Rust - Chapter 855
Only Krnovel
RUST -855
‘It’s fucking okay.’
Would you like to be driving around in the bitter cold of minus 60 degrees Celsius?
“It’s just like that.”
[Ugh – Okay. And the assistant AI that had a calculation error. The researchers checked it out, but it’s not in a good state, so it won’t be possible to fix it right away.]
“What’s the problem? There must be a reason why it happened. A reason.”
Kim Yang spoke in a cautious voice, as if she was not answering.
[He said it might have been because he had been exposed to death too much.]
What is this strange thing? Will frequent power cycles cause problems with the program?
[Semiconductors? Chipsets? Those themselves were affected by death, so it seemed like it would take quite some time to analyze and confirm the status in the current situation.]
She sent me the analysis data from Na Ju-yeon and the research team. If it were before, the assistant AI would have checked it, classified it, and uploaded it to the HUD, but now I have to click on each one.
I had a bit of a thought that things wouldn’t change much even without the assistant AI, but the absence of it definitely left a big void.
Tsk-
When I opened the file, the hypothesis that Na Ju-yeon had created and the analysis of the phenomenon related to it were the first to appear. So, the hypothesis was that the end had already come and that we were now at the beginning of the construction of a new world after the end.
It wasn’t just a phrase like ‘it’s going to end’, but it was the idea that laws and concepts had also ‘ended’. Maru was reminded of the strange things that had happened just a few years ago.
‘Was that the end of the concept?’
I don’t know if I should call it a concept or not, but something was strange before and after the incident occurred. To put it extremely.
The common belief that stealing is wrong has become the concept that the world that made me steal is wrong.
I invested, so the profits are mine, but I failed in my investment because of the absurdity of society, so my debt should be forgiven through taxes.
Maru shook his head.
If Na Ju-yeon’s hypothesis is correct, then all of that is confusion that arose during the process of being re-established. If it’s not simply being re-established, but existing concepts being discarded…
no way.
The concept that humans are precious has been transformed into a world where humans are just food.
The idea that humans have rights has been replaced by the view that animals have rights too.
From the idealism that all people have equal rights to the classism that it is natural for the powerful to become nobles.
The end was already changing the concept.
If it had been the old world, would it have been possible to establish a country called the Holy Kingdom in North America? Even if it had been established, would it have been able to lead and develop it to this point?
The foundation upon which the Holy Kingdom was able to take root was the recognition by the people that a monarchy ruled by a capable king was more effective than democracy.
‘Did that old man know about this?’
It was the Maru that brought to mind Dan Brown, who said that the United States should be revived and that the United States should be inherited.
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Boston, the temporary capital of the empire.
The Imperial Diet was in an uproar.
“We must pass the defense reinforcement plan that was not decided at the last meeting.”
“What are you going to do by investing resources in nuclear production?”
“The Confederacy was torn apart. You are no longer a threat since the Holy Kingdom has eliminated its nuclear weapons. The European nations have also lost their national functions. What use would you make nuclear weapons for?”
“What use is it? If rats are running rampant and ants are overflowing, how can other insects and animals not run rampant?”
“Who knows what happened to the nukes in each European country?”
“Yes. If refugees form an armed group and seize nuclear weapons, what other solution is there besides nuclear weapons?”
The Empire fell into a semi-panic when intelligence reported that the governments of each European country had virtually collapsed. This was because it was an empire that succeeded the United States.
The fear that America’s karma will lead to an empire. The world is full of people who hold a grudge against America, the once absolute power. What would happen if they were to nuke the empire, crying for bloody revenge?
Nuclear power. And more nukes than you might think. There were more members of Congress who thought that only more nukes would be the last bastion that could protect the empire.
“Are you saying that after looking at the data from the Geological Institute?”
“You see that using strategic nuclear weapons increases the risk of natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but you still say that having nuclear weapons will solve everything? Are you saying that?”
“Let’s be realistic. Be realistic. We’re not talking about mutual destruction by nuclear weapons, are we?”
