Chapter 301 The bill is settled, it's time for everyone to upgrade.
The image of the Japanese Prime Minister bowing has been captured online and passed down through generations.
The end of one era is always accompanied by the beginning of another.
Just as major media outlets around the world were still analyzing the far-reaching impact of this geopolitical upheaval, the Information Office of China released another brief announcement.
"A special press conference on the construction of the national security system will be held at 3 p.m. today."
National security system?
Everyone's first reaction was military.
Could it be... that there are further developments?
The world's attention was once again drawn to the press conference.
It was exactly 3 p.m.
A researcher in a lab coat walked calmly onto the stage without any further pleasantries.
Good afternoon, everyone.
"Today's press conference has only one theme, and that is the safety of each and every one of us."
Behind him, a huge screen lit up, revealing a middle-aged man with glasses and a refined demeanor.
His identity is displayed at the bottom of the screen: Chief Technical Advisor for the 'Kunlun Mirror' Project.
"I believe everyone is already familiar with the 'Kunlun Mirror'."
The technical advisor's voice came through the screen, gentle and clear.
“Recently, we have collected user feedback and suggestions from the first generation of users. Today, I will introduce to you the first major upgrade of ‘Kunlun Mirror’.”
He paused for a moment, seemingly giving everyone time to process the information.
"Its first core function is what we call: mind-based alarm."
Inside the venue, the reporters looked at each other in bewilderment.
A mind-based alarm? What kind of science fiction term is that?
The technical consultant seemed to sense everyone's confusion and continued to explain.
"Through deep binding with the wearer's brainwaves, the central processing unit of the 'Kunlun Mirror' can accurately identify a specific, high-intensity 'distress pattern'."
"This pattern is similar to the brain's instantaneous distress response when a person encounters extreme danger."
"Once the system recognizes this thought waveform, the bracelet will immediately, within 1 second, encrypt and upload the person's real-time precise coordinates, as well as the ambient audio and video, to the nearest police command system."
"This means that even if you are unable to speak, unable to move, or even lose consciousness, as long as your brain is still sending out the instinctive signal for help, the country can find you and save you immediately."
The words fell.
The live stream chat paused for a second.
The next second, it erupted completely.
Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! I could call the police in a heartbeat?!
[This...this is mind reading, right? Is it real?]
[This is awesome! I'll never be afraid of being kidnapped again! I can just scream for help in my head!]
The excited comments flooded the screen for less than ten seconds before the tide suddenly turned.
[Wait! Upload the scene environment? Video and audio?]
What about my privacy? If I secretly curse at my boss while slacking off at work, will it be identified as 'aggressive intent'?
[If I was just playing a game and got excited, subconsciously triggering a cry for help, would that be a waste of police resources?]
[Emmm... there's a scene I'm not sure if I should mention.]
My God, doesn't this mean the country can monitor my thoughts and life at any time? I feel a chill down my spine...
This is terrible! I can't accept it!
Panic, like a virus, spread instantly across the internet.
Excitement and fear intertwined into a vast net, enveloping everyone's heart.
On the stage, the technical advisor's expression remained unchanged; he seemed to have anticipated this reaction.
"Regarding everyone's concerns about privacy, we have two points to make."
His voice instantly silenced the clamor of public opinion.
"First, the processor of the 'Kunlun Mirror' can only recognize a specific thought waveform that reaches an extremely high threshold, namely 'calling for help.' It cannot, and has no authority to, interpret your everyday thoughts, let alone analyze your emotions."
"It's like a sentinel that only responds to cries for help at a specific frequency."
“Second,” the consultant said, pointing out the most crucial point.
"This feature is 'optionally enabled or disabled'."
"Whether or not to grant the 'Kunlun Mirror' this authority is entirely up to each citizen."
"We only provide the technology, we do not interfere with the choices."
At the same time, the spokesperson added: "On behalf of the nation, I pledge that all personal information uploaded through 'mind alert' will be protected by the highest level of constitutional encryption and used solely for police and rescue purposes. Once the incident is resolved, all non-involved personal data will be completely destroyed within 24 hours, leaving no trace."
Can I choose for myself?
