The night before the promotion

Chapter 118 Win or Lose
"The board of directors... the board of directors..."

Chen Wen Ge's voice was very low, like he was talking in a dream, and he kept repeating this word.

He closed his eyes and tried to imagine the faces of those people in his mind, but all he could get were dark silhouettes.

However, even if you can see these people's faces clearly, it is meaningless. They are just a group of agents. Behind these directors are various groups. The intricate interests are like a spider web, covering the real culprit behind the scenes layer by layer, making it impossible to see the true face.

"It's the board of directors again," Chen Wen Ge complained feebly, exhausted. "Zuo Zhi, look at all this. Those people have turned everything we created into nothing."

Chen Wen-Ge once wanted to maintain the independence and purity of Shenwei Technology, but as the company expanded, it was inevitably infiltrated and replaced by these groups.

No matter how great Chen Wen Ge is, he is still a lonely person after all.

"What's it like?"

Zuo Zhi sneered, "Shouldn't you blame yourself for this? If you hadn't caused the Immortal Falling Incident..."

A long time ago, the conflict between Chen Wen Ge and the board of directors gradually became acute, until the outbreak of the Xianyun accident, which finally gave the board of directors a reason to kick Chen Wen Ge out. Since then, the founder of Shenwei Technology has been driven out of the center of power like a stray dog.

"Old friend, stop being stubborn and listen to my advice."

Zuo Zhi looked at the many equipment in the room. The steps were piled up layer by layer, and the double chairs sitting back to back were lifted high, like a throne waiting for the king to arrive.

"Look at everything you have now. Doesn't it still depend on me and the bigwigs on the board of directors for funding?"

Zuo Zhi whispered softly, "Without our help, you will never be able to perfect your feathering technique in this lifetime. You can only waste the last moments of your life in some sunny holiday villa and die with regrets."

"But what will happen with our help?" Zuo Zhi described the bright future. "Won't the project progress smoothly?"

"In order to prevent the occurrence of immortal deaths, we have worked tirelessly to secretly support a group of incarnation killers to conduct a large number of live tests on your immature technology. In order to improve the efficiency of the experiment, we have also spent a lot of money to hunt down those who are qualified."

Zuo Zhi put his hands on Chen Wen Ge's shoulders and squeezed his shoulders with a little force.

"Old friend, you talk about morality, but when you handed me the list of qualified candidates, your hands were already stained with blood."

Zuo Zhi leaned down and whispered in Chen Wen Ge's ear.

"You also understand that you are not a good person from the beginning, but a person who will do anything to achieve your ideals.

There is nothing wrong with this. The progress of human society requires extremists like us to promote it so that more people can enjoy the benefits of progress.

You have already sacrificed so many people, why don't you sacrifice yourself? This isn't even a sacrifice of yourself, it's just a small concession for you to make."

Zuo Zhi's voice gradually became stronger. "This is for your own good. I've read your medical report. You won't live long."

When talking about his own body, Chen Wen Ge's eyes dimmed a little.

From under the oxygen mask, Chen Wen Ge's deep breathing could be heard. Dense tubes extended from under his clothes, as if he had turned into a hybrid of machine and flesh, having long since abandoned his human identity to a certain extent.

"I'm not worried about your life or death. People who have lived to your age have long been indifferent to love, friendship, morality, and morality. All they see is their own interests. They have become completely selfish."

Zuo Zhi loosened his hands, pulled over a chair, and sat opposite Chen Wen Ge.

"I am just worried about your thoughts, your wisdom, and your brain. From the moment you join the project, your life no longer belongs to you, but to us and the board of directors. An important asset."

Zuo Zhi picked up a report that had been prepared long ago and threw it in front of Chen Wen Ge. "This is the incarnation shell I prepared for you. You should be very familiar with it. It is the one you designed before. I just made some optimizations and modifications."

"Take a look at these data parameters. They are enough to simulate most of the human senses. You will be freed from this decaying flesh and blood body and be reborn in steel."

