Overturned Tower

Russell left the institute alone without waking up Mr. Rex, who was already drunk enough to fall asleep.

The float vehicle that brought him and Mr. Rex here was still parked at the door. After picking up Russell, he took him to the hotel arranged by Tongshen Island.

That is the Tartarus Hotel in Area G3, which is said to be the most luxurious high-rise hotel on Tongshen Island.

A place that sounded unlucky to Russell - in Greek mythology, "Tartarus" is the name of hell. Of course, there is no such element in the language of this era.

Because there are no widely circulated folk myths in this world. Although we don't know what the era on the ground is like, the seven sky islands have already completed a unified language in the Sky Island Age.

They did not speak any language that existed on Russell's planet. Miraculously, it can clearly express the specific meaning of other languages ​​across civilization systems. It is precisely because there is no difference in language and writing between the air islands, and there are only some differences in dialects at most, that this "air island civilization" was formed - any air island person can go directly to another space. There is no need to study or prepare any funds.

Ringo, who has been on Sun Island since she was born, would not have been recognized as an outsider at a glance if it weren't for her overly revealing clothes and the cultural style of Tongshen Island.

If they dress up well, she and Russell can blend in among the locals smoothly. But he felt that Ringo would be too shy if he put on clothes... so Russell gave up such a request.

Anyway, he doesn't really need any bodyguards. It is undoubtedly a good thing to have an excuse to get rid of the eyes that are watching him.

Russell sat in the float car and rubbed his temples tiredly.

——His guess is correct. Come with Mr. Da to take a look at the research institute where he works. It will indeed be helpful to their investigation.

What he saw with his own eyes this time were the synthetics who had not yet defected...their way of life and existence shocked Russell.

He could only sit on the floating car and sighed deeply.

It's not that I'm powerless, but that I'm confused.

In just two days, his attitude towards synthetics changed from disapproval to anger, from anger to indifference, from indifference to sympathy, from sympathy to sadness.

Russell didn't lack strength, nor the wisdom to figure it all out.

He was just confused... In other words, it was precisely because Russell knew that he could do many things, and that his existence and decision-making could play a decisive role in the development of the situation, that he hesitated about what he should do.

If you make the wrong choice - there is no room for change.

Until then, Russell's identity was very simple and clear:

He is a member of the Tianen Group's special execution department. His duties, tasks and mission are to analyze reports of suspected demons and investigate urban residents who may have lost control of their psychic powers. And monitor the familiars among them, locate the real demon and capture or execute it.

Demons are evil and humans are good. What is justice and what is right is clear at a glance.

After all, the devil's food is humans. No matter what tragic reality they encountered before awakening their psychic powers, and how pitiful they were, simply being an illegal psychic would not lead to death... But if they fell out of control and became a demon, they would inevitably eat people in order to maintain their existence.

In the reconstruction mechanism of Happy Island, many demons gradually weakened, went crazy, and died because they did not eat people. Before dying, they will continue to produce their own psychic chips like animals - if it is useful enough, they may be able to harvest the souls of one or two people to continue their existence. In order to produce more chip.

In any case, since they live by eating humans and there is no alternative food except human souls on the diet, demons can only be the mortal enemies of humans. No matter how much you pity the people before they became demons, you must ruthlessly capture the demons.

At that time, Russell was in the aura of justice and would not hesitate in his actions.

...and now, he suddenly realized that the inertia of this lifestyle was broken.

What is good and what is evil—what he should do and what the consequences of his actions will be. What is the difficulty of each party, what is the pain, what is the hatred, what is the desire... He must understand and engrave it in his heart.

——From the agent who annihilates evil to the judge who decides right and wrong. Whether it is in terms of capabilities, responsibilities, or positioning, it is an absolute leap.

This also means that he can no longer give up thinking and act according to orders.

He must think for himself, draw his own conclusions, resolutely implement his own plans, and bear all the consequences of his decisions.

Just like a happy player without a brain, one day he suddenly realizes that the gameplay has become more and more complicated, and that a brain is about to grow out of his empty and echoing skull - the process of growing a brain out of an empty tank without a brain. It's very painful.

From the laboratory to the hotel, Russell didn't think about what he should do.

For the time being, we can only decide to wait until tomorrow morning to see the dust gap and the monkey-faced eagle.

