Wade seemed to want to dismiss Yin Ning, and Zhang Beihai immediately said, "Mr. Wade, Nurse Yin Ning has always liked you. Let her stay for a while. Do you have any confidential matters to discuss with me?"
"Hahaha, it's not really confidential. The whole world knows about it. The United Nations Joint Government wants to invite you to join us. I think my department is good and I want to invite you to join."
"I'm not familiar with this era. Before hibernation, the most government work I had was logistics procurement for the intelligence agency. I'm afraid I'm not suitable for the job you're offering me, right?"
"Of course, if Colonel Beihai is not willing to accept the government's invitation, you can also work for some gaming companies. I'm sure someone will come to invite you in a few days. But as a fellow countryman, I advise you not to go there. It's boring to be like a mascot. After all, you have worked in intelligence and administrative positions, so I think you are fully capable of this job. Moreover, in this era, artificial intelligence technology has made significant progress, so there is very little you need to do."
"Is the job not dangerous?" Zhang Beihai half-jokingly asked.
"Hahaha, the joke is funny, but of course not, unlike our time, full of fighting and killing. Just like you, your superiors sent you to carry out the mission of assassinating Wu Duanxing, right? Hahaha, we ancient people, completely outdated thinking. In this era, you haven't even taken out a weapon yet, and the identification system of the United Company has locked onto you. Hahaha, Brother Beihai, times have changed. Thirty years ago, the breakthrough in artificial intelligence technology changed every aspect of society. Now, there is only one murder case every five years worldwide. This is technological progress that cannot be resisted." Wade said, placing his hat on a chair next to Zhang Beihai.
When Wade made this move, he happened to be behind Li Geyu, triggering Zhang Beihai's training memory.
Wade continued, "This time, the Presidium is even willing to let you become the first leader of our department. As long as you are willing to apply, the people have deep grievances against our department for these years of corruption. As a newcomer, everyone will think that you bring fresh air and will be willing to trust people like us from the Common Era."
Zhang Beihai pondered for a moment and said, "Hmm, I need to think about it. By the way, do you have a paper appointment letter? Sorry, I just came from that era and still prefer the retro style..."
"No problem," Wade interrupted and said, "I knew you might like paper things. I brought the pen from that time when I came earlier. It's in the bag on my front desk. I'll go get it now." Wade said, and then walked out.
Just as Wade walked out, Zhang Beihai casually picked up his hat and said, "Oh, Wade forgot to take his hat. I'll go give it to him."
Zhang Beihai took the hat and walked out. Wade was waiting for Zhang Beihai at the elevator in the corridor.
Wade smiled at Zhang Beihai and said, "Not bad, your intelligence training is quite solid."
Zhang Beihai handed him the hat and said, "Are you trying to avoid Yin Ning or the deputy officer?"
"Li Geyu and the others were sent to monitor me. Fortunately, you can understand my hints. I don't have time to explain so much now. I just used a small tool to block the nearby image collection system. It won't last long. You must listen to me and accept this appointment. Then I will have a chance to tell you some things. It will be very dangerous for you and me to be separated in this situation. Only by cooperating can we be invincible in this world."
After Wade finished speaking, Zhang Beihai hadn't had a chance to ask further questions when the door behind him opened again...
The door behind him opened, and Yin Ning came out.
Zhang Beihai and Yin Ning were both startled and relieved at the same time.
Yin Ning looked at our expressions and smiled, "I suddenly remembered that Colonel Zhang Beihai hasn't brought his electromagnetic identification card. After going out, you might not be able to come back in. So, I came out to pick you up. Come and get your electromagnetic identification card quickly, okay?"
Wade quickly interjected, "Colonel Beihai, why not get it when you go to our department in a few days? Otherwise, when you go through the inspection, you'll have to get it again, two shots in a row... " He patted Zhang Beihai's shoulder as he spoke.
Yin Ning smiled and said, "Oh, you people from the Common Era always like to make decisions for others. Colonel Beihai hasn't decided whether to go there yet. You should go get your pen from the last century."
After saying that, she stood at the door, blinked at Zhang Beihai, and gestured for him to come in.
Zhang Beihai smiled at Yin Ning, patted Wade's back, and walked into the conference room.
In the instant Zhang Beihai entered the room, he met Li Geyu's sharp gaze, hidden deep beneath his beautiful and gentle eyes. Zhang Beihai speculated whether he could guess that we had already communicated once. Since entering the meeting room, Li Geyu had been sitting quietly in a corner, not saying a word, as if this person didn't exist in the room. This reminded Zhang Beihai of the training he received when taking the course "Emergency Techniques for Intelligence Personnel," where he learned indoor scene handling skills. Today, Li Geyu's choice of seating was clever. He could monitor the entire room and observe the situation outside through the crack in the door when it was opened. And if an emergency occurred, he could quickly reach the door.
After Zhang Beihai sat down, he asked Yin Ning what an electromagnetic identification card was and why it needed to be injected.
