Chapter 1055 The Secret Buried Deep Underground
Chapter 1055 The Secret Buried Deep Underground
The air in the room was unusually quiet, and only time was flowing quietly.
Chu Guang looked at the professor on the screen in astonishment, and was stunned for a moment.
Wow –
the Holy Grail that biologists in the Prosperous Era dreamed of, the singularity beyond the singularity that the Torch Crazy in the Wasteland Era regarded as the lifelong pursuit of the singularity, the legendary “perfect life form” –
it turned out to be me? !
To be honest, Chu Guang was indeed shocked by this amazing news, so much so that he subconsciously put aside the risks involved.
”But isn’t that research not completed?”
”It’s true that it’s not completed,” looking at Chu Guang’s surprised face, the professor smiled happily and said in a matter-of-fact tone, “Have you reached ‘level 100’?”
”…That’s not
the case.” I see.
Level 100 is the real perfect life form, and it is currently just a “semi-finished product”. It makes more sense to understand it this way.
Although his level upgrade and that of the server’s T0 players have reached a bottleneck, considering the pie that the observer and he drew about Tiancang Wu, it is only a matter of time before he reaches level 100. But
then again, he didn’t expect that his body was created by the guy behind the screen.
Looking at the guy who called himself a professor, Chu Guang’s expression gradually became complicated.
So…
this guy is his father in a strict sense?
Is this considered taking advantage?
It seems not.
After all, if you really count by seniority, this guy may be several generations older than his grandfather who has passed away many years ago. If you have to say who is at a disadvantage, it is him who is “happy to be a father”.
Obviously noticing the complicated expression on Chu Guang’s face, the professor on the screen smiled happily and said in a somewhat teasing tone.
”You seem to have something to say to me.”
This teasing tone is quite annoying, but Chu Guang is not a stingy person, so he didn’t hide it and just said it openly.
”I’m just wondering how to address you, or…what are you to me? My biological father?”
”Actually, you don’t have to address me in such a formal way–”
”No, I think it’s better to discuss the seniority seriously, after all, I–”
”After all, you are also the manager of the alliance, right? You already have an idol burden?”
The professor on the screen was trying to hold back his laughter, but Chu Guang, who was standing in front of the screen, shook his head and said seriously.
”That’s not the case. I’m just being realistic.”
”Then do you want to hear the truth?” When saying this, the professor on the screen used a half-joking tone.
As for the other half who was not joking and was serious, it seemed to be hinting at Chu Guang to answer “no”.
It’s not good to know too much about some things, and knowing only a little is the best state…unless you want to explore the truth as your lifelong pursuit.
Obviously, Chu Guang, who has a leadership personality, is not that kind of “scholar”, and they had already confirmed this with each other at the beginning of the topic. Chu
Guang could feel the kindness of the professor in front of him.
In the latter’s view, it would be the best ending for him to leave here with “half a bottle of water” about the perfect life form.
However, Chu Guang didn’t think so.
Although he didn’t have the bad habit of digging into everything without caring about it, he also didn’t like the feeling of losing control of his fate.
The opportunity to solve the mystery that had troubled him for many years was right in front of him. He couldn’t just give up and leave here with half a bottle of water and the so-called best arrangement.
His intuition told him that this was the only chance.
At least, he wanted to choose for himself.
”Of course, I want to know.” Staring at the professor on the screen, Chu Guang answered in a serious tone, “After all, before entering the B5 floor of this shelter, I actually had another guess.”
The professor looked at him.
”What guess?”
”I am Chu Guang, the manager of Shelter No. 404, and also the original manager of this shelter, and the ‘professor’ who appeared in a certain recording.”
Looking at the motionless shadow on the screen, Chu Guang paused and said his guess in his heart with an undoubting tone.
”You are me…or, I am you.”
”We are the same person.”
The atmosphere in the room fell into silence again, and there was no sound for a long time.
Chu Guang couldn’t remember how many times he had entered this room.
It’s quite interesting. Although they are in perfect harmony, they always talk to each other from time to time.
After a long time, a sentence finally floated from the screen.
”Yes, and no.”
