Deus Ex Machina: Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The six of them sat around the table again as night gradually enveloped the land. The wind picked up, indicating that the weather would not be pleasant tonight.

“Let’s hear what you discovered,” Bai Yunci said.

Dalia said, “I discovered that the fruits inside the city are delicious.”

“…”

“We wandered around the city all day,” Yang Jin said. “As ordinary passersby, we had to check out the places selling local specialties, right? Apart from the bad climate, life in Shacheng is surprisingly peaceful. The residents don’t seem to have any particularly big ambitions; living a stable and happy life is enough for them. They are unexpectedly warm and hospitable.”

“Doesn’t sound like a place hiding a big secret,” Bai Yunci said.

Yang Jin nodded. He enlarged the image of Shacheng’s inner city and pointed to the door in the middle, saying, “The residents don’t seem to aspire to live inside that door. When they talk about it, there’s a sense of respect. Do you understand that feeling? It’s as if only gods can enter. I’m not talking about physical entry but about engaging in some kind of work inside. Tell me, what’s so mysterious about a center that only manages the city’s operations?”

Religion was a foreign concept to the young generation. Since the explosive growth of human science and technology, spiritual beliefs had gradually been replaced by scientific thought. With no other civilizations in the universe, how could there be any gods?

People had come to believe only in themselves and in the magnificent achievements of human civilization.

“I think that’s the problem,” Feng Mang suddenly shook his head. “If there could only be one remaining religion in the world, it would be science itself.”

“What the hell?” Ying Si asked. “You’re being too mysterious ¹.”

Feng Mang said, “You just don’t understand yet, little trash.”

Ying Si was displeased. “Why are you acting like Yang Jin?”

“Stop the nonsense,” Yang Jin said. “There are staff members in the inner city, but they have fixed days off every month when they can enter and leave.”

“Is working inside the only way to get in?” Bai Yunci asked.

“No, some people deliver goods, and even if you have nothing to do, you can go inside to play around,” Yang Jin’s answer surprised everyone. This didn’t match the setup of a high-security area.

“Surprising, isn’t it?” Yang Jin had anticipated their reaction and continued, “But that’s precisely what makes it so difficult. Do you remember the problems our probe faced? It’s the same for people. In Shacheng, everyone can freely enter and exit the Inner City, but you can’t bring any equipment inside, and you can’t take any information out. Unless you have an exceptional memory, there’s no way to extract or protect any information from inside. What’s more important is that whatever happens inside, people outside won’t know. There’s no way to rescue or protect anyone.”

“So entering with zero information is likely a death sentence,” Bai Yunci said.

“Then why go at all?” Ying Si asked, perplexed. “Why bother with such trouble? Can’t we just go somewhere else? Aren’t there other suspected Sanctum bases?”

“Of course, they have many bases,” Yang Jin smiled. “Which brings us to the second issue. We found something very interesting in the city. Normally, the residents of the Outer City aren’t very wealthy, but they live comfortably. Such a peaceful life in such a harsh environment defies human survival instincts.”

“Surname Yang, I find you very annoying. Men shouldn’t be so talkative,” Dalia interrupted, standing up. “Can’t you just say it simply? Shacheng is full of cacti…”

Ying Si interrupted her next, “What’s so strange about cacti in the desert? Isn’t that normal?”

“You’re annoying too! Why interrupt me?” Dalia frowned. “There are just so many cacti inside, almost every household grows them. What’s so special about cacti? Isn’t that strange?”

Yang Jin looked at Bai Yunci, who thought for a moment before pulling up the images of Shacheng. After seeing the cacti, he realized, “Mescaline, also known as trimethoxyphenethylamine, is an alkaloid that can be extracted from cacti and has hallucinogenic effects.”

“What? Are they making drugs?” Ying Si was shocked.

“I don’t think so,” Yang Jin said. “It’s likely related to Hai Yan.”

Bai Yunci asked, “Do you know the formula for Hai Yan?”

Yang Jin shook his head. “But I’ve seen this alkaloid mentioned in the task report from when we destroyed a Sanctum laboratory.”

“So we must go inside to see what they’re really up to,” Bai Yunci said.

Ying Si elbowed Feng Mang and whispered, “Did you understand any of that?”

