Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

The administrator's expression became complicated. "Theoretically, we don't know. But Anna's research data from her lifetime has been uploaded to the system. The AI ​​might have... deduced some of the truth on its own."

"That's why it's so dangerous..." Lu muttered to himself, "It wants to complete Anna's unfinished work and save humanity through extreme means."

The administrator didn't answer directly, but simply said, "Sometimes, the greatest courage isn't resistance, but acceptance. Learn to survive in the cracks and wait for an opportunity." She looked at Lu. "That's why we need scientists like you, Lu. Not to pursue perfect solutions, but to find viable paths."

Lu felt the pistol in her pocket grow unusually heavy. She suddenly understood why Ed had given it to her—not only as a commemoration, but also as a warning.

"I'll remember that, Miss Administrator." Lu said softly, "About Senior Anna...thank you for telling me."

The administrator nodded and turned to leave, but then stopped. "Lu, you're not Anna. You don't need to bear Anna's responsibilities. You are yourself. You don't need to worry too much about Anna's affairs. What we need to do now is face reality. If you focus on Anna's affairs, our progress may lag behind."

"...I understand what you mean."

"I hope so." The administrator's back was blurry in the corridor light. "Get some rest. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow."

-

For some reason, Lu didn't completely believe what the administrator said.

Indeed, if the more advanced technology becomes, the more susceptible it becomes to the influence of loggers, then everything they do is like courting their own destruction, a truly hopeless situation for scientists. However, Lu didn't think Senior Anna was so fragile. She was a genius recognized by both the administrator and Ed, and she shouldn't be so fragile...

Administrator...is there something you are hiding from her?

Although she may not have meant it with any malicious intent, she always had a feeling that... a piece of the puzzle was missing.

Information about Senior Anna, and information about the administrator...

Lu shook her head. She couldn't come up with the answer just by thinking. She thought of someone... someone who might know some of the truth.

--PhD.

Chapter 50: Things without Desire

Some people are like meteors, emitting light and heat from friction after entering the atmosphere. Then they disappear in an instant, while some people are like the sun, emitting light and heat, which can benefit all living beings.

The Doctor is probably a figure like the Sun. She has enough ability and talent. If there were no Administrators in the world, she would be the leader of the salvation plan, and in fact...she is.

The administrator's whereabouts were unknown most of the time after he came to Terra, and the Doctor took on most of the work that the administrator was originally responsible for. When Precious talked about this, he was somewhat resentful of the administrator. After all, the Doctor was really hard-working. However, everyone in Eden understood that the administrator probably had some unspeakable difficulties. After all, before coming to Terra, the administrator was the busiest person here - so the Doctor did not say much and took on everything in Eden on his own.

The Doctor and the Administrator are the souls of the Garden of Eden, people who are irreplaceable by anyone. They are also the starting point and original intention of the Garden of Eden.

It can even be said that if it were not for the Doctor and the Administrator, the Garden of Eden would never have been established.

Including Lu, Ed, Anna, Precious, and Trevor Friston, almost all of these people were attracted to join the Garden of Eden by the personal charm of the administrator and the doctor. They are the best scientists in their fields and almost have leadership positions in their respective fields. Perhaps Lu's qualifications are a bit low - but this does not mean that there is a problem with her ability. The achievements she has made now are what most scientists dream of.

This group of scientific research supermen are rarely mentioned under the brilliance of the doctor and the administrator. When talking about the Garden of Eden, the topic basically focuses on these two people.

Most people don't even know what the real names of these two are...they can only call them the Prophet and the Administrator.

If there is anyone in this world who can understand these two...

It must be Miss Precious who is smiling and making tea for herself.

"Sorry for the long wait. The tea that Ed brought me is green tea grown on his spaceship. Although there are similar flavored supplements on the market, I still prefer the old-fashioned tea to those cookie-cutter flavored supplements." When Precious mentioned Ed, the old man who insisted on tradition and nostalgia the most among them, he always felt that there was nothing he could do about him. The reason Lu could come here was because Ed was helping him cover for his shift.

After confirming that the Heaven's Fulcrum could not pose a threat to the lumberjacks, although the Heaven's Fulcrum was still maintained, it was temporarily stagnant, so Ed had time to help.

This old man who upholds tradition can always give them some surprises, or perhaps, in this era, he may be the person who knows how to live the best.

Being alive does not mean knowing how to live.

The existence of life and the meaning of life are often not the same thing. In this precarious era for human civilization, many people exist like the walking dead—without a clear purpose in life, no sense of direction for the future, let alone any survival plan. Day after day, they are drowning in a torrent of information, trapped in a carefully constructed information cocoon. While in theory, everyone has the right to choose their own way of life, when the spirit of an entire race has been crushed to the brink of collapse, it is obviously meaningless to blame these lost souls.

