Chapter 71
I AM GOD
The experts stop their work and bow to the leader. The congressman smiles and waves his hand to signal everyone to continue the experiment. He carefully observes everyone's position.
Three people climb up the ladder to reach the shelves filled with research tools, specimens, and herbs. The other six plug their heads into computers.
Technological trusses stand around a huge glass tube, mechanically connected to countless wires that plug into sockets at the bottom. The tube is filled with lightly bubbling green water. Inside are specimens, animal embryos, and artificial embryos.
He goes to ask about the work. They say everything is fine and that they are racing against time to wrap up the summary ceremony. The congressman nods and looks up at the arc-shaped shelves running along both sides of the room. Between the two shelves is a fairly large space where the black safe rests on an iron platform.
A combination of cameras and surveillance equipment is densely layered on the ceiling, constantly rotating to scan every corner. The congressman glances at the chandelier on the ceiling, positioned centrally to monitor a suite of technologies.
Normally it is a lamp, but if someone touches the safe illegally, it fires a laser to burn the intruder into a living torch, while alerting the entire biological research institute.
If attacked and the guards are overwhelmed, it sends a distress signal to the nearest police station and military camp. The national treasure in the safe is absolutely protected. Personnel and experts are completely assured that there is no need to worry about incidents. Trust collapses because the lights go out.
The congressman presses the "#" button on his Halo, and the electronic eye attached to his cornea, which provides vision for the old man, now functions to see in the dark. He sees everything clearly, while everyone makes a lot of noise.
The Biological Research Institute has never lost power. The unbelievable becomes true, leaving everyone confused:
- Oh my god! Are you kidding me?
- What the hell is this? Is it an intruder or a hacker attack?
- Stop talking nonsense! The technology of The Sun Kingdom is the best in the world. The congressman upgrades it personally, so there can be no mistakes!
One person searches for a flashlight in the desk drawer, while another pulls out his cell phone, fumbles with the button to turn on the light but it does not come on, presses it until the button retracts into the machine, but to no avail. They grow angry and curse, each uttering noisy sentences:
- Whoever is standing anywhere must stay exactly where they are. Close your eyes in case the power comes back on; sudden bright light can harm your eyes!
The reminder makes everyone suddenly recall the lab equipped with radioactive lamps, which were used to provide warmth and maintain the temperature of research samples. These lamps also preserved other devices, ensuring they operated stably and extended the lifespan of all technology.
Although it possesses many advantages, it also has a dangerous drawback: daily exposure is not a problem. But if electricity is lost and then restored, the radioactive light increases sharply, causing damage to the retina.
Technology history has recorded that such a case has once happened. After that past event, nations have focused on upgrading the eternal power system. Since then, the world has not had any unfortunate incidents, but now the nightmare has returned and has threatened, making the staff turn pale with fear and shut their eyes in panic. One of them speaks up to ask:
- Mr. Congressman, is there really a problem with technology?
The speaker system connects to the outside by an audio signal. This signal separates from the other systems, and it still works even during a power outage. Some people ask aloud:
- Is there electricity outside?
- Hey, can anyone hear, please answer?
The captain appeals for calm:
- There is no electricity in the basement. The door locks automatically and we cannot get in. It could be a short circuit or a system failure.
- Strange, why doesn't the congressman say anything?
- Sir, are you okay?
After ten minutes, the system will return to normal. The congressman completely ignores everything and takes the opportunity to get close to the safe. He presses the "#" key again. Halo immediately instructs the electronic eye to search.
The technology, ahead of its time, can crack and unlock any password on any device or machine in the world. The congressman fears security's investigation. Although it is difficult to trace, he is nonetheless more or less suspected, so it cannot be cracked.
The user must concentrate, eliminate all noise around him, and focus the neurons in the brain. The neurons quickly activate EQ to adjust, control, and rebalance the mind if it is too tense. At the same time, IQ activates to pass the thinking to the electronic eye to judge the installation method.
A month ago, the head of the institute said that the person who encrypted the safe was a general in the army. The congressman investigates the general and finds that he is upright, resolute, profound, and very good at hiding his true feelings, so no one knows what he is thinking. It is really difficult to grasp a person who is so discreet.
The old general has never taken familiar things like birthdays. Unpredictable people never use things related to their family, wives and children, loved ones, let alone friends, to make passwords.
