Zhuang Fan feigned confusion. “Sorry, I didn’t understand?”
“Young friend, I need your body to serve as the vessel for my rebirth.”
Xu Renyi’s tone was as calm as if he were stating a fact. “Now you should be able to understand, yes?”
An old bastard who refuses to die is nothing but a thief. Zhuang Fan cursed inwardly, but his expression remained calm. “Didn’t you just say that changing bodies can’t solve the claustrum problem?”
Faced with his question, Xu Renyi was especially patient. “Of course. Many wealthy people I know have entire clone repositories to keep themselves forever young, but those who are meant to die of old age still die of old age. Not a single one can escape it.”
“Then I’d like to hear the details.”
“Because in the human world, there really is one person who solved the claustrum problem and successfully… achieved mechanical ascension.”
“Who?”
“Gusta Lorin. He was once the chief scientist of the Bionic Intelligence Group. After his mechanical ascension, he founded the ‘Holy Land’ and proclaimed himself the Holy Father—the father of all bionic humans.”
Zhuang Fan silently committed the name to memory. “How did he solve the claustrum?”
“I’m not clear on the exact process either. But I’m certain that his claustrum is composed entirely of mechanical components, yet it fully preserved his original consciousness.”
Xu Renyi continued, “Later, those old undying fellows saw hope of immortality and all wanted to follow in the Holy Father’s footsteps. So the Holy Father gave them a ‘memory transfer’ machine, saying that through it, human consciousness could be smoothly migrated into a new machine.”
Zhuang Fan’s expression turned odd. “It didn’t succeed, did it?”
“Mm. It’s hard to call it a success. Those robots whose consciousnesses were transferred performed well in every respect, but the feeling they gave me… was always a little off. You know me—I’ve always clung to life and feared death. Without absolute certainty, I would never take that path.”
Xu Renyi glanced at Zhuang Fan again, a hint of emotion in his voice. “Fortunately, the Holy Father and I have something of a friendship. Later, I privately asked him to custom-build a memory transfer device for me. But as for the transfer target, I didn’t want a bionic human. I wanted a healthy, normal human body.”
“Wait. There’s still a loophole.”
Zhuang Fan calmly refuted him. “I’m not maliciously speculating, but this Holy Father—or rather, this bionic human—is no longer the same species as us. It should count as silicon-based life now, right? And you just believe what it says?”
Xu Renyi sighed. His cloudy eyes were filled with regret and reluctance, and his voice grew even more aged. “Young friend, I don’t have much time left. I have to give it another try.”
It was a reason that could not be refuted. He wanted to gamble, only the stake was Zhuang Fan’s life.
What Zhuang Fan could do now was prolong his conversation with Xu Renyi as much as possible, so he could properly observe his eyes.
Zhuang Fan stared at him and nodded heavily. “All right. Even if the Holy Father’s method really works, why isn’t your first choice your own clone? The compatibility would be higher, and there wouldn’t be rejection. Why does it have to be me?”
Xu Renyi coughed again. Only after a long while did he say:
“Indeed, I asked the Holy Father that question too. But he revealed more of the truth. The reason lies in… the strange fog.”
“The strange fog?”
Xu Renyi did not hide it. “Mm. According to his explanation, the core principle of the memory transfer device is ‘quantum teleportation,’ and what this transfer process fears most is interference from the strange fog.”
“Aren’t there fog-dispelling lamps? Can’t they eliminate the interference?” In order to survive, Zhuang Fan was desperately searching for every possible loophole.
Xu Renyi shook his head. “Fog-dispelling lamps can prevent humans from being infected on a macroscopic level. But in the microscopic realm, even inside the cleanest laboratory, the strange fog is still everywhere. You have to understand, for precise scientific experiments, even the slightest disturbance is enough to make the results completely different.”
After hearing this, Zhuang Fan suddenly realized he had underestimated how destructive the strange fog was to this world.
He recalled David’s earlier complaint and asked uncertainly, “So the strange fog also interferes with the operation of nuclear fusion power plants?”
“Of course. Without real-time monitoring by quantum computers, the new type of nuclear fusion power plant can’t operate at all. They can only use the most traditional old-style reactors, and they have to reduce the output by more than half to ensure safety.”
Xu Renyi spoke very slowly. “The energy problem is only one aspect. Another trouble is that quantum computers can’t be used anymore either.”
Zhuang Fan tried to understand. “You mean the strange fog directly destroys entangled quantum states?”
“Exactly.”
For a moment, Zhuang Fan did not know what to say.
After taking a sip of tea, Xu Renyi raised his eyes to look at him. “So, now you know why I had to find the ‘Demon Detective,’ don’t you?”
“The Demon Detective can be immune to the strange fog and eliminate interference…” Zhuang Fan had finally found the crux of the matter.
“Young friend, I waited for decades, waited until my heart had all but turned to ash, and finally found you. Now can you understand how excited I feel?”
“I don’t. I only feel unlucky.”
“Heh heh. Young friend, you should be rejoicing. You will inherit my business empire, inherit all my wealth and power. How many people long for that and can never obtain it?”
Xu Renyi stroked his beard, his tone kindly. “Of course, there will be a tiny side effect. Your original memories will simply disappear.”
“…”
His words rendered Zhuang Fan silent.
Through what Xu Renyi had said, he finally learned that before him, in order to find a qualified Demon Detective, the Nucleon Group had “consumed” tens of thousands of cryogenic subjects, yet had only found one.
Unfortunately, that old Demon Detective was too advanced in age and nearing the end of his lifespan. In the end, he had failed to meet the surgical conditions.
No matter how one looked at it, the old bastard before him was a true executioner.
