After yesterday's treatment, Octavius has almost fully recovered, and he can once again go about his day as usual. Today, he has set himself the task of repairing his vintage car. Even though he doesn't really need to do it himself, as robots can easily handle the job, he's been feeling quite bored lately, so he decides to get hands-on. He quickly finishes his breakfast and heads to the garage with his repair robot.

Adjusting his goggles and straightening his work overalls, he earnestly asks, "Poppo, are you ready?"

"Of course. The repair principles, detailed disassembly instructions, and key tips have all been uploaded to the Brain-assisted storage. Additionally, the wall in front of you will display repair prompts based on the progress, and the key points and difficulties of the repair will also be projected beside you for easy reference. Moreover, all the information has been synchronized with the robot, which can provide real-time assistance. Finally, the parts that need to be replaced this time are on the workbench. You can start whenever you're ready."

"Let's begin!"

Octavius is completely clueless when it comes to car repairs. He has no understanding of how automobiles work or their internal mechanisms. In fact, his mechanical knowledge and repair experience are barely existent. However, thanks to the Brain-assisted technology implanted in his brain, these problems are easily solved. Nowadays, people no longer need to spend a lot of time learning theories and practicing skills. They simply need to give instructions to the Brain-assisted, which quickly obtains the necessary knowledge and transfers it to the brain. This way, users can immediately grasp temporary knowledge and skills (although individuals may differ in their ability to retain or master this knowledge; some people may remember or even master the information while others may quickly forget it). With its remarkable functions, Brain-assisted technology liberates humanity from long and painful learning processes and is recognized as one of the greatest inventions of modern times. Furthermore, the Brain-assisted technology integrates many traditional functions including health monitoring, communication, payment, and identification, becoming an essential physical extension for modern humans.

With the guidance of the Brain-assisted of the robot, Octavius quickly repairs his vintage car. However, car repairs are nonetheless physically demanding, and by now he is panting heavily and sweating profusely. He sits heavily on a chair, accepting the towel handed to him by the robot, wiping away the sweat from his body, and taking a drink to replenish his energy. As his breathing gradually returns to normal, he starts chatting with Poppo.

"Poppo, while I was fixing the car just now, I thought of Iron Mask. Do you know him?"

"Of course I do. Although most of the information about him was lost in the 'Data Cataclysm', the remaining information is very limited. But I still know that he was an extraordinary figure of that era and did many remarkable things at the time. According to research, his company even developed a prototype of Brain-assisted..."

Before Poppo could finish speaking, Octavius interrupted and said, "In your database, information about the period before and after the 'Data Cataclysm' has always been missing, so you don't know the details. He was indeed a legendary figure, and I will tell you his story in detail sometime. However, the products developed by his company are completely different from the structure and principles of Brain-assisted. They can at most be considered a part of the 'Life Pod'.

Octavius didn't wait for Poppo to finish speaking before he quickly took over, saying, "Before, I thought your database only had missing data from before and after the ' Data Cataclysm' but I didn't realize that even earlier data is so scarce. It seems you're also not familiar with many of the details. If there's time, I can tell you his story in detail. However, I need to correct one mistake; his company's products are completely different from brain-assist technology in terms of structure and principles. At most, their products can only be considered as a primitive component of a 'Life Pod'. The reason Iron Mask became so famous is closely related to the electric cars produced by his company, which is why I thought of him while fixing the car. It's hard to imagine now how popular electric cars were in that era. At that time, the electric cars they produced were seen driving through the streets and alleys of cities around the world. Even the number of their charging stations became a symbol of modernization for a city. If someone could go back in time and talk to Iron Mask, they would say:

"Hey there! I heard electric cars will soon be gone!" I bet he would have said, “Haha, gone? That's a shocking prediction! If your source is a time traveler, tell them to go back and fix their chronometer before returning with such claims."

Poppo responded, "After all, human cognition always has limitations."

Octavius sighed and said, "It's not just individuals who have limitations, every era has its own limitations. Actually..." He pondered for a moment, wanting to expand on the topic, but it seemed like he hadn't thought it through.

"Never mind, let's not talk about that." He returned to the previous topic and asked, "Guess what the biggest selling point of electric cars was back then?"

