October 2032, Sailor Valley, Sand Oil Nation
Prince Harufa of Sand Oil Nation had built a mirage in the middle of the desert, one that seemed both real and unreal. The sprawling cluster of smart cities stretched for nearly a thousand kilometers and had been named Sailor Valley.
Before officially opening it to tourists from around the world, Prince Harufa invited his partners, friends, and family to attend the trial opening ceremony. Michael, Daphne, and the mother-daughter pair Irene and Mandy were among those invited.
First, they toured the breathtaking minimalist postmodern architecture. Minimalist meant that the outlines and facades of every building formed strong, cohesive geometric shapes: cubes, spheres, and cones, like oversized children's building blocks.
The outer walls were made of special materials. They were like mirrors, yet absorbed infrared rays that could be converted into electricity and reflected ultraviolet rays harmful to the human body.
The buildings' exteriors were minimalist, but their interiors were full of variety, ranging from retro palaces to futuristic space capsules. Most common, though, were artificial natural landscapes: sunny beaches, birdsong and fragrant flowers, cascading waterfalls, and fresh air.
What drew the eye in the smart city cluster wasn't just the architecture and decor, but, more importantly, the "smart" in its name. Sailor Valley's biggest draw was its "unmanned" city.
Every service worker in the public facilities and commercial venues was a highly lifelike humanoid robot. Everyone tourists encountered—including receptionists, servers, and even police officers—was a humanoid robot.
Visitors felt as though they'd stepped into a dream where it was impossible to tell what was real. The question they asked most often was, "Are you a real person?"
The attractions Sailor Valley offered were also brimming with futuristic appeal. One of them had been Michael's suggestion: upon arriving in Sailor Valley, visitors could