Ming Dynasty and New Rome and Infinite Magic Machine

Chapter 980: Automata Country
"I am the Columbian Automaton Nation!"

Before he finished speaking, with a series of sounds of gears and springs popping, the entire automaton exploded from the heart. Although the face did not change, it had lost its life.

The Jinyiwei behind him was still looking at the readings on the instrument - after the explosion, the readings on the instrument all turned into a straight line.

"???"

Everyone looked at each other, and no one, including Shangluo, understood what was going on.

He collapsed.

"Is there any hope?"

[The part that collapsed was the Vulcan core in the heart. If it exploded, there would be no hope, because that was also the source of thinking and motivation. After the core exploded, the entire automaton was nothing more than scrap metal, and at best could only be considered a clockwork puppet.]

"How did it explode? Do you think it was done by an outsider?"

[As a power source, the Vulcan core itself has the potential to explode, otherwise it would not be able to drive the entire automaton. But as you can see, this energy is actually quite weak. Even if it explodes in front of you, it will still shatter your face. As for the cause of the explosion]

Apollonia paused:
[In fact, I was observing it just now. But I didn't see anything unusual - no energy or signal was transmitted from the outside. I think this should be completely internal. The automaton exploded by itself. The reason should be "can't think straight". ]

"Does he look like he's in a state of depression? I saw him acting crazy, but now he finally started to talk like a normal person when he saw me. I wanted to ask him a few more questions, but why is he suddenly in a state of depression now?"

[I think that's the problem. Maybe it's because he started to answer your question that something strange happened inside him. His previous incoherent speech might just be a self-protection mechanism. And, combined with his answer just now, we may have to consider a situation - Columbia's automaton has been integrated. ]

"Is this going to happen? Is there such a function?"

[That power comes from fire. Fires approach each other and merge into one big fire. This may not be impossible. He said that the chef is dead, which should be describing the facts - the chef as an individual is dead, but now the entire Colombian automaton country is making bread. His vision may have become the core of the fusion. This may be because they were enlightened by you. ]

"Can I understand it this way?" Shangluo thought for a moment. "They are now running a complete set of logic in the form of Gestalt intelligence between all the automata, but this thinking mode cannot run on a single automaton. So once we pull one out alone, it will become disabled. Just like many ants separated from the colony will become at a loss."

[I agree with this view. And the sudden explosion may be because... This needs to be viewed from another angle. Shangluo, now there is one fact that can be confirmed: although the behavior of these automata has become very strange, they do not seem to have any malicious intent.] "Wait a minute." Shangluo confirmed with the Jinyiwei next to him.

"That's exactly the case," Han Wu replied. "According to our information, these automata didn't put up any resistance when they were captured. We didn't see any specialized combat automata in their forms, and we rarely saw tool-type automata. All automata are inexplicably made to look like 'people', which should be inefficient for baking bread. I think their tempers are indeed a bit strange - of course, it's also true that they have no ill intentions."

[Then it is certain. Not only do they have no ill intentions, but they also have positive and optimistic visions towards you, especially towards Shangluo. So before they met you, they were just saving energy, and after seeing you, they were willing to answer questions, even to the point of burning themselves out.]

"Wait a minute." Shangluo asked Han Wu, "Have we tried to communicate with that city?"

"We tried. They really didn't mean any harm, but they didn't intend to cooperate with us. The automatons just carried boxes between buildings and drove trucks to move goods. Although they didn't resist when we caught them, they didn't cooperate further. It wasn't until they met you that they started to answer useful questions."

[Ah!] Apollonia understood, [The Columbian Automata have no ill will towards Zhendan, but that is only the limit, and they are not willing to communicate. They are willing to have an intellectual conversation only after meeting you, Shangluo. In other words, you may need to go to New Antioch in person. By then, they should be willing to talk to you. By then, the chef's current situation, their vision, and current behavior and goals can all be answered.]

"Is it okay?" Shangluo asked Han Wu about the situation. Although Han Wu was not his superior, he was theoretically just his "subordinate" and part of the Heavenly Court. But when it came to official business, Shangluo would not make a decision on his own.

"I don't think so." Han Wu shook his head and said, "We regretted letting you go out last time. It was Caesar Victoria of Rome who came to invite us personally, so we thought there should be no problem with this trip - but who knew that something big would happen as soon as we went out, and almost poked a hole in the sky. No matter what you say this time, don't go to Shangluo. Those Roman things are not reliable at all."

"Also." Lu Huaiyang beside him also added, "When the emperor left, he asked you to take charge of the overall situation so that he could rest assured to retreat. Now that you are gone, if something happens in the court, who should we find to make the decision?"

"Ah, that's true." Shangluo nodded, "Let me stay here to look after the house. I can't run around."

"And most importantly, I haven't told you yet." Han Wu, a Xuan cultivator, looked at him. "As a professional, I can understand what you mean, but I also want to express my concerns about this - if a single automaton cannot express complete intelligence, but all automatons combined can express complete intelligence, then my question is: how complete is it?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"What I mean is - Shangluo, when you rushed to look directly into the abyss, were you ready to be looked into by the abyss? The unfathomable 'Colombian Automaton Country' formed by thousands and thousands of flames, if you just rashly go over and look directly, are you sure you won't see something terrible? The explosion of the automaton may be a warning. Those who peek into the abyss will be pulled into it. For him, it exploded, but for you... I can't say. But I think you shouldn't take the risk."

(End of this chapter)