbled on something foundational that others haven’t managed to repeat yet.

From there, NeoRealm quickly became popular and unmanageable. The System easily exceeded any programmed limits that the guy hadn’t put in himself. There was a brief attempt to bring the guy to court by the company, but by then the System had integrated too much into things. Which was fun to know. Not everyday you find out that a core part of technology actually got there by way of an aggressive, virus-like, take over.

Rosha in turn had some of her own insights. Which, admittedly, Courtney also knew most of as she was her maid. However, there were secrets taught behind closed doors.

In particular, her family didn’t have anyone who broke through to level 500. Those organizations who do end up as players on the world stage, no matter how small they are. And that there are special training grounds in a place called the True Wilds.

Which is confusing, and Rosha at first thought the phrase was another name for the Deep Wilds. Instead, it was an area still fully within NeoRealm. The reason for the name is that while there are sparks of civilization, the region is too high-level for anything to last.

When most monsters in an area have a high-level, settlements can’t survive. People simply take too long to reach those levels. All while surrounded by monsters that are born at 100? Yeah, the only settlements in that region are inhabited purely by the strong, whether that means the guard, the baker, or the traders.

And of course, because corporations had to keep reinventing the wheel, there were company towns out there. Because once away from the structures of a government, why not? Oh sure, they didn’t call it that.

When Rosha had first had them explained, she hadn’t even realized that was what they were. It was only later, once she had time to think it over, that she realized it.

Her father had spiffed it up with pretty words and by pretending it wasn’t actually a town. After all, you don’t call a camp around a dig site, a town. Except these weren’t archeology expeditions and they weren’t temporary tents.

These were full-blown towns with planned roads and proper buildings. There were stores (which were owned by the company). There were restaurants (which were also owned by the company). And small farm plots helped add variety to their diets (while being owned by the company).

After learning more, Rosha honestly thought it might go a bit further than a company town. It felt more like someone was playing a city build sim.