"Click~"
The door to the game pod slowly opened, and Cao Ge and Ma Zhao inside opened their eyes one after another.
The experiment ended, Tu Hengyu and another assistant of Ma Zhao immediately surrounded them and helped Ma Zhao out of the pod.
The feeble Ma Zhao stood up with the support of the two, looking around the room's equipment as if he was beholding it for the first time in ages.
The experience in the digital world felt so real, yet now he had indeed woken up from the game pod; this indicated that he really entered a virtual world and that no one was pulling a prank on them.
"Xiao Wang, have I been in the game pod all this time?" Although Ma Zhao already had some answers in his mind, he still cautiously asked.
"Director Ma, you've been inside the whole time." Though curious as to why Ma Zhao would ask such a question, he answered.
Ma Zhao was not surprised by the assistant's answer; he just furrowed his brow slightly, immersed in thought.
After a long while, he lifted his head to look at the three people in the room: "How long has it been since we entered now?"
The assistant lifted his wrist, glanced at his watch, and replied swiftly: "About three hours."
"Three hours, it's roughly the same as the time inside the game," Ma Zhao muttered to himself.
"Everyone, let's go outside and talk," Cao Ge suggested, seeing that the three had started chatting.
The three people, who were deeply engaged in conversation, all looked towards Cao Ge and then nodded in agreement.
"Mr. Cao, Director Ma, here's some water for you."
After arriving at the living room, the assistant, very observant, poured a glass of water each for Cao Ge and Ma Zhao.
"Thank you!" Cao Ge took the paper cup and thanked the assistant.
"Mr. Cao, I want to know, what is the purpose of your research on this technology?" Ma Zhao did not take the paper cup from the assistant but turned his head and asked Cao Ge directly.
Cao Ge hadn't finished drinking his water, but he swallowed and then said to Ma Zhao, "Director Ma, this technology of mine is naturally for the future of mankind."
"But you also know that the state currently prohibits research in this area, otherwise I wouldn't have taken the risk of contacting you in such a manner," Cao Ge said.
Ma Zhao, meeting Cao Ge's gaze, pondered for a while, then asked, "Mr. Cao, may I ask an off-topic question? I hope you don't mind."
Cao Ge waved his hand, indicating that he didn't mind.
"Mr. Cao, what are your thoughts on the Mount-Shifting Project?"
"A grand project," Cao Ge thought for a moment and then said so.
"Mr. Cao, you seem not to be optimistic about the Mount-Shifting Project?" Eyeing Cao Ge's reaction, Ma Zhao asked.
"No, I'm quite optimistic about the Mount-Shifting Project. I believe it can definitely propel the Earth out of the solar system, it's just that..."
"Just what? Mr. Cao, please, there are no strangers here, feel free to speak your mind," Ma Zhao said.
"I'm not quite optimistic about the future of Earth. If Earth leaves the solar system, it will become akin to a minor planet wandering through the universe, full of uncertainties. Should a disaster occur then, it would be on a cosmic scale. I think it's very difficult for humans to survive such a calamity," Cao Ge stated slowly.
"I understand what you mean, Mr. Cao."
"So that means, compared to the Mount-Shifting Project, you actually favor the Digital Life Project more," Ma Zhao pondered for a moment and looked at Cao Ge.
"No, no, no, Director Ma, you misunderstand me. I'm not interested in digital life; I'm only interested in my research individually. I believe it will be the future of mankind," Cao Ge waved his hands repeatedly in negation.
Hearing Cao Ge's words, Ma Zhao frowned.
"Mr. Cao, could you elaborate?"
Facing Ma Zhao's questioning gaze, Cao Ge nodded.
"Director Ma, I believe that my technology is essentially different from digital life."
"Firstly, the person entering it lives in a real world, and not a world composed of binary codes."
"Furthermore, my technology does not depend on any real-world foundation. That is to say, once the world is generated, it severs any ties with the real world. Even if I shut down all the servers in reality, the world continues to exist; people inside continue to exist, unaffected by any of my actions."
"Wait, Mr. Cao, if I'm not misunderstanding you, are you saying that you've completely lost control over this world?" Ma Zhao interjected urgently.
"Director Ma, you didn't hear wrong nor did you misunderstand. I am now unable to make any form of modification to this world. The world's settings can only be established at the moment before it comes into being; once set, no further intervention can be made."
"All I can do now is send people into that world, nothing beyond that."
"Mr. Cao, you're not joking, are you?"
Cao Ge shook his head earnestly.
Seeing the expression on Cao Ge's face, the three fell into silence.
"Mr. Cao, would it be possible for you to send me a copy of the data on this technology? I'll take it back to study first. If it is valuable, I'll report it to the state. How does that sound?" Without dwelling on the matter, Ma Zhao redirected the conversation.
"Certainly," Cao Ge promptly agreed.
"Alright, I'll send you a key later, and you can transfer the data there. It's getting late; we won't disturb you any further tonight."
"Alright," Cao Ge nodded.
"In that case, we'll be leaving first."
"I'll see you out."
"No need, it's late. Mr. Cao, you needn't bother coming down, we can manage on our own," Ma Zhao quickly said as he got up.
"Alright, then take care on your way," Cao Ge said as he saw the three out the door.
......
At the National Quantum Center.
The three people frowned and exchanged glances.
"Old Tu, what have you thought of?" Ma Zhao asked Tu Hengyu.
Meeting Ma Zhao's inquiring look, Tu Hengyu thought seriously for a moment, then said to the three, "It reminds me of the Big Bang."
The answer from Tu Hengyu echoed the thoughts of the other two.
"Hmm."
"If what Cao Ge said is true, then that's really like a Big Bang."
"According to Cao Ge, this is not a virtual world, but a universe accidentally created. We don't know where this universe exists, but Cao Ge has found a way to enter it."
"But, Director Ma, can a virtual game really turn into a real universe?" the assistant asked curiously.
Ma Zhao shook his head.
"We still know too little about the origins of the universe, only that it came from an explosion of a singularity, and we are clear on what that singularity is like, or whether it could exist in a virtual world."
"Director Ma, should we report this?" the assistant asked.
Ma Zhao glanced at the assistant, paused for a moment, then said, "Let's wait a bit longer, until we understand more."