Chapter One: The World's Only Piece of Junk

There were seventeen viewers in Shen Yan's stream when the graphics card arrived. The delivery box was as large as a coffin. In its black foam lining lay a silver-white card with no brand, no fans, and no power socket. A single seam ran down its metal shell. Under the studio lamp, faint letters surfaced inside it: ORACLE-0. UNIQUE GLOBAL SERIAL. “Congratulations, God Yan,” someone typed. “You won the ultimate crypto-mining reject.” Shen Yan smiled. Three years ago, people had called him the Tactical Computer. Two years ago, the Retired Legend. Now, the occasional stranger who wandered into his channel knew him only as a washed-up pro who streamed promotional lotteries.