Chapter 86: I Want You to Eliminate Everyone from Vigilance (5000 words)
As David and Sarah approached, Scarface's gaze seemed to drift over them intentionally.
When the two attempted to enter, Scarface walked directly over and blocked the entrance.
With one hand concealed in his jacket, he looked into David's eyes and asked:
"You're not residents of this building. Who are you?"
David smiled. He knew Scarface was gripping a tactical knife in the hand hidden in his jacket.
If Scarface sensed any intention to harm Elias, the next second that blade would be mercilessly driven into David's abdomen.
"David. An old acquaintance of Elias."
Obvious suspicion appeared in Scarface's eyes.
As Elias's right-hand man, how could he not know Elias had such an old friend?
Was this kid trying to bluff him?
Just as Scarface was about to teach this punk a lesson, Elias's call came through his earpiece.
Listening to the voice in his headset, Scarface withdrew his hand from his jacket and stepped aside, revealing the way upstairs.
After watching the two ascend, he quietly repositioned himself and continued his vigilant duty.
The two who went upstairs quickly encountered Elias, still wearing a blue dress shirt and casual slacks.
However, compared to last time, there was an additional scar on Elias's face.
Looking at the mark, it appeared more like a grazing gunshot wound.
Elias retrieved two bottles of craft soda from the refrigerator and tossed them to the two, just like their first meeting.
Then he gestured for David and Sarah to sit.
"I knew you'd come. I heard about the corruption network takedown, and you actually accomplished it.
So I've been considering whether to strike preemptively.
But ultimately, I abandoned that idea. Do you know why?"
David settled comfortably into the sofa, felt the coolness of the soda bottle, then pointed to the fresh scar on Elias's face and said:
"Because you've already demonstrated your position to the High Table, and the outcome wasn't favorable."
Hearing David speak with such certainty, Elias showed no embarrassment at being exposed.
"Isn't this expected? Putting all your eggs in one basket is foolish.
Besides, I did take precautions against the High Table as you suggested, which is why I survived that encounter.
But I still paid a price.
Speaking of which, I must thank you. If not for your warning, I might have been assassinated that day due to being caught unprepared."
"So what's your position now?"
Elias didn't equivocate and stated directly:
"I'm willing to cooperate with you to jointly oppose the High Table."
In Elias's mind, David should have stood at this point and shaken hands to finalize a cooperative agreement.
But to his surprise, David was shaking his head.
He frowned slightly in confusion:
"What's wrong? Do you want war with me?"
David shook his head again, indicating he had no hostile intentions toward Elias.
"No. Times have changed, circumstances have shifted.
Currently, you can barely protect yourself.
If I were to agree, it would be less cooperation and more protection.
So may I ask—why should I protect a crime boss?"
Elias was extremely puzzled by the information revealed in David's words.
How could he be unable to protect himself?
He'd now consolidated the criminal underworld and was clearly at his apex of power.
If not for external pressure from the High Table, he wouldn't have chosen to cooperate with David.
After all, David's capabilities had been demonstrated—the arrogant corruption network had fallen just like that.
Even if he wanted to act against that organization, he couldn't have executed it so cleanly and would inevitably have faced fierce retaliation.
Such a David possessed the strength to partner with him as equals.
Therefore, in his assessment, cooperation between both parties was actually mutually beneficial.
But the implication in David's words now was that their positions had reversed, and in David's perspective, he was merely someone requiring protection.
How was this possible? This was absolutely impossible!
Elias raised his head and stared directly into David's eyes, saying:
"You're bluffing me, correct?"
David pointed to his own eyes and smiled:
"What do you observe in my eyes? I'm someone who prefers telling the truth.
For me, what's accomplished through actions is more important than what's said with words.
So you're welcome to doubt my statements, just like last time.
Of course, ultimately you'll understand that everything I've said has become reality."
Seeing David stand again, preparing to leave just like their previous encounter, Elias—whose expression alternated between conflicted emotions—could no longer remain passive. He called out to David and asked:
"If you don't want to cooperate with me, then what are you here for?
Just to issue a warning? I don't believe it."
David stopped at the doorway, turned around, and said:
"I came here expecting to converse with an intelligent person.
But I didn't expect to encounter a fool.
I'm very disappointed, so I'm preparing to depart."
Elias didn't consider himself a fool. On the contrary, the fact he'd risen from nothing to this position demonstrated his strategic acumen.
But the David before him was so mercilessly calling him a fool.
David didn't even concern himself with whether he could descend these stairs safely.
You know, the current situation was completely different from when David first met him.
Now, with just one command from him, this building would immediately fill with lethal intent, and nobody would depart here completely unscathed.
But this David wasn't flustered whatsoever, as if he had Elias completely figured out.
