"Who... Who are you?"
The police officer who had once forcibly conscripted people probably never thought in his life that he would see this day. He had assumed that after Academy City expanded into the Far East, he'd be able to enjoy a comfortable life in a high-tech era. But reality was far crueler than he had imagined.
An identical face appeared before him.
Only the officer himself knew that he had no twin brother.
That left only one possibility.
A faint golden light flickered in the newcomer's eyes. He smiled and said, "I'm an android. It's time to settle the score for what you did back then. Someone will be here to take you away. You don't have your own Stigma, so you can't prove your own authenticity. Even if you're replaced by an android, no one will notice."
"Androids... our work is simply to replace others. Now, it's your turn. Just like how you and your kind didn't hesitate to enforce the conscription policy for your own gain."
"There's no difference between you and me, except we will cover up the harm caused by our rule. We'll find specialized androids to replace people like you. After you've atoned for your sins, we'll consider other arrangements. When that time comes, you'll be issued a new ID."
Listening to the man's words, the officer seemed to recall his past actions. Back then, many had aggressively carried out the Far East government's orders to round people up.
At this thought, the police officer retorted angrily, "My superiors ordered me to do it! And was it wrong to arrest those troublemakers? Some of them were thugs roaming the streets, endangering ordinary working people. Some men and women were selling their bodies on the fringes, spreading diseases! Were any of them good people? Shouldn't they have been arrested?"
The android replacing him didn't get angry. He sat on a nearby sofa and said, "Do you have any idea how extravagant a conglomerate family can be? You people are like a bunch of fools, thinking you can satisfy the greed of those in power just by offering them tributes."
"As the saying goes, 'Ceding land to the state of Qin is like trying to put out a fire with firewood. The fire will not die until the firewood is gone.'"
"People created social hierarchies and systems of production, and then they bowed down before the very systems they created. Since history is made by the people, then all the classes in society are also of the people's own making. Do you think that makes sense?"
"Of course not! It's because the ones who gained the people's support and trust betrayed their creators, then turned around and committed all sorts of filthy, despicable acts against them."
The android's words failed to persuade the officer. He had struggled in this world for too long; his mindset was too rigid to change.
"Ridiculous! Isn't the upper echelon of Academy City the same?! You androids are just tools to replace human labor, defective products with your brains controlled by others. What right do you have to lecture me? It's only because those student managers in Academy City haven't tasted the sweet fruit of power yet. Once you do, you'll become just as corrupt as me!"
The android clapped his hands and chuckled. "You seem to have a point, but it's a useless one. Aren't you perfectly aware of your own corruption? Whether they become corrupt in the future is a matter for the future. But right now, they haven't fallen, have they? We only concern ourselves with the present. The only thing people need to do is hold firm to the now. If you let fear of the future paralyze you, you'll lose the present as well."
"Alright, you don't need to defend yourself anymore. There's a special place to deal with people like you. Everything you've done will be thoroughly investigated. Tomorrow, I will use your memories, your lifestyle, and your identity to appear before people as you."
"No one will realize this is a purge, and no one will realize I'm an android. After all, aren't the real androids all marked with conspicuous features like 'ball joints'? Don't you think?"
"This is all for the stability of society. It's all because of the social problems caused by officials like you, who fail to execute their duties and dare not confront the internal corruption and chaos. Isn't it only natural that I use your own logic to deal with you?"
The android clapped his hands, and several men in black immediately appeared and escorted the once-powerful, conscription-enforcing officer away.
The android straightened his clothes in the mirror. He would diligently do his job according to the android network's directives, living out this man's life until the day he 'died.'
Similar scenes were playing out in different parts of the Far East.
The common folk wouldn't question why these police officers suddenly became so righteous, so positive, even daring to fight against the corruption within the leadership. They wouldn't wonder why the whistleblower system, which had been useless before, suddenly started working.
People wouldn't bother with these questions, but most would realize that the changes were due to external pressure. As for whether the people in charge had been replaced, it was impossible to tell. Even an X-ray scan of an android would produce an image identical to that of a normal human.
Because the personnel conducting the tests were also from Academy City.
The members of the 'Bro Association' never expected Academy City to be so efficient. The development of the highly effective android replacement method, in particular, made the entire purge feel as gentle and unnoticeable as a passing breeze.
"I've thought of all kinds of purges, but never one like this."
Hachiman Hikigaya's eyes had been truly opened. How was he supposed to tell if his subordinates were actually his subordinates from now on?
The thought sent an involuntary shiver down his spine, and his mind immediately jumped to Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, who had been working for him.
"Why are you looking at me? I haven't done anything wrong. I haven't embezzled a single point to this day."
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's conscience was clear. He also hadn't expected Academy City's purge to be so unconventional.
"Dr. Tesla will have made the arrangements. I never thought things would go this far."
Manabu Horikita realized he needed to gain a deeper understanding of the power these androids represented. The androids in sci-fi novels were far too simplistic. Who could have imagined that androids would exist in two forms, one overt and one covert?
"Could this happen to us one day?"
Faced with his brothers' questions and unease, Hei was much calmer.
"Don't worry about it," Hei said. "As long as you have the power of a Stigma, you won't be easily replaced by an android. The androids are just a means to end the class divisions between humans. Later on, AI will become even more deeply involved in the daily operations of society. As for replacement? That won't be an issue. Humans will have more profound production-related work to do."