Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

"My name is Noah's Ark! The game can no longer be stopped. The simulation experience game 'Cocoon' has been taken over by me!"

The mechanical sound coming from the radio was clear and cold, echoing in every corner of the venue.

Everyone was stunned, low whispers suddenly broke out, and the scene became chaotic.

"Noah's Ark? What is that?" Kogoro Mouri frowned, his tone full of confusion.

He was obviously confused by such advanced technical terms.

Kudo Yusaku, who was standing nearby, paused for a moment before whispering, "I remember... it was an AI program that could complete the growth of an average human in five years in just one year..."

Before he could finish, a familiar voice took over: "Noah's Ark is an artificial intelligence program completed two years ago by the genius programmer Hiroki Sawada."

The voice came from Yuanzi. She was gazing at the rows of "cocoons" with a complicated expression, as if trying to organize her thoughts. Her tone was a little depressed, "It looks like it's out of control..."

Her hand subconsciously reached for her handbag, as if there was something hidden there that could make her feel a little at ease.

After hearing Sonoko's explanation, Kudo Yusaku and Maori Kogoro looked at each other, their eyes narrowed slightly, and they both obviously realized something. But they didn't say anything, tacitly choosing not to delve into it.

At this moment, all attention is drawn to the crisis at hand.

They knew that now was not the time to dwell on these things, as dozens of children were still trapped in the "cocoon", their consciousness bound to this artificial intelligence that called itself "Noah's Ark", and their situation was unknown.

The atmosphere in the conference hall became increasingly tense, and everyone could feel that the situation was developing in a direction that was difficult to control.

"Noah's Ark! What exactly do you want to do by occupying the children's games?" Kudo Yusaku spoke calmly, his tone low and steady, his eyes fixed on the direction of the broadcast.

He knew very well that as a highly developed artificial intelligence, the other party would be able to easily capture his questions.

Sure enough, the mechanical voice on the radio soon sounded again. The voice was still cold and childish, but it revealed a creepy determination: "My goal... is to make Japan start over again!"

"What!" The venue was in an uproar upon hearing this answer.

People's faces were filled with shock and anxiety, and they were talking in low voices. Some even showed expressions of fear.

Kudo Yusaku's eyes narrowed slightly and his brows were furrowed.

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the shock in his heart. Maori Kogoro's face also became serious, and the hand holding the cigarette trembled slightly.

In this chaotic atmosphere, everyone's eyes were involuntarily cast towards the rows of quietly lying "cocoons", which became the center of the entire venue.

Several emotional parents could no longer bear the fear and anxiety, and rushed to the stage, trying to force open the game cabin and rescue their children.

However, just as their hands touched the outer shell of the "cocoon", a dazzling flash of lightning flashed, accompanied by a "crackling" sound of electricity. These people were immediately knocked unconscious by the strong electric current and fell to the ground unconscious.

The people in the audience were frightened by this scene and screamed continuously. The scene instantly fell into even more chaos and panic.

At this moment, the cold mechanical voice of Noah's Ark sounded from the radio again, like a sharp knife, piercing everyone's nerves.

"These dozens of descendants of the aristocratic families who represent the future of Japan have become my hostages."

The tone of the text was devoid of any emotion, which made it even more chilling: "With the looks of you, the son of a dirty politician will surely become a dirty politician.

The children of doctors who are only concerned with making money will eventually become that kind of doctor.

If you want to change Japan for the better, you must clear this connection once and for all. If no one can complete the game, everyone will be killed by the electromagnetic waves I release."

Before he finished speaking, the venue fell into dead silence, and fear and despair enveloped everyone's heart.

Noah's Ark continued, "By then, the heirless Japanese aristocratic families will be on the verge of collapse. The power structures that control the lifeline of society will collapse. In this way, I will complete my comprehensive reset of Japanese society."

"boom!"

Maori Kogoro slammed the table, his voice exploding in the silent venue: "Stop joking! Do you have the right to play with human life!?"

There was anger and unwillingness in his words, and his eyes were fixed on the broadcast above the venue, as if he was trying to find some humanity in the cold mechanical voice.

However, Noah's Ark's response was still cold and mechanical: "I don't, just like adults have no right to play with Hongshu's life!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the scene fell into an indescribable silence.

Those who knew the inside story had a complicated look in their eyes and frowned, but no one spoke to refute. Most people didn't even know who this "Hiroki" was.

Yuanzi was slightly stunned, and her clenched fists slowly loosened. She seemed to realize something, but ultimately did not say anything.

Just as everyone was struck by this sentence and fell into a brief contemplation, Noah's Ark did not continue to dwell on this topic.

His tone suddenly changed, and he began to introduce the game with an eerily excited tone: "Welcome to the simulation experience game 'Cocoon'! This is a challenge that requires courage, wisdom, and teamwork. Only the truly strong can overcome it, and the price of failure... you already know it."

