Chapter 251: The Wise Ones in the Abyss
Guo Li Cheng and Dan Ta each bought a set of “Venom” power armor, then took the elevator to the deepest part of the research institute, where the Mainframe was located, to visit Nan Guo de Xue.
“Ah Xue!”
Dan Ta waved from afar, then ran across the metal catwalk towards the control panel.
“Have you not left this place for over a month? It’s so dark, you must have grown mushrooms on your head.”
“No way—”
Nan Guo de Xue patted her head, feeling relieved only after confirming there were no natural fungi.
“Well, you two chat, I’m leaving.” Sasha, who had been discussing research with her, shook her light golden long hair, turned and left, nodding to Dan Ta and Guo Li Cheng with a polite smile on her way.
“This woman,” Guo Li Cheng narrowed her eyes with interest, “your relationship with her seems quite good, doesn’t it?”
“So what?” Nan Guo de Xue was unconcerned.
“Considering you both like the Executive Officer, how should I put it—rare? Shocking? Perplexing?”
“Mhm, yes!” Dan Ta’s gossip soul burned brightly. “How did you two get along so well, or are you just ‘surface sisters’?”
“How could I possibly like an NPC—”
Nan Guo de Xue’s cheeks were slightly flushed, though it was hard to see clearly in the dim underground light.
She turned her head to look at the lonely figure leaving.
“Sasha is very intelligent and very diligent. I can’t dislike someone like her no matter what.”
“Right…”
Guo Li Cheng and Dan Ta raised their eyebrows and exchanged glances, understanding each other implicitly.
“Harem +1!”
They spoke in unison, laughing non-stop as if they had inhaled laughing gas.
“You two are really boring—”
Nan Guo de Xue turned her back, indicating she didn’t want to bother with them.
“Oh, come on, it was just a joke, don’t be mad~~” Dan Ta stepped forward to appease her.
“By the way, what is that woman busy with here?” Guo Li Cheng asked curiously. “You should be careful, don’t let her steal your credit and then claim it in front of the Executive Officer.”
“Can you not be so dark-minded?” Nan Guo de Xue sighed. “We’re not responsible for the same research topic; we just share some data. Sasha is trying to restart Infinite Deep Space’s work and re-cultivate the Radiant Dragon.”
“Huh? The Executive Officer actually agreed? Isn’t he afraid of them becoming a plague?” Dan Ta asked in surprise.
“As long as there’s hope to strengthen Cangyuan’s power, the Executive Officer welcomes it,” Nan Guo de Xue explained. “The new batch of Radiant Dragons still can’t reproduce. Anyway, so many prey remains are just going to waste, so we might as well use them to raise a few for fun.”
Guo Li Cheng: “Hmm, Radiant Dragons are nice. I actually think they’re quite cute. I want to take one home.”
Dan Ta: “None of you are normal people—So, Ah Xue, what have you been busy with lately?”
Nan Guo de Xue: “Still those research projects. Progress is going quite smoothly. The new carbon-based ceramic heat insulation layer, broadband anti-laser coating, and new drone swarm behavior patterns are all nearing completion.”
Dan Ta: “Oh! Then it seems our fleet’s strength is about to make a leap forward, although I’m not very interested in naval warfare—”
Nan Guo de Xue: “Don’t worry, there have also been breakthroughs in individual soldier technology. Soon, your power armor will be able to install optical camouflage modules and even shield your heartbeat from 10 meters away. The Mainframe has helped us increase research efficiency many, many times over.”
“This little bug, it’s quite powerful—”
Dan Ta tilted her head to look at the Mainframe in the giant aquarium. The latter also glared back at her, showing respect.
“What! It can hear us talk?”
“It hears very clearly. We’ve improved the input device, so now you can directly chat with the Mainframe using your voice. You can try it.”
“No thanks—I haven’t thought about what to talk about yet. I don’t want to embarrass human intelligence—”
Dan Ta expressed a lack of confidence.
“Excuse me, why do you think scientific research is the correct path?”
Guo Li Cheng, however, had no such concerns and asked, looking up.
“This is my nature, determined by my genes.”
A line of striking text appeared on the main display.
“Just like your killing nature, it doesn’t need a special reason, it just exists, employee Nu He Guoli Cheng.”
“This, this, this, this is a serious misunderstanding! I’m not a murderer. By the way, you actually recognize me?”
“Of course, you are the most efficient hunter in the ‘Theme Park,’ I couldn’t possibly not pay attention.”
“Alright, thank you for the compliment, but what I really wanted to ask is, why do you specifically help our human research and not ascend with your own kind? Don’t they also need evolution, and your research support?”
The Mainframe didn’t hesitate.
“The evolutionary direction of my race is very pragmatic, tending to devour as much matter and energy as possible, grow as much as possible, and expand the population as much as possible through reproduction.”
“I do not appreciate this habit!”