The blond doctor, who had been standing quietly to the side all this time, stepped forward and bent down. “Mr. Xu, this place does not yet have the experimental conditions. Do you think we should take him back to headquarters?”
Xu Renyi refused decisively. “I came all this way from Desolate Valley. I don’t want to move again. I think this place is quite good. No one will disturb me, and what the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over.”
His casual complaint made Zhuang Fan mentally fill in a grand drama of infighting within a powerful family.
Could he make use of this somehow?
At this moment, David came over to report after receiving a message. “Mr. Xu, the memory transfer machine has arrived.”
“Very good. When can the surgery be performed?”
The blond doctor did not dare meet Xu Renyi’s gaze. He lowered his head and made an estimate. “Mr. Xu, at the fastest… we’ll need one week.”
“Three days from now. Perform the surgery immediately.” Xu Renyi’s words were categorical, allowing no argument.
“Yes. I’ll make arrangements at once.”
They discussed every detail of their schedule right in front of Zhuang Fan without the slightest avoidance, as if he were already fish on the chopping block.
Only three days left. What can I still do… Zhuang Fan secretly began brainstorming.
Xu Renyi looked at Zhuang Fan and said with a smile, “Young friend, once the surgery succeeds, let us work together again.”
Zhuang Fan only felt a chill of disgust.
The blond doctor noticed the change in his mood and threatened him directly. “In the next few days, please do not do anything foolish. Otherwise, the consequences will be very serious.”
The light in Zhuang Fan’s eyes dimmed with perfect timing. He nodded heavily, as if he had simply accepted his fate.
“But I have one request.”
“Speak freely, young friend. I will satisfy you as much as I can.”
“It’s too stifling here. I need some paper and pens to draw. Is that all right?”
Xu Renyi seemed to have had some heartstring touched, or perhaps feelings of kinship as a fellow countryman had welled up in him. He nodded solemnly. “No problem.”
Soon, after screening them, the logistics staff sent Zhuang Fan an entire box of art supplies. From ink, pigments, and paints to various models of calligraphy brushes, oil brushes, and watercolor pens, everything was included.
The only types of paper were A4 paper, watercolor paper, and sketch paper, but Zhuang Fan insisted that he had to have xuan paper. The logistics staff did not understand.
“Go ask Mr. Xu. He’ll definitely know.”
Of course Xu Renyi knew what xuan paper was. He said cheerfully, “That kid. Fortunately, I still have some in storage. Give it all to him.”
…
On the first day, Zhuang Fan painted many landscape paintings of different scenery. His speed was astonishing, as if he were not painting them but printing them straight out of his mind.
This was thanks to his “hyperthymesia,” his ability to remember everything he saw.
However, every painting seemed slightly rough, prioritizing speed over precision. Naturally, he was doing this on purpose.
The security personnel inspected the sheets and searched them inside and out. Finding nothing unusual, they left.
Under the precise surveillance of the cameras, none of Zhuang Fan’s smallest movements could escape notice, but he did not care at all. His true aim lay elsewhere.
That night, Zhuang Fan painted a dozen or so more oil paintings as if venting his emotions. After finishing, he paid no mind to the paint staining his body and simply lay down on the painted paper, falling asleep in satisfaction.
Elsewhere, Xu Renyi had just finished a full-body examination when he received the relevant report.
He watched the surveillance footage carefully and smiled. “Very good. The younger generation is formidable indeed—full of energy.”
On the second day, Zhuang Fan got up very early and began another frantic bout of drawing. This time, it was pencil sketches and quick studies.
In less than a morning, he had drawn more than a dozen sheets, and the logistics staff came in to replace them with a new batch of paper.
This time, he made a new request. “I need some glue. As long as it can stick the paper together.”
The logistics staff reported it upward, and after approval, brought him several tubes of glue.
Zhuang Fan glanced at them and could not help frowning. “This little? Fine, I suppose.”
Using the glue, he quickly built simple paper houses and little paper people, arranging them on the table like models.
Then he continued painting. This time, it was oil painting, but he deliberately used his body to block the camera behind him and quietly put away the completed oil painting.
This suspicious action immediately drew the focused attention of the security personnel.
However, Xu Renyi felt that everyone had a few small secrets; it was very normal, and there was no need to keep checking him so frequently.
Yes, Xu Renyi was beginning to understand and sympathize with Zhuang Fan’s situation. After all, in the future, this young body would belong to him. Why be so harsh on “himself”?
By evening, Zhuang Fan used the remaining glue to directly build three paper walls, blocking off most of his body.
The risk-control alarm was triggered smoothly.
The security personnel immediately rushed into the room and swiftly tore down the paper walls, only to see Zhuang Fan looking utterly disheveled.
“What are you doing!”
Zhuang Fan’s face was filled with indignation. “Are you people insane?”
The security personnel found nothing abnormal on him, and their tone remained icy. “Take care not to engage in any dangerous behavior again!”
Seeing this, Zhuang Fan cursed even more viciously.
After the security personnel confiscated all the paintbrushes and paper, the logistics supervisor analyzed the situation briefly and guessed the “truth.” With an odd expression, he reported the matter to Xu Renyi.
“Something like that happened?”
After hearing it, Xu Renyi was also slightly surprised.
He looked at those lifelike paper models, and ripples passed over his expression.
Then he picked up the portrait Zhuang Fan had secretly hidden earlier and examined it carefully for a while, giving a serious critique. “The technique is good. He captured the essence of the subject.”
Xu Renyi thought of those few paper walls he had built, and of Zhuang Fan’s anger, and could not help laughing.
“It’s normal for him to be angry. You people really did ruin the poor boy’s good time.”