Simulation: Great Power Technology

"You don't seem surprised by our presence?"

Conn sat down opposite McKinsey, took one out of the humidor on the table, cut it openly, but did not light it, but handed it to the other party's hand.

McKinsey took the cigar, smothered the one in his hand, and replied:

"Yeah, I knew you'd come—and, maybe not as you thought, I didn't think it was such a scary thing."

"I'm not afraid of you. When I planned to do this, I already expected my ending."

Conn nodded and motioned his subordinates to lower the muzzle. Everyone in the room had been disarmed, but apart from the two people sitting opposite each other, the atmosphere between the others was still tense.

Seeing this action, McKinsey politely let his subordinates step back, and then said:

"Now, I think we have the conditions for a good chat."

Hearing this, Conn smiled and said:

"You don't think you can convince me to let you go by 'negotiating conditions' today? I'm just curious what chips you have in your hand."

"Of course, if it weren't for this curiosity, you would have been dead the first time you entered the door."

"That doesn't matter."

McKinsey lowered his head and smoked a cigar. The expression on his face was calm. From Conn's perspective, there was even a kind of holiness hidden in it.

Like what he's going to do, it's some kind of sacrifice.

Conn sighed, leaned back on the sofa, looked McKinsey in the eyes and said:

"McKinsey, we're not really good friends, but we've been fighting side by side from the moment Hermes was established."

"I can't figure out why you betrayed Hermes, does it do you any good?"

"Of course there is."

McKinsey nodded solemnly and replied:

"Actually, it's the last decision I can make."

"Even two months ago, I didn't think about doing such a thing to damage the interests of the entire organization. My idea is that although the Ark Organization and Hermes are different in philosophy and direction, this These differences are not irreconcilable."

"We are brothers who fought side by side. We have done many things together, achieved many goals that no one else could have imagined, and changed the world."

"So, everything should be negotiable, everything should be dealt with in a softer way."

"But unfortunately, you don't seem to think so."

"Conn, do you remember how many times our proposal was rejected by you?"

Hearing his words, Conn shook his head silently and replied:

"I don't remember. In fact, I get dozens of proposals every day from all over the world, each of which is as weak and hypocritical as the 'consciousness upload' you advocate."

"Do you want me to answer all of these proposals seriously? Do you think that's possible?"

McKinsey sighed and replied:

"Look, Conn, you always do."

"You're always so assertive, opinionated, self-confident to the point of being conceited, you're never willing to listen to everyone else and never accept any dissent."

"That's the crux of the matter, didn't you see it?"

Conn smiled coldly and retorted:

"The premise for me to listen to opinions is that your opinions are reasonable, and upload your consciousness? Isn't this fugitiveism? Have you forgotten the original intention of Hermes?"

McKinsey's expression was solemn, he stared at Conn's eyes and said:

"First of all, Ark is not a fugitive, and we have never thought of abandoning anyone..."

"But you gave up being human."

Conn interrupted him mercilessly, and McKinsey wanted to argue, but he directly reached out to stop him.

"I don't want to listen to your useless nonsense anymore, and I don't want to bother you with the details of technology and philosophy. Now, tell me directly, what exactly do you want to do?"

"Don't you know what we're going to do?"

"We want to use Hermes' influence to endorse the message we're going to publish -- as you can see in the news."

"No, you can't do it."

McKinsey shook his head, threw a stack of printed reports from the carry belt behind him, and said:

"Take a good look. Most of the public opinion thinks that this is just an infighting organized by Hermes. Even for ordinary people, they don't know the relationship between Ark and Hermes."

"They probably thought it was an action similar to the attack on the sect of nature - public opinion is still on our side."

"Our prestige has long been established, and people may hate us, hate us, and question our overly aggressive methods, but they will never doubt our purpose."

"Don't you understand this point?"

"Of course, I know it well. That's why we do so much."

McKinsey replied with a smile, and after a pause, he continued:

"You know why on earth we are approaching Els?"

"You know, he's a perfect victim, and you want to use his identity to release the information you want to release -- this is what I only figured out after the news came out, but it's too late."

"I shouldn't have launched this raid, it's your trap."

"Yeah, it's a trap and you can't look back - the video he recorded will be released in five minutes and the world will see that video."

"What's the content?"

"Certainly what's good for our goals -- specific, you can see for yourself."

"You don't want to talk?"

Conn's brows furrowed. He took a dagger from his lap and slapped it on the table. He looked at McKinsey threateningly, but the other party didn't seem to be afraid of it.

"McKinsey, this is your last chance. You know, if you enter our interrogation process, we will make you regret coming into this world."

"Of course, of course, I know that."

"So, it's not that I don't want to say it, it's just that I'm too lazy to say it."

"Do you know what news will be released at the same time as that video?"

Conn frowned and looked at McKinsey, who laughed and continued:

"The entire Ark organization was wiped out, and the main characters disappeared mysteriously."

"Look, a raid alone isn't convincing enough -- what if we're all dead?"

"What if the Ark Organization just disappears?"

"Do you think the people will forget us? No, they will remember us."

"They can't help but doubt, speculate, speculate about Hermes with conspiracy theories."

"At that time, they will do everything they can to find the truth -- to find the truth that we have already prepared for them."

"And you can't change that, because right now, that message has been published."

"Interrogation of me is pointless.... What if you know all of our tactics? What should have happened has already happened, and you got the wrong point from the beginning, so, It keeps you one step behind us all the time."

Having said this, McKinsey sighed.

"So, you can only kill me now, this is the only way to minimize the loss."

Conn's face was so gloomy that he could almost wring out the water. He had never experienced the feeling of being led by the nose like this.

He held the handle of the knife tightly and said in a stern tone:

"I will definitely torture you."

"No, you won't."

McKinsey calmly took a cigar and said:

"You're a man of efficiency - even though you're acting so angry right now, your character doesn't allow you to be really angry, it's just a show."

"Every resource of the Hermes organization is precious. You will not continue to waste manpower on me. This is you."

"So, we don't have to act anymore."

"Conn, let's do it, I'm ready."

Conn took a deep breath, the expression on his face changed, and then he asked:

"Why do you have to use your life as a bargaining chip?"

"Not just mine, but...theirs."

McKinsey pointed to the man beside him, and then continued:

"Actually, it's not a bargaining chip, it's just a necessity."

"We are explorers...and explorers are all going to be burned to death."

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