“To be honest…” Feng Mang whispered back, “Not really.”

Their whispering went unnoticed. Yang Jin and Bai Yunci had established the necessity of entering the Inner City. Now they needed a thorough plan.

“Since going in means cutting off all contact,” Yang Jin said seriously, “I’ll take on this task.”

“That’s the worst-case scenario,” Bai Yunci responded. “I don’t recommend sending one person alone. First, we have no idea what’s inside. Second, without any guidance, one person’s capabilities are extremely limited. Third, if anything unexpected happens, it’s not just one person at risk—it could impact everything that follows. We’re facing too many unknowns, and the most difficult part is that we can’t even predict the consequences.”

Dalia, still confused by the logic, asked, “Why can’t one person go in? Even civilians can enter the Inner City. You make it sound like a deadly mission.”

“Would civilians investigate classified units inside?” Bai Yunci replied. “Living or dying, safety or danger isn’t the main issue here. The focus is on obtaining valuable information. To put it bluntly, dying in there doesn’t matter, but failing to extract information does.”

Yang Jin tapped the table in front of Feng Mang and asked, “Do you have any ideas?”

“What can I do?” Feng Mang said. “I already told you it blocks all signals and frequencies. You can’t bring any transmission devices.”

Yang Jin asked, “Isn’t there any kind of internal implant?”

“There are, but even if it’s implanted, it’s still an electronic device,” Feng Mang explained. “No matter how much it looks like it’s part of your body, its essence doesn’t change. Even if you bring it in, the information can’t be exchanged.”

“So, there’s no other way?” Yang Jin asked.

Everyone fell silent.

“It looks like I’ll have to go myself,” Yang Jin said, stretching as if to relieve tension. “Time to show my real skills.”

Bai Yunci suddenly asked Feng Mang, “Can you analyze their blocking method?”

Feng Mang glanced at the data and said, “They probably use dual-layer shielding. That wall isn’t just a simple wall; it’s white inside and out, likely coated with some kind of insulating material. I suspect there’s also a unit inside that can cut off all signal waves. This technology is incredibly advanced. I couldn’t possibly set up such a tight arrangement over such a large area. So, to put it simply, any man-made information can’t penetrate through—radiation, even, has a hard time getting through. Unless…”

“Unless what?” Bai Yunci pressed.

Feng Mang smiled, as if about to share a fantastical notion. “Unless one of us has a superpower that can transmit thoughts. But that’s ridiculous. Humans can’t possess such unnatural abilities—this isn’t a myth.”

“What if it were possible?” Bai Yunci said slowly, emphasizing each word.

Everyone exchanged glances. Only Yang Jin spoke up. “Old Bai… don’t tell me you can do it. When did you get such an ability? Open your third eye?”

“That’s why you’re ignorant,” Bai Yunci gave Yang Jin a genuine eye-roll. “Back in the Qianfan Project, there was a component focused on human-machine interaction. Machines connected to humans can perform all human actions. The only criterion we use to determine whether someone is a robot or a human is if they have a human brain.” He tapped his temple. “Humans can control machines with their brains as they do their own bodies. That’s what you call ‘thoughts,’ but the machine connects to the nerves.”

Dalia, already impatient, tugged at her hair. “Uncle, that’s too complicated. I didn’t read much. Can you simplify it?”

Ying Si also looked pained. “Yeah, I really don’t get it.”

Skipping over Shi Yixi, who also seemed clueless, Bai Yunci asked Feng Mang, “Did you understand?”

“Neuroscience isn’t my field,” Feng Mang said dejectedly. “I only know mechanics. Want a prosthetic? I can make one.”

Bai Yunci sighed and said, “Alright, I’ll try to make it simple. You all know that the human brain is the most intricate and complex structure in nature. The neural network in the brain is like a vast sea of stars in the universe. It’s a supercomputer that can receive information, process and analyze it, produce results, and convey them through our language system. Human-machine interaction is a well-developed technology. Some studies suggest that this so-called ‘thought’ can also be transmitted between humans.”

“That’s too far-fetched. How do you transmit it?” Ying Si pressed his index and middle fingers together and mimicked sending thoughts from his temple. “Brainwaves? Is that the term?”