"Well, I dare not say I know the principle of it," Yin Ning turned her head and smiled at Li Geyu, "Don't laugh if I say it wrong! I've forgotten all my knowledge of electromagnetic physiology."
Li Geyu smiled and nodded. Yin Ning turned to Zhang Beihai and said, "Well, it's a kind of radioactive substance. It enters your DNA, and then the detection of this radiation can authenticate your DNA and confirm your identity. One injection is effective for life. How about that? Isn't it stronger than your identification cards, facial recognition, fingerprints, and iris in your time? " Yin Ning smiled lightly. She continued, "Isn't it different from what the third-rate science fiction writers in your time wrote? Haha, when they talked about identity authentication in that era, it was always a person standing in front of a gate, and with a swish, facial recognition succeeded, and the door opened. Hahaha, now it looks so funny. The face is so easy to modify and forge, how could it be used as an ID? Only this kind of radioactive substance combined with specific DNA, as it is now, can determine your unique identity."
Zhang Beihai smiled and said, "Yes, times have changed, and everyone has their limitations. Who could have thought so far ahead? Does everyone have this electromagnetic ID, similar to our passports, ID cards, or driver's licenses back then?"
"Yes," Yin Ning rolled up her sleeve and said, "Let me show you the one I had when I received the electromagnetic identification card. Look, see this black dot on my little arm? Everyone who has been vaccinated has this. You can touch it."
Zhang Beihai hesitated for a moment, and Yin Ning promptly took Zhang Beihai's finger and pressed it on the small black dot on her arm, saying, "Look, can you feel a slight bump?" She looked into Zhang Beihai's eyes and smiled gently.
As he looked into her eyes, accompanied by the spring breeze, Zhang Beihai felt a little flustered, and his heartbeat accelerated. She suddenly covered her mouth and burst into laughter, saying, "Haha, why are your ears turning red?"
"Ah? Are they red? Is it because of the cold during hibernation?"
Yin Ning let go of Zhang Beihai's hand and said, "Then you should get the injection, right?"
"Can't we do it today?"
"No, this injection is very important. It's not just for identification, but also for payment, credit, security, voting, and so on. If you don't have the electromagnetic identification card, the police will interrogate you and consider you a criminal. You won't even be able to go in or out of any doors. The injection doesn't hurt. Do you want to give it a try?"
"What did Wade mean when he said I could go to the government to get vaccinated?"
"Police, military, and government public service personnel receive a special type of electromagnetic identification card when they start working. It's for work purposes. If you choose to accept the appointment, they will prepare the vaccination for you separately, so you don't need to get it from me. Are you really considering going to work there?"
Zhang Bei Hai suddenly understood why Wei De was so anxious to find him and didn't want him to get the electromagnetic identification certificate here. In plain terms, the electromagnetic identification certificate is a monitoring tool. If Zhang Bei Hai doesn't get it now, he can have a day or two of monitoring blank period, which is convenient for Wei De to find an opportunity to pass on some information to Zhang Bei Hai.
"Why don't you go there to work? Didn't you say he's doing well?" Zhang Bei Hai asked.
"That's what they say, but there have been rumors of corruption in the public relations and logistics departments for the past seven or eight years. It would be good if you can make some changes by going there, but I still don't want you to get involved," said Wan Yi Ning.
Zhang Bei Hai thought to himself that this situation is not so simple, and he wouldn't be a small sheep in this game.
At this moment, Wei De pushed the door open, but he didn't have any pen or paper in his hand.
Wei De pushed the door open, but he didn't have any pen or paper in his hand. He explained, "My memory is so bad. I clearly remembered putting the pen in my bag just now, but when I checked, it wasn't there. Well, Mr. Bei Hai, tell me, are you willing to accept the government's appointment? The procedures can be completed later."
In fact, Zhang Bei Hai had already considered this question just now. Taking a government position would allow him to strive for the greatest initiative, have more extensive contact with political figures, and collect more information to understand what is happening now.
"I think I need to consider it. What is the position you're offering?" Zhang Bei Hai asked.
"You would be the second-in-command in our department, responsible for some logistical procurement. There will be professional civil servants to help you organize information, and you just need to sign some documents," Wei De explained.
"The second-in-command, hmm... What are the daily duties of the first-in-command then?"
"Similar to yours, also signing documents, but with a broader scope. Plus attending some government events and participating in administrative meetings of the United Government, etc."
"Are you quick to adapt?"
"Very quick. I started working a few weeks after joining the government. In fact, the work in this era is not complicated. There is a powerful weak artificial intelligence to help you handle tedious paperwork, and there is already an established work model to help you plan workflows. There are social deduction simulation algorithms to predict policy feedback effects in advance. There aren't many parts that require you to rack your brain, and you don't need to spend a long time training for professional skills."
"Hmm... I see. So, can I become the first-in-command?"
"The first-in-command?"
"If you can adapt so quickly, I suppose I won't have any problems either."
"But... the work of the first-in-command is very cumbersome, and it requires separate approvals..."
