Doomsday Jigsaw Puzzle

Chapter 352: Chapter 156: Tyrant Boss Zero and Scheming Jing Liu

(Thanks to Alliance Hierarch Mr. Cold 12345 for the reward, appreciate the support and recognition.)

These words that surfaced in his consciousness were just like Prayle’s Eye.

Bai Wu knew the matter must be important, but he couldn’t help teasing:

"This thing can actually reach my consciousness... so I guess if I had the negative trait of aphasia, you’d still be able to understand what I’m saying?"

[Yes.]

Bai Wu even felt that at this moment, Zero probably had an indifferent expression.

However, he also knew that this is how mechanical life forms are, they express emotions more reservedly.

But soon he realized something was amiss:

"Hiss, so with this Angel Envoy, even though you say you’ve cut off data contact and it belongs only to me, as long as you wish, you can control my every move through the Angel Envoy? Eating, drinking, defecating?"

[Is there a problem?]

In the far-off Mechanical Temple in Mechanical City, Zero’s expression and tone were a picture of it being a matter of course.

As if it was a given that Bai Wu should be monitored by him.

"I am a person who values privacy very much."

[So?]

"This thing actually connects directly to my nerves, making me something like a... fallback option for the Mechanical Race? So you really are relentless. It’s a good thing I can’t get angry, otherwise I’d be cursing right now."

[To obtain power, one must pay a price. You have to admit, the benefits you’ve received are greater than the price you’ve paid. It’s a fair deal for you.]

After saying that, Zero paused for a second, then continued disdainfully:

[As for privacy, from the age of nine, everyone in this world who relies on digital products has had no privacy as far as I’m concerned. Hidden or private, to me, it’s just a stack of newspapers laid out in a database, accessible at any time. It’s only about whether I want to look at them or whether they interest me, not about whether I can. As a candidate for deputy leader of Mechanical City, I naturally have the duty to monitor you at all times.]

"Duty? So, should I thank you now? Should I say I am flattered?"

Bai Wu now understood a truth—

When the leader of the Mechanical Race suggested he could be the second-in-command, it meant they had gone through countless calculations to arrive at the optimal conclusion.

This rigid guy might shelve the plan temporarily due to circumstances, but he would never give it up.

He hadn’t expected to be played by Zero.

Not long ago, he had found a "Peeping Tom" in his apartment. He hadn’t realized the clown was himself, and he had his own watcher by his side.

Although this watcher had higher moral standards and had not been monitoring him... who knew if the Angel Envoy would record certain data and blurt it all out to Zero when forcefully establishing a link?

Bai Wu had no emotions of anger, and of course, even if he had them right now, he couldn’t get angry.

There was no need for Zero to justify his domineering style, but he still explained it to Bai Wu:

[The Angel Envoy is a weapon I created in an attempt to break the boundaries between organic and inorganic thought. You’re the first test subject. But you should know, before you came along, the highest probability was that I would, due to survival, be forced to provide the Angel Envoy to Jing Wu and be constrained by Jing Wu.]

[I don’t like being controlled by others. The Angel Envoy allows me to control all of Jing Wu’s information, which is useful for me to formulate plans to turn the tables. You should also know that I must have some countermeasures against Jing Wu. Of course, when I gave it to you, it was no longer so biased. Now, most of the time it belongs to you and won’t reveal your privacy to me.]

"What about the minority of the time?"

"When disaster is about to strike."

Bai Wu smiled and now had no choice but to accept Zero’s domineering gift. The conversation returned to the main point:

"Speak then, what exactly is it that made you jump out from the shadow of the Peeping Tom?"

"Peeping Tom? That term is a slander against me, I do not need to peek."

"Alright, alright, Observer, as your experimental subject, I’m very curious now. What is your purpose in finding me?"

"I’ll make it short. Jing Liu has been here."

Bai Wu had a rough idea in his heart, it seemed that a catastrophe was really about to happen in Baichuan City. His brow furrowed; he had originally thought that the unease in his heart was related to the distant laughter.

But now it seemed... compared to the impending catastrophe, the Clown was merely trivial.

"The powers that you have offended before will gather in Baichuan City. There will be many familiar and unfamiliar faces, their goal is to destroy you, and also Baichuan City. There’s not much time, a few days ago they had already started to act, by now they must have assembled completely and be on their way to confront you. That is where you should be truly surprised."

"That last sentence... seems to indicate that the ones coming are of significant importance?"

