Coercion and bribery!
God knows what benefits these countries promised, and the US is using the SMMH intrusion into the US military's network system as an excuse to demand an explanation from China.
Actually, this explanation wasn't wrong.
After all, someone has hacked into and even taken over the US military system—that's a huge deal! The US government is right to explain, but they didn't say it before, and now they're saying it… This means that the friendly cooperative relationship between the X organization and the SMMH has broken down!
A sudden rupture!
It was also Chen Xu's fault for being too arrogant before. In reality, he was just an ordinary person who owned a computer from the future. Although this computer from the future provided Chen Xu with countless advanced and cutting-edge knowledge, it could not provide him with the slightest help in the real world.
Previously, he had deceived Organization X with a grand deception, which led to a good cooperative relationship between this organization that dominates American politics and technology and Chen Xu. This gave Chen Xu a huge protective umbrella!
But now, for some reason, this protective umbrella has suddenly stopped protecting Chen Xu. Not only has it stopped protecting him, but it has also turned against him, which has put Chen Xu in an absolutely passive position!
But why would Organization X do such a thing?!
Why would they suddenly break with us out of the blue? Could it be that they've discovered the "world's biggest hoax" is a scam? Or... have they reached a point of considerable satisfaction with their research, believing they can escape SMMH's control?
Chapter 366: A Powerful Alliance, or... Inviting a Wolf into the House
SMMH isn't actually that scary; we just overestimated its severity before.
Watching the masked figure on the screen utter these arrogant words, Dr. Midro felt a pang of sorrow... When did our prestigious X Organization become complicit in collaborating with these traitors? The SMMH had at least provided the X Organization with a wealth of valuable research data; how could the tide have turned overnight? The X Organization had shut out its former friends, yet allied with a long-standing enemy?
What are the four major families really thinking?!
Dr. Mildred is now the chief scientist of Organization X. His tragedy lies in the fact that he can only participate in research; political matters are completely outside his purview. Looking back, Dr. Mildred realizes he was wrong.
Science and politics are not unrelated. Back then, I was so focused on "pure research" that I didn't pay any attention to the political aspects. Now I realize that I was wrong... Organization X is not a simple research institution. Perhaps in other places, a researcher can simply calm down and do research slowly. But that's not possible here because this is Organization X... It is an organization that dominates the development of science and technology in the world!
The person in the picture is the Emperor of the European Tarot Organization, a long-standing adversary of the X Organization.
Many members of the X organization disliked this guy because, unlike hackers who must hide their identities, this guy wasn't a hacker, yet he deliberately dressed all the Tarot members in such a mysterious way, with not a single inch of skin visible on their bodies—that's what you call hiding your true identity.
I really don't understand why the four major families would abandon their former allies and cooperate with them instead, aren't they enemies?!
Of course, even though he wasn't a politician, Dr. Midro knew the saying, "There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests," and the representatives of the four major families were right... The very top of the pyramid has very few footholds, and there are already two; there can't be a third!
Moreover, Dr. Mildred knew that in some aspects, the third-party forces represented by SMMH were far more technologically advanced than X and Tarot!
“We previously ceded a small island to SMMH in the waters of Southeast Asia. It was a secondary research island for our organization. Because SMMH was so mysterious, we knew nothing about it, so we always thought it was very powerful. But in reality, after we looked at SMMH’s actions after taking over the island, we found that it was just a paper tiger, a beautiful soap bubble. With a gentle touch, ‘pop,’ it burst.”
"What do you mean? What results did you get?"
"SMMH has no real-world influence or power! That's the biggest difference between them and us!" The Emperor of Tarot gently adjusted his golden mask and chuckled. "We made some calculations before. SMMH has done so much research, even making achievements in weaponry, so they should have their own base. But where is that base? We initially guessed it was in China, but later we discovered that wasn't the case! We were all fooled by their advanced technology! Indeed, SMMH's technology is unparalleled, which explains their great achievements, but... ultimately, well, I really like this old Chinese saying, ultimately, where are SMMH's roots? They have no roots! In reality, apart from the recently rising S Company, they have no real-world base!"
Dr. Midro frowned and said, "How did you come to such a conclusion? This explanation is really... absurd."
"This must be Dr. Midro, right? I've heard so much about you." The Emperor's voice carried a hint of amusement: "I know this conclusion will seem absurd to everyone, but think about it, since SMMH solved the Beacon Virus developed by your side, apart from the internet, where all that's needed is data, what real-world products has SMMH actually sold? None! Even S Company is a newborn, less than two years old. SMMH has absolutely no real-world influence! Now, you might ask, if it doesn't have real-world influence, how did it develop so many products? I remember there's a Chinese idiom, 'great things accumulate before they're unleashed,' meaning that many of its products were researched beforehand and only brought out at crucial moments… Moreover, and this is very important… SMMH has already mastered a highly mature virtual reality system!"
Virtual reality?!
