Chapter 96: Shaky Disguise
Huo Shen's words were like a cold scalpel, precisely cutting through the disguise that Su Yan had tried so hard to maintain.
——"Your presence itself, your many 'unknowns', and your overly rapid 'learnings' are the greatest anomaly in themselves."
He didn't point it out, but every word struck the most fearful chord in Su Yan's heart. He knew that Huo Shen was suspicious, and it was based on a fundamental suspicion that he could not explain or make up for.
That fierce kiss, filled with punishment and exploration, was more like a branding iron, which deeply burned the suspicion and warning into Su Yan's senses and memory.
For the next few days, Su Yan lived in extreme anxiety. He carefully observed every look in Huo Shen's eyes and every seemingly casual word, trying to judge how much he knew, or whether he was just testing him.
He no longer dared to touch upon any topic related to "Melody" or "Initial Sequence". Even in his analysis report on the "Dawn Project", he deliberately restrained his edge to avoid showing overly advanced understanding or insights that were inconsistent with the personality of the "original owner".
But in the eyes of someone as insightful as Huo Shen, isn't this deliberate restraint an anomaly?
Huo Shen didn't seem to be in a rush to press the issue. He was like an experienced cheetah, patiently surrounding his prey, enjoying the process of the other party gradually collapsing in fear. He still gave Su Yan authority and allowed him to participate in the discussion, but the invisible pressure was more suffocating than any direct interrogation.
That day, Huo Shen took Su Yan to a cutting-edge biological laboratory under the Huo Group, which was said to be an important research and development base for the medical assistance module in the "Dawn Project." Several core technical personnel were also accompanying them.
The laboratory was filled with the uniquely cold smell of disinfectant and high-tech equipment. Researchers demonstrated to Huo Shen a new non-invasive neural signal capture system designed to help severely paralyzed patients interact with external devices through their thoughts.
The demonstration was a success, and the technicians present were all excited. However, Huo Shen was watching with unusual concentration, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was pondering some deeper issue.
After the demonstration, Dr. Li, the chief scientist in charge of the explanation, enthusiastically asked Huo Shen and Su Yan if they had any questions.
Huo Shen looked at Su Yan and said calmly, "What do you think?"
Everyone's eyes were on Su Yan. He knew this was another test. He carefully chose his words, trying to speak from the perspective of a "young, somewhat clever young man new to the field," and asked a technical question about signal latency and anti-interference capabilities. The question was just the right amount, showing that he was listening attentively and thinking, without being overly impressive.
Dr. Li patiently answered the questions.
Huo Shen listened without commenting. Instead, he casually brought up a topic, as if discussing it with Dr. Li, or as if talking to everyone:
"Human consciousness and memory are essentially some kind of complex bioelectrical signals and chemical codes. Theoretically, if the technology is advanced enough, is it possible to... read this information, or even... overwrite or rewrite it?"
This question smacked of science fiction, even touching on ethical taboos. Dr. Li paused for a moment, then cautiously replied, "Mr. Huo, from a purely technical perspective, it's not completely impossible, but the complexity involved is exponential, especially the question of the identity of consciousness and personality, a chasm that's almost insurmountable in current science."
"Identity..." Huo Shen repeated the word in a low voice, and his eyes seemed to sweep over Su Yan unintentionally. His eyes were deep, as if he was looking through him and examining something more essential.
A layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on Su Yan's back.
Why did Huo Shen suddenly ask this? Was it about Prometheus's even more insane ultimate goal? Or was it... a subtle hint, a test to see what kind of "consciousness" lay beneath Su Yan's body? A soul from another world, utterly different from the original "code"?
He felt his shaky disguise clearly shattering under Huo Shen's seemingly casual "academic discussion".
After the visit, the atmosphere in the car returning to the apartment was depressing.
Huo Shen closed his eyes to rest, while Su Yan stared out the window, his mind in turmoil. He felt like he was walking on an increasingly narrow tightrope, with a bottomless abyss beneath his feet. Huo Shen was at the other end of the tightrope, watching him calmly, ready to remove his only support at any moment.
He had to do something. He couldn't just sit there and wait for Huo Shen to reveal his true colors.
The USB drive Huo Shen had taken, containing Xiao's decrypted recording, and the Legacy_Verify interface hidden deep within the code, might be his last chance. He must find a way to uncover the truth behind the "initial sequence" before Huo Shen completely seizes control. It could be his bargaining chip, or perhaps... his only clue to the mystery of his own existence.
---
That night, late at night.
After Su Yan confirmed Huo Shen was asleep, he slipped out of the bedroom without a sound. He had a clear target: the study. He needed to try again to see if he could find more clues about Legacy_Verify and Ah Xiao's backup recordings on Huo Shen's main computer. Although he knew the risks were immense, he was ready to go.
He used the password he had memorized earlier, derived from the music score, and successfully entered Huo Shen's main computer system again. His heart was pounding as he quickly searched for files related to "Legacy_Verify" and "Axiao Recordings."
Just as he was concentrating, a cold, unforeseen voice sounded behind him, like a death knell from hell:
"You are not him."
The blood in Su Yan's body seemed to freeze instantly.
He turned his head stiffly, little by little.
Huo Shen had quietly stood at the door of the study room without anyone noticing. He was wearing a dark nightgown, and his figure almost blended into the darkness. Only his eyes, shining in the shadows with an all-seeing, icy light, shone through the shadows.
In his hand, he held a tablet computer. Displayed on the screen was a detailed analysis of the original owner, "Su Yan,"'s behavioral patterns, knowledge structure, and personality traits. Next to it, displayed side by side, was a comparison of all the behavioral data since the current "Su Yan" appeared.
The differences are marked in bright red, which is shocking.
Huo Shen's gaze, like the most accurate sniper rifle, was locked on Su Yan's pale face.
"Now, tell me," he said in a low voice, carrying the oppressive feeling of a final judgment, "Who are you?"
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