Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

This gave Xiao Ce a feeling of unreality.

Just as Xiao Ce was looking around, Xiao Dingshan glanced at him and said, "Let's go, Xiao Ce..."

Xiao Dingshan smiled gently and patted Xiao Ce, who was still a little dazed. "I'll take you to see where we're staying and show you around life 'Under the Dome.' I didn't think you'd find it strange, but judging from your expression, everything here must be quite novel to you."

Xiao Ce smiled and followed Xiao Dingshan.

Xiao Dingshan guided Xiao Ce with practiced ease, without using the aerial railcar.

Instead, they chose to walk, heading towards the residential area along the wide central avenue.

The avenue is lined with tall, sleek alloy buildings, with the ground floor mostly housing functional facilities: short queues form in front of the material distribution station, with people waiting quietly; behind the transparent curtain wall of the education center, you can see humanoid lecturers giving lessons to holographic projections, while the "students" sitting below are equally focused; the entrance to the medical center is marked with a soft green light.

“This is the public service area!” Xiao Dingshan introduced as he walked. “The residential area is concentrated near the dome garden, where there is better lighting and views.”

Xiao Ce nodded, then glanced at the medical center.

Before he could speak, Xiao Dingshan said to Xiao Ce knowingly, "Xiao Ce, are you wondering why there's a medical center here when everyone here is an android?"

After hearing Xiao Dingshan's words, Xiao Ce smiled and nodded, "Not bad..."

Xiao Dingshan said to Xiao Ce, "Because even androids need repair...and..."

Xiao Dingshan abruptly stopped speaking.

Seeing Xiao Dingshan like this, Xiao Ce did not press the matter further.

Since he was already here, he was confident he could figure out the situation...

As you go up, you'll encounter gentle slopes and escalators.

The light grew softer and brighter, and a faint, fresh scent, like grass and earth, could even be smelled in the air. The scene changed completely when they stepped into the area marked "Residential Area: Sky Dome."

The streets have become winding and full of life. Although the materials are still cool-toned alloys and composite materials, the architectural forms are more diverse, with balconies and small gardens, even though they are planted with luminescent moss or specially cultivated ornamental fluorescent plants.

Simulated sunlight streamed through the enormous energy dome, and one could even see the slow movement of light and shadow on the "clouds." Recreational facilities were scattered along both sides of the street.

Facing us was a vast leisure plaza, with a circular energy fountain in the center that constantly shifted through soft colors and abstract patterns. Comfortable, suspended seats were scattered around. Some androids sat there; some seemed to be "resting" with their eyes closed (perhaps processing data or connecting to a virtual network?), some were conversing quietly in twos and threes, and others were playing a board game similar to chess, with the pieces being floating specks of light.

It really is advanced...

Next to the leisure plaza, there is a long, curved wall designed as a huge dynamic canvas, on which various digital artworks are displayed in a flowing manner.

Abstract geometric shapes, ever-changing nebulae, brushstrokes mimicking classical oil paintings, and even dynamically written poems. Occasionally, lifelike figures stop to "admire" them.

...

Many things here are full of a sense of technology and futurism.

Is this the world of the future?

Everything here is truly amazing... But if they can create such a region, why didn't they just go and transform the entire world...?

As Xiao Ce walked, looking at the many lifelike figures that seemed to be sunbathing, he couldn't help but ask, "They... don't need to eat or sleep, right?"

Everything before my eyes is filled with the details of "life," yet it also exudes a sense of alienation from deliberate imitation.

Xiao Dingshan nodded to Xiao Ce: "That's right. Actually, they don't need it physically. But they do need it spiritually... After all, as you've seen, our souls belong to ourselves..."

Upon hearing Xiao Dingshan's words, Xiao Ce nodded: "So, the people here are all androids, and there are no robots?"

After speaking, Xiao Ce paused and continued, "I'm referring to life forms like artificial intelligence entities..."

Xiao Dingshan nodded and said, "I know, I think they probably all exist. But I can't tell..."

After hearing Xiao Dingshan's words, Xiao Ce nodded: "So what do you mainly do here? The people here seem to be living quite well..."

As the two of them strolled around, many people greeted Xiao Dingshan warmly: "Mr. Xiao Dingshan...you're back from your trip?"

Xiao Dingshan returned their smiles and then called out their names directly.

After a few brief pleasantries, each of them would smile and glance at Xiao Ce a few times before nodding in greeting...

At least on the surface, these people seemed to have good intentions...

As he walked along, he encountered almost everyone who greeted Xiao Dingshan.

Xiao Dingshan then said to Xiao Ce, "Xiao Ce, you see a lot of people, but excluding the guards outside, there are less than ten thousand people living here. Even counting those who work in shifts, they'll be rotated after three months of continuous work. So, these are the people you'll see most often. Over time, you'll get to know them all..."

Xiao Ce was somewhat surprised after hearing Xiao Dingshan's words: "Work?"

Xiao Dingshan nodded and then said, "That's right, it's nothing really. These ordinary people are just here to keep things running... Of course, I don't know where they come from or what they're doing here..."

After hearing Xiao Dingshan's words, Xiao Ce nodded.

After walking around, I realized this is a futuristic community.

Although they tried their best to maintain a semblance of normalcy, Xiao Ce felt completely out of place...

It gave Xiao Ce a feeling of unreality...

As they talked, the two quickly looked around the area and walked through the lively yet somewhat quiet streets until they arrived at a sleek, silver-gray building.

Xiao Dingshan waved the ice ring terminal at the access control point, and the heavy alloy door slid open silently.

What catches the eye is not luxury, but ultimate simplicity and functionality. The room is of moderate size and has an open-plan layout.

