"The Eternal Father shall watch over each of His children. Every one of you shall receive the blessing of the Eternal Father. Your love must be directed toward the Party, the Nation, and the Eternal Father. Loyalty to the Party, loyalty to the Nation, and loyalty to the Eternal Father must be the greatest goal of your life." Each time the Eternal Father spoke a phrase, His people repeated it in unison. Massive electronic screens and broadcast speakers resounded with this chant across the land. These devices, since the moment of their creation, had never been turned off, and now the screens bore an additional message: "The Eternal Father now calls upon you to serve your homeland. Take up your arms—struggle! Struggle! Serve your nation! The Eternal Father shall bless you!"
Western Asian Republic, Earth:
The Salvation Machine project had proven successful and was now officially operational. Currently, 80% of Earth's regions had fallen under control. "Time will prove that we are undoubtedly right. Unification Day is near at hand. I believe the Salvation Machine will devise a perfect plan," Gray declared with confidence. He firmly believed that the Salvation Machine would bring a brighter future to all, for he had experienced the darkness of his youth and knew the agony it brought. That was why he now brought light to everyone.
Gray was born into a middle-class family. From a young age, his father frequently instilled political ideology in him, even teaching him how to deliver speeches. At 13, he gained fame within his class and organized a student protest, rallying nearly every class in his grade to vow to overthrow all their homeroom teachers. Ultimately, the principal reprimanded him, and he was expelled. Undeterred, he transferred schools and continued his so-called "revolution," but an event occurred that he would regret for the rest of his life.
One afternoon, at the age of 14, after delivering a speech in class and returning home, he discovered that his parents had been murdered. The psychological impact was profound. Police investigations later revealed that the killers were a few weaker students from his grade. Likely due to his parents' advanced age and frailty, combined with the group's numbers, they were overpowered and killed. These "weaklings" had long been targets of Gray's criticism—he believed such individuals were unfit to survive in society and that only superior humans deserved to thrive, with the weak requiring suppression and unconditional obedience. Perhaps these students had finally reached their breaking point with Gray, leading them to murder his parents. From that moment, he became convinced that human civilization lacked rationality. He believed that reason could eliminate all weakness and that the world needed efficiency. At 20, he enlisted in the military, viewing it as a way to strengthen his willpower. His performance was outstanding, and he was swiftly promoted to sergeant. Soon after, the Western Asian Republic's campaign to reclaim the Southern Isles began. He narrowly survived several deadly encounters, once even spared by an enemy's mercy. Through repeated promotions during the war, he eventually rose to the rank of brigadier general. Though the war ended in defeat for the Western Asian Republic, this loss provided him the opportunity to stage a military coup. He skillfully inflamed nationalist sentiment, gaining widespread support, and by then had become a general. Following the coup, he seized power and ignited the Fourth World War, aiming to rule Earth with absolute rationality.
"Great Leader, these are the documents you need to review today."
"From now on, leave all matters to the Salvation Machine. I will no longer handle any state affairs. You may go." Gray placed almost complete faith in the Salvation Machine. "It seems, in the end, AI truly saved humanity," he murmured to himself, setting down his teapot. Watching the construction of a quantum collider through surveillance feeds, Gray opened a terminal and searched for two names: Karl Lisbon and Irene Castor. He summoned the Salvation Machine and ordered it to bring these two individuals before him.
"So, how have you been lately?" Miller asked with concern.
"Haha, not bad. At least… I can still see the light," came the reply with a hint of warmth.