Legend of the Cyber Heroes
Chapter 115 - 115 35 Who Changed It Back Again

115: Chapter 35 Who Changed It Back Again 115: Chapter 35 Who Changed It Back Again Miss Deborah Zhao’s mentor’s mentor, the Great Knight in charge of the “Mona Project,” once said in a public speech, “Our universe is much like a clock.” A Scientific Knight, then, is one who pries open the back cover to explore its inner mechanical structure.

At the time, the still young Miss Deborah realized something else.

The “watch” conceals its inner workings layer by layer within its case, but the “appearance” created by those precise movements—the “pointer movement” on the mechanical watch—is likewise an extension of those underlying rules.

Such operation is difficult to contravene.

For example, the Protectors of civilization naturally possess greater abilities and greater responsibilities.

They toil and labor painstakingly, achieving all they have now in the struggle and bearing the great responsibility.

Yet this status seems insignificant in front of a Scientific Knight.

A Scientific Knight is the embodiment of virtue, the sword with which humanity charges toward the unknown natural world.

Even the defiant folk of Jianghu respect Scientific Knights.

Another example, those in the Green Forest must be madmen.

They are possessed by the mad Undead in their brains and cannot think straight.

The “phenomena” supported by these “rules” are equally clear.

As long as one knows a bit of the pattern, a great deal can be predicted.

For example…

The man before her must definitely be trying to intimidate her.

Just like the bright, ancient ballad he sang earlier, expressing his disdain for her, it was but an act meant to instill fear in her.

Previously, it was to dismantle her Inner Strength defense, and now it was to increase the stakes of the negotiation.

It must be so.

There cannot be another explanation.

She said, “If you want something, just say it directly.

There’s no need for all these roundabout tactics!”

At this point, Zhang Xianchong suddenly spoke up, “You can’t kill the young lady.”

“Ho ho…” Xiang Shan shifted his gaze, “Any reason for that?”

“She is an apprentice of the Scientific Knights and deserves that bit of respect.”

“Xianchong!” Deborah shrieked, “I told you!

He has absolutely no intention of killing me!

Don’t interfere with the negotiation!”

Zhang Xianchong said, “Miss…

Come to your senses.

This man truly wants to kill you…”

On the other side, Xiang Shan had already fallen into contemplation because of the title “Scientific Knight.” He seemed to have read the term in someone else’s memory.

But others’ memories always gave him a sense of alienation, so he needed to think it over again.

Seeing Xiang Shan not speaking, Deborah cried out, “Are you trying to kill me because of that woman?

No, this is a misunderstanding!

When we found that woman’s body, her personality had already vanished!

What my mentor did was merely making use of the body.”

“Hmm…” Xiang Shan finally snapped out of his reverie.

He glanced and said, “Well then, let me confirm something, that lady just now, had she signed a body donation contract with your Order of Knights?

Or is there a legal rule stating all bodies belong to the Scientific Knight Order…

Ah right, there are hardly any laws now.”

Xiang Shan thought for a moment, “So, where is there anything here worthy of forgiveness?”

“You…

You bastard!” Deborah shrieked, “Do you realize?

When humanity was still crawling before the Illusion called ‘God,’ using corpses to explore human bodily functions was a forbidden practice.

The distant ancestors of the Scientific Knights had to resort to stealing bodies back then…”

“Oh!

So it turns out that humanity has stooped to comparing morality with the medieval times now.” Xiang Shan nodded, “Do you know, child, in principle, all experiments requiring ‘humans’ as subjects must follow the principles of ‘informed’ and ‘consent.’ The subjects must be aware of how they will be treated when they agree to an experiment and what consequences this process may cause.

And ‘consent,’ refers to volunteers willing to undergo the experiment despite knowing all possible adverse effects.

Additionally, we should ensure volunteers can withdraw unconditionally at any time to avoid being treated like rats.”

“If these three principles are not followed, how could I tell whether a person was captured to serve as a test subject just because they possessed some rare traits—Ah right, you’re still using lab rats now, aren’t you?” Xiang Shan sighed, “So, those who don’t follow this rule, they all deserve to die.

Your existence simply tarnishes the glory of mankind.”

“You…” Deborah screamed, “I am a Scientific Knight!

How could you kill me…”

“Before that, I still want to ask…

You’re supposed to be a knight apprentice, right?” Xiang Shan countered, “So, what exactly does the virtue and glory of a Scientific Knight have to do with you?”

“How dare you insult me?”

“I’m just curiously discussing a fact.” Xiang Shan said, “After all, if we think about it, in the Old Era, if we put it nicely, they’re called ‘Research Laborers,’ and if we put it harshly, they self-mockingly call themselves ‘Research Dogs.’ Xiang Shan’s hand caressed the top of Deborah’s head for a moment, “Which professor…

Ah, I should say, which Great Knight doesn’t have a dozen dogs under him?

But when have you ever seen a dog actually share in the master’s glory?”

