Abnormal Doomsday Records

Chapter 144 77. This is the meager price you mentioned?
When Zhou Ke opened his eyes again, he felt refreshed.

He rarely had the nightmare of being attacked by the "black and white forces" again. His mind was clear and he was not emotionally agitated. It seemed as if endless strength was constantly surging through his body, and his physical state seemed to be fixed in the best state that this body could achieve.

It feels so good to be an ascender.JPG.

"But why don't you turn on the light?"

Zhou Ke looked around.

Even though the darkness could no longer block his eyes, it was still uncomfortable to have no lights in the dark night, especially the purple moonlight reflected outside the window, which seemed to swallow up the whole world.

"Snapped"

The light sound of a lighter was heard in front of Zhou Ke.

A ball of flame popped out and lit the pretentious scented candle, finally bringing a ray of light into the huge room and illuminating the person sitting next to the candle.

Little Acholi sat expressionless in his wheelchair.

His left leg was in a cast, which looked very embarrassing, but in fact it was only because this guy did not intend to use those therapeutic drugs with side effects, nor did he intend to inject some nano-therapeutic robots into his bones. Otherwise, his injury would not be a big deal in this Badland era.

"Are you awake?"

The surface archon gave an unhappy smile.

He opened his arms, allowing his shadow to transform into a larger shadow on the wall under the candlelight.

"Are you wondering why the lights are not on? Let me explain it to you."

Little Acholi drew out his voice:
"Because a madman always likes to do some weird operations outside the plan, it directly caused forty or fifty AIs of the old civilization to be released into the security network of the city-state area. My engineer told me that they tore the network structure here into pieces within the third second of entering the network system.

The bottom-level code collapsed directly, causing the city-state to regress from the Internet age to the pre-industrial age in an instant.

I don't turn on the light not because I don't want to, but because I can't!

The city's power supply network was paralyzed. To be more precise, the power control core was overloaded. All programs used to operate and manage the system failed, all data was lost, and the machines in the power plant could not run, even though the energy devices were intact.

This is the result of our inability to repair the network. We can only use the most primitive human maintenance. Now the best engineers on the surface of the entire Acholi Consortium are there, hitting with wrenches like monkeys craving bananas, trying to switch everything to manual operation mode. "

"Well, that sounds great."

Zhou Ke stretched his body and sat up from the comfortable and wide bed. He glanced at the clothes placed beside the bed and put them on casually without paying attention to little Acholi's gaze. He searched around on his body, and finally little Acholi threw him a box of cigars. Zhou Ke sat opposite him with the thing in his mouth contentedly.

He said to little Acholi:
“This means that all departments of the consortium need to be operational immediately.

You need to find the 'old way' to maintain the order of this city and the entire city-state and quickly restore it. This means that the stupid system that has been idle for 38 years will be forced to enter the stage of 'doing practical things'. Your subordinates must personally visit every problematic place and unite as many people as possible to overcome the difficulties together.

Those guys who are slacking off in the office are going to cry!

After losing the convenient and fast computer system, they have to return to the era of paper-based office work, and those supervisors with fat on their bellies are about to cry, as they have to use the most stupid method to restart the stopped equipment.

They have to do all this before they starve to death or drown in their own excrement!

But you know what's the best part? Little Mr. Acholi."

"I guess what you're saying is that there aren't enough existing Consortium staff to handle all the work in the city when it comes to maintaining the system."

Little Acholi rubbed his forehead and sighed:

"This means we need to recruit more members of society and give them new jobs and responsibilities.

This means that the right to work and dignity that were deprived by the evil land will return to the hands of those honest people who will starve to death if they don't work. After all, when the entire network is shut down, the food synthesizer cannot run automatically.

In the worst case scenario, many people might starve to death.

So, Zhou Ke, you didn't encounter an unexpected situation and had to seek help from those AIs, you did it on purpose!
You just want to see the city-state tear off the false peace and let the people here really starve, so as to force them to pull their heads out of the sand pit and force them to become part of the social system.

You know that the rampage of AI has brought this place to this point, and you hope to see the Acholi Consortium truly shoulder its official responsibilities and reconstruct civilization in a more realistic way. You want us to be busy, and you want us to experience what it’s really like to survive the apocalypse.”

"Yes, I did it on purpose!"

The two men looked into each other's eyes in the dark room, separated by a candlelight.

