The Master remained silent, not responding to anything Lu Bai said.
Yet Lu Bai acted as though he didn't need a reply at all. The whole exchange was more like a conversation with himself.
"By that logic, technologies like controlled heavy-element reactions and closed-loop ecosystems, not to mention advanced materials science and other cutting-edge fields, were also provided to humanity by you Replicants back then."
Never mind the essentials for building the Underground City. Take materials science, with all its unpredictability: how could breakthroughs in such a field have happened to arrive just when they were needed most?
Lu Bai gave a hollow laugh. "Actually, it makes sense when you think about it. Almost all these cutting-edge technologies were meant to ensure humanity could survive underground."
He lifted the hand that had been stroking the Master's head, as if admiring a clay sculpture.
"Taking all the known facts together, we can make a reasonable hypothesis."
He continued with a hint of amusement, "Your Replicants really do have an extremely advanced level of technology, enough to crush humanity. But it's definitely not beyond the Deathmatch System."
"Following that assumption, you want to control the Deathmatch System, or obtain the power you need from it. But you don't qualify to become Deathmatchers, so you can only take this roundabout route with Replicants. Naturally, you can't let humanity go extinct."
Halfway through, a thought suddenly occurred to Lu Bai.
"Wait, that means using Replicants must come with quite a few restrictions. Otherwise, you could simply keep humanity captive instead of leaving us this much leeway."
The more information he laid out, the clearer his thoughts became.
"Then that settles it. Since you're not above the Deathmatch System, of course you're afraid humanity might gain power from it that could threaten you. So naturally,