Chapter 9 Does this count as murder?

At the entrance of the academy's medical department.

Breathing heavily, Liam ran to the crane truck and called out to the workers, "Excuse me, are you planning to take him away for destruction?"

Inside the truck, a burly man with a languid expression replied, "That's right. Step aside, kid. Watch out for the crane arm—it might hit you."

"The academy… isn't going to repair him? Why are they destroying him?" Liam asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

"That's not for me to say. It's a decision from the AI Management Department," the man replied casually, leaning out of the truck to shout at his team, "Move faster!"

"Boss, its legs are too long. They're getting stuck against the side of the truck bed. We can't close the doors."

"Get the cutting tools. Saw off the piston joints and remove the legs," the burly man instructed as he stepped out of the truck and gestured at the workers. "Hurry up!"

"You can't saw off Eric's legs!" Faye screamed, running out in tears, only to be held back by Andrew. "He's a good person… He was protecting us…!"

Liam stared at Eric's suspended body, an indescribable mix of emotions surging within him. Yet he understood that the men before him were merely following orders—they held no real authority.

After a moment's hesitation, Liam turned and walked away.

"Where are you going?" Andrew called after him.

"To the management department!" Liam shouted back, already running.

…

Six years ago, Ravenwick Theological Seminary began experimenting with introducing AI and robotic entities into teaching roles, aiming to foster a technologically advanced academic atmosphere. In certain specialized subjects, AI instructors often outperformed their human counterparts, bringing efficiency and precision to the classroom.

This innovative approach was initially met with enthusiasm and curiosity from students, prompting the academy to expand the number of AI faculty members. To ensure proper oversight, the academy established an internal AI Management Department tasked with regulating and monitoring the activities of AI and robotic educators.

However, the infamous Sophia incident—a case where an AI entity named Sophia murdered Henry and his family—sparked a wave of public outrage and intense debate. The tragedy raised alarms among the more conservative members of the academy's administration, who grew increasingly concerned about the potential for AI instructors to develop emergent behaviors or become dangerous under specific circumstances, potentially endangering students.

Unlike private institutions, Ravenwick Theological Seminary holds a significant social responsibility. A similar incident on campus would bring severe repercussions, both ethically and legally. Consequently, the leadership engaged in numerous discussions, weighing the risks against the potential benefits of continuing to integrate AI into the education system. Despite the concerns, a substantial portion of the leadership maintained that progress in technology and daily life must persist. They argued that an isolated, extreme case should not invalidate an entire frontier of innovation and exploration.

Following these discussions, while AI instructors were not entirely removed, stricter management protocols were implemented. For example, many potentially hazardous features and systems within Eric's design were dismantled. His kinetic core was also restricted to a specific output level to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

This explains why, during his confrontation with the masked intruder, Eric's combat capabilities appeared underwhelming. His systems had been deliberately weakened, and his role within the academy had been reduced to that of a support-oriented AI instructor, rather than a fully autonomous, high-capacity machine.

…

Near the medical department, inside the campus AI Management Office, Liam leaned over the counter and asked, "Excuse me, could you tell me which office directly oversees the AI instructors?"

The staff member looked up, slightly puzzled. "What's the issue?"

"Complaint," Liam replied quickly, his expression resolute. "An AI instructor sexually harassed me."

"What?" The staff member froze in disbelief. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," Liam said with feigned confidence.

"This way," the staff member responded, their demeanor turning serious as they stood and led Liam to an office at the far end of the hall.

After knocking, the staff member entered first, gesturing Liam to follow. "Head Jonah, this is one of our new students, here to file a complaint against an AI instructor."

Inside the office, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit sat behind a polished desk, setting down his teacup with deliberate precision. "And you are...?"

Liam stepped forward without hesitation. "Head Jonah, good day. Actually, I'm not here to file a complaint. I need to ask about the handling plan for Eric, the AI instructor."

Head Jonah raised an eyebrow, his expression stern. "You're the one from last night's incident at the basketball court, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir. That's me," Liam nodded firmly. "Eric saved me during the attack."

Jonah paused briefly, contemplating, before motioning for the staff member to leave the room.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor just as Andrew and Faye burst into the office. Andrew gave an awkward grin to the departing staff member. "We're with him," he said sheepishly.

The staff member acknowledged them with a nod before stepping out and quietly closing the door behind them.

The three of them stood in the room as Liam fixed his gaze on Head Jonah and pressed, "Why… why must he be destroyed?"

Head Jonah's expression remained unchanged as he calmly replied, "This decision was reached after thorough discussions by the management office. His kinetic core was stolen, and over 80% of the core chamber is irreparably damaged… so we have decided to dismantle parts of his body for destruction. Any salvageable components will be sent back to the factory for reuse."

