Adam Carter turned his head back. The people who had exited the city gate with him were scattered by the mechanical barrier, but after leaving the gate, they instinctively gathered together again, heading in the same direction. Adam Carter followed them forward, and after a few hundred steps, they turned a corner. The sign read: "Rail Transit." A train was stopped on the track, with the following written on its body: Entrance - Zone 1 - Supply Station 3 - Zone 5 - Zone 8 - City Office - Exit.

He boarded the train with the crowd and found a spot in a corner of the somewhat empty carriage. In the seat in front of him were two sturdy men, speaking in low voices.

"Back from Basin 3? You guys really risked your lives this time."

"Six people died."

"Not bad. Did you break even?"

"The military is still calculating. I think I won't have to risk my life in the wild for the rest of my next life."

"Whoa."

"We entered a school in Ruined City 411, it was full of mutant plants, no one dared to go in." The man chuckled, "But we went in, pried three hard drives from the library's archive room—priceless treasures. Now it just depends on how valuable the data inside is."

Adam Carter listened quietly. He didn't quite understand, but he could tell the man in front was very happy, so he felt a little happy too.

He knew that happy people were often willing to help others, so he called out, "Sir."

The man didn't even turn his head and said, "What is it?"

"How do I get to Zone 6?"

"Transfer to Train 2 at the Supply Station."

"Thank you."

Five minutes later, the train started moving, and a mechanical voice announced the station names. Everything was unfamiliar to Adam Carter. After several twists and turns and asking for directions, he finally boarded Train 2 at the Supply Station, got off at the right stop, and arrived at Zone 6.

Aaron Carter's ID number was 3261170514. This string of digits was not only proof of human identity, but also represented his address: Building 117, Zone 6, Outer City, with the doorplate number 0514.

However, not long after he got off the train, just as he was trying to find someone to ask for directions, he was suddenly grabbed by a young boy: "Hello, friend. Welcome off the train. Would you mind learning about us?"

Before Adam Carter could reply, a sheet of white paper was stuffed into his hand, with several blood-red characters written on it: Oppose the Dictatorship of the Judges.

He didn't understand, but didn't ask further, only said, "Excuse me, do you know how to get to Building 117?"

The boy said, "Would you mind coming with us for a bit?"

"...I don't mind."

"Then we're comrades now." The boy raised his own sheet of white paper, which also had several red characters: Abolish the "Judges Act."

They weren't the only ones holding papers. Soon, Adam Carter was pulled into a group of about forty people, all young-faced, each holding a similar white sheet, or two people holding up a long banner together. The sentences on the papers and banners were roughly the same.

"We voluntarily bear the cost of genetic testing."

"Human criminal judges."

"Dissolve the tribunal, bring justice to the innocent."

At the same time, the crowd was slowly moving forward, so Adam Carter could only move along with them.

The city's roads were very narrow. Sunlight shone on the buildings, which cast undulating shadows on the ground. Besides them, there were quite a few adults walking with their heads down. Occasionally, they would glance over, but quickly looked away.

Adam Carter: "What are we doing?"

"Silent protest," the boy said. "We'll march until the tribunal is dissolved."

Adam Carter: "...Oh."

After walking for about half an hour, he asked the boy next to him again, "Where is Building 117?"

"Up ahead, we're almost there."

Another hour and a half later, Adam Carter asked again, "Where is Building 117?"

"Sorry!" The boy scratched his head and said, "I forgot about you. We already passed it, it's behind us."

As he spoke, he turned and pointed to a place: "That way, not far, the building number is written on the side, you'll see it."

Adam Carter: "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Adam Carter handed the paper back to the boy. "Here, this is yours."

"No need!" The boy stuffed the paper back into his arms and said, "Remember to come again next week! We'll gather at Building 1!"

So Adam Carter could only stack this blood-red "Oppose the Dictatorship of the Judges" together with the gene report that the judge himself had given him, hold them in his arms, leave this group of strange young humans, and walk in the direction pointed out to him.

—As he walked, he felt the surroundings gradually become familiar. The memories that originally belonged to Aaron Carter were awakened in his mind. Following his intuition, he turned a few corners and smoothly arrived at the foot of the building marked "117." It was a rectangular building, ten stories high but very wide. He entered Unit 0, climbed the deep and steep stairs to the fifth floor, entered a dim corridor, and found Room 11.

There was a white seal on the door. Adam Carter gently tore it open, revealing the sensor area underneath. He pressed his ID card to it, the door lock popped open, and he went inside.