Chapter 216 - 173: Smuggle Z into the Dream World?

Chu Bamboo frowned in thought, sitting cross-legged on the bed Nuwa had constructed.

’This time, the diary still only lasts until I finished writing! Why aren’t the later entries I had Lin Xia write for me here? Hmm, maybe Lin Xia still died, and she must have given the photos to someone else to upload to the database!’

After a moment’s thought, Chu Bamboo asked about Lin Xia’s date of death.

’...She died a day after me? And this cause of death,’ Chu Bamboo stared thoughtfully at the silvery-white wall, ’assassinated by a drone bullet... That makes sense! In the future, Lin Xia was bound to be a top executive at both Z Company and C Company. She was also close with me and Zhao Shao, so of course, she’d be a target for retaliation...’

’No, there were probably many more deaths than that! For all I know, a whole bunch of executives from both companies were all killed too.’

"Nuwa No. 17, look up Hu Ruochu’s date of death as well."

A moment later, Chu Bamboo saw that Hu Ruochu had died on the same day as Lin Xia.

’Just as I thought!’

Although he hadn’t checked on the situation at Z Company, Chu Bamboo figured it would be more or less the same.

’So far, the most useful piece of information my friend provided is actually about... technological balance...’

Chu Bamboo made a bold guess. ’Can I assume that if Z is never created, then the Celestial Net will be held firmly in check and never come into being?’

’No,’ a sudden idea struck Chu Bamboo, ’what if I allow Z to be created, but keep it hidden? What if I don’t publicly announce its true nature...’

’In that case, from the perspective of the Extraterrestrial Civilization and the Celestial Net Group, the AI Z wouldn’t exist—so would that mean the Celestial Net would never appear?’

Chu Bamboo stood up and paced back and forth, his mind racing. ’I can test this!’

Chu Bamboo realized something. If he didn’t expose Z, the Celestial Net wouldn’t be created. That, in turn, meant the artificial intelligence war would never start. Even if the world was plunged into war, the situation would remain manageable.

What’s more, he could order Z to protect him with all its might. In that case... in the next worldline, he might live for a very, very long time!

’First, I’ll set a small goal: live until the year Nuwa is created!’ Chu Bamboo clenched his fists. Ideally, he could live long enough to lead Nuwa’s development... and obtain the highest level of clearance!

Of course, it would be even better if he could live long enough to learn the whole truth—the truth about the Extraterrestrial Civilization, the true depths of the Golden Dawn, and what really happened during the blacked-out twenty-second century...

Previously, Chu Bamboo had thought clearance was useless, but now...

Nuwa clearance could already control drones! Who knows, in the future, it might be able to control even more strange, unmanned machines—at that point, he’d be completely connected to the past!

What kind of figure was his friend from the past? A true powerhouse, capable of controlling unmanned machines on the scale of billions!

’All that military hardware... even if I could only smuggle a fraction of it into this era and make it my own... that would be a terrifying power beyond an ordinary person’s wildest imagination.’

’I just don’t know how powerful the masters of the Third Realm—or even higher—truly are.’ Chu Bamboo rubbed his face. If they could be eliminated with sheer firepower, he’d feel much more relieved.

’Maybe even... overthrowing this feudal era, eliminating everything I can’t stand... the oppression of laborers, the prostitution, the rampant drugs and gambling... and establishing an entirely new country. It doesn’t seem completely impossible, does it?’

’However, the future is uncertain. Right now, unless C Mechanical Company at its peak could arrive here across time... I probably couldn’t win!’

Chu Bamboo recalled the Angel, Zhang Hai, from the previous worldline, and the corner of his eye twitched. ’And he was only in the Third Realm, or maybe the Fourth Realm?’

’I have no idea what the masters of even higher realms are like. If they’re truly absurdly powerful... perhaps even C Company at its zenith would have been helpless.’

’Thinking one step further!’ Another idea suddenly struck Chu Bamboo. ’I wonder if I can smuggle Z into this era!’

’Well, I can test that in the future! There’s no use thinking about it any more right now.’

Patting his own cheeks, Chu Bamboo’s expression became serious again. Even if he could smuggle Z over in the future and wield unimaginable power through Nuwa, he couldn’t give up on cultivating and growing stronger in the Dream World.

Ultimately, true strength had to be one’s own. That was the most reliable power of all.

’First, I’ll record the technical data my friend sent over.’ Chu Bamboo glanced at it, then suddenly narrowed his eyes.

’Method for producing a hypervirulent avian flu vaccine? For both human and livestock use? Wait a minute... what the hell is this note at the end: "Suspected severe aftereffects"?’

The corner of Chu Bamboo’s mouth twitched wildly. He was starting to feel like his friend was a little unreliable. Then, he saw it...

’I see. A vaccine from Celestial Net Medical Company, a subsidiary of Celestial Net Company! Well, that explains it.’

An antidote produced by the suspected masterminds was highly likely to have issues. Besides, Europe and America didn’t exactly have a stellar reputation in this area to begin with.

The word "suspected" was probably used because, in the future—or at least, when this photo was taken—no problems had been detected yet?

Although he was skeptical, Chu Bamboo recorded everything anyway. Any problems could be tested for later.

...

「Eight o’clock.」

Chu Bamboo walked leisurely out of the Police Chief Bureau, strolling down the street and scanning his surroundings.

’Overall, the current level of technology seems to be equivalent to the steam age?’

But this steam-powered industry, paired with the drones and electric cars excavated from Ancient Relics... it all had a surreal, almost magical feel.

’...Wait a second!’ Chu Bamboo had a sudden realization. ’An increase in the number of Ancient Relics means the price of industrial goods in this era will be pushed even lower.’

’The workers I saw earlier were dressed a little better than in the last worldline, and they seemed to have healthier complexions... but thinking back, weren’t they all a little too young?’

Chu Bamboo’s expression grew serious. Why hadn’t he seen a single middle-aged person? Had all the middle-aged people died, or...? One possibility after another flashed through his mind.

Finally, Chu Bamboo made a decision. After his meeting with Madam Xue and the others, but before going to the Moisture Teaching in the afternoon, he would return to the shantytown to investigate again and check the past records of the laborers.

’If it’s really what I think it is!’

Chu Bamboo took a deep breath. The situation in this worldline’s shantytown might be far worse than it had been before.

...

「Nine-thirty.」

Chu Bamboo sat in the tea house, watching the time. Something felt off. ’Am I being stood up? Don’t tell me I came to the wrong place...’

He waited until ten o’clock. Finally, with a grim expression, Chu Bamboo took out his phone and called Madam Xue. The call went unanswered.