The congressman has taken the initiative to get acquainted in order to find out more information. But he still has not detected what he is searching for. He has been helpless for a month, not to mention that there have only been six minutes left.
The tight time pressures him psychologically. The congressman curses in his mind, and then tells himself that he has to calm down.
After what happens today, the government will change the entire system. He may be dismissed and severely punished. Everything ends, and he can no longer dream of getting close to the safe.
The ticking of the clock on the wall keeps pounding in his head while he thinks hazily, it takes him a minute to get rid of the urging sound.
The congressman closes his eyes and analyzes. For a month he has been secretly observing the general and has found that he has liked to hunt and capture enemies alive.
He has had the knack of blindfolded shooting flying discs with 99% accuracy. He has liked stillness and has hated dynamic scenes. He has liked ink wash painting and has been allergic to pollen, has refused to sit in the front of the car and has always chosen the end seat.
From that mess, countless options are provided in a few seconds. He turns on the virtual reality technology in his eyes and enters each password in turn. All operations are extremely fast, but unfortunately all the passwords are wrong.
Four minutes left…
Sweat seeps out of his forehead and soaks the back of his clothes. The congressman uses too much brain in a short period of time. His endurance is about to exceed the limit, but he still analyzes calmly.
Every solution provided by the electronic eye is wrong. The old general uses his hobbies, specialties, loves, and hates, combined with super technology to make coding.
There are devices in the world that can break, open, and detect, so of course people must create machines that are resistant to breaking and opening, set up the settings, and combine human intelligence to create passwords.
On the congressman's side, as long as the correct information is filled in, the electronic eye can bypass the alarm firewall in the safe and leave no trace.
Another minute passes…
The answer is still hidden in the messy data. Sometimes he thinks he has found the right number and enters it, but it reports an error again. Time is running out, and he has only one more chance to enter the password.
If it is still incorrect, the safe automatically issues an intrusion warning, and the silent wave is directly transmitted to the Security Bureau of Prehistoric Kingdom. This is a state secret, and no machine in the world can invalidate it.
The congressman once eavesdropped on two people in the House of Commons saying that this super system was the idea of a little girl. Three years ago, a 15‑year‑old girl participated in the National Information Technology Competition.
The press severely criticized the organizers for being unfair and deliberately favoring those born with a silver spoon in their mouth and relatives of wealthy people.
The little girl was unfairly treated by the referee, but because she was poor, alone, and helpless, she had to accept the consolation prize.
A year later, a professor at the National Information Technology Commission used the idea. That old guy added some details to create a super system.
Connoisseurs found that even with the subtle modifications, the technology was still basically that of the little girl, even its functions were worse than the original.
Injustice still remained unjust. The council denied all allegations of stealing grey matter. They released false evidence that the professor had worked on the system years ago and now that it was complete, he officially published it.
Some people in the scientific community had a voice and fought for the poor little girl. The person who spoke out most strongly against injustice and supported the demand for justice was a disabled professor. He was the most renowned scientist in the field of science and technology. But just because he was eccentric, inventing bizarre things that were impractical and even considered delusional or insane, the desk‑bound scientists and jealous rivals mocked him as the "mad professor."
The number of people who supported him was not small, but they could not stand against the monsters who were too numerous and ferocious.
The press and media oriented public opinion, this country's monster was led by the nose like a cow. Countless people initially demanded clarification of black and white, to "return her name." Everyone turned 180 degrees toward suspicion and envy, attacked, despised that little girl's idea as just a wrong version compared to the professor's super system. Many people defended the little girl, but they could not fight against crowd psychology—nothing except… dangerous.
He heard that the little girl's name was Lan. The congressman is shocked. His granddaughter is called Lan, and this year she is the same age as that little girl. Lan is extremely skilled in computer technology.
The hackers of the corporation were helpless. All modern equipment tried to crack the password but failed, and none of them could open the virtual space containing the deal.
At that time, he went home to check the list of contestants from three years ago. The congressman smashed everything in the room again, feeling resentful because his granddaughter had to suffer injustice and was cursed by the block of life.
The vultures under his command, each animal mastering the art of pecking at corpses, rushed forward to tear apart the relatives of the congressman. He resented and blamed fate for not allowing an early reunion to protect the family.
He cried all night. The grandfather begged to hug his granddaughter, but she was still as cold as a corpse and did not respond to his warm heart.
