Chapter 108

"Teacher, your ideals are lofty; you are a great man who has transcended low-level interests. I am different. I just want to have food and drink, no one to boss me around, and the freedom to sleep, play, and live easily. I admire someone like you, but if you asked me to be like you, I really wouldn't be willing." Li Daoran pulled a wild fruit he had hidden earlier from his pocket and took a bite, his face twisting from the sourness. How could fruits that looked identical taste so different? The one he ate just a moment ago had been incredibly sweet, and he had only tucked away a few.

"I have simply lived long enough. As for this war, it is for you young people to fight. I am just someone who talks a good game," Yuan Muye said, ignoring the lack of ambition in Li Daoran’s words and offering a bit of encouragement instead.

"Fine, as long as you know your own limits. With your old bones, don't go throwing your life away for others; it's not worth it. You'd be better off restoring the SkyNet; that would deal a much heavier blow to the enemy. Who would actually let you hold a gun and risk your life on the battlefield? Let’s do this: I won’t ask about your research, but give me the source code for the intelligence on this vehicle, provide me with a copy of the operating system, and teach me the architecture of the SkyNet. I’ll study it myself," Li Daoran said.

David had just told him that Yuan Muye was right: humanity did not need artificial intelligence. This was why he had been so shocked and horrified when he first saw Yuan Muye’s research. Yet, it could not be denied that the SkyNet was still useful, especially for the planet Aquamarine, where the legacy SkyNet system was far more appealing than the latest research.

"Very well. Where is your wrist-comm? I will transfer a copy to you in a moment. If there is anything you don’t understand, ask those people in the back. If they truly cannot solve it, then come and ask me." Yuan Muye nodded. He chose not to teach these basics himself for two reasons: firstly, it was unnecessary, and he did not know the extent of Li Daoran's foundation—if he were to be asked basic questions like 'one plus one,' it would be a waste of his expertise. Secondly, it could help build a rapport between Li Daoran and his students; after all, for now, they still needed to rely on Li Daoran to get through this crisis.

"Here." Li Daoran took off his wrist-comm and handed it to Yuan Muye without a moment's hesitation.

Yuan Muye took the device, glanced at it, and quickly connected it to the main SkyNet of the Milan star. He took the opportunity to remove the restrictions on his own wrist-comm, overriding them with his own administrative privileges, then located his private files and handed the device back to Li Daoran.

"There. I have upgraded your wrist-comm and opened up some permissions. There are three academic forums, five of my private folders, and some internal SkyNet data that you can view. I doubt you will understand much of it, though. The current SkyNet has paralyzed many sectors; data is leaking across most of the Sunset Mountain Range, and some communication systems have been blocked. You must only look; do not interact with anything, or you will easily be discovered," Yuan Muye warned.

"Only look, not touch?" Li Daoran asked.

"Correct. Only look. If you aren't afraid of being exposed, you can use it to contact your superior—the one called Phantom, right? It seems he has already been surrounded." Yuan Muye nodded. In that brief moment he had scanned the vast sea of data in the SkyNet, he had caught a few telltale signs.

"Here, take it and look again. See what exactly is happening. Are there any enemy forces around us? How come you didn’t notice anything with that massive machine in your lab?" Seeing that Yuan Muye had gathered so much information in just a short time, Li Daoran was moved and handed the wrist-comm back, hoping for more details.

"It’s a good thing yours is military-grade; that’s the only reason you could see those things. That big hunk of junk in my lab looks impressive, but it’s just an isolated, miniature SkyNet—there’s nothing inside it. Go on, take it away and stop bothering me. I was almost caught just a moment ago. Don’t connect to the internal SkyNet again; it’s in total chaos, and you might have already been detected.

"In the SkyNet, your trail is painfully obvious wherever you go. If you are looking for death, I can help you look for a bit longer, but the mech battalion might be closing in on us soon. Do you still want to look?" Yuan Muye said irritably. Li Daoran made it sound simple, but while being able to pinpoint enemy locations was impressive, it was only possible because of Yuan Muye’s deep expertise. If they were discovered, it would be trivial for the enemy to track them.

Moreover, Yuan Muye had only been downloading data; he hadn't touched the muddy waters of the network. If he had actually tried to scan and spy, it would be like holding a lantern in a latrine—just asking for trouble.

Li Daoran smacked his lips with some regret. It seemed that 'Phantom' was doomed. What a pity. As for saving him, Li Daoran hadn't even considered it. Surrounded? With him as a low-level soldier trying to save someone while dragging this vehicle full of people along? What a joke.

"Do you have a bad relationship with your superior?" Yuan Muye asked.

"It’s alright, I suppose," Li Daoran replied.

"He is surrounded. According to the traditions of you soldiers, shouldn't you be trying to save him? Why does it feel like your desire to save him is not very strong, or that you aren't even worried?" Yuan Muye questioned.

"What, do you want me to take you all to save him?" Li Daoran countered.

"That's not it. If you really wanted to save him, I would stop you no matter what I had to say. But the fact that you just gave up on him is what surprises me," Yuan Muye said, shaking his head.

"Heh, since we've reached this point, let fate take its course. Never mind saving him, I’ll be lucky just to stay alive. Teacher, I have some questions in my heart, but I don't know who to ask," Li Daoran said.

"Let’s hear them. Although I might not be able to resolve your doubts, I can certainly be a listener," Yuan Muye said, leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes.

"You’re driving without looking at the road?" Li Daoran said angrily, ready to climb into his armor.

Yuan Muye opened his eyes slightly. "I’ve been watching the road the whole time. It’s fine. The vehicle’s intelligent system is very stable."

"Stable my foot! When nothing happens, it’s 'intelligent driving,' but when things go wrong, it’s just 'intelligent assistance.' No way, you need to watch the road and drive properly," Li Daoran insisted, demanding that Yuan Muye sit up.

"You are a contradiction. You seem to value your own life very highly. Wearing that exoskeleton armor is actually quite uncomfortable, yet you wear it constantly. When you step out of the armor, your movements are extremely careful—cautious to an abnormal degree," Yuan Muye said, sitting up. He was observant and had picked up on several things from Li Daoran’s subtle movements.

He was guarded against everyone around him. If someone approached, he would instinctively perform defensive maneuvers. Although Yuan Muye wasn't trained in that field, he was well-traveled and knowledgeable enough to know what those actions implied.

Li Daoran was secretly shocked. He hadn't expected Yuan Muye to notice that. He could only shrug helplessly and say, "I’m afraid of dying, that’s all. Just watch the road. When I get back, I’m definitely going to learn how to drive. Damn it, if I can fly a fighter jet, surely this little car is a piece of cake?"

Yuan Muye didn't know what to say. Fighter jets and cars were both usually piloted by intelligent systems, and one only took manual control in emergencies. Being able to fly a jet didn't necessarily mean one could drive a car. But looking at the way Li Daoran was gritting his teeth, he decided it was better to keep that to himself.