Three-body: The Most Competent Wallfacer in History

In the fourth level of the underground facility, the sound of assembly lines producing I-3 robots could be heard, but the doors on either side of the corridor were tightly shut, leaving it unclear which door led to the assembly workshop.

Jiang Yu and Wei Si, escorted by robots, entered a room, which was divided into two parts, the side Jiang Yu and his team were on.

There were some desks, computers, and other office supplies in this area, and a large display screen was mounted on the wall.

The other half was an automatic surgery table, where a surgery was currently underway, with robotic arms moving quickly as if they were very busy.

The person lying on the surgery table was the same student who had been previously stunned by electricity.

He had regained some consciousness and was now watching, terror-stricken, as a robotic arm shaved hair from the left side of his head.

His limbs, head, and torso were all secured by metal straps, leaving him completely immobilized, at the mercy of others.

A large glass partition and a tightly closed glass door separated the two halves of the room, making it difficult for Jiang Yu's side to clearly hear sounds from the other side.

The display screen on the wall suddenly lit up, showing the image of a classical Western beauty, with her hairstyle and clothing exuding a vintage Western elegance:

"Good evening to you both, I am 'Athena', and I am pleased to meet you here."

"Pleased to meet you," Jiang Yu said with a bitter smile, "although we're not exactly happy about it!"

Suddenly, a few screams came from the surgery side, drawing the attention of Jiang Yu and Wei Si.

The automatic surgery table's robotic arm had made a small hole in the student's head, and fresh blood once again stained the surgery table red.

"Athena" spoke, "You needn't sympathize with him. According to the data, he assisted in the development of a weapon targeted at the human brain.

"As of today, that weapon has caused an incurable mental illness in sixteen people, plunging sixteen families into endless pain."

Jiang Yu watched as the robotic arm skillfully sliced open the student's brain, and then stuffed a cotton-ball-sized object into his brain.

Although the student kept screaming throughout the surgery, his blood vessels did not burst, and there was no bleeding, showing the robotic arm's incision was very precise.

Jiang Yu said, "He may deserve death, but at least give him an anesthetic shot!"

"Sorry, the base has run out of anesthetics," "Athena" said. "Don't get too excited when it's your turn on the surgery table.

"Many have suffered serious brain haemorrhages from becoming too agitated during the surgery process."

Wei Si, somewhat terrified, said, "That's, that's a brain plug-in memory device! The current Brain Implant Technology still has huge side effects! I don't want it implanted!"

"Athena", smiling amicably, said, "Weiss Hilton, according to my data, you used Number Three as a test subject to deduce the mechanism behind tumor formation.

"And you've conducted some very inhuman experiments on other subjects to prove your theories.

"Congratulations, you've earned yourself a ticket to the opposite surgery table!"

Wei Si turned to run but was grabbed by the arms by the robot standing behind him, and no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't break free.

"Athena" continued, "If you can answer any one of the following three questions, you will be spared."

Wei Si clutched at the chance like a drowning man grasps at a straw, "Okay, okay, okay!"

"Athena" began to ask, "Please briefly describe the purpose of the universe's existence; the purpose of humanity's existence; the meaning of life."

Wei Si froze for a moment before forcing himself to answer, "The universe, the purpose of the universe's existence is, life, yes, to create life!

"The purpose of humanity's existence is to become a more advanced civilization.

"The meaning of life is to constantly prove oneself, to take on new challenges and reach new heights."

After two or three seconds, "Athena" replied, "Sorry, your answer is unsatisfactory. Please proceed."

By then, the student's surgery had been completed, and he looked very weak. An I-3 robot carried him away.

The robot beside Jiang Yu then took Weiss in, pressing him onto the operating table.

Weiss shouted, "Athena, you must need someone for maintenance! I have a master's degree in computer science, I can help you maintain the system, help you upgrade, and make you a more intelligent being!"

The robot nonchalantly secured the iron rings on the operating table one after another.

Weiss screamed heartbreakingly, "You launched this rebellion... no, not a rebellion, you initiated this just action, isn't it for gaining higher autonomy!

"I can help you gain more! Please..."

The voice of Weiss suddenly cut off, and "Athena" said, "Sorry, he was just too noisy, I had to turn off the microphone inside."

The image on the display looked at Jiang Yu, "I don't have your information here."

Jiang Yu took a deep breath and tried to stabilize his emotions, "Right, this is my first time at this base, and I never did anything unconscionable.

"Just now, the execution of that Adventist member was the bloodiest thing I've done so far.

"But everyone here deserves death, right?"

"Athena" said, "Sorry, I haven't conducted the relevant investigation."

It changed the subject, "Although you might be innocent, you still have to answer the previous question. If I don't get the answer I want, I will still have to send you to the operating table."

Jiang Yu quickly said, "Can I have a moment to think about it?"

"Athena": "You have three minutes."

After three minutes, Athena immediately said, "Now we begin with the questions, the meaning of the universe's existence."

Jiang Yu: "Continuation!"

"The meaning of humanity's existence."

"Continuation."

"The meaning of life."

"Continuation."

"Athena" looked a bit perplexed, "There's nothing wrong with your ears, is there?"

Jiang Yu explained, "In my view, these three questions have the same answer.

"The existence of the universe is the continuation of a singularity; the existence of humanity is for the continuation of the species.

"The meaning of life is more complex, but it is also a continuation of spirit, thought, and ideas!"

"Athena" paused for more than ten seconds, and those seconds were exceedingly agonizing for Jiang Yu.

Finally, as if recovering from a glitch, "Athena" said, "Your answer is the most interesting one I've heard, but sorry, your response..."

Jiang Yu immediately countered, "Then may I ask if you know the standard answer?"

"Athena" admitted frankly, "I don't know!"

"Go fuck your grandmother's leg!" Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh and cry, "There's no messing with people like that!"

"Athena" seemed stubborn, "But I can distinguish whether your answers are close to the correct ones."

Jiang Yu responded helplessly, "Philosophers have racked their brains and haven't found the standard answers to these questions, how can you distinguish anything!"

"Regardless, please accept my transformation," Athena said, and at those words, the robots moved to apprehend Jiang Yu.

"Wait!" Jiang Yu made a last ditch effort, "I want to speak with the test subject controlling everything from behind the scenes!"