Handcuffs

This was Ivy's second time in the police station's interrogation room.

The last time was when I was in public elementary school. A few kids from better-off families formed a bully group. Their extracurricular activities were to play pranks on these immigrant students, including not only tripping them by stretching out their legs suddenly, but also deliberately damaging the electronic screens on their desks, applying glue on their chairs, and implanting viruses in the allocated learning machines that would emit all kinds of strange noises...

Teachers and principals turned a blind eye. They wanted more than anyone else to prevent these refugee children from being assigned to their schools/classes. The poor areas have relatively backward educational resources. These students who were forcibly assigned to them by the government have a much lower level of basic knowledge than students in the area. This would only lower the performance of the school/class and prevent them from receiving bonuses.

After discovering that some refugee children who were bullied would choose to change schools because they couldn't stand it, they became less concerned about the targeted bullying.

——It is humanitarian enough to take in these students. Moreover, these refugees have a low social status and are few in number, so there is no need to worry about them causing trouble.

The bullying is not limited to men and women. Ivy is pretty, so some boys tease her maliciously. With the development of technology and the explosion of knowledge, boys around ten years old already know how to skillfully avoid the defense system for minors and climb over the wall to see things that only belong to 18-year-old adults.

They intelligently replaced Ivy's photo with some erotic pictures, and projected them onto classmates' learning machines during self-study classes, laughing heartily.

Ivy picked up a stool and smashed it hard on the head of the male student who was the mastermind.

If things had come to this, they would still be far from being sent to the police station - after all, they were just children.

The turning point was the joining of Song Xu.

After seeing the photo, he angrily smashed all the learning machines in the classroom, including the teacher's, to prevent the photo from leaking out. He also called Song Feng and asked his cousin to bring his classmates over, saying that he and Ivy had been insulted.

Song Feng immediately brought people over, rolled up their sleeves, closed the door and started fighting. The situation escalated and immediately turned into a collective beating of the bully by middle school students.

All the main participants were taken to the police station.

Especially Ivy.

She didn't want to recall the details of that time. It turned out that the so-called freedom and fairness in the First District was also conditional. For non-immigrant residents of the First District with C-level genes and above, everyone was equal, with generous social welfare benefits, no discrimination, and everyone lived in harmony. Further down, those with D-level genes would face restrictions on studying and working, and immigrants would be required to swear an oath of loyalty to the First District. Ivy, who combined both of these, was the initial victim in that melee. She did not receive an apology, but instead wrote an application for voluntary withdrawal under various requests.

This time, it was still the same interrogation room.

Ivy looked around and found that this place was much smaller than before. The five words "Justice, Law, Responsibility, Obligation, and Security" written in six languages ​​had faded and were dim.

There are handcuffs on the wrists and feet, made of cold synthetic metal, with a chip implanted inside that combines monitoring and punishment. Last time it was the juvenile version, and now it is the adult size.

No one gave her water, only the police repeatedly questioned her.

"You said that when you arrived at the scene, you only saw fragments of the android's body. Why did you know for sure that it was 'Beman'?"

"Sir, I identify them by their clothes."

"Why aren't you afraid?"

"Why should I be afraid? I'm a reserve member of the expedition team. With all due respect, my future work will be bloodier than this. Can you give me some water? I'm thirsty," Ivy said. Her lips were dry and the lack of water for a long time almost made her lips bleed. "One cup will do."

"We will provide it after the interrogation," Police Officer Robert asked, his face full of distrust, "Can you identify him just by his clothes?"

"Yes, there are still wounds."

"What's the injury?"

"A crossbow bolt," Ivy said. "He was hit in the chest by a crossbow bolt."

"So you really wanted to kill him at first?"

"The law allows hunting down androids, and he's carrying a human girl, which is very dangerous," Ivy said. "That's the test mission I received."

"As far as we know, your target was the only one who died during this mission."

“It’s not something I can control.”

