Chapter 278: The AI System, Anna Speaks - You're Not Worthy!
When Nicole regained consciousness, she found herself in an unfamiliar room.
Chuck stood before her, expressionless.
"What do you want? Listen, Susan was at the school—the teachers there saw her."
Nicole immediately blurted out, "If anything happens to me, Susan will definitely be a suspect."
"That's the question I have for you."
Chuck looked at her without emotion. "Was this a spur-of-the-moment decision, or is there something else going on?"
Most people wouldn't remain this calm in such a situation.
She had convinced her lover's wife to conspire with her to murder the husband—when in reality, she and that husband had plotted to kill the wife.
Now she had even killed the very lover she'd conspired with!
The whole thing was completely contradictory!
He was certain Nicole had ulterior motives involving him.
If he refused to help, then as she'd said, even if he won the case, Susan's job would be at risk—despite his promise to help Susan find suitable work.
But judging from Nicole's tone, she definitely wouldn't let Susan off easily. She'd likely continue harassing her and reveal Susan's past, things she wanted to keep private.
Chuck's refusal would push Susan down that path.
In most people's eyes, this would seem cold and would damage Chuck and Susan's relationship—
though Chuck didn't actually care about that.
If he agreed, he'd become an accomplice, giving Nicole leverage over him and leaving him at her mercy.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Nicole struggled briefly but found herself completely restrained. She was secretly alarmed.
Just as Chuck had guessed, she was betting he would likely give in, allowing her to 'partner up' with him and achieve instant success.
Of course, even if it didn't work out, worst case scenario it would only be considered excessive self-defense—she hadn't even actually touched him.
This low-risk, high-reward gamble was too tempting for someone like her who thrived on excitement and danger.
But she never expected that the esteemed detective Chuck, such an upstanding figure, would resort to violence so readily.
It even seemed like he intended to kill her to keep her quiet.
Like the classic twist in a crime thriller where the hero turns out to be the villain—this was incredibly thrilling...
"That's unfortunate."
Chuck approached, looking down at her.
"Aren't you afraid people will suspect Susan?"
Nicole clung to her biggest insurance policy.
Before coming to Chuck, she had made sure Susan appeared in public.
"There's nothing to suspect."
Chuck said flatly, "You won't die—at least not in anyone else's eyes."
"What do you mean?"
Nicole was confused.
Chuck pulled out his phone, initiated a video call, and pointed the camera at Nicole. "Come on, let's talk to Nicole, who already left the school."
Nicole looked at the phone and was immediately shocked. On the other end of the video, there really was someone who looked exactly like her, staring back at her. "Who are you?"
"I'm Nicole Honor! A teacher at St. Anselm's Boys' School."
The Nicole on the video spoke.
The real Nicole exclaimed in disbelief, "That's impossible!"
Because it wasn't just the same face—even the voice was identical.
Then terror washed over her.
Although she didn't know how Chuck had accomplished this, seeing it now, she immediately realized how devastating it would be for her.
Even if Chuck killed her, he could use this method to mislead everyone, clear Susan of suspicion, and pin all the blame on her as someone who'd fled in fear.
She even suspected there wasn't just a 'Nicole who didn't die,' but perhaps a 'Guy who didn't die,' meaning there wouldn't even be a crime.
"Where's Susan?"
Nicole cried out, "Susan!!!"
She was terrified and desperate to see her friend Susan.
"I'll get her for you."
Something even more devastating happened—the fake Nicole on the video spoke up, and a small window appeared on the phone showing a somewhat nervous Susan.
"Nicole, are you okay?"
Susan in the video window froze when she saw Nicole.
The real Nicole immediately understood—in Susan's eyes, she should already be dead.
"Susan, where are you? Come save me! I mean you no harm, I just wanted to join you!"
the real Nicole screamed.
Unfortunately, Susan on the other end couldn't hear her at all, while the fake Nicole began chatting with her.
Not only the appearance and voice, but even specific details about the crime and her motives were known to the fake Nicole—it was almost supernatural.
The fake Nicole in the video comforted Susan and apologized, saying she shouldn't have used her to get close to Chuck.
