Zhang Chenyin originally thought that after 0810 reported the issue, the Alliance would handle it the next day. However, he didn't expect the Alliance's attention and caution to be far beyond his imagination—a crisis meeting was convened that very night.
After entering the digital world through his work pod and arriving at the conference hall, Zhang Chenyin felt an unprecedentedly oppressive atmosphere.
He looked around to identify the attendees, and his sense of foreboding grew stronger.
There were fewer than a hundred participants in this meeting, but each played a crucial role.
Zhang Chenyin had been reluctant for 0810 to report the issue, fearing it would escalate because he knew that the conservatives and progressives were in a fierce conflict.
Technology had indeed brought many conveniences to life and work, but human thinking inherently precluded any permanent consensus.
For every advocate of technology, there was an opponent.
Conservatives and progressives each held their own views, and neither could convince the other.
At this critical juncture, the issue of duplicate IDs arose. How could the conservatives not seize upon this incident to make a big deal?
Zhang Chenyin glanced at Professor Zhao, who sat nearby. The elderly man, with his white hair, was massaging his temples in resignation.
Zhang Chenyin was among the last batch of students Professor Zhao taught and was one of his prized pupils. The successful construction of City R owed much to Professor Zhao. Now, with such an issue at hand, Zhang Chenyin naturally felt deeply guilty.
"Don't show that expression," 0810 quietly reminded him.
"What expression?" Zhang Chenyin was puzzled.
"The expression of someone who's done something wrong! This matter may not even be related to you, but if you admit fault now, they'll pin all the problems on you. Isn't that how you humans think?" 0810 bluntly stated.
Indeed, 0810's observations about human nature were often spot-on, hitting the nail on the head.
Zhang Chenyin nodded: yes, everything was still unknown. He couldn't presume guilt just because the issue was first discovered in City R, thereby shackling himself.
"I think your progressives should give us an explanation," said Augustine, the conservative leader, breaking the silence.
His tone was accusatory and smug, as if saying, "I knew you'd screw up eventually, and now you have."
"This matter might not be as serious as you think," Professor Zhao explained calmly, maintaining a gentlemanly demeanor without any confrontational tone.
"Don't try to deceive us with nonsense! Just because we can't write or understand those codes doesn't mean we're idiots. Duplicate IDs in your so-called secure domain isn't serious?" Augustine retorted.
It was evident he had come prepared, ready to use this incident as a point of attack.
Taking a deep breath, Professor Zhao continued, "The current situation is indeed unexpected, but we won't ignore it. We will investigate promptly and provide the public with a reasonable solution."
"Investigate promptly? Is that another way to fool us? By the time you find the truth, will the streets be full of duplicates? How will you ensure everyone's safety and property?" Augustine pressed on.
This kind of questioning made Zhang Chenyin feel suffocated; Augustine was clearly provoking.
"So, what kind of solution do you propose?" Zhang Chenyin asked.
"Shut down the digital world, abandon this so-called metaverse! Our territory is the ground beneath our feet!" Augustine was clearly prepared and had anticipated this.
Zhang Chenyin had heard this argument countless times, as had the entire progressive camp.
"Correction. We are not on the ground; we are surviving underground," Zhang Chenyin, usually mild-mannered, couldn't hold back his frustration, especially with Augustine's arrogant demeanor. His tone sharpened.
"You're proposing to shut down the digital world? Don't forget, we are currently in the digital world's conference hall. Without the convenience of technology, we couldn't have this efficient and swift meeting," Professor Zhao patted Zhang Chenyin's shoulder, signaling him to calm down.
Zhang Chenyin sat down behind Professor Zhao. Every encounter with the conservatives ended in a mess. He had tried to communicate calmly with them and had made concessions, but as 0810 pointed out, concessions often led to the other party pushing all the blame on him and then pressing further.
After several such encounters, Zhang Chenyin's patience wore thin. He couldn't understand the conservatives' black-and-white thinking. They enjoyed the conveniences of technology yet wanted to eradicate all its risks, failing to realize that everything has two sides. Humans can't be too greedy, wanting only the good without the bad, and wanting all the good things.
Augustine continued his lengthy speech, presenting his views and arguments.
Zhang Chenyin and Professor Zhao listened quietly, as did other excellent architects, core code programmers, and crucial arbiters like 0810.
They shared a common trait: they weren't adept at verbal confrontations.
During Augustine's monologue, a young programmer beside them wrote a few lines of code, creating a caricature of Augustine as a ridiculous cartoon figure.