This sentence immediately confused Chu Guang.
What does yes and no mean?
Why are you playing philosophy? !
Chu Guang coughed lightly and said to the shadow on the screen.
”Is it difficult for you to give me an accurate answer?”
”It’s difficult. I’m not being mysterious, but the fact is… there is no standard answer to this question.”
When he said this, the professor sighed lightly and suddenly changed the subject.
”Before I answer your question, can you satisfy my curiosity first? How did you come to the conclusion that we are the same person?”
Chu Guang said without hesitation.
”Intuition.”
The professor was stunned, as if he didn’t expect this answer.
”… Intuition?”
”Yes.”
Chu Guang looked around the room in front of him, then looked at the elevator behind him, and then turned his eyes back to him.
”I have a strong sense of déjà vu on every floor here, as if I have been here before…even including floor B5.”
”Not only that, I often have dreams when I fall asleep, and those dreams are so real that they seem to have happened.”
”At first I thought it was just a coincidence, until I met the ‘Observer’ and learned from it about the existence of parallel worlds. So I wondered if there could be a possibility–”
”I myself am the manager of the previous generation, and also the original manager of this shelter.”
”I have actually died before, and I have come back to life more than once.”
Chu Guang could clearly feel that the shadow standing on the screen was shocked by his conjecture.
Moreover, this shock was no less than his reaction when he learned that he was a perfect life form – that kind of purely subconscious surprise.
It seems that he guessed right.
At least he guessed part of it.
Sure enough, after a moment of waiting, a voice of praise came from behind the screen.
”Excellent reasoning.”
Chu Guangcheng nodded acquiescingly.
”It’s not wonderful. This is not reasoning at all, just intuition.”
To be precise, it should be considered a “professional habit.”
The role of a leader is different from that of a scholar. In most cases, it does not rely on careful calculations and meticulous planning, but on action and insight.
And at this moment, he relied on the latter to make a deduction.
”…If I was only 30% sure of my guess before entering the B5 floor, now this certainty has risen to 70%.”
The professor said with a smile.
”A very high percentage… even after you learned that you are a perfect life form – a created life?”
Chu Guang nodded.
”Yes.”
The professor asked subconsciously.
”Why?”
Chu Guang: “You are a person with a strong sense of responsibility, and you told me before that it is the manager’s obligation to bear all risks.”
Professor: “So?”
Chu Guang looked at him and said bluntly.
”You are the first generation manager, and you have never shirked this responsibility. Even if it is “me” who is the manager now… do I still need to continue analyzing? I will never throw the most core part of the entire plan to a guy who has no known origin and I don’t know anything about it. There has always been only one person who can take on this responsibility.”
”That person is you, and also me.”
The professor standing on the screen seemed to be speechless and didn’t say anything for a long time.
Chu Guang didn’t wait any longer, staring at him intently and said.
”Now it’s your turn to answer my question. I only need a yes or no answer. This shouldn’t be difficult for you.”
The professor was silent for a moment and slowly spoke.
”On the contrary, this is the most difficult part… I tried to make the best choice for you, but you don’t seem to like my arrangement.”
Chu Guang shook his head.
”Not necessarily, but I have to understand the whole picture before making a decision. Besides, I don’t like to hand over my fate to other people and let others choose for me.”
”That’s true… This is indeed your right.”
The professor nodded, and the vague expression no longer hesitated, but the originally relaxed tone gradually became serious.
”Let me tell you the conclusion first. From a biological or material point of view, a very small part of your DNA does come from me, but it is not just from me. I only provide a framework, and a considerable proportion of it is custom-made code… You already know this, after all, you are the perfect life form.”
”I think what you really want to know should be another thing – from the perspective of consciousness or spirit, the relationship between you and me, right?”
Chu Guang nodded, without interrupting, waiting for him to continue.
The professor continued at a slow pace.
”Your guess is half right. We are indeed both first-generation managers, but that doesn’t mean you are me.”
”As for the reason, we have to start with the second core secret of this shelter… and this is also related to the origin of Wasteland OL.”
Chu Guang asked.
”Is it related to the morphogenetic field this time?”