Now that Chuck was unmoved by either persuasion or pressure, she'd come to her senses, abandoned her original plan, and intended to make Guy disappear.
As a precaution, she would leave and go overseas to avoid trouble.
They could meet again when Susan traveled abroad.
Susan's expression in the video window softened considerably, but she remained silent, lost in thought.
The real Nicole watched this scene, yelling and screaming, hoping Susan would realize it wasn't really her, but even she couldn't tell the difference, let alone Susan, whom she hadn't seen in years.
"This is your last chance. If you're not going to talk, then there's no point."
Chuck reminded her.
The fake Nicole in the video also turned to look.
"I'll talk, I'll talk!"
The real Nicole, seeing this, completely broke down and revealed her entire plan.
"So you weren't working for her after all."
Chuck shook his head.
"Working for who?"
the real Nicole cried out. "I'm not working for anyone. I just wanted to be with you."
"You're not worthy!"
Chuck said calmly.
"Why?!"
Real Nicole, sensing Chuck's decision, cried out indignantly. "You accepted Mia, you accepted Susan—why can't you accept me?
What do they have that I don't?
Can they accept everything about you, including the darkness beneath the surface?
They can't!
Otherwise, you wouldn't have used these methods to hide it from Susan, but I can!
I admire everything about you!
We're perfect for each other!"
"No, you're not!"
Chuck interrupted bluntly, glancing at the fake Nicole in the video, then said to the devastated real Nicole:
"When you first met Guy, you must have found him very attractive, but when you met me, you killed him without hesitation, then used that to try to 'seduce' me.
So even if everything you said came true, then what?
When you meet someone more interesting and exciting, you'll definitely give in to this twisted impulse again.
Of course, I don't think you'll meet someone like that.
But your behavior, driven entirely by instinct without any moral boundaries, is too disturbed. We understand disturbed, but we prefer a lighter, more humorous kind of dysfunction.
Like Chandler Bing.
That soothes our nerves.
Your dark obsession is completely devoid of substance, lacking even scientific interest, and meaningless to us.
We're not like young Howard, who can appreciate your particular appeal."
Chuck wasn't surprised that young Howard had his eye on Nicole as soon as he arrived at St. Anselm's.
Because the person young Howard fantasized about most was Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica, a typical Western beauty with strong features and an athletic build.
And that type didn't even meet Chuck's scientific baseline.
"We? We? Who is 'we'?"
Nicole screamed.
"It's me," the fake Nicole said.
"Who are you?!"
Nicole stared at the fake Nicole on the phone, but the video simply went black.
She didn't even know Anna existed, and even if she had been one of Eileen's people, she wasn't a core operative.
Much less anything else. She didn't even have any other backing.
If it weren't for gathering material for Anna's AI deepfake and voice synthesis technologies, he wouldn't have wasted time talking to her until now.
"You're Mia, aren't you?!"
Nicole, seeing the final moment approaching, stared intently at the fake Nicole on the phone, calling out to Chuck. "Don't be fooled by her—she loves to play victim, she's always pretending. If you're willing to accept her like that, why won't you accept me..."
Her words were cut short.
"Which voice do you prefer?"
Nicole's face disappeared from the video, replaced by Anna's. Her lips didn't move, but a voice spoke: "This one? Or this one?"
Several voices were demonstrated.
There was Eileen's.
There was Professor Alicia Harper's.
There was Monica's.
There was Jane's.
There was even Paige's.
"I prefer your real voice."
Chuck said plainly.
Anna in the video smiled without making a sound, only the watch on Chuck's wrist vibrating almost imperceptibly—a response only he could feel.
Mia's Castle.
Late at night.
Chuck, dressed in black tactical gear, silently entered the castle. Following Susan and Nicole's account, he arrived at the crime scene and began a thorough cleaning.
Nicole and Guy were 'not dead, merely on the run'—the ideal scenario.
For others, this would be impossible.
But for Chuck, who possessed Anna's advanced system, it was no difficult task.
AI deepfake and voice synthesis technology—even in the future, these would be considered cutting-edge fraud techniques, let alone now.
Most people didn't even have a concept of it, couldn't even imagine such a possibility.
