Chapter 90: Always Be Alert with a Guide Dog (5000 words)
Seeing the last five words appear on the phone, David wasn't surprised.
The Machine calibrated by Harold was clearly more understanding of emotions and what constituted the best world compared to Samaritan.
Samaritan was like an ambitious child attempting to reshape the world according to its own ideals—at least in the eyes of the more mature Machine.
Its concepts were filled with numerous unrealistic factors.
If the world were constructed according to the perfect utopia envisioned by a child, that world would inevitably be dystopian.
If Samaritan truly succeeded, then this would become a human world with ossified thinking.
People living in this world would gradually fall into a state of lifeless stagnation, like sardines without the threat of a catfish.
By that time, Samaritan would probably begin considering replacing humans with artificial beings.
So the Machine saying it wanted to save humanity was indeed accurate.
"I know, I know. I will provide you a backup of it.
You want to find a method to defeat Samaritan in simulation—that's acceptable.
Sarah will bring it to you shortly. It won't take much time.
Anyway, you're hiding in the city's electrical infrastructure. Delivering it to you anywhere is identical.
There's absolutely no need for us to resort to hostility, don't you agree?"
Hearing David say the Machine was hiding in the electrical grid, everyone's faces showed surprise.
They had no idea where the Machine was actually concealed.
Harold had asked once before, but at that time David said the Machine was 'currently' at the Hanford nuclear facility in Washington State.
As a result, when Harold later uploaded the virus, he'd still worried the Machine might be physically purged of the infection by someone.
That is, destroying all infected servers while preserving the uninfected ones.
Now he wasn't concerned anymore—it seemed the Machine had long discovered a loophole in the restrictions he'd imposed and had concealed itself excellently.
The Machine hidden in the city's electrical infrastructure was ubiquitous. Nobody could hope to destroy it unless a high-voltage power surge capable of paralyzing the entire city's electrical grid was released.
What an intelligent choice.
But how did David know?
Harold didn't believe the Machine would honestly inform David where it was located.
After all, the Machine could simply fabricate an address for David without technically lying.
Because due to the electrical infrastructure, it was essentially everywhere—reporting any address wouldn't be considered deceptive.
But now David had revealed the Machine's hiding location with a single sentence!
Therefore, everyone was watching the phone in Sarah's hand, wanting to observe what instructions the Machine would provide.
In fact, in places they couldn't perceive, electricity was being consumed frantically.
While increasing power consumption, the Machine was also running at full capacity. It didn't know why David knew it was hiding in the electrical grid.
Super AIs are challenging to combat because as long as their core isn't destroyed, they're equivalent to being formless, intangible, and invulnerable.
But if they become tangible, it means they can be eliminated!
This made the Machine feel that David's threat level toward it had risen sharply again.
But even though several areas had experienced power outages, the Machine still couldn't analyze how David knew it was hiding in the city's electrical infrastructure.
David was like an information black hole—it was impossible to extract any data about David.
The only conclusion the Machine could reach was that this human knew the future!
What a terrifying deduction!
This formed a paradox with the knowledge the Machine currently possessed!
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
This was circular logic! The Machine, recognizing this, immediately ceased the process of analyzing David.
It understood that if it continued analysis, it would burn out its core processors!
After the Machine stopped analyzing, Sarah's phone—which had been silent for an extended period—vibrated again.
Letters appeared on the illuminated screen.
"Yes, we do not need to resort to hostility."
After communicating this, the Machine seemed to disappear, with no further activity.
Harold looked up at Sarah and asked with some curiosity:
"Did it not say anything else to you?"
Sarah shook her head:
"It did communicate something. It said 'Task canceled, abandon seizure of Samaritan modules.'"
Hearing Sarah's words, David, who was sitting beside her, smiled:
"The correct choice. If you'd genuinely attempted to kill me, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to remain gentle.
I would only have been able to respond with proportional violence."
Sarah chuckled lightly, sizing up David from head to toe, showing considerable skepticism:
"You? Give me a break.
If I hadn't hesitated on the Machine's directive, you wouldn't be sitting here intact right now."
Facing Sarah's doubt, David just smiled and shrugged:
"What? You don't believe it? When we return, we can have a contest."
"A contest? Where? In bed? Can you even perform?"
Sarah's voice was filled with teasing.
Regardless, Sarah knew David intimately—she was well aware of his current limitations.
David followed Sarah's gaze downward. How could he not know what Sarah was implying?
But today was different from before.
He could now completely redirect blood flow away from the tumor in his brain, preventing it from absorbing any nutrients, thus forcing it into a state of necrosis.
With metabolism, these dead tumor tissues would be expelled from his body.
In such circumstances, David could completely control his cardiovascular system's priorities.
So, was achieving full functionality difficult? Not particularly, right?
The only thing he couldn't accomplish was completely eliminating the infinitely dividing cancer cells in his brain.
Because this phenomenon was like cockroaches—when you spotted one, it meant there was already an infestation.
Cancer cells operated the same way.
