Shadow of the Beautiful World

Dr. Reed, I have a few half-baked ideas I'd like to discuss with you about that paper you published last month.

Mr. Reed, I am the director of the Science and Technology Department of Roxon Petroleum Corporation. I would like to invite you to become the chief scientist of our company. The salary is whatever you want. We have prepared an office and a mansion for you, as well as last year's Global Miss is your secretary, think about it.

Reed, with all due respect, the conceptual design of the new communicator you published last year is a piece of shit. If you think your design is not, then after the seminar is over, I don't mind having a good chat with you.

Mr. Reed, can you sign me? I'm your big fan!

reed

reed

The appearance ceremony of the smartest guy in the world was really extraordinary. When he walked into the banquet hall with his girlfriend and two friends, most of the scientists in the banquet hall were shocked.

Those guys engaged in scientific research were like idols chasing stars, and they crowded Reed, even his girlfriend and friends were squeezed out.

Tony, who was chatting with a group of big shots, was robbed of the limelight again.

But this time, the high-profile Tony Stark did not show any dissatisfaction, because he also recognized the wisdom of Reed Richards, the kind of brain power beyond the limit, which made even smart people like Tony admire him very much.

Go help the poor man, look at him, he is almost suffocating.

Merlin said something to the agents around him who were disguised as waiters, and soon the strong waiters dispersed the group of crazy science star chasers.

Well, this seminar can bring family members, so the real bigwigs in the scientific world will bring their disciples to meet the world. Young people are always very excited when they see their idols. Sit in your own chair.

They won't lower themselves to be scientists, they are all a group of arrogant guys.

Well, of course, there are exceptions.

Dr. Otto, the military is very interested in your research on mechanical bionic organs. If you are willing to cooperate with us, we are willing to discuss with you in detail after the seminar.

Not far from Merlin, a serious guy in military uniform was whispering to an unattractive scientist.

The guy was fat, wearing a green suit that didn't fit very well, with highly myopic eyes, messy hair, and freckles on his face, he looked like an otaku. Probably seeing that the military people valued him so much, this inconspicuous doctor immediately chatted with those soldiers.

When Merlin looked at the guy, Icarus's lens quickly showed the guy's identity information and many news reports and papers he had published.

Otto Gunther Octavius, an independent research scientist, has 4 Ph.Ds. His main research direction is bionic machinery. He has published several papers, but because of his eccentric personality, he has never been able to have a stable source of income. , living in poverty. Aside from his amazing intelligence, he is a complete failure in both career and life.

This is what Icarus said about the nerdy scientist.

It has to be said that Miss Icarus' personality has become more and more sharp after the personality module has been restored.

The military seems to be very interested in him.

Merlin pushed his glasses, he said:

The military seems to have been quiet in the past few years, but I don't think they will really be willing to hibernate and pay attention to him. Icarus, let me know if there is anything worthy of attention.

hum

An icon resembling a sight was fixed on the otaku scientist who had a good chat with the military representative, which represented that Dr. Otto had been added to Merlin's personal monitoring list.

Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Get out of the way!

At the entrance of the banquet hall, just after the chaos caused by Dr. Reed's appearance ended, a new participant appeared, and this guy seemed very rough.

Snapped

A young man who couldn't dodge was pushed down, and what pushed him down was a red, weird, pliers-like, but full of high-tech style engineering mechanical arm.

Compared with this mechanical arm, its owner is obviously more eye-catching.

It was a guy who was only 1.4 meters tall, wearing a black suit and wearing big sunglasses. He looked like a muscular mound. He had a long beard, making Merlin think that the person who walked in was a dwarf.

But it wasn't, it was supposed to be a dwarf, a real human being, in his twilight years, but still hot-tempered.

Torbjörn Lindholm, a private military weapons contractor, a master of war weapon design, and a notorious arms dealer.

Agent Hill next to Merlin revealed the identity of this short guy full of thug aura. It stands to reason that such a guy with a less than positive identity would not receive the invitation, but since it is a technology seminar in name, then Excellent intelligence should not be shut out.