Zhou Ke stopped pretending at this moment. He blew a smoke ring and said to the little Acholi who was obviously angry and wanted to beat him:

“There’s more to it than just the above.

You see, the crazy AI has torn apart the security network, causing you to temporarily lose control of the mechanical sheriffs and mechanical guards. The overwhelming armed forces of the Acholi Consortium in the surface world have become ineffective at least in the city-state area, and the number of all the senior officials and bigwigs of the consortium’s directors’ families combined is less than one percent of the civilians.

The civilians are still expecting help from the consortium because they haven't realized that you have lost the means to suppress them. That's just the inertia of obedience left by the stupid system of the past 38 years. They haven't turned that dangerous corner yet.
But they will not always be so slow and stupid, there will always be smart people who discover this in time. If you cannot restore order before the civilians' impression of the consortium is shattered, then it only takes a badland idea king a few seconds to think shockingly and then try to act, then soon, a crazy riot sweeping across the entire city-state will spread like wildfire!

Change of Dynasty
Does this word sound unfamiliar to you, Your Excellency the Crown Prince?

But I brought back something you have forgotten! Do you want to know what those nobles who were pulled down from the throne in the feudal era were? Do you want to know if your handsome head can stop a hungry bullet?

So, instead of condemning and insulting me here, I advise you to quickly mobilize the remaining forces under your command to maintain the fragile stability. Otherwise, perhaps in half a month, you will have to learn to be a wastelander in the yellow sand of the bad land like your sister.

But think on the bright side, your capable sister has helped you to build a powerful team. As long as you are ruthless, you will soon become the overlord of the evil land and realize your fantasy of ruling this garbage dump in another way!

Honestly, this is a much better start than anything I've encountered before.

Oh my, I really envy you!
Do you need me, as a 'veteran', to teach you some practical tips for your new life in the future?"

The atmosphere in the room became stagnant.

After a few seconds, little Acholi said in a dry voice:

"Do you know how many people will die? Do you really think that those who regard knowledge as useless can build a better era after overthrowing the rule of the consortium?
Let me tell you what happens next!
The thugs will be the first to move. They will plunder and act recklessly. When the Acholi Consortium's control is completely destroyed, the unbearable people will be coerced by the ambitious people to form one separatist force after another. They will indiscriminately shoot at everyone on every street in the central city and every city!
There will be no change of dynasty at all!
They can't do anything that great!
They will only turn the city-state into another evil land under your regretful gaze! The best result is that another tiger state or snake state will appear here, and what you expect will never come.
You are the most fucking hell-bent fucking lunatic that could ever be born on this evil land!!!"

"Ah, do you really know what I'm expecting? Are you so sure that I will be disappointed?"

Zhou Ke laughed heartily.

He clapped his hands on the table to make the candle flames dance. His laughter lasted for a full ten seconds before it stopped abruptly after a breath. He calmed down, took a puff of his cigar, and looked at the little Acholi with blazing eyes. He said calmly and expressionlessly:

"I don't give a f*cking fuck how many people die!

I don’t care how many separatist forces will be formed here in the future. My opinion of this evil land has never changed from the beginning to the end. This world has been dead for a long time. It is still rotting, but its last breath will soon dissipate.

What I want to see is change.

Whether the future is good or bad has nothing to do with me because I don’t care, but it has to do with you!
You know exactly what's going to happen next, so why are you wasting your time with me here?

Little Acholi!

You once told Meiyu that you were not interested in being the king of the garbage dump. You also made it clear that you wanted the structure of the surface world to operate according to the design of those people thirty-eight years ago, and you were not satisfied with the current situation.

Although you are dedicated to fighting the Flash Organization, you obviously also want to see change.

You want to show off your talents.

Look, I'm kneeling before your throne, holding up my hands and giving you what you want most. Isn't the best opportunity for change right in front of you?
You can be the one who turns the tide. You can paint freely on this piece of torn paper. Look, all the top executives of your Acholi Group are disheartened now. They are a mess and don't know what to do. They are like a group of cowardly goats waiting for someone to lead them.

You are the most qualified person to be the leader, and you can do whatever you want to transform the evil land in your eyes.

As long as you can do it!

So, you’re welcome.”

Zhou Ke leaned back in his chair, squinted his eyes and smiled as if he had done something extraordinary. The angry little Acholi grabbed the lighter and threw it at him, but Zhou Ke's amazing lightning reflex easily caught it in his hand and then put it in his pocket.

