"When do you plan to leave?" Shu asked Ethics after observing for a while.
Ethics bent down, picked up Pet from the ground, and gently stroked it in his arms.
"Once these newborn mech individuals adapt to their own thoughts and roles, we will leave here and return to Future City," Ethics replied.
"Adapt to their own thoughts and roles?" Shu was puzzled. In his impression, only stuffy leaders used such phrasing.
It wasn't exactly positive, but coming from Ethics…
It was rather intriguing.
"Yes." Ethics didn't offer any justification, instead answering each question meticulously. "Due to significant differences in the gradual forging of their bodies, there's a clear hierarchy within mech society."
Shu glanced at the mechs and nodded.
Indeed, the differences between individual mechs were stark. The contrast between a Defender and a Titan was far more striking than any height difference.
Even in human society, issues of physical differences between men and women had led to various conflicts and hierarchies, let alone in a mech society where such disparities existed from birth.
Thinking about it this way, Shu understood what Ethics meant.
"But in that case… won't there be individuals among you who are dissatisfied with their assigned roles?" This still had drawbacks.
After all, as mentioned before, a completely fixed and unbreakable class system was a harmful cultural practice…
At least for humans with ambition or laziness. He didn't know if this situation also existed in mech society.
Ethics was silent for a second. "Mr. Shu, our society may be different from human society."
"In human society, thoughts are an absolutely closed domain, but not for us mechs.
"Each of us is connected to the First Sequence individual. Our thought processes, actions, and feelings are recorded without omission in our individual files.
"Any thoughts related to [crime], [malice], and so on will be met with a warning from the First Sequence from the moment of our birth. If the warning is unheeded, the Second Sequence will be dispatched to retrieve and destroy that individual."
Wait… isn't this a Trisolaran society? [Reference to the Three-Body Problem series]
Transparent thought, hive mind… That First Sequence was practically the mech equivalent of Alaya-Vijñāna! [Buddhist concept of store consciousness]
"But even with such tight control, you still can't avoid individuals who choose 'death as a statement', right?" Speaking of the Trisolarans, Shu recalled the actions of the Trisolaran observer who sent a message to Earth.
There would always be individuals who pushed the boundaries in the most extreme ways. No thinking race was an exception.
Even among non-sentient races, there would be one or two exceptions that developed sentience.
This time, Ethics fell silent.
He understood what Shu meant by "death as a statement."
In fact, the rules and regulations Ethics had just mentioned hadn't been fully implemented yet. Mech society was just newly established, and the number of mech individuals was extremely limited.
Ethics wasn't the only mech sent out. The Self-Preservation Collective, like the current Fire Moth, was more of a name than a fully realized organization.
The problem Shu raised was precisely what they, lacking concrete data, had overlooked.
After the red light in his eyes flickered twice, Ethics uploaded an "urgent document" to the First Sequence he was connected to. Then, he looked at Shu and, to Shu's bewilderment, thanked him solemnly.
"Thank you for your suggestion, Mr. Shu." Ethics' manners were impeccably Western, placing a hand on his chest and bowing slightly to Shu. "The entire Self-Preservation Collective is grateful for your advice."
Shu: "?"
I just asked a few questions…
"Greetings, warrior of Fire Moth, Mr. Shu." Just as Shu was about to wave his hand dismissively, a strange, unfamiliar voice emanated from Ethics.
Compared to Ethics' raspy, unpleasant voice, this voice wasn't particularly pleasant either, but the sense of authority it conveyed made Shu straighten his back.
"I am the First Sequence of the Self-Preservation Collective—Science. My apologies for only being able to communicate with you in this manner." The voice began with an apology, though Shu couldn't detect a shred of remorse.
Only an overwhelming sense of solemnity.
Under this invisible pressure, Shu stood up straight, his expression turning serious.
"Hello, Mr. Science. Is there something I can help you with?"
Science spoke through Ethics' body. "Based on your suggestion, we, the First Sequence, conducted a real-time simulation and reached the following conclusion—
"In a society, the extreme probability of an individual resorting to 'death as a statement' is 97.%. We referenced relevant data from human society but found that the corresponding probability in human society is extremely low."
"Such cases seem to occur more often in film and television works, as well as other creative works."
"This does not align with our deduced data. Could you provide us with more data for reference?"
Shu's face fell.
What? Your leader is here to discuss philosophical problems with me too?
Shu wanted to refuse, but this time was different. This question was one he had raised, and they genuinely needed an answer.
Should I take you to Otto? He should be able to handle this.
"I don't know." Otto's voice drifted over from the side, ghostly, into Shu's ear.
Shu's eyes widened. He saw Otto standing at the elevator entrance, casually waving at them.
When did he get here?
"This is quite a complex question…" Otto, seeing Shu's murderous glare, added with a smile.
Really? I don't believe you.
Shu rolled his eyes at Otto and turned to see Ethics staring intently at him with those red eyes. Heaven knows how Shu could discern an expectant expression on a robot's unchanging face.
"The reason why there aren't many extreme thoughts in human society…" Shu stared at Otto for a long moment, finally confirming that the man was just there to watch the show.
Having no other choice, Shu clutched his head, a pained expression on his face as he began to think of a reasonable explanation for his loose lips.