[Mercer: Hmm...]
Mercer isn't entirely sure if this is a great direction, but he does think it might indeed be one possible path for the future of humans and AI.
When AI can operate with a human body, possessing a human brain and body, can they become 'more human'?
When humans completely abandon their bodies, upload data, and become consciousness entities, what kind of experience will that be?
Which one is the future of humanity… for others, this is a dangerous topic, but for Mercer, he feels this is an inevitable path.
Even without encountering any danger, he believes that someday he will try to digitize his consciousness—this is to unlock the secrets long buried within him.
When he is human, he can have abundant emotions while also occasionally entering a calm and powerful state like AI.
So, when he's a consciousness entity, will he become rational like Ultraman, to the extent of not seeming human? Or can he also have human-like emotions and thoughts?
These questions have always been buried in Mercer's heart, and he knows he must face them someday. If he can't figure out where he came from and what secrets he still holds...
What if one day he suddenly returns? What if one day his body suddenly mutates and his genes collapse? What if...
These worries have always existed in his mind, sometimes making it impossible for him to give an accurate response to those around him, even making him unsure of where his future is headed.
He can only keep moving forward, afraid to even take a breath, fearing that an unexpected situation will arise and leave him without the chance to change the world and the fate of those around him.
To this day, Mercer still wonders, if he suddenly disappears, would the fate of others change because of it?
"Hey." V's voice brought him back to reality.
She stared at Mercer, frowning: "What's going on? Is there a problem at Hansen's place?"
"No, just zoned out suddenly." Mercer pulled his thoughts back, smiled, and shook his head.
He suddenly asked: "I'm thinking of giving you guys a break for a while if nothing unexpected happens. I don't plan on taking any risky jobs in the short term, just quietly developing... What do you plan to do?"
"Me?" V pondered for a moment: "Exercise a bit every day, polish my skills, go out with Rebecca, have a few drinks with Jack, or go find Old Wei to drink beer and watch boxing matches?"
"You know... after suddenly not being so short of money, I actually don't know what to do." V rarely showed a few thoughtful expressions.
She lamented: "In the past, life was exhausting just trying to fill our bellies, and every night before bed I was thinking about what to eat tomorrow, and once I'm full, I had to think about where the next meal would come from...
I used to think about getting a luxury car, a mansion, and having people call me Sister V wherever I go...
But now I don't have to worry about a place to live, I can afford a car, and we've done so many big things, we're considered a big shot at Rebirth..."
V shook her head and laughed: "It seems like all that's left is saving money for retirement... But seeing you so energetic, I don't know when I'll actually see that retirement day.
Anyway, hanging out with you is quite exciting, and there's no worry about having nothing to do. You plan all the short-term and long-term goals, I just need to charge forward, which is quite good."
Mercer nodded, then leaned on his side face, placing a single hand symbolically on the steering wheel: "Saving for retirement... in this world, that's not a small goal."
"Who says it's not... so you have to make money well, I'm waiting for my dividend—you earn several million, just give me a few hundred thousand."
She said with a smiling face, and Mercer could only chuckle: "Looks like we still have plenty to keep us busy."
The two chatted and laughed, showing no signs of tension when the car reached the familiar Dog Town entrance, entering the security checkpoint. As the scanning light swept over the car, an eye-catching red light suddenly lit up.
The checkpoint's fold-out turret rose automatically, and the underground barricades suddenly elevated, trapping Mercer's car in the checkpoint. Several heavily armed Netherworld Dog soldiers immediately raised their weapons.
"Get out! Submit to inspection!"
A Netherworld Dog shouted harshly while Mercer calmly rolled down the window: "I'm guessing you guys got the message. Where is Hansen? Just lead the way."
"..." The Netherworld Dog soldiers exchanged glances, then a rather burly-looking soldier stepped out from the checkpoint.
This man wore a high-grade nano-tight suit, which not only boasts excellent bulletproof functions but also enhances muscle strength to a certain extent.
Mercer had seen it in the Military Science sales manual, but it's expensive and not available for sale to the public.
In addition to the tight suit, the man also wore a layer of nano-bulletproof clothing. His muscles filled the tight suit, and although he wasn't tall, his presence was imposing.
His outfit was in the classic Netherworld Dog yellow-green color scheme, and on top of that, he even sported a facial tattoo—his skin from the nose to the forehead reflected the Netherworld Dog colors, with prosthetic eyes glowing faintly yellow, adjusted to resemble beast pupils.