Human history develops in stages... From a biological perspective, the history of human evolution is very, very long. From apes to hominids, and from hominids to various primitive humans, Homo sapiens...
Of course, this is the history of life's evolution. It is not a miracle unique to humanity. More often than not, when people discuss human achievements, they consciously downplay this power that belongs to all life.
Compared to this almost god-given ability, people prefer to talk about the things born from their own hands.
We call it [Civilization].
---||---
"Everyone, get ready!! Don't be afraid, hold on to the rope! Once you land on the deck, spread out quickly and find a place to steady yourselves!!"
Sin Mal stood on the edge of the cliff, shouting at the children of the orphanage.
A single rope now hung from the frighteningly high cliff. On the rope were a few simple sliding buckles, emergency descent carabiners.
[Cocolia] was giving these children an emergency lesson on how to use these carabiners. The children listened very attentively. Even though they were not old, everyone was aware of their current situation.
Seeing that there was little time left, [Cocolia] stopped her explanation.
Next was the time for practice...
"Actually, you don't have to worry..." Schrodinger sighed beside [Cocolia]. At this moment, she looked exceptionally tired.
Unlike her usual lazy appearance, Schrodinger's current state, even if she was well-groomed, could not hide the look of dejection.
Human wisdom has always been the main helper in overcoming difficulties. This had almost become a fixed concept in Schrodinger's life.
But this time, wisdom and thinking had instead become the destroyers of humanity. This was no different from shattering the worldview of Schrodinger, who stood at the pinnacle of civilized wisdom.
Forcibly suppressing her own thoughts was really painful for her. In just these two short hours, Schrodinger was on the verge of driving herself crazy.
"The nanobots I have left can protect these children. It's just that I can only protect one at a time. You don't have to worry about them..."
[Cocolia] let out a long sigh. "I know..."
Schrodinger closed her mouth. She turned to look at [Cocolia] beside her, her heart understanding.
She knew very well what state [Cocolia] should be in right now. But at this moment, she was here, while the other person was nowhere to be found. And with Seele and [Cocolia]'s silence, the fate of the disappeared person was already obvious.
But this was not the time for her to comfort [Cocolia]. She could only hope that [Cocolia] could temporarily control her thoughts and not be too affected by her emotions.
Seele was the first to go down the rope. It wasn't that there were no other paths, but those paths were very roundabout. And if they couldn't leave in the first instance, all their actions would be meaningless. They might as well go back to the underground shelter.
Sin Mal organized the children to descend one by one. With the protection device formed by Schrodinger's remaining nanobots, the children quickly landed on the deck of the sailboat, and then, under Seele's command, found a corner to hide in.
And [Cocolia] and Schrodinger stood to the side with Kai. Kai was holding Frélle and Sirin in her hands. The two of them were still sleeping.
"Question: Ms. [Cocolia], I have a question," Kai said, watching the number of people on the deck gradually increase.
Both Schrodinger and [Cocolia] looked at her. Kai was silent for a while, her gaze fixed on the furled sails of the sailboat.
"My modules do not have the programming skills to pilot a sailing ship."
Schrodinger's hand paused. [Cocolia] also fell into a moment of silence.
The two looked at each other, then turned their gazes to Kai. Finally, the two people and one AI looked at each other in dismay.
"I have a license for all sea-faring vessels," Schrodinger explained in a small voice. "From small speedboats to space carriers, I can pilot them... But as you know, there's no license for sailing ships."
After another moment of silence, [Cocolia] spoke.
"Does playing a simulation game count as driving experience?"
---||---
Raiden Mei, is this your strategy...
The Herrscher looked up at Mei. He had seen everything. Frélle's defeat and compromise, and her cooperation with Sirin had also appeared before him as a script.
And he had already noticed that something was wrong with [Cocolia]... In fact, the power that was affecting him was not that strong. As long as he conducted a targeted check, he could break that ability.
This was not difficult for him.
But there was no need...
Although the battle of ideologies had not yet been decided, he knew very well who the scales in his heart were tipping toward.
Of course, he could be stubborn and insist that he was right. He also had the ability to forcibly decide what the "correct answer" was here, to flip the table and tell Mei who was the boss.
But again, there was no need.
"I have to admit... you have given a plot that I completely did not expect," the Herrscher said, watching the sailboat gradually fill with people, feeling the preset anchor points set up by Frélle and Sirin begin to operate. He smiled.
The script had already told him what would happen next. He still had a part to play, and the ability to stop that ship from leaving. He even had the ability to act once more before the canopy shattered.
"Hmph..." The Herrscher sighed, turned to Noah, and gave a casual smile.
"What's your opinion?"
Noah didn't speak. From the beginning, he had been in a state of silence, not expressing any opinion, just staring at [Cocolia], the one who bore the name of his most important person.
"Heh..." the Herrscher let out a dry laugh, then waved his hand indifferently. "Forget it... at this point, neither of us can prove that we are right. If we just end it so rashly, our fusion will not be perfect."
Noah nodded. He also tacitly agreed with this point.
Mei's heart suddenly tensed up.
The two of them had reached an agreement... If the two of them joined forces at this time, she probably couldn't hold them both off at the same time...
"No need to be so nervous," the Herrscher turned around, leaving only his back to Mei. "The two of us are impossible to cooperate. It's just that we still want to think a little more, to find a reason to completely convince the other. Next time..."
He paused, tilting his head slightly.
"No, you won't see a next time."