When the gate opened, everyone was ready for a fierce attack - although they didn't encounter any real resistance along the way, everyone knew that it was because of the failure of the mastermind that all the defense systems along the way were offline so easily, and behind the gate in front of them was the main center of the mastermind, and that center could not be offline, the reason was obvious, because until now the fortress is still constantly sending out one command after another, That's the best proof that the mastermind is still working.A mastermind that is still functioning should not let a group of uninvited guests approach their center.However, as the gate opened, the expected attack did not come, nor did he hear any sirens that sounded through the fortress, and in fact Hao Ren did not even hear the slightest movement—if you ignore the humming that never stopped, and which could be heard everywhere in the fortress.Despite this, Vivien whispered a reminder to everyone, "Be vigilant, we've arrived in the center of the fortress, and anything could happen here." ”Hao Ren propped up his shield, and Lily and Lily took the lead in stepping into the rotunda where the main brain center was located, and vigilantly observed the surrounding situation.The hall was extremely empty, but there were few intricate cables and machines in the space that covered an area of a football field, unlike the machine rooms and equipment rooms that had been passed before.All that could be seen in the hall were the thirteen black machines arranged against the wall, and the black cylinder in the center of the hall, and Hao Ren's eyes were naturally attracted by the extremely striking cylinder.It was tens of meters high, and the lower end was buried in a complex black pedestal, and the upper end disappeared into the high dome of the hall: there was a black hole opening, and the cylinder probably had more structures beyond that opening.This strange "pillar" is about three or four meters in diameter, the surface is pitch black, but it has straight lines and various grooves of unknown purpose, in front of the lines and grooves, you can see a lot of faint lights, these lights should make the cylinder more alive, but after Hao Ren saw their slow flickering appearance, he only felt a twilight atmosphere coming towards him—he could feel that a huge consciousness behind this cylinder was gradually dying, and the sluggish light was the evidence that it was going to the end."
This is the center of the main brain?"
Lily looked at the black cylinder in front of her curiously, the husky's instinct made her can't help but want to poke the surface of the pillar with her paws or bite it twice to taste its saltiness, but her only remaining reason and cowardice made her stop her urge to die, and just looked around the cylinder from a distance, "I can't see a keyboard and mouse or anything......
How does this thing communicate?
”"I don't know," N-6 was also slightly shocked by the true appearance of the main brain center, and then shook his head a little frustratedly, "Ordinary surrogates don't even have the qualifications to enter the fortress, and this is the first time I've seen the main brain center really look like."
The amount of information that can be downloaded from the big think tank is limited, and I only know that the center of the main brain is indeed a black cylinder, but as for how to communicate......
I thought your technology would come in handy. ”"Of course high-tech can come in handy, we just want to have a little more information before we rush into the connection," Hao Ren said, touching his chin, "and I think......
The Mastermind must be watching us, we've come this far, and it would be too much to say if it hadn't noticed it.Isn't that - Mr.
Mastermind?
”"As you say," an emotionless electronic synthesized voice came out from all sides of the hall almost as Hao Ren's voice fell, "I have indeed been watching you. ”At this time, Lily was leaning close to the cylinder to observe the lights and excuses on it, and when she heard this voice, she was immediately startled, and her tail exploded and jumped back to Hao Ren's side: "Wow!
The Mastermind speaks!
”The dull black cylinder also seemed to "come alive" with the sound of speech that resounded through the hall, the flickering lights on its surface were much brighter than before, and the frequency of the light flickering was also faster, Hao Ren heard a low humming sound echoing in the depths of the hall and the top of the cylinder: the main brain seemed to be activating from some kind of low-power protection mode, and even the lights of the entire hall were brighter than before."
I thought you would 'welcome' us in a more drastic way," Hao Ren was probably the calmest one on the scene, after all, no matter how powerful the mastermind was, it was a powerful artificial intelligence in his eyes, and he had similar systems that were far more advanced than the mastermind countless times more advanced - whether it was the host of the crystal nucleus research station or the cluster consciousness of the drone swarm, he could talk and laugh, not to mention the big pillar in front of him, he shrugged, "After all, according to the information we have, you are in a state of madness." ”"I did get caught up in ......
Huge glitch," the mastermind's voice sounded a little sluggish, but gradually smoothed out, "but that didn't dampen my curiosity.If I'm not mistaken, you are the outsiders from the depths of the universe who crashed on our home planet, and the farce of the constellation Zenith......
