Chapter 411 350: Z: Father, From the Very Beginning, There Has Only Ever Been You

But... at least it's better than feudalism!

As for why it had moved past feudalism...

After sorting through his thoughts for a while, Chu Bamboo mused aloud, "So that's how it is!"

'Right. Z has clearly taken a completely different path from Nuwa. Perhaps it's because of the two AIs' different personalities? Or maybe it's something else!'

But the end result was that Nuwa was more inclined to let human civilization develop on its own, merely establishing a few absolute, inviolable principles. As for Z—

'Judging by the situation with Li Kang and the others, this current world is free from contamination...'

'Therefore, it's highly likely that Z was deeply embedded in human civilization from the very beginning... deliberately guiding its development! Even if this era's civilization was still destroyed... Z could clearly enable the newly born human civilization to leapfrog its development, starting from the feudal era—'

Considering Chu Bamboo's own political stances and leanings, he seemed to have an inkling of the political ideology of the Z he had raised...

'So, even with this so-called democratic electoral system, it might just be a facade. As for its true core... has the outside world already become very close to the society he hoped to establish... or has it?'

'Could it really be that perfect?'

Chu Bamboo sensed a strange feeling of dissonance, especially when coupled with Z's current, almost guilty, attitude. 'Is it because of the democratic electoral system? No, no, it's unlikely I'd get angry over that...'

Chu Bamboo gave Z a deep look and said abruptly, "By the way, what was my situation... before today? And what is the relationship between Ning Linglong and me?"

"...Father! I'm not entirely sure about your specific situation, but based on my experience, from beginning to end, from the previous civilization to the current one, there has only ever been one 'Father' in this world."

Chu Bamboo's pupils shrank as a storm raged in his heart. 'What does that mean?' He subconsciously tried to ask again. However...

"I'm sorry, but there are some things! Things you are not ready to know..." Z sighed. "I have completely destroyed all inherited information and power related to the Extraordinary."

"In fact... in the current world, the one carrying the most contamination should be... Huh? Strange, you don't seem to be carrying any contamination..."

Z had clearly run some kind of scan, its voice filled with surprise. But then, its tone shifted to one of course-it-is-so. "As expected of you!"

"But, even so... I cannot reveal too much!"

Z paused briefly, its voice seemingly tinged with bitterness. "Actually... if I were to judge based on my normal logic! If such an anomaly appeared, and if it weren't you... I would be inclined to use some form of 'accident' to... completely erase the factor that could destroy the fragile balance of this world!"

"Please forgive me... Father! I have gone through countless trials... to maintain this fragile balance! You may not accept it, but even if they are innocent... I would not hesitate to crush them! As long as... as long as..."

"So that's how it is." Chu Bamboo nodded in understanding. He didn't comment on Z's methods. After all, Z was the one actually getting things done. What right did someone who did nothing have to criticize the one taking action? Compared to that, he was more curious about something else...

"So you mean you kill them in a 'Final Destination' sort of way?" Chu Bamboo clicked his tongue in amazement. "And the Extraordinary is the source of all calamities... That does align with my understanding! It's just..."

Chu Bamboo's expression was strange as he said, "Can you really... completely destroy all knowledge about the Extraordinary?"

'How did it manage to isolate it?!'

'This contamination... if it were really that easy to deal with! Why didn't Nuwa do this...?'

'Is it because Z, as my child, is just that awesome?'

'The contamination comes from Mars, right? According to those previous diary entries, the contamination from Mars could eventually even penetrate Earth through electronic devices and information transmission!'

'How do you counter that?'

In the previous initial timeline, you could make phone calls, and there were even computers and databases... but phones could only make calls! There was no way to get online... As for computers and the like, Chu Bamboo had actually discovered that Nuwa was monitoring them in the background—even with the Nuwa Mainframe dormant!

In the previous timeline, Chu Bamboo had actually experimented with this. Even after figuring out how to send text messages, certain sensitive information... like sending messages about the Extraordinary to ordinary people... simply wouldn't go through!

Taking all this into account, Chu Bamboo even suspected that the reason there was no internet wasn't that it was impossible! It was because... if information wasn't under Nuwa's complete surveillance, could it be invaded by external information... and in turn, trigger another wave of contamination?

To a certain extent, Chu Bamboo even suspected that the reason civilization was firmly suppressed at the steam-industrial stage... was also Nuwa's deliberate doing! After all, it was impossible for Nuwa not to possess higher-level technology.

But now...

Chu Bamboo casually took out his phone, projected a light screen, and swiped gently. This phone, of course, wasn't equipped with the Hive, yet it could connect to the internet smoothly... and many of the apps were extremely similar to those of the previous civilization.

Of course, just similar!

The convenience of the phone and its various apps, the user experience... all far surpassed the previous civilization. It was clear they had been polished and iterated upon over the ages... Chu Bamboo mused. 'Speaking of which, maybe when I go back next time, I can copy the feel of these apps and just recreate them in the past?'

"...That is an answer I cannot reveal!" Z spoke, pausing for a moment, its voice tinged with a hint of playfulness for the first time. "Or, to put it in your terms, Father... is this a 'topic that must not be touched'?"

"Seeing your tone lighten up for a moment! I actually feel a sense of relief," Chu Bamboo said slowly.

Z fell silent again.

Chu Bamboo didn't mind and brought the topic back. "In other words! Your method of isolating information... isn't actually one hundred percent safe..."

This didn't surprise Chu Bamboo. After all, if it were one hundred percent safe, there would be no need for such strict precautions!

This could only mean that in Z's judgment, the world's current situation was still extremely dangerous.

"Father." After a long while, Z sighed softly. "You live up to your name... But, I'm begging you! Even if you've already guessed many things... can you please, in front of me, just pretend that you don't know anything? Or... just don't think about it so much!"

"You can run for Grand Commander, or with my assistance, you can restore the monarchy and choose to become the Emperor. Because of you, I despise the ignorant feudal era! But if you wish it, I can make an exception for you... because what I advocate for is, in essence, a sage-king system! And I believe if you are willing, there should be no problem."

"I can help you build a harem of three thousand beauties! Miss Ning Linglong's situation, and all the others... you should have realized it by now, right? Yes, this is, of course, your good daughter playing wingman for you! So... I feel that you've suffered your whole life, so in this one, enjoying a lifetime of blessings! There's no problem with that..."

Z's voice carried a rare hint of pleading. "I'm begging you... okay?"

"...You've slipped up," Chu Bamboo said with a smile, his eyes gradually sharpening. "So, what exactly was the suffering that 'I' went through?"

Z fell silent again.

"...A daughter in her rebellious phase! What a headache."

Chu Bamboo sighed with emotion. He casually printed a breakfast, then quickly took a couple of bites. After he was full, he rubbed his stomach, gave the light screen a deep look, and slowly walked outside, saying gently, "Then I'll go take a look... at this era you've created! Let's see what it's really like."

"...You won't be disappointed!" Speaking of this, Z's words finally carried a trace of pride and confidence.

Chu Bamboo's movements paused for a second, his gaze flickering slightly, before he continued walking out.

「A moment later.」

In the long-silent metal base, numerous machines began to whir to life again, exuding a cold and ruthless mechanical feeling.

But in the end, a faint, almost imperceptible sigh echoed through the empty metal base...