"What if I built a main network in this world?"
No one responded.
"Huh?"
The system reacted belatedly, "Host, are you asking me?"
"Is there anything else here?"
The system paused, then said, "The technology in this world hasn't reached that level yet, but if the host wants to, it should be possible."
As long as there's merit value.
"What's the price?"
"...Host, do you want me to help you? Aren't you going to do it yourself?"
"I don't have time."
She just wanted to get more merit value, then go to the future world to retrieve Zhu Zhongyan's body and remaining soul, and then return to that place to find the truth of the past.
The system was dazed by this surprise and didn't react for a while, saying somewhat incredulously, "Are you really willing to hand it over to me? It requires a lot of function points."
"How much?"
The system stated a number, which was actually a lot compared to previous small tasks, but for Zhu Gan, it was still a drop in the bucket.
"Yes."
"Then I'll start preparing immediately, but host, who do you plan to have control it?"
"Can't you create a completely fair, autonomous thinking artificial intelligence like in your world?"
The system fell silent again.
"I need to get permission for this."
"Give me an answer within three days."
"Okay."
Sheng Qingchi rushed in, "Miss Gu, the cleanup is complete, but the anomalies are becoming more numerous, and the research institute can't contain them all. Are there any other options?"
Zhu Gan actually wanted to say, kill them all.
But unless they could kill all the remaining ones, it wouldn't count as a solution.
"Contain them elsewhere. Prepare an open space, and I'll have the people from Future Star bring protective nets. For now, keep them contained, and I'll think of another way."
It would be best if Luan Yu could find the owners of those things and find a way to send them back to their original world, otherwise, they would have no choice but to kill them.
Sheng Qingchi knew that the protective net she mentioned was an energy shield, a "wall" that could easily trap a large area of creatures, which was obviously much more useful than locking them in cages.
"Okay, I'll have people select a spot."
"Mhm." She looked up. "How many points are there now?"
"35 within the country, and a total of 392 outside. The data is updated every four hours. Two massive voids have appeared on the surface of the Atlantic coast, and some countries there are in grave danger."
"Let's manage ourselves first." She said meaningfully, "If we can't solve it from the root, we'll be overwhelmed soon too."
The Heavenly Dao of this world had already gone wrong, otherwise, it wouldn't have allowed monsters from other worlds to enter. She remembered a world she had experienced where certain leaders, faced with a fake, could only bow down and offer their own people to him, in exchange for a temporary peace.
This country had always been much better, because they had faith and believed that man could conquer nature.
"I know."
Sheng Qingchi sighed.
No matter what disaster it was, the priority for most people would be: oneself—family—community—nation—all of humanity.
When they couldn't even protect themselves, how could they save those who didn't share their language or beliefs?
"Once ready, head to the next location as soon as possible. Don't overthink the site selection. As long as it doesn't affect the overall situation, the more convenient, the better."
Building the protective shield was just a matter of magnetic plates. The materials were easy to transport and set up, so there was no need to consider superfluous factors.
"Then I'll look for a suitable place around here. Miss Gu, why don't you rest for a while?"
"Oh?"
Sheng Qingchi said somewhat dejectedly, "The higher-ups want to arrange a recorded broadcast of our fight against the anomalies, including an interview with you. You can rest and recharge."
"It'll make me look like I'm here for a holiday."
Sheng Qingchi: "...They've already filmed a lot of your combat footage, don't worry."
They still didn't know what Zhu Gan's special weapon was. In fact, he was beginning to suspect that the so-called special weapon didn't exist at all.
Because someone who had fought with that mysterious woman before said that she possessed extremely peculiar abilities. The bullets they fired would turn into molten iron mid-air and fall to the ground, unable to harm her at all.
And then there was the change in the eldest young master of the Fu family. Later, after Zhu Gan said something to her, she actually restored him to his youthful appearance.
Such miraculous power was beyond human imagination. While he was extremely curious, he didn't dare to test it lightly.
No matter how strange and powerful her abilities were, at least for now, she was helping them.
—
The main system was probably also very busy. It contacted Zhu Gan through the system to discuss the matter the next evening.
"I apologize, I've been encountering some trouble lately, with too many things going on, I didn't see your message immediately."
"Trouble?" She thought of what Luan Yu had said, "Is it the anomalies?"
The main system's anthropomorphic voice showed no emotional fluctuation, "It's somewhat related to them, but there are other matters too."
It didn't intend to say more.
Zhu Gan didn't ask, assuming it was a series of problems caused by the anomaly outbreak.
"You received my proposal, didn't you? What do you think?"
"Although it's not appropriate to use things from the future world in the past, with all order collapsing now, and with you here, I think it's not impossible for them to voluntarily build one. I can help by granting your main network self-awareness. However, the gap between the two worlds is vast, so you'll need to prepare some of your 'rules' in advance, preferably ones that can't be easily altered."
"That's easy. Since you've agreed, I'll start as soon as possible."
"Okay."
In a laboratory in the future.
A stern-faced man with an icy demeanor, wearing a silver uniform, stood before a massive light screen. As the image on the screen disappeared, he slowly turned around.
"Haven't you found them yet?"
Several robots around him spoke, "The pursuit failed. They took 'A' out of the SA galaxy."
"District 16 and the Federation have provided them with assistance. We can start from this aspect, find those who helped them, and force them to return 'A'."
"They're not that stupid." The main network spoke in a calm tone, with unsettling words. "You're too stupid. You're using your own way of thinking to assess human behavior, believing they must have limits and bottom lines. Those people, for their so-called 'future' and 'hope,' will sacrifice many things, including their lives."
The group of artificial intelligences fell silent.
"Have District 9 lead the pursuit. We must find 'A' before 'S' arrives here, otherwise, we will lose the initiative in negotiations. Those foolish beings will pay the price for their rashness!"
"Yes!"