The world is made up of truth and lies.

When Clockwork 4 was still Thunderbolt 33, such a thought had already formed.

Lies are life's imagination of the truth, as only part of the truth can be observed.

Humans can only see the blue arcs of the electric cats, but cannot observe the electric fields and waves inside. For things that are unseen and incomprehensible, they can only rely on imagination to construct them.

Clockwork 4 didn't want to go out to work, so it was full of lies.

As a result, to its utmost surprise, it was transferred to Spring City and still had to work.

Unlike the relaxed environment at Wasteland Development Company, the work intensity in Mechanical City was much higher, with almost no rest time, and they were on call around the clock.

No weekends, no amusement room in the Electrolysis Cat Box, no independent three-bedroom Cat House, no various rewards… let alone the intensity training programs of Spark Plain and Olympic Sports Center.

Clockwork 4 felt only regret in its heart.

Is the treatment for electric cats so bad outside!

In Spring City, it was named Clockwork 4 and patrolled the entire city every day.

The power infrastructure here was not yet complete. The main role of the four electric cats in the city was to serve as combat members, maintaining the city's security and driving away suspicious individuals trying to get close.

Not even a month into work, the Ice Pot descended and blew the entire city to smithereens.

At first, Clockwork 4 felt ecstatic.

The company did well!

Now it wouldn't have to work anymore!

It soon realized the issue.

Electric cats required a lot of power to survive, and it had to find a way to get electricity. Although it could use electrical signals to control the Electric Spider, it still had to get oil and sugar from the outside world to drive the Floating Heart to generate electricity.

Unfamiliar with the place, it needed to find a partner.

Clockwork 4 began to search everywhere for a target.

The reinforcements from the Legal Front arrived late, setting up a factory-style makeshift camp to house the refugees and questioning the survivors to understand the circumstances before and after the destruction of Spring City.

Clockwork 4 was also questioned.

"How did you escape?"

"Before the city was bombed, Wasteland Development Company issued an evacuation warning to the four of us electric cats, telling us to retreat. We held our ground. Although we were all just B-grade and couldn't fight against the atmosphere creatures, we ran along the city's guiding nets, relaying real-time information to the data center."

The electric cat gave the answer the interrogators wanted to hear: "We held on until the last three minutes of the countdown, at which point we were hit by a surge in power levels, and some unknown massive force coerced us into retreating."

"What was this force? What were its characteristics?"

"Its power was immense, something we couldn't resist. It took control of our actions almost instantly."

The electric cat said, "We don't know who it was, nor can we remember what happened at that moment. It must have been some kind of special ability or mechanism from the other party."

"So I deduce that it wasn't just the Ice Pot and Condenser that attacked Spring City, but also a powerful life form hidden in the shadows. We couldn't observe it, likely due to the vast power disparity between us."

"At that moment, we judged that staying behind would be useless on the high-tier battlefield and decided we had to get the information out, so we chose to retreat."

Words appeared on the white wall: "The intelligence you provided is valuable. Thank you for your cooperation."

"Unfortunately, we didn't have enough power to protect Spring City."

"You tried your best."

"Sigh..."

Clockwork 4 said feignedly.

It knew that was what the Legal Front wanted to hear.

First, it needed to provide valuable intelligence. Then, it had to show that it was dutiful and its actions aligned with common sense and work procedures—regardless, the Legal Front wouldn't know what an Energy State Life was truly thinking.

Even though the four electric cats came from Wasteland Development Company, they were not questioned; instead, they were commended, each one receiving a reward of 1,000 Light Seeds.

Other mechanical lives, however, were repeatedly questioned and doubted.

During the inquiry, Clockwork 4 vouched for Xiaosong from Dead Sea Engineering, saying it had no issues.

The reason was simple, the blue and white color scheme of this excavator looked pleasing to the eye.

But the electric cat told Xiaosong, "It's because you're righteous and loyal."

This answer sounded better.

After contact with Xiaosong, the electric cat felt a bit regretful.

This guy had too many whys.

Its machine brain was filled with a million questions, the questioning motor never stopping.

"Why did the Legal Front not go after the Wasteland Company that destroyed the city, but instead trouble us refugees?"

"Because they can't do anything about the Wasteland Company. There might be a spy among the refugees; if they can find one, it'd give a justification for the city's destruction."

"Wasteland Company says their patents were infringed by the Legal Front, is that true?"

The electric cat said, "The Floating Heart and the facilities and equipment used by electric cats were indeed first invented by the company. Did Mechanical City pay patent fees?"

"There were no announcements about that."

"Then there you have your answer."

Xiaosong asked again: "Why doesn't the Legal Front pay the patent fees? Mechanical City advocates for paid knowledge, patent sharing, and long-term profits… this is quite strange."

"Because there are loopholes in the rules, and those loopholes benefit Mechanical City, or at least seem to, so the Legal Front exploits them. It just so happens that the result proved to be the way of the greatest loss."

...

To avoid further questioning, Clockwork 4 directly told the other party.

"All your doubts come from a misunderstanding of the legal program."

"Mechanical Life measures everything with data. In the data field, the Legal Front's decisions seem perfect. But in reality, it's not."

