Subverting The World [Cyber] - Chapter 8
Name…
Shi Xu stared at the words appearing before her—her own name. It indicated a depth of 108, placing it in the shallow sea.
Her daily consumption was 10.8, exactly one-tenth of the depth.
Most ordinary people’s names are located in much shallower areas, rarely going beyond a depth of 1, mostly around zero. Their daily activity balances out their consumption.
Only by leaving an “anchor point” name in the deep sea through various means can one dive deeper and gain benefits from the deep sea.
What was the meaning behind this shrouded name? Was she not even deep enough to perceive it?
Frowning, Shi Xu holstered her gun and disabled the child-friendly mode.
Smart guns had a shooting feel similar to video games; aiming at the front sight guaranteed a hit. The child mode acted as a psychological cushion, replacing splattered bl00d with flower effects to soften the experience.
She intended to keep a [Zero] nearby for a while, but first, she needed to practice reloading.
After activating the canteen’s auto-clean function and clearing the prisoners out, she climbed down from the ceiling.
The canteen was severely damaged, but Shi Xu could still submit repair requests.
Since it was a critical facility, it couldn’t be permanently closed, though it could be suspended for repairs for up to 30 days.
Shi Xu extended the repair period to the full 30 days.
The canteen was a hub for prisoner gatherings, where they exchanged intelligence and formed gangs.
Groups only emerged through communication.
She had no need for a like-minded group.
Brushing her long hair, which still smelled of smoke and fire, Shi Xu showered and changed into fresh clothes.
Appearance was the first impression of authority—she needed to look like a prison warden.
This was part of her role-play.
Dressed in a white suit and carrying the bionic man she’d left behind, Shi Xu reentered the prison zone.
Her shower had allowed enough time for word to spread, and when she reopened the first cell door, silence had fallen.
The prisoner just returned couldn’t even wash.
Water had been cut off to all prison areas.
No matter how degraded someone was, the grime and bl00d on their bodies spoke volumes.
When she lifted her chin, the prisoner lowered his head, weighed down by an unseen pressure.
“Face the wall, squat with your back turned, hold the wall with both hands.” The narration stated that any movement triggered an immediate warning, and failure resulted in instant execution.
“Record this sentence. I won’t repeat it. It will play automatically when you enter your cell.”
The prisoner complied, squatting slowly, almost dazed, as if his past actions were a distant dream.
Shi Xu’s first stop was District 1.
Prisoners here were dangerous, requiring immediate control.
District 1 was a hollow ring design, allowing her to see all cells, and vice versa.
Many eyes stared at her back, filled with resentment and fear, but no insults or whistles followed anymore.
She stood at the first cell door.
“Everything except the bed has been removed, including the shower. There are no longer single showers in cells,” Shi Xu said slowly.
The man inside was on a watchlist.
When Shi Xu spoke, he flinched at the sting of her presence.
The bodies in the cafeteria were no exaggeration.
She wasn’t concerned about revenge—it was madness!
It was absurd that someone on the watchlist, who never took the warden seriously, now inspired fear among prisoners.
Soon, she feared she’d be treated like one of them.
Bionic assistants began removing sofas, desks, plants, and lamps—anything not meeting regulations—until only a standard iron bed remained.
High-end quilts were replaced with synthetic ones.
Showers were partially dismantled, glass replaced broken sections.
Shi Xu confiscated all personal belongings, reissuing only a cup and a towel.
No toothbrushes or toothpaste—prisoners found those themselves.
There was no basin; washing was done directly in the pool.
Soap was only available in communal showers.
“As a prisoner, you cannot own personal items. From today, only open cups, towels, and clothes are allowed. Everything else is contraband.”
Shi Xu smiled with eerie clarity.
“If I catch anything, you’ll be shut down immediately.”
She inspected every inch of the cell—walls, window frames, toilets.
Pulling a crowbar from the toilet tank, she ordered the bionic man to imprison the prisoner for three days.
