Chapter 20 – The First World 20

In the moment when Zuo Ting pulled the trigger, the soldiers responsible for escorting immediately rushed over to protect the researcher.

There were twenty bodyguards on the other side, while only four on this side. The soldiers didn’t have time to think and instinctively grabbed the researcher’s arm, pushing him towards Su Zheyan’s direction, saying, “General Su, he is a civilian, help him!”

Su Zheyan silently took over the researcher and casually stuffed him into the capsule behind him. Bullets couldn’t penetrate the capsule, so it was absolutely safe inside.

Before closing the lid, Su Zheyan paused and coldly said, “I don’t have time to deal with you, take care of yourself.”

The researcher thought Su Zheyan was talking to him and gratefully said, “Thank you for your hard work, General Su. After returning, I will report truthfully…”

However, Su Zheyan was looking at his robot.

Seeing Chu Shici nod, he closed the lid. Immediately outside the capsule, there was a barrage of chaotic gunfire as Eternal Life Technology clashed with the Imperial soldiers.

Desolate Star was a high-tech graveyard, where even laser weapons that had long been phased out by the Imperial army couldn’t be used. Both sides could only rely on firearms from the ancient Earth era, and cold weapons were the only option left.

Although in the public perception, alphas were the most naturally talented in combat among the ABOs, there were also alphas who didn’t like to exercise, and the researcher was one of them.

After a few struggles, he began to gasp for breath, and the scent of fresh bamboo filled the capsule.

At the beginning, he occasionally glanced through the transparent cover to see the situation outside. But after a while, the blood of the soldiers sprayed onto the lid, completely blocking his view.

Trembling hands, the researcher futilely tried to contact headquarters through the communication device but received no response. He felt doomed, that he would die on Desolate Star and be replaced by clones.

Panic filled his brain, pushing him to the brink of collapse.

Trembling all along, his gaze inadvertently swept over a corner of the bookshelf. In the crevice between the bookshelf and the cabin wall, there was a small platinum-colored foot.

Perhaps sensing that he had been discovered, that foot drew back slightly.

The researcher leaned over and looked inside through the gap. A palm-sized toy robot was hiding in there, still wearing a pink princess dress.

He took out the robot and searched for a marking on its body.

Chu Shici remained motionless, allowing the researcher to fumble around.

Confirming that it was indeed a third-generation toy robot, the researcher’s eyes lit up. He pulled out the antenna on the robot’s head and whispered, “I’m Researcher 2608 from Sector C. Please perform iris scanning and switch to recording mode.”

Chu Shici heard a buzzing sound in himself, as if an extraordinary switch had been turned on.

The researcher breathed a sigh of relief and held the robot in front of him. “General Su, who has already undergone sex reassignment surgery in the Empire, is a clone. Zuo Ting attempted to kill the Inspection Team to cover up the truth.”

However, Chu Shici didn’t have a recording function. The system informed him that the robot was not equipped with such a feature.

Instead, he had voice recognition and iris scanning capabilities within him. But when activated, he wouldn’t enter recording mode; instead, the sound would be transmitted to specific coordinates.

The signal should have been interrupted, but Chu Shici was using the antenna provided by the system. He could receive the signal and listen to broadcasts, as well as transmit the signal.

The researcher seemed completely unaware of this, and Chu Shici found it strange. He had just been ambushed by people from Eternal Life Technology, and now he was using their equipment. Wasn’t he afraid the robot would betray him?

The researcher said somewhat urgently, “Since the recording mode can be activated, it means the signal is connected. Mainframe, I know you can hear me. I may be about to die, and there are some things I’ve always wanted to tell you.”

“Make Eternal Life Technology stop the Garden of Eden project. The genetic modifications you’re doing violate the laws of nature. Evolution is a gradual process, but you are forcibly driving human evolution. We don’t know what consequences this will have.”

Chu Shici was taken aback. So, the researcher knew the robot would betray him.

“In the process of genetic editing, you tampered with things. Don’t think I don’t know. The babies you created can’t be considered human beings at all. You brainwash them and demand that they follow the predetermined path of life. The omega you bred has already given birth to 73 consecutive offspring, and his life is reduced to nothing but mating and reproduction. What’s the difference between the genetically modified humans you’ve created and the artificial humans? The Empire has already been infiltrated by Eternal Life Technology, and now its power is overwhelming. What exactly do you want to achieve?”