And more importantly, compared to those shameless, reserved, and stubborn traditional scientists who are unwilling to give up their vigilance against artificial intelligence, this short man who made his fortune by selling arms is easier to buy.

Given enough money, he will become the most staunch supporter of the faction praising artificial intelligence.

Do not underestimate the influence of these arms dealers.

However, Mr. Torbion didn't seem to come alone today.

Dad! Be decent, there are so many people here.

A clear voice sounded behind the violent short old engineer, 1.8 meters tall, pure and lovely, with chestnut red hair, the girl in a short skirt complained dissatisfied.

She stepped forward, helped up the young man who was brutally pushed down by her father, and apologized to him on his father's behalf.

The dull young man was probably a student of a scientist. He looked dumbfounded. After being helped up by the cute girl, not only did he not get angry, but instead he grabbed his hair and tried to talk to the girl clumsily.

Uh, with a nympho look on his face.

My little Brigitte, my daughter, don't talk to a fool, it will make you stupid.

The old man snorted, and took his daughter's hand with a dissatisfied expression. He looked around, and then walked straight towards Merlin.

That's his daughter?

A look of surprise flashed across Agent Hill's face. She compared the height and appearance of old Torbjörn and little Brigitte, as well as their completely different temperaments. She looked at her director in a daze, and said :

Are you sure it's your own?

Uh, it's probably because the genes on the mother's side are better.

Merlin responded helplessly. He took a step forward and stretched out his hand towards Tobion. He said:

I thought you would refuse, but I didn't expect you to come anyway.

You sent an army to hell!

The old engineer said impatiently:

Can I refuse? Do I dare to refuse?

But we also took money

Merlin's hand was held together with the red pincer mechanism in Torbjörn's left hand, and he said softly:

The money is enough to express our goodwill. You see, Mr. Tobion, as a senior figure in the engineer industry, I think you should also stand up and speak out. The development of artificial intelligence is beneficial to the world.

But it's dangerous.

The little girl standing beside Tobion suddenly interjected:

The view that science and technology should allow mankind to progress is correct. When the advancement of science and technology does not mean that it must first be reflected in the innovation of weapon systems

Oh, this is Miss Brigitte?

Merlin interrupted the little girl's words, he turned to look at Brigitte, and said:

Little girl, I would love to discuss such topics with you, but please be polite now, I am talking to your father.

Brigitte was embarrassed by Merlin's words. The girl turned her head angrily and pouted her lips, as if she had begun to hate Merlin.

Hey you, be polite to my daughter!

The old engineer's fiery temper came up. He pointed at Merlin and said:

My daughter means what I mean, take your stinky money away, I will not sell arms for you on the platform, I know better than anyone what will happen once the existing weapon system is intelligentized It's such a hassle, honestly, I don't trust you guys either.

Oh, it turns out that the arms dealer who makes money from the dead also has a kind heart.

Merlin was not angry, he just said softly:

Unfortunately, it seems that our views have conflicted, but that's okay, I still welcome both of you to this seminar Hill, why don't you show Miss Brigitte around? She is such a talented young man People should make more friends with outstanding colleagues, such as Mr. Tony Stark.

Merlin took out his pocket watch, looked at the time, and said to Old Torbion and his beautiful daughter:

Okay, it's time for me to leave, I wish you two a good time.

My baby girl, remember to stay away from that Tony Stark.

After watching Merlin leave, old Tobion said to his daughter:

That guy's brain is full of white liquid, don't go near him, go talk to Mr. Reed, don't you admire him?

Um.

Little Brigitte, who followed her father to participate in this world-class gathering of smart people for the first time, looked very excited. She quickly got acquainted with Hill, and called her sister affectionately, which made Hill feel very good.

So Hill used his position to bring the little girl to Reed's rest room, fulfilling her expectation of meeting her idol.

But soon, the two began to discuss mechanics that Hill couldn't understand at all, and Ms. Agent became boring again.

