Starting as a Wallfacer, his defection to the Three-Body Problem shocked the world.

Chapter 386 Plan

"So, what exactly is this guy trying to do now?"

"How would I know?" Tomoko said helplessly, putting down her teacup.

"Anyway, it's never going to be good. I've said it before: anything man-made is not as reliable as it looks... Of course, that includes myself."

"So all these years, haven't you tried to reach a consensus with Number Two and Number Three? As long as the final winner is killed, everyone will be happy, everyone can go home and make dumplings, and no one will have to fight for this damn final winner's spot."

In Lin Xuan's view, the matter was already very clear: Number One was dead, and now his corpse was continuing the experimental procedures like a madman. Since no one wanted the experiment to continue, why not sit down and talk? After all, they all had a common enemy.

"I tried, but all failed. The three parties are competitors, which naturally creates a chain of suspicion, and even basic communication is impossible. I asked number three for help because he owes me a huge favor, and we only got this result because our goals were aligned."

Lin Xuan nodded; he had indeed forgotten about that.

Once a chain of suspicion is formed, it is really hard to break. In order to win, everyone can use any underhanded tricks. So, is pretending to unite also part of the plan?

How do you know if your teammate truly wants to abandon the experiment, or if they're using the guise of cooperation to eliminate an opponent first?

"There seems to be only one way to prove that I really don't want this experiment to continue..."

A fierce glint flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes. Zhi Zi seemed to have guessed his thoughts and quickly tried to dissuade him.

"Lin Xuan, your idea is too dangerous and has a very low feasibility. I think Bai Bing, as the manager, should also prepare an emergency plan for the observers to work together. Without 100% certainty, such an attempt is too risky."

Zhizi said this not out of concern for Lin Xuan, but because she felt that this guy was the only observer who might cooperate with her at the moment. If he messed up, her path would become even more difficult.

"There's no need to go to such lengths. Our original goal was simply to stop the Producers from continuing to wage war, so all we need to do is fully awaken Number One's consciousness."

"Well said. How do I wake it up? Do I have to find its body and kiss it? By the way, is Number One male or female?"

"female."

"That's okay."

Tomoko:? ? ?

Zhizi was speechless. Is this the point of our discussion?

However, she had already gotten used to Lin Xuan's unreliable personality and had developed a high level of resistance to it, so she forcibly brought the topic back.

"You need to find a way to enter the deep network of the core of the machine. Number One's ego consciousness is inside. Find her and bring her out. Otherwise, even if we manage to deal with the final producers, we won't be able to revive Number One."

"The core of the machine is on the capital planet. I have a way to send you there, but the final producers have very strict oversight there. After I send you in, the rest is up to you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan couldn't help but applaud.

"Miss Tomoko, then let me ask you, what are you going to be responsible for? Do you take me for a silly hero who has been transported to another world, or do you think you are a goddess who issues missions?"

"You don't need to do anything. Just stay here, drink some tea, count to five, and we'll solve the problem. Is that what you mean?"

"Then I can only say I'm sorry, I definitely can't help you with this."

Lin Xuan is not the kind of enthusiastic male protagonist who loves to take on random NPC quests. What he pursues from beginning to end is to survive in this dangerous world as much as possible, and to live comfortably.

So he left the Earth Alliance for two reasons: first, to find out what exactly the six Earths were all about and to make some preparations for the future; and second, because he was also aware of the many problems that existed within the Earth Alliance.

These problems cannot be truly solved by themselves alone; they are merely hidden by their own military deterrence, but they will inevitably erupt one day.

Why not leave early, give the local alliance some time to think about the future path, and also give yourself a break?

Since we've already chosen to take a holiday, who cares about these trivial matters?

Have you ever seen a barber who takes clippers home with him?

"To get someone to do something for you, there are two prerequisites: sufficient benefits and sufficient threats. This applies even to the relationship between parents and children. I certainly can't give you sufficient benefits, but I can give you sufficient threats."