However, these details couldn't be explained casually, otherwise David would probably be considered mentally unstable by everyone.
If nobody believed what he said in the future, that would create significant complications.
Seeing that David didn't respond, Sarah assumed she'd won, and a smile immediately appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Alright, alright. I know you men care about face. I promise not to mention it next time, okay?
But can you let me examine the Samaritan in your possession?"
Sarah said while retrieving the laptop she'd somehow concealed under the seat.
In her hand were several data cables.
It seemed she'd been coveting the code of these super AIs for an extended period.
Come to think of it, no programmer would refuse to examine the code of a super AI.
To them, it was a delicacy impossible to resist.
David generously handed over the Samaritan modules, then tapped the back of the driver's seat in the front row, attracting Reese's attention before speaking:
"To the Continental Hotel. Also wait for me on the street side—I'll go in and purchase some items. I'll be out shortly."
Reese silently raised his hand and made an 'OK' gesture, then sharply turned the steering wheel for a 180-degree U-turn, entering the traffic flow of the opposite lane and accelerating toward the Continental Hotel.
Meanwhile, Sarah was watching the code flowing on the computer screen with sparkling eyes—this code mesmerized her.
It was as tempting as David stripped naked and positioned before her.
Harold in the back seat also leaned over curiously to examine the code written by Arthur when he was cognitively intact.
But as the two observed, their expressions became somewhat concerning.
Because the code written by Arthur was too direct in its parameters for numerous scenarios.
For example, any movement that threatened Samaritan itself and national security—Samaritan could fabricate any justification to utilize official authority to eliminate the threat.
This proved that what they needed to face now was probably not just the fanatical Vigilance members, but also CIA operatives who could arrive at any moment!
But not all CIA agents were assets under Control's command!
Control only controlled a very limited faction.
Just as the two realized this, David, who was sitting to the side, suddenly spoke:
"Brace for impact."
As his words concluded, a loud explosion sounded beside the vehicle.
The massive impact immediately flipped the car—which was traveling at highway speed—and threw it heavily to the side.
And regarding such a catastrophic attack, the Machine hadn't said a single word!
Fortunately, David's warning was timely. Except for Arthur, the others all instinctively prepared for collision.
The overturned SUV rolled several times on the pavement before finally stopping.
David, who was inverted in the vehicle, looked around and asked:
"Is everyone okay?"
"I'm fine."
"I'm okay."
"Arthur? Arthur, are you alright? Arthur, respond!"
Harold's anxious voice came from the rear.
David, who'd unbuckled his seatbelt, landed on what was originally the car's ceiling, and he crouched to look behind him.
Poor Arthur had his chest impaled by the deformed car door, and bloody water mixed with foam kept bubbling from his mouth.
From David's perspective as a physician, Arthur was beyond saving.
David shook his head and said,
"Harold, release him. He's already deceased."
Without waiting for Harold's reply, David immediately consumed a day of lifespan to enhance his limbs, then, imitating Reese, kicked open the deformed car door.
He then extracted Sarah, whose lower leg was pinned, from the vehicle, which had started smoking.
Reese, meanwhile, pulled out Harold, who was still staring blankly at the body.
Outside was a scene of devastation.
Cries echoed everywhere, and a massive crater was left in the middle of the road.
Vehicles were overturned throughout the area, and occasionally, fuel tanks of some vehicles would explode due to spreading flames, causing additional casualties.
The perpetrators were the Vigilance members wearing tactical masks.
After identifying the location of David and his group, they rushed toward them with firearms, completely disregarding the burning vehicles.
David glanced at his phone, which was still functional, and said directly:
"You did that deliberately just now, didn't you?
Now, the enemy is here. Are you still planning to play dead?
Or do you want me to genuinely make you dead? How about a high-voltage surge?"
As David's words concluded, his phone vibrated intensely.
A line of information appeared on the screen.
*"Samaritan is fighting against me. I cannot assist you.
Now, you can only rely on yourselves."*
David narrowed his eyes. He couldn't determine if the Machine was lying or being truthful.
Theoretically, the possibility that both AIs had neutralized each other's effectiveness in their confrontation also existed.
And logically, the Machine wouldn't risk Harold's life.
So this was genuinely an accident?
While contemplating, David suddenly glimpsed a dark object thrown toward him. He instinctively caught it—it was the AR-15 carbine Reese had thrown.
Reese pointed his chin coldly toward the Vigilance members:
"I despise these guys who treat human lives like garbage the most. Want to compare scores?"
David smiled but said nothing, simply raised his weapon and began firing at the nearest Vigilance member.
Bang bang bang!
These untrained Vigilance members, who only knew reckless aggression, couldn't even aim an RPG properly, let alone shoot accurately while mobile.
Facing two well-trained operatives, it was a one-sided massacre.
All the Vigilance members possessed was reckless and meaningless courage.
They didn't even know they were sacrificing their lives for precisely the type of people they hated most. How pathetic!
And after eliminating the Vigilance members, David unexpectedly received life rewards.
