Rule Strange: Urban Legends That Don't Exist

The signs in C-17 area guide Chen Yan's way forward, and the road leading to the outside world is illuminated by dense neon lights.

I don't know what's going on, but the neon lights on the road under Chen Yan's feet are always dark red.

"I thought that if I just went to a more productive place, everything would be better."

"So I went from one place to another, from one city to another, like those migratory birds who have no home and spend their entire lives migrating."

"But until now, I have discovered that everything in this world is the same."

Chen Yan didn't know how bad his current mental state was.

"Most people don't like to be educated. In Swarm, there are more than 3000 million people in Yanan City, and there are only a few hundred people who can be screened out and want to be educated."

Chen Yan didn't know how desperate he felt when he said this sentence, he could only try his best to restrain his emotions.

"I have always known that life is equal to life, and so is man to man.

But the reality is that the gap between people is so big, even bigger than the gap between people and dogs. "

Chen Yan's pupils vibrated, but he didn't notice such a thing:
"Because of such a gap, class stratification is an inevitable situation, an objective situation, and it cannot be avoided at all."

"The social division of labor has led to the inevitable narrowing of most people's professional aspects, just like what Klein said just now, because of the narrow professional aspects, people are almost completely controlled by their bosses, and they have no way of life without the boss.

People are subject to huge work pressure, most of them have no time to think about other things, and no energy to study.

A very small number of people-a few hundred per 3000 million people-know that they need to learn knowledge and want to learn knowledge, but they have no access to knowledge at all-not even the school on Days Island nothing! "

Chen Yan's eyes shook.

"On the way here just now, I saw many children...whether they are from outside the island, or the descendants of the previous generation of Days Island immigrants, they cannot receive education, because there is no school on the island, and they will not be able to access knowledge.

They will carry on with their parents' lives, just as their grandparents have sold their labor to earn a living. "

Swarm whispered:

"Isn't that how people come here..."

Chen Yan didn't seem to hear his complaints, and was immersed in his own thinking:

"So human rights are gone, and so are the ballots, and the ballot system designed by the uncorrupted and advanced parts of the Empire has been transformed into something quite the opposite, much more sinister."

When Chen Yan said this, his throat was blocked again like before.

Thousands of words turned into three words.

"damn it."

Chen Yan lowered his head and pushed the cart.

"I've always known that life is equal, but what I see is clearly not the case - the gap between individual lives is a huge chasm."

"It's almost impossible for everyone to be like a dragon—it's impossible now, and it's almost impossible in the future, and that means countless generations of unimaginable effort and no return in sight—this kind of thing It's almost—almost impossible."

"If all this is true, what am I always insisting on? What is the point of all the worldviews I have established while walking on the earth?"

He was gasping for air, his mind was disorganized, and he was soaring uncontrollably.

His pupils were no longer focused, his consciousness left his body, and he was like a walking dead.

He restrained himself and continued to think.

How long until the next out of control?
What will the loss of control caused by such reasons turn me into?
Chen Yan didn't know the answers to these questions. He only knew that he stopped thinking about it for the time being, and stopped to find the answers to these unsolvable questions.

"Now, I understand the mentality of the defectors."

He said inexplicable words.

"Now, it's my turn."

Chen Yan's sudden change and those chaotic words made Swarm a little uneasy, because he had encountered a criminal with anti-social personality when he was investigating with Cyborg Quinn in the North Bureau. The state is similar to that of Chen Yan now.

He was very worried about Chen Yan's mental state, not because he was afraid that Chen Yan would become an antisocial psychopath, but because he was worried that once Chen Yan became mentally unstable, he would lose his "online" and would not be able to stay in Beijing. There is no way to find Cyborg Quinn.

Based on these considerations, Swarm was particularly concerned about Chen Yan's inner breakdown, and wanted to comfort him, so he said cautiously:
"Maybe what you see is real... The section chief said that you have to see it with your own eyes to believe it."

Chen Yan denied his words, and responded with a firmer tone:

"No, that's not the case. All beings must be equal. What is unequal is this world."

