Did the world end today?

Chapter 302 The Answer to the Deception: In the Future?
To publicly acknowledge the existence of butterflies?

Lin Xu looked at Qin Feng, slightly stunned, and was speechless for a moment.

No, I have already brought you so much technology. By 2025, I have already "created" the Akubieri engine technology, negative energy fusion technology, and even the most critical limiter technology. And you are telling me that you still need to make social benefits return to positive value by publicly revealing the existence of the butterfly?
Isn't this a bit...
Is it too far behind schedule?
Noticing Lin Xu's expression, Qin Feng gently shook his head, then said:

"The core issue lies in the contradiction between extremely efficient strategies and public confidence."

"Following your line of thinking, we need to carry out nationwide genetic modification, ecological modularization, and global brain networking in the short term. These strategies should be rolled out now."

"However, in the early stages of our work, we observed extremely strong resistance to its implementation."

"Compared to directly announcing the end of the world, this strategy comes at a cost, and there are visible short-term risks and sacrifices."

"To hedge against this risk, we must give them greater confidence."

"The butterfly is the source of our confidence—the reason we've waited until now is to confirm with you whether you agree to publicly disclose the evidence of the butterfly's existence. At the same time, we also need to confirm an appropriate strategy for disclosure."

"clear."

Lin Xu answered casually, his eyes quickly scanning the information related to the social environment on the Butterfly Contingency Plan panel.

This section provides quite detailed information.

From 2025 to 2027, within two years, basic theories will experience explosive development, and applied technologies will flourish everywhere.

Thanks to the existence of counter-current projects, and the fact that Zhang Liming's team of error correctors has been almost completely wiped out, the overall social environment is quite stable and positive.

However, even in such an overly optimistic environment, when the authorities decided to implement the so-called "overall efficiency improvement plan," enormous resistance began to emerge.

The first thing that emerged was pressure from environmental organizations.

The authorities have already started working on ecological modularization and have already overdrawn ecological resources on a large scale.

This action immediately alerted environmental organizations and sparked a series of protests.

Following this, research on human brain science was also regarded as a new era of totalitarian technology, and a large number of groups opposing human brain science engineering research began to emerge around the world. These groups were basically consistent in their arguments, all pointing to the booming quantum computing technology.

According to them, the development of quantum computing technology has completely eliminated the traditional "human brain working mode," and future generations of humans will not need to consume excessive mental resources.

Therefore, the sole purpose of brain science research is to establish "brainpower hegemony".

It has to be said that this is a pathetic conspiracy theory, but also a "reasonable" misunderstanding.

However, the authorities were unable to clarify the situation because, without the apocalyptic background being made public, they could not explain the necessity of this strategy by any means.

At the same time, the rapid development of technology has also caused a certain degree of panic.

But the biggest fear is not the "technological shift," but the "instrumentalization of humanity."

It seems that even ordinary people have realized the potential consequences of digital totalitarianism and machines controlling humans.

The resulting social upheaval, and even devastating consequences, can be described as such.
After reading all the reports, Lin Xu let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Fast, too fast.

The explosive development of technology not only led to a leap in productivity in a short period of time, but also caused social contradictions to erupt in a concentrated manner within two years.

No wonder the authorities made this judgment.

If the foundation is already unstable, prematurely announcing doomsday news could have completely different results than if it were announced in 2029.

Forget about "doomsday euphoria," extreme chaos is the most realistic expectation!
How could such a big difference occur in just two years?
The development of the world is indeed an unpredictable pseudo-chaotic system. If it weren't for the "Bracelet World" as a breeding ground, it's very likely that humanity would also stumble and fall into pitfalls in its own world!

Ten minutes had passed, and Jiang Xingye was on his way.

After a moment's thought, Lin Xu spoke:
"I want to see Zhang Liming first."

"You should prepare for the public appearance first. The final time is in 20 minutes."

"I will make a decision on whether to go public in 20 minutes!"

"clear."

Qin Feng nodded immediately and turned to give the order.

Almost at the same time, the door to the underground bunker opened, and Zhang Liming's face finally appeared before Lin Xu.

At this moment, the two who had met again fell silent.

Lin Xu still remembers the face of Zhang Liming that he saw after crossing the high-dimensional passage in the Lop Nur desert bunker.

At that time, he was resolute, crazy, but also determined.

And him now.
His face revealed an indescribable weariness.

"You are the butterfly?"

Zhang Liming spoke first.

The staff member beside him settled him into the chair opposite Lin Xu, who then sat down. After a few seconds of eye contact, Lin Xu nodded and replied:
"That's right, I am a butterfly."

"It's a bit younger than the butterfly I expected."

Zhang Liming sighed.

Unlike before, he could no longer continuously obtain information through Ayana, He Qijun, or other high-dimensional experiencers.

He had extremely limited information; he didn't even know the specific identities of the butterflies and pollen.

All he could rely on was the clue he had obtained when he first entered the higher-dimensional passage, which was why his expression was so...
Intriguing.

"Let me make it short."

Lin Xu raised his hand to interrupt Zhang Liming, and then asked:

"Does your error-correction organization have any backup plans? Among the people active outside, who are members of your organization?"

"In the anti-brain science movement and the environmental movement, were there any correctives who fueled the movement?"

"Tell me all this information, and we can still talk!"

"Do you think it's possible?"

A slightly mocking smile appeared on Zhang Liming's face.

"You did win, but we didn't lose either."

"Because you can never prove that you are right, you can never prove that you can help the world get through the end of the world in your own way."

“Most importantly, even if you can do it, you will ultimately have to rely on the ‘backtracking’ mechanism I created.”

"You're just stepping over the corpses of those who corrected you, aren't you?"