The resentment of that day has increased his motivation to find the password. Today he must enjoy the joy to make up for the sadness. But there are only two minutes left, and only one chance to re-enter the password. The numbers are still playing hide-and-seek in the messy data.
Wait... hide and seek?
The word hide and seek reminds him of his youngest granddaughter. Every time he came to visit, the little girl asked to play a guessing game of numbers hidden in hobbies, strengths, weaknesses, fortes, dislikes, and anything else she saw or thought of. The grandfather asked:
"What do those things have to do with numbers?"
The granddaughter smiled and said:
"You are so stupid. We just need to replace each item with the appropriate numbers!"
The grandfather still didn't understand:
"How to change it?"
The granddaughter immediately mentioned her sister:
"Sister Lan likes orchids, and the number 8 is suitable for her because it is the number most similar to flowers. She is very good at studying computers, and her scores are always 10, and they never drop to 9. Sister Suong not only loves martial arts but also archery, the number 5 looks exactly like a bow. She likes dew condensed on flower petals, so she gets up earlier than anyone else in the family to admire them. Sister Lan is number 8, 10, and 18, while Sister Suong is number 1, 5, and 15."
The granddaughter was out of breath and had difficulty breathing. The grandfather gently stroked her chest, patted her back, and poured her some water:
"Drink slowly, or you'll choke!"
The granddaughter laughed until her eyes closed and talked about her mother:
"My mother likes to watch costume dramas. Gentleman Kingdom makes the best costume dramas. I heard that Gentleman people like the number 9 very much. If it has anything to do with my mother, grandfather can take the number 9!"
He asked enthusiastically:
"What else does your mother like or hate?"
The granddaughter counted each knuckle and said:
"A lot! Mother likes to drink pure condensed milk! She likes to drink tea from The Sun Kingdom and admires the tea ceremony of that country! Mother likes to eat sapodilla, fried bananas pickled in honey, and she likes wet jam mixed with sugar!"
The granddaughter put her finger on her chin, trying to remember if there was anything left, and then uttered an "ah":
"Mother really hates revealing clothes and prefers to wear prudent and plain clothes, but she still gets teased. Mother once slapped an uneducated guy in the face leaving his face burning because he dared to pat her butt in a crowded place, grandfather!"
The congressman is immersed in a rare happiness. He is alerted by the electronic eye's warning that only one minute remains. He is surprisingly calm, and his mind is much more at ease than usual.
Maybe it is because he is truly happy only when he is with his youngest granddaughter.
He truly understands what it means to enjoy life.
If he is hated by the whole world and is abandoned by his family in the future — he is deeply afraid of being abandoned...
But somehow, he firmly believes that the innocent, pure, and lovely granddaughter of his is not going to abandon her grandfather.
This trust is absolute and will never be broken...
And because of the creative, clever game, his imagination is activated and his level of thinking improves. The general starts as a nobody and must begin his military career with nothing in his hands, which is synonymous with two zeros.
He likes to hunt down and capture the enemy alive. Of course, he needs to have handcuffs, number eight, so the third number is 8. He shoots a flying saucer with 99% accuracy, so he enters two nines. He likes quiet scenes like lakes, with number 1 symbolizing the water element in the Five Elements, implicitly thinking that he is the best.
He hates dynamic scenes...
The congressman is immersed in a rare happiness. He is alerted by the electronic eye's warning that only one minute remains. He is surprisingly calm, and his mind is much more at ease than usual.
Maybe it is because he is truly happy only when he is with his youngest granddaughter.
He truly understands what it means to enjoy life.
If he is hated by the whole world and is abandoned by his family in the future — he is deeply afraid of being abandoned...
But somehow, he firmly believes that the innocent, pure, and lovely granddaughter of his is not going to abandon her grandfather.
This trust is absolute and will never be broken...
And because of the creative, clever game, his imagination is activated and his level of thinking improves. The general starts as a nobody and must begin his military career with nothing in his hands, which is synonymous with two zeros.
He likes to hunt down and capture the enemy alive. Of course, he needs to have handcuffs, number eight, so the third number is 8. He shoots a flying saucer with 99% accuracy, so he enters two nines. He likes quiet scenes like lakes, with number 1 symbolizing the water element in the Five Elements, implicitly thinking that he is the best.
He hates dynamic scenes...
