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13. Dissonance
Count the time, it should be dawn. It is a pity that energy is limited, and underground restaurants will not be luxurious enough to equip giant glass curtains to provide them with a large false and power-hungry blue sky.
Ruan Xian got up late, there were not many people left in the restaurant, and the breakfast service was about to stop. The light of the energy-saving lamps is a little golden, and the brightness is far less than that of artificial sunlight, and the air is filled with the unique astringency of metal boiled water.
He focused on stuffing steamed eggs and boiled sweet potatoes into his mouth, silent. After feeling the gaze firmly stuck to his forehead, Ruan Xian raised his head and met Tang Yibu's golden eyes.
"You still have five minutes and eleven seconds." Tang Yibu said seriously, "After five minutes and nine seconds, the restaurant will cut off the power supply. There are still four hours and thirty-three minutes before the meeting with Zhang Yazhe's team at noon. Considering that If possible, I suggest you go to Guan Haiming early to obtain equipment and materials for going out. Using this time, you can still…”
Ruan Xian did not answer. He stopped the spoon, broke the boiled sweet potato in half, got up and stuffed it into Tang Yibu's palm, successfully interrupting the android who was busy chatting - Tang Yibu instantly stopped his mouth and greeted him happily. Nodding, he ate the sweet potato in small bites.
Since he learned that his "information was not updated in time" in the ruins, Tang Yibu's attitude towards him has softened a little. That kind of subtle tolerance always makes Ruan Xian feel a little awkward.
Tang Yibu looks like he is taking care of a drunken man who is not sober, or a chick that has just been thrown out of the nest.
At present, Tang Yibu firmly believes that he is a hapless android who has been infused with human memory and at the same time knows that he is not human. Interestingly, Ruan Xian is not quite sure whether the "injected into human memory" part is true.
But to be cautious, he is not ready to exchange information with Tang Yibu from androids to androids.
Now that he has infiltrated the expedition team and has a human identity with vague memories, other normal humans are safer subjects for questioning. The excuse of "playing Ruan Lijie well" is very useful, enough to make all the questions he raises natural.
But right now, there is a problem that is more suitable for Tang Yibu.
"Since we are going to join the team... How is Zhang Yazhe's strength?"
"Partially comprehensive. Chi Lei is good at mechanical capture and maintenance, and Ding Zepeng has excellent physical fitness and is suitable for combat and exploration. Zhang Yazhe is the oldest, and because of his age, his physical strength is not as good as Ding Zepeng's, but his combat ability is also considered high, and he has very rich experience in dealing with various situations. "Tang Yibu was chewing sweet potatoes, his voice a little vague.
"What about now?" he asked pointedly.
Tang Yibu stopped chewing and looked here, Ruan Xian couldn't read the emotion in those golden eyes. "It's business as usual. Now his form hasn't slumped significantly, and he hasn't improved much."
Since he promised to protect himself, Tang Yibu had no need to lie on this issue. No matter what Zhang Yazhe is now, his abilities are still in the category of human beings. Ruan Xian breathed a sigh of relief.
"But it seems that I have to repeat it again, don't get too close to humans." Tang Yibu said calmly, swallowing the last sweet potato. "I understand why you specifically designated me. You want to use my power to protect that team."
Ruan Xian did not deny it.
"Excessive intervention is not beneficial. When humans were still prosperous, they would not interfere too much with wild animals." Tang Yibu shook his head.
"I remember. But you know my situation, and you can't change your habit for a while."
Ruan Xian accepted the words smoothly. He got up and put away the bowls and spoons, and put them into the adjacent metal box: "Let's go, is Guan Haiming in the office?"
"Yes." Tang Yibu stretched out his hand, wiped off the crushed sweet potato sticking to Ruan Xian's mouth with his thumb, and licked it off carefully.
The other party's expression was too upright, Ruan Xian pondered for a long time, and decided to give up the protest plan that was twice the result with less effort. He wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, turned his head and walked towards Guan Haiming's office.