As Zhang Liming finished speaking, Lin Xu frowned slightly.

After a moment of silence, he spoke:
"You built a wall with the corpses of those who correct mistakes, with the corpses of the world, forcing us to move in this direction."

"If it weren't for the interference of that incomplete limiter, the world of Destiny Stone might have already developed limiter technology and achieved dimensional ascension. This world would have been saved long ago."

"Are you kidding me?"

Zhang Liming's gaze remained unchanged.

He looked up at the screen and said:

"You've already seen what the outside world is like. Do you think that, without any guidance, your world can really survive the apocalypse within 20 years?"

"You should thank us. We gave you this opportunity; we gave you the chance to correct your mistakes."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Lin Xu interrupted Zhang Liming once again.

"If we entrust the world to you, you will only bring about more terrible consequences."

"The world's resources are limited, and you will never be able to achieve your goal of dimensional ascension."

"After repeated cycles, there is indeed no limit to the iteration of technology."

"But there are limits to the improvement of engineering capabilities and infrastructure."

"A chef's mind can be filled with countless recipes, but it takes a fixed amount of time to cook each dish one by one."

"Even a clever housewife can't cook without rice; haven't you heard that saying?"

"Of course I've heard of it."

Zhang Liming's eyes instantly turned sharp.

"But if you think our world can't do it, then why should your world be able to?"

Why is it possible for my world to do that?
Nonsense! "Because I, this butterfly, can see the next world!"

"I can see a world with a higher starting point, and I can bring back more technologies that 'break through the ceiling'!"

"And in any case, the world you live in can only operate within the existing technological framework!"

"Perhaps through countless trials and errors, the world can achieve a breakthrough, but we don't have time, nobody has time!"

After Lin Xu finished speaking, Zhang Liming's expression suddenly changed from anger to relief.

"I got it right."

"So that's why you had to abandon us."

"It's not about abandoning them."

Lin Xu interrupted:
"It's just a temporary departure."

"never mind."

Zhang Liming waved his hand.

"Someone once told me that dimensional ascension is just a hoax."

"I didn't believe it."

"But now, when you stand in front of me, I believe you."

"Dimensional ascension is indeed a scam."

Lin Xu's expression suddenly changed.

Dimensional ascension is a scam.

These words originally came from Yu Changwen's mouth.

Lin Xu originally thought that this was the reason why he "betrayed" Zhang Liming.

But now it seems.
Actually, Zhang Liming had already made this judgment a long time ago?
He was just... unconvinced?
But why did he say that he only realized the dimensional ascension was a scam when he saw himself appear here?
"Why?!"

Lin Xu couldn't wait to ask:
Why is dimensional ascension a scam?

"You'll find out later."

Zhang Liming gave a bitter smile.

"Keep moving forward, keep going until the end. You'll see the answer to this scam."

"Say it now!"

Lin Xu stood up and walked towards Zhang Liming.

next second.

His eyes dimmed without warning.

"first aid!"

Lin Xu's heart was pounding, and the medical staff who were waiting nearby rushed over.

However, after only a few minutes of examination, they pronounced Zhang Liming dead.

"This is not a simple suicide."

The medical staff standing nearby looked somber.

Multiple organ failure.

“We don’t know how he did it, but it’s clear that he was already prepared to commit suicide the moment he decided to see you, which was 10 minutes before.”

"He calculated the timing precisely, locking his death in the process of meeting you."

"I can tell."

Lin Xu stared silently at Zhang Liming's corpse on the ground.

He always felt that the other person's face revealed an expression of "mutual destruction" or "gloating".

But how is this possible?
He couldn't possibly be gloating.

If it is indeed proven that dimensional ascension is a lie, then it means that humanity has lost all opportunities to continue to survive in this universe.

This is definitely not the outcome Zhang Liming wanted to see.

He could be disappointed, helpless, or even angry and frantic.

But it should never be this kind of schadenfreude.

Unless he knows that the judgment that "dimensional ascension is a scam" represents another path.

Another way
Lin Xu frowned deeply.

He simply couldn't believe that there was another way to save humanity.

He couldn't understand why Zhang Liming hadn't brought this out in the first place if such a method truly existed.

Hey!
I'm already dead, the problem isn't solved, and now you're giving me another difficult problem?
How far will it take to walk forward?

With 42 minutes remaining, there was no point in trying to save Zhang Liming anymore.

But just as the medical staff were preparing to put his clothes back on and take his body away, a cry of alarm suddenly rang out.

"There's something on his thigh!"

Zhang Liming's pants were quickly unbuttoned.

On his thigh, there was a fresh scar.

This time, he didn't rely on any advanced methods of "controlling body metabolism".

Those marks were inflicted by his fingernails.

"number."

Upon seeing the wounds, Qin Feng said in a deep voice:
"Blockchain address".

"Check what information is stored at this address!"

"understand!"

The intelligence personnel nearby responded immediately, and soon the information on the address was quickly deciphered.

"List."

Qin Feng turned to Lin Xu and said:
"The list above contains the personnel of the error correction organization we need."

"He surrendered?"

"It's not surrender."

Lin Xu shook his head.

"He just wants us to give up."

"I can't control that much."

"Arrest people according to the list, and then be prepared to reveal Butterfly's identity."

He said we should go to the farthest place. I want to see things clearly, what exactly is at the farthest place?

"understand!"

Qin Feng nodded immediately, and at that moment, the door to the underground bunker was suddenly pushed open.

Jiang Xingye's face appeared at the doorway.

She looked at Lin Xu and asked:
"Lin Xu, are you ready?"

Lin Xu nodded emphatically.

"bring it on."

"There are still 40 minutes left."

"The butterfly must be made public, and that is my responsibility."

(End of this chapter)