The congressman cannot think of the corresponding number for the time being, so he takes a risk and chooses... the earthquake.
Land belongs to the earth element, corresponding to the numbers 0, 5, and 10. But he does not know which number to enter first, which number to follow, or whether the old general will only choose one number.
The congressman is wondering when the electronic eye suddenly shows the image of the mighty general commanding the 105th division, and he immediately enters the number.
The old general likes ink painting. This painting usually features mountains, water, and trees. Mountains also belong to the land and are an Earth element, so they must be chosen as 5 and 10. The third number is 510, the general's total number of victories.
Water belongs to the water element, but since the number 1 was already chosen before, this time he takes the number 6 corresponding to wealth.
Trees are the wood element corresponding to the numbers 3 and 8, and after the number 6 is wealth, it must be a big fortune, that is, 8.
Flowers are the number 8, and because he is allergic to pollen, he wants to break it in two, which means two zeros.
The car is metal, which belongs to the metal element, and corresponds to the numbers 4 and 9. No one chooses the number 4 because it sounds like the word for death, but the general does not like to sit in front of the car, so the default choice is 4 rather than 9. The car exhaust pipe is at the end of the car, and the general chooses to sit there again. The two hot exhaust pipes belong to the fire element, corresponding to 2 and 7.
The congressman nervously enters the last number and swallows his dry saliva. His eyeballs bulge out as if being dug out, and he stares at the safe's lock turning extremely fast. His sweat drips down his face; he is eager but extremely worried. The fear of entering the wrong number immediately carves countless wrinkles into his face.
He hears the second hand running rapidly, as if the object wanting to rob his dream is crossing the lock and running to the finish line first. Just as the congressman's strength is about to run out, the second hand makes a triumphant sound, the lock suddenly... stops turning... then... opens the safe.
At the moment when he is afraid that his heart will break, the congressman feels that the clock is standing still and the second hand can no longer move.
He knows that excessive pressure produces hallucinations. But in fact, time waits for no one, and until the last second, it is still determined to overthrow him.
From the beginning, the congressman has activated the acceleration function of physical and brain activities faster than usual.
At this time, he still presses the # key to push his brain to the limit, forcing his central nervous system to run at full capacity.
Both hands open the cane, take out the fake specimen, exchange it with the specimen in the safe, put the real thing into the cane, press the button to close the cane, and lock the safe as before.
All the actions take less than ten seconds, and he tries to return to the original place before the power goes out. His feet sweep the wind and run faster than Hoang Kim.
Just as the soles of his shoes reach the finish line, he falls and faints before the lights come back on again. Everyone has no time to rejoice, and then they scream:
- The congressman is unconscious!
- Call for help!
Can you hear me from outside? The congressman has fainted, call the medical team!
The crowd gathers around him. They do not dare touch him, fearing that if the disaster spreads, the innocent will be affected. If the congressman dies, those foolish enough to approach will be accused of assassinating him and become scapegoats to calm public opinion.
The shouting stops when the medical staff run into the room. They check his whole body and try their best to save his life.
The congressman opens his eyes hazily and sees the male doctor who is about to perform CPR.
The congressman has goose bumps but still lies still and lets the doctor give first aid. The actor must complete this excellent role.
Sweat drips down his pale face; his body is too weak to stand up, his eyes lack vitality, he is sluggish, and he sees one image turn into three or four.
All the symptoms are real. The medical team says that the congressman faints due to mental fatigue, his mental disorder is stretched tighter than a bowstring and could snap at any moment. People discuss:
- Maybe he has suffered a stroke after working hard for a month?
- The congressman is more diligent than us and works longer hours than anyone else. Burnout seems inevitable.
The congressman feels a little tickle at the back of his neck after hearing the last sentence and thanks them for their care:
- Sorry... I'm sorry... I scared everyone... I have the most severe degree of fear of the dark. Whenever I am threatened by the darkness, I become as miserable as a dead fish!
Everyone laughs at the joke. Two doctors help the congressman to a nearby folding bed. He frantically searches for his cane, and a medical worker picks it up for him. The congressman thanks the man and asks him to hold it.
After half an hour of rest, he recovers quite a bit of strength. He waves goodbye, and the experts bow. He holds the shoulders of the person who helps him out of the basement.
The congressman appears, and everyone breathes a sigh of relief, asking enthusiastically about his health.