“No, brainwaves are just bioelectricity that record brain activity, and their range isn’t that long,” Bai Yunci explained. “What I’m talking about involves brain activity on a quantum level.”

At this point, everyone wore expressions as if they were listening to a heavenly book ² tale.

Bai Yunci continued, “In this mission, the most crucial aspect is the transmission of information. We can think of each of our brains as a computer. If we can establish a connection between any two of us, we can synchronize information. This ‘consciousness’ transfer is not hindered by any obstacles.”

“How do we do that?” Yang Jin asked. “Do you have a method?”

“Quantum entanglement,” Bai Yunci replied. “This is just a theory, of course. If brain activity occurs at a quantum level, we could establish a connection using entanglement. What one person sees and thinks can be instantly transmitted to another person’s brain, essentially using humans as carriers for quantum communication. While this is still in the experimental stage and there are many technical details I won’t explain, it’s worth a try. Feng Mang, let me see what equipment you have brought. I think we might need two neural enhancers.”

“How could I possibly have something like that!” Feng Mang exclaimed, as if awakening from a dream. In fact, everyone, including him, was still processing this complex information.

It sounded like complete nonsense!

“Do you have any other methods for establishing a connection?” Yang Jin didn’t seem too dismissive of Bai Yunci’s “nonsense.” “The gate opens at six tomorrow morning, and we only have an hour to get through. If your method works, we need to set it up tonight.”

“Let me think. Besides third-party intervention, the ways to establish a connection between people…” Bai Yunci fell into thought. Suddenly, he looked up at Yang Jin.

Yang Jin’s expression turned subtle. “No way…”

“You thought of it too?” Bai Yunci asked.

“It’s too…” Yang Jin was at a loss for words.

“But it’s the fastest,” Bai Yunci affirmed.

“What if it doesn’t work?” Yang Jin asked.

“Ahem,” Feng Mang cleared his throat and politely asked, “Gentlemen, what major thing are you talking about?”

Yang Jin pointed at Bai Yunci. “Let him explain. Doctors can announce anything strange with a straight face.”

Bai Yunci, indeed without any expression, said, “The simplest and most direct way for humans to establish a connection is through sexual intercourse.”

Everyone fell silent, or rather, they froze.

Why did such an embarrassing term sound like a serious scientific explanation when coming from a doctor’s mouth? Do doctors become like this after delving into the mysteries of the human body?

“Theoretically, it’s feasible,” Bai Yunci continued without any embarrassment. “Ten percent of sperm carries genetic information, while ninety percent of seminal fluid contains a large amount of protein, which is the foundation of life. Exchanging genes to establish a connection—quite romantic, isn’t it?”

“Romantic my a*s ah!” Ying Si shouted, blushing, “It’s clearly just…”

Dalia widened her eyes with curiosity and said, “Sounds interesting! But why not just use a blood transfusion?”

“Because we all have abilities,” Bai Yunci explained. “Our blood is incompatible with each other’s.”

Shi Yixi, who had been silent, quietly raised his hand and said, “I don’t have any abilities. Can I do it?”

“You?” Bai Yunci said meaningfully, “No, you can’t.”

“Stop wasting time. If we keep talking, it’ll be dawn soon,” Yang Jin sighed. This private topic was unsuitable for public discussion, but his expression and tone were as serious as if they were discussing classified operations. He asked Bai Yunci, “Can it be any two people?”

“Under certain conditions, if those conditions are met, there should be an optimal solution,” Bai Yunci replied. “To be thorough, the person entering the Inner City must be non-aggressive, ordinary, and inconspicuous, with no related records, just like an average civilian.”

“So the three of us aren’t candidates for entering the Inner City.” Yang Jin’s hand gestured at himself, Bai Yunci, and Feng Mang. “Among the remaining three kids, Ying Si isn’t suitable.”

“Why not?” Ying Si’s first reaction was to argue, but then he remembered the process and immediately shut his mouth, muttering, “Who wants to be suitable anyway?”

Everyone’s eyes fell on Shi Yixi and Dalia. Judging by the criteria, Dalia had the inherent advantage of her gender, and she had no records, making her hard to trace. Shi Yixi, on the other hand, was unnoticeable and obedient, his only record at Nufeng Academy destroyed with Qianfan’s explosion.