He didn't wait for Poppo to answer and continued, "You'll never guess! They believed that driving electric cars could protect the environment, protect the Earth, and protect humanity! Isn't it ridiculous? As for why it was considered environmentally friendly, their reason was very simple: electric cars don't emit carbon dioxide, that's all! Carbon dioxide, an integral part of the ecological cycle, has been unjustly accused by them as the primary cause of climate change. What's even more ironic is that the pollution caused by the batteries in electric cars was downplayed in the public eye. Everyone knows that the extraction of lithium and other rare metals causes significant pollution, yet they choose to turn a blind eye to this fact. They show little concern for the pollution that discarded batteries will bring to the future world. In other words, their pursuit of environmental protection may come at the cost of our present pollution levels."

Poppo replied, "From an environmental perspective, electric cars are not necessarily more environmentally friendly than fossil fuel cars. In fact, the overall pollution may be more severe and long-lasting. But if we change our perspective, perhaps what they meant by 'environmentally friendly' was the efficiency of energy utilization? After all, directly using electricity has a much higher efficiency compared to multiple conversions through fossil fuels or hydrogen."

Octavius nodded and said, "Perhaps you are closer to the truth with what you said. However, at that time, many people regarded carbon dioxide as the enemy of humanity and even implemented a 'carbon dioxide tax'. Such practices were just crazy."

"It seems like you think that era was just as bad as many periods in history?"

"No, that era can be considered one of the best times for humanity." He felt that his answer was not accurate enough and added, "Of course, it can also be said to be a bad era." These two sentences reminded him of something, so he repeated, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... Yes, just like that poem! Read it to me, Poppo!"

Poppo certainly understood Octavius's meaning and began to recite with a deep voice:

"This was the best of times, it was the worst of times;

This was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness;

This was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity;

This was the season of light, it was the season of darkness;

This was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair;

We had everything before us, we had nothing before us;

We were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way."

Octavius nodded in agreement. "Exactly, that's the poem! Ah, the answers were already given by our predecessors, but people always choose to embark on the path of no return."

"You mean, in that era..." Poppo didn't finish his sentence.

He exclaimed with a touch of indignation, "If it weren't for the invention of the ' Probabilistic Text Generator' and the instigation of the ' Black-Jacketer' there wouldn't be so many fools rushing into dangerous territories, causing chaos in the world."

" When profit beckons, even the savage beast that feeds on humanity shall be cared for until tragedy strikes."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

He sighed, "Yes, that's human nature."

During the peaceful afternoon after lunch, Octavius casually flipped through his collection of items. Suddenly, his Brain-assisted communication system popped up with a high-level appointment request. Octavius carefully checked and realized that it was Chairman Spencer from the Historical Research Society, personally extending a holographic call invitation to him. Octavius felt a bit flustered and instinctively straightened his posture. Initially, he intended to accept the invitation right away, but after hesitating for a moment, he chose to schedule the call for three minutes later. He then shouted loudly to Poppo, "Immediately help me prepare appropriate attire and tidy up my appearance! Hurry!"

"Yes, sir!"

In two minutes and forty-five seconds, Octavius appeared in the living room, looking radiant and appropriately dressed. At the third minute, Chairman Spencer's holographic image appeared in the living room, as if personally visiting, without any difference.

Chairman Spencer maintained his elegant demeanor, greeting warmly yet gracefully, "Hello, Octavius! It's good to see you again. I apologize for interrupting your research at this time."

Through the translation function of their Brain-assisted, they could fully understand each other's words despite using different languages. However, due to the nature of languages, the translation results often fail to capture the full semantics of the other language. It can only convey the main meaning. This problem has yet to be solved.

"Welcome, Chairman Spencer! You haven't disturbed me at all! Recently, I haven't finalized any new research projects and there aren't any other important tasks for me to handle." Although Octavius usually appeared lazy, he seemed unusually reserved at this moment. This was because, apart from routine meetings, he rarely had any private communication with Spencer. Their relationship was merely that of a superior and subordinate. So when Octavius received a holographic call from Spencer, he was very surprised. After all, a holographic call was almost equivalent to a face-to-face meeting, which made him even more nervous. However, considering Spencer style, Octavius was certain that the Spencer must have something important to discuss with him.

Spencer noticed Octavius's unnatural expression and decided to break the awkward atmosphere by speaking first. "No need to be so nervous, I just wanted to come and see you, and have a chat."