This is different from what Chen Yan said before.

Swarm became more anxious, and he was also more worried about Chen Yan's mental state.

"I don't know how the process is, but at least I know that this matter is right. Someone once told me this matter, although it was not spoken out..."

He paused here for a few seconds.

"So I know very clearly that this matter is right."

He repeated it again.

It was also a firm understanding of this matter that allowed Chen Yan to escape from the loss of control this time.

Chen Yan smiled at Swarm, so although the latter was puzzled in his heart, his anxiety did ease a little.

"Let's go, there's still a lot to do."

At about four o'clock in the afternoon, Chen Yan and Swarm returned to the boat.

Shrimp man George Lebster was very surprised by the maintenance machine that Chen Yan brought back from C-17 area. According to it, it was an "integrated device".

"When I was in Yanan City, the maintainers usually didn't have suitable maintenance tools, and such a sophisticated equipment was unimaginable... This equipment can complete the disassembly and maintenance of electronic products through the mechanical arm, but I still need Think about it."

"Many of these components have never been seen before, but I probably know what they are. There is also a new model of multimeter here, which will definitely come in handy."

The judgment made by George Lebster was very conservative, so conservative that people doubted his ability.

But one minute later, when he repaired a mobile phone that was so damaged that it didn't look like it could be repaired at first glance, Chen Yan was full of confidence in him.

The latitude of Bianan City on Days Island is higher. Although it is not cold due to ocean currents, the sunset time is worse than Bianan City.

In such a winter day, the twilight of Days Island fell early, and the sun fell below the sea level at 5 pm, but the entire island did not fall into darkness——

The mechanical hive glows brighter than in the daytime. The electricity here seems to be not afraid of wasting at all. The people living in the hive inside the mechanical hive seem to be unable to distinguish between day and night. Even if it is already dark, the mechanical hive The direction is still full of voices.

At about 05:30, Nuomi Guo and Messiah returned with Osmandis with a livid face. The boy was obviously in a bad mood because today's plan was disrupted, but he couldn't disobey Messiah's order. was forcibly taken to school.

"Church schools are now deregulated, and the outside seems to be less chaotic."

Glutinous rice fruit is talking about everything he has seen.

"People got busy after the parade... After all, they still have to live, and the damage to the city caused by the parade is really limited, not enough to have a big impact on people's production and life."

Chen Yan was noncommittal about these news, but asked:

"How's Ohgami doing? Do you need help?"

If help is needed, Swarm can be of great help.

Glutinous rice fruit replied:

"Ogami has something he must do. After Leonard Adams was killed, our pursuit has achieved new results. He must continue to pursue the real answer."

Chen Yan understood: Ogami found a clue to [Immortal], so he continued to investigate along the clue.

When you are free next time, be sure to talk to Ogami in detail about the Society of Mechanics and the Brain Machine Man, because in his world view, the birth of silicon-based life like Cyborg Quinn is actually It can be regarded as a continuation of carbon-based life, and it can be regarded as a kind of "immortality".

He didn't intend to talk about it over the phone.

After dinner, Osmandis found Chen Yan:

"You have to find a way to keep her away from me...I have something I must do! There must be a big problem with Master William's [Contra-Moon Orbital Matrix]! The moon is a very important thing! It must be investigated!"

The boy almost finished all this in a rising tone.

His face was a little distorted, and his one-eyed eyes were more ferocious than before.

"She thinks I'm dangerous, so it's completely unnecessary to keep me in her sight!

You have to explain to her, explain that we have reached an agreement, that we are already allies!She can't keep doing that! "

Facing the boy's slightly broken words, Chen Yan promised to have a chat with Messiah.

But things always have accidents—before Chen Yan went to find the Messiah, there were footsteps on the deck.

Someone came on board without permission.

Chen Yan called Swarm, left the cabin and walked onto the deck, and saw three figures standing in the already deep twilight.

"Chen Yan."

