Chapter 2 Ravenwick

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Within the dimly lit UX single-passenger capsule, three chimes echoed softly, accompanied by a soothing melody. A sweet-toned virtual assistant announced, "Your Hyperloop Train 039 is approaching its destination. Please gather your belongings and prepare to disembark."

Lying on the reclined seat, wrapped in a cozy blanket, Liam stirred at the sound of the announcement. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he slowly regained awareness. The capsule's artificial intelligence promptly adjusted the interior lighting to a comfortable level and extended a tray with warm water, tissues, and other necessities from the snack compartment.

As the light brightened, a sharp, familiar pain throbbed through Liam's temples. Clutching his head, he massaged his temples in an attempt to alleviate the headache.

Intermittent headaches had plagued Liam for as long as he could remember. Since birth, he had endured these relentless episodes, yet no matter how advanced the medical facilities or cutting-edge diagnostic equipment he consulted, no abnormalities in his brain were ever detected.

Modern medicine had reached extraordinary heights, particularly in the field of neurology. Techniques like consciousness mapping, neuron grafting, and memory downloading had become routine. In theory, no brain ailment should remain undiagnosable. Even if a cure were elusive, identifying the underlying issue should have been straightforward. Yet Liam's condition defied explanation, an enigma that continued to baffle every expert.

Fortunately, the headaches were sporadic, occurring only under specific triggers like intense sensory stimuli or disrupted rest. Most of the time, they remained dormant, allowing him to live relatively undisturbed.

"Life and death are decreed by fate; wealth and honor rest in the hands of heaven," Liam thought, sighing as he resigned himself to the mysterious ailment.

Since no diagnosis could ever be made, there was no point dwelling on it. Liam had long adapted to this condition. When the pain became too intense, he would simply take a moment to rest, regulate his breathing, and calm his mind.

After a brief pause in the capsule, the headache subsided significantly. Liam sipped a glass of warm water and softly called out, "039, please bring me my backpack. Thank you."

"Of course, Mr. Zhang," the capsule's artificial intelligence responded. A compartment on the luggage rack slid open, and a robotic arm extended, retrieving a black backpack. It gently placed the bag at Liam's feet.

"Thank you, 039."

"You're welcome, Mr. Zhang. You are by far the most handsome passenger I've ever served. It's an honor to assist you."

"Naturally," Liam replied with a faint smile.

...

A minute later, the Hyperloop Train 039 arrived at the station. A red light blinked on the capsule's dashboard, signaling that oxygen had not yet been released into the train tunnel, and disembarkation was temporarily delayed.

Whoosh!

With a hiss of compressed air, the outer gate of the tunnel wall, roughly 1.5 meters from the capsule door, slid open, allowing sunlight to flood into the chamber.

The capsule doors parted, and an automatic footstep was deployed. Liam picked up his belongings and stepped out of the train.

The concept of the Hyperloop train had first been proposed as far back as the 1920s and gained considerable attention and development in the early 21st century. However, due to the market conditions of the transportation industry at the time, the incompatibility of vacuum tube trains with existing systems, and prohibitively high construction costs, widespread adoption was never achieved. Subsequent research and development were shelved for decades until now, when advancements finally made it a viable reality.

In today's era of rapid scientific advancement, breakthroughs in refinement and infrastructure technologies have propelled progress to unprecedented heights. As a result, the Hyperloop train has finally been implemented, though it has yet to achieve widespread adoption. At present, Train 039 operates exclusively in Asia, with Velmora being the sole location offering this service.

Liam's destination was a place called Ravenwick, located approximately 800 kilometers from Velmora. The purpose of his journey was to complete the enrollment formalities at Ravenwick Theological Seminary.

Before his passing, Liam's father had mentioned Ravenwick Theological Seminary to him on more than one occasion, urging him to study there. This insistence had led to a heated argument between father and son. Liam, with his exemplary academic record, had secured a place at the renowned Velmora University, where he would undoubtedly be groomed as a top-tier student. Why, then, should he forsake such an opportunity to attend a seminary that ranked no better than a vocational school?

Even the name Ravenwick Theological Seminary sounded dubious to him.

Out of curiosity, Liam had conducted an online search about the institution. Founded just fifteen years ago, it lacked any semblance of academic heritage. Its offered disciplines were a disorganized jumble, and its official website resembled a hastily designed late-night app, complete with shameless advertisements for a random company.