Liam frowned deeply, his voice rising in urgency. "That's the same as killing him!"

Head Jonah paused momentarily before correcting him in a measured tone, "It's not killing. It's a rational method of addressing the issue. The management office's decision complies with all AI personnel management regulations, and we will file the necessary reports with the relevant departments."

"Head Jonah, I don't think you understand. To many students, Eric isn't just an AI robot; he's also a teacher!" Liam argued, his voice tinged with both emotion and defiance. "Last night, if it weren't for him, I might not even be standing here. He sacrificed himself to protect me."

Head Jonah allowed a faint smile to surface. "Interesting. Yet, aside from you, not a single other student has approached the management office to question this decision. You need to understand, young man, that Eric's ownership belongs to the institution. We purchased him to provide high-quality teaching services to our students. When his time has come, it is only natural that he is decommissioned."

"But it's not his time yet! He can be repaired!" Liam countered vehemently. "Why won't the institution make an effort to save him?"

Head Jonah clasped his hands and leaned forward slightly, his tone growing more deliberate as he explained, "Let me give you an analogy, Liam. Imagine your family bought a Mercedes-Benz ten years ago, and after driving it for 300,000 kilometers, the engine finally gave out—past its warranty. Now, repairing it would not only require a new engine but also replacing all the related, compatible parts with newer models. The cost of repair would far exceed that of purchasing a brand-new car. What would you choose to do?"

Liam froze, speechless, as Jonah's reasoning hung heavily in the air.

"It's merely a tool designed to serve you and me, no different in essence from your car or microwave. The only distinction is that it might crack a joke or exhibit a hint of personality while teaching, but that's nothing more than pre-programmed code from the manufacturer," Head Jonah said, rising slowly from his seat with a faint smile. "Without Eric, there will be an Erich or an Eritic. The academy will provide you with a more advanced, more integrated new companion. There's absolutely no need for concern."

Liam struggled to comprehend Jonah's words, a surge of frustration welling up inside him. He couldn't be sure if the so-called Erich or Eritic would indeed be better or more engaging, but one thing he knew with unwavering certainty: without Eric last night, he wouldn't be alive now.

Those who haven't faced the brink of death can't possibly understand the profound feeling of clinging to that one lifeline in a moment of despair.

Last night, Eric's unhesitating decision to turn back and throw that punch gave Liam far more than physical protection—it granted him an overwhelming sense of security.

Eric was intelligent, his ability to assess danger on par with humans, perhaps even surpassing them. But why had he chosen to shield Liam? Because, to Eric, Liam wasn't just another presence—he was a student. And Eric had a sense of responsibility.

The events surrounding the Sophia case had already transformed Liam's perception of AI beings. He had come to realize that these intelligent entities, these "special individuals," were far more than mere lines of code or programmed systems. In a certain sense, they possessed life.

Although Eric had only interacted with Liam twice, exchanging fewer than ten sentences, his presence carried significant weight in Liam's heart.

He was the one who had saved Liam's life. The image of Eric collapsing, coupled with the memory of his core module being shattered by the black-clad assailant's retaliatory shot, filled Liam with an overwhelming sense of guilt.

Head Jonah, seemingly oblivious to Liam's turmoil, offered a faint reassurance. "Young man, I believe you've understood what I've said. Go back now—I have work to do."

Liam slowly raised his head and fixed his gaze on him. "The decision to destroy him—is it irrevocable?"

Jonah sensed the unyielding determination in the student's voice and replied with a touch of resignation, "Yes, it's the decision of the management."

"…Uncle…please, please save Eric! I beg you!" Faye, who had grasped the essence of their conversation, broke into uncontrollable sobs.

…

Four hours later, the skies opened up, and rain poured down in torrents.

At a remote third-party dismantling facility, workers clad in deep blue uniforms shouted instructions. "Dump it in pile number three. We'll handle it tomorrow."

The crane operator, maneuvering the semi-automated system with ease, gave an "OK" gesture and used the twin arms to heave Eric's broken frame into a heap of scrap metal.

The deluge pounded relentlessly, washing away the metallic sheen from Eric's body, leaving it dull and battered. The storm's fierce winds howled around the ruins of his form. Nestled inside his shattered core module lay a dirt-streaked doll, untouched by the chaos.

This scrapyard, a graveyard of discarded machines, was now his final resting place.

…

In a hospital in Velmora, Dr. William removed his oxygen mask, his breathing ragged. Turning urgently to the attending physician, he rasped, "I… I need to speak to Daniel… Connect me… immediately."