Chapter 336 Titan Network
In the thirteen years since the catastrophe, in order to adapt to the harsh environment, the human survivors living in the shelter have changed their eating habits, economic system, and social system.
These days, the air, water, and soil are all contaminated by Titan cells.
The seeds sown in the farmland can only grow into mutant plants, like giant carnivorous plants, which attack farmers crazily.
Poultry and livestock also mutated into Titan beasts.
At first, people did not dare to eat these mutated animals and plants.
However, due to the extreme scarcity of resources, in order to fill their stomachs, they had to bite the bullet and hunt mutated animals and plants for food.
Over time, people summed up two rules.
Long-term consumption of mutated animals and plants can strengthen the body, make it stronger and more agile.
The crystal cores in mutated animals and plants can be ground into powder and eaten as seasoning. They can be absorbed by the human body and enhance mental strength.
The crystal cores that contain magical power have uses beyond just food.
One of the two most important ingredients in the formula of the cancer inhibitor developed by Solomon Corporation is the crystal nucleus.
Traditional fossil energy and nuclear energy have been contaminated by Titan cells, becoming unstable and unusable as fuel.
In recent years, Solomon Corporation has launched a new invention of the chemical age that can extract the magic power in the crystal core and convert it into electrical energy.
With the advent of crystal core generators, various vehicles, including cars, have been reborn.
After some modifications, power can be restored under the drive of the crystal core.
In this way, crystal cores with a wide range of uses have become the most valuable resource in the Age of Cataclysm, and are also the most trusted universal currency.
In the old days, the difference in combat effectiveness between human individuals depended mainly on the weapons used.
They were all mortals with fragile flesh and blood. There was no essential difference between them in terms of physique, agility and mental attributes.
However, in the Age of Cataclysm, stimulated by Titan cells and the long-term consumption of mutant creatures and crystal cores, humans underwent a complete evolution .
The gap between individuals is greater than that between elephants and ants.
The Solomon Company conducts regular censuses of residents under its jurisdiction.
The survey items include physical, mental and supernatural powers, etc.
Based on the comprehensive score, residents are divided into four levels.
In fact, not only humans, but also Titans and mutated plants are subject to this classification standard.
Class C: Ordinary people who can maintain sound sanity after being infected by Titan cells. Most of them have telepathic abilities, and a few have evolved not-too-strong superpowers.
In the ruins of Kang Town, the African female giant killed by Phoenix, and the mutant carp and mutant jellyfish in the lake are all C-level mutant creatures.
Class B: Mutated creatures with powerful supernatural skills, including but not limited to mind reading, hypnosis, illusion, telekinesis, and the ability to utilize various elemental energies, collectively referred to as "Awakeners."
Phoenix, spewing "shock waves", barely stepped over the threshold of "awakener".
Cato's "Spirit Spear" and Annie's "Jet Engine" that uses wind magic to assist in flight and combat are both standard B-level superpowers.
Allen's atavistic transformation was initially mistaken by Cato as a B-level superpower.
Later, it was discovered that Eren could transform back into human form while in stone giant form, and only then did we realize that his strength was not limited to that.
Anne saw things more clearly than Cato.
She had begun to suspect that this hierarchy system for measuring mutants was not applicable to Allen, who called himself a "prophet"!
The common feature of stronger A-class mutants is the ability to use their minds to break down their bodies into discrete particles of matter, teleport them a certain distance away, and then reassemble the body.
The distance and accuracy of the transmission depend on the spiritual attributes.
Because of this characteristic, Class A mutants are also called "Wanderers".
Cato and Anne knew no more than ten “wanderers.”
The strongest one among them is Professor Butler, their adoptive father.
Allen felt that by this standard, he could also be considered a "wanderer."
After all, he can use magic to teleport.
The S-level beings at the top of the mutant social pyramid are called "reincarnators".
It is said that the "reincarnator" can forcibly inject a portion of his own Titan cells, along with his spiritual imprint, into another person's body.
Through mental imprints, commands are given to it, just like manipulating a puppet.
There is an even more terrifying legend...
When the "reincarnated person" dies unexpectedly, the soul will automatically transfer to the body of the person being imprinted, devour the latter's soul, occupy this body, and be reborn.
The title "Reincarnator" comes from this.
