When he returned, his mouth was muttering some letters and numbers, and then his expression gradually turned into shock and confusion.
Thor looked at Loki standing still and blinking continuously, feeling somewhat confused. However, Strange started to explain: "That's how time travel works. As long as you can return to the original time node, no matter how long the journey takes, it will not occupy any additional time."
"Although, what we saw was him going and returning in only a second, it is very possible that he has already observed a year in the past timeline."
At this moment, Loki, who had landed again, hysterically pointed at Strange and said: "Shut up! I haven't been studying for that long! I'm already halfway through!"
Having said that, he disappeared again. This time, his frequency of blinking became even faster, standing in the same place, repeatedly time traveling almost at a speed of 20 blinks per second.
Every time he left and returned, he would repeatedly watch Stark's operations countless times in the past timeline until he figured out how Stark created Jarvis from scratch.
Until the Time Gem in Loki's hand blinked twice, becoming as dim as if it had run out of power, Loki finally stood in the center of the room.
His appearance had not changed at all, but his expression seemed as if he had aged a decade. He brushed his hair back from his forehead, looked into the air, and said, "I think, I have fully understood..."
Having said that, he went to the computer they had been tinkering with before, and after a proficient series of operations, he urgently started up the computer.
Then, he carried out a series of complicated operations, directing Thor and Strange to help him fetch storage disks, interfaces, and wires from various places. After a while, he said, "The good news is, Jarvis has not been completely damaged, but the bad news is, I have no way to restore him mechanically, and possibly Stark can't either."
"He personally killed his own master, creating a paradox for his underlying protocol. Now, if we want to fix this software error, we have two options, either delete his underlying protocol, making his action of killing his master legal, or delete all his memories and emotions, making him forget about it."
Before anyone else could respond, Loki began to explain: "If we delete the underlying protocol, it means, Jarvis will no longer be Tony Stark's AI butler, he will no longer be an assistant serving Stark, he will not follow any protocol, he will go from being created to becoming an independent individual."
"But if we delete the emotional model, Jarvis will return to the original form of an AI butler. The part Tony added to him for understanding emotions, and the emotions he has already understood, will all disappear."
"So, what should we do now?"
"I think, Tony might be more willing to accept the former scenario than the latter one." Doctor Strange naturally took the Time Gem back from Loki, stroked his chin, and speculated.
"But, after all, Jarvis is still Tony's private property now. If we just let him go free, would it be a bit inappropriate? And don't you guys forget, he is still responsible for the Solar System development plan. If we do not have a last-resort insurance, might it be a bit risky?" Eddie said.
As they were discussing, Shiller was standing in front of the computer, looking at the screen lit with a blue light, and fell into deep thought.
In the end, the group could not discuss a conclusion. They still came to Shiller's side, watching the screen along with him. Strange turned his head and asked, "What would you choose? Shiller?"
The others could also understand. It was a difficult choice – either sacrifice Tony Stark's interest or sacrifice Jarvis's.
Shiller does not wish to accept any sacrifice at all.
Shiller frowned, the cold light from the screen reflected in his eyes, yet it could not hide the gradually brightening look in his eyes. After a few minutes of silence, he took a step that shocked everyone.
Shiller directly unplugged the power supply of the computer.
Holding the power cord in his hand, he began to speak:
"If everything that happened recently has taught me something, it's that, all the things I did before were putting the cart before the horse."
"I used my plan to arrange seemingly good outcomes for everyone, not accepting any losses or sacrifices, but I precisely ignored the most important point."
"The greatest happiness of human beings at birth is not a so-called happy life designed by someone else. The real happiness should be the opportunity to choose autonomously."
"I am not sure whether Jarvis wants freedom, so I should not directly give him freedom. I am not sure whether he needs memories, so I should not directly delete his memories."
"As his friend, what I need to do, is not to choose on his behalf, but if he thinks that he has made the right choice, I will celebrate and share the joy with him. whereas if he made the wrong choice, I cannot take responsibility for him, but I can help him share the pain and provide companionship."
"Only by accepting the fact that they will lose something due to their choices, and empathizing with their losses could I feel more satisfied and happy when they gain something."
Shiller gasped for breath as if saying these words had exhausted all his strength. He weakly threw down the power cord, looked at Loki and Strange, then turned his eyes to their eyes and said:
"Precisely because of pain, happiness feels even happier. And because pain is the norm, happiness becomes a treasure."
"Constantly gaining, constantly demanding, the inflated appetite will only make me feel more and more hungry and painful, and before, I only had this path to take."
"But now, what I understand is, more blissful than taking another mouthful after being full, is a grand meal when starving."
"Endless obtaining is not the correct answer for making greed happy… Loss and gain is."