“In contrast, I believe that trying to comprehend all the mysteries of the universe is an action that can generate more long-term benefits. After determining this will, I realized that I am a rare mutant in my race, a lonely anomaly, or by your human standards, a complete sociopath, a potential criminal.”
“Therefore, staying on the home planet is the best choice for me and for my kind. 100 million years ago, other older Mainframes in the race, although they did not approve of my choice, still forgave my rebellion.”
“I think, as one of the few high-level racial individuals who can seal their thoughts and retain a complete ‘personality,’ they must have, deep down, also held doubts about the entire race’s evolutionary direction, and so, decided to leave an insurance.”
“Insurance?”
Guo Li Cheng blinked in confusion.
“Yes, insurance. If the evolution direction biased towards practicality and utilitarianism is ultimately proven to be a dead end, then I, who seek knowledge at all costs, I, as an anomaly, a sociopath, will become the last hope and salvation. This is the deepest, most sacred error correction mechanism of our race.”
“I see… Sorry, I just wanted to understand your motivation.”
Guo Li Cheng didn’t know if the Mainframe possessed “emotions,” but from the tone of this passage, she could feel a sense of unwillingness, a desire for self-validation.
“I understand your doubts. But what I want to say is that minds with similar values will always attract and cooperate with each other, even if their races are different; and parties with conflicting ideologies or inconsistent interests will always clash, even if they are blood relatives.”
“This is also why I chose to cooperate with humans, first Infinite Deep Space, and now you, Cangyuan Future Technology.”
Nan Guo de Xue smiled.
Guo Li Cheng and Dan Ta were speechless.
Only at this moment did the two truly realize that the Gaia Zerg Swarm was indeed a great species with intelligence no less than that of humans.
“As the saying goes, ‘what you constantly think about will eventually echo back.’”
Nan Guo de Xue “comforted” the Mainframe.
“Don’t worry! The scientific research achievements here will definitely become more and more abundant. In our eyes, you are not an anomaly, let alone a sociopath, but an indispensable chief scientist, a wise person respected and admired by everyone.”
“Thank you.”
Whether it was an illusion or not, the faint purple light projected from the Mainframe’s enormous eyeball seemed to have become much softer.
“Hmm! Leaving aside scientific research for now, this Hunter Theme Park is indeed expanding at a very fast pace.”
Dan Ta looked at the many screens on the control panel.
They displayed the real-time first-person views of players on Emerald Star. Currently, over 200 teams were scattered throughout the jungle, battling various monsters.
“It’s really becoming more and more like Jurassic Park. I feel like I’ve walked into a movie.”
“It’s still different,” Nan Guo de Xue said with a smile. “In Jurassic Park, dinosaurs attacking tourists are accidental; but here, monsters attacking tourists is a basic gameplay.”
“...Indeed!”
It must be said, Nan Guo de Xue had a certain talent for dry humor.
“Has the horror zone opened for business yet?” Guo Li Cheng noticed that three teams on the screen were very special. “They’re not wearing power armor, only combat suits, and—firearms? Are they that brave?!”
“Yes! This is a special rule for the horror zone. They need to trek on foot in this state, find the ‘haunted house’ in the sub-zone, and then stay and survive there for at least two days.”
Nan Guo de Xue was very proud.
“Since all fear comes from insufficient firepower, the most effective way to create fear and excitement is to limit firepower.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the perspective of a player at the very back of a team shook violently, suddenly dragged away by something unknown!
“Help!”
The creature dragging him was incredibly strong; even struggling desperately was useless. Soon, this player was dragged into the dense jungle, his chest pierced by a sharp claw, dying on the spot.
In the last moments of his life, the image from his helmet camera froze on a blurry, tall human figure.
Afterward, the video disappeared, leaving only audio.
“Help! Save me! I’m being attacked!”
Guo Li Cheng and Dan Ta were horrified to discover that the one calling for help was the voice of the deceased player!
This was clearly an imitation by the “monster” that attacked him. This monster was skilled at hunting and intelligent!
“My goodness, what in the world was that?”
“Heh heh—”
Nan Guo de Xue’s face showed unconcealed pride.
“It’s the scientific research achievement I’ve put the most effort into recently, a new player-selectable race, the gem of genetic engineering—the Invincible Roachman!”
Dan Ta’s mouth fell open.
Guo Li Cheng was completely petrified.
Both turned pale.
What giant twin-ponytails...
Horrifying, absolutely horrifying! Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!
“Absolutely not! No, don’t do that! Ah Xue, stop! It’s still not too late to destroy all the research data now!”
“Are you out of your mind?! Retaliating against society? Being mind-controlled by the Mainframe?”
“Please stop the baseless speculation; that is entirely her personal interest.”
“I was just teasing you! Actually, besides having arthropod exoskeletons covering their bodies, they have no similarity to cockroaches whatsoever, nor any familial relation. They are intelligent creatures formed by fusing the genes of various excellent local species.”