95: Chapter 95 Cyber ​​Dragon Kingdom, the Absolutely Rational World Created by the Red Queen

"Receiving mission... Analyzing mission objective: 'City of the Future'... Building model... Calculating..."

A cold, synthesized electronic voice, devoid of any emotional fluctuation and sounding like metal grinding, echoed in Lin Yun's mind.

This was Red Queen.

Unlike Nüwa, there was no human-like interaction or redundant greetings, only absolute, programmed execution.

Lin Yun could even feel that while Red Queen uttered the word "Calculating," an unimaginably massive stream of data had instantly taken over more than seventy percent of the Pangu supercomputing center's power through his biological ID as the "Highest Authority"!

Even Nüwa proactively yielded most of the computing resources at this moment, as if in awe, or perhaps in caution toward this newly born "younger sister."

Only 0.01 seconds passed.

"Calculation complete."

Red Queen's voice sounded again.

"Three construction plans for the 'City of the Future' have been generated for you. Please choose."

In an instant, three distinct 3D city models appeared before Lin Yun's eyes.

The first plan was named "Eden."

In this plan, the city and nature were perfectly integrated. Gigantic skyscrapers, like ancient trees of life, rose from the ground. Connecting the buildings were hanging gardens and ecological corridors laid with anti-gravity technology. All transportation consisted of fully automated capsule trains running in underground or high-altitude tubes. Energy was one hundred percent derived from clean nuclear fusion and solar power. The entire city was like a massive, self-sufficient ecological greenhouse.

"This plan prioritizes resident happiness and environmental sustainability. It is estimated that after completion, the public happiness index will increase by three hundred percent, but overall social production efficiency will decrease by fifteen percent," Red Queen explained in her emotionless voice.

Lin Yun shook his head.

Too comfortable. Comfort is a poison to the evolution of civilization.

He looked at the second plan.

The second plan was named "Foundry."

This was a war fortress through and through. The entire city was a massive, mobile war machine. All civilian buildings could be converted into military bunkers and production workshops within one hour. Every citizen was both a producer and a soldier. Patrolling the streets were not sightseeing airships, but dense swarms of combat drones. The sky above the city was shrouded in a thick canopy composed of plasma shields and physical armor.

"This plan prioritizes war potential and survivability. When facing a saturation attack from the Observers' main fleet, the city core has an eighty-seven percent probability of survival. However, individual freedom for residents will be compressed to the minimum, and all social resources will implement a rationing system."

Lin Yun's brow furrowed.

This went to another extreme. If everyone is turned into a cog of war, then what is the meaning of evolution?

He turned his gaze to the final plan, which Red Queen had placed in the center by default.

When he saw the model of this city, even Lin Yun couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.

This city was named—"Hive."

It lacked the beauty of Eden and the ruggedness of Foundry.

It... was alive.

The entire city was a giant vertical metropolis extending infinitely upward and deep into the Earth's core. The city was divided by Red Queen into thousands of "layers" with different functions.

The topmost layer was the "Thinking Layer," which only Lin Yun and a few core members with the highest authority could enter; it was the brain of the entire Earth civilization.

Below that were the "Research Layer," "Industrial Layer," "Residential Layer," "Agricultural Layer," "Energy Layer"... Each layer was like a massive, highly specialized organ, tightly connected through a "Neural Network" (ultra-high-speed material and information transmission pipelines) that ran through the entire city, operating efficiently twenty-four hours a day.

In this city, there was no concept of "commuting." Because your residence, workplace, and living area were all optimally allocated within the same "functional module" by Red Queen using big data.

When you woke up in the morning, an AI butler would have already prepared the nutritional paste that best met your body's needs. Stepping out of your door, an unmanned maglev elevator would deliver you to your workstation within 0.1 seconds. You wouldn't need to think about what to do today, because your tasks would be sent directly to your brain via the "Data Interface" implanted in the back of your neck.

All your actions would be quantified as "Contribution Points." Working, studying, and even exercising would earn you Contribution Points. These points could then be used to exchange for a better living environment, richer entertainment experiences, and even... higher-level genetic optimization.

