Oasis In 2109, humanity achieved brain-machine integration. The human brain could connect to external devices, eliminating innate brain defects: the blind could see colors, the deaf could hear birds singing, and even sexual dysfunction could be addressed. Traditional social welfare saw significant improvements, and welfare-oriented brain-machine products boosted overall social productivity. However, the costs of more powerful products that enhanced computing power—along with their maintenance and upgrade expenses—were beyond the reach of most people. As a result, the wealth gap was exacerbated. The brain-computer LSD issue, arising from the problem of wealth disparity, has begun to come into sharp focus. Ordinary people use it to numb their lives, while the wealthy use it to experience sensory pleasures beyond traditional limits. Society seems happier, but poverty has become an even more inescapable quagmire, social vitality resembles a stagnant pool, class mobility is frozen, and the black market is rampant. In that same year, the new rotating leadership of the New World United Organization (with the United Nations no longer in existence) took office, promoting legislation to severely crack down on various forms of brain-machine LSD in an effort to salvage the current social situation. Supporters of LSD argued that brain-machine LSD was merely a soap opera of the new century, harmless in the grand scheme of things, and that those who were addicted simply lacked self-control. In contrast, proponents of the legislation believed that these trivial matters were the opium of the brain-machine era. In just over a decade, brain-machine LSD had nearly become a pillar industry for the economies of some countries. Legislation is progressing with difficulty, but some countries have already initiated their cleanup operations. From the top of the social pyramid to its base, there are surging undercurrents. Act One: Hospital On a morning in 2125, police officers and doctors gathered in the office of the Chief of Surgery at Lo City Hospital, the smell of cigarette smoke hanging in the air. On the wall hung a photo that resembled a CT scan, displaying a human brain. A large portion appeared familiar, while a small section was composed of a circuit system. In this era, the human brain has become deeply integrated with computers. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can significantly enhance the brain's computational capabilities, helping researchers think faster and assisting police officers in formulating strategies more quickly. Additionally, they can address diseases caused by brain issues, such as color blindness, deafness, and muteness, among others. From a certain perspective, humans have evolved. The brain shown in the CT scan belongs to a 28-year-old police officer named Wang Xi. During a law enforcement operation, he sustained severe brain trauma. After a night of emergency treatment, he narrowly survived but remains in a deep coma. A police superintendent rubbed his forehead, the patterns on his epaulettes indicating his high rank: "Xiao Wang is the most promising officer we have. We will do everything we can to save him. Doctor, please think of more solutions. If we lose him, the operation against the brain-machine interface black market could be delayed by several months. It won't just be about saving one injured police officer; our force is already stretched thin." The superintendent was about to reach for a cigarette but was stopped by the doctor's gaze. "You know, we're under a lot of pressure from above right now." "As you can see, his brain has been extensively modified. While it does include a computational module specifically designed for police use, the overall code of the electronic brain is something we have never encountered before. We also have no idea who integrated the computational module at that time, which is quite suspicious... If we can't fully understand the code in his brain, it will be very challenging for the hospital's treatment module to connect to it for now." The speaker was Wang Xi's attending physician and a brain-machine repair specialist. His eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that he had not yet recovered from the continuous surgeries. "Rest assured, his natural brain is still quite healthy; he won't die. If we’re lucky, the hospital's brain-machine decryption team will be able to decode his electronic brain, and then he can recover. If we’re unlucky, he might remain in a vegetative state for a long time." The police superintendent started rubbing his forehead again. Being bald, his forehead looked especially shiny. "Sorry to interrupt, Chief, but we just got a call... Chief Fu has returned," said the physician's assistant. "Senior brother?" The doctor turned to the police and said, "You're lucky. You can head back for now. I'll talk with Director Fu, and I'll update