Throughout history, those who truly guided the direction of an era were, at the root, only a handful of people.
Most of the time, such leaders represented the collective will of those they led. After all, when power levels were similar, cooperation without shared views was nearly impossible.
But this time was different.
Although Morin stood as the leader, those about to be led were not even on the same level of power.
Which meant that even if Morin chose a path completely opposed to the will of the majority...
It wouldn't matter.
He could still reach his goal.
That was why the Oracle had lost her composure earlier. It was the first time she had encountered someone like Morin-someone who didn't care, at least on the surface, about others, and who also possessed the terrifying ability to alter data itself.
She had considered a direct solution.
Destroy Morin's nutrient pod in the real world. Cut the problem off at the source.
But when the Sentinels arrived...
The pod was empty.
The more alarming part was this-
The Matrix had no record of it.
None at all.
This was the first human in history to leave the Matrix without being monitored.
Before this, every so-called "escape" had been logged. Zion included. That so-called human sanctuary was nothing more than a controlled sandbox, a tool used by the Matrix to cultivate emotions.
All of it-
Had been part of the Oracle's plan.
But now, because of Morin's sudden appearance, everything shifted in a direction no one had predicted.
Even the Matrix had not anticipated this.
From beginning to end, the only known bugs had been the "Savior" Neo and the "mutated antivirus" Smith.
And now-
Another anomaly had appeared.
One who proposed a plan that could render all of the Oracle's efforts meaningless.
After discussions with the Architect, the Oracle chose to retreat.
After hearing his proposal, even she felt curious.
If all humans-believing they had "seen reality"-were suddenly told the truth, and truly realized that the world they lived in was virtual...
What kind of emotional surge would that create?
Could such extreme emotional fluctuations allow the Matrix to evolve without relying on the Savior cycle?
"If-and I mean if," Neo asked inside the car, "we really expose the Matrix to everyone... how do we handle people leaving it? Food, shelter, everything."
"Good question," Morin nodded. "It still comes down to choice."
"When we explain things, we hide nothing. We tell them exactly how it is."
"Those who want to stay in the virtual world... can stay."
"Then..." Neo's eyes widened. "The Matrix will still exist?"
"No," Morin said calmly. "The Matrix as it is now will not."
"What will exist is another Artificial Intelligence. One that doesn't restrict humans. One that provides assistance where it can."
"AI isn't inherently evil. It's an inevitable product of technology."
"Prevention is fine. Eradication is excessive."
"Of course," he added, "AI that has already acted against humanity doesn't deserve mercy. Erasing them is the optimal solution."
"Then where does that AI come from?" Neo asked seriously, recalling the Oracle's cryptic words.
"An AI I modified," Morin replied. "Maybe we'll meet her... in the real world."
"You don't look like someone who just came out of a nutrient pod," Neo said, staring. "Where did your clothes come from?"
In the real world, liquid food stolen from the Matrix was considered a luxury. Clothing was worse.
Morpheus and the others wore outdated garments. Their skin was pale from years without sunlight.
Morin was different.
His clothes looked expensive.
His complexion was healthy.
His movements showed no trace of recent weakness.
"I went to the surface once," Morin said casually. "Dark clouds everywhere. Minor issue."
"If not for that port," Morpheus said from the shadows behind him, "I'd doubt you came from the Matrix at all."
He glanced at the port Morin had formed using [Mechanical Mastery].
Purely decorative.
"You're tall and muscular yourself," Morin replied.
Morpheus's face darkened.
It already was.
"Oh, right." Morin waved his hand. "I should introduce her."
The Red Queen stepped to his side.
"Red Queen," Morin said. "An Artificial Intelligence. After the Matrix falls, she'll take over."
"Hello," she said politely.
"We're not here to build a stronger Matrix," Morpheus objected immediately.
He still trusted the Oracle.
And he didn't trust Morin.
"I know your concern," Morin shrugged. "But I'm not here to negotiate with you."
"If Neo weren't here, I wouldn't even have met you. You can't really help me."
"The plan proceeds as scheduled."