The bodyguard squeezes through the crowd, showing clear panic. The congressman laughs secretly at his subordinate's acting skills, which are comparable to his own:
- I'm still alive, not dead, don't worry!
The congressman can still joke freely, so everyone feels safer. He motions for someone to help lead him into the room for the security team to check. The head of the institute plays the flatterer:
- You are not fully recovered yet. Please wait until your body is no longer tired; it is not too late to check. But no one may suspect a person who has just had a stroke. Although the basement has lost power, the safe containing the specimens is still operating quietly. Since it always remains silent, I think this procedure may be skipped...
The congressman interrupts harshly:
- Strictly follow the rules and regulations in all cases. No exceptions for anyone. We are government people, so we must set an example for others!
Everyone applauds the congressman for being selfless, impartial, honest, and upright. The doctor helps him sit on the chair. The person holding the cane places it next to the congressman.
All go out and let the security team check. The machine scans the congressman's entire body and cane. The technology in the cane activates its anti-scan function. The security results are displayed on the screen. The congressman immediately calls his driver-cum-bodyguard:
- Wang Saja, come in!
Saja brings the wheelchair into the room, helps the congressman sit up straight, puts the cane in the boss's hand, and pushes him to the parking lot. The head of the institute and many others run along to flatter and curry favor with him.
The congressman smiles and responds enthusiastically until they get into the car. Both sides end the greeting–farewell ceremony with the strong smell of power and fame.
The bodyguard says goodbye to everyone politely, presses the gas, and takes the congressman out of the biological research institute. Saja glances at the rearview mirror, the edge of his mouth slightly raised as he watches his boss trembling, the stick in his hand shaking violently.
The congressman is full of excitement.
The excitement heats the cold sweat soaking his face, turning his once dark-gray complexion into a blazing red.
The excitement pulls the corners of his mouth all the way to his ears:
- Ha... Ha... Ha... this world is mine! I am the king, I am supreme, I am God... I will become the Creator God to cleanse this corrupt, necrotic world... I will cleanse all the promiscuity... perversion... morbidity... madness... jealousy... envy... greed for fame... greed for profit... stupidity... just like animals in a huge cage that imprisons a bunch of crazy beasts. Ha... Ha... Ha... I will create a perfect world without painful tears, only happy laughter!
I AM GOD!
Saja smiles sinisterly while driving. His expression is cold to his enemies and lecherous toward women. But it is only a slight curl of the lips compared to the dark boss's bottomless black mouth. The congressman laughs rapturously, madly, wildly like a devil, fully satisfied as he responds to the praise:
- Congratulations, boss, you are about to become the lord of all creatures! The God of Gods!
The theatricality, the breathtaking victory at the last second... pushes the excitement to a climax that exceeds all limits of feelings.
Excitement swirls deep within his eyes like a cosmic black hole.
The God of the future enjoys looking at the human race and all things in the world... all are being sucked into the invisible cage in his eyes by the halo of the God of Creation. Everyone still kneels on the ground, opens their arms in worship, and looks up at the God of Gods:
"Eternal… eternal… eternal!"
He smiles triumphantly and hears the dream world shouting eternal. The congressman opens his cane and admires the globe-shaped specimen.
For thirty years, the desire to possess this small object like a ping-pong ball exhausts his heart, erodes his spirit, and suppresses his reason... forcing him to abandon his conscience and be cruel to his son.
Because of this object that changes the world, he muddies his own flesh and blood. His bloodline is tainted... then the peach blood drowns flesh and blood in hell with no escape...
The joy on the congressman's lips is snuffed out, the corners of his mouth twitch with every sob, the black hole of the universe disappears in bitter tears. The only feeling now is grievance.
Grievances create a happy world for mankind. Ironically, that perfect world has no family...
No relatives.
No joy at all.
He is just a god without a soul.
A phantom without shape.
A monster without a heart.
God is not happy if he cannot be with his angels.
The desire for family affection prompts God to return to the little angel.
- Benevolence Hospital!
Saja cannot understand why the boss is so happy, suddenly silent, and he cries until his eyes are red. But when he hears about the Benevolence Hospital, he realizes that his boss is tormenting his conscience.
He thinks the master has a heart of stone and iron. He is wrong. Iron and stone are just the cover of the heart. That cover may have melted... a long time ago.
- Yes, sir!