And Tobion himself, holding a glass of wine, came to the end of the banquet hall leisurely. He stood beside George who was talking to Ms. Moira, and stretched out the engineering mechanical arm of his left hand. Knocking on the hover chair, he said:

Hey buddy, you have a nice chair, do you sell it?

George, whose flirting was interrupted, turned his head and glanced at old Torbion, he said:

Your arm looks good too, are you selling it?

On the other side, Merlin pushed open the door of Bruce's lounge, only to see that Bruce was talking to Thalia who appeared here out of nowhere. He didn't disturb the communication between the couple and quietly backed out. It turned out that in the corridor, a big bald man wearing a black stand collar sweater and windbreaker was looking at him while holding a wine glass.

Merlin Riley?

Lex Luthor?

The two called each other's name at the same time, and then they held hands together.

I have long admired your name, Mr. Luther.

Merlin said to the bald head in front of him:

I personally appreciate your analysis report on the prospect of artificial intelligence, and I think we should have the same point of view on omnics.

I don't think you can read that report.

The big bald man shrugged, and he smiled at Merlin:

But you are right, Director Merlin, we do share the same point of view, and I personally appreciate your contribution in the war against the Cybertronians. This world belongs to humans, and our civilization does not need The intervention of external forces can also be very good and develop benignly. From this point of view, we can indeed become friends.

Wow, you're so merciless.

Merlin smiled, pushed his glasses, and said to Luthor:

I like to make friends with straightforward people. Speaking of which, what do you think of omnics?

They have to be contained, there's no question about that.

Luther took a sip of his wine and said to Merlin:

I plan to set up a company dedicated to the research of omnics. If there is official support, I am willing to be the first batch of experimenters to use omnic workers. I am also a businessman and occasionally pursue profits.

A company? Great idea.

Merlin looked around and lowered his voice:

Why don't you go bigger and join forces with others to form a consortium and build a multinational company specializing in artificial intelligence and mechanical products? We will cooperate with you to turn the threat of omnics into a A more peaceful concept, to allow them to integrate into this world more smoothly. Well, it can be tax-free to the maximum.

interesting.

Luther nodded, a ray of light danced on his bald head, and he said to Merlin:

I'm interested, but I'll have to wait until the workshop is over.

Well, we'll have a little reception then.

Merlin says:

do not be late.

After speaking, he turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by Luther.

Director Merlin, I have a personal question for you.

The big bald head stood where he was, and he asked softly:

What do you think of aliens who have lived on the earth for a long time?

oh?

Merlin turned around and said to Luthor:

Are there aliens on Earth? Isn't this world full of Earthlings? Racism is a stupid argument, Mr. Luthor.

All right.

Luther shrugged, raised his glass towards Merlin, and said with a smile:

It seems that we also have a common language on this point.

Well, then we're friends.

Merlin waved to Luthor, he said:

Let's go, the seminar is about to start. To be honest, a person like me standing in the crowd of smart people like you is almost dazzled by the light of wisdom you radiate. I have nine out of ten sentences they said. I don’t understand, it’s really a headache.”

Only a bombastic person likes to show his superiority with unintelligible language.

Luther walked up to Merlin, and he said to Merlin:

If you want, I can explain to you, in a language you can understand, that everything they say is nothing but stupid theories that will never come true.

A trace of disdain flashed in Lex Luthor's eyes, and he said softly:

A real wise man will not participate in such low-level discussions.

Are you wise, Luther.

Merlin and Luther walked into the elevator, and he asked:

You've been talking to people so directly, but haven't you ever been beaten?

I am, and I never hide it.

Luther smiled casually:

There are many people who want to beat me up, but so far, no one has been able to do it. As for the disgust, jealousy and slander

Let them go, it's not my time to waste anyway.

At this moment, the light above Luther's head in the elevator was so dazzling that Merlin had to turn his head.

Oh, I'm really going to be blinded by this brilliant light of wisdom.