Russell could feel that these synthetic children obviously had real souls... But why did Bubble-30 and the others so firmly believe that they had been eliminated and were discarded products of the old era?

And if this is the consensus of synthetics, why do another group of synthetics led by Naraku-7 demand human rights?

They even asked to continue to "reproduce" and produce new ones of the same kind. They have not given up their existence at all, and are still trying to fight for the survival of the species-for this reason, they are even so aggressive as to directly attack empty boats carrying innocent passengers. Why do they so firmly believe that their existence is absolutely necessary and have such a strong desire to survive?

Are these two completely opposite trends of thought really just different times of "nirvana"?

Russell didn't know.

The float vehicle carried him and landed directly on the twentieth floor of the Tartarus Hotel.

This hotel is as tall as the other buildings on Tongshen Island. And it has a considerable height, and there is even a specially lengthened "second hall" from the 20th floor to the 21st floor. Going up from the 20th floor is the VIP area... If you come in from the first floor at the end of the street, you can't take the elevator directly to the 20th floor or above.

According to the driver, if you want to enter the 20th floor from the 19th floor, you need to register additionally.

Moreover, those without codes are absolutely not allowed to enter above the twentieth floor.

Robot security guards with live ammunition stood guard at every corner on the twentieth floor. There are also highly disciplined, silent and orderly patrol guards with mechanical dogs and drones patrolling back and forth on the edge of the 20th floor - not only inside the building, but even outside the building.

Even in the sky, there are drones flying over repeatedly. A black mass of drones formed a "crow", constantly making harsh whistling sounds.

Before Russell's float vehicle arrived, they were scanned by the drone swarm. These drones did not interfere with the flight of the aerial vehicles at all, and even accompanied them to escort them around.

Immediately after Russell got off the float vehicle, four "security guards" whose heads had been replaced with prosthetics came respectfully to him with a team of drones and four mechanical dogs.

Although they are "security guards" in name, the exoskeleton armors worn by these security guards are even so handsome that Russell is a little envious:

It was jet black matte armor that covered the whole body and made a heavy sound when walking. The full-coverage helmet can't even see the eyes. The dim yellow night vision lights should be on where the eyes should be - black and yellow are the signature colors of Sanzhi Heavy Industry, just like the Tianen Group's signature colors are red and Same as white.

And in the gaps and decorations of the armor, you can also see the same dim yellow energy lamp.

He looked like a knight coming from the depths of hell. It doesn’t look cybernetic at all, it’s even fantasy.

And these people gathered together, wearing exoskeleton armors of different specifications, just like the devil's army lining up to recruit troops.

Behind them, without exception, there is a huge dim yellow six-pointed star - that is the trademark of Shenzhi Heavy Industry.

On their chests is the logo of the Tartarus high-rise hotel: a huge eye overlooking an abstract "person" below.

"Mr. Ultramarine, good evening!"

The four "knights" who came to Russell first bowed and held their chests, and said in unison: "Tartarus wishes you a pleasant and relaxing night."

A parade of drones surrounded Russell. Several large drones turned on a soft but not dazzling light source above his head, dyeing him and the area he was in with the clarity of sunlight. The light has been specially processed to allow Russell to see the road clearly without making him feel dazzled - but it is not certain whether it is dazzling to others.

Russell was a little confused for a moment.

He looked around in confusion.

But I found that whether it was a "knight" who was motionless on duty or a "knight" who was patrolling. The moment Russell glanced over, they immediately sensed Russell's gaze, and learned Russell's identity before turning around to confirm with their eyes - they turned back directly, without even looking at Russell. Just touch your chest and bow respectfully.

When Russell finally walked towards the hall, the four prosthetic security guards followed Russell at the four corners. Moving at exactly the same speed as Russell, he looked around cautiously while sending Russell forward. Others were not even allowed to come within two meters of Russell.

The other prosthetic security guards, who were dressed like knights, immediately backed away when Russell came within ten meters and knelt down on one knee to salute Russell. These knights saluted in unison, and coupled with the exoskeleton armor they wore, they made a neat, heavy, and loud sound.

Apart from the initial welcome, there was silence thereafter. The twentieth floor itself has an air parking lot, which is specially used to park floating vehicles. The other guests who got off the bus hurried away from Russell, not even daring to look at Russell, and just trotted away around Russell.

