Two years ago, in Titan City.
"You helped escape that place, not just because of him, right?"
Judith looked at Shang Jianyue, asking word by word.
At that ti, Shang Jianyue was wearing a black gentleman’s hat, with nanobots weaving a black tuxedo-like suit for him.
"Judith, you’re actually very smart, you know that?"
"You know what you should own, and what you shouldn’t. This self-awareness is rare, especially in a place like Dawn Street."
Shang Jianyue’s complint didn’t make Judith look any better.
As Shang Jianyue had said, because she was self-aware, she felt worried about Shang Jianyue’s sudden favor, maintaining a facade of calm despite the unease inside.
"There is no such thing as a gift without reason in this world. You help , what kind of price do I have to pay?" She asked directly.
Shang Jianyue tightened his well-fitting black suit, holding a silver cane with both hands on the ground.
"I want to make a pact with you."
"I can give you anything you want, within my ability to grant, or anything I think you want after analysis and judgnt."
As he spoke, Shang Jianyue raised a finger.
Judith looked at that finger and quickly withdrew her gaze.
Shang Jianyue was very satisfied with Judith’s reaction, and continued, "And in this pact, as the other party to the agreent, you only need to commit to one thing."
"To sacrifice your life when I need it."
Shang Jianyue was very candid, and candor is relative.
After hearing Shang Jianyue’s words, Judith fell silent.
Anyone would first beco silent upon hearing the need to sacrifice their life.
Shang Jianyue did not rush her, patiently waiting, and after a long silence, Judith spoke:
"Can you truly grant any condition?"
"Yes, as long as it’s within my power," Shang Jianyue nodded slightly.
"Okay, I agree with you."
Unexpectedly, Judith decisively agreed to the pact proposed by Shang Jianyue.
This ti it was Shang Jianyue’s turn to be surprised.
"Why? Are you sure you heard the content of the pact clearly?"
"Yes, I heard it clearly." Judith nodded seriously with a determined look, "You help fulfill my wish, and I sacrifice my life when you need it. That’s the content of our pact."
"Why?"
Originally, just on a whim to find soone, because he had t Judith once, Shang Jianyue had co to take a casual look.
Unexpectedly, Judith’s every reaction and decision was so unexpected.
She successfully aroused Shang Jianyue’s intense curiosity.
"What is it that’s worth sacrificing your life for, like a moth to a fla?"
Judith’s answer was:
"A chasm that cannot be crossed by ordinary ans."
"I’m just an ordinary person, and for ordinary people to change the status quo, especially in such a world, is really too hard." Judith said truthfully.
"But at least you can live, right?" Shang Jianyue countered.
Judith smiled.
But there was bitterness in that smile.
"Is living like this really aningful?"
Perhaps it was fine before, to continue living muddleheaded on Dawn Street.
Even to live a slightly better life after Shang Jianyue took control of Titan City.
But Judith t Han Zhan.
Like a person who had been in darkness for a long ti seeing a beam of light.
"I want to live more wonderfully."
"Even if it costs my life."
Shang Jianyue’s pupils reflected the resolute figure of Judith, and he lightly nodded his head.
"I understand, then, the pact is made."
"Starting today, you are the major steward of Titan City, second only to in authority."
...
After Judith beca the major steward of Titan City,
She did not squander this enormous power that fell from the sky.
As Shang Jianyue had judged, she was very asured and easily satisfied.
She opened a cyber restaurant, appointing neighbors still struggling to live on Dawn Street, helping them change their lives.
She transford Dawn Street into a large garden, with flowers she personally planted and cultivated. Shang Jianyue suggested sending robots to help, but was turned down.
She used her power to release the Bodhi Treasure Tree that had been imprisoned, sending it out of Titan City.
Then diligently doing what a steward should do, without any negligence.
That’s all.
Judith asked for so little that even Shang Jianyue couldn’t stand it, and took the liberty to add one more request for her.
To reunite with Han Zhan.
Now, all wishes have been fulfilled, and she has no more regrets.
The scene returns to the present.
"You are actually a very gentle person, Mr. Shang Jianyue."
Judith’s body is gradually becoming quantum, a transformation that’s irreversible.
Her current state is a superweapon Shang Jianyue spent two years devising, to deal with Intelligent chanical Life.
"No need to flatter like that, I’m just a lunatic pursuing immortality."
Shang Jianyue stood opposite Judith, with a silver cane planted in the ground, arcs of quantum energy flickering, winding around it.
"Rationality, emotion, virtual, reality. They’re all just parts of my pursuit of immortality."
"I don’t pity you either, just that an ’experintal body’ like yours, with more intense emotional factors, is the most appropriate nurturing ground."
"You’re just an experintal body, a petri dish."
"I know that, Mr. Shang Jianyue." Judith’s lower body had completely quantumized, in the process of being transmitted.
And the destination of transmission, is an unknown area.
Judith didn’t beco angry or sad because of Shang Jianyue’s harsh words, still maintaining a bright smile, looking at Shang Jianyue.
"But you fulfilled all my wishes."
"Letting a small and insignificant ordinary person like also experience what it’s like to be the major steward of Titan City."
"Thank you, Mr. Shang Jianyue."
Judith’s words silenced Shang Jianyue.
The whole room fell silent.
Only the rampant dancing quantum turbulence remained, throwing light blue spots onto the surrounding walls, making crackling sounds.
Finally, Judith’s body completed quantumization, transmitted to another place, completely disappearing.
Shang Jianyue looked at the empty room, wearing a black suit, resting both hands on the silver cane, still maintaining his previous posture.
Immovable.
It’s unclear how long passed.
Shang Jianyue’s indifferent voice finally echoed in the room, "That’s why I hate humans. They can’t maintain absolute rationality, always like to act on emotion."
As he spoke, he closed his eyes, seemingly formatting the mories in his mind.
"Local mory is full, it’s good to clear out so unnecessary mories."
"What major steward of Titan City? No steward like this, really pathetic!"
"Always making a fool of ."
Shang Jianyue still didn’t open his eyes, cursing under his breath.
But there was no one to respond anymore.
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