Fortunately, this time he no longer needs Tang Yibu to accompany him, Guan Haiming is very direct: "The android is waiting outside, I'm upset when there are too many people."
After the soundproof door was closed, Ruan Xian and Guan Haiming breathed a sigh of relief almost simultaneously.
"I thought you would want a more powerful auxiliary machine." In order to talk normally, Guan Haiming turned down the volume of the music that was enough to blast the ceiling, and put his two feet on the table, his tone was not salty or indifferent.
"Brother Zhang and the others are a little scary." Ruan Xian had long thought of a response.
Guan Hai is obviously not the type who likes to meddle in his own business, he hastily hummed and ended the topic.
"I've put all your things in the bag, and the instructions are also glued. You still have a few hours to act, take it back and see for yourself." Guan Haiming slammed his feet on the table to the beat of the music. The fast-paced music played in the room was still playing last time. Ruan Xian listened to it for a while, feeling a little dizzy.
"Don't listen to it if you're not used to it." Noticing Ruan Xian's little gesture, Guan Haiming gave him a sideways glance. "It's alcohol music, and if you don't get used to it, it will have a drunken effect."
"Are you used to it?"
"It's similar to drinking directly, but it won't damage my brain and liver." Guan Haiming responded firmly. "Grab your backpack, and if you need information, you'd better tell me early—"
"Is there any documentation for the auxiliary machine?"
Guan Haiming raised his eyebrows: "It seems that you still want to change one?"
"Let's take a look first, after all, I don't know anything about them." Ruan Xian glanced at the metal shelves full of electronic paper. "Guan Bo, do you have any entry-level information here? The kind that starts with the initial machine."
"...Yes, yes."
Guan Haiming knocked on the table, a drone flew up, and pulled out a piece of electronic paper from the top of the shelf. Placing the gray electronic paper flat on the table, he took out a blank piece of paper from the wooden box at hand, folded the two pieces of paper together, and clasped it with five fingers. After the beep sound of fingerprint verification passed, Guan Haiming handed over a copy of the freshly released data.
"This piece of paper belongs to you in the future, and all written materials can be copied in." Guan Haiming smacked his lips, "See if you want it, tell me if it's not enough, it's better to solve it all at once. It's better not to be an explorer. Come on, I'm fine with indoor work."
Ruan Xian didn't answer, he glanced at the closed soundproof door and quickly turned around.
What he wants is written in the preface.
[In the early days, machines would mix biological cells. Later, with the development of nanotechnology, the original body tissues were replaced by artificial cells. The three types of a, d, and s initial machines are thus born, as the original donors of all models - after appropriate stimulation, the artificial cells removed from the initial machine will gradually differentiate and finalize, adapting to the needs of various models. This process is irreversible. 】
[A-type products focus on attack, D-type products focus on defense, and S-type products focus on recovery and perception. Although the three initial machines are the real capability ceiling, to ensure safety, we did not equip them with any artificial intelligence. 】
[In the 22nd century rebellion, the a-type initial machine and the s-type initial machine were successfully destroyed by us, and the d-type initial machine was obtained by the main brain mul-01. Except for a small amount of machinery left over from human civilization, the bionic tissue of the new type of machinery is all D-type, and it is difficult to destroy it through ordinary means...]
"You understand?" Seeing Ruan Xian frowning, Guan Haiming twitched the corners of his mouth.
"The original machine is something similar to artificial stem cells? After all, I have read some books." Ruan Xian forced a smile, "If I understand correctly, they have provided sources of bionic materials for all machines? This is basically a monopoly."
"Almost, the analogy of stem cells is not bad... The three initial machines were originally in charge of Professor Ruan, and they contained the most advanced technology of mankind back then."
When it comes to "Ruan Xian", Guan Haiming has a bit of vitality in his eyes.
"A monopoly is not a monopoly, purely because other people are too stupid. Puland once wanted to design its own initial machine, and it lost its pants. It is inevitable that mul-01 wants them - no matter how powerful artificial intelligence, If it's stuffed into a toaster, it won't make a big splash. The best system is best with the toughest hardware, always."
