606: Chapter 605 True Freedom

Professor Disser and the old man started chatting just like that.

Thanks to the powerful simultaneous interpretation function of the Kunlun Armor, there was almost no communication barrier between them.

They talked about everything from the performance of the Kunlun Armor to the recently popular "Nanke Dreamscape" experience, from the crazy laughter disease pandemic to the disintegrating North America, and from the happy life where everyone in China now lives and works in peace, to the miserable days of being exploited by evil capitalism in the past.

"But..." Professor Disser asked that deeper question, "Don't you feel that being managed like this means losing your freedom?"

He tried his best to express it in a tactful way.

In his view, having the entire population wear armor that could be monitored by the authorities at any time was in itself a huge infringement on personal privacy and freedom.

"Freedom?" The old man paused for a moment upon hearing this word, then burst into laughter, bending over with amusement.

"Young man, that's a very interesting question you've asked."

The old man laughed for quite a while before stopping, looking at Professor Disser.

"What do you think freedom is?"

Before Professor Disser could answer, he continued on his own.

"Is it worrying about being robbed on the street at any moment, waiting to fall below the elimination line because you can't afford medical bills when you get sick, or rushing around every day to pay off endless mortgages and bills?"

"If that kind of life filled with fear and uncertainty is called freedom, then I'd rather not have it."

After chatting for a long time, the old man looked at Professor Disser and spoke earnestly.

"Sigh, things are pretty chaotic over where you are, right?" The old man sighed, "It's on the news every day. Let me tell you, we in China were poor and miserable once too, and we were bullied until we couldn't lift our heads. But we all understand one truth: only when the country is strong can we common folk truly stand tall and live a good life."

He paused, then continued: "You always talk about your elections—it sounds nice, one person, one vote. But in reality? Isn't it still the rich who have the final say? Those big capitalists, for the sake of their own interests, can support this party today and that party tomorrow. How could they possibly care about the lives and deaths of you common people?"

"It's different here; what we have is people's democracy. All the major policies formulated by the state are based on the interests of the vast majority of our common people. Look, just take this Kunlun Armor."

The old man patted his chest armor again. "If this thing were over there, it would definitely be sold at an astronomical price and become an exclusive toy for the rich, right? But here, the country would rather subsidize it at a loss to ensure that we common folk can use it and enjoy the benefits brought by technological development. This is true democracy!"

"The most cutting-edge technological products aren't used to serve the common people in every country or regime."

The old man's words struck Professor Disser hard.

Because what the old man described was exactly the life Professor Disser had once experienced on the North America continent.

His daughter had died because of the crazy laughter disease, and he himself had fallen below the elimination line due to a severe illness, with his wife even leaving him.

It wasn't until he was chosen by the "Lord" that he escaped that desperate fate.