"Okay..." Policeman Robert looked at Ivy meaningfully, "If you thought the other party was a 'bionic man' and killed it, it's not your fault. 'Manslaughter' will not affect your normal life and work. Sign it and you can leave."

Ivy was unmoved: "I didn't kill him, and the crossbow arrow wasn't fatal."

"The autopsy report shows that he died of a slit throat at five in the morning," Robert said. "It was a precise and single cut. Your base's close combat training taught us this method of killing."

Thankfully, Ivy finally got some useful information.

She said, "Is that why you doubt me? There are many people in the dark area—"

"But you are the only one who has a deep connection with androids," Robert slapped a stack of information in front of her, "You were taken to the police station for beating up a classmate in elementary school. Among the middle school students who stood up for you, two were later confirmed to be androids. The private schools and universities you attended later all had androids—"

"What does it have to do with me?" Ivy suppressed her emotions, "It's just a probability event."

"I have a pair of eyes that can see through phenomena to the essence of things," Robert pointed at his own eyes with two fingers, and then pointed at Ivy, "I strongly suspect that you have maintained some kind of contact with some androids in private, and took this opportunity to pass messages to the artificial intelligence in the wasteland; in recent years, because too many androids have died, you have no choice but to take risks and strive for a place in the expedition team, wanting to travel between the first area and the wasteland openly and pass messages - right?"

Ivy was speechless.

She didn't know how the other person passed the police exam.

He should go to Jinjiang Literature Academy to write online literature, add some twisted love triangles between humans and bionic humans, and appropriately add some implicit erotic elements, and he will definitely make it to the gold list.

Robert laughed: "Did I get it right?"

Ivy said, "I'm confused by what you said."

Robert was very proud. He took a notebook and tapped the table with the spine of the book. "You said that you were staying in a hotel at that time. Hotels in the dark area cannot provide your personal check-in information. You don't have any alibi."

Ivy hesitated: "Someone can prove it."

Robert sarcastically said: "Your husband? The credibility of the testimony between a husband and wife is very low."

Ivy said calmly, "My teacher."

Robert: “?”

"Lorraine," Ivy said, "he was there when I accidentally strayed into the Dark Zone, trying to save me."

Robert sneered. He was not familiar with the name 'Lorraine'. He sat on the electric sliding chair and slid back lazily with the help of the wheelchair. He slid to the door, opened the door, and called: "Meidong, go check if there is anyone named Lorraine or Lori in the base--"

"Loring," Ivy repeated. "Loring."

"Lorraine," Robert said, "bring this boy here."

Thump-thump-thump footsteps.

Mei Dong was holding a pile of documents, sweating profusely. "Sorry, I think the interrogation may have to be suspended for a while... I received a call from the director, and he asked you to get ready - the admiral seems to be coming over."

Robert stood up in shock: "Which one?"

Amid constant wars and frictions, there are now many more admirals than before, all of whom have made great contributions to the future of mankind and the war against artificial intelligence.

"Hector," Mei Dong wiped the sweat off his face, "the youngest one."

Robert didn't have time to interrogate Ivy. It was obvious that receiving the admiral was a more important matter.

He didn't understand: "What is he doing here?"

"I don't know," Mei Dong panted, "but from the director's tone, it seems to be related to his subordinates."

Robert quickly reviewed the people who had been detained recently.

Their department is mainly responsible for matters related to androids. The prisoners recently detained include perverts who rape androids, and a guy who was so obsessed that he made his deceased lover into a android...

Halfway through the thought, Robert couldn't figure out who would be Admiral Hector's men.

He had never even seen a photo of the other party - as everyone knows, in order to fight against some artificial intelligence and prevent leaks, some high-ranking generals' photos and personal information cannot be seen on the Internet or in news reports.

When Robert strode to the door, the silver-gray aircraft used exclusively by the military had already stopped quietly. This kind of machine, which can travel by sea, air and land, is currently only used on a large scale by the military and has not yet been popularized by the police.

