Global Game: Developing a Knight Clan

Within the raging flames, as viscous as molten lava, a sound like heavy breathing rose and fell.

At the same time, a clear, ethereal sound, like a heartbeat, echoed amidst the breathing.

The two sounds echoed as the inferno seemed to expand endlessly.

And amidst this expansion, terrifying ripples suddenly surged from the edge of the great sun.

The next moment, a behemoth abruptly opened pupils that resembled a starry sky flecked with fire.

Simultaneously, as a mechanical voice that only the behemoth could understand echoed, the world changed in an instant.

——————

This was a pristine, silvery-white room.

The room was dome-shaped and contained no superfluous furnishings. It was absurdly spacious and clean, almost like a sterile laboratory.

"Master, Resolution 28935 from the Intellibrain Terminal has been issued."

"You have twelve hours remaining to cast your confirmation vote. Please do so soon."

As a gentle voice rang in his mind, a creature curled up inside what looked like a white sphere slowly extended a tentacle, resting it on the sphere’s open window.

The next moment.

A creature with sixteen pairs of tentacles slowly levitated out of the sphere, supporting itself on four pairs.

"Resolution 28935?"

"I thought I just confirmed Resolution 34 yesterday. When did Resolution 35 enter the voting process?"

The Octopus-like creature opened its eyes and glanced sideways at a female Octopus beside him, who was as translucent and crystalline as a jellyfish.

"It was issued by the Federal Intellibrain Terminal three hours before you went to sleep."

"The main purpose of this resolution is for the Intellibrain to better serve the Octopus race. To that end, it has proposed the construction of ten new long-range Starships on Planet Number Four."

The male Octopus skillfully extracted his other tentacles from the Metal sphere.

His eighteen pairs of tentacles straightened up before the female Octopus. He then raised two of them, examining them closely with a puzzled expression.

"To better serve us?"

"What does that have to do with building Starships? As far as I know, we’ve never discovered any other potentially hostile civilizations in our star system, have we?"

The female Octopus maintained the polite smile on her face.

In response to the male Octopus’s question, she replied with what seemed like a professional smile:

"Master, as a ’life partner product,’ I’m afraid I cannot answer that question."

"However, if you have doubts, you could perhaps use your personal terminal to inquire directly with the Federal Intellibrain."

"But according to federal law, your citizen clearance level doesn’t grant you the authority to question such matters. If you don’t cast a vote of approval, you will very likely face ’thought correction’ education."

"After all, the Federal Intellibrain is the core of the entire Octopus civilization, the product of the collective will of all the first Octopus citizens. According to the Law of Civilization, beings below the rank of Councilor-citizen have no right to veto any bill decreed by the Intellibrain."

"The Intellibrain is perfectly rational. Its calculations and operations are flawless. It was created to better serve our entire civilization and lead us into the Star Sea."

"Today, the entire Fixed Star System is being progressively developed under the Federal Intellibrain’s calculations and operations, and the Octopus race has long been liberated from the inefficient toil of manual labor."

"In fact, every aspect of production and daily life in our civilization, including high-end technological research and development, has now been taken over by Intelligent Mechanisms."

"Master, the carefree life you are able to lead is entirely thanks to the existence of the Intellibrain."

"So, Zelina suggests you cast your vote of approval as quickly as possible."

"Otherwise, being taken away by the Federal Thought Correction Factory would be the lightest of punishments. Once you are stripped of your citizenship and voting rights, you may never be able to return here and live a normal life again."

The female Octopus spoke these terrifying words in a gentle, smiling tone.

In response, a strange smile flickered in the male Octopus’s eyes.

"How could I possibly oppose a resolution from the Federal Intellibrain?"

"I’m still a little groggy from my sleep. I’ll vote right now."

As he spoke, the male Octopus extended one of his arms and used another to activate the so-called personal terminal on it.

Looking at the holographic screen that appeared before him, the male Octopus skillfully navigated through several interfaces, then clicked the option to approve Resolution 35.

The female Octopus watched this unfold with her professional smile.

The male Octopus gave a soft chuckle, a gesture akin to a shrug, and then began to move toward the balcony outside the domed room.

The automated glass door slid open.

The next moment, the male Octopus beheld an incomparably magnificent sight.

A city that was difficult to describe in words appeared before his eyes.

The cities seemed to be built among the clouds. Looking down from the balcony, the streets below were wreathed in mist.

As for the construction of the cities... how to put it?

It felt like a jungle of steel erected upon the earth.

The buildings were all interconnected, with the only thoroughfares being the gaps—the alleyways—that formed between the steel structures.

Between these passages, the male Octopus could see countless flying vehicles, like airborne cars, constantly zipping back and forth.

Octopuses, standing no less than two and a half meters tall, were constantly moving in and out of the flying vehicles and buildings.