Zhou Huajin remained in contact with Dawn City. His father-in-law was the CEO of a traditional medicine company and had access to more information. The institute not only developed advanced combat robots but also multifunctional domestic robots.

These robots could replace humans in many tasks, from household chores to simple jobs, even complex data editing and programming.

But why weren't they mass-produced? Employment concerns.

Each base had a significant population, with many relying on ordinary jobs. If robots replaced manual labor, many would become jobless, leading to significant social unrest.

Zhou You entered directly. Upon seeing him, everyone was stunned. "Who is this? Daring to intrude into private property?" They assumed he was one of the protestors.

Zhou Huajin stood up, uncertainly calling, “Zhou You?”

“It's me.”

No one was unfamiliar with the name. Apart from being Zhou Huajin's son, he was also the Marshal's spouse. Everyone instinctively rose.

The officer who questioned him earlier approached, shaking his hand, “My apologies, young master. How disrespectful of me.”

The room was momentarily unsure how to treat this young consort of the Marshal. They had just discussed matters opposing the military's will, and Marshal Shao's will represented that of the military.

“Please, sit. I assume everyone's aware of the protests outside. To cause such an uproar in a day, someone influential must be behind it. There aren’t many with such capabilities.”

Everyone felt a jolt in their hearts, realizing they hadn't considered this before.

"But what could their intentions be?" Zhou Huajin pondered along that line of thought, finding the implications increasingly alarming.

"Stability is paramount for the base. As tensions escalate between ordinary people and martial artists, Shao Qi proposed an excellent solution: to offer regular people the same martial arts training opportunities."

"Lately, the martial spirit within the base has been vibrant, but this incident seems to have nullified all our previous efforts."

"Can you imagine the reaction when people find out that the decision to limit robot production was made by Shao Qi?"

"No, no, no, I heard it was a joint decision made by the military, the central government, and the research institute," someone interjected in defense of Shao Qi.

Zhou You nodded, "But what if they're targeting Shao Qi or any specific individual? Do you think the public cares about the nuances?"

"We've all navigated the bureaucratic landscape for decades. We should know better than to assume they don't have a backup plan. Regardless of the truth, someone's bound to get the short end of the stick."

"And aren't you all overestimating these robots? An industrial-made automaton equipped with a chip might perform tasks like a human, but do you genuinely believe it can master martial arts?"

Zhou You shook his head with a smile, "Those so-called robotic soldiers are merely more resilient than average troops. Their weapons are limited, and they deplete energy quickly. Relying on a single robot as a bodyguard won't get you safely out of the base."

Hearing this, everyone started to regain their composure. True, they yearned for their past, regular lives, but the world outside had drastically changed. If granted a robotic bodyguard, would they genuinely dare to step out?

"The most crucial point is, these military robots are undoubtedly expensive, made from rare materials. How can an average income earner afford one?"

"Ahem..." Zhou Huajin cleared his throat, adding, "Don't overthink it. Even if they're produced, the military will get the first pick. It would be years before a civilian could get their hands on one."

Pointing to a middle-aged man in the room, he said, "Didn't your son just advance in his training? Just a few months in, and he's already achieving so much. Would you want to hinder talents like him?"

"Maybe those protesting outside can't truly learn martial arts or are just following the trend, but if they're not thinking straight, should we also be misled?"

"Most of us here are past our prime, unlikely to become martial artists, but we all have children. Who wouldn't want their offspring to excel in both literature and martial arts?"

"Let's disperse. My son's back, and I won't be playing host any longer," Zhou Huajin began ushering out the guests, prioritizing a rare meeting with his son over the old-timers.

Chapter 208: Live Broadcast

Zhou Huajin poured tea for his son, taking a moment to study him. He was the same person, but his aura had transformed. He had always been handsome, but now there was an added depth and poise.

Recognizing it as the demeanor of a master, Zhou Huajin swelled with pride for his young son's accomplishments.

Yet, there were concerns aplenty.

"Why are you back alone? Was your trip to the Jiangnan Base smooth?"

"It went well, we found some leads. I returned with Shao Qi. He's at Master Fan's house, dealing with some matters."

A gleeful Zhou Huajin responded, "He's here too? I was thinking of calling him to update him on recent events. The robot issue is likely targeted at him."

Zhou You concurred, "It's not really about right or wrong. Some are manipulating the sentiments of the public against those in power, with Shao Qi bearing the brunt."

Zhou Huajin switched on the television. Most channels broadcasted the protest, which had swelled to over fifty thousand participants, rendering the busiest street in Yang City impassable.

The two leading individuals held up megaphones and shouted loudly: "Restore the rights of ordinary people! Commoners should also leave the base!"

"It's chaos. With so many people protesting, I fear that bases nationwide will soon follow suit."

Zhou You saw the city defense team standing helplessly to the side, doing their best to prevent more people from joining the protest.

Switching to another channel, a speech was being broadcasted. A famous celebrity-like figure stood at a central podium in the square, passionately describing how those in power cunningly suppress the common people by mothballing combat robots that could be put to production.