you if there's any progress." At that moment, Wang Xi was lying in the police-exclusive hospital ward on the 96th floor, sleeping soundly. Act Two: "Angel Syndrome" Good evening, viewers. Today is October 19, 2109, and this is today's news brief. Kosa, the new rotating leader of the New World United Organization, delivered his inaugural speech today. He will launch a campaign to eliminate the wealth gap, unite multiple countries to tackle technology abuse, and ensure the sustainable development of human society. Representatives from various countries present at the event shared their perspectives. The scene shifts to 16 years earlier in Lo City. A TV at a roadside food truck is playing a rebroadcast of the news, and it's already 11 PM. The 45-year-old doctor at the brain-machine clinic, Fu Zhi, finished his work at the private practice and was getting ready to go home. Over two years ago, his wife and daughter had left him to live in Second New Canada, and they had not been in touch since. It's not that he hadn't considered going to find them, but five years ago, Fu Zhi, who was still the director of the brain-machine interface research group at Luo City Hospital, was secretly recruited to participate in the "Restoration Project." The goal of the "Restoration Project" was to modify the brain-machine interfaces of high-ranking officials from multiple countries into special interfaces. These specialized brain-machine interfaces would no longer support the connection of standard external components, and even the code was custom-designed. In simple terms, it aimed to protect the minds of top officials from being hacked. Five years of relentless research had turned this man's hair completely white. Although he was not yet 45 years old, he looked like a 60-year-old man. The wife and daughter had no idea what the father's true job was. Who could have imagined that this workaholic's real mission was to "fix" the minds of world leaders? Over the course of five years, Fu Zhi missed his wife's birthday, their wedding anniversary, his child's elementary school graduation, parent-teacher meetings, picking his child up from school, and ultimately, the chance to save his marriage. On the day his wife left with their daughter, she only left behind an address in New Canada, as if asking Fu Zhi to choose between family and work. Fu Zhi watched Kosa on television, along with the world leaders expressing their support. He drained the last of his wine, settled the bill, and left. In the early hours of the morning, strange "Angel Syndrome" patients always roamed the streets of Los Angeles. "Angel" is a brand of brain-machine LSD. While VR and AR from a century ago were merely visual experiences, brain-machine LSD offers a fully immersive emotional experience. After undergoing brain-machine modifications, humans only need to insert a small plug into the brain-machine expansion dock behind their ear to access experiences that are as real as, or even surpass, reality. Initially, the development of brain-machine LSD was restricted to the military, aimed at creating realistic battlefield environments to help soldiers enhance their combat skills more effectively. However, as some military technology transitioned to civilian use, tech companies began exploring brain-machine LSD as well. At first, this involved only fragmented experiences, such as feeling the chill of Antarctica or witnessing the grandeur of Yellowstone National Park, with both the time and scenarios being quite limited. As progress continues, the variety of brain-machine LSD experiences is expanding, and the duration of these modules has significantly increased. Some evoke childhood memories, others simulate the joy of being in love, and some recreate scenes from movies, including various sensitive and illegal domains. Initially, people believed that brain-machine technology represented a tremendous innovation and looked forward to its benefits. However, as time went on, it became clear that more and more individuals were not leveraging brain-machine interfaces to create social value; instead, they were becoming hopelessly addicted to various brain-machine LSD scenarios. "Angel" is currently the second-largest brain-machine LSD brand in terms of market share, and those addicted to "Angel" LSD are referred to as "Angel Syndrome patients." In Lo City, the "Angel" brand holds the largest market share. Tonight is no different. Outside the bars on this Saturday night, various brain-machine LSD addicts are milling about. Some are singing loudly, while others sit motionless against the wall, their eyes glassy and wearing eerie smiles. Whenever Fu Zhi tries to escape Lo City, these people always appear right on cue. Fu Zhi didn’t despise these people, but he didn’t feel pity for them either, because in two days, they would don their work uniforms and return to their jobs. After all, only money