Chu Shici buzzed for a while, and a female voice came from his small speaker.

“You’re not at the branch, but you can contact me? Give the tool you use to communicate to Zuo Ting, and I promise not to harm you.”

The researcher didn’t believe her words at all. “What is the purpose of the Garden of Eden project?”

The voice of the mainframe remained unchanged, “For the continuation and prosperity of humanity.”

…

The gunfire outside continued for two hours. When the transparent lid opened again, the strong smell of blood instantly wafted in.

The trembling researcher held the disconnected robot in his hands and looked up to see Su Zheyan approaching. He exclaimed excitedly, “General Su!”

Su Zheyan remained silent, his gaze falling on the researcher’s hands.

The grip on Chu Shici’s hand was too tight, causing him pain, but he dared not make a sound. Now he looked wilted, and there was even a drop of oil leaking.

Su Zheyan wiped the blood off his hands and reached out to snatch the robot back. After a moment’s thought, he also punched the researcher.

Back in his hands, it felt like returning to a safe harbor. Chu Shici skillfully embraced his fingers and felt his Vitality level increase by two points.

Su Zheyan enjoyed the closeness with the robot. As he gently stroked Chu Shici, he said coldly, “Two soldiers are still alive. I captured Zuo Ting. You can take him back to the Empire for investigation.”

The researcher was dumbfounded. “Uh… I will truthfully report what happened here when I return.”

Su Zheyan looked at him for a while, then furrowed his brow slightly. “Does the Inspection Team have any means to determine who is a clone?”

As soon as the researcher heard about his field of expertise, he immediately leaned closer and explained the principles to him.

Chu Shici listened, utterly confused, unable to help but look up.

Su Zheyan’s expression was serious, occasionally nodding and deep in thought.

It was obvious that he was pretending to understand but didn’t really get it. Chu Shici felt relieved.

After the researcher finished speaking, Su Zheyan finally spoke up, “Are you sure you’re not a clone?”

The researcher chuckled. “The General’s concern is shared by the public, but we undergo regular examinations. Moreover, all clones are documented and marked. There has never been a mistake before.”

Su Zheyan interrupted him, “Who provides the examination instruments?”

“They are developed by our research institute, with only a few components from Eternal Life…”

The researcher suddenly stopped and said, “Wait, the machines that produce the examination instruments are products of Eternal Life Technology. They have the opportunity to tamper with them. I need to return to the Empire and conduct a thorough screening of those instruments.”

The spaceship set sail once again, and the researcher had no authority to take Su Zheyan away. He left behind a promise and a box of gratitude.

They were all supplies, and among them was a small booklet he had handwritten.

Outside the capsule, everything was in chaos. Apart from Zuo Ting, everyone from Eternal Life Technology was dead.

Su Zheyan patted the robot’s head. “Did that person bully you?”

Chu Shici had already recovered and was giving him a debrief, recounting everything he had overheard.

Su Zheyan’s expression froze, and he repeated, “She wanted the researcher to take you away?”

His face turned cold, and he reached out to pinch the robot’s small antenna, seemingly contemplating whether to break it off.

Chu Shici quickly covered his head. “Yan ge, calm down! Without specific commands, I can’t activate that function. Keeping it intact allows us to listen to broadcasts. Don’t you want to hear the news from the Empire?”

A chilly look appeared in Su Zheyan’s eyes. “I don’t want to. You’re not allowed to listen to broadcasts anymore.”

“But if we cut off our connection with the outside world, we won’t know if someone is scheming against you. And besides, you’re so skilled in combat, and this is not Eternal Life Technology’s territory. They won’t be able to take me away.”

“I’m worried that the mainframe will control you.”

“It’s okay, I won’t betray you. Our bond is strong.”

Su Zheyan gazed silently at him, and after a while, he whispered, “In theory, the mainframe can remotely wipe your data. I’m not afraid of you betraying me; I’m afraid of losing you forever.”

After he finished speaking, the robot that had been hopping around on his hand suddenly froze, twisting and fidgeting, not daring to look at him.

A sense of confusion washed over Su Zheyan as he realized that his robot seemed to have a preference for men.

What did he say that he shouldn’t have said?

Even children’s toys have such complicated thoughts. No wonder kids grow up so quickly.

Su Zheyan furrowed his brow tightly. Eternal Life Technology truly had no limits, not even sparing children.