Cyber ​​Ghost Record

Chapter 97, Section Ninety-Six: The Forest Window
“A spokesperson? Me?” Su Ge raised an eyebrow in surprise. He paused for a moment, then hesitated, “I’m not a celebrity…”

“No, you are. You are a star, of course,” the executive said. “You’re bound by outdated thinking, Socrates. It’s the 23rd century now. Society doesn’t worship looks, singing voices, or physiques anymore, because those things have become cheap. People worship heroes now, and what makes someone a hero is whether they do something admirable.”

"are you serious?"

"Do you think I came all this way just to play a joke on you?"

Suger didn't respond, his mind racing. He harbored many secrets and had never desired much attention. But if he had indeed partnered with the Deer Valley Group, it would mean the forced-to-be-terminated investigation could proceed.

But then some images flashed through his mind: the zombie-like people under the pink neon lights, the patients waiting to die outside the black clinics, and the bodies suffering from immune diseases in the urban underclass.

Suger's posing as an investor and contacting black market drug dealers has already significantly impacted the fragile ecosystem of this underprivileged society. If this imposter were to actually become the real deal, it would mean that what the people at the bottom are desperately protesting against would soon become a reality.

"What will you do if I agree?"

“You just need to agree, and the group will take care of the rest. You only need to attend important meetings or business events; most of the time, your hologram can handle the public appearances,” the executive said. “And you’ll be paid enough to live comfortably in this society.”

“I’m asking about your business plan,” Su Ge said. “Will you change the market landscape of Yingchuan City?”

“Why are you asking this?” the executive said. “This is not your concern.”

“Yingchuan City is home to many unregistered residents and migrants from all over the country.” Su Ge met his gaze. “They survive on the medicines here.”

“Change.” The executive smiled slightly, stood up and walked to the glass wall, looking at the ginkgo trees in the courtyard that were beginning to turn yellow. “Of course, as I just said, we will bring change. Smuggling, illegal renovations—hundreds of crimes happen in this city every day. The Deer Valley Group controls vast social assets, and we will restore order to this chaotic market. This is our social responsibility.”

“Restore order,” Sog asked. “That means you’ll take down those smugglers.”

“This is only a small part of the work,” the executive said nonchalantly. “They must stop those illegal modifications and realize the dangers of drug smuggling. Of course, some negative examples are also necessary to highlight the superiority of bio-modification.”

"Where do they buy the medicine?" Suger asked.

"Them?" The executive understood that the "them" Sug was referring to were unregistered individuals who were not eligible to buy the drugs. "I can see that you sympathize with them, but your vision is too short-sighted. You haven't grasped the essence of the matter." He shook his head. "Where do you think their suffering comes from? If they hadn't been misled and induced by black market dealers, they wouldn't have undergone so many illegal modifications to their bodies, nor would they have fallen to the point where they need to rely on smuggled drugs with mixed ingredients to sustain their lives."

“Perhaps you’re right,” Soger said, “but the problem is real. No matter how despicable those black market dealers are, many people still make a living off them.”

The executive let out a barely perceptible sneer, turning to look at Suger. "There are significant differences between us in terms of both our thinking and our times, so I understand some of your ideas. Let me put it simply." He paused. "You've probably seen stray cats before, haven't you?"

These words nearly made Suger's heart skip a beat. He immediately thought of "Hegel," that mysterious black cat. Of course, he didn't know the creature's real name. He had initially thought it was Xiongbo, but later realized his guess was wrong.

“In your time, stray cats should be quite common,” the executive added.

“I’ve seen them,” Soger said calmly. “It’s tough for stray cats to survive,” the executive officer said. “But if you feed them, it will only create more stray cats. So you can only solve the problem at its source.” He spoke in a completely neutral tone, devoid of any emotional stance. “Change always brings pain, and a short pain is worse than a long one.”

"They are people, not stray cats."

“It’s all the same,” the executive said. “Stray cats, stray dogs, or germs, pests. These are just concrete terms, terms to make it easier for you to understand.”

Sog frowned, a surge of anger rising in his chest, but it immediately vanished—he realized that the other party was not human, and therefore had no human moral compass.

Digital life forms are outcasts, enemies. He resisted their invasion even before he went into hibernation, and he will continue to resist two centuries later. He was not swayed by anger; instead, he became even calmer.

“Pests.” Sog seemed a beat slow in responding to the executive officer’s words, “You’re being too absolute. In the early days of a forest, some insects can indeed cause harm. But everything has its limits. When some trees grow too tall and too big, monopolizing the sunlight, more lives will die in their shadow.”

He looked out the window, where the massive canopy of the beech trees blocked out the sunlight. He heard birdsong coming from the flower bushes, and the damp air was filled with the smell of humus.

"At this point, after it has been eaten by insects and rotted to the ground, sunlight can shine on the ground again. Mountain people and forest rangers call this 'opening a window in the forest.' The insects have opened a window for the forest, allowing it to be reborn. At this point, can you still call it a pest?"

The executive frowned and remained silent for two seconds.

"You mean 'revolution'?" A disdainful smile appeared on his lips as he said tactfully, "I must say, your idea is... romantic."

"I'm just refuting what you said."

Suger shook his head in denial.

His tone, demeanor, and body language all conveyed to the other party that he refused to be any kind of spokesperson.

“Not every hibernator is as lucky as you, Sog,” the executive officer said. “You’d better cherish this opportunity.”

“They are not cats or dogs, nor are they germs or pests. They are human beings.” Sog looked at the executive officer. “And you, no matter how well you pretend, you are not human.”

"Are you insulting me?"

“I’m just stating the facts,” Soger said, then stood up and walked toward the exit.

“I can sue you for commercial fraud.” The executive narrowed his eyes, watching Soger’s retreating figure. “But I’ll give you a few days to think it over.”

Suger did not respond, his figure disappearing down the stairs.

(End of this chapter)