could buy these dreamlike experiences. As for whether Chairman Kesa, who had just given a speech on TV, could succeed in saving these people, that wasn’t something Fu Zhi cared about. Perhaps Kesa couldn’t save anyone. Fu Zhi had already booked his flight to New Canada for a month later. He had made up his mind and done everything he needed to do. A somewhat deranged Angel Syndrome patient blocked Fu Zhi's path. This "patient" wore a dark blue shirt and brown trousers, with black liquid stains on his clothes. He looked as though he had been wandering outside for a long time, his arms twisted behind him at an unnatural angle. "Hehehe... Ah!!! I want to kill you... Why me... Wuwuwuwu..." The person in front of him seemed mentally unstable; even when using illegal brain-machine LSD products, cognitive disruptions were rare. Fu Zhi instinctively began to analyze the situation; this had become his occupational hazard. The symptoms of the person before him were exactly what Fu Zhi least wanted to see: only someone connected to multiple LSD modules at once would exhibit such a state. Fu Zhi crouched down to take a closer look, realizing that although this person was nearly adult-sized, their face resembled that of a 12-year-old boy. His eyes were unfocused, and the unidentified black liquid stains on his body were dried blood. Fu Zhi hoisted the boy onto his back and made his way back to the clinic. Years of desk work had taken a toll on his physical strength, but fortunately, the boy was light, allowing him to successfully place him on the operating table. The immediate priority is to sever the transmission line between the brain-machine interface and the natural brain; otherwise, this poor child will truly lose his mind. The brain-machine surgery went well, and the boy's brain was saved, but the severed hand... He called his assistant: "Hey, you’re still awake, huh? Hurry over to the lab. We need to perform surgery, and I'm not skilled in orthopedics." Fu Zhi silently prayed, hoping there would be fewer cases like this in the next couple of days so that his flight could depart as scheduled. Act Three: "Oasis" On the morning of October 19, 2109, 12-year-old Wang Xi woke up from an extremely long dream. He had dreamed of his parents taking him to an amusement park, holding hands with his crush at the cinema, and getting accepted into the best university. He had been to the amusement park 138 times, visited the cinema 94 times, taken the college entrance exam 388 times, and been admitted to top universities 289 times. "The experience over these few hours wasn't bad; I’ll buy more next time." Wang Xi rubbed his eyes. He had several deliveries to make today, so he needed to leave early. As rumors of legislation to ban brain-machine LSD spread like wildfire, the prices of goods in the hands of young black market dealer Wang Xi have skyrocketed by more than tenfold. In particular, the illegal brain-machine modules of several adult film actresses have surged to 50 times their original price. He needs to clear out his inventory quickly to recoup his funds; if he misses this opportunity, he may never make such easy money again. The phone rang. It was the "Master" calling: "Complete 10 transactions today, or you can say goodbye to your electronic brain." Wang Xi had a neural interface and no parents or relatives. He only had one master, named Fan Renlun. For as long as he could remember, Fan Renlun had been taking care of him. From a young age, Fan Renlun told Wang Xi that he had found him in a garbage heap and owed him nothing. If Wang Xi wanted to survive, he had to work for Fan Renlun, selling illegal neural interface products. Wang Xi referred to him as master, assisted him with illegal transactions, and Fan Renlun paid him very little each month. In fact, Fan Renlun was Wang Xi's biological father. After a reckless night of using illegal brain-machine LSD for pleasure, Wang Xi was destined to come into this world. Even when a child was abandoned outside his house one day, Fan Renlun was not surprised. Having been involved in black market dealings for years, he needed a pair of small hands to help him with his transactions. As for who would go to jail, it certainly wouldn't be him, but this little devil who would one day be called Wang Xi. For a long time, the black market jokingly referred to Fan Renlun as "Little Father Fan," but little did they know that five years later, young Wang Xi would already be helping him earn substantial illegal profits. Wang Xi never attended school and instead struggled to survive in the black market. Although it seemed he received a monthly income from his "master," he could only live alone in a small rental room, never seeing the light of day. At the age of 10, he encountered brain-machine interfaces. Using his savings, he found a black market clinic and had a brain-machine interface installed. After