The Millennium Bug of the World

"You wear it not only for combat, but also in your daily life, and you haven't made any lightweight modifications to it. So you're doing this for its function of covering your face?"

"..."

Lin was too lazy to answer her. Anyone could guess why he was wearing a helmet; there was no need to explain further.

Qianqi's silver-gray eyes, similar in color to her hair, rolled around.

"The more something is hidden, the more people want to see it. You understand that principle, right?"

"..."

"I was curious when I first discovered your file. Everyone else has photos and information about when they joined Firemoth, but you didn't leave any photos or videos of your real appearance. I even took a selfie. So why was it that you were able to join Firemoth without your appearance being recorded?"

"..."

How did you do that?

"I told them I had severe burns."

"... You 'told' them? So you didn't actually get burned?"

"..."

Lin turned his head and met Qianqi's interested gaze, but he glanced at her unmoved and looked away.

Qianqi was the one who knew him the least, so it was understandable that she would ask such a question, but right now... he didn't want to chat with her.

A certain negative emotion that had been building up in his heart was about to overwhelm him. This was a feeling he had never experienced before, probably because of the discovery that Kevin and May might actually be the murderers who massacred the entire headquarters...

To avoid venting this overwhelming emotion on unrelated people, Lin just wanted to go back to his room and be alone for a while.

So he stood up...

"Don't rush, there's plenty of time."

Someone grabbed his hand, and Lin turned around only after he was unable to move forward, looking at the girl with a cold gaze that had no warmth in her smile.

To be honest, even now, Lin can't completely trust Qianqi.

Kevin and Mei are highly suspicious, and Qianqi's problems are not insignificant either. It seems that multiple people reside within her body, and the cold-blooded aura she exudes from time to time tells Lin that this person is definitely not as sweet-smiling and innocent as she appears.

"Look, there's no one else here. Can you take off your helmet and let me see it?" Seeing Lin stop, Qianqi clasped her hands together and gave him a friendly smile, pleading, "I promise I won't tell anyone! Just satisfy my curiosity, okay?"

"..."

No answer? Does that mean you're agreeing?

"...No."

Lin remembered someone telling him that he shouldn't take off his helmet in front of others, except in necessary situations and with the special case of Mobius. Lin would never take it off without permission.

... Strange, why can't I suddenly remember who that person is?

Lin looked at the girl so close to him with a puzzled expression. It seemed that a piece of his memory was missing. He only remembered that someone he knew had asked him not to take off his helmet, but he couldn't remember who that person was.

They should be people you know very well, so why...?

Moreover, when he recalled other important events, the main characters of the original events inexplicably disappeared.

"Huh? Why? Did anyone tell you not to take off your helmet?"

"I... no, I didn't..."

Lin shook his head. He felt that those memories were like scenes from a dream, too unreal. Isn't that what dreams are like? Nonsensical, without a subject, without perception, and sometimes even confusing normal memories with dreams.

So those things were just dreams?

"Then let me see it~ Please~" Qianqi pleaded like an ordinary girl, shaking his arm, while Lin, after a brief moment of confusion...

He nodded.

So he released Qianqi's hand, unbuckled his helmet, then placed both hands on either side of the helmet and slowly lifted it up until...

His entire face was revealed.

Qianqi laughed, her eyes narrowing with pleasure.

"Hmm, very good, Lin."

"Especially her expression, it looked exceptionally beautiful."

Chapter 150 The Millennium Bug of the World

September 17th.

Have you heard of the Millennium Bug Incident?

Qianqi put down her keyboard and mouse and asked a question out of the blue.

"..."

"When the Gregorian calendar crossed from 1999 to 2000, the computer systems that used two decimal digits to represent the year were unable to perform the date calculations for the new century, resulting in errors and causing a world-class malfunction and system crash, which was known as the Millennium Bug Incident. However, the Y2K bug did not actually happen."

"Whether it was heavily guarded against or its harm was exaggerated, the Millennium Bug Incident did not actually cause any major disaster, and it is hard to even call it a disaster. It was really just a mistake, just a 'bug'."

"After hearing about the Millennium Bug Incident, I kept thinking that if humans experienced an event that was beyond their comprehension, such as the leap from 1999 to 2000, would a 'bug' similar to the Y2K bug also occur?"

"Humans are unlikely to go crazy just because they see the number 1999 become 2000, but if they keep repeating 1999, treating one year as a cycle, and experiencing a dozen or even a hundred cycles, will that create a human 'Y2K bug'?"

"This is a question worth exploring."

Lin put down the gleaming pistol in his hand and glanced at her sideways. "Even if we repeatedly experience 1999, human agency will not allow us to repeat the same things every year. Humans are not machines, so your assumption is not valid."

"Really? I feel like that's just how humans are."

Qianqi's smile looked exceptionally beautiful against the backdrop of the screen's fluorescent light.

"No two leaves in the world are exactly alike, but leaves of the same kind do not look very different. Humans are the same. Although each person seems to have different thoughts, they are actually just a group of 'different leaves'."

"It's like most people would choose selfishness over altruism, and even the methods they use are similar."

"Humans are just more advanced machines. Computers operate according to 'programs,' while humans operate through 'ideas' and 'thoughts.' In comparison, there is no difference between the two that is so great that they cannot be completely unrelated."