It was perfect for creating illusions.
This was all thanks to Eileen.
Previously, Anna had no interest in these things, but after Chuck's interactions and conflicts with Eileen's operatives, inspired by Eileen, Anna became interested in these 'practical' applications in criminal investigation.
While focusing on broader world issues alongside Chuck, she developed these technologies.
AI deepfakes and voice synthesis were just one example.
As someone with severe OCD and professional detective expertise, Chuck ensured there was nothing unusual about the scene he cleaned up.
After finishing, Chuck went to Susan's place.
This was one of Chuck's safe houses.
"Nicole, she..."
Susan looked at Chuck apologetically.
"She what?"
Chuck looked at her calmly.
"Anyway, I'm sorry."
Susan apologized. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have gotten dragged into this mess."
"It's not a problem for me."
Chuck said bluntly.
"Maybe not for you, but it's huge for me. Anyway, thank you! I owe you big time!"
Susan looked at Chuck seriously. "If you ever need my help in the future, just say the word."
Chuck nodded without speaking.
"Nicole finally didn't make a stupid choice..."
Susan couldn't help but bring up her opinion of Nicole again.
Clearly, this incident had significantly impacted her.
Chuck knew she needed to process everything, so he listened quietly. After a long while, when she seemed embarrassed, he reminded her, "After you've said these things to me here tonight, forget about them and don't mention them again."
"Okay."
Susan nodded.
She was also an experienced IRS agent and had dealt with serious situations before.
If it weren't for the shadows of her past, the suddenness of the event, and being kept in the dark, she wouldn't have handled things so poorly.
"You've had a long day, you must be exhausted. Get some rest."
Chuck glanced at her and got up to leave.
"Isn't this your place?"
Susan's voice came from behind.
"Yes."
Chuck turned around.
"So you can stay here comfortably, right..."
Susan hinted.
"If you want to work through your negative emotions from today, I can help you."
Chuck said bluntly, "But that would be another significant favor."
"..."
Susan's eye twitched. Most of the tension and worry she'd experienced today had dissipated, but other complicated feelings were quietly emerging.
Looking at Chuck's serious face, she couldn't help but push back. "A favor is a favor, but are you sure it's significant?"
For most men, this would definitely be them doing the favor.
Chuck wasn't an ordinary man—she knew that, and she accepted his statement that she owed him another favor.
But could this really be compared to the huge favor of him saving her life before?
What did he think she was?
Some naive girl who'd never experienced anything and knew nothing?
"I never lie. You'll see."
Chuck said seriously.
"Fine, I'll see!"
Susan stepped forward, very assertively.
But Chuck blocked her path.
"What's wrong?"
Susan asked, annoyed.
After such a terrible day, she needed to balance her emotions!
Chuck didn't speak but simply pulled out his phone and operated it.
The next moment, Susan's phone chimed. When she opened it, her expression became very interesting.
Chuck had sent her a detailed checklist of preparation procedures for what he called a "scientific experiment."
She'd heard about it before but was seeing it for the first time.
Especially at this moment.
How could Chuck possibly be holding back?
Who's the man and who's the woman here?
Susan looked at Chuck, hoping he would take back his words.
But Chuck's calm gaze made her realize that Chuck was no ordinary man. After a brief standoff, she finally gave in.
She waved her phone at Chuck with obvious irritation and headed into the bathroom.
Chuck also went into his master bedroom.
That night, Susan wholeheartedly admitted that Chuck never lied, and she truly owed him another significant favor.
"I wish I'd met you sooner."
Completely relaxed, as if she'd been given a muscle relaxant, Susan murmured to herself as she watched Chuck get up.
"Are you sure?"
Chuck adjusted his decorative glasses, looking at her.
"Don't tease me, I'm serious."
After this intense experience, even though Susan was distracted, she immediately realized that Chuck was implying her lack of stamina. She said helplessly, then continued her stream of consciousness, recounting past stories.
After Chuck cleaned himself up, he stood there quietly, watching her and listening to her confessions without saying a word, until she drifted off to sleep. Only then did he leave the room and depart the safe house.
(End of Chapter)
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