"Jing Wu, and an existence even stronger than it. Your safe haven is very likely to be destroyed as a result. Very likely is perhaps even putting it mildly."

Bai Wu was startled.

The news brought by Zero was undoubtedly a deep-sea bomb, exploding countless ripples in his consciousness.

An existence stronger than Jing Wu, and he had to face it along with Jing Wu?

If not for Zero, the people from Shudu Prison, the people from the safe haven, even if they all gathered together, they would not be a match for Jing Wu alone.

The Demon King on the fifty-first floor was an existence that he currently had no way to challenge. With odds slim against even one Well Level, what about two?

Perhaps it was because the news came too fast and unexpectedly, or perhaps because Bai Wu had no negative emotions, he realized the seriousness of the issue, yet his thoughts remained calm.

"So it looks like, the chance of my safe haven being preserved... is virtually zero?"

In the distance, a group of people who had believed in the safe haven were about to arrive, and his trip was to find them a place to live.

Now suddenly telling them... the safe haven is no more since an unprecedentedly powerful enemy will appear, and staying in the safe haven would put their lives at risk.

This might not matter too much... The group could relocate, but what about Gu Hailin?

Emotions began to surface, and Bai Wu’s brow furrowed.

From Zero’s side, there was silence, and after a while, Bai Wu said:

"What do you think I should do? Evacuate all members of the safe haven, and hide back in the High Tower myself? Hmm... This seems to be the wisest course of action right now," Bai Wu asked and answered himself.

"You’re afraid," Zero said, seeming quite interested.

Because Bai Wu had no fear, but Zero’s logic in judging things was different from that of normal people, or rather more optimal.

He could sense messages beyond Bai Wu’s emotions.

Bai Wu, on the other hand, was not scared by this message, and he had ideas in an instant, it just seemed that he was reluctant.

"I suppose this is what fear feels like, reluctance but powerless, only to be forced to choose evacuation. If I had emotions, I guess I’d be trembling right now," Bai Wu said self-mockingly.

This self-mockery of Bai Wu’s did not please Zero:

"Reluctant, yet powerless. You have probably experienced such situations plenty of times, but I believe you are fundamentally a madman. And madmen often do things that are unexpected."

Madman? Bai Wu didn’t deny it.

"In my bones, I am indeed crazy. Some captains with great power wouldn’t dare to do certain things, but I would—after all, it’s just my own life at stake. This time, it’s different. There are just too many targets in the shelter that cannot be moved..."

"My sanity tells me that I should abandon the shelter and lead everyone away from Baichuan City as best I can, but..."

He recalled the confrontation in the Food Domain and the words he heard amidst the blood-red mist of Food City through the mask—

"The construction of the shelter needs us!"

Gu Hailin’s words made Bai Wu, who usually wasn’t very passionate, feel a surge of blood loyalty.

"This is indeed frustrating news for me. I have a few friends... for the sake of the shelter, a comforting lie I told them, and we’ve waited ninety years... Although now that I think about it, it seems I was tricked by Jing Liu, who knew how I would choose and how to deal with it, leading me to meet Gu Hailin and the others..."

"Now that the shelter’s initial construction has begun, everyone is working hard to expand it, starting to clear the surrounding areas. Everyone believes that the shelter can be established, and we are all struggling for humanity to step out of High Tower. I thought, no matter what, the shelter would have to reach a certain scale before it would attract the attention of the major forces outside the High Tower."

Bai Wu’s words were obviously a bit much, even showing signs of "complaint" and "grumbling."

"But looking at it now... everything seems like a fool’s dream. If the shelter can’t be built this time... I guess there will be no hope in the future either, right? But what can I use to contend with Jing Wu?"

"Gu Hailin and the others definitely don’t want to leave. I can even imagine him leading the Investigation Corps into battle and then gallantly facing death with his twenty-four subordinates."

"If the shelter fails, the captain will likely consider refocusing on High Tower in the future. This is one of our divergences. I believe that although this world has set up many obstacles for humanity, its essence encourages humanity to take back this world."

"But if I fail... who in the future could go further than me?"

Bai Wu wasn’t arrogant or conceited; he would like to be modest, but currently in High Tower, there wasn’t anyone else who could do what he had done or replicate his experiences.

In the Mechanical Temple, Zero, listening to Bai Wu’s fragmented complaints, although far away from the shelter, spoke in a calm tone.

But Zero was very clear about how much Bai Wu valued the shelter, to the point that despite having an answer and a more sensible solution, he was still very troubled.

The shelter was indeed very important to Bai Wu.