Contraband could be held for a maximum of three days.
“Remodel all cells to this standard.”
“Bring in another bed. This suite is too big—convert all single cells into doubles.”
“Who do you want as your roommate?” Shi Xu asked, turning to the prisoner in the corner, who withdrew his smile.
“On this matter, I’m democratic,” she added.
No acceptable options, but they could choose their roommate.
“Now that you have a roommate, cooperate. You’re jointly responsible.”
As another prisoner was brought in holding his head, Shi Xu continued:
“A new schedule will be announced soon. Completing your schedule well will earn behavior points, which can be exchanged for necessities.”
She left the cell.
“If your cellmate breaks the rules, your score will be deducted.”
Pausing, she added: “Reports are encouraged. Verified reports will earn double points.”
“I won’t betray my comrades!” The hardened gang members, tattoos covering their faces, swore fiercely.
Shi Xu walked away, while the bionic man replaced cell doors with the latest remote-controlled locks.
Physical keys were security loopholes—easily duplicated or stolen.
Remote locks required two confirmations to open.
The heart of Ward 1 was the former gathering place.
Cell doors were never locked before, and many items filled the corridors and central hall.
Now, it was emptied and converted into a morning exercise area.
The new prison schedule was issued.
Lights out at 7 PM, wake up at 4 AM.
Adequate sleep, sun exposure, and proper rest.
One prisoner grumbled about refusing to get up.
Shi Xu was already far away, unable to hear.
Ward 4 was abolished; it was unsuitable for living.
Its inmates were redistributed.
Schedules were staggered across wards: Ward 1 earliest, then 2 and 3.
There was no cafeteria—the most conflict-prone area.
Events were staggered so only one ward used the venue at a time.
Shi Xu tested her abilities as she walked.
She discovered that as she consumed more of her “name,” she saw more details.
From names to ID numbers, home addresses, family ties, crimes, and even a person’s history.
The deeper she dived, the more she uncovered.
But more knowledge meant more anomalies.
After consuming a third of her name, she stopped pushing the limits and settled for just seeing names regularly.
She began routine cell inspections.
Passing a cell, she stopped abruptly.
A thin prisoner froze, then knelt when ordered to squat.
Shi Xu smiled coldly.
“Pull him up.”
The prisoner—number 266, real name Cadova, name depth 31—was known to wield influence; those who knelt before him would grant reasonable requests.
The bionic man entered, and the prisoner quickly kowtowed to it, insisting he would go on his own.
His knees had just softened.
Shi Xu stepped aside, smiled again.
She couldn’t imprison or punish without cause.
This prison aimed for prisoner welfare as much as discipline.
Yet she could fabricate evidence.
Prisoner 266 pretended to comply until a new prisoner arrived, then tried to kneel again.
His cellmate squatted for a moment, then complained of numb legs.
He then knelt toward the prisoner beside him.
“Can you help catch that woman? Thanks.”
The strong young man looked toward Shi Xu.
She aimed at his knee.
She fired immediately, hitting him and following with two more shots.
She also shot prisoner 266 in the knee as he turned.
He hadn’t intended a hostage situation, just to distract her and kneel.
“Your knees are too weak,” Shi Xu said, lowering her gun.
She ordered the prison AI: “Does he have iron knees? Upgrade them.”
“I want him never to kneel again.”
Prisoner 266 was in agony and soon fainted.
His charges revealed a lighter crime: initially an apologizer to Party A, he later turned to trafficking and kidnapping, responsible for over a hundred victims.
Shi Xu ordered his legs replaced with iron rods.
Ward 1 fell even quieter.
Many knew 266’s name and doubted Shi Xu could remember everything she’d read.
But clearly, he was neutralized.
Shi Xu left Ward 1, disappointed by the prison’s layout.
It was easy enough to escape from inside, but if they did, she would die.
Her reforms began amid bloodshed.
Population: 1001.
Deaths: 31.
Remaining: 970.