What kind of reason could cause the collapse of a nation that ruled the galaxy spanning over 100,000 light-years and was just one step away from ruling the entire universe?
Hearing this, A2 also began to think, pondering what kind of enemy could end the progress of humans who had developed to such an extent.
She tried to expand her imagination based on all the knowledge in her memory, but A2 simply couldn't imagine what kind of enemy could cause this.
Wait, this enemy might not be like the aliens and their created machine lifeforms that her world faced.
This enemy might be abstract, just like how humans in her world headed toward extinction due to the "White Chlorination Syndrome."
So, the world of this human named Ejie, the entire galaxy might have encountered a similar situation, infected by some particle similar to Maso, thereby endangering life.
Such infection must have been unimaginably powerful, able to spread throughout the entire galaxy, suggesting it might be some special radioactive particle, and its speed definitely faster than light, able to penetrate everything.
It was this kind of particle that caused abnormalities in human bodies, mutations, leading the glorious golden age humans toward a dark age.
As for the fact that he seemed to be fighting something in his original world, perhaps infected people, like the humans here, went berserk and out of control, so the battle targets were humans themselves—out-of-control humans.
And his equipment, giving people a very crude and rough impression, also clearly revealed the condition of his world—harsh.
The situation was so bad that advanced manufacturing factories couldn't be established, maintenance was difficult to carry out, and only rough equipment manufacturing and processing could be done.
So, the world he was in could be said to be in a situation similar to the humans in this world, which is why they were guessing.
Because the answer was within their imaginable space.
"Did humans in that world also encounter something similar to humans here, suddenly being infected by some virus?"
The first to speak was actually the most silent 2B; it seemed her train of thought was almost the same as A2's.
However, after 2B's statement, A2 noticed the unusual silence from Commander White and 9S.
Something was off; these two seemed to have a different answer than theirs, but this answer was heavier, to the extent that the two couldn't express it.
No, it wasn't that they couldn't express it, but that they didn't dare to express it.
"It seems Commander White and 9S have thought of the same correct answer."
He said so, proving that what 2B said was wrong, A2's speculation was wrong.
But how could he believe that what Commander White and 9S were thinking but hadn't yet said was correct?
"Androids betrayed humans, is that the answer?"
9S said his speculation in a low voice.
And this statement, judging from the other's expression, was obviously correct.
No wonder initially, he had said some things to 2B that were full of malice toward androids, saying that if humans still existed now, it wouldn't necessarily be good news for the android leadership.
He seemed to assert that androids would be like machine lifeforms, no longer needing their creators, and if they still existed, then destroy them.
It turned out that because this was the experience in his world, he had such preconceived notions, such malicious speculation.
But was this really malicious speculation?
Knowing the YoRHa plan, knowing what would happen to YoRHa troops, the leadership might truly have changed.
"Androids betrayed?"
2B murmured in shock.
Recalling the conversations with this human named Ejie at the beginning, he had informed her that he didn't quite trust androids and had hypothesized that if humans in this world were still alive, perhaps androids would betray.
So, 2B should have been able to deduce this result just like 9S.
But on the contrary, when recalling what he had said to her, 2B had already excluded the possibility of android betrayal.
The reason was simple: 2B couldn't believe that androids would betray humans; androids existed to serve humans.
Moreover, how could humans who had developed to the point of ruling the entire galaxy possibly be betrayed by androids and fall into a perilous situation?
"Is this the reason you don't quite trust us?"
White bitterly asked the human before her.
Some of what he had said to 2B was correct, but it wasn't about androids betraying humans; it was that the android leadership indeed had some other ideas.
But this idea was definitely not about betraying humans.
The leadership realized that continuing to conceal the fact of human extinction, letting androids live for the war for humans, would eventually be completely exposed, at which point androids would collapse, many would die.
So, the leadership had already started thinking about how to transform the mindset of most androids, no longer purely living to reclaim Earth for humans, but also living for themselves.
Therefore, the YoRHa plan was the last dose of stimulant for the currently low morale, with subsequent gradual subtle changes to androids' battle faith.
To make the android group continue.
By then, knowing about human extinction wouldn't be too bad, and they could also, as inheritors of human identity, continue human civilization and culture, allowing evidence of the human race's existence to continue.
As long as androids existed, evidence of human existence would also exist in this world.
Humans would still be alive!
"Yes, to be precise, I don't quite trust the current android leadership, but now I can exclude you."
"Exclude me?"
White was startled; did this mean he trusted her now?
In the blink of an eye—
Location: A resistance base.
The leader here, an android named Anemone, who had always been steady, was now very nervous.
The reason for her nervousness wasn't that Commander White had come to the surface; she wasn't keen on this woman.
The reason for her nervousness was that Commander White had informed them about the identity of one person in their group—human.
That was a genuine human, because she had hugged him too, which could be said to be the most glorious moment of her life.
It would be worth dying now.
And her current nervousness was due to her concern for his safety, worrying that information about his arrival on the surface might be known to machine lifeforms.
Currently, he was in a sealed room, a room that blocked signals.
He, along with YoRHa troops 9S and 2B, were all in the sealed room, seemingly trying to decode some device, which required cutting off all signals with the outside world.
"A2, how's the situation?"
White, who hadn't entered the sealed room, asked A2, who was also outside.
White hadn't gone in, not because she was afraid the measures in the hard drive would also invade her, but because he had requested her to stay outside.
A2 was also outside, but White felt A2 had a way to understand the situation inside.
"I don't know."
Actually, of course, she did understand somewhat, through the private channel of the chat group, she could ask him about the situation.
It's just that A2 didn't want to tell the Commander.
...
Inside the sealed room made of heavy metal, Ejie kept his eyes on 9S, observing his condition.
As for why 2B came in, it was also to protect him; she insisted on coming in, being too stubborn.
It seemed that because Ejie had determined she was an android, not a machine lifeform, she was very persistent about her original duty—protecting humans.
Suddenly, 9S's abnormal expression made Ejie's gaze slightly focus, preparing for the worst, gripping his bolt pistol tightly.
Was there an intelligent program? Was 9S being invaded and controlled?
If not, what kind of weapon, battleship, and other manufacturing data was inside to make 9S's expression abnormal?