The small fat man on the screen gesticulated wildly, making Zhang Chenyin almost laugh out loud. He managed to control himself just in time, maintaining a straight face to avoid chaos.
Finally, during Augustine's brief pause, Professor Zhao seized the opportunity to speak. "Since a problem has arisen, our task now is to solve it. Cutting everything off isn't the solution."
Augustine, still fuming, glared at Professor Zhao. "Then when will you solve it? And how?"
"Find the source," Professor Zhao replied crisply. "We must identify the root cause to address it thoroughly. And consider this: could this phenomenon also exist in the physical world?"
"Duplicates in the physical world?" Augustine sneered. "Human uniqueness isn't like this damned technology. Cloning humans isn't simple. Besides, cloning has long been banned. Any cloning-related research would be asking for trouble. So, the physical world is safe."
Shaking his head, Professor Zhao replied, "Nothing is absolutely safe. Humans have never lived in an entirely safe environment. We always face various problems, some self-inflicted, others caused by external factors."
Augustine was momentarily speechless. He wanted to refute but couldn't deny the current living conditions.
Not intending to argue further, Professor Zhao continued, "Our investigation will focus on identifying the source of these duplicate IDs and determining their spread. This scope includes both the digital and physical worlds."
Augustine wanted to continue, but Professor Zhao, losing patience, calmly said, "If you have more thoughts, report them to higher authorities. We always comply with arrangements."
Professor Zhao's confidence stemmed from knowing higher authorities wouldn't abandon the digital world entirely. Despite the escalating conflict between conservatives and progressives, higher authorities aimed to mediate, recognizing valid points on both sides.
Conservatives resisted current technology, blaming rapid advancements for humanity's predicament. They advocated staying in the physical world to combat viruses and harsh conditions rather than living in digital fantasies, especially with the alarming duplicate ID issue.
Progressives couldn't accept this, arguing that the digital world enabled experiments unfeasible in the physical world, improving efficiency. They viewed the digital world as another frontier for humanity, a more inclusive one.
The duplicate ID incident was seen as an anomaly, perhaps caused by a programmer's error.
After the meeting, Zhang Chenyin felt utterly exhausted. The situation had escalated, but no one was at fault. It was an unintended incident, a situation everyone hoped to avoid.
Determined, Zhang Chenyin vowed to find the culprit and ensure they paid the price for toying with humanity.
Seeing Zhang Chenyin emerge from the pod, Xie Han immediately asked, "How did it go? Was it resolved smoothly?"
Unsure how to answer, Zhang Chenyin didn't want to worry Xie Han but also didn't want to lie. Given Professor Zhao's words, future investigations would extend to the physical world.
Zhang Chenyin had never been good at lying to Xie Han. His hesitation was enough for her to sense something was wrong.
"Tell me. What are you hiding?" Xie Han asked.
Over the years, Xie Han had been both mother and father to Zhang Chenyin, taking care of his daily needs and offering psychological support.
During the stressful early days of City R's construction, Xie Han had been his constant support, encouraging and comforting him, even though she knew little about the digital world. Her unwavering belief in him had been a great comfort.
Only a parent's unconditional trust could offer such reassurance.
Zhang Chenyin recounted the meeting, venting about Augustine's infuriating behavior.
"Your father knew Augustine and thought highly of him. Who would've thought you two would clash like this? What a twist of fate," Xie Han said with a smile.
This reminded Zhang Chenyin that his father had been a conservative. To them, Augustine was a spiritual leader.
With a wry smile, Zhang Chenyin said, "If Father were here now, would we argue because of our differing stances?"
"Perhaps," Xie Han nodded seriously.
Sighing, Zhang Chenyin cautioned, "The upcoming investigation might extend to the physical world. Stay vigilant; who knows what tricks might be at play. Augustine was right about one thing: cloning is banned. If they aim to infiltrate the physical world, they'll find another way."
Nodding, Xie Han assured, "I'll keep an eye out too."
As Zhang Chenyin prepared for bed, Xie Han called him back.
"By the way, are you free tomorrow evening? An auntie invited us for dinner. She has a daughter…"
Before she could finish, Zhang Chenyin interrupted, "Mom, I'm only nineteen. Isn't it a bit early for this?"
"Early? How long do you think people live now? Do you really think you'll make it to seventy or eighty? You're an adult now; it's time to consider these things. You've never even had a girlfriend…"
Clearly, Xie Han had switched to her nagging mode.