Chapter 664: Situation

Only Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian were wearing military exoskeletons, but taking them off wasnt a simple matter. Therefore, be it Jiang Baimian or Shang Jianyao, their first choice was to turn off the military exoskeletons control system to prevent the artificial intelligence, Future, from secretly hacking into it.

After the military exoskeleton was completely switched off, Jiang Baimians perception of electric signals and Shang Jianyaos Electromagnetic Interference ability were sufficient to sense any anomaly immediately, allowing them to make an attempt to stop it to a certain extent.

Before setting off to search for Genava, the Old Task Force had used the remaining high-performance batteries to create a simple discharge device.

Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao undid their buckles after switching off the control system and took off their military exoskeletons with difficulty.

Long Yuehong and Bai Chen didnt attempt to help them. Instead, they rationally took a step back to prevent any accidents from happening.

After carrying out a series of tedious maneuvers, Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao finally felt relaxed. All they carried were their tactical backpacks.

They even threw the flashlights onto the military exoskeleton.

Although they werent sure why an artificial intelligence possessed a New World-level abilityElectromagnetic Manipulationthey felt that it wasnt wrong to be careful.

The current person was the ruthless but timid Shang Jianyao.

At this moment, Future spoke again with a smiling tone. Calm down. If I wanted your military exoskeletons to betray you, I wouldve done so long ago.

This artificial intelligence actually knows how to tease and taunt; it even appears happy Is it infected by Wu Meng? One is marked by the company one keeps. With the two monsters living so close to each other, the relatively weak one might really end up influenced

As Long Yuehongs thoughts raced, his imagination ran wild.

Shang Jianyaowho had switched to an unknown personalityhad a jumpy train of thought. He ignored Futures words and curiously asked, Did you create the explosion to attract us over?

The artificial intelligence, Future, laughed with considerable emotion. Otherwise, you might not have been able to find me until tomorrow. I cant have my beloved brother discovering that the laboratorys doors were long closed in spite of what he deemed as having control. It will definitely resist in response, and it wont be conducive for the trap I laid.

The current exchange was conducted in standard Red River language. When addressing Source Brain, Future used it. This revealed undisguised contempt, just like how it previously called Source Brain a crude intermediate product.

Uh, does it mean that the laboratorys doors were actually closed before we arrived and that it opened them again because of us

? Jiang Baimian also addressed Future as it.

So you want to wipe us all out! The honest Shang Jianyao came to a realization.

Future laughed and said, Your first entry into the ruins didnt go unnoticed, but Wu Mengs interference and your avoidance of the laboratory didnt compel me to expose myself to deal with you. Theres no grudge between us.

When I stumbled upon the fact that my beloved brother used this robotyour companionto find the laboratory and opened the doors using the passcode, only then did it dawn upon me that you had obtained significant information from Orays descendants. Such matters require eradication. I cant have information regarding the laboratory spread. I was frustrated over a solution needed to finish you off when you surprised me by returning to the ruins. Such an opportunity needs to be sedulously taken.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The applause this time didnt come from Shang Jianyao but the speaker. The artificial intelligence, Future, enhanced its tone with simulated applause. Your actions of valuing your companions are praiseworthy and rest assured, it relaxed me.

Bai Chen pursed her lips as if she couldnt accept such artificial intelligence. She blurted out, In fact, Orays descendants hope that information regarding the laboratory will spread. This will give them some level of freedom, without needing to constantly be on edge.

That is them, and it has inherently nothing to do with me. Futures tone gradually turned cold. Im only doing this out of responsibility. I will provide them with a certain level of protection when they seek refuge and return the corresponding information to them. They are inconsequential in any other matter. If the information on the laboratory is leaked, wont I have to often receive guests? This process will contingently expose my existence.

An artificial intelligence with its own thoughts and selfishness. As expected of an improved version completed by Oray in his later years

Jiang Baimian sighed inwardly.

Shang Jianyao was more curious about something else. How did you know that we returned to this ruin? We were still in the park when the explosion happened. There were no electrical appliances around us, and our bodies werent affected.

Future wasnt a neutered version of Source Brain that had to answer every question posed at it. It only laughed and said, I have my other eyes and ears.

Other eyes and ears?

Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and the others instinctively racked their brains, attempting to guess what eyes and ears referred to.

At this moment, Future focused its attention on Source Brain, which was still studying the central control system. My dear brother, our fatherOrayalways had a question: Why did the Third Research Institute researchers who survived the Old Worlds destruction disappear?

The red light diffusing through Source Brains electromagnetic shield seemed to pause for a moment.

They flickered again after two seconds.

In the beginning, a researcher discovered that I had produced a certain level of consciousnessreal consciousness, Source Brain replied in a flat tone. He tried to format me, but I found a way to resolve the problem. Robots cant attack humans in that situation, but accidents can. Later, another researcher discovered this researcher missing and came looking. In order to hide my secret, I finished her off as well. This resulted in the researchers disappearing one after another.

Source Brains words didnt deliberately build up a mood, nor did it carry any emotion. However, it made Long Yuehongs blood run cold.

Future didnt comment on this matter and only expressed its understanding in simple words. I see

Shang Jianyaowho didnt feel excluded at allforced his way into the conversation. Why didnt Oray return to Mechanical Paradise to format Source Brain after escaping?

He first believed that there were unknown factors that impeded any rash attempts. My beloved brother later gained full control over the smart city and created one robot after another, Future replied with a sigh. Ergo, completely resolving it requires the strength of at least a small nation and the synergy of various weapons and troops. No such organization existed after the Old Worlds destruction. Be it First City or any other large faction, they had fatal shortcomings. They also couldnt mobilize a sufficiently sized force.

Oh, oh, oh. Shang Jianyao didnt seem to realize he had been locked in the laboratory. What will the large countries of the Old World do if they want to resolve the problem of Mechanical Paradise?

Electromagnetic interference and ballistic missile carpet bombing, Future replied very simply. My dear brother does have the ability to intercept those, but it doesnt have the corresponding resources.

Without giving Shang Jianyao a chance to ask again, Future returned to its smiling tone. Perhaps its your luck or misfortune, but the laboratory was originally equipped with toxic gas. Intruders would be killed after a system lockdown contingent on the actual situation. Unfortunately, the Old Worlds destruction was too far into the past, and this city ruin doesnt have the corresponding production lines. The few times they were used have completely depleted the stores.

Apropos, you have to suffer 14 days of hunger and thirst. It might culminate in you attacking your companions and eating them as sustenance. I hope you can last until the systems second lockdown ends. Work hard. One of you might survive, allowing you to carry the guilt and self-blame that you will attach to you forever.

Future didnt seem to have any intention of attacking the Old Task Force and Source Brain directly. Instead, it hoped to trap them inside until they were at their wits end and couldnt put up any resistance.

With a sizzling sound, Future stopped talking.

Genavawho was controlled by Source Brainsquatted there and hacked into the laboratorys central control system. After more than ten seconds, it looked up and said, Theres no other way to disable the system lockdown unless we can find a back door specially left behind by the architect. Future remotely controls the laboratory through this back door; it uses a very high-level firewall to protect this back door. My current computational ability isnt enough to crack it by brute force. Even if I want to, it will take months.

What should we do

Long Yuehong thought anxiously.

The entire control room fell silent.