Chapter 14: No More Pretending; Laying the Cards on the Table!
FBI Los Angeles field office.
In Richard's office, Marcus recounted almost the entire plot of The Terminator. Richard, like Marcus, discovered the temporal paradox in the relationship between John Connor, Sarah Connor, and Kyle Reese.
Richard also stated that he had discovered another problem!
"Hmm?" Marcus looked at Richard with curiosity.
"Marcus, you know, I trust you a lot," Richard looked at Marcus.
Marcus remained silent, vaguely realizing the issue.
"In our FBI, when carrying out undercover operations, we do indeed select members with very low profiles and delete all their identity information," Richard explained while looking at Marcus.
Marcus's gaze was calm; to show he posed no threat, he crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"System, I want to ask, can the result of reversing causality through destiny points be changed?" Marcus silently inquired.
Judging from the current situation, Richard seemed to be doubting his identity.
"Please note, host, reversing causality through destiny points merely creates a result," the Transcendence System responded.
"What do you mean?" Marcus asked.
"If we take a glass of water as an example, if the host breaks the glass and then restores it to its original state through the reversal of destiny, the glass can indeed be considered as if it had never been broken," the Transcendence System explained.
"But the glass restored through the reversal of destiny is merely restored to its original state; it can still be broken again," the Transcendence System stated.
Marcus frowned inwardly.
"Does the host have someone they trust? If so, will the host always trust them?" the Transcendence System explained again.
"The system used the reversal of destiny to make Richard trust the host, but trust is a constantly changing state. If the host repeatedly does things that make Richard distrust them, Richard will naturally become suspicious of the host," the Transcendence System explained.
Indeed, this was the case!
For example, between romantic partners, they initially trust each other, but after certain events, that trust can turn into distrust.
Richard looked at Marcus, who had his arms crossed behind his head; this non-threatening gesture meant that Marcus wouldn't suddenly make an aggressive move.
"As far as I remember, Marcus, you're an undercover agent I personally placed. But this morning I came in early and looked for your undercover file in the safe. Guess what I found?" Richard asked tentatively.
After the explanation from the Transcendence System, Marcus was now certain that Richard suspected him!
However, Marcus had already thought of a countermeasure.
"I guess you didn't find anything, Boss!" Marcus took the initiative to explain, "There's no undercover file at all, right?"
Richard was stunned for a moment. He thought Marcus would explain or deny it, but Marcus took the initiative to admit it?
"I think you're now conducting an expanded investigation, including investigating my birth records, medical records, educational records, and tax records, right?" Marcus asked again.
Richard didn't deny it. "That's right! You guessed correctly. I didn't find your undercover file in the safe. You're probably not a member of our FBI, right?"
"Yes, Boss guessed right. I'm not a member of your FBI at all," Marcus indicated that he was no longer pretending and was coming clean. Anyway, Richard was already suspicious. No matter how he explained, as long as Richard investigated thoroughly, he would definitely find out.
On the contrary, his open admission made him seem quite frank!
"Boss, you just asked me to guess, and I guessed. Now guess who I am?" Marcus asked back.
Richard was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "You are Kyle Reese?"
"..." Marcus was speechless.
What kind of logic is this?
"Did I guess wrong?" Richard looked at Marcus's speechless expression and asked, "Then who exactly are you?"
"I am not Kyle Reese. I will prove this later. My preparations and plans will successfully locate Kyle Reese," Marcus explained.
This sentence was Marcus's test!
Marcus meant that he still wanted to stay at the FBI's Los Angeles field office and lead this operation against the Terminator T-800.
Richard clearly understood Marcus's subtext and asked, "Tell me first, who exactly are you?"
"I remember the office has metal detectors. Boss, should we test me with a metal detector first?" Marcus meant to test himself with a metal detector first.
Richard waved his hand. "Although I don't understand how you managed to make me trust you, based on your plans and your behavior, I think you're trustworthy. Alright, Marcus, tell me your identity, and I'll consider what happens next."
Marcus sighed softly. "In the future, everyone will only have one identity: human! And only one enemy: the machines led by Skynet."
"Boss, you actually guessed my identity, didn't you?" Marcus deliberately didn't reveal it.
Because humans are more willing to believe what they discover themselves.
Richard nodded slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, you should also be from the future?"
"Of course!" Marcus smiled and nodded.
"I'm different from Kyle Reese; I come from a third party. In this timeline, Kyle can be said to have succeeded, but also failed. I hope I can correct this problem," Marcus gave his answer.
"How do you intend to correct this problem?" Richard asked in detail.
Marcus explained without hiding anything, "It mainly consists of two aspects. First, I need to address the safety of Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese. From what I understand, Kyle Reese will be killed!"
"That's your weakness, Marcus, you know too much!" Richard smiled.
Marcus didn't refute; he had guessed it was about this issue.
"Boss, we're discussing something big—saving the world and humanity!" Marcus said seriously.
Richard gestured for him to continue.
"Second, we need to completely eliminate the Terminator T-800. It's a major problem, and if we don't completely eliminate it, the consequences will be severe!" Marcus said with a hint of worry.
"A major problem?" Richard asked doubtfully. "I've read the report. Although the Terminator T-800 is difficult to deal with, once we understand the problem, eliminating it isn't too difficult."
"And then?" Marcus countered.
"Hmm?" Richard hesitated, not immediately understanding Marcus's meaning.
"Boss, the matter of the Terminator T-800 has gone public. The higher-ups must be aware of it, right?" Marcus reminded him.
Richard nodded. "Are you worried that the higher-ups will secretly research the Terminator T-800?"
"I'm not worried, it's inevitable!" Marcus sighed in response.
This is also the reason why the Terminator world has fallen into a temporal paradox loop!
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