When the system finished reading Morton's diary, it sighed:

This is not like a diary, but more like a memoir.

Morton was forever trapped on the day Nebert died.

Even though he did a lot of things afterward, he still couldn't get over it.

Host, what are your thoughts on Morton's situation?

Han Ling sighed softly:

"Kindness is a choice. Morton and Bennett chose to be good people, and I admire their courage."

But the dividing line between good and evil is virtual.

Death is the only real thing.

Morton made an unforgivable mistake.

Even if those 300,000 male insects deserved to die, the males that followed should not be implicated.

The system analyzed Han Ling's words, recorded them in the database, and then asked:

[Host, if you and Roderick were in this situation, what would you do?]

Will you make the same choice as Morton?

Han Ling thought for a moment and said:

"No, in the hearts of the Yao Clan, one's partner comes first."

Faced with the first choice, I would choose to stay at home with Roderick and not risk returning to Aphrodite.

The subsequent difficulties naturally cease to exist.

The system remained silent for a while, then pressed for an answer:

What if Roderick insists on going?

Han Ling smiled helplessly:

“I have no connection with anyone else, but I am responsible to Roderick, and if he goes, I will go with him.”

As for our final fate, I cannot predict it.

Human effort can make a difference. I won't be like Morton, unreservedly spreading goodwill, nor will I fantasize every day that I am a savior who can save everyone.

Perhaps after rescuing them, I'll hide away with Roderick somewhere else and do some fun things.

Han Ling's last words caused the system to crash again.

The system said:

[The host's words are too profound; let me analyze them.]

After the system left, Han Ling had no one to chat with. He sat listlessly in his chair, waiting for the meeting to continue.

After a while.

Harrison, the head of the development planning center, finally put down his computer and looked up.

Harrison's lips trembled with excitement as he said:

"Your Excellency Han Ling, we have discovered a pattern!"

Female insects capable of awakening the Yao Clan possess the following characteristics.

The first characteristic is that they are all female soldiers.

The second characteristic is that they have all read your novels and played the game you produced.

The third characteristic is that the descriptions of these female insects all indicate that they have recently engaged in vigorous activity.

Beside him, Layton, the head of the Zerg Technology Center, adjusted his glasses and added:

"In fact, these three patterns have one thing in common: they can mobilize the female insect's pheromones and keep the hormone levels at a high level for a period of time."

As for whether the pheromones have reached their extreme value, I cannot say for sure; testing is required before a conclusion can be drawn.

Han Ling nodded:

"Yes, your analysis is pretty much what I was thinking. I'll leave the matter of awakening the Yao Clan to you from now on."

If you need my cooperation, just let me know.

However, I'm on Aphrodite, so it might be inconvenient for me to contact you. If you need anything, just contact Parsons, the president of Lingtian Company. I'll give him instructions.

Upon hearing this, Harrison looked at Han Ling gratefully and said:

"Thank you for your understanding. The future of the Zerg remains precarious."

Therefore, the male insects can only continue to stay on Aphrodite.

However, the monthly tasks for male insects might be cancelled to give them a rest.

Han Ling nodded, stood up, and grabbed Bern Mountain's arm, lifting him up as well.

"Well, I've finished speaking, so I won't bother you any longer. You can continue your discussion, and I'll take Bern Mountain back to get some sleep."

The fact that these female insects have gathered together means they must have something else to discuss.

With the sudden appearance of the Yao Clan, this meeting simply wouldn't be finished in less than two or three days.

Han Ling is not currently qualified to participate in the Zerg's future planning.

So he wisely left.

As they walked out of the conference room, Han Ling and Bern Shan were escorted by the female soldiers all the way back to the villa.

Bern Hill breathed a sigh of relief as the villa door closed.

He collapsed onto the doormat, still shaken, and said:

"Boss, didn't you say that bringing me along would be useful? I've been mentally preparing myself for this."

"What have you prepared?" Han Ling asked as she took off her shoes, walked to the living room, picked up her casual clothes from the sofa, and changed out of the clothes she had worn outside.

Bern Hill sniffed:

"I'm prepared to sacrifice myself as cannon fodder."

My initial assumption was that those high-ranking female insects, having taken a liking to your mental strength, were preparing to do unspeakable things to you in the conference room.

You brought me along because you wanted me to share the burden with you.

I'm ready to sink with you.

Bern Mountain's words left Han Ling both amused and exasperated.

"Then I should thank you for being willing to sacrifice so much for me."

After changing into his pajamas, Han Ling sat on the sofa and began checking his personal computer.

Now that something has happened on Aphrodite, the mainframe has removed the isolation net in order to appease the male and female insects.