Octavius let out a sigh of relief and replied, "I wasn't nervous. Oh... please have a seat!" He extended his hand, gesturing for Spencer to sit on the sofa in the living room.

Spencer smiled and said, "It's a bit difficult to sit there, I'll just stay on my own sofa."

Octavius let out a sigh of relief and replied, "I wasn't nervous. Oh... please have a seat!" He extended his hand, gesturing for Spencer to sit on the sofa in the living room.

Spencer chuckled and said, "It's a bit difficult to sit there, I'll just sit on my own sofa."

It was then that Octavius realized his nervousness had made him forget that they were currently having a holographic conversation, not a face-to-face one. He quickly added, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please have a seat over there!"

Spencer glanced around at the furnishings in Octavius's home and nodded in satisfaction. "Your home decor is nice, filled with a cozy and warm atmosphere, something rarely seen in the old world." Then, Spencer furrowed his brows slightly. "But the home system seems a bit outdated. Is it because research funding and allowances are insufficient? It's my responsibility, being busy with other affairs, I've overlooked the living needs of such an important researcher like you."

"It's not like that, Chairman Spencer! I am quite content with my current income. Besides, my Brain-assisted version is relatively low and incompatible with the latest home systems. Also, this old system works just fine and meets my living needs."

"You can choose not to upgrade your Brain-assisted? I really didn't know that!"

"Yes, I can choose not to upgrade! Back then, my mother successfully sued the court and obtained the right to prohibit automatic upgrades of Brain-assisted and even the ability to disconnect from the system!"

"Oh! I remember now! That incident caused quite a commotion at the time and was one of the highly anticipated legal cases in the old world. I never thought you were that child from back then."

Octavius was reluctant to bring up the past. "I'm not exactly sure of the specific reasons, it might have had something to do with my mother's views. I don't know if it was right or wrong."

Spencer tried to defuse the situation. "Every mother will make the best choices for their children! Judging by your achievements today, her choice was the right one."

"You're too kind!" Octavius smiled, feeling relieved. "Thanks for understanding and your words of encouragement. I appreciate it."

After a momentary quiet in the living room, Spencer shifted the conversation. "You know, you've been a member of the association for many years. I'm really curious to hear your thoughts on the future development of the association. "

Octavius hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the question. After some contemplation, he replied, "That's quite a thought-provoking question. I must admit, I haven't given it much consideration. However, I have full confidence that with your leadership, the association will undoubtedly flourish."

Spencer chuckled. "Haha, I never thought our typically straightforward Octavius would have such a knack for flattery! Perhaps you've been inspired by influential figures within the association? Nevertheless, remember to stay true to yourself. You have your unique talents, and there's no need to pay attention to those who may lack genuine capabilities. Keep shining, Octavius."

"Uh, you're right. I'll remember that." Octavius replied, joining in the laughter with a slightly awkward smile.

Octavius, being perceptive, understood that Spencer was attempting to change the subject. Sensing the slight awkwardness in the air, he took the initiative and spoke up, "Chairman Spencer, is there something specific you wanted to discuss with me? Perhaps it's related to the job you mentioned previously?"

Spencer looked pleased and nodded before continuing, "You're quite astute, but it's unfortunate that we haven't had many chances to converse before." He paused for a moment, then proceeded, "As you are aware, the association is currently facing challenging circumstances. Due to the mass migration of people into the SU world, interest in the history of the old world has gradually waned, leading to a significant decline in attention towards the association. We haven't received any new donations or job offers in a considerable amount of time, and we're confronted with daunting difficulties. In fact, I've been contemplating the possibility of discontinuing the association."

Upon hearing these words, Octavius could hardly believe his ears. He had always regarded the association as an unwavering institution, unshaken by difficulties. The association is composed of social elites with high weights in weighted voting, seemed to guarantee its stability. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that the association would face such challenges. The fading attention and financial woes appeared surreal to him. If it weren't for Spencer personally delivering this news, Octavius would have dismissed it as a joke. Yet, confronted with this harsh reality, he couldn't deny the truth. A sense of déjà vu washed over him, as if he had experienced a major upheaval in the past...