"... Why are you saying all this?"

"Haha, it's just a spontaneous thought. After all, you probably can't imagine what a truly 'ordinary' life is like."

Qianqi smiled and spread her hands, appearing completely unguarded. "Even if I don't say it, you know yourself that your personality, your experiences, and your appearance are among the most unique in most people, so you are intentionally hiding it."

"..."

"Not saying anything again? Well, that's right, after all, that's 'Lin,' being a silent, icy man is your defining characteristic."

Qianqi smiled innocently.

"Speaking of which, Kevin hasn't 'found' any clues in Einstein's room yet? Should we go investigate?"

Unchanging... Unchanging... Unchanging...

These four words permeated her life. When she first realized it, she hated them. Now, she couldn't even feel that kind of emotion anymore; all that remained was numbness.

When did she realize that she was actually no different from everyone else?

When you're good-looking but occasionally see someone more beautiful? When you have good grades but struggle to surpass truly outstanding students? When you come from a well-off family but constantly see wealthier people walk past you?

She is indeed "good," but that's about it.

What will her life be like next? A predictable cycle of graduation, work, and overtime? Then, like her parents, she'll find a "good" partner, get married, repeat their "good" life, have a "good" child, and watch her child repeat her own life?

This made her feel nauseous and wanted to vomit up all the stomach acid.

One should accept one's ordinariness—but she couldn't.

There are seven billion people in this world, and perhaps 90% of them are living much worse lives than her, but she has no intention of simply living a peaceful life.

Be the unique one.

Such unconventional ideas had long been deeply rooted in her heart, and gradually grew into a huge desire as her life remained unchanged. Finally, one day, she tentatively took the first step.

Whatever it is, she wants to be different from others.

She didn't want to live the same life day after day, to play the same person in an endless loop of time. She wanted to be different people, and to be able to become completely different people at any time.

She was a "worm" born from an error within this enormous machine called the world.

She is the mistake itself.

So she began to play different roles: the obedient daughter in front of her parents, the arrogant girl in front of her classmates, the indifferent student in front of strangers, and the cheerful girl in front of her teachers...

She found that her superb acting skills had no impact on her daily life; on the contrary, they made her even more comfortable. But this was far from enough. The slight difference in the face of these "ordinary" things was not enough to satisfy the growing desires in her heart.

One day, she came into contact with the Dark Side of the internet, and it was then that she discovered how interesting the human world could be.

People who seem boring and monotonous in real life can put on a mask and do crazy, deceitful, and hypocritical things online, and they can be just as popular as they are in real life. Moreover, no one cares about your identity here.

This is the special place. From that moment on, she decided to become a resident of "this place" and began to study hacking techniques and knowledge like crazy.

She was right; she was indeed the most suitable person for this place because her talent for hacking was unparalleled.

She plays different characters in real life and online, wielding considerable influence online and becoming increasingly famous, yet she is still not satisfied.

Of course, she had thought about how to satisfy herself.

On an ordinary night, a "person" disappeared from the world. Her birth certificate, household registration, family relationships, educational background, and all other information that could prove her existence were erased. After leaving behind a large sum of money obtained through the black market, she left her home.

No, it's the world on the surface.

One person dies, one hacker is born.

Thus, she completed the most unique step in her life: she killed herself and created herself.

There is nothing wrong with someone who craves to be "special," and she is just one of them, isn't she?

For the Children's Day special, of course, it's Miss Mobius's turn to appear.

Under the dazzling starlight, Lin stood in the night sky, letting the wind pass through his hair and lift the empty corners of his clothes.

There stood a person in front of him, standing silently, in this place where no one would come, looking at the person who had invited him out.

A conspiracy unfolds in this unknown location...

"Kosma, did you bring everything?" Lin Jingjing waited for the midnight bell to ring, the distant and ethereal voice echoing as he opened his eyes expressionlessly.

"Phew... I brought everything." Kosma also heard the bell that symbolized the start of the plan. After hesitating for a moment, he quickly brought the burlap sack on his back to his face.

Lin glanced briefly at the contents, snorted, and then looked Kosma over.

Lin shook his head in great dissatisfaction. "You're dressed too flashy."

"Really? I was just wearing my usual outfit."

Kosma green hair was not conspicuous in the night, but his orange pupils were like two bright lamps made of starlight, echoing his name "Radiant Sun".

In addition, he was wearing the uniform designed by Eden, which might not be conspicuous under normal circumstances, but since they were planning to do something sneaky, it seemed inappropriate.

"Don't you have any other clothes?" Lin asked, frowning as he hid his face in the darkness.

"There is none left."

"Okay, then let's disguise it and not seem too suspicious."

Lin and Kosma nodded simultaneously, and in perfect unison, they each pulled out two pairs of stockings from their pockets and put them over their heads.

"..."

"..."

They stared at each other in silence. Lin wore black stockings, while Kosma wore white stockings, both serving their purpose of completely concealing their faces.

... It wasn't very secure; the horn on Kosma's head poked two holes in the stockings.

But probably no one will recognize him...

Lin silently glanced at Kosma's horns.

"...cool."

Kosma gave a thumbs-up under Lin's cold gaze.

As for the source of their stockings... it's best not to say.

"Action."

The disguise is perfect; now it's time to execute the plan.