However, just as light and shadow always coexist, where there are those who perish, there are those who awaken. When some choose to submit to fate, there are always those who rise up and fight it. Perhaps the most paradoxical quality of the human species is that even within the same civilization, the spiritual realms of individuals vary so greatly that they even transcend the natural divide between species.

Furthermore, even among those dedicated to saving the world in the Garden of Eden, there are differences and disagreements...

"Ms. Precious, I'd like to ask you about Anna Wright." Lu raised her head. Her crimson eyes, like two red gemstones, flickered with hesitation, but she didn't let that keep her silent. She was never good at keeping silent. She always spoke her mind, even on such sensitive topics. In Eden, most people avoided mentioning Anna Wright's existence, but of course... this wasn't a deliberate attempt to erase any trace of her existence.

Everyone just tacitly agreed not to mention it - the records about Anna Wright were well kept in the file bag and had never been deleted or hidden.

Anna Wright obviously did not commit any serious crime that had to be hidden. Perhaps she did not reveal it to the people in the Garden of Eden simply because it was a scar. Although it had scabbed over, it would still hurt if touched.

"Anna...Wright." Precious paused, as if even the mention of the name made her hesitate. "Did Ed tell you that?"

"I guess so." Lu nodded. "The Deep Blue Tree incident was also related to her. Although we didn't mention her by name in the report... I think you should know."

"I should commend you for your honesty, Lu. Indeed, we know everything, including your shielding of that poor mother." Precious nodded. As a linguist, she could easily find flaws in Lu's tone. What exactly is language? Many overlook its significance, and the power of this linguistics scholar. Language, at its core, is a tool for communication. Those who master it naturally communicate more efficiently, even using language to manipulate others—linguistics in this era has long transcended simple basics. "But we don't mind. We can allow for some margin of error. The Deep Blue Tree is safe, and so are you. No one is injured, and no one has died. This is the best possible outcome. We can certainly ignore your petty selfishness."

Lu and Priss were at the newly completed Land Research Institute, a large laboratory called "Rhodes Island". Priss was not only the best linguist of modern times, but also the best programmer of modern times. She was responsible for writing most of the systems used in the Garden of Eden, and the system on Rhodes Island was called P·R·T·S, which was an abbreviation. The full name was EYES OF PRIESTESS, or "Eye of the Priestess".

Priestess can be said to be another title of Precious besides Linguist. She likes it very much and often refers to herself by it.

Apart from Precious, the person who knows the most about this aspect is actually Anna Wright. Among the many records, Anna Wright can be said to be a computer genius. At a young age, she can hack into the official website of the Interstellar Federation and send April Fools' Day jokes to nearly tens of thousands of interstellar colonies. In this regard, she was indeed taught by Ed, and she can be said to have inherited the same unruly style.

So there are actually two types of systems used in Eden – the system written by Anna Wright, and the system written by Precious.

There's no way these two people haven't communicated...

"Actually, after that incident, I had a feeling you'd come looking for me, so I prepared tea in advance. Speaking of which, I bear some responsibility for that incident. If I hadn't taken you away, perhaps it wouldn't have happened." Precious smiled bitterly and shook his head. "If you want to blame me, I understand. However, I must make it clear that this action was merely a selfish motive on the part of that poor mother, and it wasn't intentional on my part."

"Of course I know..." Lu never doubted Precious, "I just want to know...about Anna."

"..." Precious was silent for a long time, so silent that Lu thought time had stopped. Once this black-haired beauty stopped, she was like a sculpture. She closed her eyes, as if she was listening to something, which made Lu dare not even breathe.

"I'm sorry, Lu, I might have scared you—" After a long while, she finally spoke, "What I can tell you about Anna Wright...I have to filter it out. After all, some things are unnecessary for you, while some things are a little too early for you. I have to strictly select what you should know. Please believe that this is done with good intentions and not with any intention of deceiving you."

"...I understand, so...what should I know?"

"Then let's start with what's missing from the documentation..." Precious smiled. "You should have heard from Ed that Anna chose to commit suicide after a secret conversation with the administrator, right?"

"Well... I didn't doubt the administrator's intentions. The administrator also explained to me that Anna herself had used her own abilities to calculate that it was impossible for humans to fight against the lumberjacks on their own, and she fell into despair."

"The administrator didn't lie, that's true, but it wasn't complete..." Precious smiled. "Don't blame her. She wasn't lying to you, nor was she hiding anything. She just omitted part of the conversation because it was somewhat sensitive."