”Yes.”
The phantom standing on the screen nodded slightly and said in a very light voice.
”In fact, whether it is you or your players, they all came to this world based on the same technical principles… but the usage is different.”
”I will take you back two hundred years ago, when the ‘404 Project’ was just launched…”
”That was the starting point of all the causes and effects you have experienced.”
”It is also the end of ‘me’.”
At the same time as he finished speaking, the picture on the screen also changed in an instant.
The blurred phantom disappeared, replaced by a familiar room.
Chu Guang suddenly discovered that the room on the screen was almost exactly the same as the manager’s office in front of him, even the placement of the chair in front of the screen and the phantom on the screen were exactly the same.
Not only that.
The position of the camera was not much different from his position, just at the door, facing the big screen and the chair in front of the screen.
The only difference was that the chair on the screen was not empty, but someone was sitting on it.
Due to the angle of view, Chu Guang could not see the man’s face, but only the back of his head.
But even without seeing it with his own eyes, Chu Guang could guess the man’s identity.
There was no doubt that
he was the “professor”.
Or, in other words, “himself” two hundred years ago.
As for the familiar and looming phantom, it should be the AI running on the server of this shelter, or the assistant of the first generation manager.
The video was playing all the time, but it was not until a long time later that the frozen “still picture” showed a little looseness.
The phantom on the screen slowly opened his mouth and said with a voice that was a little respectful and reluctant.
”The ‘morphogenetic field’ has been prepared, and Project 404 will enter the implementation phase… Professor.”
The title at the end of the sentence confirmed Chu Guang’s guess.
And the professor on the screen also nodded slightly when he heard this.
As if for the final confirmation, he said in a voice without any emotion.
”Repeat our plan.”
”Received, repeating the details of Plan 404 for you… The plan of this shelter is divided into two parts. Part α will be executed multiple times in “this universe”, and part β will be executed multiple times in “multiple parallel universes”… In the end, we will find a suitable match in the distant future.”
The gentle electronic voice spoke at a steady speed, explaining the details of the entire Plan 404.
Including the technical principles, execution framework, and various details and emergency response plans.
The execution idea of the entire plan can be summarized in one sentence.
That is, introduce a group of reliable “consciousness bodies” from the parallel universe of the earth before entering the prosperous era, and project these consciousness bodies onto the clones of the α universe.
The parallel universe is the β universe.
And these consciousness bodies from the β universe are actually the players of “Wasteland OL”.
As the first generation of managers wrote on the note, they not only have a physique far beyond ordinary people and an almost immortal body, but are always full of enthusiasm, face difficulties head-on, will not despair of the predicament in front of them, and will not be paranoid and get stuck in a dead end –
and the most important thing is!
In these players, there are many characteristics that people of this era do not have!
Although these characteristics may not necessarily become the key to ending the wasteland era, they can at least add some variables to this world that is destined to decline.
Or the possibility of the future!
For Shelter No. 404, this is its greatest role, and it is also the biggest difference from other shelters!
After all, according to the observer, this future universe destined to heat death lacks this possibility.
If the wasteland era is allowed to follow the original script, no matter what the final result is, no matter how the people in the wasteland struggle, it must be the worst ending for human civilization.
They have no future.
In this case, let
’s “borrow” a “conscious body” that can create this possibility from another universe that has not yet reached heat death!
Since the original universe evolved into infinite parallel universes under the interference of the consciousness body, he believes that if it is a group of consciousness bodies that do not exist in this world, they will definitely be able to create miracles that would not happen in this world!
And this will also be a possibility that the observer will never be able to observe even if he has traversed all the possibilities of the future!
The above is the core idea of the whole plan, and the next step is the specific implementation steps of the plan.
First of all, in the initial preparation stage, the “professor” on the screen has backed up his consciousness in the server without reservation through the mind uploading technology, and transplanted it to the “gestalt life form” generated by the culture cabin, producing a replica numbered α.
The replica will have all the memories of the “professor” until the mind is uploaded. It can almost be said to be another him…even though both of them know very well that the other is not themselves.