Zuo Zhi continued to weave that beautiful dream, "Besides, old friend, have you ever thought that joining the longevity program does not conflict with continuing to study the feathering technology?"

"After you have completely perfected your metamorphosis technique, you can digitize your consciousness and gain complete freedom. This is theoretically possible."

Zuo Zhi never understood Chen Wen Ge's stubbornness. "For everything that is within your reach, the only choice you need to make is to join the immortality program... Only by living can you have everything that comes after, right?"

Facing Zuo Zhi's series of inquiries and counter-questions, Chen Wen Ge remained silent.

His face was as old as dry bark. Even if Chen Wen Ge squeezed his facial muscles hard, it was difficult for him to make any obvious expression. Not to mention that he was wearing an oxygen mask, which was like a translucent mask, making his already sickly face look even more blurred.

The silence between the two lasted for a while, and Zuo Zhi shook his head in disappointment.

"Forget it, let's talk about something else."

Zuo Zhi was not surprised by Chen Wen Ge's reaction. This old friend has never been someone who is easily persuaded.

"We have captured many former qualified candidates for the Ascension Project and conducted a large number of live experiments on them. You should have received the experimental data."

Zuo Zhi started talking about work. Just like in the past, whenever he and Chen Wen Ge had a falling out, as long as he talked about work, Chen Wen Ge would always cheer up and become full of energy.

In fact, this was indeed the case. Chen Wen Ge raised his head slightly, and his turbid eyes gradually revealed a clear and rational look.

"As the metamorphosis technology is gradually improved, the integrity of consciousness after digitization is also gradually improving. It is expected that in a while, we will be able to successfully digitize consciousness completely, rather than turning it into a disordered, self-destructive code."

Zuo Zhi said with a hint of regret, "But unfortunately, the stability of the test is very poor. Many qualified people have developed extremely serious symptoms of dissociative illness after their consciousness has been digitized, and some have even turned into vegetables."

"normal."

Chen Wen Ge finally spoke again, "Due to the limitations of technological level, the existing feathering technology, even if it is successfully perfected, can only enable specific people to upgrade."

Zuo Zhi understood Chen Wen Ge's theory. "Oh, is that the Si Heng you mentioned?"

"Yes, not only a Siheng, but also the most perfect Siheng."

Chen Wen Ge paused, then continued, "If there is one person who can perfectly test the feathering technique, he is the only one I can think of."

The two exchanged glances, and they both understood who the other was referring to.

"I understand. After all, he is the first one, our designated The One."

Zuo Zhi smiled and replied, "Zhou Si has been under our surveillance. Just as I reported to you before, he has been in Yanyan City for the past few years and has opened a clinic specializing in treating patients with cognitive impairment."

"Compared to a heartless person like you, he is a genuinely good person."

Zuo Zhi was amazed. "I started to wonder what Zhou Si would think when he found out that the person he regarded as his teacher actually wanted to use him as a living experiment to become the cornerstone for paving the way to the truth." "His thoughts are not important. It's like asking mice if they are willing."

Chen Wen Ge sneered, "These sacrifices are for..."

"For all mankind?"

Zuo Zhi answered for Chen Wen Ge before he could.

Immediately afterwards, Zuo Zhi looked at Chen Wen Ge with curiosity, expecting what he was really going to say. Then, Chen Wen Ge's voice rang out.

"It's just for myself, for my own ideals."

Chen Wen Ge is no longer a young man, and he can no longer utter those passionate words. Even if he empties his brain, all he can say are some realistic, cold and cruel words.

Zuo Zhi liked Chen Wen-Ge’s answer, “Yes, for the board of directors, for Shenwei Technology, and for… ourselves.”

"But there's one thing I'm curious about, old friend."

Zuo Zhi changed the subject and brought the topic back to Chen Wen Ge himself.

"Even if the metamorphosis technology is perfected, it can only enable certain people to complete the upgrade. So what should you do?"

There was a bit more pity in Zuo Zhi's eyes, as if Chen Wen Ge's life had become a tragedy in his eyes, which was really sad.