"sensitive?"

"You know Anna's research interests lie in computers and AI, right?" Precious folded his hands and continued, "But what you probably don't know is that Anna Wright was able to join the Garden of Eden because of the brilliant algorithm she created. The resulting system is called PCS, or the Personality and Cognition Synchronization System. Through this system, people can develop empathy and share each other's emotions and cognition. People within this system can achieve the same tacit understanding and coordination as twins. This system was built to mimic a living being."

"...some kind of...creature?"

"This is the only species we humans have discovered so far that can survive the loggers—the Angel."

"Angel? What's that?"

"It's normal you don't know..." Precious said with a smile. "It's a strictly confidential matter, one of our human secrets. After all, calling it life... might be a bit... illogical. Angels, without joy or sorrow, without growth or decrease, immortal, are infinitely close to a phenomenon, or a projection. They completely defy entropy—some even suspect these angels were created by the pioneer civilization that preceded us in response to the threat posed by the lumberjacks."

"How could such a creature possibly exist? It doesn't grow or shrink. Don't angels need to eat? Metabolism? No joy or sorrow... no self-emotion? Immortality... How could something immortal exist in the world?" Lu immediately slammed the table and stood up. "Such a creature can't possibly exist!"

"Does your common sense allow the Deep Blue Tree to exist?" Precious's words immediately silenced Lu Gan. Indeed, after seeing the Deep Blue Tree, if he still adhered to common sense, it would most likely be counterintuitive. "Angels do exist. We humans have observed them and confirm that they can survive in the environment created by the Lumberjacks. Their very existence is a miracle."

"...But...what does that have to do with PCS?" Lu was a little confused. "Angels are magical, but humans can't become angels, right?"

"...The thing is, she said yes." At that moment, Precious's words gave Lu goosebumps. The meaning behind those words, or the solution Anna Wright had sought, seemed to have appeared. She wanted humans to transform into Angels. That's why she created the PCS. She wiped her arms, covered in goosebumps, and whispered to herself.

"...Then... that thing... can you still call it living?"

Precious wasn't surprised. In fact, she also felt that whether beings like angels could even be considered alive was a mystery. She didn't pin her hopes on angels, but rather valued the extremely low communication costs and increased efficiency provided by PCS. However, to explain it to Lu, she had to explain the principle. "Essentially, PCS connects the consciousness of all humanity. In Anna's vision, if everyone's consciousness were connected, the physical body would no longer be important. A single human soul—yes, a single, ultimate, and colossal human soul—could exist independently of the body—"

Precious's description was very detailed and specific, but it was quite shocking to Lu.

"And what Anna seeks is this perfect spiritual fusion, allowing humanity to enter a new... era, a form where they can rely on their souls to travel the world. She believes this is the hope for human survival. Her ultimate research goal is to transform humanity into angels. In her plan, this transformation may take ten thousand years, a hundred thousand years, or even a million years, but success will come one day."

"...Then...why did she commit suicide..."

"Because her answer was denied."

Precious shook his head. "The administrator himself denied it."

"The administrator only asked her one question. Angels are without desires, but—the PCS system, which exists to survive, exists out of the desire to survive. So, how can a system that exists to survive possibly create a desireless angel?"

Perhaps the administrator was just helping Anna clear up her confusion.

However, it was this problem that completely crushed Anna's spirit.

Chapter 51: PCS, Angel Reconstruction

Angels—those beings without joy or sorrow, neither increasing nor decreasing, and immortal—became Anna's ultimate salvation. Convinced that the lumberjacks' destruction could not reach the angels, she felt as if she had grasped the only light in the darkness. Thus, she dedicated all her resources to constructing the PCS (Personality and Cognitive Synchronization System), attempting to enable humans to transcend the constraints of the flesh through spiritual fusion and ultimately transform into angels.

However, just as she was hopefully explaining her idea to the administrator, the scientist she trusted most, the other party completely shattered her belief with just one question.

"Angels have no desires, but the PCS system exists for 'survival'—how can a system based on the desire for survival possibly achieve angels without desires?"

This statement, like a sharp knife, precisely dissects the core contradiction of Anna's theory. The path of "sublimation" she constructs is essentially still the human desire for survival, while the existence of angels transcends this instinct.

——Her hope collapsed under the blade of logic.

Perhaps, what really led Anna to commit suicide was not the despair of the lumberjack, but the cruel fact revealed by the administrator's question: humans cannot become "desireless" angels by the obsession of "wanting to survive."