Robert stared for a while and saw several soldiers with guns coming down and standing in line on both sides;

The director and a man in military uniform with heterochromia got out of the car one after another, talking and laughing. The man had long, satin-blonde hair, was tall, one of his eyes was yellow-brown, and the other was a sea-blue due to an implanted lens. He was wrapped in a black military uniform, which made him look elegant and gentlemanly.

Robert quickly stepped forward and saluted in a standard manner: "Admiral."

The director was stunned.

The man in military uniform with heterochromia smiled and said, "Sorry, you got the wrong person. I am Admiral Hector's subordinate, Xin Lan."

Robert: “Huh?”

Xin Lan turned around and Robert looked over as well, seeing a pair of hands wearing black gloves, and then looking up, a narrow waist and broad shoulders, a training base uniform, a large dark military cape, a stern and handsome face, and thin lips that never smiled.

No confirmation required.

If Robert had seen him earlier, there would have been no way he could have mistaken him.

"Where is Ms. Ivy?" Lorraine said. "I want to take her away."

Robert said: "This matter should not require the military to intervene-"

"Beman was a soldier," Lorraine interrupted Robert, "According to regulations, matters concerning him should be handled by the military."

Robert breathed a sigh of relief, invited Lorraine in, and told him: "She is very stubborn and does not obey orders at all. We can't get any effective answers from her at the moment..."

"she?"

"Ivy," Robert said. "Refugees from District 23."

"I've heard some rumors," Lorraine stared at Robert with her black spinel eyes. His black curly hair set off his handsome face. "It's about the way your court judges."

Robert said modestly: "Fortunately, fortunately... I didn't even have time to use electric shock on her this time, but I already got information about another suspect from her."

"Electric shock?" Lorraine said expressionlessly, "Another suspect?"

"Yes," Robert nodded. "She said a teacher followed her into the dark area. I think her name was Lori or Rowling?"

The glass door opened automatically, and Robert asked Lorraine to go in first: "She said that the teacher was also in the dark area, but I think this should not be used as evidence..."

"Why?"

"I have heard some comments about her," Robert said. "She was very open about matters between men and women. Some students also said that she had an improper relationship with a teacher. The teacher seemed to favor her and would often ask her to go to the office."

Lorraine called his name: "Robert."

Robert said, "I'm here."

"The technology of artificial brain transplantation is already very mature. If necessary, I can introduce you to a professional brain transplant expert," Lorraine said. "Your current brain looks the same as your judgment. It exists, but it is useless."

Robert: “…”

He had not expected to be evaluated like this, and stammered, "Admiral?"

Lorraine did not respond.

Through the one-way silent glass, he saw Ivy sitting alone in the interrogation room.

She had changed out of her college uniform and was wearing a plain T-shirt and sweatpants, very plain;

There was a little dust on the knees of her sports pants, and her ponytail was crooked. Someone held her head and forced her into the police car.

"You didn't even give her a glass of water?" Lorraine said sternly, "I didn't know our law allowed you to treat suspects harshly - you couldn't even find evidence of her guilt."

Robert said, "...we haven't made it yet."

Lorraine asked, "Are you going to torture her?"

"Not yet," Robert, who had been scolded once, was particularly humble. He carefully changed the subject, "Uh...she said she wanted to see her husband. Do you think it is necessary to go to the poor...settlement to call him?"

"No need," said Lorraine, "I'm already here."

Robert: "Ah? Ah? Ah?"

"I haven't introduced myself yet," Lorraine said, "My name is Lorraine Hector, Ivy's husband and her former teacher."

Robert: "Ah here! Ah here! Ah here!"

He looked very bad.

Lorraine didn't look at him again and pushed open the glass door.

He saw a familiar, expectant look on Ivy's face.

——This was how she looked when she saw Yu Mo at the training base.

If it weren't for the blindfold, Lorraine suspected she would have pounced on him like a puppy.

He didn't like close contact in formal situations, but now that he thought about it, it didn't seem so unbearable.

