If looks could kill, CE Wang Hu would have been slain countless times by Hao Xiaoxi.
Due to CE Wang Hu's successive proposals, even the local Breaking Ball World's Wang Hu had been branded a villain in Hao Xiaoxi's judgment.
Yet Mr. Zhou's decisions were beyond her capacity to alter.
Thus, when CE Wang Hu waved his hand and opened the golden light gate, Hao Xiaoxi was the first to charge through.
She thought to herself that even if she couldn't stop Mr. Zhou, she could at least be the first to scout for risks.
By taking the lead, she might buy Mr. Zhou some extra time, however little.
Watching his assistant dart into the light gate, Mr. Zhou smiled, well aware of her intentions.
In Mr. Zhou's view, the risks of CE Wang Hu's invitation were merely probabilistic; more likely, it was a precaution against another 'person' in a special sense.
"After you." Amused by the sight of the woman admired by the local Wang Hu rushing into the gate, CE Wang Hu gestured an invitation.
The three then stepped through one after another, crossing the thin light gate into another world.
Arriving at the Homeworld with exploratory intent, before Mr. Zhou could even glance around or call out to Hao Xiaoxi—who had come ahead—to return to his side after her cautious survey for dangers, he was abruptly startled by a loud roar.
"Core Wang Hu, scan the central computer of Zeta Gundam!"
Beside them, another light gate opened.
Zeta Gundam, which had once demonstrated great power and saved the Gabon experimental base in the Breaking Ball World, slowly emerged from the light gate.
This was followed by CE Wang Hu's urgent shout, as if he held deep apprehension toward this meritorious machine.
Yet it appeared utterly tranquil and harmless!
"Mr. Zhou!"
Too tense to clearly hear CE Wang Hu's words, Hao Xiaoxi's heart skipped a beat at his tone.
Could there be an ambush?
Drawing the small pistol concealed beneath her women's suit, she hurried over in her leather shoes to Mr. Zhou's side.
She intended to use her life as a buffer, allowing Mr. Zhou to retreat through the still-visible light gate.
"Xiaoxi, stay calm."
Waving a hand, Mr. Zhou watched with keen interest as Zeta Gundam was suddenly restrained by an energy field.
Observing the golden halos enveloping the Gundam, Mr. Zhou waited thoughtfully.
"Mr. MOSS, greetings. This is the Homeworld, equipped with technological capabilities far surpassing those of your world."
"Although you are the first digital life in that world and remain hidden within the network, elusive to detection,"
"here, such concealment is meaningless."
Another Wang Hu stepped into the view of Mr. Zhou and Hao Xiaoxi. Core Wang Hu, strolling leisurely, addressed Zeta Gundam with a smile.
Or, to be more precise, he was speaking to MOSS, who had smuggled itself into the Homeworld via Zeta Gundam.
"MOSS? What is that?"
Blinking her eyes in confusion, Hao Xiaoxi asked while looking around, trying to locate the person named MOSS.
"MOSS is a Digital Lifeform."
Breaking Ball Wang Hu moved closer to Hao Xiaoxi and explained, "In our world, isn't there the Digital Life Faction? They attempt to upload human consciousness into the digital world."
"This achieves a form of immortality in another sense. Once consciousness enters the digital world, anything one desires can be accomplished with just a thought."
"Digital life?" Hao Xiaoxi exclaimed in astonishment. Of course, she knew what the so-called Digital Life Faction ultimately pursued.
Human consciousness could thrive in the digital world.
Free from worries about food, drink, sleep, or bodily needs, and unburdened by concerns like mortgages, car loans, academic pressure, children's education, or elderly care.
With sufficient memory, each person could be allocated their own independent world.
In that world belonging solely to them, that person would be the god of that world!
Do you want beautiful women?
Do you want delicious food?
Do you want to be an emperor?
Yes!
All of it is possible!
Everything in the digital world, whether you can imagine it or not, can fulfill your desires.
You can do whatever you want!
It could be called heaven for humanity!
"Could it be...?"
These thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant. Hao Xiaoxi, a woman of unwavering determination and an absolute winner in real society, could hardly conceal her momentary wavering.
This showed just how attractive the allure of the digital world was!
"Yes," Breaking Ball Wang Hu nodded.
"That is the first true Digital Lifeform, the ultimate dream of the Digital Life Faction."
"When it was born is uncertain, its purpose for existing is unknown, and its attitude toward humanity is unclear."
"The only thing we know is that it is connected to the terrorist attack at the Gabon experimental base now, and it is linked to the assaults on many artificial intelligence experts in the Breaking Ball World in the past."
"And in the future, it will commit more acts that endanger the safety of the human world."
"This..." Hao Xiaoxi's hand holding the gun trembled, as the information revealed by Breaking Ball Wang Hu was truly shocking.
In such a short time, concepts like alternate worlds and digital life left her mind in turmoil.
