Chapter 1526  : Large-Scale Sociological Experiment

“... Are you sure you are taking the exam at the end of this month?”

At a training base in the depths of the northwestern plantation forest.

Looking at Wang Peng who was standing at the desk, Lin Feng raised his head and cast an unexpected glance at him.

Faced with the question from the robot instructor, Wang Peng nodded and spoke.

“Yeah.”

Lin Feng: “From now on, there are only three days left until the end of the month.”

Wang Peng: “Are there any problems?”

“Nothing, I’m just worried that you remembered the date incorrectly.”

Without saying much, Lin Feng swiped lightly on the desk.

Looking at the holographic window that appeared in front of him, he reached out his index finger and tapped it three times.

He saw the ripples around the names that had already been written on the list. He then looked at Wang Peng and said in a pleasant tone, “I have already written down your name. In three days, gather at the training ground at 8 o’clock in the morning.”

Wang Peng nodded, preparing to leave the office.

But at this moment, he suddenly thought of something, so he stopped, turned around, and asked, “As long as I pass the exam, I can get out of here, right?”

Lin Feng: “Of course, but as your instructor, I don’t recommend you to rush. Even though the exam is just an exercise, it is still dangerous, especially for a newcomer.”

Newcomer?

Wang Peng smiled faintly.

When he first came to this era, he thought he was a newcomer, but after a month of classes, he changed his mind.

Although the times were evolving and technology was changing with each passing day, many things were actually the same.

It took a month for him to get acquainted with the equipment that a Security Bureau agent should be familiar with, as well as some “common sense” about machinery and equipment. He believed that he had no reason to stay here and waste time.

“I am confident in my own strength.”

Lin Feng said in a gentle tone, “Most people would say that, but only a few can graduate from here every year. Your opponent may be a senior student who has received two or three years of training, or most of their body parts have been professionally modified. Despite all this, do you have that confidence?”

Wang Peng: “Yes.”

“Well, good luck, it’s good to experience failures during training sometimes.” Lin Feng nodded casually and said in a gentle tone, “Also, don’t get hurt too badly.”

Three days later, morning.

Wang Peng arrived at the training ground on time.

Standing in the center of the training ground, after the trainer blew his whistle, he called for everyone to gather.

Glancing around at the candidates in the team, there was an expressionless look on his face as he spoke with a voice even more monotonous than a robot.

“The test is very simple. Defeat your opponent, go to the next round.

“There are no restrictions on the techniques, and you can use all the tools you want. There are only two rules that need to be remembered. Leaving the test area will automatically be counted as a failure, and the target must lose the ability to move or surrender.

“Although I think you should all know this, there are newcomers here after all, so I’ll repeat it.

“Do not over push yourself. After all, this is not a real battlefield.”

While speaking, the trainer glanced at Wang Peng. He then looked away and began to announce the names of the candidates, as well as the groups they were in.

Defeat?

So this is an actual combat exercise?

Wang Peng came to a corner of the training ground.

When he stopped, he happened to see a tall man with a height of about 1.9 meters walking towards him with steady steps.

“Oh, you are Wang Peng?”

“Yeah.”

“Sun Rong, three years at the training base, also your opponent.” He reached out his hand and shook Wang Peng’s. This 1.9-meter tall man had an oppressive smile on his face as he continued, “If you want to tap out, remember to click on your wristband. Only you can do this... Speaking of which, did you come from a century ago?”

“Sort of, how do you know this?”

“Numerous reasons... No wonder.” Sun Rong released his hand and took half a step back. He touched his chin, looked at Wang Peng up and down, and continued, “No wonder you don’t have any implants in your body.”

Wang Peng: “I’m more accustomed to using my own body.”

“People who haven’t learned their lesson usually say that.” Sun Rong grinned and bumped his fists together. “Let’s go, let’s stop wasting time. After all, you are a newcomer, so I will be merciful.”

Wang Peng smiled faintly. Without any explanation, he turned his attention to the staff nearby.

“Is the test room right here or elsewhere?”

The staff member replied, “I will drive you there in a while. You have 30 minutes to prepare. Of course, if you are all ready, we can also leave now.”

“Then let’s go now,” Wang Peng said. Turning his attention to the big man named Sun Rong who was standing next to him, he asked, “What do you think?”

“Interesting.”

Sun Rong grinned. He bumped his two fists, which had obviously been modified, as a hint of fighting spirit appeared in his eyes.

“Just to my liking!”

...

While Wang Peng was going through the most critical test in his new life, Lu Zhou, who was at his home in the suburbs of Jinling, was sitting in his study room, quietly flipping through the diary in his hand.

He had to admit that this diary was indeed quite interesting.

A planetary miner who was kidnapped 30 years ago was stuffed into a dormant capsule by the kidnappers. He woke up and found himself locked up with elites from all walks of life.

There were many seemingly insignificant clues, and after some pondering, each one seemed quite horrifying.

Why are there sixty-four people?

Why mix a robot in a group of people?

Where did the crew members go?

And the owner of the diary...

The author did not show that he was a mathematics enthusiast, but at the end of the page, he left a few lines of formulas that made countless mathematics and physics experts feel puzzled.

Either these lines of formulas were told to him by others, or he read it from somewhere.

“It looks like a large-scale sociological experiment. An experiment with a mixed group of people.” Lu Zhou said after pinching his chin with his index finger and thumb, “Is it for robots that can integrate into human society?”

Or... to develop artificial intelligence with a human mind...

Xiao Ai: “Master? 0.0”

“Nothing, just curious...”

Noticing that Xiao Ai was looking at him with concern, Lu Zhou gave her a comforting smile. He then gently closed the diary in his hand.

He stared at the lawn outside the window for a while, looking at the gardening drone that was trimming the flowers and grass. Lu Zhou, after daydreaming for a while, suddenly spoke.

“I might... know what the supercomputing center on Ceres is doing.”

Xiao Ai: “Master is the best, but Xiao Ai doesn’t understand. (•̀∀•́)”

Lu Zhou smiled and said, “In fact, there are also a lot of things I don’t understand, such as why a cult organization that believes in idealism, The Spirit of The Universe Foundation, would be interested in robots... Shouldn’t their doctrine be to advocate that the heart is better than an object?”

Looking at their motivation for using the ALPHA virus, it should be intended to destroy the modern civilization of the 22nd century that was built on robots and build their own modern religious empire on this basis.

If they take on such evil thoughts as their creed, how can they embark on the path to the highest evolution?

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in Lu Zhou’s mind.

Maybe...

They are not the same group?

Standing up from the chair, Lu Zhou, holding the diary, walked to the side of the bookshelf. He gently tucked it back onto the bookshelf.

Xiao Ai followed Lu Zhou curiously. She couldn’t help but ask, “What is Master thinking about?”

“From an academic point of view, the entire experiment can be roughly divided into two parts. One part is to research how to upload thoughts onto hardware, and the other part is to achieve artificial intelligence with a normal human mind... That is, advanced artificial intelligence.

“If I’m correct, the owner of this diary is probably one of the victims of the experiment.”

Lu Zhou paused for a second before adding, “Of course, this does not rule out that they have other purposes.”

There aren’t enough clues.

If I want to figure out the cause and effect of the entire incident, I will have to wait until after the supercomputing center has completed its “mission”...