C9 What a Meaningful Gift

"Howard, is that code for a game?"

In the afternoon.

As Howard paused to relieve his stiff fingers, Fredia's curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn't resist asking.

"No," Howard replied with a secretive smile, giving Fredia a playful wink. "This is my first gift to you—a truly unique gift that's yours and yours alone."

A gift just for me?

Fredia's anticipation for the code's final product grew with Howard's enigmatic grin. A blush tinted her cheeks as she playfully pouted, "I'm really looking forward to it. But if it disappoints me, I'll bite you hard, very hard—grr!"

Howard couldn't help but laugh.

Great!

He playfully lifted his hand and gently scratched Fredia's smooth chin, as if petting a cat, reassuring her, "I promise, you won't be disappointed!"

"When will it be ready? I'm so eager!" Fredia swung her petite legs back and forth, gazing at Howard with puppy-dog eyes, hoping he'd give her just a tiny hint, even as small as a grain of rice.

The wait was excruciating!

"It'll be ready soon, by midnight tonight," Howard assured her. He wasn't planning on just one version, but three.

A couple's edition with the original core code for their exclusive use, and a commercial version, simplified for public release. Howard had various streamlined options ready, catering to different scenarios for business use.

Good things come to those who wait.

Releasing everything at once could overwhelm the public and test the limits of current technology.

As the old saying goes, you can't get fat on one mouthful. The same goes for technology—overstep, and you risk a misstep.

Despite his youth, Howard was no fool.

He understood this all too well.

Besides.

With his modest family and background, revealing too advanced technology could leave him vulnerable, like a lamb to the slaughter.

Fredia's spirits lifted with Howard's response.

Just midnight.

No problem at all!

To avoid disturbing Howard, Fredia brewed him a cup of tea, then quietly slipped out of the room and into Mollie's.

Mollie, engrossed in her medical texts, looked up at her best friend's sneaky demeanor and couldn't help but ask, "Fredia, why do you look like you're up to no good?"

"What thief?" Fredia exclaimed with a defiant stance, hands on her hips, "My boyfriend is busy preparing a gift for me. I don't want to interrupt him!"

Pfft!

I shouldn't have asked—just setting myself up for disappointment, and now I'm force-feeding myself a dose of 'dog food'!

Mollie's mouth twitched, a look of curiosity spreading across her delicate features. She leaned in to whisper to her best friend, "What kind of present is your guy putting together for you?"

"I have no idea. He insists it's a one-of-a-kind gift, something that's exclusively mine!" Fredia beamed with joy, her face radiating happiness. "I'm betting it's some sort of software; I caught him coding."

Software, huh?

Mollie mulled it over. If it were just software, she doubted Howard would make such a fuss. Perhaps it involved a special program.

Is this what they call a programmer's romance?

With a resigned smile, Mollie suggested, "Since you're not busy, how about we head to the third-floor library? You've got a research project to wrap up, don't you?"

Sure!

And with that, Fredia got to work on her assignments.

Time zipped by.

Fredia offered no objections.

Come dinner time,

Claus took the helm, his culinary prowess nearly rivaling Howard's. The girls feasted to their hearts' content, lounging in the library, humming with satisfaction. They were stuffed, yet they couldn't resist reaching for more.

To eat any less would be an affront to the delicious meal!

"I swear, I'm going to turn into a ball in less than a month!" Fredia fretted, patting her rounded belly and pouting, "Who knew Mister Claus was such a master chef? We really underestimated him!"

"Don't worry, you won't gain weight. Mister Claus might not match Howard in the kitchen, but he's got the nutritional balance down pat. We may seem to eat a lot, but our calorie intake is spot on. That's the mark of an exceptional butler," Mollie reassured her, her expertise as a genius physician shining through.

She had even calculated the calorie count of their meal.

That's a relief!

Fredia perked up instantly. "Then let's have Claus take care of our meals from now on. Howard's cooking can be a rare treat."

Exactly!

Mollie nodded in agreement.

After all, one should never take good food for granted.

At the stroke of midnight, Howard cradled a cup of aromatic red tea and gently pressed the enter key. The laptop screen plunged into darkness before a cosmic display of three thousand universes unfolded, with two towering figures emerging as if from the dawn of creation.

These figures were not modeled after Howard and Fredia but were conceived from ancient mythologies. Howard had crafted the male figure in the image of Zeus and the female as Hera, while the third, a Golden Crow, was an AI designed for commercial use.

They were impressive, to say the least.

Howard had just made the final tweaks when the laptop, upon activation, erupted with such intense heat that it nearly met its demise. If not for Howard's swift reaction, it would have been toast. Now, they faced a real dilemma.

It was clear to Howard that only a colossal server could handle the activation of the three super AIs.

The door swung open with a click.

Two girls slipped in stealthily, their eyes landing on the three figures dancing across the screen. They were baffled. "What is this!?"

"These are artificial intelligences," Howard explained. "Zeus, the ruler of the Ancient Heavenly Court, and his wife, Hera, are our personal AIs. And the Golden Crow is the AI we can use for business purposes."

Scratching his head, Howard spoke with a hint of regret, "Unfortunately, we can't proceed with the final activation step just yet."

"Why not?" Fredia's cheeks were a rosy hue as she admired the Hera figure, her eyes sparkling with affection.

"Is this the unique AI you mentioned, Howard? Is it real?"

"We need a massive server," Mollie, who worked in high-tech R&D, chimed in with understanding. "Even the most advanced laptop can't possibly support three AIs running simultaneously."

Exactly.

Howard let out a resigned sigh. "So, Fredia, I'm sorry, but we'll need to wait a bit longer. We have to set up a server terminal first."

"It's okay! I'm not in a rush!" Fredia beamed, delighted even with her gift in its unfinished state.

Artificial intelligence!

She might just be the first woman in the world to have the most perfect AI butler.

Pure envy!

Mollie couldn't hide her admiration. She was acutely aware of the revolutionary impact an AI could have on modern technology. And she knew that her best friend was in possession of an AI with the highest level of authority. Howard's generosity was undeniable; he truly cherished his best friend.

"Howard, I've got a military-grade server right at home. I'll set it up for you. In return, how about you create a personal butler for me?" Mollie asked, her face alight with expectation.

"Sure thing!" Howard nodded. "What kind of butler are you looking for?"

"A medic!" Mollie's interest in the AI wasn't for entertainment; she wanted to enhance her medical expertise and assist her practice.

"It's a deal!" After pondering for a moment, Howard jotted down his needs. "I'll need roughly 100,000 servers."

That's no small number—100,000.

What exactly requires a terminal built with military-grade servers?