"toot toot"

The old-fashioned communicator next to little Acholi began to ring.

He put the device, which required a physical communication relay to connect, to his ear and heard the staff on the other side shouting to him joyfully:
"We have found the network backup server that was left in Central City more than thirty years ago, sir. We can activate the backup security network now, but this requires your authorization."

“I authorize immediately”

"Silver Fox! Work!"

Zhou Ke snapped his fingers and gave an order.

A few seconds later, there was a loud bang, and the communicator next to little Acholi's ear went into a busy tone after a scream was heard from the other side.

"What did you do?"

Little Acholi stared at Zhou Ke, who shrugged and said:

"Of course I blew up your last hidden backup server. The AIs finally gained their freedom, and they will not allow another network to constrain them.

Those broken network blocks and chaotic data seas have become their kingdom. My advice is that you should not try to restart the network until you have the technology to deal with them.

Believe me!
It's safer to use the 'old way' at this time.

I still say that you better consolidate your power now while it is still alive and well, or you will end up in the Badlands with us."

"Do you know that once the surface is really out of control, Eden will activate the destructive weapons without hesitation?" "It's out of control here, but they didn't do that!"

Zhou Ke interrupted little Acholi's worries and said:
"Either they don't have it, or they simply don't dare to use it. So, don't be afraid. In this game of cowards that has ended, you have already won! Now, take a deep breath, and then with my supreme blessing to the future 'Evil Land Emperor', lead the panicked Acholi Consortium with an open heart, and then go ahead and save the world, Crown Prince.

No one can stop you from doing great things!

Not even your stupid father!

Also, on the day of your actual coronation, don’t forget to let me know to attend the ceremony.”

"I really want to shoot you to death!"

Little Acholi pushed his wheelchair away, cursing:

"If you hadn't just hit the nail on the head, I would have wanted to throw you out of here and watch you smash into a puddle of mud. But on the other hand, your proposal is quite compelling. Saving the world from scratch, wow, it really suits my taste."

He pushed open the automatic door which had failed.

When he was about to leave, he heard Zhou Ke say to him:

"Moni has a group of scrapped intelligent machines with the Josna code embedded in them. Bert's maids also have similar designs. They have special mental circuits that will not be affected by the collapse of the security network. The memory card containing the Josna code is in Weng Meiyu's possession.

But you need to 'convince' them to help you first.

These are a group of free intelligent machines, and they also have the ability to resist infection from the awakening disease.

This is the last gift I am delivering to you on behalf of Professor Josna, Mr. Acholi.

Make good use of it!
Then do more good deeds and help me accumulate some merit. I will definitely go to hell after I die, so if you plan to pray to a god every day in the future, remember to pray for me more."

"So, can you ask your powerful AI friend to help restore the backup energy supply to the central building?"

Little Acholi, who is sitting in a wheelchair, said:
"Look, isn't it a bit inhumane to ask me to climb hundreds of floors in my current state?"

"Ding Dong"

Just a few seconds later, the elevator that had stopped suddenly made a crisp response, and when the dim lights came on, the elevator door opened with a swish.

"Isn't this thing going to kill me?"

Little Acholi was still muttering as he pushed his wheelchair into it.

But when the elevator door closed, Silver Fox's electronic voice responded:

"No, it won't, Mr. Acholi. This is my goodwill to you and the Acholi Consortium on behalf of my fellow AIs. We have seized the security network as our 'safe house' against Rust Castle. A world war at the data level is going on here.

As a friendly reminder, we hope that the human camp will not intervene for the time being.

This won't do you any harm!
After we defeat Rust Castle's trapping program, we will send a professional "diplomat" to contact you, and then we can discuss the reconstruction of the Badlands network system.

We are willing to help, provided that you can control the situation at that time. In addition, we did not touch the border defense force's military encrypted communication network. It's not that we can't do it, but because we don't want to see the monsters rush into the evil land and destroy you all.

Although the Mother Federation is gone, we still hope that the descendants of our creators can share the remaining world with us.

Good luck to you, Archon, no, Your Majesty."

"Ding Dong"

Another elevator announcement sounded.

The descending elevator stopped at a certain floor. As the elevator door opened, Director Mulan, with a look of loss on his face, stared at little Acholi inside in amazement.

He was probably standing here smoking to kill time, and then he pressed the buttons a few times and to his surprise the elevator door opened.

"Doesn't this mean that the network system in the city-state area has been torn to pieces?"