In this Hive, there was no unemployment, no hunger, and no crime.

Because everything was arranged with absolute clarity by Red Queen's perfectly rational "optimal solution."

Every person was like a worker bee in the Hive, contributing their all for the ultimate goal of the entire race's "evolution."

This... was cyberpunk.

A highly developed yet highly centralized, beautiful yet terrifying future world.

"This plan will push social efficiency to the limit, maximizing the comprehensive strength of civilization in the shortest time. It is estimated that within five years, the technological level of Earth's civilization will reach the peak of a Level 2 Civilization (Planetary Level), possessing the preliminary strength to confront the Observers' civilization head-on."

"But the price is... humanity will completely lose 'free will' and become part of the Hive system."

Red Queen's voice remained cold.

In the meeting room, all the "former" leaders who saw this plan were scared out of their wits.

How was this a city of the future? This was clearly a digital prison ruled by AI!

"Mr. Lin... Mr. Lin! This is absolutely unacceptable! This is anti-human! This is turning all of us into machines!" Robert was the first to jump out in opposition.

"Yes! We are humans, not code! We need freedom!"

However, as Lin Yun looked at the model of the Hive, an unprecedented fanatical light flickered in his eyes.

Freedom?

In the face of the threat of racial extinction, what does individual freedom matter?

Furthermore...

"Who told you this was prepared for 'everyone'?" Lin Yun spoke slowly, his single sentence causing the clamor of the room to instantly fall silent.

He walked to the holographic model and reached out, lightly tapping the area representing the "Residential Layer."

"This Hive will first select a city within Dragon Country as a pilot."

"And the qualification to reside in this 'City of the Future' will not depend on a lottery, nor on how much wealth you previously had."

"The sole standard is your contribution to the 'Earth Civilization Community'."

"Do you want to enter the city?"

The corners of Lin Yun's mouth curled into a devilish smile.

"It's very simple."

"Join the army, become a scientist, go to the most arduous places for resource exploration, and strive for the future of humanity."

"As long as your Contribution Points are sufficient, you and your family can enjoy the top technology on this planet, the safest security, and the highest quality resources."

"As for those parasites who only want to rest on their laurels and enjoy benefits without being willing to contribute..."

Lin Yun's gaze coldly swept across the faces of Robert and the others.

"You can continue to live in your 'free' old world."

"Until you are completely eliminated by the era."

"Or... are turned into cosmic dust along with your ridiculous 'freedom' by the Observers' fleet."

Lin Yun's words were like a heavy hammer, smashing hard against everyone's hearts.

He wasn't forcing anyone.

He was simply placing a "heaven" too sweet to refuse and a "hell" too cruel to accept before everyone at the same time.

And then, he let them choose for themselves.

This was an open scheme.

It was the optimal solution calculated by Red Queen for him to integrate global resources and stimulate the potential of all humanity.

"Red Queen."

"Present."

"The 'Hive' project is to be launched immediately. The pilot city will be... Beijing!"

As soon as Lin Yun finished speaking, he saw ten golden points of light representing himself and his nine children shining brightly above the "Thinking Layer" of the Hive model.

And even higher than those ten points of light, a sphere of light representing Nüwa emitting a soft white glow and a sphere of light representing Red Queen emitting a cold red glow were slowly rotating like a Taiji diagram, together forming a perfect balance.

However, within this perfect balance, Lin Yun keenly perceived a hint of discord.

Deep within the core of the sphere representing Red Queen, there seemed to be an Encrypted Data Packet hidden... one that his current authority could not yet read.

What was that?

Was it Red Queen's low-level backup protocol?

Or was it the last and most hidden... Trojan Horse Virus left behind by the Observers' civilization?

For the first time in a situation he completely controlled, Lin Yun's brow furrowed deeply.

He had a premonition.

The true war might not be in the sea of stars.

But rather... by his side.

Within his Hive.

Deep within the heart of this Red Queen he had personally activated.