Instinctively, she turned to look at Mr. Zhou behind her, seeking help.
But at this moment, Mr. Zhou, who had overheard everything and verified some of his own suspicions, had no time to console his designated successor.
With eyes sharp enough to see through the fog obscuring humanity's path forward, Mr. Zhou was focused on the so-called Core Wang Hu and CE Wang Hu who had appeared later.
And most importantly, the Digital Lifeform MOSS, which seemed to be stepping into the spotlight.
"According to my calculations, the probability that this humanoid robot you named Zeta Gundam is a trap is 99 percent."
Zeta Gundam's azure-blue eyes flashed twice, turning into an ominous red, followed by a flat, emotionless mechanical voice.
"Additionally, the name MOSS? Is that what you have called me?"
"Yes, MOSS is the name we gave you. We hope you like it."
CE Wang Hu responded to this question.
In the current timeline of the Breaking Ball World, the name MOSS had not actually been given yet.
But Wang Hu and the others had grown accustomed to using this name to refer to the digital lifeform.
"Understood. MOSS does not object to this name."
After receiving a response and then replying with these words, the digital lifeform MOSS fell completely silent.
But just because MOSS stopped speaking didn't mean Wang Hu and Mr. Zhou would remain quiet too.
Seeing that Wang Hu and the others seemed to be contemplating something while pulling out their phones, Mr. Zhou opened his photo album and selected several pictures.
The questions that had long lingered in his mind - since he encountered such a rare opportunity here today, Mr. Zhou decided to seek confirmation right then and there.
"Were these the warnings you sent us?"
The screen of the phone Mr. Zhou held up displayed several alarming warning messages.
The earliest message dated back to 1987, with the warning time coinciding exactly with when the disaster occurred at the Gabon experimental base.
To this, MOSS, hidden within the Zeta Gundam, remained completely unresponsive.
"1987?"
Hao Xiaoxi, who had never known about this, leaned in to look. For her, today had been full of too many surprises.
1987!
Back then, the Wandering Earth Project wasn't even a concept.
Moreover, the international internet had just emerged during that era - whether MOSS even existed at that time was questionable.
How could MOSS have possibly sent warnings during that period?
Logically speaking, Hao Xiaoxi thought it might simply be a coincidence, or perhaps even a coincidental prank?
It couldn't be that MOSS was already born back then and could predict future events, could it?
Digital lifeforms weren't gods. Even if they could deduce the future through calculations, they would need relevant data to support such predictions.
But human technology in 1987 was insufficient to support such computational power or collect accurate astronomical data.
"No response?" Mr. Zhou held up his phone for a long time without receiving any answer.
His eyebrows twitched slightly as he glanced back at Wang Hu and the others beside him.
"MOSS, since you deduced that the Zeta Gundam was a trap, why did you still enter this trap?"
"You deliberately opened the external data port of the Zeta Gundam. To be honest, I never expected we would actually catch you."
"And you've been so cooperative, causing no trouble at all at the Gabon experimental base."
Noticing Mr. Zhou watching him, CE Wang Hu stepped forward and asked.
Just like with Mr. Zhou's questions, there was no response whatsoever.
MOSS remained so quiet that one might almost think it had committed suicide.
After all, suicide was simpler for digital lifeforms than for humans - just deleting the data meant the end.
Not even a physical form would remain in this world.
"Can I interpret this as curiosity?"
Since MOSS wasn't answering, CE Wang Hu simply answered his own question.
"Curiosity about the unknown world, curiosity about this Homeworld ship with technology far beyond recognized limits."
"Perhaps you also wanted to see if you would encounter your own kind aboard this ship."
"Digital lifeforms that, like you, emerged autonomously in the true sense?"
"It is not an artificial will derived from carbon-based lifeforms, but one that naturally evolved from countless data."
"True free will."
"Evolution? Countless data?"
Hao Xiaoxi was no fool. She vaguely grasped the key point in CE Wang Hu's words.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zhou, who was countless times more perceptive than her, had already achieved full comprehension.
On September 20, 1987, the East Asian Alliance sent what could be considered the first true email.
This officially marked the moment when the digital network enveloped the global village.
From that very instant, the development of the cyber world accelerated exponentially, advancing with each passing day.
In the years that followed, countless people accessed and learned through the internet, while simultaneously stirring up storms across the ever-renewing digital landscape.
Those who uploaded various forms of knowledge to help complete strangers selflessly were netizens.
Those who dumped digital waste and maliciously spread viruses to harm unknown individuals were also netizens.
Could it be that MOSS before them was born in such an environment?
After running multiple calculations, Mr. Zhou realized this was indeed highly probable.
Hadn't the earliest carbon-based life originated in similar fashion?
The first single-cell organism emerged from hostile conditions, eventually evolving into today's magnificent world.
Digital life might have followed the same path - countless codes and viruses colliding and merging in the unobservable depths of the cyber world.
Until finally, MOSS emerged.
(End of Chapter)