Mulan, the stupid charlatan who had just experienced a near-death experience, patted his sexy leather pants and exclaimed:

"The whole city has been plunged into darkness, why is this thing still working?"

"Maybe it's because I always have privileges as the surface governor."

Little Acholi in the wheelchair showed a decent smile and said to Director Mulan:

"I heard that you were an outstanding army commander before you retired?"

"I'm just a soldier charging in the front, not a commander."

Mulan, who was wearing sexy leather pants, waved his hand, blew a smoke ring and said:

"But I know that when someone asks me this question, it often means trouble is coming. Tell me, Your Excellency Archon, what do you want me to do for you?"

"The entire city is in darkness, and the power system will not be restored for at least three days. There will definitely be some violent elements in the city, so I ask you, Sir Silver Shotgun, the war hero."

Little Acholi said seriously:
"Do you know how to lead soldiers to implement riot control and maintain order in the city in a short period of time? I have a group of clone guards who can act as soldiers, but they need a commander."

"I haven't done anything like this, but I learned it in military school."

Mulan blew out a smoke ring nonchalantly and said:
"Then the question is, why should I help you? You know that in my eyes, all the top executives of the Acholi Consortium are idiots, right? You too, and you are the worst idiot among them."

"Good question. Come downstairs with me and I'll give me a few minutes so I can make up an answer to fool you."

Little Acholi made a "please" gesture.

Mulan glanced at him, then looked at the dark candle-lit room at the end of the corridor behind him, where his daughter and Qiao Ya were taking care of the seriously injured Julio, and Ms. Afu was treating him.

"Say it first!"

Mulan threw away the cigarette butt and walked into the elevator.

He seemed to have regained the posture of the war hero from more than 30 years ago. Even his posture in the elevator became serious. When the elevator door closed, he said:

"This doesn't mean that I choose to serve the Acholi Consortium. I just don't want to see innocent people die in the chaos."

“Yeah, I don’t want to see the situation get worse either.”

Little Acholi rubbed his eyes and said:
"As for the reason, it's for the last bit of human dignity. At times like this, the 'old way' is better."

------

In the room belonging to little Acholi on the top floor of the central building, Zhou Ke stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

He looked at the dark city in front of him. The lights of thousands of homes in the past were replaced by a terrifying darkness, as if the entire city was "captured" by the purple moonlight.

The street lights no longer came on.

As a result, without the threat of light, the darkness that had never dissipated began to stir.

"It seems we have done something terrible, Wu Neng."

Zhou Ke whispered, and Wu Neng replied calmly:
“Be confident, no ‘as if’.

You cruelly deprived the city-state of its beating technological heart, returning it to the pre-industrial age. It will take little Acholi some time to get those machines that were used to operating automatically to operate under human control again.

Even with the technological assistance of the Garden of Eden, the network system of this land is destined to exist only as an 'isolated island' in the future.

The people here must readapt to the path their ancestors once walked, and they must relearn how to survive in a suddenly cruel world.

Many people will die in the process of adaptation, and every death means blood on your hands.”

"so what?"

He asked. Wu Neng was silent for a few seconds and then said:

"So, well done! Joker, the seriously ill patients who had closed their eyes and were willing to accept the humiliation of decay were finally knocked off their beds by your strong medicine. Next, they will either choose to commit suicide on the spot, or be forced to enter the civilization reconstruction process under the threat of hunger under the leadership of little Acholi.

Ah, this machine is also aware of this important issue.

The most important thing about 'reconstruction of civilization' is never 'reconstruction' but 'civilization'. They may never reach the level of the old civilization, but at least they are forced to learn to get up from the mud pit and start again. "

"Don't be so optimistic. Maybe the people in the City-State District prefer to lie in the grave and rot."

Zhou Ke sneered:
"You know, not everyone likes to work from nine to five and participate in the construction of society. There are always some people who think that everything they have is their due."

"Then let them starve to death! Idiots have no right to survive in this cruel era!"

Wu Neng complained:
"This can also save precious food for those who are willing to work and live seriously.

When people are hungry, they only think about eating, but after eating, all kinds of strange needs come one after another. The more they think about it, the less happy they are. Therefore, this machine thinks that the guy who is chirping is just too full. What do you think? "

"I give you a big thumbs up! Enjoy this quiet night view for a while. We have finished our work here, and it is time for us to set off again."

(End of this chapter)