Thousands of Brilliant Stars: You Deserve the Best!-Chapter 212: Waterlogged Brain, Won’t Malfunction

Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Waterlogged Brain, Won’t Malfunction

Hannah Lennox had been by Jonas Kingsley’s side for many years; perhaps some imagined her as Jonas’s lover, but only Hannah knew she had just been saving her own life.

Past memories surged into Hannah’s mind once again. She painfully closed her eyes and, after a while, said slowly, "The Third Young Master, I always feel he’s still alive."

Jonas’s hand paused.

He stepped forward and pinched Hannah’s chin: "After all this time by my side, you’re still thinking about him?"

"From the very beginning, I said this between us was a transaction."

Hannah forcefully freed herself from Jonas’s grip, then bent down humbly like a robot, "The Third Young Master, you know exactly why I’m with you. Once it’s all over... we might just part ways."

Jonas always knew Hannah was even more obsessed than he was; he was merely toying with hearts, while Hannah lived in an impossible fantasy.

It was because of this fantasy that she was so obedient and compliant.

Jonas stared at Hannah intently.

Perhaps he was no different from Evelyn Rowan; he demanded absolute obedience from those around him, to have eyes only for him, even though he felt nothing for Hannah.

Jonas shrugged, like a psychopathic killer, "I understand. Once it’s over, I’ll set you free."

"Thank you, The Third Young Master."

Hannah finished cleaning the coffee stains off the floor, then walked over to the Number Nine robot.

That face...

Hannah gently reached out to touch Number Nine’s face, "Is this fantasy created by Lachlan Wyatt?"

Number Nine opened its eyes and said to Hannah, "I was created with the mission to protect Number One."

The main task of all robots after Number One is to protect Number One.

That’s why the chip of Phoenix One is the most important.

Jonas walked to the computer, turned it on, and as the system started running, he stared at all the data and said, "Once we’ve disassembled this Number One robot system, we can grasp the core chip technology and sell it abroad. It would be a hefty sum and we could apply for overseas protection. This way, even if people here want to arrest me, I can go abroad, and they can’t do anything about it."

So that’s how it is.

This was Jonas’s true intention, a risky move with a considerable reward.

However...

Hannah glanced at the bottom of the computer screen, "It seems someone is approaching our home."

There were various signal transmitters within three kilometers of Jonas’s villa, which he had installed after buying the place. He never expected them to come in handy today.

Everything was dragging them back to the bloody storm of fifteen years ago.

Behind every loss of control, perhaps there was a murder of humanity.

Lachlan Wyatt, you meticulously prepared everything but never considered the existence of Iris Crawford would break it all, did you?

"Prepare to welcome this unknown guest."

Jonas smiled and pressed a switch on the table. Suddenly, the wall behind him retreated an inch, a loud noise from a massive mechanism emitted as it started, dispersing the dust, and the wall split open from the middle, revealing numerous high-risk devices hanging on the walls.

They weren’t guns, yet they had a more powerful destructive force than guns.

Hannah saw Jonas pick up these items, "Are you planning to destroy these robots?"

"Only after we’ve copied the chip technology, of course."

Jonas tapped on the computer, "Destroy these robots, and we’ll be the only ones with the core technology."

Destroy them?

Looking at Number Nine’s face, Hannah softly said, "What if I don’t want them destroyed?"

"Destruction isn’t the end."

Number Nine, however, bypassed Jonas and replied to her, "Being forgotten is the end."

Hannah’s tears fell like rain.

******

On that night, Iris Crawford, dressed in all-black tight leather clothing, sneaked into Jonas’s territory. Like a covert agent in the night, she agilely tossed a smoke bomb through the window, then leaped inside, using a locator to precisely find where the robot was. She wanted to pull open the curtain forcefully, and the next moment the room lights suddenly turned on!

Iris was startled. When she turned back around, she saw Jonas standing outside, the man holding a remote and smirking at her, "You didn’t think I would let you in so easily, unaware of everything, did you?"

Upon closer look, she found that it was a 3D projection, not the real Jonas!

He had stolen many high-tech products developed by Lachlan Wyatt Technologies and used them on himself, projecting his actions in front of Iris, while the real him might have long disappeared!

Iris lowered her eyebrows at Jonas’s 3D projection, only to see the projected Jonas snap his fingers, opening the curtain hiding the robot behind her.

