It wasn't surprising that Zhang Chenyin was so alarmed—ID, short for Identity Document, also known as identification number or unique code, was crucial. Whether in the underground cities of the physical world or the letter cities of the digital world, everyone had their unique ID, which tied to their identity, assets, and relationships. While people could change their appearance, clothing, behavior, and even lifestyle when entering different letter cities in the digital world, their ID remained unique and fixed. This was the key identifier proving their human identity, valid in both the physical and digital worlds.
In other words, an ID was the most important code for every person in the metaverse, unique and unchangeable.
Now, with duplicate IDs appearing, it meant someone could freely withdraw your assets, engage in your social interactions, and do everything you normally would, appearing entirely legitimate and legal.
In some sense, the emergence of duplicate IDs was equivalent to the appearance of clones, and possibly even worse.
When humans turn themselves into a series of numbers, the significance of those numbers becomes even more precious.
"This is a major event! Why haven't you reported it yet?" Zhang Chenyin was anxious, but then he sat down, fingers supporting his forehead as he muttered, "Wait, wait... If such an event happens in City R, does it mean City R will be wiped out? Did you come to me because you also want to save City R?"
"I am an arbiter," 0810 looked at Zhang Chenyin, seemingly puzzled as to why he would say such a foolish thing. "For me, nothing is above safety and stability."
Zhang Chenyin nodded, realizing he must have been driven mad to say such a thing just now. Right, arbiters, AIs, within their work domain, they possessed absolute rationality. No one was more suited for the role of arbiter than them, and they would never let personal feelings influence their decisions.
"Where did the duplicate ID appear?" Zhang Chenyin asked.
"At the Winter Silence Virus Research Institute," 0810 answered.
"Duplicate ID and the Winter Silence Virus Research Institute, aren't these two heavyweight elements worth reporting?" Zhang Chenyin found it incredible.
"The duplicate ID did not appear on a researcher but on a cleaner. His monthly merit points barely keep him fed." 0810 then added, "And he refuses to acknowledge it. This hasn't affected or harmed anyone else."
Merit points, in a narrow sense, could be understood as currency, but they were essentially a more advanced, broader economic system. There were many ways to earn merit points, both in the physical and digital worlds. Any contribution could be converted into merit points. Of course, different kinds of contributions corresponded to different levels of merit points.
In the entire metaverse, all your expenses, such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, medical care, and entertainment, consumed merit points.
A person's merit points barely keeping them fed indicated how little value they had in the metaverse.
Zhang Chenyin looked at 0810 and understood why she came to him. A completely ordinary person had a duplicate ID. He didn't admit it, and it hadn't affected or harmed anyone else. They had no reason to report it, let alone open a case.
"Does that cleaner have any background?" Zhang Chenyin furrowed his brow, beginning to guess in absurd directions, "Like, does he have a legendary backstory? Or can he access the core of the Winter Silence Virus research? Or is he an AI disguised as a human?"
"Everything has been investigated. Before the Ice Age, his parents were somewhat valuable. After the Ice Age began and the underground city was built, his parents exchanged their life's merit points for a spot for him. I can confirm those were his biological parents, and I can confirm his parents are deceased, so there's no legendary backstory," 0810 explained.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chenyin smiled wryly.
Indeed, such a background wasn't remarkable. Many people in the underground city had similar stories.
He himself was one of them.
Before Earth fully entered the Ice Age, Zhang Chenyin's father, an engineer for the underground city, secured two spots for entry. But then, his mother was discovered to be pregnant. The original two spots were no longer enough. In a dilemma, his father resolutely transferred his spot to the unborn Zhang Chenyin, remaining above ground as a liaison, earning more merit points to support his wife and child.
Zhang Chenyin was born in the underground city, never witnessing the human migration but only hearing bits and pieces from his mother. He never met his father, but his mother said that when he was two, his father earned the right to visit family in the underground city due to his meritorious service. Though it was only a few days, his father was overjoyed, holding and kissing him repeatedly. Upon leaving, his father promised to work harder for more opportunities to be with him as he grew.
Two months later, news of his father's disappearance came. In the harsh conditions above ground, everyone knew what disappearance implied. Later, his mother received a substantial merit compensation and raised Zhang Chenyin healthily.
But Zhang Chenyin never saw his father again.
0810, seeing the somewhat dejected Zhang Chenyin, rarely offered an explanation, "I apologize if I expressed myself poorly just now."
"No problem. Those years saw many partings and reunions. Such events happened too often to feel strange." Zhang Chenyin shook his head, signaling 0810 to continue, "What about my other two guesses? Keep going."
"When City R was designated as the digital site for the Winter Silence Virus Research Institute, it was because City R's regulations were relatively lenient, allowing many studies that couldn't be done in the physical world. There are indeed core data here. But this cleaner mainly handles non-medical cleaning in the physical world and peripheral data cleaning in the digital world. His C-grade training and assessment limit his access," 0810 said straightforwardly. "As for an AI disguised as a human, I am AI myself, so I can identify my kind."
All his guesses were shot down, leaving only one reality—the cleaner was just an ordinary person.
An utterly ordinary person encountered a significant event.
"Let's go to City R," Zhang Chenyin sighed.
0810 glanced at the time, "It's already the end of the workday."
"I volunteer for overtime, no pay," Zhang Chenyin resigned himself. "Everything happens for a reason. If something like this happens, there must be a purpose."