Chen Wen Ge calmly replied, "I didn't think about those things... I just wanted to get it done, that's all."

"Oh, really?"

Zuo Zhi continued to ask, "Are you really willing to accept this? You have worked hard for so many years, but you still cannot break free from the shackles of the flesh."

Chen Wen Ge looked at Zuo Zhi coldly. There was no clear change in his eyes from beginning to end. Maybe... it was not that Chen Wen Ge had not changed, but that his attitude had been determined from the beginning.

Indifferent, as cold as steel.

He responded, "We are just very similar, but that doesn't mean we are on the same path."

The smile on Zuo Zhi's face froze. Although Chen Wen Ge's words were very calm and without any sharpness, he felt as if someone had shot an arrow from a great height, hitting him right in the chest.

"Indeed, we have never been the same kind of people, we are just similar."

Zuo Zhi stood up slowly and adjusted his tie. Although he was already an elderly man, he still had extremely high requirements for his clothing and temperament.

It's like a kind of alternative stubbornness that allows me to always stay young and confident, just like the successful people on the cover of a magazine.

"Come on, Chen Wen Ge."

This time, Zuo Zhi no longer called Chen Wen Ge "old friend", but directly called him by his name.

"When people get old, they inevitably recall the past, but every time I think of the past, I always think of you and the fight between you and me."

Before Chen Wen Ge could say anything, Zuo Zhi spoke up again, "I know, I know, in your eyes, we have never 'fought' before, this is just my wishful thinking."

"I always want to beat you, Chen Wen Ge, but the despairing thing is that no matter how hard I try, I can't beat you, or even catch up with you."

Zuo Zhi sighed, his voice full of helplessness, "People say that you and I worked together to create Shenwei Technology and build the high wall system, but only I know that I didn't contribute much."

"The reason why I can receive this supreme honor is only because I am the one standing next to you. Even if someone else is 'right-smart' or 'left-stupid', you can still achieve this great success."

When Zuo Zhi used these metaphors to make these names, he amused himself and the smile on his face became even bigger.

“I thought that my competitive spirit would be tempered by my age, and that my wild thoughts at the beginning were just the result of my youthful vigor.

But in fact, my competitive spirit towards you has not subsided, but has intensified, like a smoldering fire, brewing in my heart to this day."

Zuo Zhi confessed his inner thoughts to Chen Wen Ge, which was like a declaration of war and also like a confession, making peace with his immature self in the past.

"I always want to compare with you in every aspect, to win over you a little bit, just a little bit."

Zuo Zhi raised his hand, pinched his thumb with his index finger, and started measuring.

"Later, I did beat you in some ways."

Zuo Zhi carefully observed Chen Wen Ge's expression and said painfully, "For example, my family is happier and more complete than yours."

Chen Wen Ge had a cold face, like an indestructible shield. Zuo Zhi's words could not hurt him, not even leave the slightest scratch.

"For example, I'm healthier than you. Look at my body. I can still run a kilometer."

Zuo Zhi tapped his chest and laughed, "If you leave these life-support devices, you will faint in a few minutes."

"Another example is that I have gained power over you."

Although he declared victory, Zuo Zhi did not feel the slightest bit of joy. Instead, there was only a huge void in his emotions.

He said in a pale tone, "I finally beat you, but I don't feel the slightest sense of victory. I just feel empty and even ridiculous."

"I've been angry with you for so long, and you don't care about it at all... It's as if the punch I've accumulated strength for so many years has gone to waste."

Zuo Zhi was a little fed up. He turned and left. "Old friend, you'd better hurry up. I can't bear the pressure of the board of directors for much longer. Next time, maybe it won't be me who comes to see you, but a group of medical staff who will force you in."

Chen Wen Ge just responded calmly.

"Why bother? We're all going to die in the end anyway."

Zuo Zhi paused in his steps and turned his head to look at the hunched Chen Wen Ge, sighing.

"It sounds really philosophical."

(End of this chapter)