The night before the promotion

Chapter 100: The End of the New Order

August 2042, 8, Shenwei Building.

Zuo Zhi stood on the observation platform on the top floor of Shenwei Building, which is the highest point in the entire industrial park. Looking around, everything in the industrial park is clearly visible.

When looking down, Zuo Zhi always imagined himself as an ancient emperor, scanning the territory he ruled.

"Power makes people young."

Zuo Zhi couldn't remember where he heard this famous saying, but as it said, even if Zuo Zhi did not use his power, just appreciating the "power" he possessed was enough to make his brain secrete a large amount of dopamine.

But we must be aware that power can also backfire.

Zuo Zhi narrowed his eyes. As the thought came into his mind, various news images were projected into his eyes. What they reported were nothing more than the recent happenings. A series of exaggerated and shocking headlines filled people's eyes.

"The Stone Castle is under attack! Is its security really reliable?" "The high wall system is damaged. Should humans really rely on it for all their safety?" "Why did the incarnation body go out of control?" "Who should be held responsible for this?" and so on.

Another thought arose in Zuo Zhi's mind, and the news footage in front of him disappeared, replaced by the surveillance footage of the industrial park.

As the picture zoomed in, a large group of protesting people appeared in front of Zuo Zhi. They were holding various protest slogans and banners, and gathered in a large crowd on the outskirts of the industrial park, roaring constantly, like a group of howling gorillas.

What’s strange is that, unlike the common protests nowadays, there were only humans among the protesting crowd, without any avatar bodies. Likewise, those responsible for on-site security were also a group of living humans, without any security avatars. Even the common drones hanging overhead disappeared, replaced by a group of photographers with cameras.

Perhaps it was because he was used to the high degree of integration between the incarnation body and human society, when this scene appeared in Zuo Zhi's eyes, he actually felt a strange sense of discomfort, as if time had gone back and everything returned to decades ago when the incarnation body had not yet been born.

A month ago, Huo Daochuan and others launched a terrorist attack on the Stone Fort and the Grand Parade. Although Zhou Si and others resisted stubbornly, they ultimately failed. Huo Daochuan successfully injected the catalyst virus into the data tree, contaminating the high-walled system.

From then on, the towering wall was no longer solid and was riddled with holes.

The catalyst virus spread wildly in the consciousness network, infiltrating every incarnation body within the radiation range. All affected people were instantly faced with severe information overload, with chaotic hallucinations, excessive information that the brain could not handle, and distorted senses appearing before their eyes.

As if doomsday had come, large numbers of incarnation bodies fell out of control, causing a series of accidents, and some users simply fell unconscious in the dream pool.

Dozens of serious incidents occurred in the city of Anyan alone. The burning fires illuminated the night, ambulances crowded the streets, calls for help rang endlessly, and hospitals were filled with injured people.

People have become accustomed to living in peace and comfort. Even when a war breaks out, it is a fight between armed incarnations. People have forgotten too much and have forgotten it for too long, until Huo Daochuan appeared and pressed people's hands into the red-hot charcoal fire.

Large-scale panic spread in various regions. Just like the intelligent machine crisis often mentioned in some science fiction movies, the avatar body that is closely related to human society suddenly becomes unreliable, just like your inseparable mobile phone may suddenly explode.

Even though the programmers repaired the gaps in the high walls and large systems and strangled the catalyst viruses running rampant in the consciousness network within less than a day after the disaster, the fear that permeated people's hearts has not dissipated. On the contrary, it has become more and more intense, like a gradually burning fire that is difficult to extinguish.

Once the seeds of doubt are planted, they will feed on people's fear of the unknown and grow.

As the leader of the incarnation body and one of the builders of the high wall system, Shenwei Technology was pushed to the forefront of public opinion after the disaster broke out.

First, the government officially ordered a strong suspension of all avatar shell work until the consciousness network was guaranteed to be secure. Then all research and development projects related to the avatar shell also came to a halt, not to mention the related stock prices.

What Huo Daochuan did triggered a series of chain reactions, and waves of horror swept across the world.

"You look troubled."

A voice full of vicissitudes came from behind Zuo Zhi. Zuo Zhi said nothing and stood there motionless. He had seen the other person's face clearly on the surveillance camera as early as the other person got into the elevator.

"Mr. Zuozhi."

Dong Yuan came to Zuo Zhi and smiled at him. Zuo Zhi also smiled back politely, even though that was not what he really thought.

This is the convenience of the incarnation body. It can simulate a variety of expressions according to Zuo Zhi's intentions, seamlessly, just like wearing a mask that can never be seen through.