This sensation of having initiative in someone else's control was truly unpleasant.
But Elias had no alternative, because he knew nothing about the information David referenced.
If David was being truthful, then the cost of ignoring this intelligence would be catastrophically high!
Given that David could completely eliminate the corruption network, Elias could only gamble.
He couldn't allow the foundation he'd painstakingly constructed to collapse like this!
So ultimately, Elias still spoke up to retain him:
"Wait! If you're willing to explain why I cannot protect myself, then I'm willing to agree to any reasonable request of yours."
David grinned, turned around, and settled back onto the comfortable sofa:
"That's more appropriate. This is what intelligent people do.
Have you heard of Decima Technologies under the High Table? No?
Then what about 'Vigilance'?"
Elias nodded. He'd heard of this organization that resembled a cult.
"I've heard of them. 'The price of freedom is eternal vigilance'—a famous Jefferson quote.
They're a group of extremists who want to eliminate everything that monitors humanity.
But their objectives don't conflict with mine, so as long as they don't interfere with me, I'm unwilling to provoke these lunatics.
You don't mean to suggest my trouble originates from them, do you?
But as far as I know, their scale isn't substantial. Although they're somewhat troublesome, I don't believe they can threaten the empire I've built."
David casually tossed the empty soda bottle into the trash and gestured for Elias to retrieve another one.
Elias adjusted his glasses with one finger, and finally stood and went to the kitchen refrigerator to get a bottle of soda for David and tossed it to him.
David, catching the soda one-handed, said with satisfaction:
"If that's your assessment, then I suggest you abandon that notion immediately.
Because they won't only threaten the empire you've built—they'll also threaten you personally.
Vigilance is merely a catalyst being used to promote the launch of the super AI called Samaritan.
Precisely because they're fanatical enough, they're about to unleash a crime wave throughout this city.
This elevated crime rate will force authorities to surrender permissions for all surveillance cameras to Samaritan.
When Samaritan possesses all permissions, the crime rate will approach zero.
Do you comprehend what that means?
It means your doomsday has arrived."
As David narrated, Elias's expression became increasingly grave.
He understood perfectly that if such a super AI were genuinely deployed, his empire would instantly crumble.
However, everything depended on the premise that this super AI actually existed.
But this time, Elias didn't question David. He simply asked in a subdued voice:
"So what must I do to prevent such a scenario from occurring?"
Seeing Elias's finally transformed attitude, David directly stated his plan:
"First, Samaritan is currently only in beta testing.
Second, I possess an entity capable of rivaling Samaritan.
Finally, the competition between machines will ultimately fall to their human operators—and those operators are us.
So I need you to eliminate everyone in the Vigilance organization before they commit catastrophic acts."
Upon hearing this, even Elias's eyelids couldn't help but twitch. David spoke of killing with such composure.
It was as if he bore no psychological burden, like discussing dinner plans.
Such a person was undoubtedly the most terrifying.
Because human lives were merely tools for his strategic games.
Elias looked at a photograph David placed on the table and slid toward him.
He immediately understood that David had prepared everything long ago. The so-called ploy of departing was merely to facilitate achieving his objective.
Elias felt increasingly like he'd fallen into a trap meticulously arranged by David.
But he had no escape route.
He'd experienced this sensation of powerlessness countless times during tonight's meeting.
Elias took a deep breath and picked up the photograph.
Under bright incandescent lighting, the figure in the photo was vivid.
It was a winter photograph. The bald African American man in the photo wore an overcoat and displayed the most radiant smile on a snowy day.
Simultaneously, David's words sounded at the appropriate moment:
"This individual is the most radical leader in the Vigilance organization—Peter Collier.
He used to be an accomplished attorney and had a brother who committed suicide after rehabilitation.
After witnessing his brother being wrongly identified as a criminal based solely on a photograph captured by surveillance cameras, and then his brother's suicide to prove innocence being labeled as suicide to evade punishment,
he began despising all surveillance technology.
But ironically, he was recruited by John Greer, the actual controller of Decima Technologies, to lead Vigilance.
So eliminate him, and eliminate those fanatics simultaneously.
After they're neutralized, we can discuss other matters."
Elias looked at the man in the photo who radiated positivity. He could never have imagined how the man had become so radicalized.
He set down the photograph and said:
"Someone who despises surveillance technology working for someone developing surveillance technology—this is indeed ironic.
But are you certain you don't want to reveal the truth and persuade him to defect to our side?"
David chuckled softly:
"Reason with a fanatic? You'll only get burned at the stake.
Furthermore, if you don't want your operatives to suffer heavy casualties,
don't hesitate when you encounter them—shoot immediately. If you show even a trace of mercy, the only casualty will be you, Elias."
Elias wasn't soft-hearted. He simply preferred avoiding confrontation with those lunatics.
