Chapter 391 - 273: Zog-style Cloud Internet Cafe

Chapter 391: Chapter 273: Zog-style Cloud Internet Cafe

How does one build an internet cafe where people can get online from home, without ever having to set foot in a physical location?

Zog’s idea was similar to cloud gaming, where everything runs on a server and users only need to receive the content. However, he wanted to take it a step further. It wouldn’t just be for games—everything would be on the cloud.

It also wouldn’t require a computer, but a cheaper receiving device that even ordinary people could afford.

To this end, Zog went to the tunnels beneath Twin Tower City.

All research requiring a high degree of secrecy was conducted underground.

’It feels a bit like the Umbrella Corporation from the movies.’

The Soul Ascender consciousness machine that had once entrapped Zog was also being dismantled here.

So far, the problem of needing a biological brain as a medium to build a consciousness server remained unsolved. But aside from that, all other consciousness-related technologies had been swiftly grasped and mastered by the goblin engineers.

Judging from the dismantled parts, the Soul Ascenders weren’t exactly rolling in money. Their equipment wasn’t made from high-quality materials, and the manufacturing cost seemed very low.

"Xin 104," Zog said, having found the manager of the goblin engineering team. "I recall your previous report on the Soul Ascender technology mentioned something that could be used for remote control and sensory perception."

The reports submitted by the goblins were exceptionally chaotic. If Zog managed to understand thirty percent, it was a testament to his exceptional abilities. Therefore, he had to see the finished product to understand its actual effects.

"Yes, Boss," Xin 104 shouted to the bustling goblins. "Bring over the Kara Bongcha! The Boss wants to see it!"

"The Kara what?"

"The Kara Bongcha, Boss. It means ’headband’," Xin 104 explained.

The goblin language was one of the few languages on the Feilin Continent that Zog couldn’t fully comprehend. It was just too strange, and it differed between each small tribe.

Goblins had never formed a nation powerful enough to unite them; they were a fragmented race. It was common for two goblin tribes to be unable to understand each other’s language.

Soon, a goblin ran over, carrying an ugly, brass-colored headband.

Zog recognized it. It was likely the access terminal for the Soul Ascender equipment, but the long needle had been eliminated.

"Kara Bongcha, Boss! On head, wear, big rock, move..."

"Alright, thanks for the introduction. Just show me how it works."

At Zog’s command, the goblin placed the headband directly on its head. Its eyes immediately lost focus.

Immediately, a golem in the corner lurched to life. It wore a similar headband on its head. Its body was stooped, and it walked with a hobbling gait, its movements perfectly mirroring the controlling goblin, shaking the cavern and kicking up clouds of dust.

"That’s enough," Zog said. ’In a work environment like this, I wonder if goblins get black lung disease.’

"Have you tested the maximum connection distance?"

"We’re not sure of the absolute limit, but a goblin in Deepwater City can control the Golems here," Xin 104 replied.

This answer far exceeded Zog’s expectations. The two cities were over a thousand kilometers apart, yet a connection could be maintained.

’Magic is truly wonderful.’

"Can the headband only control Golems, or..."

"It works on any object that can be given a consciousness."

"Do the controlling and controlled headbands have to be a matched pair?"

"No. The control headband can detect all receiver headbands within a certain range."

"Excellent." Zog was very pleased. The current setup met all the necessary conditions for people to control Golems to use the computers. Only one thing was left to verify: the user experience.

"Bring a computer over. I want to try it."

Zog put the headband on.

The moment he connected, he felt a bit dizzy. It was very similar to the sensation of being dragged into the Consciousness Space by the Soul Ascenders.

Then, he found himself looking through the Golem’s eyes.

He felt a bit disoriented from the loss of sensation in his wings and tail, and his steps were wobbly.

"Can this thing selectively link certain senses?"

Zog figured that since the goal was just to use a computer, only sight and hearing were necessary. This would spare users the trouble and discomfort of connecting to a body different from their own, especially given the varied anatomies of different races.

"That should be possible."

Zog controlled the Golem over to the computer. Using it felt like operating a computer in VR.

There was a slight delay, but it was acceptable.

He scrolled through a few videos on YouTube; the experience was pretty good.

That is, until Zog decided to end the test.

"How do I get out of this thing?"

"Just take off the headband."

"Uh, so you’re telling me the only way to get out is to have someone else take this headband off my head?"

"That’s correct. It’s very convenient," Xin 104 replied with a completely straight face.

"Convenient my ass! Figure out a way to add an option so I can log out myself!"

These required improvements weren’t difficult to implement. In less than a week, the new-and-improved headband was complete.

Zog named it the Kara Headband. Anyone who didn’t know the story might assume Kara was some Great Mage. ’Who would guess it was actually a cultist device modified by goblins?’

Once the headband passed its tests, the Cloud Internet Cafe project was launched immediately.

A large number of Low Tier Golems were manufactured. After all, this batch of Golems wasn’t intended for combat; they just needed sight, hearing, and fingers to operate a mouse and keyboard.

The stockpiled computers now had a purpose, with one Golem assigned to each machine.

When a user activated their headband, it would automatically search for and connect to an idle Golem, providing a seamless login experience.

The headband itself sold for One Silver Coin, which was considered relatively cheap for Magic Items.

But using a Golem was another matter. That cost Four Copper Coins an hour—One Copper Coin more than a physical internet cafe, to account for the manufacturing cost of the Golems.

Users would need to prepay for their time at one of the Zog Group’s various physical stores. There were bonuses for adding more time at once.

The billing, however, was less generous. Time wasn’t calculated by the minute; even if you used the service for one hour and one minute, you’d be charged for two full hours.