The walls, floors, and ceilings are all made of the same matte, silvery-white special material, which feels warm to the touch and seems to automatically adjust the brightness of the light.

There was no kitchen or bathroom, since they didn't need one; the entire space was almost entirely empty.

As Xiao Ce looked around, Xiao Dingshan asked directly, "Xiao Ce, what are you looking for?"

Xiao Ce gave an awkward smile, and didn't hide anything from Xiao Dingshan: "You guys don't need to eat, drink, or relieve yourselves, but I'm still alone... but here..."

Seeing Xiao Ce's words, Xiao Dingshan smiled and said, "Don't worry about food. There's some food here, enough to keep you alive. As for going to the toilet..."

Xiao Dingshan paused for a moment, then pointed to a sleeping pod on the side and said, "This is a multi-functional pod, it also has a cleaning function..."

Xiao Ce was somewhat taken aback when he heard Xiao Dingshan say this, but he nodded without hesitation.

Although there are some things I can't accept, it's enough to have it.

"Sit down, Xiao Ce." Xiao Dingshan gestured for Xiao Ce to sit on the floating chair to the side. The chair automatically adjusted its angle to perfectly support his body.

Xiao Dingshan then sat down opposite him.

"What would you like to drink? Although we don't need anything, we have some decent energy drink simulants here that taste similar to juice or tea."

"No, thank you, Imperial Uncle." Xiao Ce waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the futuristic yet "human" room, finally voicing the questions that had been building up all along...

"Uncle, this place... is incredible. The technology here far surpasses the era I came from, and it far exceeds the imagination of the outside world. You... Al-Qaeda, with such power, why do you need me?"

He paused, looking at Xiao Dingshan's gold-trimmed uniform, and continued, "Furthermore, what exactly is your role here? Are you merely an advisor?"

Listening to Xiao Ce's question, Xiao Dingshan leaned back in the floating chair, his hands folded in front of him, his face showing a mixture of emotion and helplessness.

"Xiao Ce, I felt that you seemed a bit distant from me after you arrived... Do you think I was hiding something from you before?"

Seeing Xiao Dingshan's reaction, Xiao Ce gave a wry smile and then shook his head: "No, it's just curiosity..."

“My identity, as Nova said, is that of an external affairs consultant,” he began slowly.

"More precisely, they are senior advisors regarding external human society, political ecology, and historical culture. The androids at the base, while human, come from various eras. However, they are always disconnected from the outside world..."

"And they need my identity, and my understanding of the outside world..."

As he spoke, Xiao Dingshan pointed to himself and continued, "My value..."

"It is because I, as a prince of Xiao who has been in the center of power for decades, have personally experienced court infighting, power shifts, war and peace, betrayal and loyalty."

“I understand human greed, fear, ambition, and the spirit of sacrifice… These are things that the cold logic and data they obtain cannot fully quantify or simulate. When the base needs to assess the movements of an external force, understand a seemingly irrational diplomatic behavior, or predict a person's choices, my experience and my humanity can provide another perspective and supplement beyond databases and algorithms.”

Especially when dealing with countries primarily in East Asia, including the former territory of the Xiao state, my cultural background and historical understanding become crucial.

Xiao Ce nodded; this explanation made sense.

But his core question remained unanswered: "I understand your role as an advisor. But going back to the original question, the base possesses such formidable power. It can build such an underground city, with submarines, various advanced weapons, advanced materials, and environmental control technology! You could absolutely..."

They paused, then continued, "Hmm... to influence or even dominate the outside world in a more direct way? Why go through all this trouble, hiding yourself and seeking help from an outsider like me? You seem perfectly capable of being self-sufficient, even informing the entire world..."

"Besides, it seems you have a much easier time controlling Lost Island. Why do I need to shut it down..."

Xiao Ce directly stated his problem.

After Xiao Ce said these words, Xiao Dingshan, who was standing next to him, also grinned widely...

Seeing Xiao Dingshan's expression, Xiao Ce smiled and asked, "Uncle... what's wrong? Was my question wrong?"

Xiao Dingshan smiled at Xiao Ce and said, "Of course it's not wrong, it's right... I'm smiling because I have the same questions as you... I've witnessed the advanced nature here, and I have the same questions, but no one can give me any answers..."

After hearing Xiao Dingshan's words, Xiao Ce looked at him with a puzzled expression and said, "Uncle, so you don't know about this either?"

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Xiao Dingshan smiled and nodded: "That's right... Don't let my position as a manager fool you; I've never had any contact with their core staff... I'm just carrying out their tasks. My understanding of this area is what I've already told you... Beyond that, I know nothing and have no way of knowing..."

Xiao Ce looked at Xiao Dingshan's expression, which was sincere, and he didn't seem to be joking.

Xiao Ce said to Xiao Dingshan, "So, Imperial Uncle, you're just a manager, a marginal figure in management?"

Xiao Dingshan nodded to Xiao Ce: "That's right, I don't know either. They told me they needed to discuss with you a plan to deal with potential intervention from external forces... Beyond that, they really don't know anything..."

"Xiao Ce, although I know a lot about this area... I can also say I know absolutely nothing about it..."

Then Xiao Dingshan relayed Xiao Ce's account of what had happened since he arrived...

After Xiao Dingshan arrived, he first familiarized himself with the area, and then conducted some research there, assisting them in improving their information on the outside world, mainly focusing on the information he knew about the Xiao Kingdom.

He really didn't know anything about other things, and he only found out about the closure of Lost Island later.

Of course, during this time, Xiao Dingshan also learned some general information about what was happening outside through this place...

However, the details are not clear.

This time, they may have lost contact with the outside world...