Dong Yuan was the first to speak, "They destroyed the incarnation shell industry."

"It was just a little bit short," Zuo Zhi said calmly, even though he was furious under the mask. "The high wall system did not collapse completely. On the contrary, after this maintenance and upgrade, it will only become stronger than before."

"But the impact is still very bad. In the past month, various lawsuits have already filled up your legal department, right?"

Dong Yuan spoke naturally, but Zuo Zhi inexplicably felt that he was mocking him. Maybe he was right.

"But even so, we're still standing, aren't we?"

Zuo Zhi was extremely proud. He did not think that this would bring down Shenwei Technology, let alone the incarnation industry. At most, it would make Shenwei Technology no longer as strong as before...

Strong?

Zuo Zhi realized something and looked at Dong Yuan suspiciously, "I don't understand, such a premeditated attack... Did the Supervisory Bureau really know nothing at the beginning?" Dong Yuan retorted, "I don't know, but instead of questioning me, I want to ask you, Mr. Zuo Zhi, why could such a high wall and system be breached by such a virus? It has been standing for so long."

Zuo Zhi responded, "There is no safe in the world that cannot be opened, it's just that there is a lack of a corresponding key."

"Hahaha……"

Dong Yuan chuckled twice, then took a step forward, stood in front of Zuo Zhi, overlooking the entire industrial park.

At such a height, people walking on the ground are as small as ants, and even tall buildings are just a more delicate little mound of earth.

Dong Yuan began to understand why Zuo Zhi liked this place. Just by standing here, he could feel the pleasure of power, even if he had nothing in his hands.

"Mr. Zuo Zhi, Shenwei Technology will not be able to escape this storm. In fact, there is a high probability that you will be dismembered and turned into wreckage on the ground."

Dong Yuan changed the subject and invited, "But the Supervisory Bureau can help you through the difficulties. Shenwei Technology will stand as before. Nothing will change. At most..."

"The most I can do is be put on a collar by your Supervisory Bureau and become a dog under your command?"

Zuo Zhi saw through Dong Yuan’s purpose... It can’t be said to be seeing through, because from the very beginning, since Dong Yuan stepped into here, he had never concealed his purpose.

Dong Yuan exposed his own desires and the desires of the Supervisory Bureau nakedly without any concealment.

Since the day the Supervisory Bureau was born, it has been like a sword hanging over the heads of all technology companies, except Shenwei Technology.

In the city of Anyan, the power of the Supervisory Bureau is simply unable to suppress Shenwei Technology. Sometimes, it is even restricted by Shenwei Technology in turn. The Supervisory Bureau has been trying every means to bring Shenwei Technology under its control, and this day has finally arrived.

Zuo Zhi was silent for a while, and then he whispered, "Did the Supervisory Bureau condone this terrorist attack? Or were you also involved in it?"

Dong Yuan did not respond, but just looked at Zuo Zhi calmly. In his cloudy eyes, there was only ever-changing chaos.

What's in the chaos?

Zuo Zhi guessed that was the nature of human beings.

The complex, contradictory and twisted nature of human beings.

Virtue, glory, loyalty, etc. are enough to describe goodness with all the beautiful words known in the world.

At the same time, it is also full of infinite malice.

Chilling.

Zuo Zhi took a long breath and said with emotion, "Forget it, when has the truth ever been important?"

Dong Yuan turned his head and continued to look at the vast scenery outside. Everything was so far away, yet so close, within reach.

"I thought you would fight me for a while," Dong Yuan said. "I have carefully studied your life. People say that you are a terrible businessman who always gets the most benefits at the negotiation table."

"People change, just like I don't care about material things anymore."

Zuo Zhi laughed, and his laugh was so real, like a smile that would appear on living flesh and blood.

"Oh? Then what do you care about?"

"It's something you people can't see... something higher up."

Zuo Zhi said this and took a step forward. He stood side by side with Dong Yuan and looked out at the vast world together.

"I'm curious, if everything is really as I guessed, what does their sacrifice mean?" Zuo Zhi continued to ask, "Even Dr. Zhou has become like that. I don't know how long he can live."

Dong Yuan seemed not to hear Zuo Zhi's words. He continued to speak to himself in a sonorous and powerful voice.

"The Supervisory Bureau will establish a new order in Anyan City."

The only sound covered all the noise, like a rolling tide, erasing the countless words written on the beach.

Zuo Zhi still smiled and whispered.

"Wait and see."

(End of this chapter)