Spencer noticed Octavius's reaction and proceeded, "Fortunately, we've recently been presented with a job opportunity that offers a decent compensation package. It is the project I mentioned to you before. I want to assure you that the employer is an exceedingly reliable organization, so you need not fret about their credibility. " Spencer held Octavius's gaze and continued, "Just the workplace, in the SU world that you don't quite like."

Octavius's expression turned uglier, but he remained silent, giving no response. Spencer had no intention of stopping the topic and kept on speaking, " This is an incredibly rare opportunity! They not only offer generous compensation, but also possess a formidable force and unimaginable resources. Once you join them, you won't have to worry about your livelihood anymore, and they may even help you achieve great success in your career!"

Spencer noticed a slight relaxation in Octavius furrowed brow, and he carried on speaking calmly and methodically, "Besides, the vast majority of people have already embraced life in the SU world, while the decline of the old world is irreversible. With your creativity and intellectual abilities, staying with our organization, or even within the whole old world, would not truly allow you to unleash your full potential. Only by entering the SU world can you find the excitement that awaits you, your very own stage."

Octavius continued to keep his gaze downcast and finally spoke again, saying, "I... don't have such lofty goals. I just want to live a peaceful life."

Spencer didn't give up and persisted in persuading, saying, "Interestingly, your ideas align perfectly with the philosophy of life in the SU world! Currently, the old world is facing scarcity of resources, a significant decline in living standards, and an increasingly inhospitable environment. On the other hand, the SU world not only offers unimaginable abundance of materials but also unparalleled excitement: breathtaking architecture, pristine surroundings, countless new and intriguing things, fascinating people, and countless unexplored mysterious realms."

Perhaps stirred by waves in his heart, Octavius's eyes swiveled occasionally, and he hesitated before saying, "But if I go, I won't be able to engage in archaeology and research anymore! All our research materials and artifacts are in the old world."

"I'm sorry, but that's indeed the case!" Spencer's expression also became somewhat more relaxed.

Octavius was quite disappointed with this answer. As he was considering how to politely decline again, Spencer added, "However, they have a large collection of digitally restored artifacts and almost all existing historical records."

Without thinking, Octavius asked, "Almost all? Even including the data from 'Data Catastrophe'?" He quickly realized that his wording was inappropriate and somewhat ironic. After all, this was a conversation with Chairman Spencer, not a debate with Poppo.

He was about to take back his words, but to his surprise, Spencer quickly replied, "Yes, even including the data from 'Data Catastrophe'!"

Octavius quickly explained, "I'm so sorry, Chairman Spencer! I didn't mean to argue with you. I just had some questions, and my choice of words and tone were not appropriate. I hope you don't mind!"

Spencer shook his head, smiling, and said, "I didn't misunderstand you, and there's no need to be nervous. I was just answering your question - they have data from 'Data Catastrophe' and more!"

Octavius widened his eyes, hardly believing his ears. "Ah?! They really have data from 'Data Catastrophe'?!"

Spencer maintained his smile and nodded. Octavius's face first lost expression, then unconsciously placed his hand on his mouth and cheek, before quickly looking at Spencer and asking, "If I work for them, will they let me see that data?"

"I can't guarantee 100%, but I believe the answer should be yes."

Octavius almost hesitated without any hesitation and said, "Great! I'll go! But please make sure they agree to show me the data from 'Data Catastrophe'!"

"Deal! I'll go discuss your request with them now and give you the final answer." Spencer's face showed a successful smile as he intended to end the call.

However, as Octavius thought again, his hesitation resurfaced. He quickly exclaimed, "Chairman Spencer, please wait a moment! Let me... let me think for another day, is that okay?"

Spencer showed no displeasure on his face regarding Octavius's change of mind. "No problem. Take some time to think it over. If possible, please give me a final answer tomorrow, alright?"

Octavius stood up quickly, expressing his determination. "Rest assured, I will definitely give you an answer tomorrow. I promise I won't change my mind again!"

Spencer also stood up from the sofa and walked up to Octavius, patting him on the shoulder from a distance. He spoke sagely, "Young man, you are still very young! Being trapped in this declining old world will only waste your talent and time. I hope you can make the right choice!"

Octavius tightly closed his lips, nodded with a serious expression, lost in thought.

After bidding each other a brief farewell, the holographic call was abruptly interrupted. The living room instantly returned to tranquility, with only Octavius, dressed neatly, slumped on the sofa, gazing blankly at the distant mountains.