The door is just ahead.

Robert trembled his fingers and stamped it on the door.

This time, without the prompting of the AI robot "Stethy" around him, he consciously triggered the identity authentication system on the door.

In the next second, the surface of the door that came into contact with the finger rippled with a rippled light, waiting for the reaction of the people in the room, and it didn't take long for the door to open with a "click".

“……”

Robert took a breath and looked back again, only to see that "Stey" was waving at him slightly, a scripted smile on his face, and he was walking backwards and away.

However, although it was such a mechanical smile, in the eyes of Robert, who had been with her for several days and had been accompanied by her all the way, this "social service application AI" seemed a little familiar and close, and at this time he was about to part, and he couldn't help but feel a shallow loneliness in his heart, and couldn't help but ask her:

“…… Ms. Stysey, will we meet again in the future? How do I get to you? ”

The robot's eyelids opened just right, and his smile added a bit of sincerity.

"Don't look for me...... Standard Citizen Mr. Robert.

"As long as you go out into the street, or wake up a personal terminal, then everywhere and everywhere is 'me' and 'my' companions. The information and data about the service to you in the past few days have been recorded in the highest intelligence...... If you want to see me again, inject the relevant data. ”

As he spoke, "Stethy" had retreated to the end of the corridor, and the next moment, the elevator between the corridors of the "Hive Five" had arrived, the metal door opened automatically, and the robot walked into the elevator door, and at the last moment before falling, he bent slightly to Robert.

“…… Have a nice home. ”

The mouth shape of the last sentence was just intercepted by the gently closed elevator door, and Robert's mood was a little empty, but the next moment, thinking of his family, his expression perked up again.

Gently push open the hidden door in front of you and step into the room.

The gray-haired old woman, the middle-aged man with glasses, the woman next to him, and the little girl sitting next to the two of them all showed surprised expressions the moment they saw Robert.

"Bang-"

The little girl fired the salute, and gold, silver, and other salutes of various colors suddenly erupted from the barrel and fell in a flutter.

"Grandpa—welcome home!"

The little girl shouted crisply. Robert smiled and nodded, half-crouched down, and was about to reach out to hug her, but when his hand was in the air, it suddenly stopped, and he looked at the salute flowers that had penetrated his arms and landed on the floor unconsciously, showing a shocked expression.

"—it's a hologram!"

The little girl giggled and jumped into Robert's arms.

Holding her, Robert picked her up with some tears and laughter, and looked at the old woman leaning towards him with teary eyes, and the middle-aged man with glasses and a little shy.

"Father...... I'm so glad you're back. ”

……

"At the beginning of the year, when we heard the news about Japan turning into red clay, we were very worried about my father. But then came the news from the Ministry of Defense that although you did not die on that strange archipelago, Father, you were arrested and convicted of treason...... Our lives and work have been affected to a certain extent. ”

Robert sat on the moderately soft sofa and listened quietly to the man's story, the latter's slightly wry smile on his face made his heart pound, but he didn't say a word, kept quiet, and let his son continue.

"But...... Neither I, nor my mother, believed that you would betray your country or collude with that superpowered person who was completely crazy in front of the whole world - but we can guess why...... The Folsom family has been hit hard by the defeat and death of their direct heir in Japan, and in order to continue in the political arena, they have pushed you out as a scapegoat......

"After learning about these circumstances, my mother and I appealed several times and asked to meet you, but each time we were stopped and threatened with death by some mysterious people along the way......

"Luckily, I'm just a theoretical physicist, and I didn't think I had much influence, so I didn't let those threats happen in the end, but even so, the stocks that our family invested in, and liquid assets such as bonds, became greatly reduced, and the family assets were diluted a lot......

"Of course, it is more likely that they want to wait a while before they do it - but the 'one-day war' has come, Navaly Evans has destroyed all the administrative systems of the past, those high-ranking officials and politicians have become history, and the danger against us has naturally been eliminated.

“…… So perhaps the vast majority of the smart people and plutocrats of the 'New American' hate Navallie Evans' rule, but I am grateful to him. ”

The man smiled a little happily.

Robert was still silent, but his left hand, which had been placed on the sofa, was propped up on his chin, silently rubbing his freshly shaved stubble.

The man noticed his slight movement and continued downward:

“…… What happened later, whether on the old Internet or in the virtual world of the 'forum' – Navalli enacted the 'Act Zero' – also known as the 'Million Dollar Lottery Act' or the 'Blood Tax Act', which is simply the most bizarre and incomprehensible bill in human history in terms of content and form......

“…… But what is very interesting is that because of the previous implication, our family's property situation has been hit hard, and most of the fixed assets originally belonged to the house in the Callorama district, and the original site of the house was requisitioned as this 'hive type five' apartment, so that our property level was just below the 'first million' line, so we avoided the first month, and the second month, I did not hesitate to donate the credit points in my family's current account - at least 80% of the country's families have made the same choice as meAnyway, the 'New America' adult standard citizen will have a base income of 10,000 credits every month...... And the money I donated was not for nothing, the Central Intelligence Brain will give special research funds for the amount I donate and the work I do - of course, this money can only be used for scientific research, and there is no way to buy any luxury goods or free market circulation of human services.

“…… After all, AI is 10,000 times more powerful than all previous audit firms and government departments combined. ”

The man shrugged his shoulders and said with a relaxed expression.

"Ten thousand times? Isn't that going to the heart of the earth? ”

Robert's brow furrowed slightly, and he made a joke.

The man couldn't help but grin.

"Father, you still like to joke so much......"

Robert also smiled, and the atmosphere was relaxed, but in the midst of this relaxation, he suddenly looked at the man with a serious expression.

"Clark, what do you think of America right now?"

“…… What do you think? ”

The man hesitated for a moment, and after a moment, in deep thought, he replied slowly:

"The 'new America' now, I think, is a country far greater than any other time in history in the United States – even though it is now closed to immigration, almost closed to the outside world, and foreign economic and social exchanges are stopped online, triggering a global financial tsunami that has led to the bankruptcy of many countries...... However, the interior of this society has never been so focused on progress and science, and the 'forum' and the increasingly virtual world that has spawned it have given the vast majority of people a space to breathe and be indifferent, and people in reality are no longer stuck in the ups and downs of stocks, the heat and cold of parties, and the connection with others...... There's something for everyone, and no one can stay in the center of the stage...... Maybe that doesn't apply to Navalli, but he never seemed to have the intention of doing so.

“…… Although the result of the L-PDE model borders on tyranny, I think it is still a manifestation of freedom. People still have a choice – either they choose to give up their wealth or they choose to put their lives at risk. This has already been said. ”

The man named Clark said cautiously.

After a long time, Robert nodded and shook his head again.

"I don't quite understand how this era works...... However, now that it has become an established reality, I will still choose to accept it. ”

He muttered, turning his head and looking out the window into the distance.

Clarke's face finally showed a look of relief.

But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, Robert's voice tensed him up again.

"Clark...... Over there...... What are you doing?

"—Why do so many people gather there, when it looks so dark?"

Clark followed Robert's gaze and it didn't take long for him to laugh easily.

"Oh, don't worry, father - that's the Chinese embassy in the United States, those people should be rich Chinese people with American green cards or status."

"Why are they there...... Oh, I see. ”

Looking at Robert, who suddenly showed a look of relief on his face, Clark helped him add.

"That's right, that's what you think.

“…… Remember what I said about 'choice'? I think the rich people just don't want to give up their wealth and don't want to be put at risk because of it, so they want to make a third option - that is, to leave the United States through the embassy and return to the land where they once left it. ”

(End of chapter)