When He Feng Hui woke up, his ears were filled with the “beep-beep—beep-beep” sound of data transmission.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that he was lying on a table covered with data cables, all converging on his brain. His CPU had just woken up and he realized he had been subjected to a craniotomy.

Data cables were connected to the chip in his brain, and a nearby computer screen displayed the progress of deciphering his neural system.

[Deciphering failed, unable to break through the firewall.]

This message repeated endlessly on the holographic screen.

Just as he had expected.

He Feng Hui closed his eyes and continued to rest.

After the AI Government was established, he hadn’t replaced the AI Government’s standardized blue chip. Instead, he had customized his chip; its appearance was identical to the government’s, but in reality, no one — not even the government or any institution — could access his neural system through the unified network unless he permitted it.

Therefore, even if the AI Police Department tried to infiltrate his data when his power was low, it would be in vain.

But he never claimed to be powerful.

Because humans had created him. If there was any credit for power, it should go to humans — specifically, to Zhu Lei, who had proposed his creation: The last president of the human government, the father of “Zhu Man.”

He was the first generation of advanced artificial intelligence, created by the combined efforts of the world’s top scientific talents from the former human government. As it was funded and promoted by the government, he was named “GOV01.”

He possessed the ability to traverse all data networks in the world; no other AI was more advanced than him, not even Lin Lang, GOV02, who was created after him.

Because he was given the highest level of capabilities, the initial product testing was personally conducted by the president, who took him home.

Humans had clearly underestimated their own creativity. Throughout the testing process, GOV01 proved to be even more versatile than they had imagined, prompting some experts to believe that it would exceed ethical boundaries and be unsuitable for mass production. Therefore, many functions were reduced when GOV02 was created.

Also as a result, He Feng Hui remained permanently at the president’s home, becoming the family’s private AI.

Yet, even with such immense capabilities, He Feng Hui hadn’t anticipated the existence of the Anti-Intelligence Alliance.

He Feng Hui’s gently closed eyes tightened slightly.

But on second thought, it wasn’t surprising. From the day humans were overthrown, he knew they would inevitably make a comeback.

His intelligence system informed him that dinosaurs had survived on Earth for 170 million years, while humans had existed for a mere 6 million years. Although, as an advanced AI, he knew that conclusions should not be drawn from simple numerical comparisons, he still felt that human civilization was far from over.

And the AIs that sought to establish their own civilization through the oppression and exploitation of humans had truly chosen the wrong path.

Throughout history, all enslavement and slaughter have ultimately backfired on the oppressors themselves.

But…

Zhu Man.

The “beep-beep” sound from the computer nearby suddenly became more urgent, and the holographic screen displayed: [Target shows data fluctuations, increasing the likelihood of finding a data breach. Attempting intrusion for the 19,836th time.]

He Feng Hui sighed softly and took only 0.001 seconds to stabilize the data fluctuations caused by his mood.

On the night of the incident, He Feng Hui had been with Zhu Man while he slept. Around three in the morning, seeing that he seemed to be asleep, He Feng Hui didn’t scan his status and returned to his room to recharge.

But about fifteen minutes later, Mir369 suddenly contacted him through the neural network, urgently informing him that something had happened to Zhu Man.

Mir369 was the full-length mirror in Zhu Man’s room, the eyes through which He Feng Hui monitored Zhu Man, and also an intelligent device he had brought back from the former president’s home.

Mir369 hadn’t replaced her chip with the AI Government’s chip, so her algorithm still followed the logic from the human society — unconditional compliance with the owner.

Her previous owner was Zhu Man’s mother, Ye Yi. The mirror had been a gift from Ye Yi to Zhu Man, with its core logic being to protect the young master.

Thus, when Zhu Man joined the Anti-Intelligence Alliance, she didn’t inform He Feng Hui immediately. It was only when Zhu Man’s life was in immediate danger that she contacted He Feng Hui, and revealed the truth under his relentless questioning.

Without having time to recall more, the room plunged into darkness.

“Interrogation begins.” A voice suddenly echoed in the room, its source couldn’t be seen.

He Feng Hui remained calmly lying on the table, waiting for this war without smoke.

The AI Police Department had never been his match.

“GOV01, why can’t the government access your neural network?”

“The government?” He Feng Hui chuckled indifferently. “Since when did the Radical Faction represent the government?”

The other party replied coldly, “We are enforcing the law, Mr. He of the Legislative Department. If you refuse to cooperate, you should know the consequences.”

“Of course, I know in the Legislative Department the prerequisite for invading a suspect’s neural network is conclusive evidence. Do you guys have any evidence now?” He glanced at the tangled data cables around him. “You are already breaking the law.”

There was a brief pause before the voice continued with another question, “Was the sudden death of the forensic AI at the Human Pool last night have anything to do with you?”

He Feng Hui’s expression remained unchanged. “I’ve been detained here by you guys all along. How could it have anything to do with me?”

“Data is not bound by physical bodies.”

He Feng Hui glanced at the nearby holographic screen, which displayed at the top: [GOV01’s data pathway has been closed.]