"That's right, I think your company is also working on this research. It involves communicating with a person's brainwaves through a machine, then using a server-side method to induce a hypnotic state. In this hypnotic state, the person enters another world, where everything is artificial and can control every sense... This is virtual reality, according to our intelligence. On the island we gave to SMMH—well, it's said that SMMH students named it 'All-Eat Island'—SMMH has already eagerly utilized this virtual reality technology, allowing the island's research experts to enter a virtual world for research!"
"Imagine it! A vacuum environment, extremely difficult to simulate in reality, is nothing more than a piece of data in the virtual world... Of course, this kind of data is extremely difficult to program, but we have every reason to believe that SMMH's computer technology has reached a god-like level! He can completely use computer programming languages to create a realistic world! So, SMMH is strong, but his strength lies only in computers. To put it bluntly, he's like those hackers who hide their faces on the internet, constantly cultivating his agents and taking on apprentices, all to conceal his unrevealed identity! Therefore, in the computer world, I admit he's invincible; even our organization's latest artificial intelligence research cannot compare to him. But in the real world, he doesn't have the long history, vast wealth, or supreme power we have... He's just an ordinary hacker!"
After the emperor finished speaking, a murmur of conversation immediately broke out among the crowd.
The people of Organization X were amazed by two things... First, a perfect virtual reality world, creating a world within a computer... Based on this alone, the world's number one computer programmer is none other than SMMH! Although the experts in Organization X's information department already knew that SMMH was strong, they did not expect him to be this strong... They were disheartened for a moment.
What perfect virtual reality technology!
Even a world-class research institution like Organization X has only just begun to explore the field of human-computer interaction.
No, they haven't fully deciphered the signals in the brain yet. Although they can use machines to hypnotize the brain, they can only forcibly input some information into the brain. It's still far from a true human-machine exchange!
And SMMH... they can actually conduct scientific experiments directly in virtual space using this virtual reality technology?!
This is way too exaggerated! You know, no matter how fantastical virtual reality sounds, it still has to completely follow computer programming rules.
For computers, there are only 0 and 1, which means there are only right and wrong, and there is absolutely no middle value!
How then could he conduct unknown experiments?!
Unless he conducts all the experiments perfectly in reality and inputs the data into the virtual reality server, scientists won't be able to get the correct answers in the virtual world. Otherwise... how is it possible to develop something new out of thin air using this kind of illusion, with data that isn't even in the system's database?!
It was incomprehensible to all the computer experts. On the contrary, experts in other fields, with their limited understanding of computers, couldn't even fathom such a level of complexity. To them, perhaps SMMH truly created a world identical to the real world, allowing them to conduct research within a virtual reality…
The experts all wore expressions of longing...
A virtual illusion!
Everything inside is data!
The priceless experimental instruments and materials can be used inexhaustibly simply by the administrator making adjustments!
No more worrying about rare raw materials being consumed!
These experts were so excited that their faces turned red!
What a huge leap forward this is for the scientific community!
In fact, the virtual world that Chen Xu and the scientists on Tongchi Island entered was actually a virtual experimental system that future high-end universities would use to introduce students to the world...
Many advanced research projects are already outdated in terms of future technological content, and the relevant data is already abundant and mature.
This virtual experiment system, created by inputting countless successful experimental data, is intended for introductory research by top students in specialized fields. Chen Xu is providing it to the experts on Tongchi Island so they can better digest the future-related information he provides, transform it into their own work, and ultimately produce finished products. Therefore, this virtual experiment system is the most cost-effective and fastest-growing tool. However, to think that you can use this to research inventions that haven't even been developed in the future is pure nonsense; computer technology isn't that advanced yet.
"Are you all tempted? We are too. To be honest, anyone who isn't tempted by this is a fool!" the Emperor laughed. "Therefore, this time we've joined forces with your side, together with the EU and the US—the two strongest powers in the world—to put pressure on China, demanding that SMMH hand over this Virtual Reality System! And then..." A fierce glint appeared in the eye sockets of the Emperor's golden mask: "Kill him! He's just an ordinary computer expert!"
Immediately, the eyes of the experts present lit up.
Obtaining this virtual system... is like acquiring a super-precision machine tool production line! Oh, right, SMMH contacted us not long ago to buy a machine tool production line. It seems he really lacks real-world capabilities; all his inventions exist only in data and cannot be truly put into production! Think about it, many of the data he mentions in his documents are beyond the capabilities of even the most advanced machine tools in the US right now, yet he's contacting us to buy machine tools... It seems the Emperor was right; this guy is indeed strange!
Seeing his colleagues' faces glowing with excitement, all focused on the virtual system, Dr. Midro let out a soft sigh.
These people are blinded by immediate gains. What good will it do them even if they get the system? We've got it, Tarot has it, but what if they have an even greater need for it? Aren't we just creating an even more terrifying enemy for ourselves?!
Although SMMH is terrifying, he has never done anything detrimental to the X organization!
And Tarot...you're inviting trouble into your home!
However, Midro did not say these words aloud.
Because the representatives of the four major families had already made the decision to agree, and almost all the experts raised their hands in approval.