Even Russell, who was treated like a big star in Happy Island, had experienced such an exaggerated reception style for the first time.

It's somewhat outrageous.

Russell didn't even know why Sanzhi Heavy Industry arranged such a hotel for himself - it was like celebrating his birthday in Haidilao.

And these security guards are even more outrageous.

Russell is very, very sure - whether it is Happy Island or Tongshen Island, their execution department absolutely does not have such professionalism.

Even the security guards at the Tianen Group headquarters are far less professional than them.

Russell just glanced at them and could immediately sense the gaze, and even directly identify the owner of the gaze through the gaze - although it was not clear whether this was the function of their exoskeleton or the special function of the prosthetic body, but happiness The island definitely does not have this technology.

And he just took a look at the materials of these armors and knew that the strength of this thing was also ridiculous - at least if he sprayed it with a shotgun at a close distance, there would only be a few small craters.

——Because the material of this exoskeleton armor is specially used for mechas.

"What is the identity of this hotel? Is it a hotel owned by Shenzhi Heavy Industry?"

Russell asked this question to the security guards around him.

Although I don’t know exactly who I should ask, but since they can even sense my own gaze, such a small thing shouldn’t be a surprise.

As a result, just after Russell finished asking, the hotel door on the 20th floor opened - the hotel manager, who looked to be in his early twenties, had a pair of horns on his head, black hair, and an unusually plump figure, walked over and faced Russell saluted from a distance.

After the salute, Russell just walked to the gate.

She also happened to raise her head and followed Russell not far behind and to the right without any pause.

"You guessed it right. This is the hotel where the board of directors of Sanzhi Heavy Industry lives."

The hotel manager's voice was soft and clear: "The directors and some senior executives of our head office all live in Tartarus. I am your exclusive manager, No. 44."

"Elf director?" Russell asked.

"It's the non-permanent directors."

She replied: "The twelve non-permanent directors are here, from the 49th floor to the 45th floor."

Non-permanent directors are another polite term for human directors.

"Is Ringo already here?"

"Your female companion has arrived on the 44th floor. She is now in room 4401, but the entire private room on the 44th floor belongs to you."

The hotel manager did not stare at Russell the whole time and said respectfully: "If you need any services or want to see anyone, there is no need to go to the front desk or call the internal phone. You can say it anytime, anywhere, and we can hear it. We We will arrange it for you as soon as possible, and you can carry out any form of office work without leaving Tartarus.

"If you don't know the other party's exact address, we can help you find it; if you don't know the other party's name, you can also give us the mental portrait. Our hotel is connected to the internal database of Shenzhi Heavy Industry;

"If you need a playmate of any kind or request, you can always make a request to the hotel. If you don't want or don't want to talk, after you enter the 44th floor, you can click to confirm the installation of 'Tartarus' from the pop-up window Services'. Just type and you can submit any form of search and service."

"any?"

Russell asked rhetorically: "What if I want a symphony orchestra, or a ballet company?"

"We can arrange it for you at any time. We can arrive within half an hour."

"What if I want you?"

"Honored."

The hotel manager with long black hair replied respectfully without hesitation.

"Then if," Russell said solemnly, "whose head do I want?"

“This hotel can hunt any animal for you.”

The manager replied: "It can be delivered within one hour, either alive or as a token."

"Oh? How much does it cost?"

"It's completely free," she replied respectfully, without any fluctuation in her tone, "As long as you are still a VIP of this hotel. Other guests below the 44th floor can be called for you at any time if you want to see them."

...The style of Tongshen Island is indeed completely different from that of Happy Island.

Russell was deeply aware of this.

He shook his head: "Forget it...just pretend I didn't say those things.

"Ringo is on the 44th floor, right?"

"Yes, I will take you to the special elevator."

No. 44 replied.

Damn, I finished writing it at 9:30 today, and then I went to have dinner. I thought it was early anyway, so I might as well come back and post again.

Then after eating, he lay down with a peaceful look on his face. After squinting for a while, he forgot about it when he came back. I just saw the reminder from Sister Zeze in the group and suddenly remembered that I haven’t posted it yet...

If I hadn’t been reminded to be perfect today, I wouldn’t have been offended (sad)

I am not a stupid cat. I am not a stupid cat...