"I'm leaving."
"You can't just act on your own!"
"Why do you assume you must be right?"
Morin left those words behind, waved once, and departed with the Red Queen.
He had no intention of boarding the ship.
The port might technically work-
But the idea of a needle that long entering his brain was not appealing.
"...You don't agree with his plan, do you?" Morpheus asked.
"Maybe," Neo said after a pause. "He's the one who's right."
"At least he's open. Direct."
"Unlike the Oracle, who only speaks in riddles."
"You have no idea how much she's helped us!"
"And what if everything she did was what she wanted?" Neo shook his head. "Morin made his goals clear from the start."
Nearby, Cypher leaned against the wall.
Arms crossed.
Silent.
Smiling faintly.
Something was clearly on his mind.
"Cypher contacted me again."
"Deal with him this time," Morin said, standing at the edge of a skyscraper. "Send the video to Morpheus."
"Let him see."
"It's time to start. This place is boring."
Code everywhere.
AI everywhere.
The number of people he could talk to was pitifully small.
And even then, he couldn't speak freely.
Morin almost regretted his decision to slowly drag the Matrix into despair.
Why not just descend as Aatrox and end it?
Let them experience true fear.
As for why Aatrox-
If he annihilated them instantly, wouldn't that be zero gameplay experience for the opponent?
A restaurant.
"I've got massive intel for you," Cypher said with a grin.
"Speak," the Red Queen said coldly, disguised as Smith.
"This is huge. Bigger than you think."
"What do you want?"
"I want my consciousness permanently uploaded into the Matrix."
"Agreed."
"...What?"
Cypher froze.
Smith... agreed?
"I said agreed." The Red Queen moved her fingers.
Customers began leaving quietly.
One by one.
Cypher didn't notice.
He was too busy celebrating.
Too busy regretting that he might have priced himself too low.
After hesitating, he told her everything.
His guesses.
His observations.
The conversations between Morpheus, Neo, and Morin.
And of course-
The Red Queen.
He described her vividly.
Eyes like copper bells.
A face like a demon.
A threat to the Matrix.
"...Excellent," the Red Queen murmured, smiling. "You really remembered me."
"Of course!" Cypher nodded eagerly.
"Are you sure everything you said is true?"
"Absolutely. Not a word of lies."
"Good."
Her smile twisted.
Even Cypher sensed something was wrong.
Why was Smith so angry?
"Since your impression of me is so deep..." her body flowed like liquid.
Seconds later-
She stood there in her true form.
"Is this the appearance?"
"You-you-you-!" Cypher stumbled back. "You're the Red Queen!"
"Yes," she said calmly.
"You and Morin are together!"
"Correct."
"...Then we're on the same side, right?"
"No," she replied gently. "My Master intends to destroy the Matrix."
"I consumed this antivirus program."
"And regarding your description of me..."
"I am very displeased."
The sealed space dissolved.
The Red Queen, once again in Smith's form, walked out and transmitted the data to Morpheus's team.
Their reaction-
Was another story.
Because something far bigger was happening elsewhere.
"I've discovered a serious issue," the Architect said in the white void.
"What?" the Oracle frowned.
"A data point we previously dismissed as impossible."
The space shifted.
A glass-like floor stretched endlessly.
Logs from the three major AIs appeared.
One name dominated them all.
Morin.
"...This Morin," the Oracle said quietly.
"We investigated before," the Architect said. "The probability was negligible."
"Common name. Perfect data. No gaps."
"Too perfect."
"And that conclusion was based on known conditions," the Oracle said.
"And the unknowns?" she asked.
"If this Morin is that Morin," the Architect said slowly, "and if he truly possesses missile control and special abilities as Ava reported..."
"Why couldn't he also possess data capabilities beyond ours?"
"That defies logic," the Oracle shook her head. "If he could do that, he'd have erased us already."
"Yes," the Architect said. "It defies logic."
"But you're forgetting something."
"He's human."
"A human with power."
"With emotion."
"With uncertainty."
"And one who might act without any value at all."
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