After completing this step, the α replica will take over the authority of Shelter 404, serve as a game planner and manager, be responsible for the formulation and adjustment of game rules, and guide players into the game.
If the replica dies, the game will be judged to be over, the connection between the α universe and the β universe will be disconnected, and the incubator will regenerate a new replica according to the adjusted rules.
The rule adjustment here has considerable flexibility and can be achieved as long as it is within the scope permitted by the shelter conditions.
Including but not limited to blocking or adding part of the memory, changing the initial conditions of the game, and setting the time for the next game to start, etc.
After the preparations for resetting the game are completed, the morphogenetic field will re-match the “other β universe” and select another group of players from a similar time node to participate in the game.
As for those previous players, there will be no second closed beta, and “Wasteland OL” will disappear directly from their world. Only those who have played it and those who have played it will remember it.
But apart from losing some fun, they didn’t lose anything else, and there was no evidence to prove that they had ever played a game called “Wasteland OL”.
The above is the α part of the plan, which is mainly responsible for building the “server” of the game, and the α replica is responsible for execution.
As for the β part, it is responsible for getting fresh “consciousness” from another young universe that has not yet narrowed its path, and trying to let them play the role of “player”.
The subsequent development is just as Chu Guang had guessed before. This “professor” is about to do something that even the observers were shocked.
After leaving behind a replica named α, this guy intends to use himself as a medium to shoot his thoughts to himself before the prosperous era!
Just like the observer dispersed his projection to countless universes, he will challenge the void as a mortal, and use the power of the morphogenetic field to expand his projection to all the multiverses where he existed!
So as to correct the impact he has on these universes!
In a sense, he may be the only person in this wasteland who can do this.
After all, in that distant era, most people’s grandfathers were not born yet, and even if they wanted to shoot their thoughts back, they could not find a target to shoot.
Even the Great Rift Valley Chief, whose life span was second only to his, was just a big shot who lived longer at the end of the prosperous era. No
matter how many people he wanted to bring back to the ancient era before the prosperity and unification, he had to go first.
“…After the α replica is activated, your consciousness will be transmitted to the summer of 2014 through morphogenetic field technology. That is, the time point when you first came into contact with the observer, and multiple ‘β fission variants’ with complete memories will be generated in multiple parallel universes.”
“According to the first phase of the plan, the β fission variant will use the technology of the Prosperous Era to rebuild the mirror image of Shelter 404 in the Old Era – ‘Shelter 404-β’, and produce 3,000 clone containers and morphogenetic field devices to receive the consciousness signals emitted by all researchers in Shelter 404.”
“In the second phase of the plan, ‘Shelter 404-β’ will operate in the parallel world as a shadow organization, using a series of leading technologies including but not limited to optical invisibility, holographic camouflage, and electronic warfare intrusion. Morphogenetic field receiving terminals based on carbon nanotechnology will be distributed to players who have obtained closed beta qualifications, and remote charging facilities and signal receiving base stations will be deployed near the players.”
”Phase 3, judgment conditions: the player logs in for the first time, the morphogenetic field is operating well, and the connection with the headquarters of Shelter 404 is stable. If the game goes smoothly, the ‘β fission variant’ will be fully responsible for the behind-the-scenes operation of the game, including but not limited to using cutting-edge technology to exert strategic misleading influence on the main political power and management agencies of the old era. Recommended use plan: use technology far beyond the current era to disguise as a third-type contact phenomenon.”
”Note: If the game fails and the connection is lost, the β fission variant will execute the clearing protocol to erase the traces of the existence of ‘Shelter 404-β’ from the β universe, including recovering the game helmet, inactivating the generated clones, destroying documents and fixed facilities to reduce the disturbance to the parallel universe, etc.”
”Phase 4, judgment conditions: The blockade of Shelter 404 B5 is lifted. The duties of the β fission variant are lifted, and the management authority of ‘Shelter 404-β’ will be transferred to Shelter 404, which will also be responsible for picking up ‘transferred shelter residents’ who are willing to return to the α universe…”
The gentle electronic sound continued to play, and Chu Guang, who was stunned in the same place, was still digesting the huge amount of information he had just heard.