that, the thing he bought most often was "Oasis" brand brain-machine LSD. He dreamed of having a normal family and life; these brain-machine LSDs were his most cherished hopes. "Master" Fan Renlun's income has sharply declined since he discovered Wang Xi's brain modification. Since then, he has been threatening to hire thugs to forcibly uninstall the brain-machine interface, setting daily sales targets for Wang Xi. However, it seems that Wang Xi has been buying brain-machine LSD even more frequently. "Hey, young man, back for more? You really are consistent! You bought a lot two years ago, and now the prices have doubled, yet you still have such good judgment." The shady shop owner greeted Wang Xi warmly. Who would have thought that this 12-year-old kid had become his biggest customer? Wangxi had little to say and completed the purchase as usual. At the age of 12, when Kesa came to power, Wangxi realized that the opportunity to make money and escape had arrived. That day, he made several sales, and his own business began to grow. The opportunities that Fan Renlun couldn't handle all became Wangxi's personal treasury. The black market in Luo City was not like a typical vegetable market: there was no fixed trading location, and transactions were scattered throughout various corners of the city. The place Wangxi frequented most was the entrance of Luo City Middle School. There wasn’t much business there, but there was one thing that mattered most to a 12-year-old boy: a 16-year-old high school girl. The girl wasn’t a boarder and appeared punctually every day at the square in front of the middle school. Wang Xi would only gaze at her silhouette from a distance. Sometimes there was a sunset, and other times a thunderstorm, but he always just watched from afar. This was perhaps the only scene more beautiful than brain-machine LSD. Act Four: Incompatible Time shifted to night as 12-year-old Wang Xi lay on the hospital bed, his left hand in a brace, his body unable to move. The curtains in the room were drawn, making it impossible to tell whether it was day or night. The scent of disinfectant filled his nostrils, mingling with the smell of blood. This was a hospital room. A few hours earlier, he had just been in a fierce fight, and the boys he faced were probably not faring well either. Those thugs were regulars when it came to erotic LSD modules, spending money freely. Generally, the higher the price of an LSD module, the more incomprehensible its content became to ordinary people. When they made a move on the girl, Wang Xi jumped in without hesitation. Wang Xi fell unconscious again. When he woke up once more, the clock by the hospital bed showed that another two days had passed. This time, he could clearly see the layout of the hospital room. It was obviously a brain-machine modification facility; he had seen these instruments before when he had his brain-machine modified on the black market. He unconsciously touched behind his ear, and sure enough, it had been tampered with. These lackeys of the legislative faction would never ask for anyone's opinion. Wang Xi's long-suppressed anger surged up again. Wang Xi saw a group photo on the wall featuring Kosa from the New World United Organization, who had given a TV speech, alongside a young man in a white coat. Clearly, this man was the owner of the clinic. "Puppets" of the legislative faction. This faction was the group advocating for the standardization of brain-machine interface usage. It was this legislative faction that allowed Wang Xi to make money, but these elites would never consider the opinions of the poor. Those who gave the dreams are now the ones taking them back, "Just like tonight, these 'lackeys' tampered with my mind without permission." Wang Xi will probably be on the front page of the Legislative Party's news tomorrow, presented as a social story, while the Legislative Party sings their own praises. Suspicious, Wang Xi shakily left the hospital bed, searched the entire clinic, and took some valuable items before leaving. There's no need to be at odds with money. Under the cover of night, Wang Xi escaped back to his own room. The brain-machine LSD supplies were still there, but he was more concerned about whether he could connect to the "Oasis" LSD. The brain-machine was incompatible. He went to a black market clinic, hoping to get it fixed, but was told that his cybernetic brain had been tampered with at the code level, and the only way to replace it would be to swap out the entire brain computer. Wang Xi didn’t have enough money for such an ordeal. The next day, Fu Zhi saw Wang Xi during the day. "Your hand's healed up quite quickly. Young people really do have strong recovery abilities," Dr. Fu remarked, seemingly unconcerned about Wang Xi's theft. As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Xi's fist struck Fu Zhi's face, causing him to stagger back a