Face-to-face with Phoenix One behind the curtain, Iris was so scared she took two steps back.

Why would there be someone in this world who looks so much like me?

"Is this the artificial intelligence robot you stole..."

Iris gasped, "You’re the most despicable one, Jonas, for using robots to harm others!"

The projected Jonas chuckled, "Anyway, I am already a complete villain in your eyes. I don’t mind ruining my reputation a bit more."

After saying this, he pressed the remote in his hand, and in the next second, the previously dormant Phoenix One suddenly made a move. She attacked Iris with precision like a fighting machine!

Iris dodged One’s incoming strike with a flash, throwing a punch in return. However, One’s movements were even quicker than hers and seemed to predict her actions, surprisingly ducking Iris’s moves. As Iris recoiled and planned to elbow, One already leaped into the air!

These moves pushed Iris to the edge; in that moment, a terrifying thought crossed her mind — this robot seems to be herself.

All actions mirrored her thoughts exactly.

Her thoughts had been turned into a program, implanted in Phoenix One’s chip.

Just in that split second, One’s hand chopped towards Iris’s face. A sudden thought flashed in Iris’s mind, and she made a feigned move with her right hand, flipping and hooking One’s neck directly with her left hand the next second!

Grasping One’s neck felt like her own throat was being held.

She caught One mid-air, choking her, pinning her directly against the wall!

"All your moves are designed based on my behavior."

Iris panted, her forehead drenched with cold sweat, "In your system, I mainly use my right hand. But I changed this habit months ago, betting your system hadn’t updated. So you couldn’t predict my left-handed actions..."

One looked at Iris, blinking, and called her name, "Iris Crawford."

Iris was stunned, as if facing a living person, "How did you know my name?"

Before One could speak, another robot seemed to sense something and charged at them from behind Iris unseen!

The intense pain turned Iris’s face pale, and before she could recover, she heard Number Nine’s voice, "My duty is to protect One."

The moment Iris turned her head and met Iris’s face, it seemed Number Nine went into a shutdown state.

Too similar were the two faces, flickering in his system, making it impossible to distinguish which one was One.

Number Nine let go, and all the robots that should have gone berserk went silent the moment they saw Iris’s face.

Iris watched as their red glowing eyes fell silent; perhaps Jonas’s original intent was to make the robots go berserk and attack her, but now... for some unknown reason, they all went quiet.

"Damn it!" Jonas hadn’t expected such a change; for some inexplicable reason, he immediately cut off the 3D projection connection, seemingly rushing back to the scene to salvage the loss.

Taking advantage of the break, Iris switched off the power behind One, and Phoenix One immediately closed her eyes, softly collapsing into Iris’s arms like a tender girl.

Iris Crawford spoke into the walkie-talkie, "How are things on your end?"

"We’re good, all our personnel are outside. Lachlan Wyatt blocked the signal at the entrance, so Jonas Kingsley can’t control the robots with the remote for now. But we can hold out for at most five minutes. Jonas must be nearby! Open the door; we need to get the robots out now."

Iris Crawford placed her hand on Number One’s neck again.

Elias Shaw said, upon discovering the robots, they must be destroyed first.

But...

Staring at the face that was incredibly similar to her own, Iris hesitated.

At this moment, Lachlan Wyatt entered from outside, activated an electromagnetic pulse towards the still buzzing walkie-talkie—

"Iris, hello, can you hear me? Hello—"

The walkie-talkie failed.

Iris was shocked; was Lachlan rebelling?

"Why did you cut off my signal with them?"

"I can’t stand by and watch you destroy this batch of robots."

Lachlan glanced at Number One, then at Number Nine standing beside Iris, "Give them a way out."

"But..."

"They haven’t seen what Number Nine looks like yet."

Lachlan’s gaze was deep, "I have to keep Number Nine."

These conversations, due to the signal cut, did not reach the teammates outside, and only Iris could hear them.

"Keeping these robots will only harm humans."

Iris shook her head, "Can’t you distinguish between your own interests and those of all humanity?"

"The destruction of humanity has nothing to do with me."

Lachlan lowered his gaze, "I created Number One. At first, it didn’t have a face. After meeting you a few years ago, I modeled it after you, even programming its thought patterns based on your habits."

Listening to Lachlan’s words, Iris felt a chill down her spine.

