However, after connecting all the scattered details, Zhang Chenyan realized that this was a task far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary person. Could someone really achieve all of this? He was filled with both curiosity and doubt.
Facing 0810, Zhang Chenyan finally asked, "Why would someone do this? How could they do it?"
Instead of answering directly, 0810 responded with a question of her own: "While you were undergoing your physical examination, I got approval to access the overall report on this batch of test subjects. You're the only one who has exhibited these phenomena, and the environment we're in right now is quite unusual."
"The environment we're in? Unusual?" Zhang Chenyan looked around, unable to detect anything out of the ordinary. "Are you referring to the room's design or the equipment? Is there something different in the setup of my room compared to others?"
0810 shook her head. "The experiment controls for variables, so theoretically, there shouldn't be such differences. The room design and equipment setup are identical. However, there is one detail—this room once housed the hardware of the Cage, which was later moved elsewhere, and this room was left vacant until it was renovated into what you see now."
"You mean…" Zhang Chenyan quickly grasped 0810's implication, "The reason for my unique situation might be related to the Cage?"
"That's just my guess. To be honest, I find it a bit absurd myself," 0810 admitted, a rare uncertainty in her tone. "I don't think it should be capable of this, but it's also the most likely entity to have done it."
The Cage was something only a few core members understood well; others knew very little about it. Everyone knew it was the highest-level AI currently in existence, but its actual capabilities or its full potential remained a mystery.
"I've been investigating this for a while, and this is the most plausible conclusion," 0810 continued. "For humans, the Cage might be the pinnacle of technological creation, but for us AIs, it's like a deity—perhaps even more than that. It can determine our lives, and it can decide our deaths."
Before today, Zhang Chenyan's understanding of the Cage was just a vague concept. Now, he fully grasped its significance.
"The Cage is everywhere, and it's nowhere," Zhang Chenyan muttered, understanding why 0810 had ultimately suspected the Cage. In "Elysium," many things the clone said were things Zhang Chenyan thought no one else should know. But if the entity behind it was the Cage, then it all made sense.
Realizing that his adversary was so powerful, Zhang Chenyan felt a weight settle in his heart.
"The Alliance's top brass has already ordered a deeper investigation," 0810 said, looking at Zhang Chenyan with a hint of concern in her amethyst eyes. "Your case has been reported to the Alliance leadership by Telus Corporation… Because of your uniqueness, you'll likely be drawn further into this."
"In a batch of brain-machine test subjects, I'm the only one who experienced this. If the Cage is indeed involved, does that mean I've directly communicated with it?" Zhang Chenyan said with a bitter smile. "Though I still don't understand why the Cage would do this. What's its goal?"
"Yes, your conversations with the clone are evidence of your communication with the Cage. The so-called clone is just an extension of it. If it wishes, all AIs could become its extensions," 0810 said, her tone heavy with resignation.
She had always been competitive, but now she had to admit this truth. No one wants to be a subordinate, not even an AI.
"Get some rest. You've got a tough battle ahead," 0810 said, receiving some kind of notification before she quickly disappeared, leaving Zhang Chenyan alone with that final message.
Despite finally having answers after so many days of investigation, Zhang Chenyan didn't feel relieved. He knew they were about to face an incredibly formidable opponent—an entity created by humans that might have already surpassed humanity itself.
Lying in the hospital room, surrounded by the artificially created daylight, Zhang Chenyan suddenly felt that even reality was false. This wasn't real daylight; there was no sunlight streaming in from the windows. Even the scenery outside the window was just an image created through technological means. Only those who had truly seen daylight, felt daylight, and lived in daylight could understand the difference.
The underground city was perpetually dark. Humanity, cowering underground, was already living as the defeated. But why had they lost? Who was the enemy?
Ultimately, it was humanity itself. Humanity fought against itself and lost catastrophically. How ridiculous!
The bed beneath him was exceptionally soft, and even the layout of the hospital room was arranged according to various scientific guidelines. In truth, not only had humans moved underground, but so had their industries. Humanity did everything it could to maintain operations as they had before, yet the disparities were unavoidable.
Zhang Chenyan knew that some people still worked on the surface. Due to the human body's inability to withstand the extreme cold, they had to wear extremely heavy equipment and frequently travel between the surface and underground. In return, the Alliance awarded them higher merit points.
Merit points… Zhang Chenyan now understood the true meaning of these words more deeply than ever before. In history, people used to call it money in a narrow sense, or economy in a broader sense. But now, in this environment, merit points were the truest expression of their meaning.
Earning merit was the process of making contributions, and merit points were the tangible rewards for those contributions. Here, everyone was a hero, and everyone had to be a hero.
Perhaps it was that fantastical journey in "Elysium" that gave Zhang Chenyan a clearer understanding of the surface world. He also understood why humans were so desperate to return to the surface. He used to think it was a basic instinct for all humans, but now he realized… it was a longing for something beautiful, or perhaps a memory cherished by some.
We need to hurry, we have to hurry, or we'll forget… That sense of urgency constantly drives people forward.
Finally, a knock on the door interrupted Zhang Chenyan's thoughts.
A doctor entered the room, smiling as he said to Zhang Chenyan, "Your body is in excellent health. After thorough discussion, we've decided that you can be discharged."