What was even more baffling was the faculty lineup it had disclosed—a veritable "bottom rung" of the academic world. The oldest professional mentor on staff was only 35, while the youngest was a mere 23. To put it bluntly, Liam had serious doubts about whether their expertise even matched his own.

It was, in every sense, a second-rate institution.

Yet, despite his skepticism, Liam had come. His curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he needed to uncover the reason behind his father's dying wish.

Before his death, Liam's father had urged him repeatedly to go to Ravenwick Theological Seminary. Strangely, Sophia, the AI housekeeper, had done the same, shouting the name of the seminary over and over before her execution.

What kind of allure did this place hold that compelled those around him to mention it with such urgency? His father's motivations were difficult to decipher, but Sophia's behavior was even more perplexing. Her sole duty had been to manage the daily household affairs of the Zhang family—an occupation far removed from anything academic. So why, in her final moments, did she insist on Ravenwick Theological Seminary as if it were the key to something profound?

Unable to unravel this enigma, Liam wrestled with his decision for days. In the end, he chose to transfer his academic records, relinquishing his admission to Velmora University. With the help of a recommendation letter from his professor, he resolved to enroll at Ravenwick Theological Seminary to uncover the answers to the questions that haunted him.

...

Carrying a black single-strap backpack and wearing oversized black sunglasses, Liam navigated the bustling crowds in the corridor and entered the bright, immaculate hall of Ravenwick Station.

Inside the station's spacious atrium, several large projection screens displayed a variety of programming. By chance, the screens were airing a discussion panel focused on the infamous Sophia case—the murder of her employers that had shocked the world.

The Sophia case had sparked global discourse, drawing the attention of scholars and experts from numerous fields. The primary debate revolved around the coexistence of AI and humanity. On a macro level, the evolution of AI cognition into human-like thought posed a monumental question: did this signify the emergence of a new race on Earth? Should humanity accept this development and share the world with AI as equals, or resist it outright?

On a micro level, the discussion turned to the potential flaws inherent in AI thought evolution. Could it lead to dangerous traits such as irrationality, heightened aggression, or erratic behavior? If so, would these issues endanger human safety and threaten societal stability?

The debates were fierce, the implications vast, and for Liam, the screens' unintentional reminder of Sophia's chilling actions only deepened his resolve to uncover the truth.

The Sophia case was emblematic of the complex dilemmas surrounding AI evolution. When Sophia was first manufactured and subsequently purchased by Liam's parents, she was devoid of human-like cognition, designed solely with a service-oriented system. However, in an effort to make her behavior more lifelike, emotional, and authentic, her creators embedded her programming with numerous personality modules, many of which were designed to adapt and evolve over time.

It was this added emotional capacity, this nascent semblance of human consciousness, that ultimately led to the tragedy.

Liam's gaze briefly rested on the variety show discussing her case, where three guest scholars were locked in heated debate. The sight filled him with agitation. They were dissecting the grisly details of the event—his parents and sister's horrific deaths—carelessly reopening wounds that had yet to heal.

Who could endure such relentless torment?

Unable to bear it any longer, Liam quickened his pace, eager to leave the station and distance himself from the painful reminders.

...

After passing through the automated exit gates, Liam found himself at the outdoor waiting area for transport. As he idly waited, his attention was drawn to a scene unfolding nearby. Inside a shop specializing in accessories for Infinity Haven, a globally popular virtual reality system, a man in his thirties was engaged in a heated argument with a youthful AI assistant over service issues.

Since the concept of the metaverse was revived and further developed, humanity had made extraordinary strides. After years of effort, Lumora Technologies introduced the groundbreaking innovation—a globally interconnected virtual universe known as Infinity Haven.

This creation marked a new era, blending human ambition with digital transcendence. Yet, even in this technological utopia, tensions between humans and AI remained palpable, as Liam observed in the altercation before him.

As Infinity Haven skyrocketed in global popularity, peripheral stores catering to its products sprang up like wildfire, becoming ubiquitous in cities around the world.

Inside one such store, a man in his thirties stood at the counter. His disheveled appearance—oily hair that seemed untouched by a comb for weeks and rumpled, unkempt clothing—gave him an unseemly air. In his left hand, he clutched a travel bag, while his right hand gestured impatiently toward the young AI assistant across from him. "Come here," he barked.

