Chapter 74: Sowing Discord_1

This era, due to technology sharing and planned systems, has made the management of these devices even stricter.

All resources must be planned uniformly, and production must also be distributed in a unified manner. Technology can be shared, but it must be under the control of the PDC or the government.

The Wallfacer had the greatest authority in terms of investigation. Lin Sen always maintained the right to investigate all information worldwide; only through both intentional and unintentional investigation could he obtain results.

Dealing with the ETO, only inadvertent discoveries could be fatal; any deliberate action could be known to them.

After all, with weapons like Sophon, they would be aware of Lin Sen's every move.

Time waits for no one; the plan needed to be implemented. As for the success of this plan, it all depended on fate. A ten percent certainty was enough to give everything.

Lin Sen had begun preparing four years ago for today.

Even four years ago, Lin Sen had faintly identified a person, and over the past few months, he had become eighty percent certain through both intentional and unintentional confirmation.

Once the Sophon robots were manufactured, it would be as if the Trisolarans had truly arrived on Earth, and the scope for Trisolaran manipulation would expand exponentially.

(Lin Sen did not know about the Smartmachines plan; not that he couldn't think of it, but because he believed the Trisolarans would not use this plan.

Because the plan was foolish and dangerous. If Lin Sen had known that the Trisolarans would use this plan, he would certainly have modified his own most significant future plan to align with that of the Trisolarans.

He had not anticipated that the Trisolarans had such a naive understanding of war, which meant he had overestimated the Trisolarans.)

Lin Sen's daily life consisted of three things: instigating against the ETO, thinking, and investigating. Ever since he arrived in this world, it had always been like this.

Like the chance conversation with Logic about how human technology was limited by computing power, which then led to a discussion about Keiko Yamasuki's research on non-von Neumann computers.

The discussion moved from computers to photolithography machines, and then casually status of all computing resources, as well as how many photolithography resources were available globally, he had all relevant data prepared.

There were many similar investigations; most were meant to confuse the Trisolarans, but each had to be justified and followed up with subsequent results.

The movements of Lin Sen and Logic were erratic and often included visits to scenic spots as tourists, with entirely random actions.

The Trisolarans were puzzled by Lin Sen's behavior, but they didn't realize anything; Lin Sen always kept them guessing.

As a result of his provocation, the ETO would become increasingly wary of the Trisolarans, and much of the intelligence Lin Sen passed on contributed to the ETO missing their last chance.

...

Meanwhile, Lin Sen and Logic came to a place of clear mountains and water where Lin Sen decided to still cause a significant problem for the ETO.

Finding a grassy spot to sit down, Logic had been somewhat depressed, even anxious.

Lin Sen, "The scenery here is quite nice, I see you're not in a good mood. Are you missing them?

I've been taking you around these days to distract you, just to help you relax."

Logic, "Ah... Wumu, I really miss them. I wish I could go directly to the doomsday to see them.

As beautiful as this scenery is, the people within it are what I cherish.

Yet in this era, only we remain..."

Lin Sen joked, "Stop there, here we go again. You weren't like this during your teenage angst years."

Logic, "Cut it out, you're the one who's being a teenager. Maybe that was the time when we were most free-spirited, huh?"

Lin Sen, "Each person's life is different, but the majority of people see the same scenes; what's key is how we choose to view them.

Our attitude is the key to whether the scenery is beautiful. We will face many responsibilities and regrets in our lives,

but facing them positively will reveal that the journey's vistas are as they were when first encountered.

What settles in the end is the heart's abode."

Logic, "The teenage angst is kicking in again, right?"

Lin Sen, "Speaking of teenage angst, I suddenly remember, do you recall

the European we met on our trip to Xi'an when we were young, who particularly admired the First Emperor of Qin?"

Logic knew Lin Sen must have some other objective upon hearing this; it was completely made up, as they had never encountered any European who admired the First Emperor of Qin.

Only Sophon was listening in, so this must have been for Sophon to hear.

Logic assisted in the ruse, "Yeah, I remember, why suddenly bring him up?"

Lin Sen, "I don't know why, but it felt like we belonged with him despite having just met, and we traveled to many places with him.

We shared many conversations with him; he was a man with stories.

Just like us, he felt lonely in his heart, misunderstood by the world.

He was about to turn thirty then, and we were still boys. I wonder how he's doing now."

Logic, "I wonder how he is, too. I've forgotten what he said back then?"

Lin Sen, "It's been too long. I remember he said his surname was Habsburg, a royal name that in ancient times represented the most powerful royal house in Europe.

I think I remember him saying, 'What humanity owes him, he will reclaim; what humanity has given to him, he will return, for the world has changed!'"

Logic, "Haha... now I remember, truly teenage-like."

Lin Sen, "Exactly, the more they pretend not to care, the more their hearts actually yearn.

We could feel his struggle; he probably saw us as youths and wanted someone to confide in, so he shared a lot with us.

His family suffered great losses targeted by the coalition during World War I, and afterward, they still endured suppression and plundering by various governments.

He said the person he admired the most was the First Emperor of Qin, because he was best at enduring. Enduring the insults from the Zhao People, his mother's betrayal, the suppression by his chancellor, and even the difficulties imposed by the eunuchs.

He remained hidden until he gained power, eliminating all his enemies, clearing all obstacles, and eventually 'swallowing miles of territory, overthrowing the six nations.'

Logic, "Staying hidden is no easy task!"

Lin Sen, "Right, he also said he specialized in researching computers and robots, for only robots could possibly help him achieve his goals.

When he left, he mentioned waiting for a certain opportunity.

He would make everyone witness his, and all would have to pay a price.

There's also a phrase we didn't understand, 'Even a change of rulers wouldn't stop him.'"

Logic, "Sigh... Just another pitiful soul. What's the use of being unwilling? Caught in the whirl of life, how could he ever break free?"

Lin Sen, "Sigh... I was just struck by a feeling, suddenly reminded of him.

Let it be...

Let's not talk about him, just a lonely, disappointed person.

We don't even know his full name, nor do we know his current whereabouts,

thinking too much is pointless."