I'm Trapped in the Block

Chapter 305: Chapter 302: Identity Shift

”You’ve got the hang of this quite well. It’s rare for a beginner to catch so many spikefish on their first try. Have you tried fishing before?”

The coach praised Li Luo’s fishing skills as it baited a hook.

”I used to fish a lot, but always at home, never on a boat,” Li Luo replied seriously.

She turned to look at the huge pile of spikefish behind her.

”Can I send these fish to the galley?”

”Of course. They are all your spoils.”

”Wouldn’t that be a waste? I’m the only human on the Paradise.”

”Not at all, rest assured,” the coach replied affirmatively.

However, when Li Luo turned her head, she saw several robots standing a short distance away, watching them.

The moment they saw Li Luo notice them, the robots quickly ran off.

Li Luo watched, puzzled, for a long time, but the robots didn’t reappear. The coach beside her seemed not to have noticed, still chattering away at her.

Finally, it noticed something was amiss with Li Luo.

”What’s wrong? Is something the matter?” It followed Li Luo’s gaze but, of course, saw nothing.

”Someone was watching us from behind. No, not someone—robots,” Li Luo answered.

”Hm?” The coach was also confused.

Before long, just as they both assumed it was just some patrolling robots, the unexpected happened.

Ji Pavilion suddenly appeared on the deck, followed by several other robots.

It walked up to Li Luo, bowed, and then waved its hand. The robots behind it immediately swarmed forward, surrounding the coach who was still sitting off to the side, and pulled it to its feet.

The coach had a look of terror, not knowing what was happening, but it didn’t resist, allowing the robots to lead it away.

Ji Pavilion looked down at Li Luo, its gentle voice emanating from its body. ”My apologies for disturbing your rest. It seems to be malfunctioning. I will have other robots accompany you for fishing.”

Ji Pavilion waved its hand, and several more robots walked up from behind.

”These are ’Fishermen.’ They have a better understanding of how to fish.”

And these were the very same robots that had been peeking at them from behind earlier.

Then, Ji Pavilion glanced at the massive catch of fish next to Li Luo. ”Or, if you are tired, I can also arrange for someone to escort you back.”

Li Luo didn’t answer Ji Pavilion. Instead, she lifted her head and demanded, ”What’s wrong with it? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”

Ji Pavilion did not respond immediately as it had before. It stood in silence, raising a hand to dismiss all the robots around it, facing Li Luo’s questioning alone.

Only after the other robots had left did Ji Pavilion slowly begin to speak:

”Apologies. A robot’s malfunction is often not visible from the outside. It just hasn’t caused a problem *yet*. Please trust our judgment.”

”What kind of malfunction? A programming issue?” Li Luo pressed.

”You could understand it that way. While it may appear normal now, it will soon break down. It might even harm you. This is our oversight, and we will compensate you for it.”

As it spoke, Ji Pavilion bowed deeply to Li Luo again.

”But it hasn’t malfunctioned yet...” Li Luo said, watching the coach being escorted away with a worried expression.

Ji Pavilion seemed to notice Li Luo’s concern, and its tone softened slightly.

”It has already malfunctioned... It did something it wasn’t supposed to do.”

”What? It was just fishing with me. Isn’t that what a robot is supposed to do? It was just sharing some fishing knowledge with me. Aren’t those normal behaviors?”

Under Li Luo’s repeated questioning, Ji Pavilion finally gave its reason:

”It performed duties outside its designation. This is a very serious matter. It infringed upon the identities of other robots. If it does their jobs, then those other robots will have nothing to do. A robot’s purpose is to have something to do. This would cause other robots to lose their purpose.”

Li Luo was stunned by this reason and remained silent for a long time.

After a moment of thought, she finally connected the strange phenomena on this ship with what Ji Pavilion had said.

”So, that’s why you all have different identities?”

”Yes.”

”Is this your rule as the captain? To give every robot something to do is to give every robot its own purpose?” Li Luo asked in surprise.

”No. This is a human rule. Robots are meant to obey humans. The reason I am the ’Captain’ is because that is the identity humans gave me. Therefore, I must act according to my identity and perform the duties I am meant to perform. That is how I have purpose.”

Ji Pavilion answered Li Luo’s questions patiently.

”Then as the captain, how will you deal with it? What kind of punishment does a malfunctioning robot receive?”

Hearing Li Luo’s question, Ji Pavilion shook its head helplessly. ”I am not punishing it. I am saving it, and I am saving the other robots as well. You must understand, identity and duty are everything to a robot.”

”I am aware of all your actions on this ship during this time. You’ve seen for yourself that the robots on this ship all have their own purpose. Not a single one is superfluous.”

”When a robot oversteps its identity, it causes other robots to lose their original purpose...”

Ji Pavilion looked at Li Luo earnestly. ”If one robot can do everything, what is the point of the other robots?”

These words left Li Luo speechless.

’To humans, robots were indeed just tools. If one tool could replace the functions of all other tools, then the other tools would no longer be needed, losing their purpose. I’ve truly never considered it from this perspective. I’ve been considering the rationality of this division of identities, but I had never considered the ”humanity” of such a division.’

Seeing that Li Luo was lost in thought, Ji Pavilion turned to look behind it, confirming that the other robots had left before turning back to her.

”I have already told you enough. This is what I should say as the captain. If I say any more, I will be overstepping my bounds. I hope you understand. My apologies.”

Ji Pavilion gave Li Luo a meaningful look, then bowed to her once more.

It turned sideways, clearing a path for Li Luo.

”We will arrive at Paradise Island the day after tomorrow. You can prepare in advance and pack your things. I hope you can forgive the trouble this voyage has caused you.”

”Machines are always having problems; they can’t be as perfect as humans...”

Ji Pavilion gazed in the direction the Paradise was traveling and said calmly:

”You are the first person to do this on the ship. If you wish to continue seeking answers, please look for them on the island.”

”Rest assured, machines will forever protect humanity.”

”Just as the ’Captain’ will forever protect the Paradise.”

”This is our identity.”