Is it also your masterpiece?
You're just trying to infiltrate this fortress of mine?
”"So you've always been aware," Hao Ren was a little surprised this time, "and then you've been watching silently like this?"
Didn't react at all?
”"I didn't put together all the intelligence until just now," replied the Mastermind, with no emotion in his tone, "You did completely hide the intelligence network under my control in the beginning, you blocked the entire Zenith airspace, and you also invaded and tampered with a large number of security systems at the lunar base, quite advanced technology.Outsiders, can you tell us what you are here for?
”Lily crossed her waist and her face was full of anger: "We are here to maintain peace and save civilization......
Vivien hurriedly dragged the goods back: "Who believes you when you say this - do you believe it in exchange for you?"
”Hao Ren took a step forward and looked up at the black cylinder in front of him while quietly instructing the data terminal to land on the ground: "Although you may not believe what she said - what she said is indeed the truth."
We have no ill intentions, and the conflict on the Zenith space station is only one of the links that we have no choice, but you should have received the report by now, and my drone swarm did not cause any ...... to you in this 'battle'" "There is no battle damage," the mastermind took the second half of Hao Ren's words, "It took me a little four seconds to deal with this illogical report, which lasted for hours."
In the 'Guild War', your army has virtually disabled all of Zenith's defenses, but it has not used a single lethal weapon, and the most severely damaged Zenith troops have been spared......
What is the significance of this by you?
I can't understand it. ”Hao Ren frowned, he suddenly found a bit of dissonance: as the highest level of civilization of this survivor, the personification of this "mastermind" gave people the feeling that it was even lower than that of a surrogate like N-6, although the mastermind had shown sufficient thinking and reasoning ability when speaking, but ......
Hao Ren has a hard time describing this feeling in words, and can only summarize it as follows: lack of humanity.At the same time as he was confused, N-6 next to him spoke: "Mastermind, please believe these outsiders, they are indeed here to help us.They are looking for the spark of civilization in the universe and providing protection, I have seen their technical prowess with my own eyes, they may be able to help us reclaim the home planet, and they can also help you troubleshoot......"
Before N-6 could finish speaking, the mastermind interrupted her: "Factory ID: E75-3C6215, current code N-6, you should have crashed on the surface of your home planet during the last operation, I have confirmed that your signal is completely gone, but you are back here safely......
Are these outsiders helping you?
”N-6 looked up at the Mastermind's center, his tone full of determination, "Yes, Mastermind, and I can prove that my mastermind has not been tampered with. ”"No need to prove," the Mastermind said, and then turned his attention to Hao Ren, "Outsiders, I still can't confirm your origin and your purpose, but I declare: we don't need the help of outsiders, we will accomplish our mission on our own.Please come back. ”"But you're dying," Hao Ren said suddenly, and the data terminal floated to his side, "Your server array is going offline, malfunctioning in almost every computing unit in this fortress, and I've just figured out that you're using the last of your functioning components to prop up this conversation."
We can help you, but I first need to know what you're doing this for - your mission is to protect humanity and help it reclaim its home planet, and if you refuse our help now, you'll be in conflict with your mission. ”"You forbade anyone to come near our ship at one point, but then you sent a reconnaissance team to look for us, and now that we're here, you're refusing to communicate further," Vivien asked curiously, "I think you're ......
Contradiction, can you tell us why?
”This time, the mastermind chose silence.After a few seconds, Hao Ren took the initiative to break the silence: "It's because of the human beings - the humans who live in the palace of the end, what happened to them?"
”The light on the surface of the cylinder became several times brighter for a moment, and flickered violently."
Looks like I guessed right," Hao Ren sighed lightly, "humanity is going extinct, right?"
”"Can you scan the life reaction in the Palace of the End?"
The Mastermind asked in an emotionless tone."
I can't, because the palace of the end you built seems to be insulated from any form of life detection, presumably to keep the Eater of Planets out prying eyes?
But my daughter can, she seems to be able to ignore the shield you've built," Hao Ren patted his clothes lightly, called Doudou out and hugged him in his arms, "You can't guess, she's the last remaining life form in a certain universe, and at the end of a world's life, she can hear the voice of a race when it is about to become extinct." ”Doudou looked at the cylinder in the room curiously and beckoned to it in a friendly way: "Hello, my name is Doudou!"
”"Hello, my name is Mastermind."