Chapter 93 Establishing Contact_1

No. 7: "All of this can be deduced, indeed it was our plan, and also our showdown."

Lin Sen, "If I'm not mistaken, you also had a plan involving viruses, right?"

No. 7: "You know about that too. In fact, the Poison Plan has already been stopped.

The Smartmachines Project, that is, the Sophon robot project was sabotaged, and the Leader believes that the virus plan is no longer necessary.

Without quantum computers, ETO is not reliable, and we have also lost the foundation for the virus plan."

Lin Sen, "I presume these plans were all the brainchild of your predecessor, the Strategy Governor. He indeed was a respectable opponent."

No. 7: "He would be comforted by your praise, I imagine."

Lin Sen, "Your strategies were actually very good. Had it not been for my sudden strike, they certainly would have succeeded, even significantly delaying human development."

No. 7: "Yes, the former Strategy Governor was indeed great. I have sincerely answered all of your questions, yet you haven't answered why you are so knowledgeable about ETO."

No. 7 seemed determined to get an answer from Lin Sen, and this was also No. 7's pressure. If Lin Sen didn't answer, it would mean he was foregoing this dialogue. It had to be said that No. 7's application of strategy was progressively becoming adept, even employing negotiation skills more proficiently.

Lin Sen, "You really shouldn't be concerned about these issues. The established facts can no longer be changed.

"I can tell you the reason. I possess a special ability, allowing us to sense everything about ETO deep within our minds.

"They like to gaze at others from the shadows, but they shouldn't gaze at me. Their rat-like characteristics are too obvious, and I can smell them.

"To them, I am the abyss. When they gaze into the abyss, they should not forget that the abyss gazes back.

"They cannot see through me, but I can see right through them."

No. 7: "Indeed, you have the ability to infect the emotions of others. Our analysis is that you use suggestions, guidance, hypnosis, along with your precise analysis to infect others. We cannot discern the truth of this ability of yours as we have no related records."

Lin Sen didn't want to explain too much on this subject; maintaining a bit of mystery was better. He still planned to steer the conversation back to the topic he had just introduced.

He continued, "This is something you can slowly discern over time, but I think you should focus on how to enhance your own strategies.

"Just like the plan of your former Strategy Governor, it appears clever but is actually foolish.

"You likely will set up many mechanisms to prevent humans from accessing your technology, thinking that this war of attrition can hold back human development, but that's only what you think.

"I guess there have also been wars in your world, with both sides engaging in deceit. If the other side senses something fishy, they straightforwardly ask. So your main approach to warfare is to drain the opponent's resources, and that means victory.

"But applying this standard to human warfare is very foolish. You actually apply your own war model to a conflict between two different civilizations. It's fortunate I snuffed out this plan; otherwise, the loss to you would have been even greater.

"If human beings gradually adapt to warfare in the later stages of war, and you consider transferring higher technology, then there is a certain possibility that humans will acquire these technologies. What will you do then?

"Don't assume that destroying those technologies means humans are out of options. We've seen, we've engaged, so we can make it happen. Thought is something you absolutely cannot block.

"Don't think that with Sophon's surveillance, you can be invincible. This strike of mine should have made you understand that the blow will always come from where you least expect it. You cannot guard against it, and you will also end up training many excellent commanders who are adept at hiding.

"The key to the end of a war is humans, human faith, the wisdom that is omnipresent in humans -- all of which can be sublimated through warfare. Don't think that terrestrial warfare theory doesn't apply in space; it does because it is humans who apply it."

No. 7: "You are right, I have studied your development history, and war does drive the progress of the entire society.

Perhaps it is not a good plan after all! The First Emperor of Qin had similar sentiments."

Lin Sen, "Your transparent thinking, lack of imagination, and scarce resources; your absolute rationality is both your advantage and your disadvantage.

"The advantage increases your chances of survival, but the disadvantage is that it limits your thinking and the development of your science. Only by elevating your thinking can your technology make significant progress, and you are doing well in this aspect. Perhaps you truly are the hope for your civilization.

"One more thing you must remember, gambling is about disregarding all, even life and death, and requires resorting to every possible means.

"You and I are now in the midst of such a gamble. If you want victory, you must abandon everything, even fear.

"In a gamble that concerns the entire civilization, neither of us has the right to fear."

Perhaps now was the real time to firmly secure this "Sophon." Goodwill must be applied at critical points.

No. 7: "I will remember that!"

Lin Sen, "How should I contact you if I need to? Let's agree on a code, but when I say the code, it means I need to communicate with you about something."

No. 7: "Alright, the code will be 0... wait, you almost tricked me.

If there was a code, you could contact me.

No, to preserve myself to the utmost, I do not agree to you contacting me, or else I will be endlessly troubled."

Bluff successful! Even the smartest entity in Trisolaris is quite naive.

Perhaps the place in the universe most likely without a chain of suspicion is within the Trisolaran world.

Lin Sen, "Alright, let's use '007'. If I mention '007' in my speech, and you're monitoring, find a time to avoid others and respond."

No. 7: "You are shameless."

Lin Sen, "It has no impact on you. I can't tell if it's you or someone else monitoring me.

Whether you respond or not is up to you. It's all the same to me; this is the asymmetry for me."

No. 7: "Alright, shameless Mr. Poison Snake, don't contact me lightly."

Lin Sen, "You're becoming more like a human being, developing your own personality, which is correct. Personality is the beginning of strategy, and this is a good start.

"You should be the smartest person in the Trisolaran world. This is a great advancement for you, daring to face Mr. Poison Snake, daring to deal with the devil -- only someone like you could possibly lead your civilization to survive in the dark universe."

No. 7: "I hope this Mr. Poison Snake can bring wisdom to us.

The First Emperor of Qin and Mozi might be right, we should face you head-on."

Lin Sen, "Indeed, they might have seen that the complementarity of two civilizations may be the opportunity to adapt to the universe.

"We... have already begun!"