The collapse of hope often begins with the tiniest crack. Anna Wright, a "candidate savior" born in the shadow of civilization's doom, has been burdened with the weight of humanity's hope for as long as she can remember. Like a meticulously crafted crystal sculpture, she's been constantly elevated amid the expectant gazes of countless people, until she's suspended above the abyss. Scientific researchers of this era live under a double yoke: the pressure of a race against time to survive, and the social illusion of being a savior. When an entire civilization imposes the obsession of "must succeed" on a generation, the collapse of psychological defenses is only a matter of time. Anna is merely the most dazzling victim—her talent allows her to rise higher, but also destined her to fall harder.

Under the lab lights, day and night, no one noticed her trembling fingers as she flipped through the pages of literature; in the champagne bubbles at the celebration banquet, no one detected the nervous stomachache behind her smile. When society deifies you as the "modern Einstein," even normal anxiety becomes an unforgivable weakness. Until that day, the administrator's question, like a scalpel, precisely dissected the most fatal contradiction in her theory: a system driven by the desire for survival can never reach the angelic realm of selflessness. This logical deadlock not only destroyed her scientific achievements but also shattered her very foundation as a "savior"—in that moment, she finally saw herself as a mere puppet dancing on the edge of a precipice, pulled by countless strings called "expectations."

Tragically, this era never taught them how to face failure. When the carefully constructed edifice of hope collapsed, Anna found herself lacking even the most basic psychological self-rescue skills—after all, in everyone's script, the ending for the "genius young scientist" could only be triumph, never failure. Her suicide wasn't cowardice, but the inevitable product of a warped era. Like overstretched carbon fiber, when the load exceeds its critical point, even the finest material will break cleanly. The fragments of holographic data scattered throughout the laboratory ultimately became the concrete tombstones of this civilization's morbid expectations.

Anna's death was like a heavy hammer, completely shattering Ed's confidence as a mentor. He later realized that he had made a fatal mistake - he taught Anna how to conquer the peak of science, but forgot to teach her how to face the trough of life.

During countless sleepless nights, Ed repeatedly questioned himself: When Anna was immersed in the frenzy of scientific research, why didn't he remind her to get enough rest? When she first showed symptoms of anxiety, why did he simply downplay it by saying "geniuses are like that"? When she took the entire burden of "saving humanity" on his shoulders, why didn't he tell her that "failure is allowed"?

Now, Ed deliberately schedules "useless time" in his teaching—whether it's afternoon tea in the lab or mandatory weekend excursions. These seemingly wasteful arrangements are actually a reflection of his educational revolution, inspired by painful lessons: rather than cultivating perfect scientists, he wants to teach his students how to be complete human beings.

"...So that's how it is." After listening to Precious's description, Lu understood a lot more. "No wonder Teacher Ed teaches like this..."

Precious gently spun his teacup. "The Garden of Eden used to be like a finely tuned machine, with everyone acting like a tightly wound spring. It was Ed who taught us that clinging to the warmth of humanity in the shadow of doomsday is itself a form of resistance."

"Is Mr. Ed such a great man..." Lu smiled, "I thought everyone thought he was annoying."

"It's annoying, sure, but you have to believe that Ed values ​​each of us deeply." Precious waved his hand. "Especially you, Lu. You're the most special one. You're his student, and the most talented after Anna. You're practically the future of humanity. No wonder Ed values ​​you so much. Do you remember the day Ed helped you take Anna's counterattack? He looked energetic, but he was actually seriously injured... If the medical team had arrived any later, he would have probably gone into hemorrhagic shock."

"......! How is he?!" Although he said he disliked it, once he knew that Ed's condition was so bad, Lu couldn't help but care about him.

"Of course I'm full of life. You can completely trust the medical team at Eden Garden." Precious smiled and waved his hand. "As long as you're still breathing, the medical team can help you repair your body tissues. But... the cruelest answer in this world is that there is no resurrection from the dead, and there is no so-called reincarnation. You only live once, and no matter how advanced the medical technology is, it cannot repair the soul. That is the realm of the gods."

"...Ms. Precious, you actually talk about the gods." Lu was a little surprised. "I thought that was only for Ed."

"No, the gods I'm talking about are fundamentally different from the gods of faith. The gods I consider are essentially omniscient and omnipotent beings, similar to Laplace's Demon," Precious explained. "At least humans haven't yet encountered anyone who can truly repair or revive their souls, let alone discover reincarnation. So life is a very precious thing. When you die, you really have nothing left..."

"Ms. Precious... I won't commit suicide." Lu heard the other party's concern. "I'm not Anna. I am someone who can accept my failure. Moreover, I will reflect on it and do better. I think this is my strength."