The panic on the internet subsided slightly.
Oh, so it was a choice! I was so scared, I thought it was mandatory.
"That's alright! We have to open it! Who would risk their life?"
The government has been incredibly thoughtful, giving us choices and a sense of security!
Where are the people who were just cursing? Come out and show yourselves! The country treats us like overgrown babies, protecting us as if they're afraid we'll object.
This is essentially surveillance, but the right to activate it is in one's own hands. The government has been very considerate in this regard.
Public opinion reversed instantly.
Just when everyone thought that was all for today's press conference, the technical advisor's voice rang out again.
"Next is the second core function."
His expression turned serious.
"If 'mind alert' is our first line of defense to protect you, and considering that some people are concerned about privacy and are unwilling to turn it on, then the next feature will be the strongest barrier for you to walk in this world."
"We call it: 'Multidimensional Deformation Protection System'."
"Or, people can call it, 'personal airbag'."
On the screen, the scene shifts to a huge laboratory.
A tester wearing an ordinary T-shirt, but wearing "Kunlun Mirrors," stood in the center of the field.
Suddenly, a giant iron hammer weighing 100 kilograms came off the hook above his head and crashed down!
"ah!"
A reporter at the scene screamed in terror.
Just a split second before the hammer was about to touch the tester's head.
"Buzz—"
A barely audible sound.
The "Kunlun Mirror" on the tester's wrist suddenly lit up.
A giant "bubble" made of translucent polymer material popped out instantly, completely enveloping the tester's entire body!
"Bang--!!!"
The heavy iron hammer slammed down on the bubble.
The expected bloody and mangled scene did not occur.
The seemingly thin and fragile bubble, upon contact with the hammer, indented inward, forming a perfect arc that buffered and absorbed all the kinetic energy.
The next second, the hammer was violently bounced back at an even faster speed than when it fell, tumbling through the air for more than ten meters before crashing to the ground with a loud bang.
The tester inside the bubble was completely unharmed, not even a single hair was out of place.
A few seconds later, the bubble automatically contracted, transforming back into a stream of light and disappearing into the bracelet.
The whole world was deathly silent.
"The new materials used in this system can effectively buffer 99% of physical kinetic energy, isolate shock waves and instantaneous high heat, and are sufficient to cope with most common accidental injuries such as car accidents, falling objects from heights, explosions, and fires."
The consultant explained calmly, yet his words now possessed a demonic power.
The spokesperson took over the conversation, his voice firm and resolute.
"In order to protect the life and safety of every citizen to the greatest extent possible."
"This 'personal airbag' feature will be used as the underlying protocol in all second-generation 'Kunlun Mirror' models and subsequent upgrades..."
He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, speaking slowly and deliberately.
"Forced on, cannot be turned off."
Forced?
Cannot be turned off?
The public, who had just been celebrating their "right to choose," were stunned once again.
But this time, there was no panic or anger online.
After a three-second silence, the comments section erupted in a frenzy.
[Forced activation? I wholeheartedly support it! The government is probably afraid I'll accidentally turn it off!]
I declare that these are the most beautiful four words I've ever heard in my life—'Cannot be turned off'!
[Waaaaah, what kind of heavenly country is this? They value our lives more than our own!]
[Waaaaah, I'm being forced to love you by the state!]
With this, who can hurt me anymore? Mom won't have to worry about me walking alone at night anymore!
[Indestructible! This is truly an indestructible body! I declare myself the happiest child in the world!]
[First-generation users are crying in the bathroom, we want this invincible shield too!]
The spokesperson seemed to have anticipated this question, and he added with a smile the last sentence.
"Citizens who possess the first-generation 'Kunlun Mirror' can, starting tomorrow, go to any 'People's Service Center' nationwide with their personal identification information to upgrade their system for free, install and activate all second-generation functions."
【Aaaaaaaah!】
[Free upgrade! Long live the motherland!]
[Brothers! See you at the service center tomorrow!]
The next morning.
Longer queues than those during the last sale have formed outside "People's Service Centers" across the country.
In the group, everyone held up the "Kunlun Mirror" on their wrists, their faces beaming with boundless anticipation for a safer future.
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