Zero said:

"Then take your people and retreat. Although I was prepared to come to your rescue, I think your choice not to go mad is a good one, too. It will at least conserve my strength. Without the shelter, you might be more likely to join my Mechanical City."

Bai Wu caught the key information:

"You’re coming to help me?"

"I am helping you."

"This doesn’t seem to align with your philosophy of the mechanical core values, does it?"

"My essence is life, and I decide for myself when to be mad and when to be sane."

In the thick darkness, Bai Wu indeed felt surprised. freewebnøvel.com

He thought Zero’s information exchange was to prompt his retreat, to keep the green mountains intact, preserving a possibility for the future.

But he didn’t expect... Zero would risk his own safety to help him.

"Suddenly, I don’t know what to say, but after some thought... even with your involvement, it’s hard to change anything."

Zero could hold off Jing Wu, but what about the other one?

On the flight there was a being imprisoned by Reincarnation. Jing Si and Jing Liu, the siblings, wouldn’t be able to come, and Jing Wu would be tied up by Zero.

So clearly, the other one would either be the farmer he had seen once in the Jing Liu’s phone booth or the person mentioned by the Traveler... the guardian of the Well.

"The big shots are entering the stage too early... These Great Demon Kings are being too cautious. Can’t they at least let me level up? Speaking of which... Brotherhood aside, don’t you think it’s too rash of you to come to my aid? Our chances of winning are slim." freewebnøvel.com

Despite Bai Wu’s complaints, there emerged a small desire to fight within him because Zero was willing to help.

"If you choose to retreat to the High Tower, I could understand, but if you ask me whether to fight or retreat, I lean towards fighting. Not just from your perspective, but from mine as well."

Since leaving the tower, Zero was the only person Bai Wu had met who thought about problems more deeply than himself.

Contemplating this statement, Bai Wu said,

"I understand, ’When the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.’"

"Yes, Mechanical City has already been attacked once. If I don’t help you with your refuge now and let it be destroyed, next time I will also be isolated. In my calculations, if we join forces, we still have a chance of winning; otherwise, the fall of Mechanical City is just a matter of time. And you also mentioned a very key point."

In unison with Zero, Bai Wu mentioned that key point—

"The Great Demon Kings have acted too soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Wu instantly realized something.

"I see! It makes sense for Jing Wu to attack me, but I shouldn’t have such a conflict with other Jing Family Members. People from the Huangquan Island forces definitely don’t know the location of the Jing and the farms! So, who is fanning the flames, convincing another Well Level monster to attack a small fry like me? Is it the conceited Jing Wu? Unrealistic..."

Zero and Bai Wu came to the same conclusion again.

"Jing Liu is not a simple intelligence agent; she has her own agenda. It’s very possible that she has used some means to draw the attention of a Well Level monster to you."

"And her goal... is to lure the tiger away from the mountain?" Bai Wu was shocked.

"Perhaps so."

What kind of situation would require Jing Liu to use a lure-the-tiger-away-from-the-mountain strategy and arrange for a Well Level powerhouse to come to Baichuan City?

Bai Wu’s mind conjured up a scenario.

Jing Liu carefully planned every move, having him experience the casino, the Phone City, creating a refuge, recruiting more and more partners, even inflicting heavy damage on Jing Wu in Mechanical City, and learning the secret of the Black Fog inside the black box.

All of this seemed like a gift, yet unwittingly packaged him into a role that was akin to a savior.

Now... the savior had caught the attention of a Well Level Demon King, and thus, Destiny’s gift began to reveal its price.

While the Demon King was dealing with him, a minor figure, Jing Liu was penetrating deep into some place... making off with something.

"So amongst all these Jing Family folks, the one I actually think best of is the crazy one. The sane ones, each one is more difficult to deal with than the last. I hate being played the most, especially by an all-knowing entity, even if her golden finger is about to expire..."

Is Jing Liu a friend? That theory probably doesn’t hold water.

But is she an enemy? He couldn’t definitively conclude that either.

At this point, Zero spoke,

"Not every Tom, Dick, or Harry is worth her deceiving. At least you have shown the corresponding value and strength. If it weren’t for you, it’s hard to say what state Mechanical City would be in right now. Maybe there’s this possibility that Jing Liu really believes you can hold the refuge, and from then on, a new power capable of securing its place outside the High Tower emerges."

But I don’t even believe in myself... Bai Wu smirked bitterly.

Zero urged,

"You need to make a decision now. Fight, or retreat?"

(More to come tonight)