"That's unnecessary concern on my part, but it's a good thing. The administrator probably loves people like you. Back then, she was also very fond of Miss Anna, and the two of them could chat all day. After Miss Anna's death, the administrator rarely showed any affection towards others. Although she didn't say it herself, she probably considered Anna's incident a sin... That's just the kind of person the administrator is," Precious said with a smile. "She's too strict with herself."

"The administrator lady must be under a lot of pressure..." Lu began to regret his action of calling the administrator lady. She might feel worse than himself. It is of course painful to open the scars, it is heartbreaking, especially when the memories of his lost friend are dug up again by himself, which is simply cruel.

She lowered her head and whispered, "I should go and apologize to the administrator."

"Don't worry. She undoubtedly understands her mistakes. Regardless, the administrator did cause that tragedy... She must bear this sin, and she's willing to do so." Precious swirled the teacup gently, the amber liquid creating tiny ripples within. "Your apology will only make her feel worse, won't you? It's better to focus on your own tasks—oh, the tea's cold."

She stood gracefully, her long black hair falling like silk, the ends swaying slightly with her movements. The delicate ribbon bow at her neck was particularly eye-catching—rumored to be a gift from the Doctor, though the authenticity was unknown, but she clearly treasured it. The black and white dress outlined her slender figure, creating a beautiful contrast with the Doctor's pure white uniform.

In a sense, it can be considered as a couple's outfit...

Lu took the teacup, and the warm vapor rose, blurring his vision behind his glasses. Presese tucked her chin in her hand, examining him with interest. This young man possessed a nostalgic quality, as pure as the doctor's in those days. His unabashed enthusiasm, his clumsy yet persistent efforts, perfectly struck her sweet spot.

but...

She gently stirred the teaspoon, the silverware clinking against each other. Compared to the doctor's almost cold rationality, Lu was always more easily swayed by emotions. Just like now, even though she said she didn't care, her fingertips unconsciously brushed the tiny crack on the teacup. Really, these two people are so similar, yet so completely different.

"Would you like some sugar?" Precious suddenly asked, a sly smile on his lips.

The quietness of the tea room was broken by the sound of the automatic door sliding open.

When Lu looked up, she met the doctor's slightly tired blue eyes. She was not wearing her signature hood today, and her pale short hair was messy and sticky, as if someone had just touched it. Noticing Lu's gaze, she raised her hand and waved lazily, the movement smooth as if she had rehearsed it a thousand times, and walked straight to Precious and sank into the sofa.

"Another all-nighter?" Precious clinked the teaspoon against the rim of the cup, her brows furrowed into a beautiful arc. She reached out to straighten the doctor's raised collar, her fingertips pausing slightly as they touched his cool neck. "Have you forgotten the data from your last physical? If you keep going like this..."

"The experimental data...will disappear on its own." The doctor buried his face in the crook of Precious's shoulder, his voice muffled. "By the time you notice...it will be dawn."

Looking at the doctor rubbing against Priss's neck like a sleepy cat, Lu suddenly felt that the cup of tea in his hand was a little too sweet.

"Um... should I step aside?" Lu coughed awkwardly, his fingers twisting the corner of his shirt unconsciously. But Precious hugged the sleepy doctor even tighter, a mischievous smile on his face—after all, seeing the usually calm and composed doctor reveal such a soft side was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Wake up~" She gently pinched the doctor's cheek, her voice full of affection, "It's not okay to lose your composure in front of your juniors, okay?"

The doctor frowned like a cat that had been woken up, and forced his heavy eyelids open. "Sorry... I forgot we had an appointment today. I kept you waiting..."

"It's okay!" Lu waved his hands hurriedly, nervously apologizing, "I'm sorry, I came at the wrong time, you should rest more..."

"A deal is a deal." The doctor suddenly straightened his back, instantly regaining his usual serious demeanor. The speed of his expression changed so quickly that Lu couldn't help but hold his breath. "Regarding Anna and the administrator... Precious should have already explained the basic situation. As an additional explanation..." She paused, raised her head, and looked seriously into Lu's eyes, then said, "The PCS project should have been terminated."

"Eh?"

"But the administrator insisted on keeping it running," the doctor said sincerely, without a trace of hesitation. "She didn't want Anna's efforts to go to waste... Even now, she's single-handedly perfecting the system framework Anna left behind." At this point, the doctor's usually calm voice took on a rare ripple. "Doesn't this choice... prove that she values ​​Anna more than anyone else?"

"It's actually... like this... I never thought that Miss Administrator... would actually be like this..."