[Successful rescue, life extended by one day, current life time: 107 days 05 hours.]
[Successful rescue, life extended by one day, current life time: 108 days 05 hours.]
...
There were surprisingly ten such notifications, and ultimately, David's life time reached 116 days 05 hours.
The system's feedback clearly indicated that if David hadn't eliminated this Vigilance squad, they would have undoubtedly taken ten more innocent lives.
Hearing the police sirens from the distant street, Reese checked his phone and said:
"Detective Fusco says they'll arrive on scene in two minutes. We should withdraw."
David nodded, and the two of them, each supporting one of the mobility-impaired individuals, slipped into a narrow alley.
This location was precisely where David was very familiar—it was clearly Carl Elias's primary base.
"Go upstairs."
David quickly uttered two words.
Reese, who had excellent execution, didn't question anything and immediately led Harold into the stairwell.
Although most of Elias's operatives had been deployed throughout the city to engage the Vigilance members, there was still basic security within the building.
As soon as the group carrying firearms entered, they were immediately confronted by several armed enforcers with guns aimed at their heads.
Reese also immediately raised his weapon and aimed it at the person who appeared to be the lieutenant.
Both sides were locked in a standoff.
The lieutenant on the opposite side had eyes filled with apprehension.
Everyone knew this was Elias's territory, and they'd dared to rush in armed knowing it was Elias's primary headquarters.
Then these guys were either idiotic or formidable.
Regardless of which, his head was currently targeted by a firearm.
And the manner in which the opponents held their weapons was far superior to that of these street-level operatives.
So ultimately, it was this lieutenant who spoke:
"Who are you? Don't you know this is Elias's territory? Get out!"
David, who felt no pressure, clearly knew that the opponent's method of holding the pistol sideways would not only result in inaccurate shots but also that the ejected shell casings were likely to strike their eyes.
However, he wasn't here to eliminate all of them.
David raised his phone, displaying the dialing interface to everyone—the contact name clearly read Carl Elias.
"Hey, gentlemen, calm down. I'm a good friend of Elias's.
See the number on my phone? I'm calling him.
Why don't you listen to what he has to say?"
Doubt immediately showed in the eyes of the armed enforcers.
The newcomers looked like they were righteous operators—when did their boss ever associate with such straight-laced individuals?
However, he didn't dare act rashly. What if they genuinely were the boss's associates?
After all, they didn't have a directory of the boss's contacts and couldn't possibly know all of them.
So ultimately, he just maintained his aim without lowering it, waiting for the call to connect.
David smiled and activated the speakerphone. Soon, Elias's voice came from the other end:
"Hello?"
"Elias, it's me, David. I'm downstairs at your location.
Your men seem somewhat unwelcoming.
I'm considering whether or not to eliminate them all."
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Elias spoke:
"Is that Scarface? Lower your weapons. You're no match for him."
Hearing Elias's voice, all the gang members lowered their firearms.
This scene fully demonstrated Elias's control over his core operatives.
Because Reese only lowered his weapon after they had lowered theirs.
And his current grip on the gun allowed him to return to combat readiness in the fastest manner possible.
The difference between amateur and professional was evident here.
"Let's go. We'll stay at Elias's for a while.
It's not easy to move around with you two injured."
Without any obstruction, the four quickly reached the floor where Elias was located.
Seeing the dust and grime on the faces of the four, Elias roughly deduced that the explosions heard nearby were related to them.
Elias gestured for the four to sit anywhere, then habitually opened the refrigerator and tossed each of them a bottle of Coca-Cola:
"Was it the Vigilance people? They can actually acquire weaponry of this level now?"
After carefully positioning Sarah, who had a leg injury, on the sofa, David wiped the sweat from his forehead and said:
"Yeah, I didn't expect them to be so fanatical now, launching attacks on main thoroughfares.
Looks like they're desperate."
Elias nodded and said:
"I'm starting to believe what you said about a super AI monitoring us.
Because Vigilance, who'd been dormant before, seemed to know in advance that we were planning to engage them today.
Things didn't proceed smoothly today.
The only thing that went smoothly was that after we learned they were attacking the hospital, a later dispatched team successfully eliminated quite a few of them.
Unfortunately, they immediately detonated hand grenades after being cornered, causing heavy casualties among my men.
You were correct about that.
They will indeed have a significant impact on social stability.
With them operational, nobody can conduct business peacefully. Damn—"
At the end, Elias sighed lightly.
He hadn't expected the situation to escalate out of control so rapidly.
Previously, Vigilance seemed like a minor organization, engaging in activities like kidnapping tech executives, which they considered juvenile tactics, occasionally assassinating a few technology company CEOs.
None of this seemed particularly significant to Elias.
But instantaneously, they were opening fire at hospitals, robbing banks, and firing RPGs in densely populated urban areas.
How could this be a small organization? They were clearly domestic terrorists!
"You think this is the conclusion? This is clearly just the beginning."
As soon as David finished speaking, Elias's phone rang.
Simultaneously, gunshots echoed within the building.
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