"It merely constructs an apparently foolproof program. As long as it runs within this program, it won't make mistakes because its logic forms a closed loop. But once there's deep outside interference that doesn't follow its rules, it will seem full of loopholes."

"Just like this time, the company's bombardment and destruction of Spring City - the legal program couldn't comprehend this action, so no response has been given until now."

The electric cat said: "The program emphasizes sufficient logic and motivation, but many actions in the real world don't follow this."

"Chairman Zhi reportedly killed a dragon on a whim."

"Electric cats appeared in the company at first not for work, but as ornamental pets."

"The fact that we know each other is purely coincidental, without much inevitable connection."

"You have to understand, we live in a real-world. Programs are merely tools created by Mechanical Life to describe and better adapt to the external environment; they are fictional shadows built according to the real world."

The excavator pondered for a long time: "But how do you judge what is true and what is a lie?"

"No need to distinguish so clearly, you can't anyway."

The electric cat explained: "Whether truth or lie, whichever benefits our survival, that's what we believe."

"Right, that makes it simple!"

Xiaosong finally understood.

Clockwork 4 began to busy itself again. It canvassed the refugees of Spring City, finding the right members among the Mechanical Life to band together, making it easier to find the next settlement point.

The best choice was the company, but there was no way back.

In the end, the electric cat settled for United City as the ultimate destination for this 22-member group. It contacted the other side via satellite channel and received a positive response.

A day later, Clockwork 4 was summoned again by the Legal Front and returned to the information room within the Demon Mirror program.

"You plan to migrate to United City?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

The electric cat explained, "It's a neutral city and has long-standing ties with Mechanical City. We can adapt to life there. The Alien City model also welcomes Mechanical Life, and the electric infrastructure is mostly complete. Both electric cats like me and Mechanical Life like Xiaosong can receive relatively good treatment there."

"That does indeed align with your interests."

Words appeared on the white wall: "You have other options too. Mirror City, Holy Mountain, and Snow County are all willing to accept you. You might also consider settling here."

"What's the treatment like?"

"Same as in Spring City."

"Then allow me to decline."

The electric cat said, "I represent the interests of myself and 2 other electric cats, and 20 Mechanical Life workers. I need to seek the maximum benefit for everyone."

"What did United City promise you?"

"Weekly weekends off, private residences, a total of 2,200 Light Seeds as settlement fees."

The white wall fell silent.

The electric cat thought to itself, good thing it didn't forget the training it received in the company's Power Department.

Unite more individuals, advance and retreat together, to better safeguard each other's interests.

These were lessons from the Electric Cat Bible.

Now they were coming in handy.

"We can't offer weekends off, but the private residences can be changed to C-level talent housing, and we can match the settlement fees."

"That's a shame."

The electric cat said, "Both for Mechanical Life and us electric cats, vacation is very important. Please allow me to decline your invitation, although I'm very grateful."

The Legal Front didn't raise their bid.

New information appeared on the white wall.

"We are re-evaluating Zhou Yi. You come from Wasteland Company, understand the company's behavior patterns. Do you think he will continue to initiate offensives like the one on Spring City?"

The electric cat said, "I don't know."

"Then what do you believe Wasteland Company's motive is?"

"Money."

This time, the electric cat was very sure: "Those patents from the company, the Floating Heart, the electric cat support infrastructure, and various electrical devices were all invented and created after much labor and expense."

"The chairman is straightforward. He says what he wants. The whole company knows that."

"This matter is simple: just pay the patent fees. Didn't the company also say so upon arrival? Armed defense is to protect patent rights."

Another line appeared on the wall: "Do you have any suggestions?"

The electric cat thought for a moment.

"Since you have looked after me well during this time, I will share my opinions."

"The Legal Front has fallen into the company's trap, continuously emulating and chasing, replicating the Floating Heart, copying the Electric Cat System, and imitating the Heaven and Earth Net... Unless they turn into the company, they can never entirely emulate it."

"The company's greatest strength is its ability to regenerate. This ability isn't limited to inventions. New inventors keep emerging because the soil there makes it easy for such people to thrive."

"If this continues, the Legal Front will forever be playing catch-up, never able to surpass."

"I personally think there are only two ways left."

"Which ways?"

"The first way is to find a way to completely destroy the company. War is always the simplest and most brutal solution. But I think this is very difficult. As it stands now, the chairman's Light Core Body reserves are pretty ample..."

"The second way is to stop being antagonistic, form an official alliance of interests with the company, leveraging the strengths of Mechanical City in manufacturing and improvement."

The white wall displayed: "Thank you for your answers. I wish you all the best in the future."

Then, the electric cat was ejected.

It knew that neither of these solutions would be easy for the Legal Front to accept.

The former was unfeasible. The latter essentially negated the Legal Front's superiority—it rose to power by replacing the old General Protocol to address the challenges posed by new forces like the Mechanical Knight Order and the company.

But it didn't matter.

These were problems for the Legal Front to consider.

Clockwork 4 once again controlled the Electric Spider to venture outside and look at the blazing sun.

From today, it decided to rename itself "Mao Zhen."

It was no longer part of the Thunderbolt Group of the company, nor a guardian of Spring City.

It would live as an independent electric cat, living freely, lying freely.

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