"The initial impetus for creating artificial intelligence was to save someone."

Lachlan’s Adam’s apple moved up and down, "So I named it Phoenix One. During those years of loving you but being unable to have you, my longing and possessiveness made me turn the robot into your likeness."

Iris, do you think I’m crazy?

Iris’ breath almost stopped, unable to believe these words came from Lachlan’s mouth, "So that’s why she looks so much like me..."

"The chip in Number One was personally developed by me. Destroying her is my biggest concession." Lachlan’s pupils were as black as if his soul had died. Taking advantage of Iris’ inattention, he reached out swiftly and placed his hand on Phoenix One’s neck, then inch by inch tightened his grip, crushing Number One with such force!

The human-like skin tore, machine joints emitted thick smoke; finally, Number One let out a shattered mechanical sound as the neck connecting its chip was forcibly twisted off by Lachlan!

Pieces of debris scattered everywhere; robots don’t bleed, they just shatter.

It’s as if bidding farewell to the past. Lachlan’s actions made Iris break out in a cold sweat.

What kind of person can destroy their hard work without blinking an eye?

"Alright, Number One has been destroyed. You can take this chip and report back to them."

Lachlan stepped forward, gently covering Number One’s eyes, "Leave the rest to me, while Jonas hasn’t returned yet."

"Then...what about Number Nine?"

Iris turned to look at Number Nine’s face. Lachlan told Iris, "As long as you don’t tell them, no one will know Number Nine is a robot."

The EMP was nearing its limit, and the signal would be restored soon.

Lachlan stepped forward, grabbed Iris’ hand, and then restarted Number Nine.

The knight, initially born to protect Number One, automatically locked onto Iris’ face after Number One was destroyed.

He spoke, "Hello, Iris."

He became Iris’ exclusive guardian.

Lachlan took Number One’s chip and forcefully pulled Iris, "Let’s go!"

In the next second, as Iris and Lachlan climbed out the window, Number Nine’s body nimbly jumped down like a human.

******

Lachlan told Elias Shaw that Number One’s chip had been retrieved, and the rest of the robots with Jonas were merely replacements. As long as the chip was back, everything could be remedied.

But Jonas had already analyzed the data in the chip and even made copies. They absolutely couldn’t let their guard down.

Elias Shaw sent agents to continue monitoring Jonas and the robots, while also searching for Liam Winslow’s wife’s whereabouts. They had only completed the first step of their mission, with numerous obstacles ahead—yet from the very first step, Lachlan had already told a monumental lie, deceiving the entire world.

The agency’s members worked overnight tracking Liam Winslow’s wife, while Iris and Lachlan were staring at Number Nine in the villa.

Number Nine had already regarded Iris as Number One, given that Number One’s face was modeled after Iris.

He stayed by Iris’ side all the time, even guarding the bathroom door while Iris was using it.

Iris couldn’t bear it any longer, "I’m taking a bath, don’t come in!"

Number Nine replied, "I’m afraid you’ll drown."

"..." Oh God, why did she ever agree to Lachlan keeping this android!

Lachlan was in the study, researching how Jonas modified Number One’s chip, so Iris opened the door to let Number Nine in.

After all, Number Nine was also a robot; what does it matter if a robot sees her naked?

Who knew Number Nine would say, "I scanned and found you’re not wearing clothes, aren’t you afraid of catching cold?"

"..." This robot is a bit too advanced!

Iris gritted her teeth, "Shut up!"

"Oh." Number Nine closed his mouth.

He obediently stayed by Iris’ side, squatting down, but because his program was so well-designed, his squatting process was exactly like a human’s movements.

Number Nine tilted his head and asked Iris, "Where’s my partner?"

Iris snorted, "Time was tight, we could only take back the most important chip first, there’s still a lot to do."

"Oh. I can detect where they are." Number Nine poked Iris, "Won’t you break while soaking in the bath?"

Iris wished she could drown him in the bathtub, only to realize belatedly that robots don’t drown. She splashed water at Number Nine and said, "I’m human, I won’t break from water!"

Number Nine, with water splattered all over his face, said, "Attention, detected water in the brain."

Iris suddenly realized this wasn’t good; what if water conducts electricity?

"Then, won’t you break?"

Number Nine said, "All my parts are waterproof."

"..."