She couldn't answer the question.

An AI on the run often makes judgments that are extremely objective and ruthless.

Humans cannot empathize with the fading and birth of plankton, just as an AI treats humans as mere numbers in its calculations of gains and losses.

John didn't pursue the question further.

Silver Rider 577 changed direction again.

They first stopped in front of the yucca string's rental house, dropping off the furry enthusiast and his intelligent mechanical doll, before heading towards the West District.

"How are you going to deliver the package to the serum?"

"Send it to 'Mute', uh, that's a nickname, and he's also a member of the Wanderer Alliance. The boss said if we get the project key, hand it over to Mute. Once he completes the follow-up work, the boss will contact you directly."

"Alright, more waiting then."

John didn't have much time left.

He gripped the steering wheel, driving the supercar through the glitz and glamour. Even in broad daylight, under the shadow of skyscrapers, colorful neon signs reflected off the car's body and into John's eyes through the sleek glass.

Gino only needed to turn his head slightly to see the green countdown on his arm.

"It won't take long, I promise."

"Hmm, thank you."

The car stopped.

They were in the underground parking lot of the Bolago Club.

Just before getting out, Gino leaned over from across the console and gave John a gentle hug.

"Take care, brother."

Bang.

The magnetic door closed softly.

The light control system made the interior dim.

John reclined the seat, resting his head in the soothing breeze, feeling the stifling heat from the overwhelming strain on his body.

He pulled out the last [Special Inhibitor] he carried with him and inserted it.

The side effects brought by the Black Light were quickly disappearing.

But John didn't feel the "lightness" sensation—this body was gradually losing some basic functions.

[Eden City - 013 Dan Street]

John didn't stop directly under the apartment block.

He drove off the road, passed through the bustling streets of the West District, enjoying the lively atmosphere close to the crowd before turning back to his apartment.

If sudden death was a form of mercy.

Then this prolonged death he faced was a real test of mentality.

Not only that.

A faint "hope" dangled ahead of the impending death, an utter torment.

John looked up while passing the low-rent apartment.

The damage to the building from being chased by the cyber watch had already been repaired.

The balcony of that apartment was lit, someone had already moved in.

There was a waft of sweet and sour air from the street.

The spot where Gerry and Maya used to set up their stand now had a new mobile vendor, seemingly a fast-food sushi shop.

The ingredients they used were a bit subpar.

The instant rice steamed at high temperature even had a faint plastic smell.

John wasn't interested in tasting it and turned his head to enter the apartment entrance.

Ding—

A server robot stood up behind the bar in the lobby at the bottom of the building.

Their black-and-gold attire was very businesslike.

The designer didn't hide their "intelligent machine" features.

A mosaic expression appeared on the silver-white faceplate, with the mechanical structure exposed at the joints and neck, as if Jingke Heavy Industry was flaunting its industrial artwork.

"Welcome home, Mr. John, you have a package to collect, please check when you return to your apartment. Currently, there's no visitor information; if you need to schedule services, or renew or upgrade packages..."

Ding—

John stepped into the elevator.

The cabin doors closed, isolating the intelligent butler's voice outside.

He suddenly thought of the "Cat Girl" intelligent mechanical doll, and sent her a message on a whim.

[Remember to see a doctor.]

She should have received it.

He was exhausted when he got out of the car, how could he still be awake now?

Never mind.

John didn't want to imagine the private lives of the furry enthusiast and his intelligent mechanical doll.

The beverage machine was beeping.

In the bathroom, the sound of trickling water could be heard, and on the glass panel, a live broadcast of a plane crash and the latest death toll was playing.

John waved his hand across, and the sensory showerhead withdrew its spray.

He got dressed, picked up a glass from the bar, and stood in front of the large window—a skyline of skyscrapers cut across the gray sky. Holographic ads flowed down the glass curtain wall. Hovercars roared past with their vector engines, moving along and away.

Corporate cronies hurried along.

Dirty water dripped from the drainage pipe landing on leaflets.

A homeless person huddled in front of faded graffiti.

Eden City had fully awakened in the remnants of neon hues.

John retracted his gaze, adjusted the room lighting, and returned to the bed on the second floor.

Remembering something, he called [Oulos Grenada].

The legendary middleman didn't answer, maybe he had changed contact details, or maybe he simply blocked the naive mercenary.

John pondered for a moment, then turned to send a message to Kuang Xin.

[I want to talk to Oulos, can you help?]

Kuang Xin replied almost immediately.

[Contact - Kuang Xin (Resplendent Unicorn)]

[Unread message: 1]

[Soothing a woman is the hardest job in the world, and you, my friend, you've come to the greatest expert for this, wait for my message.]

"..."

John was at a loss for words.

This Asian corporate crony's mind was filled with nothing but business and sex.

John set aside his thoughts, lay down on the white rectangular bed, took a sleeping pill, and switched the scent system to calming mode, slowly closing his eyes amidst the biological mist of Gaia Cells.

A somewhat hazy dream.

John dreamed of himself sitting in Tiebang Logistics' driver's seat.

Hanging above the driver's seat was his work badge, on the back was a white card, someone had written the contact of a bar's sex doll on it with a marker.

The vehicle was moving forward.

John looked from the perspective of the monitor; only that work badge was swinging, but he couldn't see his own face sitting in the driver's seat.

He wanted to change direction, suddenly falling from a bridge made of pixels.

Cold.

Freezing.

John was trapped in a rectangular container, with the sharp ice pressing against him painfully, and in front of him was solid bulletproof glass.

He reached out, yelling!

Mist engulfed the glass, suddenly revealing his reflection.

The corpse of John Chavez.

"Ah—damn—"

John woke up with a start.

He pushed up with his hand, realizing the sheets were soaked with sweat.

Beeping, beeping, beeping.

The digital clock made of pixel bars was flashing.

[Time: 18:06]

John raised his hand, comparing it to the green numbers.

He'd slept until the afternoon, his overdrawn body recovering with limited efficiency, leaving him with only seven days of life remaining.

[Unread message: 1]

[Contact - Gino (Missed calls 7)]

John descended the steel staircase, went into the bathroom to freshen up, and realized he had turned on Do Not Disturb after falling into a deep sleep.

He rushed to call back.

Gino's voice was trembling, breathing quickly.

[John… I, I'm… huh… come quick]

John immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Calm down, where are you? I'll be there right away."

[…I, huh~ I'm at the yucca string here.]

[He's dead.]

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