After Beating the Game, I Became the Villain BOSS

Chapter 396: Chapter 274: Dongdong Trains in Martial Arts

After the gathering dispersed, Su Mo drove the black Ark away from the Dragon Gate Restaurant.

The hovercar soared through the pitch-black night, and his thoughts were also flying.

Regarding his future, Su Mo had already decided when he first crossed over, to make his originally ordinary life brilliant once again and to reach the Peak of Dawn.

But most of the time before, he had been planning how to deal with the original protagonist Ou Chenyu and hadn’t seriously considered what "reaching the Peak of Dawn" actually meant.

And now that Ou Chenyu was dead, his destined arch-rival had disappeared, and the future path had become infinitely broad. The vast Dawn Realm was his to script life’s journey.

So, what does he really want to become?

Tear down the old world’s order and take on responsibilities that were never his own?

Or focus solely on becoming the strongest, indulging at the summit as he pleases?

In this process, who will gradually drift away from him, and who will accompany him to the very end?

To be honest, he doesn’t know now, because the finish line is still very far away.

But one thing is certain.

His future will definitely not be with the dirty scum from the Crow’s Nest.

...

In the time that followed, Su Mo worked according to plan.

It is now the end of December, and the New Year is approaching.

Whether for major corporations or the Edge Mercenary Corps, the end of the year is always the busiest time, having to consolidate the various data of the year, conduct analysis, and formulate plans for the coming year, among other things.

One evening, after meeting with intermediaries, Su Mo ran into Shangguan Li’s car at the entrance of the Edge Mansion. freёwebnoѵel.com

It was snowing lightly at this time, and Shangguan Li was sitting in the car wearing a white trench coat, her long black hair constantly scattering in the evening wind.

Su Mo rolled down the window and leaned out to greet, "Shangguan, long time no see."

Shangguan Li nodded in greeting, "Long time no see."

Su Mo: "Waiting for someone?"

Shangguan Li: "Yes."

Su Mo, having finished his business, wasn’t in a hurry to leave and decided to chat with her to pass the time: "How’s the mod component Hong Chenle gifted you last time, still useful?"

Shangguan Xue caressed her small hand and said, "It’s quite useful, they’re all universal components, and now all my artificial enhancements have been upgraded to ’Military Level 1’.

There are two types of artificial body models: one is fixed, and the other is upgradable.

"Fixed-type artificial bodies" have a fixed level once out of the factory; whatever level they are, that’s what they’ll be. To change to a higher model, you have to remove and replace the old one.

The advantage of fixed-type bodies is that they are cheap and cost-effective.

The downside is that replacement is very troublesome, and the learning curve is steep.

Because changing bodies means that all the abilities of the old body can no longer be used, the implant recipient must adapt to the new body.

The "upgradable artificial bodies," as the name implies, do not have a fixed level. They can be continually upgraded by replacing "universal components," retaining existing capabilities while enhancing performance.

The advantage of this type is no learning cost; the implant receiver can continue to employ their accustomed combat style, continuously upgrading and getting stronger.

The downside, if any, is that they are expensive; the body of upgradable types is costly, and universal components even more so, with no end to the expense.

Shangguan Li’s "Surprise Sparrow-type" and Dongdong’s "Profound Cat-type" are both upgradable.

Shangguan Li, having received the billion-worth universal components from Hong Chenle, upgraded her entire artificial body from ’Military Level 2’ to ’Military Level 1’, just a step away from the legendary ’Fearless Level’.

Su Mo recalled the event at the Dragon Gate Restaurant and sighed softly, "Actually, you shouldn’t have accepted Hong Chenle’s stuff back then."

Shangguan Xue: "If it’s free, why not take it? I’m not as lofty as you."

Su Mo: "It’s not about being lofty or not, it’s about attitude and stance. Have you thought about the implications? Taking things from Crow’s Nest, if Wolf King finds out, to them you’d be an enemy."

Shangguan Li: "So what? Crow’s Nest and Ashen Gang combined with Inner City Mercenaries aim to wipe out Wolf Strike, that group won’t last long."

Su Mo thought to himself: It’s not that simple... the Wolf King is one of the top bosses in the ’Evil Line’ plot.

At this moment, Shangguan Li seemed to remember something, "Oh yeah, here, take this."

She got out, opened the trunk, and took out a metal case, placing it in the back seat of the black Ark.

Su Mo: "What’s this?"

Shangguan Li said plainly, "These are the old universal components I replaced, you can give them to Dongdong."

"Her Profound Cat-type artificial body is currently ’Stringently Managed Level 2’, right? With these, it should reach ’Military Level 3’."

This gift was somewhat unexpected to Su Mo, who dumbly said, "Shangguan, this is too valuable, I can’t accept it."

Shangguan Li looked at him helplessly, "You see, sometimes I really can’t understand you, refusing things that are gifted freely."

Su Mo: "But... why not give it to someone else in your corps?"

Shangguan Li: "The parameters don’t match, my size is too different from theirs. Among the people I know, only Dongdong can use it."

Su Mo hesitated for a moment and said, "Then, let me buy it. These were once bought by you with real money, giving them away just like that is too much of a disadvantage."

Shangguan Li rolled her eyes at him, "Stop with the nonsense, these are for Dongdong, not for you. My stuff, my decision, take them."

After saying she got back into her car on her own.

Any more deferral seemed awkwardly distant, Su Mo couldn’t help but laugh, "I never thought you’d care so much about Dongdong. Did you get close during that fight at Saint Rivelan?"

Looking at the snow falling outside the car window, Shangguan Li said deeply, "Don’t think too highly of me, I’m a mercenary, also a businesswoman, just investing in my future."