"The Producer has already set her sights on you. Like Number Three, she has mistaken you for Bai Bing. Although I still don't know exactly what she wants to do, I can guess the general direction."

"As observers, we may not be able to completely kill Bai Bing, who is the manager, but we should be able to trap him somewhere."

"So, she will come to you soon. If by then you also feel that you don't need to cooperate with me, then I have nothing to say."

Tomoko spoke the coldest words in the gentlest tone.

Lin Xuan immediately understood what Zhi Zi meant. Clearly, she had been used as Bai Bing's scapegoat.

If the final producers really intend to take action against Bai Bing, they are at least 60% certain, if not 100%.

Moreover, I am in the open while the enemy is in the dark. Can I really withstand this long-prepared killing move?

That remains to be seen.

"Damn Bai Bing, no wonder he was so happy when I said I would use this guy's identity to enter the Elbato Cluster. He really used me as a scout."

Lin Xuan felt like he had been tricked; this was the first time he had ever been in such a passive situation.

But there was nothing he could do about it. He wasn't an omniscient and omnipotent god. Unless he could guess Bai Bing's identity as the administrator in advance, but at that time he hadn't even figured out the specific situation of the six Earths, let alone the administrators hidden behind them.

But it's okay, there's still time. We'll deal with the final producers first, then go back and settle accounts with Bai Bing.

"How do you plan to send us to the capital planet?"

Lin Xuan was even more curious about this point. According to Zhi Zi's statement and what he knew, the defenses of the capital planet were extremely tight, and it would not be an easy task to infiltrate it.

More importantly, it is the headquarters of three giant corporations, which, as the henchmen of the ultimate producers, provide intelligence services to the ultimate producers at all times.

If you expose yourself even slightly, you are likely to attract the attention of the end consumer.

But Tomoko shook her head slightly, a slightly amused smile appearing on her face.

"No need for any disguise, just go as Lin Xuan."

"what?"

Lin Xuan thought he had misheard, but looking at Zhizi's serious expression, he thought for a moment and understood what she meant.

"You're asking me to go as Lin Xuan. If what you're saying is true, then the most important person the final producers need to deal with is actually the administrator, Bai Bing, because her experiment failed and she will definitely be eliminated by the administrator."

"So, she actually only has one chance. We're gambling, and she's gambling too, gambling that Bai Bing will fall into the trap. Now she suspects that I am Bai Bing, but if I act more like Lin Xuan, then she won't dare to touch me, because the same trump card can't be used a second time. Once I die, her plan will fall through, is that what you mean?"

This is like playing Werewolf, where the final player plays the role of the werewolf. She only has one chance to make a move, and if she makes a mistake, the game ends. Therefore, she will definitely not attack Lin Xuan immediately. As long as the two sides remain deadlocked, Lin Xuan will have a chance.

The teapot on the table was boiling, bubbling and steaming, obscuring Lin Xuan's expression. Zhi Zi reached out and took the teapot, then refilled Lin Xuan's cup with tea.

"Yes, Mr. Lin Xuan, isn't this exactly what you excel at?"

“The person the ultimate producers want to get rid of most right now is me, followed by Bai Bing. Dealing with you should be the lowest priority. I believe that with Mr. Lin Xuan’s methods, he should be able to get away unscathed.”

Lin Xuan remained noncommittal, and only spoke after a long while.

"Miss Tomoko, I would like to ask, what if my thoughts are the same as those of the Final Producer?"

"what?"

Zhizi didn't quite grasp the meaning behind Lin Xuan's words.

"I mean, if I also want this war to continue, would you still cooperate with me?"

Upon hearing this, Zhizi remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly after thinking for a while.

"If it is Mr. Lin Xuan's decision, then I will still choose to support it."

"why?"

Lin Xuan was puzzled. According to Zhi Zi, Earth One had already failed, but the Producers still wanted to continue the war, and even jumped out of the game to try to kill the referee.