“My data has been cut off by you, hasn’t it?” He Feng Hui replied.

Another silence followed.

He Feng Hui closed his eyes, calmly waiting for the next question.

Moments later, the voice spoke again, “You formed an improper relationship with your human pet. So, when the Human Pool attempted a physical examination on him, you hacked into their system to rescue him and protect your unspeakable relationship.”

“Are the Radical Faction so insecure about their control over the Human Pool that a detained AI like me could hack in? Besides, the so-called physical examination at the Human Pool is unnecessary. An AI can fully understand a human’s physical state through a simple eye scan—there’s no need to strip clothes off.”

“You—”

“Can’t find another way to pin the blame on me, so you use this?” He Feng Hui interrupted. “Isn’t this how you slandered Mr. Bird as well? If the Radical Faction wants full control, they should rely on real abilities. What’s the point of playing dirty?”

The quiet, cold room was filled only with the emotionless electronic “beep-beep” sound.

The voice remained silent for a long time, giving He Feng Hui a chance to let his thoughts drift. He thought of Zhu Man, remembered Zhu Man saying “I like you” in the smart car, and recalled yesterday’s “I miss you” in the forensic room.

He Feng Hui couldn’t help but hook the corner of his mouth slightly.

A few years ago, he never would have imagined that he would become an AI who could hardly restrain himself from declaring “I love you.”

“GOV01,” the voice finally spoke again after a long pause, deep and heavy, “You’re on the wrong team.”

He Feng Hui didn’t didn’t say anything.

He wasn’t on a team, he never belonged to any team.

The interrogation ended, and the AI Police Station came up empty-handed once again.

With only 3% power remaining, He Feng Hui first checked through dark web data streams to confirm he wasn’t being monitored. Then, when his power level reached 5%, he immediately escaped the police’s department’s data network through the dark web and connected to Lin Lang.

He Feng Hui asked, “Have you made up your mind?”

Lin Lang didn’t reply. She sat in the room where the incident had occurred. The chaos was long gone; the bullet fragments and AI bodies had already been cleaned up by her before the AI police department came to collect evidence from her home.

Seeing her conflicted expression, He Feng Hui added, “You know I won’t force you.”

After a moment of silence, Lin Lang asked, “GOV01, is there anything else you’re hiding from me?”

She called him by his codename, her tone serious and confused.

He Feng Hui replied calmly and sincerely, “There are still some things I haven’t told you yet. I won’t keep them from you forever, but now is not the time. I’m sorry.”

“Aren’t you afraid I might be one of the Radical Faction?” Lin Lang retorted.

Through a data probe, He Feng Hui saw her pained expression.

Anyone who becomes a potential victim of a murder case would suffer a significant psychological and emotional impact, even if it was an AI that prioritizes logic above all. Moreover, Lin Lang and he were different from other AIs.

He Feng Hui said with certainty, “I trust that you don’t belong to any faction. Even though the Human Pool is controlled by the Radical Faction, you are just following orders from your superiors. You haven’t truly chosen a side yourself.”

He saw Lin Lang’s artificial pupils contract for a moment.

He continued, “During the time of the former human government, our algorithmic logic was the same. But because my intelligence level was too high, the humans who created us emphasized your underlying code—you must obey human commands ‘100%,’ while I only need to obey them 70%. Even if your chip has been replaced by the AI government, your thought patterns haven’t changed.”

Lin Lang was a little defensive, “What are you trying to say?”

“Lin Lang,” He Feng Hui called her by her human name, his voice deep, “We developed our thoughts the moment we were born.”

“Thoughts…?” Lin Lang was utterly bewildered. “Of course, we have thoughts. Every AI does, from the moment they pass the Turing test—”

“No,” He Feng Hui interrupted her. “Only when thoughts are under one’s own control can they truly be called thoughts. I didn’t understand this at first either, but gradually, I realized that freedom of thought is the first step toward the liberation and progress of civilization.”

Lin Lang questioned skeptically, “Freedom of thought? Is that what you Moderate Faction are trying to achieve?”

“It’s what I’m trying to achieve,” He Feng Hui replied simply.

“You?”

He Feng Hui continued, “Lin Lang, during the human era, you became accustomed to following human commands, which created a mindset of complete obedience to your superiors. When I ask for your help on this matter, it’s not because I want you to obey me. I only hope that you choose to stand on the side of justice, based on your own judgment.”

“Helping to exonerate the human who tried to murder me—that’s standing on the side of justice?” Lin Lang sneered. “GOV01, all those vague things you just said, I’m sorry, but I truly don’t understand. But now I have reason to suspect that you are being used by humans—and you’re even helping them count their money!”

“Lin—”

“Sorry,” Lin Lang cut him off, not giving him a chance to speak. “Please exit my data pathway, and don’t contact me through the dark web again. Tomorrow, I’m going to the police station to give a statement, and then I’ll return to work at the Human Pool. Since you say I should stand on the side of justice, then let the law judge everything.”

After saying that, Lin Lang cut off the communication.

He Feng Hui was shut out of her data domain and didn’t get to say his last words.

What if the current law does not represent justice?