"Mr. Lorraine!" Ivy was surprised. "Why did you come so quickly? Did my mother call you?"

"I asked Xin Lan to go over there first to watch over you. He told me immediately when you were taken away," Lorraine explained simply. He raised his hand and touched the cold handcuffs in Ivy's hand. The alloy had rubbed her wrist red. "Does it hurt?"

Ivy shook her head.

The next moment, Lorraine pulled out the dagger tied to his pants, and quickly removed the electric shock chip from the handcuffs. He then bent down and attempted to remove the electronic chip from her handcuffs.

But as soon as he went down, Lorraine began to regret this decision.

She was taken away from home, with her feet unnaturally stepping on old open-toed slippers, her ten toes were very round and healthy, with a small, clever arc at the arch of her foot, which could not help but bring back some memories. The chaotic dark area, the old and dirty old hotel, when the love is at its deepest, the two moons will also bend, straighten into a line, and the heavy rain will fall down, shaking like walking in the snowy mountains in the cold winter moon in a thin skirt.

Ivy asked concernedly, "Are the cuffs difficult to remove?"

"It's not difficult," Lorraine said. "Just don't move. I can't concentrate."

Ivy stopped moving immediately.

"Don't move your toes."

Ivy: “…Oh.”

The moving, disturbing things finally stopped smoothly, but it seemed to be suitable for the foot after they calmed down.

Lorraine turned her attention to her handcuffs and quickly removed the electronic chip, completely destroying the electric shock system of both.

He straightened up.

The director came in smiling, followed by Robert, whose hair and eyes had lost their luster.

Robert was still insisting: "Although the training base is currently under military control and Beman was once a soldier...but according to the principle of family avoidance, you should not take her away."

"What else?" Lorraine said, "Do you want to see her tied up like a dog?"

Robert was still stubborn: "But she has no alibi. When Berman's throat was cut——"

"I can testify," Lorraine said, "that I was with her the whole night."

The director frowned and said, "Robert, get out. You have nothing to do here."

Robert continued to ask, "What were you doing at five o'clock in the morning?"

"He must be sleeping," Ivy said without thinking, wondering, "What else?"

She frowned: "Don't you need to sleep at night?"

The chief dragged out the chatterbox Robert.

Xin Lan came out with a smile to finish the job. He was responsible for handling these interpersonal relationships, and he was tactful and tactful in making everyone feel comfortable, like a spring breeze.

Ivy's handcuffs could not be removed for the time being, and the police used electric shock handcuffs on her in violation of regulations. However, according to regulations, the suspect also needs some restraint measures during the "transfer" process.

Lorraine took off his cloak and put it on Ivy. He saw that she lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, and she didn't know what she was thinking about. She avoided his sight and even looked a little uncomfortable.

He was about to comfort Ivy when he suddenly thought of something and smelled something that made him frown immediately.

"Clear the dirt out of your head," Lorraine said sharply, "This is not a prison, a game ban, or an interrogation. You are now the prime suspect, Ms. Ivy."

They were in a small space all by themselves in the car, with no one else there.

Ivy held the cup of water, which was handed to her by Lorraine. It was silver-gray in color. She drank a lot of it in big gulps: "...I'm not thinking."

Lorraine's expressionless face approached her. He took off his black leather gloves, held Ivy's neck, felt her pulse, and lowered his eyes to observe her face.

The scent of freshly squeezed coconut grew stronger.

"Lies," he said haughtily. "I smell it."

Ivy didn't say anything. Her windbreaker was full of Lorraine's scent. Now she felt like she was being sandwiched from the front and back by two Lorraines, tightly wrapped together. The water she had just drunk seemed to have left her body, and her lips began to dry out again.

"You said that I had no attraction to you," Lorraine leaned over, and the hand that pressed her neck accurately felt her increasingly frantic heartbeat, breathing, and the rich sweetness of coconut juice. He said slowly, "Now it seems that someone is lying."