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"Son... Are you sure that experiment... is safe?"

Before the experiment, Chen Qing was allowed one last meeting with his mother.

As per the previous agreement, he would join all the backers in linking up to the brain-machine interface and entering a new simulated environment; this was something he had actually anticipated.

How could those influential backers place their lives in the hands of some technicians?

"Safe... Don’t worry..." Chen Qing looked at his mother, who was anxious, and smiled gently.

His mother was not very reliable. Since his father became bankrupt and unable to provide sufficient alimony, and considering her age, her chances of snagging another wealthy man were slim. She definitely did not want her money-earning son to run into trouble.

"I’ve sent the bank account password to your phone. In addition to the three hundred million dollars you’ll receive for participating in the experiment, the inheritance from your elder brother is also there... With that much money, Mom, use it sparingly; it will last for generations."

"Son..." The woman was stunned, then quickly said, "You said there won’t be any problem, right?"

"There should be no problem..." Chen Qing smiled: "It’s like a minor surgery, but since it’s surgery after all, some things need to be prepared just in case..."

"Nonsense... What do you mean by ’just in case’?" The woman hastily said.

"Alright... There is no ’just in case’..

." Chen Qing smiled: "Mom, haven’t you always wanted to travel to Maldives? I’ve booked a travel package for you to Goddess Jiaoli Island, a high-end island featuring health and wellness care.

It’s a ten-day itinerary. Relax and enjoy yourself, I should be well by the time you return. "

"Is... that so?" The middle-aged woman looked puzzled, and for some reason, she felt somewhat uneasy.

"It’s fine, rest assured. When you return, I’ll start going to matchmaking sessions. Our family is thinning, you’ve been enjoying yourself for years, so it’s about time you settle down and take care of grandchildren..."

"Dream on, you expect your old lady to serve your wife and child!" The middle-aged woman instantly rolled her eyes.

"One day..."

"There will be no such day, I’ve had enough raising you, I get annoyed just seeing children. Take it easy when you go matchmaking, I’ll be vetting the girls. Make sure to get a frugal one, and have a prenuptial review of finances..."

As the middle-aged woman rambled on and on, the afternoon quickly passed by. When she left, Chen Qing watched her departing figure with a complex look in his eyes.

"For the first time, I feel like time flies when talking to this woman..."

"Right..."

The reply came from the object in his hand. Clearly, the middle-aged woman did not know that she was actually speaking with two sons just now...

"Elder brother, do you really think something terrible will happen?"

"You don’t believe it?"

"No... I do believe it." Chen Qing pushed his glasses up and said seriously, "I’ve attended courses on interpersonal relationships, and out of curiosity, I’ve worked with those politicians in the parliament too. I know very well what kind of people they are, how vile they can be when faced with the desire for power... I also know that it wouldn’t be surprising for a group of people at the peak of power to destroy the current world to maintain their hold on it, as they have long treated the world as their own property. "

"You mixed with politicians?"

"Heh, not for long, mainly to broaden my horizons."

"How did it go?"

"Actually, it went quite well. The person I worked with could run for state congressman. If his campaign succeeds, my credentials would be enough for me to enter the political field."

"So why did you turn around and pursue a career in academia?"

"Not too big of a deal..." Chen Qing shook his head with a smile. "I always feel... being a researcher... the environment is somewhat purer."

"Purer? " Pu Yunchuan asked curiously.

"Looking at it now... not exactly purer," Chen Qing admitted with a wry smile.

Once you enter society, you’ll realize there’s no escaping interpersonal relations.

They say academic research is a matter of talent, but even if your talent is outstanding, without interpersonal skills, it’s challenging to achieve greatness.

Even with remarkable abilities, one needs resources, and without knowing how to showcase oneself, it’s impossible to obtain those resources.

"If only the world could be a little simpler... especially the academic field." Chen Qing suddenly said, "Brother... do you think... the game world might be simpler?"

"Probably not, after all, in the pursuit of realism in games, the character models for the NPCs were created through long-term accumulation of big data, very life-like.

.." Pu Yunchuan, looking at that very familiar face, felt a complex surge of emotions and blurted out as if possessed, "But if... you’re in there, you could actually try to create one.

.. create a simpler academic environment. .."

"In the game?" Chen Qing was taken aback, and then smiled, "That’s actually a good idea, it should be simpler than in reality, right?"

"Should be..." Pu Yunchuan gave a vague answer, his heart pounding.

Until this moment, he still didn’t know whether he was really Pu Yunchuan... or the person in front of him.

"I’m more interested in how to find the backup you left in there."

"I’ll send you the coordinates once, delete them after ten seconds. You must remember them. Once you enter the data world, your memory will be impacted. Whether you can remember them depends on yourself."

"Is there anyone else?"

"Hmm... There’s one other person with the same information as you. Whoever gets it first can initiate the fourth version. After that, you must find a way out as soon as possible. I’ve left you an exit, but the timing is limited, remember you must..."

"Okay..."

"The game world is vast and very dangerous. The time you enter is the first version; there aren’t many demons in the wild.

Try to stay with a large group, avoid being alone, and be extra cautious when you reach your destination.

After grabbing the data, find that Demon Statue immediately, otherwise. .."

"I got it, big brother, you’ve already reminded me three times..." Chen Qing said helplessly.

Despite his reluctant tone, Chen Qing felt a hint of warmth inside.

His father, a detached Chinese investor whom his mother had married, was indifferent to his progeny.

His mother, when wealthy, lived a lavish lifestyle.

Chen Qing, who had always had good material conditions, rarely received such nagging care.

He had heard from an early age that he had a brother, and he would occasionally wonder what it would be like to meet him.

But he could never have imagined that once the brothers got together, the first thing they’d tackle was such a significant issue.

Two tech nerds discussing saving the world... It truly was magical!

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In the year 2774 of the New Federation era, a research center funded by multiple consortia within a notable university of the Western Federation was attacked.

The entirety of the research building was bombed, with casualties exceeding a thousand people.

Crucially, the victims were not just the university’s renowned professors and highly-educated students but also some prominent figures that came as a shock to everyone.

The head of the famous financial Laus Family, the esteemed Chief Justice Lauren Ye, Baik Mondo, the most successful Prime Minister of the Western Federation who had been elected five times, the renowned military strategist Liu...

One name after another surfaced, shocking the entire world. It was a major diplomatic incident, with its complexities affecting over thirty countries within the Eastern and Western Federations and dominating all news headlines.

And this... was just the beginning...