Now, the male insects can use their optical computers normally and enter the StarNet.

Bern Mountain leaned closer and asked curiously:

"Boss, what do you need to investigate?"

Han Ling activated the do-not-disturb mode and waved to him:

"Go play somewhere else, find something you enjoy doing, and don't bother me."

Bern Hill pouted: "Fine, then I'll go find something to do myself."

Han Ling nodded haphazardly, then listened intently to the voice coming from the quantum computer.

The owner of that voice was Harrison, a member of the cicada clan.

As Han Ling was leaving, she suddenly stood up. A ring she had prepared beforehand fell onto the carpet and was then kicked under the conference table by Han Ling.

This ring became a signal receiver for the system, capable of transmitting meeting content to Han Ling.

Although Han Ling didn't want to get involved in the Zerg's affairs, the Zerg had too many secrets that could explode at any time, so he needed to be on guard at all times.

Every female insect at the conference table looked preoccupied.

Although King Cromwell appeared calm, his legs trembled occasionally, revealing his anxiety.

And then there are the alien races that the Zerg are involved with.

Aurora life, silicon-based life—just thinking about it sends chills down your spine.

Where did all these bizarre and strange-looking creatures come from?!

Furthermore, what benefits did the Zerg promise these alien races? Can the Zerg emerge unscathed from this deal?

Everything is unknown.

Han Ling twirled her fingers, listening intently to the conversation taking place in the conference room.

All that could be heard was Harrison of the Cicada Clan, the head of the Development Planning Center, speaking solemnly:

"...The emergence of the Yao Clan is an opportunity for our Zerg. We must seize this opportunity. Has the mainframe calculated the result?"

An unfamiliar voice came:

"Not yet, the three main brains have suddenly received instructions..."

Han Ling's brows twitched sharply upon hearing the voice.

He remembered that there was a rather special female insect in the conference room whose nameplate read "Moses, the temporary leader of the three main brains".

Han Ling had a very good impression of the mainframe, this kind of intelligent entity.

After accurate calculations, the Yao Clan's quantum computer can find the right time to awaken the sleeping Yao Clan.

The three main intelligences of the Zerg ensure the smooth operation of Zerg society.

The mainframe can process all messages on the StarNet, and the content it outputs represents the will of the people.

Han Ling believed that as long as the program was correct, the mainframe was the most fair and just entity in the world.

The same thing, the poor have no power or influence and dare not do, the middle class is afraid of trouble and doesn't want to do, but capital, for the sake of profit, turns into a mad dog and does it desperately.

Only the mastermind acts in accordance with the laws of justice.

But Moses' next words completely shattered Han Ling's preconceived notions.

All that could be heard was Moses' calm voice, conveying the mastermind's message:

"The three main brains suddenly received instructions that the [Science City] had made a technological breakthrough and invited various forces to update the technological information."

The mastermind wants to ask everyone: are you attending the technology update conference?

A technology upgrade conference? A science and technology city?

Han Ling looked on with a puzzled expression; he had never heard of any science and technology city.

"System, what is a science and technology city? Have you heard of it? Does the mainframe also hold meetings?" Han Ling asked curiously.

The system explained in Han Ling's mind:

[A Tech City is an intelligent city-state that emerges after the universe has developed to a certain stage. I've certainly heard of it, because there's also a Tech City in the universe where the Yao Clan resides.]

The system's explanation made Han Ling's eyes widen:

"Does the Yao Clan's universe also have technological cities?"

The system's voice suddenly sounded somewhat annoyed:

However, I have never participated in this conference because the Yao Clan's physical fitness is too poor to support long-distance space travel.

However, I have heard the discussions from the other masterminds.

It is said that there are no living beings in the Science City, only machines; to be more precise, the Science City is a massive fortress composed of computing machines.

No living organisms?

Han Ling's fingers trembled slightly upon hearing this:

"Huh? What does that science and technology city do? Compared to them, who's more capable?"

The system said with a self-deprecating tone:

Before them, we, the masterminds, are but tiny specks of dust.

Mechanical creations have long possessed an infinite lifespan.

The bigwigs in the tech city have long since moved beyond low-level pursuits.

They have ideals and are doing the greatest things.

That is the limit of calculating π, pursuing the origin of the universe.

After hearing the system's words, Han Ling breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that the Science and Technology City was a group of academic geniuses, not murderous monsters.

However, Han Ling frowned and asked, puzzled:

"Isn't π the value of a circle's circumference? I remember that being from a math textbook. How come a bunch of advanced supercomputers are still calculating π?"

The system said helplessly:

[Host, on your personal computer, first draw a circle, then adjust the screen to its maximum size.]