couple of steps. "Give me back my neural implant." “…” Fu Zhi remained silent; he simply stood up, wiped his glasses, and pressed an ice pack against his face. “You still haven’t paid me your medical fees.” “What money does your legislative faction need? You’ve already earned it all.” Fu Zhi gestured for Wang Xi to find a place to sit, seemingly unconcerned that Wang Xi was a fugitive. “Don’t try anything funny!” Fu Zhi’s calm demeanor only infuriated Wang Xi. This white-haired old man lived a life that ordinary people could hardly attain; he could choose to save someone, decide whether to accept payment, and even have the power to determine whether someone could dream. Wang Xi no longer has a brain-machine interface, cannot verify goods, and cannot access the Oasis; from a technological standpoint, he has been forcibly degraded. One argument against the legislation is the "degradation" theory, as the lower-class people can no longer accept life without brain-machine LSD, which is one of the few cheap pleasures in their lives. The wealthy can afford better algorithmic brain computers, while the poor can only sink into brain-machine LSD. Now, they want to confiscate it all. "Calm down, kid. I mean no harm. The girl you wanted to protect is safe now, and you don’t need to worry about your brain-computer interface; it’s just temporarily shut down." A 12-year-old child certainly can’t intimidate anyone. Fu Zhi continued, "Right now, you’re just a mess. Getting rid of the brain-computer interface would be good for you." "What good does that do? Will it help me avoid being beaten by a man twenty years older than me? Will it keep me from starving to death in a rundown place in the black market district?" "I don’t know what you’ve been through, but this is how the world operates. I'm sorry for what you've experienced." "You'd better shut up. You have no idea what you're talking about." Wang Xi lit a cigarette. The doctor wanted to say something but fell silent. "Sometimes I don't know whether to hate you or thank you. Do you really understand what you're doing?" "Of course, child, we're purifying." "So when you were developing the brain-machine interface, you were polluting things? You really are hard on yourselves." "That's right; some developments always take unexpected turns. The brain-machine LSD shouldn't exist at the civilian level at all. There are many risks you don't even know about." "But these high-tech gadgets have created a false sense of prosperity along with significant tax revenue, so are you choosing to turn a blind eye?" Fu Zhi was taken aback; the 12-year-old boy had actually spoken those "words." "Everything goes in cycles, and the current cycle indicates that human society is in rapid decline. Since you understand so well, you should know what I'm talking about." "I really don't get it, Dr. Fu. I don't care about any nonsense theories; I just know that when you bring something into this world, you have to take responsibility for it." "Of course I'm taking responsibility." "You think you're present, but you're not. Talking to you is a waste of time. Schedule a brain-machine surgery for me, or your clinic is going to have a rough time." "You think having a brain-machine will make things better? I've seen plenty of people like you. You believe you'll have it all, but it's just an illusion. You can't possess it, just like you can't talk to that girl." "You invaded my memories!" "This is the truth about brain-machines. Their illusions come from your memories, hallucinations, dreams, and delusions. What did you expect? This is big business, much bigger than the one you're involved in." Fu Zhi was calm as he gently touched the ring on his finger, lost in thought. "You can consider it. I can certainly restore your brain-machine interface functionality. However, you need to decide whether you want to face reality or dwell on the past. The choice is yours." Act Five: Childhood Memories Six years later, 18-year-old Wang Xi woke up. Before waking, he had been experiencing a long dream repeatedly. It was a memory from the winter when he was 12 years old: For a long time after his 12-year-old self was rescued by Fu Zhi, he didn’t see that girl from Luocheng High School again. He eventually learned through inquiries that she had transferred to a school in another city. Rumors circulated that the principal had coerced her to leave and even threatened her family. After that, Wang Xi's school days turned into visits to the clinic. He would regularly have "conversations" with Fu Zhi until one night, when he returned home to find that it could no longer be called a "home": it had been completely burned down. Naturally, the LSD he had stockpiled over the years had vanished along with it. Wang Xi felt a bit dazed. His phone rang; it was "Master" Fan Renlun calling. "Kid, I'm taking the goods now. You won't need them anymore anyway. Don't