The person at the head called out his name, using a very authentic pronunciation of the eastern dialect of Tianshenzhou—this is a middle-aged Asian.

Chen Yan stepped forward and held the hand extended by the other party as a gesture of friendliness.

"Hello."

He probably already knew the identity of the other party, but he didn't expect that the other party would come out in person——

Li Shoucheng, the gang member who caught the first wave of development of Days Island, actually came to the door in person.

"I heard something about you, and the Razor Party told me what happened."

Li Shoucheng's voice was not deep and full, and he didn't sound like a member of a gang, but like some businessmen who had been wandering around the drinking tables of politicians all year round.

After Li Shoucheng finished speaking, he turned his head to look at a black figure beside him, who was smoking a cigarette, and the sparks in the darkness looked particularly conspicuous.

"Thomas, you introduced me to a fine young man."

Li Shoucheng's imperial dialect is not very good, with a strong accent, and his diction is extremely inaccurate.

And Thomas Gilbert, who was standing behind him, didn't answer. Chen Yan felt a restrained anger from the air, and Thomas Gilbert who suddenly appeared was obviously unwilling.

Li Shoucheng sighed and said:

"This time there was a big problem in area C. Some of the guys in area C-17 were taken away. I don't know when they will be released. Some of my business is not taken care of. It's really worrying..."

He actually wanted Chen Yan to say "want to cooperate" by himself.

this person...

What a nuisance.

Chen Yan didn't speak, so the atmosphere of silence was about to gradually become awkward.

The other person behind Li Shoucheng resolved the embarrassment even if he opened his mouth:

"We need someone who can take care of the business. It's better for this person to know some maintenance skills. Uncle Li thinks you are quite suitable. Don't be ungrateful and shameless."

It is also an authentic dialect in the eastern part of Tianshen Prefecture. This person should be Li Shoucheng's fellow villager.

Fortunately, Chen Yan didn't care about this kind of low-level ridicule for a long time. His ears automatically filtered it into barking. He just looked at Li Shoucheng and said:

"tell me the story."

Li Shoucheng took out a piece of paper:

"The order from Thomas will be delivered in three days. When you put the goods on my car, I will give you a share of 2 pounds."

Chen Yan said:

"2 pounds, I'm afraid it's not even enough for normal wages."

The person who shouted just now opened his mouth to curse again:
"You fucking think we're talking to you?!"

Chen Yan just looked at Li Shoucheng.

The businessman's smile on Li Shoucheng's face disappeared, and his tone gradually became calm:

"You went to this island, entered the C-17 area, and took away my equipment and parts, so you need to play your value.

I think this boat is pretty good. For an Asian with no background, I’m afraid he can’t afford it without breaking his fortune. Did you sell the apartment at No. 33 Walker Street?
Then there is no way to go back.

What will you do if you lose this ship?To make a living with those mud legs in the mechanical hive? "

Chen Yan didn't speak.

"I am a serious businessman. If you do something for me, I will pay you."

Li Shoucheng patted Chen Yan on the shoulder like an ordinary uncle next door, and issued an ultimatum:

"Young man, learn a little bit, maybe you'll get ahead after a few years? Who didn't come here like this."

"Okay, let's do it this way, go to bed early and don't stay up late, if there are women who want to spend the night on the boat, it's dangerous to be away from their origin."

After Li Shoucheng finished speaking, he left the deck with the barking man just now.

Chen Yan looked at Thomas Gilbert who stayed on the deck.

This half-breed Ayer man has always maintained a very decent appearance. Today he is wearing a formal dark gray winter gentleman's suit, a dark red tie, a black gentleman's hat on his head, and black leather gloves that are spotless.

He finished smoking the cigarette in his mouth in one breath, opened his arms and spread his hands:

"He's Uncle Li, what the hell can I do?"

The tone was calm, and the mood collapsed.

Chen Yan said:

"As a shrewd businessman, at least you can't put your investors at risk."

Thomas Gilbert scratched his hair:

"I can only do this first, and I will make it up to you."

He paused, then said:
"May I spend the night on your boat?"