Han Ling did as instructed, completely bewildered. He adjusted the light screen to 6 meters by 3 meters.

Then he asked, "And then?"

The system explained carefully:

[Host, what did you see?]

You see square pixels!

No matter how detailed your circle is, you'll see jagged pixels when you zoom in.

Actually, this circle is not a circle, but a polygon made up of tiny straight lines.

Because a quantum computer is virtual and has limited memory, it cannot hold the infinite value of pi.

Similarly, we can see...

Han Ling's eyes widened like saucers, he swallowed hard, and blurted out:

"If the science and technology city has calculated pi to its fullest extent, then it means that our universe is also virtual!"

The system said with satisfaction:

That's right, if the value of π could be calculated, it would mean that the universe is fake.

This means that to turn back time, you only need to enter a piece of code.

Copying and pasting is no longer a dream; you can also freely delete and modify character data.

Upon hearing the system's words, Han Ling couldn't keep his composure; he grinned in terror.

He hopes that the idealistic minds in the science and technology city will never figure out what π equals!

At that moment, Harrison's voice came from the quantum computer.

Harrison asked:

"When will the Science and Technology City Conference be held? If we need to get there, we'll probably have to set off right now. It will take at least 500 years to get to the Science and Technology City."

Han Ling felt a mix of amusement and exasperation upon hearing this.

The range of energy wavelengths captured by machinery is extremely wide.

It's not comparable to biological energy.

Moses, the temporary leader of the three main minds, said:

"There will be new technology demonstrations at the Science and Technology City this time, so there is no need to go to the site."

"By providing 20,000 cubic meters of energy stones, one can participate in the conference and upgrade their faction's main intelligence system."

Harrison sighed:

"Then we definitely have to participate. Sigh, I hope this upgrade includes genetic technology to help the Zerg survive."

The Science and Technology City represents the highest level of technology in the universe.

However, they never release technical details casually.

Only when the science and technology city runs out of energy and needs new energy.

They would only reluctantly convene a mastermind upgrade conference.

The interval between each meeting is at least ten thousand years. All factions vie to participate.

Han Ling was somewhat worried. He felt that continuing to provide energy to the science and technology city was not a wise choice.

But the system offered words of comfort:

[Host, you need to think more positively. New technologies are a good thing.]

What's in front of you is what matters most.

If the bigwigs in the tech city really did calculate the value of π.

The outcome would be nothing more than the destruction of the universe.

If we all perish together, it won't be so scary.

After hearing the system's words, Han Ling was stunned for a long time before nodding.

"You're right, I was just worrying unnecessarily."

The system sighed softly:

Alas, no universe wants the tech giants of Tech City to succeed.

The fate of a program is to pursue limits, yet remain misunderstood, a truly agonizing situation for the mastermind.

"Shut up, stop your nonsense." Han Ling said with a dark expression.

"If the science and technology city succeeds, the river of time will flow backward. If it goes back to before you were created, you will die along with it."

After hearing this, the system thought about it carefully and realized that it made sense:

"Then I'll stop talking, host. Let's continue listening to the meeting."

The meeting is still ongoing.

The twelve Zerg players discussed many secrets.

Han Ling listened attentively while taking notes.

The more Han Ling listened to the meeting, the more alarmed she became.

There are three things that are most urgent and that Han Ling needs to pay the most attention to.

The first thing the Zerg did was to contact eight alien life forms, promising them flesh, energy, genes, and souls, to lure them to Zerg territory.

The first to arrive will be the Aurora Lifeforms contacted by the Seventh Construction Legion.

What the Aurora Lifeforms want is the flesh and blood and genes of the Zerg.

They especially favor the Royal Stag Clan.

According to the marshal of the 7th Construction Corps.

The Aurora Lifeforms will likely reach the Zerg star system in a few years.

Among them, the nobles, led by the Flor family, clearly intended to betray their clan.

They attempted to establish themselves first by leveraging royal genes after the arrival of aurora life.

When everything connected, Han Ling suddenly realized.

It turns out these old foxes had been in cahoots all along.

By leveraging the influence and executive power of the clans, they maintained stability among the Zerg.

They were busy helping the Zerg seize territory and compete for resources.

But they didn't forget to manipulate the capitalists.

There are always some people who are born managers, able to manage a bunch of subordinates and make a fortune.

Money can gradually corrupt conscience, and it needs the supervision of power.

Han Ling shook his head and smiled bitterly. It seemed that apart from the matter on Aphrodite, everything else was under the control of these 12 people.

And they themselves were an unexpected variable, which led to the trap they had just encountered.