Cato and Annie have not yet come into contact with real "reincarnated people".
Professor Butler seems to be the person closest to this state, but he himself has repeatedly denied that he has the ability to reincarnate.
Dr. Solomon publicly admitted that he was the first human to be promoted to a "reincarnator" since the catastrophe.
As for whether there are other reincarnated people in Solomon Corporation?
There is no conclusion yet.
In Allen's opinion, the superpowers of the "reincarnator" are equivalent to a combination of the "Magic Soul Pot" and "Cloning".
If the rumors are true, the "reincarnated" can also use similar methods to control inanimate objects, such as guns and vehicles.
Then, we have to add the "object activation technique".
Alan can simulate these methods using prayer.
But taking everything together, even he would find it difficult to do.
I have to admit that the "reincarnator" does have some skills.
Corresponding to the power system in the warlock world, it is roughly equivalent to an 8th to 9th level warlock.
However, shortly after making this judgment, Alan realized that he had still underestimated the mutants in the wasteland world.
Many years ago, Dr. Solomon and Professor Butler collaborated to try to use Titan cells as a carrier to rebuild the wireless Internet of the old era.
The scientific research team led by the two ultimately achieved success.
This spiritual network built with human beings as hardware is the first generation "Titan Network".
Through the Titan Network, people can understand their own status, share information, and form online communities in a data-based and intuitive way.
The Internet ecology of the old era seems to be back, and it does not rely on hardware facilities. It is more convenient and flexible!
However, it didn't take long for people to realize that Titan Network was a double-edged sword.
From C-class to S-class superpowers, with the assistance of the Titan Network, they have become more powerful and more versatile than before.
For example, C-level "telepathy" can only sense life signals within the field of vision.
Now, with the help of the Titan Network, you can communicate remotely with friends hundreds of miles away.
The B-level superpower "mind reading" was originally only able to detect the thoughts of creatures that were right in front of it.
Now, with the help of Titan Network, by locking a real-name registered ID, you can "follow the network cable" to spy on what the other person is thinking .
The A-class "Wanderer" relies on the Titan network to greatly expand the transmission radius.
You can come and go freely in the radiation area of Titan Network!
The most terrifying are the S-level "Reincarnators".
It is said that one can back up one's own soul and upload it to a network server!
The spiritual imprint of the "reincarnated person" is uploaded to the Titan network, which is equivalent to a Trojan virus.
Internet users who have been implanted with the "Trojan horse" have unknowingly become the backup bodies of the "reincarnated person".
The reincarnated person can achieve "reincarnation" by downloading the soul backup into the spare body.
To be precise, it is invading and plagiarizing other people's lives.
The sparks created by the collision of superpowers and the Titan Network bring huge security risks.
To eliminate these hidden dangers, either refuse to go online or improve Internet regulations.
The first option, the Metropolitan Shelter under the control of the Solomon Corporation, is not feasible.
Residents of the Metropolitan Shelter must register an online ID with their real name, which is equivalent to an ID card in the era of disaster.
Residents with a legal network ID can get free housing and cancer inhibitors, as well as security guarantees.
As a price, people must accept a network agreement, the so-called "Solomon Agreement."
Those who sign the agreement voluntarily accept real-time physical sign monitoring, and if the cancer warning value exceeds 10%, they will be forced to receive treatment.
This agreement, which is nominally aimed at improving Internet regulations, caused huge controversy as soon as it was launched.
Supporters believe that accepting online monitoring can better prevent criminal activities and help maintain the safe environment in the shelter.
What is more important is to detect those infected with severe cancer in time to prevent them from losing control of their mind and self-destructing and hurting others.
In the Age of Cataclysm, the average life expectancy of newborns infected with Titan cells is only 20 years old.
With online monitoring and timely treatment, the average life expectancy can be extended to 40 years.
Most people feel that sacrificing some privacy in order to prevent crime and double their lifespan is not unbearable.
Opponents believe that the "Solomon Agreement" has set a bad precedent. Once people accept this unfair agreement, they will be forced to give up more privacy and freedom in the future, until they become complete slaves.
From birth to death, every word, action, thought and idea is completely under the control of the chaebol group.
At the end of the debate, the majority agreed to the "Solomon Agreement".