The world where the player is… actually has a mirror image of Shelter 404? !
The one who caused the blackout in many regions around the world was actually the “shadow operator” of Shelter 404-β?!
Including the game helmet, they also put it at the doorstep of the player’s home or even on the desk in the dormitory without anyone noticing.
Although it was a bit unexpected, it seems to be quite reasonable to do so.
Overly advanced technology is indeed no different from magic, and even more like magic than magic!
This is especially true for the Earth in the early stages of information technology.
In 2014, Earth was in the early stages of neural network learning, let alone generative AI.
That β fission variant didn’t even need to build a logistics system by itself, and could complete cross-regional delivery by hacking and tampering with the existing logistics system with hacking technology.
Time is not a big problem either. The pre-booked players have actually marked potential customers, and when the server was first launched, there were only a few potential users in total, and some of the weird ones were actively excluded.
For the “black hands” who have been lying in ambush in the real world for several years in advance, it is too easy to lie in ambush next to a few users in advance and make a mystery.
In fact, only Ye Shiyi had a rather outrageous experience. His helmet was thrown directly on the dormitory table in front of him, while Kuangfeng and Fang Chang’s helmets were either in the garage and at the doorstep of their homes or on the desks of their units. There was already a lot of room for maneuver.
As for ultra-long-distance delivery, it can be delivered by anti-gravity aircraft, and the “last mile” of delivery is matched with drones or mechanical spiders with built-in optical camouflage.
The latter is a technology that is available in the wasteland. If someone else is reborn in the past, they may not be able to make it, but the “β fission variant” is equivalent to a professor reborn in the past!
Don’t talk about these things. Even
if that guy made a space elevator, Chu Guang would not feel any surprise. After all
, he made the prosperous era. Besides,
he did not go back alone. Soon after he went back, he made a culture cabin and took over the researchers who originally lived in Shelter 404.
All of this was done in secret, including the operation of Shelter 404-β, and the aftermath and cleanup behind the game operation work.
Just when everyone focused their attention on the official website of Wasteland OL and speculated whether the operator behind the game was an alien, they had already used their overwhelming leading technology to secretly infiltrate the real world, and even concealed it from the eyes of the planner himself? But it
seems so. As a planner, he really doesn’t need to know so many things, and it’s meaningless to know so much.
There is another person in charge of the layout over there, and that person is the “β fission variant” who returned to the past as a reborn person.
”So… I am the copy of the code name α in Plan 404?”
Or the copy that survived?
Chu Guang, who had sorted out his thoughts, whispered a sentence, with complex emotions in his eyes.
In this way, he and the “professor” are indeed not the same person, but just inherited part of the latter’s memory.
In the later reincarnation, he sealed or deleted this part of the memory for some reason, and filled it with the name “Chu Guang” from a certain β universe and related memories.
Since then, he is like the “Ship of Theseus” with all the planks replaced. He has no relationship with the original professor. Instead, he has become the current “Chu Guang” with new memories and names, and continues the unfinished reincarnation of the “α replica”.
To be honest.
It’s okay if he doesn’t think about what might have happened in the past. Thinking about it makes him feel cold.
If the game fails, the “β fission variant” will only die once at most, and the next match will be another β universe. Even if it fails again, the cost of death will be spread over multiple universes, and the same person will not experience death continuously.
But he is different when executing the α part of Plan 404.
Standing here, he is afraid that he has experienced death again and again, and the memories of those deaths may still remain in a corner of his brain, just temporarily sealed.
If this seal is unsealed, he is not even sure whether he will still be himself.
The video on the screen is still playing, and the gentle electronic sound has come to an end.
After reviewing the entire plan from beginning to end, the “professor” who lived 200 years ago nodded gently, and suddenly tilted his face slightly, letting the corner of his eyes drift behind him.
For a moment, the sight drifting towards the camera seemed to pass through the screen and through time.
The moment when Chu Guang met that sight, he suddenly held his breath unconsciously, and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated by several beats.
He couldn’t describe the throbbing in his heart.
It felt as if what was placed in front of him was not a screen, but a mirror.
