I'm trapped in a block

Chapter 1273 The Scales of Sacrifice
Martin stared at the girl on the screen in silence for a long time.

"Why not send someone else to transport the fire?"

"Not just anyone can start a fire; as kindling, one must have sufficient qualifications."

"So you wrote a story for her, right?"

"Of course, she needs enough motivation. Do you want me to tell you about it?"

“No need, that’s not important…” Martin turned to look at Lao Quan and asked in a deep voice, “So she was the only victim?”

Old Quan nodded: "That's right, this is the price that humanity has to pay. You know, everything comes at a price."

“But you should let the victim decide for herself whether or not to pay the price; that is her right.”

"She would choose to sacrifice; that's what we wrote into her mind."

"Have you instilled in her the idea that 'sacrifice is inevitable'?"

"Of course not..." Old Quan sighed helplessly, "You think too evil of us."

He looked at the researcher: "You explain it."

The researcher nodded and slowly took out a document.

"We just defined her personality..."

"Of course, it's not set through any cognitive modification or brain control; it's just normal concept guidance."

"A part of a person's personality is determined by genes. We select suitable genes for her, and the rest is determined by the environment and experiences she grows up in, such as family environment, social environment, and major life events. These will gradually become part of her personality."

“As people grow, their proactive self-awareness and adjustments also have an impact on their personality development, and these are things we can control.”

"We will raise her to be a kind person."

"A kind person will inevitably choose to sacrifice."

The researcher looked at Martin and said these words with utmost seriousness.

……

"Within the established 'story atmosphere,' she will become the kind of person we want her to be: a kind, selfless, and resolute girl, but also a bit awkward."

"She might be too kind and disdainful of the darker aspects of the world, which would lead to her being ostracized and making her feel out of place in human society. This would also become her reason for going to the abyss."

"Her childhood experiences will make her brave enough to face the despair from the abyss. Her experiences of being locked at home as a child and being ostracized as an adult will make her indifferent to other people's opinions and enjoy her own solitude."

"Her stubbornness may lead her to do some very bold and incomprehensible things, but this stubbornness will also make her forge ahead in the abyss and never bow her head in the face of any danger."

"And when she reaches the bottom of the abyss, feels the temperature of the flames, and remembers everything, her love for humanity will make her make the decision to sacrifice herself without hesitation, at the cost of her own life, to secure the future of humanity."

"Just like the heroes in the story."

The researcher described this beautiful yet cruel vision, his face flushed.

He seemed to be praising a great hero, or perhaps introducing a great work of art...

Martin said nothing, only looked at him, and after a while, slowly asked, "Will she die?"

"Of course not! She will burn forever as kindling."

"So, she'll stay at the bottom of the abyss forever?"

"Hmm." The researcher nodded.

Flames burn upwards, and as the firewood, she must remain at the bottom of the abyss forever...

Upon learning the full details of Project Fireseed, Martin wasn't particularly happy; instead, he felt somewhat helpless.

"It's fate that can't be changed again."

He looked at the girl on the screen who was building with blocks.

The blocks were just put together, then the girl knocked them down again, so they were reassembled into something else, and then they were knocked down again, over and over again...

Building blocks are still building blocks. No matter how many times you build them, they are still building blocks and can never escape the established framework.

Martin suddenly couldn't bear to watch any longer. He turned his head and said softly, "Let's go."

……

The two returned to the ground, and Martin remained silent throughout the journey back.

Lao Quan followed behind him the whole time.

Actually, during this period, Lao Quan was not so much accompanying them as he was "monitoring" them.

The government was wary of these two "heroes who saved the world," fearing they might interfere with Project Fireseed, which was why they had Lao Quan keep an eye on them. Lao Quan couldn't understand Martin's thoughts either. This being, who hadn't appeared in the prophecy, had always been a key target of monitoring. Lao Quan dared not look away, afraid of suddenly "forgetting" Martin.

As they walked, Martin suddenly stopped and said in a low voice, "Don't tell Lu Youqi about this yet."

"Which matter? The matter of cognitive modification or the Spark Project?"

“I don’t want any of them. If he finds out, he will definitely object. He is a kind person, just like Li Luo. Kind people can’t bear to see others sacrifice themselves.”

Upon hearing Martin's words, Lao Quan immediately understood.

"Then I will continue to maintain this cognitive modification."

"Yes, let's just keep it like this."

Martin kept his promise and did not hold Lao Quan responsible for changing his understanding of him.

He knew that things were going to be the best way forward.

Everything is on the right track.

Strangely enough, even though he was someone who defied prophecy, his path seemed to be fixed, being pushed forward by the torrent of fate.

"Old Quan, do you think the Fire Seed Project will fail if I kill Li Luo?"

Upon hearing this, Lao Quan's expression changed drastically.

"What do you want to do?"

"Don't be nervous, I'm just putting forward a hypothesis."

"Please do not make such assumptions. Countless people have already sacrificed themselves because of the Fire Seed Project. Everyone's sacrifice was for the sake of humanity's bright future, so that it would no longer be troubled by the abyss. This is everyone's common dream. Please do not destroy this 'dream'."

Old Quan spoke to Martin seriously, his tone carrying a warning.

It seems that if Martin really dared to do that, he would definitely stop him with his life.

Seeing that the other person looked like they could explode at any moment, Martin shook his head.

"Don't worry, Project Fire will definitely succeed, and of course I wouldn't do such a thing."

"That's good."

Old Quan didn't relax at all, still keeping a close eye on Martin, afraid that he might suddenly do something unexpected.

Martin shrugged and went back inside.

……

"Where did you go?" Lu Youqi asked curiously.

"I went out for a walk," Martin casually lied.

"Luoqi, I have a question for you."

"You said."

"If one day you had the chance to kill the Abyss, but the price of that chance was sacrificing a friend, would you be willing?"

"Which friend?" Lu You asked in return.

"Mo Ling".

“I’m not willing,” Lu Youqi replied decisively.

"What if it were me?"

"willing."

Martin was speechless.

"Why should I?" he asked with a hint of resentment.

"Because you asked this question. If Mo Ling had asked it, my answer would have been the opposite."

"I get it, you're just trying to annoy me."

“That’s right,” Lu Youqi shamelessly admitted.

“I’m serious, are you willing to sacrifice your friends and kill the Abyss?” Martin asked again.

This time, his tone was very serious.

Lu Youqi paused for a moment, remained silent for a brief instant, and then smiled at Martin:
"Didn't you already know the answer?"

(End of this chapter)