"Either the first-in-command, or I won't go. Let me have some fun as a fellow villager. I'll do it for five or six months, and then you can take over, how about that?"
"Haha, I didn't expect Mr. Bei Hai to have such a desire. Alright, no problem. Does this mean you agree? I can handle the rest of the procedures for you."
"Yes, thank you, Wei De," Zhang Bei Hai said with a smile.
Wan Yi Ning chimed in, "Colonel, are you afraid of my vaccination needle?"
"Of course I'm afraid. I've never liked getting shots since I was a child. Every shot avoided is a shot saved."
At this moment, Li Ge Yu, who had been silent all along, interjected, "The appointment process for the first-in-command may take three days. During this time, your travel may be a bit troublesome. I suggest you get vaccinated here first. You can explore the airspace of Brisbane during that time..."
"Oh, it's not necessary. I'll get vaccinated in two days," Wan Yi Ning interrupted, "Besides, there are plenty of vacation days. It's not too late to go out and have fun later."
Zhang Bei Hai was a little surprised, "What, is this Oceania?"
"Yes," Wan Yi Ning said, "It's now the year 2100. A lot has happened in between. The United Nations has become the United Government, and the previous governments have disappeared. Australia is now the location of the United Government. You shouldn't go out sightseeing these days. It's better to catch up on history first."
Wei De smiled and said, "For the next few days, you can stay at my place. I have some materials there for you to browse through, and we can take care of the vaccination process there."
Wei De went to the office, leaving Zhang Bei Hai alone in his house, watching the documentaries Wei De had prepared for him. The changes over the past few decades were truly significant.
First of all, the trend of globalization was unstoppable, and relations between countries became increasingly close. As a direct consequence, governments disappeared. People in the 22nd century realized that they didn't actually need so many governments, one was enough. So, gradually, under the push of various forces, the United Nations became the only government and was renamed the United Government.
As governments declined, the power of communities rose.
It started with the "Great Migration" wave in the 1950s, comparable to the "hippie" wave of the previous century. The Great Migration began with people from interest communities on the internet wanting to live together, so they gathered offline in communities based on their hobbies. Music lovers gathered in Lisbon from all over the world, painters gathered in Hangzhou, math enthusiasts gathered in New York, electrical engineers migrated to California, and debaters migrated to Tel Aviv... In this way, with such a large migration background, cities also experienced internal migration. Those who loved gardening moved to the countryside, calligraphy enthusiasts joined calligraphy communities, and those who loved traditional Chinese storytelling joined storytelling communities.
The Great Migration wave was the result of the accumulation and development of internet community culture for five or six decades. From BBS to forums, interest communities, and finally, this decades-long "Great Migration" wave.
Secondly, there was the gaming industry revolution and the rise of the "Game Party" in the 2060s. With the continuous development of artificial intelligence technology in the 2040s, the gaming industry and gaming technology progressed rapidly, eventually deeply integrating with traditional industries. Combined with the "Great Migration" in the 2050s, which greatly liberated people's minds and promoted communication between people, many brilliant ideas were constantly created, and technological progress was rapid.
In fact, the "Great Migration" wave is somewhat similar to the Renaissance. It began with the liberation of thought, followed by the gaming industry revolution, similar to the first industrial revolution after the Renaissance. The deep integration of gaming and industry blurred the distinction between work and play. This naturally led to the emergence of "Game Parties." Games naturally have unions, communities, and other organizations, which then transformed into political parties in the real world. The major party of the United Government now, the "Winterma Party," has been around for a hundred years.
In an era of great development of productivity and increasingly diverse thinking, left-wing ideology and idealism became the mainstream of society. In order to curb the greenhouse effect, in 2070, the United Government legislated to achieve global paperless offices. In 2080, due to ethical issues with general artificial intelligence, the United Government established an Ethics Committee for Artificial Intelligence to conduct ethical reviews of the manufacturing of general artificial intelligence and regulate the industrial processes of weak artificial intelligence.
The documentary was fascinating, and the immersive devices made Zhang Bei Hai feel like he was there. However, during the part about paperless offices, Zhang Bei Hai noticed some inexplicable stuttering, as if that part was repeated. But in this era, there shouldn't be such errors. Could it be that Wei De had tampered with it? What information did he want to convey to Zhang Bei Hai?
When Wei De left in the morning, he didn't say anything unusual, just jokingly pointed at a coat and said he wanted to give it to Zhang Bei Hai to wear at the inauguration ceremony.
Does this have anything to do with paperless offices?
Zhang Bei Hai slapped his forehead, why didn't he think of it?! Paperless offices are already in place now, so most information is transmitted through electronic systems. The documentary mentioned that by 2090, 98% of people no longer knew how to write with a pen, and writing had become a dying traditional craft. Therefore, the government only focuses its monitoring on all electronic devices, but Wei De and I come from 80 years ago, and we can write!
Thinking of this, I picked up his coat and naturally put it on. When I reached into one of the pockets, I indeed felt a few pages of paper hidden inside...