blame me for not being lenient; you got yourself into trouble, and I have to protect my business. Tonight, I suggest you head south; there will be fewer of their people around." "What do you mean?" "Do you remember those thugs you beat up? One of them was the son of the black market boss in Luo City. They were taking care of your business, and you nearly turned one of them into a vegetable. Now that they’ve heard you’re still alive, they’re really worried. I can’t do anything about it, so let's leave it at that. Oh, and by the way, your goods are top-notch. All those years I spent teaching you were worth it. Good luck." "Fan Renlun, you’ve always known." "I have no reason to support a worthless person who doesn’t make any money. Goodbye." The phone call ended. "Who the hell do you think you are?" Wang Xi's surroundings were eerily quiet. A steel needle pierced his thigh, causing him to collapse to the ground. A group of people in black hooded raincoats emerged from four alleyways. Wang Xi didn’t want to die, but at that moment, he was undoubtedly just a breathing piece of organic matter. "Hmph, gathering so many people to kill me? You really think highly of me," he said, propping himself up with one hand. "Come on! Make it quick, will you?" Another steel needle stabbed into his arm. Wang Xi knew that before he died, he would be tortured alive. There were over a dozen hooded figures, all silent. The steel needles, like emotionless machines, pierced Wang Xi's body one by one. Later, he discovered that these individuals were all "Angel Syndrome" addicts. They had connected to the "Angel" brand horror movie module the day before the incident. Subsequently, they were hacked simultaneously through a backdoor, plunging them into a state where they could not distinguish between hallucinations and reality. The hacker remotely manipulated the progression of their dreams through this backdoor. In the minds of these "walking corpses," Wang Xi was merely a flesh target in the movie's plot. The 12-year-old child lay in the rainwater, the color of the blood indistinguishable in the night, faintly reflecting a dark red light. In the moment before consciousness faded, he heard the sounds of police sirens and helicopters. This was the entirety of the dream. This scene repeated many times, until Wang Xi finally requested to stop the playback, at which point he slowly woke up. The scene above depicts the mandatory mental resilience test conducted by the police force's special operations unit before new recruits join. The test involves connecting the participant to a testing module that quantitatively repeats their most traumatic memories while simultaneously monitoring various hormone levels. This assessment determines the mental criteria for eligibility to join the special operations unit, with only the best candidates being selected. The setup of the testing room in the police hospital reminded Wang Xi of his childhood, as he had spent six years in a clinic. On that night six years ago, Wang Xi's survival depended entirely on the code Fu Zhi had written in his brain-computer interface. The original intent was to track Wang Xi, gather clues about the black market leaders, and follow the leads to find the true controller of "Angel." Before 12-year-old Wang Xi was to be executed, Fu Zhi alerted the police to rescue him. He had also booked plane tickets to reunite with his wife and daughter, but he was forced to cancel them. This delay stretched on for six years as he became Wang Xi's guardian. After being adopted, Wang Xi often berated Fu Zhi, calling him an unscrupulous and dirty adult. However, it seemed that Fu Zhi was determined to prove him wrong; the harsher Wang Xi cursed, the more effort Fu Zhi invested in teaching him. Six years later, 18-year-old Wang Xi was about to graduate from the police preparatory academy and officially join the police force. Old Fu could finally express to Wang Xi the wish he had always held, with full justification. "You used to say I was an irresponsible adult. After these six years, I hope you've changed your opinion of me." "Does my opinion matter? But still, thank you for raising me." "Hmm, you've been my best 'patient' over the years. After joining the police force, make sure to work hard and don’t get into trouble with your boss. I need to leave for a while to go to New Canada. I'm entrusting my home in Lo City to you." Fu Zhi's daughter experienced a decline in her natural brain function due to an update in her brain-machine code, and Fu Zhi was going to handle this issue. He also needed to address matters concerning his wife and daughter. Two years ago, Fu Zhi started occasionally flying to be with his wife, and now this departure is likely to be for a very long time. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to choose," Wang Xi said. "Do your best, and don’t let your boss down." Act Six: Memory Fragments October 19, 2109 I saved a 12-year-old addict. Things are much worse than I thought. I thought I was ready to reunite with all of you, but I can’t. I’m sorry, Lisa. October 20, 2109 I went to the department for a meeting today, and the operation is ready. After all these years of preparation, I hope it goes smoothly and that we lose fewer brothers. Who knows, I might kick the bucket tomorrow. October 21, 2109 I got a little hurt today, but it's nothing serious. The addict I saved earlier is named Wang Xi. I picked up information about the black market from his brain-computer interface. I mentioned this to my colleagues, but it seems to have caused some trouble. November 1, 2109 The bureau issued a notice stating that I can't leave until the operation is over. They need the data from Wang Xi's brain, which contains long-term memories about the black market that could help the higher-ups track down some previously untraceable leads. My task is to obtain Wang Xi's natural brain. These animals. November 30, 2109 I canceled my return ticket. I can't bear to watch this child's brain being taken out, and I can't accept that I'm the one responsible for all of this. February 15, 2110 Today, as usual, I had a conversation with Wang Xi. Traditional psychotherapy is much slower than directly extracting the brain, but it has the advantage of being "ethical." It's ironic that I, who have abandoned ethics, am discussing ethics today. March 20, 2110 It was learned from other sources that the person Wang Xi had previously beaten was the child of a black market boss. Due to a failed brain-machine interface replacement that resulted in natural brain death, they couldn't find a way to vent their anger and wanted Wang Xi to pay with his life. Fortunately, we arrived in time; otherwise, it’s uncertain whether this guy would have even been left with a whole body. March 24, 2110 The attackers of Wang Xi have been identified. They hacked into the brains of "Angel Syndrome" patients and implanted kill orders. This is no longer just a simple case of social violence. The virus was written very simply and has a strong capacity for replication. March 26, 2110 There have been multiple incidents of "Angel Syndrome" attacks, resulting in a high mortality rate. The virus has spread across the dark web and is evolving at an incredibly rapid pace, as if propelled by supercomputer AI. March 27, 2110 Today, Wang Xi underwent brain replacement surgery. His black market brain-machine interface has been replaced with a police department-specific brain. Naturally, I don’t trust any brain-machine development institution or the nonsense they promote, and I never have. Wang Xi's brain will be the most difficult-to-hack combination of a natural brain and a brain-machine interface in the world. April 20, 2110 Wang Xi is no longer of any use to the police station; these people have more important tasks to attend to than dealing with the black market. Lisa, I don’t plan to reunite with you in New Canada just yet. I want to help Wang Xi join the police force—not for any other reason, but because my feelings for him have grown to be more like family. His mind will be the most unique and securely protected information processing center in the world. Only he knows the garden there. Isn’t this the world I’ve always dreamed of? It’s just that we never truly appreciated it. Act Seven Ends: Oasis Wang Xi woke up to a morning in the year 2125. The television was broadcasting the news: Last night, Luo City's largest LSD black market was completely dismantled. A total of 25 police officers lost their lives, 57 key figures of the black market were shot dead, and over 1,200 suspects involved in the illicit trade were arrested. Instead of feeling joy over the triumphant report, Wang Xi reflected on the childhood dream he had just experienced, as if everything had only just come to an end. In the dream, he saw the black market, Old Fu, and the brain swap attack, along with a scene he had never encountered before: He wore a leather jacket and rode a thunderously loud motorcycle, speeding along a straight prairie road with no signs or buildings on either side, and not a single line marking on the pavement. His speed wasn’t particularly fast; an eagle circled overhead while his hair fluttered in the wind. The road stretched toward the boundless sky, as if endless happiness and joy lay ahead. When Wang Xi mentioned this scene to Fu Zhi, who had now gone bald, Fu Zhi simply responded with a mysterious smile. Wang Xi didn’t press the matter further. Years later, Wang Xi became the founder of Luo City's public welfare organization aimed at stopping "Oasis," taking on the responsibility of providing brain-computer encryption and public welfare "regression" services for ordinary citizens. Old Fu had long since left, but the path behind "Oasis" would continue to reflect his intentions.