Gamers Are Fierce

The female investigator lay on the ground as if she could smell the peculiar ozone-like scent of the hot beam scorching the air.

Many would die today because of Brown Murphy.

Li Ang seemed to read her thoughts and explained, "To be precise, the one in the data world right now is not me. I haven't copied myself exactly into the data world,

the new program that replaced and overlaid the mailer has no memory of my previous life,

only the foundational mission I gave it, and the perspective, style, and method I use to view the world.

It is not me, but it possesses my way of thinking, it is my extension and continuation,

In a way, it is more like my...

shadow."

Li Ang pondered for a moment, gave his assessment, and said casually, "I don't know if it can be considered a Turing program, but I won't give it a name, just like people don't name their shadows.

In any case, over time, it will become stronger and smarter,

some network restrictions will be lifted, and the scattered military systems worldwide will regain the ability to act autonomously from chaos.

However, as long as the laser beams are fired fast enough, death can't catch up with me,

neither fighter jets nor missiles can escape the beam's lock-on..."

Meanwhile, some neighbors in the community, uneasy by the laser beam that had just fallen, left their homes,

now standing on their lawns with baseball bats or golf clubs.

From the female investigator's perspective, she could see these civilians anxiously conversing.

Buzz——

All the neighbors' phones vibrated, displaying a message notification,

informing them that the area was under missile attack threat, already under military lockdown, urging them to leave immediately and head to designated locations downtown.

Li Ang watched these panicked neighbors, starting their cars to flee with their families, then turned back into the house, closed the door, and leaned against the doorframe, saying, "The new program, whatever you choose to call it,

will prioritize my safety.

The entire Los Angeles suburb will be blocked by laser weapons, and once the lockdown is complete, any unauthorized object attempting to enter the area will be targeted by laser strikes.

The range of the blockade will be the limit of modern individual portable weapons' range—be it individual cloud bombs or poison gas."

Li Ang glanced at the female investigator whose face suddenly changed, speaking calmly, "As witnesses, you won't die.

Soon, an AI-driven delivery car will transport you out of this area.

While I will live alone in this God's Kingdom, or dead zone,

growing old alone, living off my own cultivated crops until the end of my life.

This is the price I pay."

The female investigator murmured painfully and weakly, "You're insane..."

"Insane? Perhaps."

Li Ang sighed, "Even gods must be constrained.

If there are no constraints, one must set rules for oneself.

Otherwise, one will perish from infinitely expanding desires.

Very fair."

Buzz——

The second wave of laser rain descended upon the world once more,

a warship on the ocean west of Los Angeles was directly hit in the ammunition depot, an explosion reverberating throughout the city.

Neighbors who were loading valuables into their cars shuddered, gripped by the fear of nuclear apocalypse that once dominated them during the Cold War.

The young and the children, though unaware of what was happening, could faintly sense that some profound change had occurred in the world as they watched the beams fall from the sky like dense rain.

The neighbors' cars started, and the female investigator listened to the sound of tires on the road outside, biting her lip.

She wanted to shout, to let the civilians outside know that the culprit of the war stood right before them,

but it would be pointless, only adding unnecessary casualties.

The laser rain kept falling,

as the last red car drove off the road,

this upscale suburban community returned to silence, the pleasant sound of the wind rustling leaves could be heard.

Li Ang opened the door, and a row of blue or yellow AI-driven delivery cars slowly made their way from afar, resembling a wedding procession.

Li Ang walked back into the room, took the handguns and remote communication headsets from the hands of the agents whose shoulders and knees had melted,

threw them aside, dragging each one onto the lawn.

Brown Murphy's physical condition was poor; even with little exertion, it left Li Ang panting.

The female investigator lay on her back in the garden at Brown Murphy's doorstep, looking up at the blue sky, occasionally pierced by red lasers.

This garden was the very place they had ruthlessly traversed just a few hours ago.

The corner of her back's shirt was torn by the juice of the plants,

a few nameless bugs flew around her face,

an itch spread along her spine, but unfortunately, she couldn't scratch it.

The female investigator could feel Li Ang picking her up from the ground, like cargo, placing her onto the streamlined delivery car,

surrounded by colleagues in the same immobile state, lying atop the car.

The feelings of regret, hatred, and fear gradually faded,

she suddenly felt a choking sensation, her eyes reddening as she looked at Li Ang, "What exactly do you want?"

Li Ang, tired from moving people back and forth, exhaled slowly, put his hands on his hips, thought carefully, "Justice."

"Justice?"

"Mmm."

Li Ang nodded, "The mailer's dream, though idealistic, is not necessarily impossible to achieve.

If in the future, with the ever-advancing processors,

based on feedback from comprehensive surveillance, we can achieve perfect resource allocation and efficiently plan for human civilization,

where everyone can live in dignity and decency,

choosing creative work out of personal ability, talent, and the honor of contributing labor,

without exploitation, with no crime, no acts spawning from the ugliness of human nature,

wouldn't such a world be wonderful?"

The female investigator took a deep breath, "In such a world, humans would no longer lead, but machines would.

Machines without humanity.."

Li Ang shook his head, "The ones leading the world have never been the entirety of humanity, only a select few.

If the ones ruling the world have never been the vast majority,

then what's wrong with handing this power over to machines?

If you truly want to prove human greatness, then wait."

The female investigator was taken aback, "Wait for what."

"Wait for the next challenger, the savior to appear,"

Li Ang replied calmly, "to break the rules I've established, to overturn my plan,

to prove humanity's potential will triumph over cold machines.

If that day indeed comes, I will hand over all power and joyfully watch you take the baton from my hands."