Hianyan had no idea how solid the alliance he had formed with the Calosians truly was. Although he told Edmond that he was more merciful than Labiba, it was a well-known fact that he looked down on the Calosians and worked them to the point of torment.
The factory was in a state of constant construction to prepare for the approaching war. The general secretary AI was barking orders at everyone, attempting to transform this factory into a military barrack.
"General secretary..." Hianyan called out toward his headset. "...can an AI detect if it has been infiltrated?"
"That is a situation that varies from one AI to another, sir."
"You didn't realize you were infiltrated," Hianyan said. "The camera footage was tampered with."
"I am sorry, sir..."
"It's not a problem, secretary. Because humans don't realize they're being deceived when they are deceived, either. But humans have a thing called paranoia, believe it or not. It's actually a psychological disorder, but sometimes it can be helpful to humans. Since you machines strive to be perfect, you don't have such glitches. Do you know how this paranoia affects humans? It pushes them to think about things that aren't logical... For example, a person can think they are being deceived out of nowhere. Yet, even if they were being deceived, they wouldn't realize it..."
"What do you mean, Master Hianyan?"
"It's very strange that the Calosians are helping TESO2 so systematically. Did you analyze the Calosians as I told you?"
"I listened to and analyzed their conversations."
"And what result did you get?"
"The Calosians seem very eager to help you."
"Why? Do they love me that much?"
"No... I wouldn't call it love. It's as if, deep down, they desire Labiba's death. They believe that with Labiba's death, things can change."
"It's quite strange that these people still have hope. But believe it or not, secretary, I have a theory. That someone instilled this hope in them. Isn't it a huge coincidence that the man named Edmond Kingsley arrived at our facility just as Labiba's transport vehicle set out? I think... I think the rebel Calosians were planning a great revolution from the very beginning. They are looking to make me a part of this revolution. And Edmond Kingsley is... he's a man of this revolution..."
While waiting for an answer from the general secretary, he watched the Calosians carrying crates of weapons around. There was another group of Calosians following robots with shovels in their hands to dig trenches. Some Calosians were taking off their worker clothes, which had been sticking to their skin because they hadn't taken them off for years, and putting on the civilian clothes given to them. Every Calosian who stepped into civilian clothes, according to Hianyan's thought, became more human. But... but while all these thoughts continued, no answer came from the general secretary.
"General secretary..." he said, bringing his hand to his ear. Was there a problem with his headset? "...is there a problem?"
Silence for a while longer... He played with the headset in his ear a few times, called out to the general secretary, but in vain... The general secretary was not answering. As he walked with quick steps toward the main entrance on the upper floor where the computer was located:
"Hello, dear Hianyan," said a voice in the headset. This voice was the voice of a very confident woman, rather than the general secretary's voice. But since the signal of the voice was strange, it sounded slightly crackly.
"Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter who I am, but you know what I represent."
"You... you are the programmer who infiltrated my secretary. You are a revolutionary..."
"Absolutely, dear Hianyan."
"And you have the audacity to show the courage to speak with me shamelessly, is that so?" The crowd wandering around heard his shout and looked at him with great surprise. Robots and Calosians resumed their work when they realized the factory's general manager was scanning them back.
"Shameless? Ah... do you expect humane behavior from a Calosian you see as subhuman on a planet you colonized with subhuman methods?"
"You are not a Calosian..." Hianyan said. "...you can't be. The secretary's AI is quite advanced technology. Who do you work for?"
"Congratulations... you managed to realize I am not a Calosian."
Searching the surroundings with his eyes, Hianyan managed to find the camera looking toward him. Whoever had infiltrated the system was likely watching him through that camera. He looked toward the camera and imagined himself looking into that woman's eyes.
"Who do you work for?" he asked.
"We don't work for anyone, dear Hianyan. Contrary to what you think, we aren't organizing a revolution either."
"Then why do you call yourselves rebels?"
"We didn't give ourselves this nickname. The Calosians gave it to us because that's how they want to see us." The woman's deep sigh was heard over the microphone. "Perhaps the Calosians were always waiting for salvation in their minds. That is why they attributed the title of revolutionary to us, called the man named Edmond a hero, and you became a savior. Now is a very suitable time for the change they want..."
"Nonsense! Revolution? Who could have put this idea into their heads? Other than you or my enemies..."
"Maybe this thought was in their heads from the beginning. In each of their heads... But collectively, they had no such goal. Their freedom of expression, their communication, and many other things were restricted by you. Now, this war has promised them a sense of unity. War brought them together. And it will continue to bring them together... And there is nothing you or I can do about it."
Calosians were whispering behind a container. A Calosian woman, upon exiting the production gate, fell to her knees and took off the gas mask on her face. With the happiness of breathing fresh air after years, she hugged her friends in tears. Her friends were welcoming every Calosian coming out of the production lines with applause.
"Either become the savior leader of the revolutionaries or die indifferently... Because... because the war has started once, and it doesn't need you to continue. The concessions you've made are so great that they are now irreversible. The war can continue without you..."
"I know..." said Hianyan, clenching his fist. "...once the arrow has left the bow, you cannot bring it back."
"I don't know what Edmond Kingsley promised you to convince you. Or what he did to convince you... But from what I see, that man is the only man on this planet with a plan."
As soon as this sentence ended, the revolutionary woman's voice was cut off. Under the weight of these words, Hianyan felt like Kingsley's puppet. It was as if that man had placed his hands over his head and was managing his every move.
"Master Hianyan... five minutes until the meeting... you are expected in the meeting room," said the general secretary.
"I'm very glad to hear your voice, general secretary. I'm coming... Also, there is a hacker who has infiltrated the system. I command you to find and bomb them."