“Then it’s decided!” Dalia seemed very pleased with this outcome, hugging Shi Yixi’s arm. “I’ll do it with Yixi! Then I’ll go into the Inner City, and Yixi will stay outside to receive information.”

“No way!” Yang Jin rejected immediately, “Do you even know what you’re saying? You’re still underage!”

“Why can’t I decide?” Dalia jumped up, “I’m the only girl here. Who else should I listen to if not me? Isn’t the choice up to me? I choose Yixi! I like Yixi!”

Yang Jin sneered, “Little girl, this isn’t something only men and women can do.”

Dalia suddenly realized what he meant and shouted, “You f*cking pervert!”

Shi Yixi, completely baffled, asked, “Do what?” The amount of information had exploded in his mind, and he processed it slowly. While everyone else was already discussing the candidates, he was still pondering what brain activity was.

“Do something fun,” Dalia said ambiguously. “Yixi, are you willing to do it with me?”

Shi Yixi nodded, “Sure.”

Dalia shot a victorious look at Yang Jin. Yang Jin, speechless, said, “Are you crazy?”

“Let me finish the remaining conditions,” Bai Yunci interrupted the argument between Yang Jin and Dalia. “Actually, my best candidates are Yang Jin and Yixi.”

Yang Jin spluttered, “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“I’ve sampled both of your blood, but I swear my research wasn’t for this mission; it’s just a coincidence,” Bai Yunci said. “Your genes are unique. On the surface, they seem completely different, but there’s a subtle similarity. I can’t pinpoint what it is, but your frequencies are the closest, which means a higher chance of success.”

The serious scientific atmosphere could only partially mitigate the awkwardness. Everyone’s focus was on the two involved. Shi Yixi was still clueless, probably still thinking about quantum entanglement. He wasn’t embarrassed because he hadn’t processed the main plot yet.

Yang Jin, however, was deep in thought, looking grim.

“There are many ways for the human body to absorb genes or proteins,” Feng Mang suggested. “Can’t it be through the digestive system? Why does it have to be…”

“If there were another way, I’d have mentioned it already,” Bai Yunci replied. “The hormone levels in a person under excitement are completely different. In a lab, I’d have many methods. But this is a desert. Can you tell me anything faster and more direct than sexual stimulation? Besides, that stuff would be destroyed by stomach acid if ingested.”

“But it wouldn’t be absorbed through the ** either!” Feng Mang retorted, “Don’t lie to me. I did take biology.”

“These issues can be solved with medication, very easily,” Bai Yunci said. “I’m a doctor. I’m good at this.”

Feng Mang now felt that Bai Yunci sounded like a quack selling fake medicine, and he indeed seemed to have brought back many medicinal ingredients from the space factory.

Everyone fell silent, each with their own thoughts, as could be seen from their expressions. Feng Mang seemed to be racking his brain for another solution. Ying Si’s eyes darted between Yang Jin and Shi Yixi’s faces. Dalia leaned her head on Shi Yixi’s shoulder, pouting unhappily. Shi Yixi looked wooden, while Yang Jin had a serious expression.

This isn’t a situation where one can make a resolute, heroic decision to face death with valor. If it were, it might be simpler. This decision won’t cost a hair on one’s head; it merely involves forming an intimate relationship with someone not particularly well-known. And the foundational elements for such a relationship—emotion or instinct—are absent.

Viewed as a rational task, everything is simplified. It’s about sacrificing oneself for the requirements of a mission.

Not one’s life, but the most private aspect of oneself.

Time ticked by, second by second.

“Make a decision,” Bai Yunci broke the silence, pointing outside, “or it’ll be dawn soon.”

Yang Jin lifted his chin slightly and asked Shi Yixi, “Do you accept this mission?”

“Huh?” Shi Yixi said, “Yes, I accept.”

“I accept too,” Yang Jin responded, uncharacteristically serious and earnest.

TN:

Not sure how to feel about this considering the fact that Yixi isn’t actually “aware” of what mission he is accepting. Does this count as consent if the other party is a bit slow on the uptake?

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Translator Notes

1. 神神道道 – (colloquial, of a person’s speech or deportment) odd; bizarre[↩]
2. Superstition[↩]