Is it really time to betray former allies and kick them when they're down?!
Dr. Midro was very uneasy. He didn't know where this unease came from, but he knew that his current objections were meaningless and would only provoke the resentment of the four major families. He had dedicated his life to the X Organization and to his dream, and he didn't want to get into trouble in his old age because of his attitude.
He was also very clear about the fate of traitors in the X organization, and at this critical juncture, if he were to speak out against it... he might really be labeled a traitor.
However, he didn't want to just let it go like that.
As the chief scientist of Organization X, he naturally knew the organization's true nature. If this virtual reality system truly existed, it would greatly facilitate Organization X's ongoing cyborg program. However, the information about artificial prosthetic soldiers sent to him by Chen Xu, a student at SMMH, had also caught his attention.
Looking across the world, only three forces—X, Tarot, and SMMH—can achieve this level of technological reserves!
It's not X, and it's not SMMH, so who is it...? There's no need to think about it anymore.
This kind of prosthetic modification is no less powerful than their X-human cyborgs, and relatively safer... because it seems they have mastered considerable scientific research technology.
If they were to obtain that "second world" virtual reality system, Tarot would probably have already assembled a "metal man" army before the X organization's cyborg program even proceeded smoothly!
There are other aspects as well...
Dr. Midro quickly calculated in his mind. It seemed that Tarot had planned this all along. If this technology fell into the hands of both of them at the same time, Tarot's progress would probably be much faster than X's! At that point, it would be like letting a wolf into the house, creating a situation where the wolf would grow too big to be controlled!
But what can he do now?
Having made up his mind, Dr. Midro secretly saved the meeting minutes and, after the meeting, secretly sent them to the email address used by the X organization to contact the SMMH...
This is the last thing I can do.
As for whether you can escape this calamity as the Tarot Emperor said... SMMH, that's the only thing I can do to help you...
Chapter 367 The First World Hacker War
Three days.
The battle in February 2008 was dubbed the "First World Hacker War" by hackers around the world. The scope, intensity, and damage of this battle were unparalleled by any other hacking operation in history. For three whole days, nearly half of the world's networks were paralyzed. People who had become accustomed to the existence of the Internet were at a loss during these three days, and could only try to find out the cause of the network failure by looking at some websites with a speed even slower than that of a cat.
When gods fight, ordinary people suffer.
Such events are common in mythology. The most famous example is the ancient battle between the fire god Zhurong and the water god Gonggong, a battle so fierce that the sky darkened and rivers of blood flowed. In the end, Gonggong was defeated and, in a fit of rage, knocked down Mount Buzhou, the pillar supporting the sky, causing the heavens to collapse.
Chen Xu, with the help of a computer from eighty years in the future, is the god of this network.
The other one, GOD, which appeared unexpectedly because of the balance of power between Heaven and Chen Xu, is a part of Mivad's soul that entered the computer world. In essence, he is a computer program with its own independent consciousness, and thus, he is the legendary artificial intelligence!
Artificial intelligence has broken free from the physical constraints of the human body and possesses astonishing learning abilities! At the same time, it is part of the program, making it easier to understand the rules of computer operation. After a long period of dormancy and growth, although it cannot yet compare with Chen Xu who relies on tools, it is already a god in the digital world of the network.
Because he was the first thinking "life form" in that digital world.
For the past three days, hackers from overseas forces within the GOD organization have been launching a frenzied attack on servers and gateways in mainland China, spreading rumors while ignoring Chen Xu's warnings.
Chen Xu originally didn't want to make things so big, but when Hao Aiguo came to him and persuaded him to compromise, Chen Xu went crazy.
In Chen Xu's view, if he were to compromise like this, it would be a disgrace to the country and a loss of sovereignty. Hao Aiguo secretly told him in a private capacity that the international influence behind this incident was unimaginable! The United States and the European Union had already put strong pressure on China, using both threats and inducements, threatening to take various measures otherwise. Although the Chinese leadership knew that they were doing this because they were afraid of SMMH, they could only keep delaying and had no way to refuse outright.
At this time, many officials who had long been envious of the wealth created by SMMH began to kick them while they were down, taking advantage of the incident to do some underhanded things behind their backs.
But there's no way around it now, so Hao Aiguo hopes Chen Xu can persuade SMMH to compromise and open up some of its technology. The country is willing to pay to acquire the technology for that virtual reality.
Chen Xu sneered inwardly. So, someone really couldn't wait any longer?
The value of virtual reality is obvious to anyone with common sense. The applications of this technology are so vast that it's no exaggeration to call it a golden goose.
He knew that Hao Aiguo and the military behind him were doing their best to protect him, but he would absolutely not agree to this!
At the same time, Chen Xu also felt a sense of sorrow.
Why are we and our country being threatened by these two major organizations, X and Tarot?!
Isn't it because they're not strong enough?
If I'm powerful enough, let alone threatening you, if you dare to say a disrespectful word to me, I can slap you across the face!
And... virtual reality...