Chapter 545

Looking at the scene before him, where out of thin air a handle was conjured up and then firmly grasped to heavily threaten himself, Leon caused Apheta 00’s brain from miles away to throb in pain uncontrollably.

This guy feels even more difficult to deal with than Andre. I must have been full and bored earlier to even think about coming over just to greet him.

After cursing inwardly a couple of times, Apheta 00, filled with annoyance, said grimly:

“I’ve already told you, between you and Andre, I hope you win. Even if you don’t do these kinds of things…”

“If I don’t do these things, you will continue to be indecisive and never truly put all your effort into helping us.”

Interrupting Apheta 00, Leon stated confidently: “Moreover, as the ‘creator’ of Apheta 01, the fact that you haven’t been destroyed due to Andre’s anger proves that you’re useful to him, possibly even irreplaceable.

So until now, even if we failed to subdue Andre, you wouldn’t really be destroyed by Andre. At most, you’d just live an average life; there’s a fallback for you on his side. But it’s different now.”

Saying this, Leon reached into his pocket, fished around a bit, then pulled out an ear whose end had spread into numerous Sixian threads, waving it in front of Apheta 00.

“This is Senior Algernon’s ear; he has been eavesdropping on all our conversations.”

In the suddenly changed expression of Apheta 00, Leon calmly spoke:

“Afterward, Senior Algernon won’t participate but will try to stay far away. If we lose to Andre, he will immediately inform Andre of everything he just heard, ensuring not a single word is missed.

In other words, if we win, you might still be safe, but if we lose, you are definitely doomed. So you should know what to do next, right?”

“…”

This is truly… I just came to say hi, how did I suddenly get tied up with a big iron chain and bound to the front of his chariot? After hearing Leon’s naked threat, Apheta couldn’t help but grind their teeth in frustration, took a deep breath, and said with an unfriendly look: “That may be so, but as I mentioned before, my control is entirely in Andre’s hands. If I betray him, I’ll be shut down instantly, so…”

“So you can help me without betraying him.”

Leon stared at Apheta 00 and requested:

“First, tell me, what orders has he given you? Not to reveal any information detrimental to him? Not to disclose his secrets?”

“The phrasing differs from yours, but those two indeed exist.”

Apheta replied helplessly:

“Additionally, there’s the order to constantly monitor. Once any suspected target trying to leave the Crocodile Kingdom’s range is discovered, heavy firepower should be used for continuous bombardment until complete annihilation.”

As expected, fortunately, I didn’t run then; otherwise, I might have been relentlessly bombed. Even if I could survive with my skills, others would surely not make it.

After contemplating briefly, Leon asked:

“So he hasn’t ordered you to report all situations within the Crocodile Kingdom to him, right?”

“No, he hasn’t.”

Apheta 00 shook its head.

“Andre’s brain isn’t adept at processing information. The Crocodile Kingdom may not be large, but as a country, many things happen daily that he can’t handle.”

“Good.”

Leon raised an eyebrow and said: “Due to the morning broadcast, Andre is now holed up in Zone 1 Research Area, unable to come out, thus receiving almost no outside information. You are his only channel for news, am I correct?”

“That’s simple.”

Hearing this, Leon nodded, then while searching for something in the Mirror World, gave instructions:

“Isn’t the district of the Crocodile Kingdom movable? Without moving Zone 1 Research Area, shift the other zones away, placing Zone 1 on the edge as much as possible.”

“You plan to go to Zone 1 and directly attack Andre?”

“Who knows?”

Without fully controlling Apheta 00, Leon naturally wouldn’t foolishly reveal his entire plan.

Smiling at its puzzled face, Leon found a camera larger than one’s head in the Mirror World, walked forward, took two photos of the Old King’s skull, then instructed:

“Give me a hand, lift everyone’s skull open so I can take some pictures.”

“Good…”

Faced with Leon’s demands, Apheta 00, having been caught, had no choice but to comply.

Not long after, under its control, all the sub-bodies in the preservation hall lifted their hands, pressed the mechanism at the base of their necks, popped open the top halves of their skulls like lids, revealing the fresh brains encased in transparent gel inside, making people involuntarily shiver.

“Are you planning to send these photos out to solidify the morning’s broadcast?”

Watching Leon, who had somehow gotten ahold of a camera, snapping away at the Apheta sub-bodies in the preservation hall, Apheta 00 thought for a moment and suggested:

“If that’s the case, I can simply control their expressions. Should I adjust them to make their expressions more painful and desperate?”

“No.”

Refusing Apheta 00’s suggestion without hesitation, Leon continued taking photos while casually answering:

“Though expressions of pain and despair are good, they only make people feel scared. Now, the impact is not bad, but once turned into static photos, the effect is merely passable.

Their current numb and vacant expressions, staring straight at the lens like puppets, looking human yet not quite, give off an eerie vibe that makes one feel chills running down their spine… Oh, right.”

Saying this, Leon stopped taking photos, frowned, looked around the surroundings, then requested:

“The lighting is a bit too bright now. Dim the lights for me. Preferably cold blue ones that make faces appear pale.

Once done, adjust the angles between the lights and the people. Make sure they tilt their heads slightly, casting their lower faces into shadows to highlight their dull, dead eyes… Yes, yes, exactly this feeling!”

“…”

It’s not like… How is a spoiled prince like you so skilled at this kind of work? Watching Leon, who adjusted the positions and was now snapping away at the exposed brains of the Apheta sub-bodies in the now much darker preservation hall, Apheta 00 couldn’t help but twitch its mouth corner, then gritted its teeth and volunteered:

“I also have evidence of Andre controlling those battalion commanders. Do you want to take a few shots of that?”

“Yes!”

(End of Chapter)