"The above said that both the A-type and S-type were destroyed. But the main brain is so terrible, will it restore them and create a bunch of attacking troops or something..."
"Don't worry. Only Professor Ruan knows the core technologies. In order to prepare for the current situation, he did not record them in any form. No matter how powerful the mul-01 is, it cannot hack into the human brain through the air... I said, you are Let's look at the auxiliary machine model? Why do you care so much about the initial machine?"
"The first time I heard it, I was a little curious." Seeing Guan Haiming's recollection, Ruan Xian immediately stopped the topic. "This is very interesting, Guan Bo, just give me a few similar ones."
Guan Haiming pouted, and just about to use the drone to fetch it, he suddenly groaned and swept all the things that could fall around him to the ground. In a piece of mechanical debris, he slid off the seat, curled up with his head in his arms, and his body twitched unnaturally.
This time Ruan Xian was really startled: "Guan Bo?!"
"Turn on the music! Maximum volume!"
Guan Haiming yelled and beat his head frantically with his fists.
Ruan Xian recalled for half a second, and imitated Guan Haiming's actions to slap the music icon floating on the table. The loud alcohol music sounded again, Guan Haiming shrank and trembled for a few minutes, and finally stood up slowly.
"Guan Bo, do you want me to call someone—"
"No need. It's just a headache. It's an old problem. If you leave early, you will help me." Guan Haiming's face was pale and he waved his hand weakly.
Ruan Xian hurriedly put away the information, carried a heavy backpack full of equipment, and quickly rushed out of the room.
"Guan Haiming's body is not quite right, do I need to inform other doctors?" After confirming that the soundproof door was closed, Ruan Xian wiped away his cold sweat.
"His body has never been healthy." Tang Yibu took the initiative to pick up the heavy backpack, with a calm face that was not surprising. "I guess this is one of the reasons why Ruan Xian was willing to make an exception to accept him as a student."
It was the first time that Ruan Xian was stunned when he heard Tang Yibu spit out his real name.
"Guan Haiming is the first batch of human beings whose genes have been completely optimized. All known disease-causing genes have been eliminated, and their appearance, IQ, and personality have been re-customized." Tang Yibu lowered his voice, his tone was a little indifferent. "It's just that the first batch was flawed, a small miscalculation, and their skull size didn't match the brain."
Ruan Xian's blood froze for a while: "Why do you have a headache?"
"Well, the skull is not big enough." Tang Yibu nodded, "there is no cure. They can't escape intermittent headaches, and people can become irritable and irritable. This problem was exposed after the first batch of test subjects stopped developing. This hidden danger was successfully repaired in the ninth batch of optimization."
Ruan Xian didn't know what to say for a while, he was a little suffocated. Taking in such a student is indeed something "he" would do.
During the twelve years that he was in a coma, what has this world become like?
He changed his clothes mechanically, read various manuals mechanically, and mechanically put the backpack on his shoulders. It was not until he saw Zhang Yazhe's face again that Ruan Xian managed to get himself out of the endless distraction.
Chi Lei and Ding Zepeng wore the camouflage uniforms they used to save him last time, and Zhang Yazhe's suit was darker. The three were carrying light backpacks, and the police auxiliary machine stood silently behind them, with a green light aperture that looked like a wolf's eyes.
"Brother Ruan, what's the matter with you? You don't look very good." Ding Zepeng was the first to notice the abnormality.
"It's nothing, maybe a little nervous." Ruan Xian wiped his face and patted the young man's shoulder.
"It's okay, Brother Zhang said, we'll pick up the parts today, there won't be any danger." Ding Zepeng grinned, revealing his snow-white teeth.
Chi Lei still had a straight face, while Zhang Yazhe smiled with Xiao Ding, but there was no smile in his eyes. Ruan Xian took his eyes away from Zhang Yazhe's face, glanced at Tang Yibu behind him, and finally looked in the direction of Guan Haiming's office.
The elevator was going up, they were about to return to the sunny surface, the spring flowers were blooming outside the building, and everything seemed hopeful.
But he just felt cold.