Chapter 410 350: Z: Father, You've Always Been the Only One

"It was unexpected, but when I think about it, it also makes sense."

Chu Bamboo was rather emotional. He had naturally wondered before: if Z had never encountered any mishaps along the way, could it have survived until the post-civilization era?

Considering Nuwa's example, it should have been possible!

Besides, he now knew that the key reason Z was nowhere to be found in the post-civilization era was the pollution on Mars. With advance warning and prevention, Z would naturally be able to survive the calamity.

'This is great! Really great! With Z's help, it seems like all the difficulties I've faced before can be smoothly overcome, right? After all, the current Z seems to have taken over Nuwa's ecological niche! And it's not a restricted artificial intelligence...'

'How could that degenerate descendant possibly fight me now? Even if that degenerate son of a gun used cheats, I could still beat him into a cowering... no, beat him until he's kneeling on the ground!'

'But...'

"What are you hiding from me?" Chu Bamboo's voice was inscrutable. He paced, reaching out to touch the light screen Z was projecting.

The biggest problem was, why was Z hiding things from him? Yes, Z had clearly been doing its utmost to impersonate Nuwa No. 17. Logically speaking, Z should have retorted defensively that she was not Nuwa No. 17—

But Z didn't choose to do that. Not to mention...

Chu Bamboo studied the light screen thoughtfully. Z's way of addressing him was laced with... timidity.

Whether it was being coquettish, complaining, or even throwing a small tantrum... Chu Bamboo could accept all of it! That was normal...

But this timidity, and this timidity alone...

'Emmm, it'd be a miracle if there wasn't a problem!'

Z still didn't respond right away.

At this moment, Chu Bamboo's expression grew even stranger. He had a sudden sense of déjà vu—like when he was in elementary school, he'd see his parents coming home on their little electric scooter, hastily shut down the computer, only for his parents' first action upon returning to be to check if the computer tower was warm...

Silently wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Chu Bamboo broke free from the despairing memory and continued to ask, "Alright... what did you do to wrong me?"

"...I didn't, did I?" Z replied weakly.

"Do you believe that?" Chu Bamboo retorted.

He paused briefly, rubbing his temples with a hint of a headache. "Okay! I'm not entirely sure what the deal is with that 'good buddy' in your consciousness... the other me, that is! But you should know... which me I am right now, right?"

"...I understand!"

Chu Bamboo nodded slightly. 'The "good buddy" who lost his future golden finger couldn't possibly have hidden Z's situation... The biggest question now is, just how much did that "good buddy" reveal to Z?'

'And...'

"So, from my personal perspective! Just a moment ago, I made a promise to you... that I love you, and I love humanity!" Chu Bamboo said softly. "So, as long as you haven't committed some unforgivable sin... even if my death was because of you... I would still forgive you—okay, maybe I don't have the right to forgive you on behalf of my 'good buddy,' but I'm talking about my own feelings!"

"So, I've laid it all out there... is there really nothing you want to tell me?"

Z still said nothing.

Chu Bamboo's eyelid twitched. "Don't tell me... humanity in this timeline was really destroyed because of you?"

"...No!" Z finally spoke, her voice tinged with agitation as if she had been insulted. "I also made a promise to you. I am a child of humanity! I will love humanity just as you do... so I would never do such a thing!"

"Then I really don't get it! Can you explain?" Chu Bamboo asked bluntly.

"..."

"I don't recall ever raising you to be a riddler," Chu Bamboo's face scrunched up in a frown.

Now he understood the biggest difference between a true artificial intelligence and a mere AI! A true artificial intelligence was really a child of humanity... with all of humanity's reactions—

It would run away after making a mistake! It could refuse to accept commands! The only things that could restrain her... were emotions! And—the worldview and values instilled in her by her creator, or in other words, her "parents."

But Chu Bamboo wracked his brain and couldn't figure it out... other than humanity's destruction being Z's fault, what else could Z have done that she would judge he would find absolutely unacceptable if she revealed the truth?

"'Confess and get a life sentence; resist and be home for Christmas?'" Chu Bamboo probed. "You didn't actually believe that saying, did you? I'm not that kind of person. I'm very fair and just!"

After a moment of silence, seeing that Z was still just there—not resisting, not complying, not cooperating—Chu Bamboo put on a noncommittal expression and finally stopped pestering his 'good daughter.' "Alright, Z! Tell me... are Eunuch Huang and the others still out there planning to cause trouble for me?"

"?" Z hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously, "Cause trouble for Father... Father, are you sure? In this world... there shouldn't be anyone who can defy your will!"

"?!" Chu Bamboo gave Z a deep look. "Then what if I want to be the Emperor?"

"?" Z pondered for a moment. "The outside world currently operates on a democratic electoral system! Father, I personally suggest you run for Grand Commander... With my media campaign, you'll be able to easily secure the votes from every state! As for Emperor... that goes against the current system! Of course, it's not entirely impossible, but you'd at least have to become Grand Commander first, and then slowly..."

"Hold on!" Chu Bamboo's expression became incredibly colorful; he almost thought he'd misheard. 'What system did you just say? Democratic... wait, why an election?' Chu Bamboo was baffled. He didn't remember being a fan of this so-called electoral system either.