Zhizi is the self-awareness of Number One, and Number One himself does not want to continue this war. Lin Xuan thought that Zhizi should have the same idea.

“We don’t have any fundamental conflict,” Zhizi admitted.

“I understand you. Your desire to continue the war is simply to preserve the remaining strength of the Earth Alliance. On this point, all observers can agree that our ultimate goal is the same.”

"But the final producer chose the most extreme path. She wanted to kill everyone, including me, because only my death could awaken Number One."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan suddenly realized something. He then realized that Zhi Zi was not number one.

In other words, Sophon didn't really want to deal with the mess that was the mechanical Earth, but as one of the consciousnesses of Number One, she knew very well that the End Producers wouldn't let her off so easily.

That's why we've ended up in this situation.

"Let me sort this out."

Lin Xuan quickly sorted through all the information in her mind. Zhi Zi had provided a lot of information, but after categorizing it logically, it seemed that there were only two final options.

First, the final producer kills the sophon, and the self-awareness is re-integrated into Number One's body, thus fully awakening Number One.

Second, Zhizi obtained the original consciousness of Number One and awakened Number One after merging with it.

Although they may sound like they lead to the same result, they are actually quite different.

If Somoko dies, then Number One's self-awareness will completely dissipate, and the final producer will be born with a new self-awareness, complete itself, and become the true Number One.

But if it's the other way around, then what might be awakened is the former number one, and things would get back on track.

Sophon, End Producer, and Number One—these three were originally the same person, but the dominant consciousness has changed.

In this light, it's truly baffling that Number One chose to divide his consciousness into three parts back then.

This not only caused enormous trouble for the mechanical Earth, but also led to this result of the left and right hemispheres battling each other.

"Although I have nothing to offer you right now, I promise you that once I regain the complete consciousness of Number One, I will voluntarily relinquish the struggle with the Earth Federation."

"On this point, others may not trust me, but I think you can trust me. After all, I don't have much affection for the mechanical Earth. Betraying a civilization that is not very important to me doesn't seem to be a big psychological burden for me."

"So even if you insist on continuing this war, I don't care. I just want to live on my own."

Zhi Zi's words left Lin Xuan speechless for a moment, unable to find a reason to refute them.

If what the other party says is true, and I can take out one opponent first, it will make the subsequent competition much easier.

"I have one last question."

Lin Xuan raised her hand, but after thinking for a moment, she shook her head.

"Never mind, I'll ask later."

He wanted to ask why the final producer had to take back the consciousness of Sophon first. Why couldn't they just eliminate the manager first and then take back the self-consciousness of Sophon's number one?

But upon reflection, I realized that this order might be related to certain characteristics of the observer, and asking it myself might seem somewhat inappropriate.

He's already asked enough questions today. Zhizi clearly knows more than he does. The current Zhizi is different from before; she can lie. So Lin Xuan doesn't completely believe what she says. As for how to make a decision, they'll have to wait until he arrives at the capital planet.

"Well then, see you next time. I hope you can bring me some good news then."

Zhi Zi stood up and bowed to Lin Xuan, maintaining her humble smile throughout.

"Remember to wear the watch I gave you at all times; it might come in handy in a pinch."

With Zhizi's last words of advice, when Lin Xuan opened her eyes again, she found herself back where she started.

Not far away, the members of the Thirteenth Squad rushed towards Lin Xuan after seeing her.

"Captain Bai, are you alright? Have you caught the person who tried to assassinate you?"

The little girl walked closer, looked Lin Xuan up and down, and only breathed a sigh of relief after seeing that he was alright.

The sudden attack caught everyone off guard, forcing the party to end. Simmons and Felix have already started going door-to-door to check for suspicious persons.

Lin Xuan waved his hand to indicate that he was fine, and then he looked at the rest of the team. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke.

"Call everyone here, I have something to tell you."