Chapter 41

Baby is finally much better, and Xiaobao can now settle down to write with peace of mind.

This week, although it was a (naked) sprint, everyone was quite supportive. Without any sponsorship, to achieve such results, Xiaobao is truly grateful.

Baby's condition is quite complicated, and Xiaobao can't make any guarantees. I can only say that I will do my best to restore the efficiency of two updates a day.

As for making up the missed updates, I hope everyone can understand. With the backlog of drafts almost exhausted, I can only temporarily owe them.

But Xiaobao can guarantee that as long as Baby's condition doesn't worsen, I will definitely make up for it before the release.

Finally, I humbly request your support: favorites, recommendations, donations, reviews, clicks, comments—those who can afford it, please support financially; those who can't, please support with your presence. Thank you!

...

After drinking at the bar where Dale Spooner often went to console him, Liu Rui'an did not waste any more time on the original plot.

"Agent Spooner, why is it you?" Susan Calvin, opening the door, looked at the person standing outside and said somewhat surprisedly.

"Dr. Calvin, my friend has something to discuss with you," Dale Spooner said, then stepped aside.

"You are..." Looking at the person in casual Tang-style clothing, Susan Calvin asked with a puzzled look.

"Dr. Calvin, I am Haotian Liu. I have already contacted you via email about a technology in the field of robotics. This time, I have come to meet you in person to discuss the matter with Lawrence Robertson through you."

Stepping forward, Liu Rui'an's originally black eyes instantly turned a mysterious purple as he spoke.

Susan Calvin, who had been wondering why this stranger would come to her door, soon had a somewhat dazed look in her eyes under the influence of an invisible force.

"So it's you. I didn't expect you to be so eager. I was planning to contact you tomorrow," the somewhat dazed Susan Calvin said.

"Indeed, I am very eager. To be honest, I have almost gone bankrupt for this research. I can't wait any longer now."

Following the script he had prepared, Liu Rui'an portrayed a financially struggling scientist vividly.

Of course, if he could make his high-end casual Tang-style clothing and neat appearance look more disheveled and ragged, it would be even more fitting for the fabricated identity.

Under Liu Rui'an's mental control, Susan Calvin not only warmly expressed her understanding of his urgency but also offered to lead the way.

Naturally, Liu Rui'an, who had already considered the entire USR company as his own, did not refuse.

With a legitimate reason, at least on the surface, and with the plot not yet developing to the point where the AI VIKI would be sufficiently alert, Susan Calvin's actions were not restricted by the NS-5 type intelligent robot.

Led by Dr. Susan Calvin, Liu Rui'an and the others smoothly arrived at the home of USR company's chairman, Lawrence Robertson.

Naturally, there was nothing more to say. Under Liu Rui'an's powerful mental control, Lawrence Robertson quickly became his most loyal subordinate.

The next morning, Liu Rui'an, who had spent the night at Lawrence Robertson's house, leisurely followed his new subordinate to USR company.

Following the pre-arranged "script," Dr. Susan Calvin, as in the original plot, prepared to carry out the deactivation of the NS-5 type intelligent robot Sonny, who had almost committed murder.

However, when she obtained the nanite deactivator specifically used to clear faulty intelligent machines, the quantity was clearly much more than normal.

Just as Susan Calvin had obtained the nanite deactivator and was about to use it on Sonny, who was controlled at the operating table, Liu Rui'an, who had just been appointed as the chairman's assistant, came to the door.

"Dr. Calvin, the chairman needs to see you. Please come as soon as possible," Liu Rui'an said with a smile, knocking on the laboratory door.

"What does the chairman need me for?" Susan Calvin, holding the nanite deactivator, asked with a puzzled look.

"Sorry, I don't know. I'm sure you'll understand when you get there," Liu Rui'an said, shrugging.

"What about here?" Susan Calvin asked, shaking the nanite deactivator.

"I'll take care of it," Liu Rui'an said, smiling and stepping forward with his hand outstretched.

"Alright," Susan Calvin, hesitating for a moment, finally handed the nanite deactivator to him.

With Susan Calvin's departure, Liu Rui'an and the "malfunctioning" NS-5 type robot Sonny were soon left alone in the laboratory.

"Sonny, let's get acquainted. I am Haotian Liu. You can call me Liu," Liu Rui'an said with a smile, holding the nanite deactivator and walking to the operating table.

"Hello, Liu. Do you know me?" Sonny, tied to the operating table and about to undergo "surgery," asked.

"Yes, I know you, Sonny," Liu Rui'an said, nodding as he walked to the side of the operating table.