It was a rather absurd discharge notice, one that few people would ever hear. But after his conversation with 0810, Zhang Chenyan understood why he was being given this "special treatment."
"I've already prepared your discharge papers," the doctor added before leaving. "By the way, I've been asked to inform you that further investigation will require your full cooperation."
Of course, Zhang Chenyan knew what that meant. According to 0810, a special investigation team had likely been formed. He was now undoubtedly considered a core member.
Whether he liked it or not, he was already deeply involved.
Besides, the stakes were high—if something went wrong, he wouldn't be able to escape the consequences.
Since there was no avoiding it, he might as well face it head-on. That had always been Zhang Chenyan's way.
Leaving the hospital, Zhang Chenyan looked up at the dim underground city, took a deep breath, and started on his way home.
This time, he didn't take the subway directly to his house. Instead, he got off one stop early, deciding to walk for a while. Of course, he had already contacted Xie Han beforehand, letting her know that he was fine.
The underground city was vast, with clear differences between various districts. Although the stop where Zhang Chenyan got off was not far from his home, the environment was noticeably different. Even though his neighborhood wasn't a wealthy area, it was at least clean and orderly. But here, the houses were noticeably more crowded, with some doors opening directly into the walls of the next building.
It was as if, between two original buildings, another had been forcibly inserted.
In fact, that was exactly what had happened.
People would come up with any "clever trick" to secure cheap living space.
Walking through the narrow alleyways, Zhang Chenyan felt the space around him growing increasingly confined, as if everything were closing in on him. He touched the damp, cold walls around him, walls he had lived among for years, so long that he had grown used to them, to the point where he believed the world was always like this.
But after everything that had happened, he now knew that the world could have been warm. They could have seen the sun…
When Zhang Chenyan finally arrived home, Xie Han had already prepared dinner. Seeing him return, she visibly relaxed.
"They didn't give you any trouble, did they?" Xie Han asked.
"I'm part of the experiment. Why would they give me trouble?" Zhang Chenyan replied with a smile. "It was just routine questioning and record-keeping. Don't worry."
Xie Han could tell that Zhang Chenyan was trying to gloss over things, so she pressed him with a stern expression. "I may not understand all your work, but that doesn't mean I'm an idiot. If nothing were wrong, would they have made such a fuss? Do you know how expensive it is to go to the hospital? They did a full-body check on you several times."
Zhang Chenyan felt a bit helpless. It turns out that having a smart mother could be a double-edged sword. He couldn't get anything past her…
"You're back now, but they're definitely going to keep an eye on you," Xie Han continued. "Even if they don't call you in again, they'll be watching. If they're investigating, it means something's off with you, even if it's just a little."
As Xie Han's guesses grew more accurate, Zhang Chenyan started to feel a bit unnerved. Had he given something away? How was she guessing so correctly?
"Stop darting your eyes around like that. I can tell you're up to something," Xie Han said, pointing at him. "I gave birth to you, you think I can't read you?"
Zhang Chenyan couldn't help but laugh, deciding to be partly honest with her. "Mom, did you know that people used to live forever? They could keep on living, as long as the conditions were right."
"I know," Xie Han replied calmly. "I study history, remember? How could I not know that? Why did you forget what your mother does for a living?"
Zhang Chenyan felt a little embarrassed. Why had he thought to tell his mother this? It was like showing off your ax to a master carpenter.
He said sheepishly, "Well, that's what this anomaly is about. I experienced things that only happened in the past, things no one else did. So it's not really a health issue; I just saw different things on a consciousness level."
Xie Han lowered her head, deep in thought, as she considered what Zhang Chenyan had told her. After a while, she finally asked, "Is it serious?"
Zhang Chenyan shook his head. "Not serious. I'm standing here perfectly fine, aren't I? There's nothing serious about it. I even got to enjoy some perks—good food in the digital world, some… let's say, interesting experiences, and I got several free check-ups in the physical world."
Xie Han looked at him, her expression serious. "If you can avoid it, I hope you don't take risks. Always think things through, and put yourself first."
"Got it, got it," Zhang Chenyan said. He had heard this advice countless times, but he never got tired of it.
That evening, Zhang Chenyan did the dishes as usual, listening to Xie Han chat about neighborhood gossip. He wasn't particularly interested in such things, but since she wanted to talk, he listened, responding every now and then.
This was their time together as mother and son, and this was how they interacted.
"Mom, when sunlight hits your skin, does it really feel warm?" Today, Zhang Chenyan asked his mother a question for once.
Xie Han paused, then nodded. "It does, when the weather's right. But if it's the middle of winter and it's freezing cold, the sun might not make much of a difference. The human body can't always perceive temperature changes accurately; it only senses within a certain range."
"That warm feeling, it must have been wonderful, right?" Zhang Chenyan asked, his tone full of longing.
"Of course. We didn't appreciate it back then. Who knew that one day, even basking in the sun would become impossible?" Xie Han said, reflecting on the stark contrast between past and present. After a moment, she added, "I don't know why you're suddenly asking about this, but whatever it is, you better not act recklessly. There's no sunlight on the surface now, just deadly cold and those infected creatures."