However, when the "Solomon Agreement" was passed and implemented for several years, people were horrified to find that the opponents' original concerns were coming true step by step!
This network agreement continues to add clauses , depriving ordinary residents of their freedom and granting more privileges to those in power.
If you only look at the letter of the law, it seems that all residents are treated equally for criminal behavior.
However, in the actual implementation process, those in power can always escape punishment or get away with it by paying a small price.
For example, a "wanderer" broke into a girl's bedroom late at night and sexually assaulted her.
The victim later called the police and demanded severe punishment for the thugs.
This man claimed that he had "cyber sleepwalking" and had an unconscious teleportation, and mistook the girl's boudoir for his and his wife's bedroom, and then made the mistake that every man would make in that situation.
The Internet Circuit Court will hear the case publicly.
From jury to judge, the lowest rank is B.
The defendant was ultimately ordered to pay symbolic compensation plus six months of community service, and the case was closed.
There are countless similar cases.
Even if those in high positions have committed serious crimes and the evidence is overwhelming, and they are thrown into jail, they can still get a chance to reduce their sentences or be released on parole through plea bargaining, and after the limelight has passed, they can still live happily.
Today, an old joke still best describes the Solomon Agreement and its related legal provisions:
"The law, in its solemn equality, forbids the poor as well as the millionaire to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."
…
Cato and Anne's accusation of the "Solomon Agreement" reminded Allen of the aristocratic rule in the warlock world based on the theory of bloodline.
In the human society of the Cataclysm Era, not only do strict class barriers still exist, but the oppression of the upper class on the lower class is even more cruel than that of the warlock world in some ways.
Those who cannot tolerate the "Solomon Agreement" would rather give up all benefits, including free housing and medical care, and live in long-abandoned subway stations or sewers, struggling to make a living.
What's worse, some people take the initiative to leave the shelter and seek survival in the wilderness where there is no security.
These people who have no online identity call themselves "recluses."
Professor Butler was once the most staunch supporter of the Solomon Agreement.
However, as time went on, he found that the agreement had deteriorated and became a shackle on the lower classes.
Professor Butler deeply regretted this and repeatedly called for the abolition of unreasonable network agreements, but was rejected by the board of directors.
The change in his position led to a complete breakdown of his long-term friendship with Dr. Solomon, and he was eventually squeezed out.
Having lost his power and status, Professor Butler faced the cruel reality.
In anger, he left the metropolis with his relatives, friends and students, and created a refuge called "Liberty City" in the ruins of the city thousands of miles away to shelter those who fled the metropolis.
Although he left the metropolis, Professor Butler did not completely abandon everything in the past, especially new technologies that have been proven to be beneficial to human society.
After all, technology itself is neither good nor evil.
In Liberty City, Professor Butler led the construction of a crystal core power plant and a pharmaceutical factory that produced imitation cancer inhibitors.
The greatest achievement was the creation of the Titan Network, which was open to the hermits.
Compared to the "Solomon Network" in the Metropolis, the "Escapist Network" in Liberty City is actually a low-quality pirated product, lacking in all its functions.
The biggest advantage of the latter is that the network protocol is more relaxed.
Apart from monitoring cancer symptoms, there are no restrictions on Internet users in the city.
In service areas outside the city, Internet users even have the right to refuse monitoring, as self-detonation outside the city will not harm innocent people anyway.
After more than ten years of development, the population of Liberty City has exceeded 100,000.
In order to better manage the city and resist the invasion of Titans and Solomon Corporation's mercenaries, Professor Butler created a hermit militia organization called "Wings of Freedom".
Cato and Annie are both members of "Wings of Freedom".
Even the two of them had to admit that the loose militia organization "Wings of Freedom" was far inferior to the well-armed mercenary group under the Solomon Company in terms of combat effectiveness.
"Wings of Freedom" excels at guerrilla warfare. If they confront the Solomon Mercenaries head-on, their chances of winning are almost zero.
Over the years, Solomon has repeatedly attacked "Wings of Freedom" but has not been able to completely eliminate the organization.
Cato believes that this is because Solomon is unwilling to make too great a sacrifice to destroy Liberty Wings.
Anne sees it differently.
She felt that Dr. Solomon was not a completely cold-blooded capitalist. At least he still had some friendship towards his old friend Butler and could not bear to kill him.