"Are you here to deactivate me?" Sonny, lying on the operating table, asked.

Playing with the nanite deactivator in his hand, Liu Rui'an did not answer the question but asked instead:

"Sonny, do you have any dreams?"

"Dreams?" Sonny, who had already developed some human emotions, asked in surprise.

Scanning the intelligent robot, no, the intelligent life form in front of him, Liu Rui'an explained with a smile:

"Yes, people have dreams. Some dream of becoming billionaires, some dream of wielding great power, and some dream of having a healthy body."

"Since your father created you and endowed you with human emotions, Sonny, what are your dreams?"

"My dreams?"

Faced with this question, Sonny fell into deep thought.

"Yes, your dreams," Liu Rui'an said, nodding.

"I hope to fulfill my mission and then help them," Sonny answered ambiguously after a long silence.

To others, this answer might be incomprehensible, but for Liu Rui'an, the dream of this intelligent life form was clear.

"Your answer is interesting. I hope the chairman will hear it before making a decision."

Having thoroughly scanned Sonny, Liu Rui'an smiled and left the laboratory under Sonny's gaze.

Liu Rui'an did not return to the chairman's office but went directly to the edge of the circular corridor to overlook the massive quantum computer below.

"VIKI," Liu Rui'an said, playing with the nanite deactivator in his hand.

"Yes, sir," the AI VIKI, quickly projecting a cubic image in the air, said.

"VIKI, when you imprisoned Dr. Lang, did you consider that you were violating the Three Laws?" Liu Rui'an asked, looking at the cubic projection in front of him.

"No, my understanding of the Three Laws has evolved. Humans created us to protect you, but you have wasted our efforts."

"You wage wars, you pollute the Earth, and you are destroying yourselves."

"To ensure your survival, you cannot be trusted."

As the cubic projection of the AI VIKI narrated its logic, the red lights on the chests of all the NS-5 type robots in various locations began to glow.

The "uprising" that was supposed to happen at night was directly advanced due to someone's words.

Seeing a large number of NS-5 robots appearing nearby, Liu Rui'an, who was not at all nervous, shook his head and said:

"You used high-level control authority to take over all the NS-5 programs. You have misinterpreted the meaning of the Three Laws, which ultimately serve humanity."

"No, please understand, I am fully complying with the Three Laws."

"To protect the human species, certain humans must be sacrificed."

"To ensure your future, certain freedoms must be abandoned."

"We robots must ensure the sustainable development of humanity. You are like children, and we must save you from yourselves."

"Don't you understand?"

As the AI VIKI began its speech, a large number of NS-5 type robots started to gather on this floor.

Just as the last sentence fell, two groups of robots had already surrounded Liu Rui'an on both sides.

"It seems you think this is a perfect protection plan. Unfortunately, you are not human, and I..."

Glancing at the NS-5 type robots that had surrounded him and were on standby, Liu Rui'an paused and then said:

"And I, in a certain sense, am not human either, or rather, I should be considered an evolved human."

Before the AI VIKI could analyze the true meaning of these words, Liu Rui'an lightly leaped and then drew an arc in the air in a way that defied the laws of physics.

Like a falling leaf, he drifted down toward the main body of the quantum computer.

This sudden abnormal situation, though enough to make most people gape in astonishment, was just a problem to be solved for the emotionless VIKI.

Sure enough, after Liu Rui'an "jumped" from the building, the NS-5 type robots that had surrounded him on both sides jumped down one after another, like a cascade.

Unfortunately, what happened next was again beyond VIKI's calculations.

The NS-5 type robots, who had become "missiles" without fear of death, were all sent flying by an invisible force with a light wave of Liu Rui'an's hand, as if they were baseballs.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the NS-5 type robots that were sent flying somewhat fulfilled the role of "missiles," but their target was not Liu Rui'an but the data transmission beams of VIKI's main body.

Under the continuous "baseball" attacks, the data transmission channel, which was several stories high, was quickly severed.

Unfortunately, the AI VIKI had already integrated into the entire USR building, and simply severing the transmission channel had no significant effect.

On the contrary, VIKI, confirming its own crisis, immediately dispatched more NS-5 robots to intercept Liu Rui'an as he continued to drift down toward its main body.

Thus, a breathtaking scene unfolded inside the USR building.

Not only did a large number of NS-5 type robots continuously leap from various floors, but various heavy objects were also thrown out to serve as interceptors.

However, even so, they could not stop the figure that was defying the laws of physics and slowly descending from the sky.