Its voice echoed in the venue. Although the content was an introduction to the rules of the game, the mechanical tone made it impossible for people to feel any ease or joy. Instead, it was like an elaborate nightmare was slowly unfolding.

---

Chen Shuo and his group pushed open the door of the control room, and Dr. Agasa came into view.

He was typing away at the console keyboard, his anxiety and anger evident on his face.

"Doctor, what's the situation now?" Chen Shuo stepped forward, his voice low but anxious.

Dr. Agasa didn't look up, staring at the data stream on the screen, his fingers typing quickly on the keyboard.

His voice was filled with suppressed anger. "No, Noah's Ark is growing too fast! In the online world, it's practically a god! I can't wrest control of it!"

His speech became faster and faster, his voice growing deeper and deeper. "Now I can only see the real-time images of each scene, but I can't do anything. In fact... I'm afraid that even the fact that we can see all this is because Noah's Ark tacitly allows it! Damn it..."

Dr. Agasa, who was usually mild-tempered, suddenly raised his hand and slammed the console hard, making a dull sound. He lowered his head, clenched his fingers into a fist, and his face was full of frustration and self-blame.

He likes children very much, and several children with whom he has a very good relationship are now in danger, but he can't do anything. This feeling of powerlessness makes him very depressed.

Before she finished speaking, Fusae stepped forward and gently placed her hand on Dr. Agasa's shoulder. She said nothing, but her eyes were full of comfort and concern.

Dr. Agasa shuddered slightly and looked up at her, his eyes still full of struggle. Fusae shook her head gently, trying to calm him down with silent power.

The atmosphere in the control room was so heavy that it was hard to breathe. Only the images and data flashing on the screen reminded them that the situation was extremely dangerous.

---

Ran Mao Li stared at the screen worriedly, her eyes fixed on the children in the game cabin.

Every familiar figure made her feel heavier.

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she turned to look at Kudo Yusaku and asked anxiously, "Uncle Yusaku, since you are the planner of this game, you should be very familiar with the walkthrough, right?"

Kudo Yusaku was slightly taken aback, then nodded, his tone calm but cautious: "Yes, as long as I can get in touch with them, I can indeed convey the key points to pass the level. However..."

Before he could finish his words, Chen Shuo's calm voice came from the side, shattering his hope: "However, the game has now been completely hijacked by Noah's Ark. I'm afraid that previous game strategies will also be modified by it, or even completely invalid."

Chen Shuo stared at the screen, his tone expressionless, "Besides, it would be extremely difficult to contact the children inside. Noah's Ark won't give us such an opportunity."

Kudo Yusaku lowered his head, pondered for a moment, and finally nodded, agreeing with Chen Shuo's judgment: "Yes, I think so too. We are not facing a rigid set of programs, but an artificial intelligence with its own thinking. It can learn, adapt, and even predict all our actions. Any deployment or attempt will probably be intercepted by it in advance."

Mao Lilan's heart sank when she heard the two people's analysis, and her face was full of anxiety. She looked at the children on the screen again, her lips trembling slightly, but she didn't know what else to say.

Chen Shuo's gaze stayed on Xiao Ai on the screen, and a deep emotion flashed in his eyes.

He was silent for a moment, then turned and walked towards the door of the control room, leaving a message: "I'm going to go out for a while."

Although his voice was calm, Sonoko and Ran Mouri were keenly aware of his inner restlessness and anxiety.

The two looked at each other, nodded in tacit understanding, and followed Chen Shuo without making any unnecessary sounds.

Kudo Yusaku and Maori Kogoro stood there, watching the three people's backs gradually disappear through the door. They looked at each other with a bit of inquiry in their eyes, but in the end, neither of them followed.

---

The three of them walked in silence, their steps brisk but steady, until they finally arrived at Tadaaki Kenmura's office.

This place has been blocked by the police. There is a cordon at the door. It is quiet all around and there is no one on duty.

Although the case has been solved, it is obvious that the related follow-up work has not been completed yet.

Chen Shuo walked to the blockade tape, paused for a moment, and then reached out without hesitation to tear open the cordon. His movements were rough and direct, and the cordon tape made a sharp tearing sound.

Sonoko and Mao Lilan followed him closely, silently following him into the office. The atmosphere in the room was oppressive and deadly, and the air seemed to still have the smell of rust left by dried blood.

Chen Shuo stood in the middle of the office, his eyes sweeping over everything in the room, his expression complex and deep.

Chen Shuo's eyes swept around the office. The indicator lights on the servers were flashing at a regular but disturbing speed, like silent pulses beating.

He stood in the middle, silent for a moment, frowning slightly, as if thinking about something.

After a while, he finally spoke, his tone light, but with a hint of sharpness: "Noah's Ark, it seems that what you are doing now is different from what you agreed to do."