“Originally, this whole mentor and apprentice system is just a remnant of the medieval past.

Why should apprentices have to toil away as bonded laborers, handling all sorts of menial tasks?

Why do people with at least a master’s degree have to waste so much time cleaning experimental apparatus?

Is cleaning their specialty?

Why don’t they hire professionals to do these things?”

“Moreover, after all this backbreaking work, supporting the most noble cause of humanity, they can share neither the honor nor the income commensurate with their contributions.

Indeed, ideas and insights are the most important.

But when everything goes to the contractor, where’s the fairness in that?”

This topic seemed to touch on some truths in Xiang Shan’s mind, unexpectedly making him rather talkative: “And speaking of which, I remember that this system should have been gradually abolished, right?

Toward the end of the Old Era.

Manual labor should be left to technicians hired on a fixed salary.

The dependency relationship between mentors and apprentices should also have been severed.

With modern networks, every scholar could have facilitated swift exchanges…”

“Are you referring to ‘technical squires’?” Deborah exclaimed in terror, “Without longing for the honor of being a Scientific Knight, not wishing to become a full-fledged Scientific Knight, how can one stay within the Order of Knights?”

“Oh, I think I understand.

Since researchers enjoy a pretty high status, more and more people are willing to supply their own rations in exchange for exploitation by the contractors,” Xiang Shan sighed, quite disappointed.

The transformation of the academic system…

should also have been something he was involved in.

“Forget it, I went off topic just now.

Let me get straight to the point,” Xiang Shan said, “Apprentices like you, who have not yet earned the Knight’s Badge on their publications, are essentially low-level workers who trade hard physical labor for a bit of honor; you belong to a class that can be completely replaced by machines.

If this were the past, you wouldn’t even have the right to act so haughtily before me…”

A “buzzing” sound emitted from inside Deborah’s speaker, as if she wanted to retort.

But she couldn’t find an entry point for her argument.

This guy knew far too much about the affairs of the Scientific Knights, even historical details that the general public wouldn’t know.

He was even intimately familiar with the “Education Revolution” and “Research Innovation” pushed by the Martial Ancestor during the Old Era.

With her insight, Deborah couldn’t even refute him at all.

“To feel your master’s glory as your own as a dog…

You are the most contemptible type of person.

Not fighting for what you truly deserve, instead taking pride in what should be shameful…” Xiang Shan shook his head, “Forget it, I’m too lazy to say more.

From this perspective, you, who cling to this ‘honor’ until death, really are pitiable.

Let’s leave it at that.

Tsk, the ‘Old Era’ I mixed in with wasn’t so cannibalistic.”

“You actually pity me?” Deborah’s voice carried a tremendous sense of insult: “You dare!

You dare…”

Xiang Shan slapped his forehead, “I was thinking of offering some last-minute care.

Looks like I really don’t have the talent for benevolence.”

With that, he removed the speaker directly connected to Deborah’s head.

Carolina was also cursing nonstop.

Xiang Shan waited a few seconds, heard nothing of value, and then disconnected the wire as well.

Then, his gaze turned to Zhang Xianchong and Old Hammer: “What about you two?

Have anything to say?”

Zhang Xianchong said, “I know that some of my actions, by the standards of a Hero, must be repaid with my life.

But I tell you, I have no regrets.”

“Hm?

Any reasons?” asked Xiang Shan.

“As long as this chaotic world continues, humanity is bound to suffer,” Zhang Xianchong said, “That’s why I opted to support the strong.”

Xiang Shan looked up at the sky speechlessly: “Heh, can you really say that with such righteousness?

With today’s human technology, we have more than enough to support all of humanity, yet there are still those who struggle desperately just to survive.

If the Imperial Court completely annihilates the Jianghu, will the common folk truly live in peace and contentment?

Will all the injustices disappear?

And will there be no more worries over resources for a Prosthetic Body?”

“There will certainly be much less turmoil.

The waste of resources will also be drastically reduced,” Zhang Xianchong said, “I believe this, so I voluntarily chose to guard a Scientific Knight, that’s all.”

“To clarify, an apprentice,” Xiang Shan put his hand on the speaker, “Anything else?”

“I just want to tell you that what I did was just.”

“That means no,” Xiang Shan unplugged the amplifier, “I am neither loyal nor virtuous and only understand problems that can be solved through violence, so let’s not cast pearls before swine.

And you, the remaining one, what about you?”

Old Hammer said, “I’m inferior in skill, there’s nothing to complain about.

Please deliver my Martial Arts Algorithm and Experience Accumulation to the Iron Block Style Dojo on the Fourteen Great Paths of Pine Eagle City, and if possible, hand them to Matsushima Instructor.

I may die, but the Martial Vein must not be severed.”

“That’s more pragmatic, and it even sounds in line with the Path of Chivalry,” Xiang Shan nodded approvingly, “I’ll do my best.”

Xiang Shan then spent some time reading the memories of these individuals.

By the time he returned to “Mule,” he no longer carried any heads.