“The continental plates are moving rapidly. If you touch them, they will explode into volcanoes and earthquakes. Using strategic nuclear weapons in this situation is tantamount to self-destruction.”
“I agree. It seems more realistic and useful to make tactical nukes or micro-nuclear weapons like the Holy Kingdom.”
After a heated debate, the production and deployment of strategic nuclear weapons was canceled, but their eyes did not show complete abandonment. They looked as if they would make strategic nuclear weapons if given the chance.
Dan Brown checked out the congressmen and generals who are obsessed with nuclear weapons.
“Check out all those obsessed with strategic nuclear weapons. Did they receive any lobbying? Who did they meet? What were their financial changes? Don’t leave anything out, everything.”
[Let’s start right now.]
“Be careful with security, as there may be cannibals or vampire followers around. Be mindful of safety.”
[I will be careful.]
The meeting continued.
“We must urgently catch up with the AI technology of the Holy Kingdom. If we continue like this, we will not be able to close the technological gap.”
“I agree. If it is difficult, we should secure samples and advance the field of artificial intelligence.”
Although he said it in a sarcastic way, it was an argument that the technology must be secured even if it means stealing artificial intelligence and reverse engineering it.
“Would the Holy Kingdom have commercialized assistive AI without any countermeasures?”
“What will you do if you find out that I am blatantly trying to steal the core technology of the Holy Kingdom?”
“Hmm- When did I ask you to steal it? I never said anything like that.”
“I wonder if there’s a chance we might be able to salvage an exosuit abandoned on the battlefield.”
“Let’s not be so sensitive. Even though they said they wouldn’t intervene anyway, isn’t it possible that the broken equipment they left behind had an auxiliary AI?”
Dan Brown smiled bitterly as he recalled Maru’s announcement that he would not intervene in whatever happened to the empire in the future.
He knew. He said no intervention, but if the upper echelons of the empire were to become cannibals, would he just sit back and watch? That Vladimir Kalin?
What if Dan Brown himself were to fall from power and his vampire followers took control of the parliament and the military? Would they not interfere even if they began to openly oppose the Holy Kingdom?
‘I won’t use strategic nuclear weapons because there is a risk of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, but if the upper echelons of the empire turn into cannibals or vampires, I will assassinate them all.’
Just as in the past in South America, when anti-American politicians received public support, they were ‘accidented’. That is why Dan Brown could not be removed from office, if only to protect Congress and the military.
In Dan Brown’s view, lobbying was what urgently needed reform.
‘Lobbying’s intervention is too great when making policies.’
Allowing lobbying was the traditional way to do it. Moreover, even if Dan Brown had proposed an anti-lobbying bill, it would have been unlikely to pass through Congress.
For lawmakers, lobbying was a good legal(?) and tradition(?) that filled their pockets and became a driving force for consolidating power.
What if, by chance, those lobbying were connected to cannibals or vampires? Would the bills proposed by the members of the National Assembly who received their lobbying be legitimate bills? Likewise, would an army supported by cannibals and vampires be able to defend the empire?
‘Fuck. I need to catch the tail.’
The time when there was suspicion but no evidence was getting longer.
‘It is dangerous to end lobbying with the authority of the President.’
However, reaching an agreement was difficult.
If we change it by force, there will be plenty of people calling for an armed militia to overthrow the dictatorship, so there is only one way left.
‘Should we go for a national referendum and constitutional amendment?’
Dan Brown wanted to preserve liberal democracy, even if the democratic process sometimes seemed inefficient. He believed that liberal democracy was the American tradition and value.
How did the end of the world begin?
It would have started with the end of liberal democracy, and that was precisely the decline of the United States. Because the decline of the United States was the collapse of the world order itself centered on the United States, it was a natural conclusion.
So who made America weak?
China? Russia? So the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries? Or the European NATO countries that grew up sucking America’s backbone and like to slap it?
They were the problem, but it was the parasites within America that weakened America.