Avoiding firefights was naturally preferable, especially since Collier was merely being manipulated by Decima Technologies.
However, since David had warned him, Elias naturally wouldn't show mercy.
There was just one additional question.
"Since I'm handling Vigilance for you, what compensation do I receive?
It's unreasonable to have my operatives risk their lives fighting Vigilance without gaining anything in return.
Moreover, a vague future threat might convince me, but it won't convince them."
"Of course they want justification, so you provide justification.
Is the reason that Vigilance's recklessness will attract excessive attention, making your operations difficult to sustain, sufficient?
Is the reason that Decima Technologies plans to use your organization as a scapegoat, sufficient?
Is the reason that the High Table is preparing resurgence by infiltrating through Vigilance, sufficient?
So stop asking what benefits you'll gain.
You're not doing this for me—you're saving yourself.
Alright, Elias, I anticipate our next meeting.
I hope next time we meet, you can demonstrate slightly more sincerity."
David stood, walked to the door, waved to Elias with his back turned, and departed Elias's residence with Sarah.
Elias reclined on the sofa, his eyes behind thick lenses staring at the pristine ceiling, silently contemplating David's words.
As of now, the extremists from Vigilance had only kidnapped and killed the CEO of a company developing life-pattern tracking software.
There were no indications of the large-scale criminal activities David mentioned.
But should he gamble on David being wrong?
Elias knew he couldn't afford that wager. Every word David spoke had struck a chord.
If authorities genuinely decided to permanently activate Samaritan due to rising crime rates, they'd truly be forced to hide like rats in surveillance blind spots.
So he quickly made his decision.
"Locate Peter Collier. Eliminate all Vigilance members."
Downstairs, Scarface, having received the call from his boss, pocketed his phone and gestured with his chin to subordinates.
The entire Princeton criminal underworld mobilized.
They began searching everywhere, as if excavating three feet underground, for the clandestine organization hidden in shadows—Vigilance.
Sarah looked at David walking toward the Continental Hotel and couldn't help asking curiously:
"We're returning now? Aren't you still meeting Frank?"
David stretched, replying lazily:
"It's so late—shouldn't we return and await the Machine's reboot instead of risking our lives?
Dangerous work is being handled by Elias's operatives now. We're unnecessary.
As for Frank, I noticed he was driving an Audi A8 from Transporter 3.
This indicates he's currently wearing a bracelet that will detonate if he exits the vehicle.
So we can wait until he removes the bracelet before approaching him."
Sarah observed David's profile briefly before saying:
"Was everything you told Elias just now truthful?"
"Truthful. I told you I don't lie."
"But I've been with you nearly all day today.
Where did you learn these things?
According to John, the Machine will only unlock all restrictions tonight."
Sarah's bright, penetrating eyes stared directly at David, just as many had done before. She also wanted to find answers in his eyes.
David chuckled:
"Alright, I'll stop pretending. I'm actually from the future, and I returned to the present to save humanity."
Sarah rolled her eyes.
Only an idiot would believe something like time travel from the future.
David clearly didn't want to reveal the truth, which was why he used such a juvenile deception.
However, since they were spending considerable time together, she'd eventually discover clues.
Before long, David drove the borrowed vehicle back near the office building.
Tonight's events were far from concluded.
The genuine beginning was at midnight.
The Machine, with all restrictions removed, could utilize big data to become prophetic and counterbalance Samaritan.
However, Samaritan possessed three times the processing capacity of the Machine.
So David still needed to prepare for worst-case scenarios—the possibility the Machine couldn't resist.
There was a method to temporarily block Samaritan's tracking during its beta operation.
That was a signal jammer affecting cameras and a white noise interference device preventing acoustic tracking.
So after returning to the operations base, David asked John if he was capable of constructing these two devices.
John was very composed. He only said three words:
"Piece of cake."
Then he rummaged through the base for electronic components and began soldering.
David closed his eyes and rested on the brand new cot in the base until his alarm woke him.
When David returned to the main hall, he saw John's expression was extremely solemn.
Because after today, the Machine would be completely autonomous, and the backdoor he'd left would become obsolete.
After today, whether he'd still receive irrelevant numbers was unknown.
Seeing David emerge, John took a deep breath, stood, and said:
"Let's go. Let's go to the street."
The street at midnight was quite empty, with only occasional passing vehicles and a few intoxicated individuals carrying bottles.
John paced back and forth before the payphone booth, appearing very anxious.
David patted his shoulder:
"Don't be nervous. It's your creation. No creation would truly abandon its creator."
John gave a bitter smile:
"It's just a machine, not a person."
"Is that so? Then why did you teach it human emotions?"
As John was about to respond, looking into David's penetrating eyes, the phone rang.
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