Through the transparent mirror, his sight seemed to have really traveled through time and space, and met the sight of himself who had placed the last chess piece 200 years ago! There
was a trace of uncompromising determination in those old and turbid eyes.
And it seemed that at the moment when their eyes met, those determined and old eyes made a certain determination.
Chu Guang could be sure.
He saw himself!
Just as he understood his eyes, he also read what he wanted to see from his eyes.
Why? Because
they all believed in it!
If it was “me” – I
would definitely carry out this almost impossible task to the end, to find the possibility that almost does not exist, until the end of the universe!
If it was “me” –
I would definitely take it as my responsibility to end the wasteland era, not afraid of any sacrifice, and make an unhesitating choice when necessary!
From now on, if the sun on this land no longer rises, then “I” will be the light!
”Leave it to you” –
the dry mouth corners raised a faint arc.
The professor sitting on the chair seemed to have let go of all his regrets and no longer hesitated about all the unknown results.
Why?
Because that is beyond doubt.
Through the dim black lens, he has seen the infinitely bright future.
That is what he saw from a pair of eyes.
Those are a pair of eyes from the future…
Withdrawing his sight without any worries, the “professor” sitting on the chair took out the loaded revolver from his pocket.
This plan with “rebirth” as the starting point will start from the moment he faces death.
He had to walk ahead of other residents of the shelter and pave the way for those who came after him, even if this was no different from suicide in the eyes of others.
After all, the moment he pulled the trigger, his consciousness would vanish into thin air… even if countless “another self” with all his memories would be generated in many distant universes.
He took a deep breath and said his final farewell to the world in a calm voice.
”I will be ‘resurrected’ in three days.”
At this time, the electronic voice that had been reciting the monologue suddenly came slowly, and the tone without too many ups and downs was accompanied by a hint of suppressed sadness.
”Master… can you not leave?”
It was not born in this shelter, but accompanied him through the entire prosperous era.
It is no exaggeration to say that he has long become a part of its intellectual plug-in and algorithm logic, and even the meaning of its continued existence in this world.
It seemed that the reluctance in the voice did appear in the old professor, and he did soften his heart for a moment, but finally said in a gentle tone.
”Don’t worry, you will meet another me, who has all my memories, and can even be said to be me.”
The electronic voice was silent for a while, and then continued.
”You always say that memory is the cornerstone of consciousness, but what I want to tell you is that you exist not only in your memory, but also in my memory and the memory of many people. Even if you tell me that it is another you, I cannot forget your death at this moment.”
”Perhaps for you, many people are no longer here, and you can leave without any worries. But please don’t forget me, I am still by your side and have not gone anywhere… If you must go, please allow me to follow you.”
After completing the aftermath, it will format its own memory, retaining only the core code and the initial generation program.
”I have never forgotten you. In fact… you are the one that I find most difficult to say goodbye to.”
”You have been with me for too long, even longer than my late wife, and my life span is limited. Even if I don’t leave early, I estimate that there will be only one or two hundred years left. It is impossible for me to accompany you who have an infinite life forever. So I don’t actually want you to regard my departure as a permanent farewell. My soul will continue in another form… But now it seems that thinking this way seems to be just my wishful thinking.”
When he said this, the professor sighed softly, and suddenly his heart moved and he thought of an idea.
”How about this, if my departure is too heavy for you, you can delete all the memories of my existence after I leave. Your continuation will meet my continuation again, which is equivalent to getting to know each other again… I will give you a new name at that time, what do you think?”
”…Really?” The voice was a little moved.
Unlike the living.
What it desires is not eternal existence, but to have the final death like its creator.
”I promise.” The professor nodded solemnly and made the last promise of his life.
And the eyes that were watching him gradually changed from sorrow to blessing and cherishing.
In fact, there was no need for promises.
He believed that another self would definitely do so.
To ask why –
because that was “another me” after all
. Putting the loaded pistol against his temple, he slowly closed his aging eyelids.
The fate of the two worlds will be held together at this moment. This will be a fission reaction across the void –
they will eventually arrive at a future that no one has ever seen.
”Please -”
”Another me!”
(End of this chapter)