Those who join hands with China to make money, support Mexican cartels, and run around spreading narcotic painkillers and autism medication. Those who spread genetically modified foods and made America sick.
He uprooted Riser Pharmaceuticals in New York and cleared out the elder statesmen of powerful families and the boards of several companies, but that was only part of the story.
No matter how many elections are held and new members are elected, those who rely on their support and patronage are elected. No matter how much Dan Brown cares about the military, those who are supported and patronized by the military are the ones who are in power above their waists.
‘It’s a referendum. A referendum.’
Twenty percent of the total population, or one in five adults, were virtually illiterate. They were lucky to be able to communicate simply. Of the remaining 80 percent, half, or 40 percent, had significantly low current affairs knowledge and low literacy.
The remaining 40% or so were citizens who could analyze information with common sense. In this situation, what would be the result if a referendum were held to make lobbying illegal?
Will they follow the citizens? How many citizens will understand why lobbying should be abolished? Who will bear the political risk if the referendum is lost?
‘It’s a declaration of non-intervention.’
Now that I think about it, the timing of Vladimir Kalin and the Holy Kingdom’s declaration of non-intervention was quite coincidental. They had intended to fix the Empire’s ills by moving the central functions to the maritime city, but the declaration of non-intervention caused the atmosphere to take a strange turn.
We were planning to start moving to the coastal city after this winter. We need to solve the problem before winter ends.
Dan Brown was open to all possibilities.
‘It would certainly be dangerous to reject the demands of powerful families and corporations and even touch their lobby.’
There have been many instances of presidents being assassinated in American history. It would be no different for the president.
If I were to die for the empire, it would be a life I would not mind dying for, but if I were to die for those who were eating away at the empire, it would be a waste.
[Your Excellency, we have lost contact with our agents in Syracuse.]
Tracing back those who were secretly supporting the congressman and general led them to Syracuse, a major transportation hub.
“Syracuse?”
[Yes. The place where those who appeared to be lobbyists went was Syracuse. We dispatched agents there.]
The dispatch of agents was a known event.
‘Syracuse···.’
From Syracuse, westward, there were Rochester and Buffalo; eastward, there were Albany, Springfield, and Boston; to the north, it was close to Canada; and to the south, it extended to Philadelphia and New York.
Dan Brown collected his thoughts. As a veteran of the Department of Homeland Security, his mind raced with thoughts about Syracuse.
The population is about 140,000 to 150,000. The largest facility among them is the hospital. There was a large hospital in Syracuse that employed over 10,000 people.
In addition, there are two hospitals that employ between 1,000 and 1,500 people, and if you add in the pharmaceutical industry, it is a city where one in ten people works in a hospital.
Dan Brown’s brow furrowed as he recalled the characteristics of Syracuse. Along with Buffalo and Rochester, Syracuse was also famous for its heavy snowfall in the winter.
It was also the city with the heaviest snowfall on record, but it had been breaking snowfall records every year since the year before and last year.
It’s only November and they say there’s over 20 feet (6 m) of snow piled up, so without some serious snow removal, we could literally be buried in snow until spring.
‘Roads and railways would have been cut off.’
[···There is video footage sent by the agents before communication was cut off.]
“What’s the content? No. Let me check it out myself.”
An image appears on the monitor.
Two airships were photographed floating above the outskirts of Syracuse. One was a sleek, white, small airship. The other was a black, very large airship.
A distinctive appearance that can be clearly identified even from a distance. There was Vladimir Kalin’s private airship and Yania Kim’s Black Drake.
‘In Syracuse? No way?’
The presence of those two meant that there were cannibals or vampires in Syracuse.
“Connect to the emergency line.”
There were people in Syracuse who lobbied the Imperial Diet and the military. Vladimir Kalin and Jania Kim could have wiped them all out.
[Communication with Blizzard is not possible.]
If there really were cannibals and vampires in Syracuse, and they were all killed, if they were dealt with unilaterally without even telling the Empire in advance.
The referendum wasn’t the problem.
‘Oh my god.’