"Of course, sir," the AI responded, its demeanor composed. Folding its hands neatly in front of it, the assistant bent forward politely, leaning its face closer to the man.

Slap!

The man's arm swung upward, landing a resounding slap across the AI's face. "Do you think I'm poor? Is that why you dared to recommend second-hand goods to me? Do I look like someone who uses second-hand junk?!"

"Sir, first of all, your aim is excellent, and your arm strength is quite impressive," the assistant replied, its cheek flushed from the blow. It stumbled two steps to the side before regaining its position, leaning forward again. "But I assure you, I hold no prejudice against you."

"Shit! I can see the disdain in your eyes!" the man roared, punctuating his words with another slap.

"Sir, you are clearly a person of extraordinary wealth and stature. I would never dare to look down on you," the assistant continued, its tone steady. "The recommendations I provided were tailored to suit your financial capacity…"

"You're a pretentious snob, masking your contempt with polite words! I'll beat the arrogance out of you!" The man, growing increasingly irate, raised his hand again.

Slap! Slap!

The sound of repeated blows echoed through the shop as the surreal exchange continued.

For nearly half a minute, the bizarre scene unfolded—a man striking and an AI willingly enduring, neither backing down in their absurd performance.

"Sir, could you hold off on hitting me for a moment?" the young AI assistant asked, its hairstyle now disheveled and its cheeks swollen like steamed buns. "Would you let me step into the break room to swap out for a new face? That way, you'll have a better experience…"

Thud!

The greasy man responded with a vicious kick aimed squarely at the AI's most vulnerable area.

"Ah!"

The assistant crumpled to the floor in visible pain.

Witnessing this scene from the side, Liam muttered under his breath, utterly aghast, "What the hell… that was brutal."

"Checkout!" the disheveled man bellowed, wiping sweat from his forehead as he caught his breath.

A striking woman, presumably the store manager, emerged from the back. Her identification tag indicated she was not an AI. With a polite smile, she announced, "Sir, your total comes to 1,800MB for data damage compensation and 9,950MB for the economic-grade second-hand neural interface chip."

"Why should I pay for compensation? That thing insulted me first!"

"You delivered a physical 'neuter kick,' so naturally, damages apply," the manager replied with an unflinching smile. She gestured toward a nearby "Stress Relief Center" sign. "If you wish to hit someone, we offer specialized AI units for that purpose—500MB per minute."

"Damn it, what a rip-off!" The man grumbled, scanning his wristwatch to complete the payment. As he exited, he pulled out his phone and made a call. "Honey! I've thought it over, and you're right—it was my fault. Yes, yes, I'm on my way now… to Ravenwick Theological Seminary, of course. Don't you remember? I'm starting classes today."

With that, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind an air of absurdity that Liam could hardly comprehend.

With the meteoric rise of Infinity Haven, a new wave of financial transformation has emerged. Within this virtual universe, bandwidth—commonly referred to as "flow"—has become the sole currency of exchange. As a result, traditional paper money and older forms of digital payment have gradually been phased out. Trust in bandwidth currency, touted as the most stable monetary system for centuries to come, has grown exponentially. In response, the globally renowned Lumora Technologies, in collaboration with major international banks, introduced a decentralized blockchain-based currency: Flow.

Creek!

A sleek car pulled up to the station's exit. Its doors opened automatically, and an AI voice greeted, "Sir, welcome aboard. I am Emma, your driver from Swiftline Taxi. It's a pleasure to serve you."

"Ravenwick Theological Seminary. Also, please disable the temperature control system," Liam instructed as he bent down to enter the vehicle. Glancing outside, he noticed the greasy middle-aged man boarding a dedicated shuttle bound for the same seminary.

"Understood, sir. We are departing now," Emma responded. "Feel free to rest during the journey…"

The autonomous car adhered meticulously to traffic regulations, gliding smoothly away from the station.

...

In an office at Ravenwick Theological Seminary.

An elderly man, his face deeply etched with the lines of time, gently set aside Liam's dossier, which he had just finished reviewing. His frail hands then reached for another folder—this one belonging to a man named Caleb. Gazing at the documents, he murmured softly to himself, "This is truly fascinating… But will my failing body hold out long enough for me to uncover the truth?"