Zhang Chenyin always held a skeptical attitude towards unmotivated events. Sometimes, the more ambiguous the reason, the bigger the hidden truth. Just as many said the establishment of City R was due to Zhang Chenyin's sudden whim, claiming it was his bold attempt as a novice... Regardless of the rumors, Zhang Chenyin knew in his heart—it wasn't like that, not that simple. There were no coincidences, only years of preparation, painstaking efforts, and extensive collaboration.
When Zhang Chenyin transported himself to City R via XR equipment, 0810 was already there waiting. As an arbiter, her attire in her jurisdiction was always a uniform trench coat, looking both authoritative and sharp.
However, now wasn't the time to admire beauty; their main purpose was to investigate the duplicate ID issue.
In some ways, City R was much like the underground city in the physical world. There was never daylight here, but there were always flashing neon lights. The Winter Silence Virus Research Institute was perhaps the most building-like structure in the entire city-state. At least it was a regular rectangular building, unlike the other buildings which were either bizarrely shaped or enveloped in a mix of lights and colors.
"This city looks very improper," was 0810's first impression of City R.
Her opinion hadn't changed.
"Have you considered issuing a 'City Building Image Regulation Agreement'? I can help gather the data," 0810 suggested.
Zhang Chenyin shook his head, "I quite like it this way, free."
He then quickened his pace.
The Winter Silence Virus Research Institute was neither too far nor too near from their spawn point. While uncertain about the cleaner's specific off-duty time, it was better to be early.
XR equipment could help them quickly enter the digital world or perform coordinate transfers within it, but each city had a few fixed spawn points. Otherwise, suddenly appearing on the street could cause traffic and safety hazards.
"Get on," 0810's motorcycle stopped in front of Zhang Chenyin. "I'll take you there."
The dark red motorcycle had sleek and beautiful lines, exceptionally cool, but Zhang Chenyin glanced at the rear seat and immediately shook his head. His design for City R's construction granted extensive freedom, leading to various road surfaces, such as wavy ones.
He didn't want to experience flying or risk being thrown off if he didn't hold on tight.
"Alright, I'll wait for you there," 0810 wasn't one to dither. She swiftly turned and sped off.
At the same time, splashing mud water onto Zhang Chenyin's face.
Looking at the mud spots on his avatar, Zhang Chenyin cursed inwardly: Which b*st*rd turned on the weather system? He clearly stated, only enable the weather system when necessary.
Necessary situations referred to—holiday needs, review requirements, or emotional needs caused by heartbreak.
When Zhang Chenyin arrived at the Winter Silence Virus Research Institute, 0810 had already parked her motorcycle and was waiting. Standing beside 0810 was an avatar with an extremely ordinary appearance.
A simple template face, without any memorable features.
Everyone in the digital world had their avatars. Expensive ones were custom-designed, while ordinary avatars came from different template levels. The cheapest were like this one, allocated based on job requirements, representing only the professional identity without any personalization. It even had limited facial expressions, looking quite stiff.
"He's the witness, but he only saw it once," 0810 introduced.
"He only saw it once?" Zhang Chenyin confirmed.
0810 nodded, "After I got the news, I immediately investigated. I also saw it once. But it was fleeting, and the duplicate ID disappeared afterward."
"So no evidence remains? Great, another reason not to file a case," Zhang Chenyin sighed.
"I'm sure I didn't see wrong…" The silent avatar suddenly spoke, his voice low and somewhat timid.
"Hello, I'm Zhang Chenyin." Zhang Chenyin put on a polite smile, sincerely introducing himself and then extending his hand, "What should I call you?"
Seemingly surprised by Zhang Chenyin's politeness, the other cautiously extended his hand for a brief shake before responding, "I'm cleaner number 018."
"Number 018? What about a name? Or a nickname?" Zhang Chenyin smiled, "Names always have special meanings for humans, don't they? Calling each other by numbers feels a bit odd."
"Cheng Shuangxin." Whether speaking to Zhang Chenyin or himself, the other repeated, "My name is Cheng Shuangxin."
Zhang Chenyin nodded, then said, "Alright, Shuangxin, it's inconvenient to talk here. I know a nearby café. Shall we go there?"
The other quickly nodded. Then Zhang Chenyin led them to a familiar café. The environment and privacy were good, though the coffee… In the digital world, coffee had the appearance, aroma, and flavor but was more like an atmosphere prop. You couldn't actually drink it unless you placed an order and specified a physical world address.
In Zhang Chenyin's unique explanation: A sensory experience coffee costs 1 merit point, actual consumption costs 5 merit points.
The fivefold price difference determined whether you experienced a feeling or drank real coffee.
After sitting down, Zhang Chenyin didn't rush into the duplicate ID issue but chose to chat about Cheng Shuangxin's daily life. Once Cheng Shuangxin relaxed and opened up, Zhang Chenyin asked, "What do you know about that person?"
"That person?" Cheng Shuangxin was initially puzzled, then quickly realized, "You mean 017, right? He joined at the same time as me, and we trained together. He's very quiet, talks very little, just like me, a bit slow in learning. That's why we both ended up with C-level certificates."
"So, you should be quite familiar with each other?" Training and working together, it should be hard not to be familiar.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Shuangxin shook his head, "Not familiar. I said he talks very little, not just to strangers, but to everyone. Even with us, he rarely speaks. We don't know his name, never had a gathering after work."
Zhang Chenyin expected some reclusiveness but didn't anticipate it to this extent.
"Your work includes both physical and digital worlds, right?" After speaking, Zhang Chenyin adjusted his wording, "Of course, you usually call them the real world and the virtual world. I want to ask about his appearance in the real world?"