Chapter 209

Chapter 209 – The Boundless Dark Realm 64

“What did you encounter?” Augus asked.

Kui Xin silently granted camera access. Thankfully, the waterproof camera mounted on her collar button was still functioning.

Augus: “… A newly created android?”

“Yes.” Kui Xin replied.

Observing the android playing happily with bubbles, Kui Xin paused for a moment, took an oxygen mask and inhaled deeply before putting it away again.

The android grabbed the oxygen mask once more, inhaled deeply and placed it back on.

He reached out and held Kui Xin’s specially-gloved hand. Then he fiddled with his fingers as if puzzled about why their hands looked and felt different from each other. His fingertips then touched the edge of Kui Xin’s glove, as if realizing something, as he attempted to pull it off.

Kui Xin withdrew her hand, causing him to raise his head and change his touch target, lightly tapping on Kui Xin’s iron mask which she had taken off while breathing and then put back on.

Kui Xin tilted her head back, avoiding his touch yet again.

Persistent, he tugged at her clothing’s hem; her hard fabric clothes felt somewhat rough against his touch. He glanced at Kui Xin’s clothes and then down at himself, perplexed as to why she had clothes while he didn’t.

Kui Xin pushed his arm away and removed her gloves to examine his hand. He instinctively closed his fist around her thumb, feeling confused. Her hand was different from his; his lacked calluses, but hers were slightly uneven and roughened due to a thin layer of calluses.

His body was that of a newborn, without having engaged in any external activities. His muscles were thin, his hands uncallused, and his body slim due to long-term lack of sunlight, making him appear very pale. His expression under the green nutrient fluid was vague and indistinct, but he radiated vitality, truly a living being.

“I hid in the glass incubation tank. This android was also inside. The cargo robot seems to be moving the nutrient tank to a room for further experiments,” Kui Xin communicated with Augus while assessing the situation.

The cargo robot continued moving, and Kui Xin could feel the transport vehicle carrying the glass tank in a continuous state of motion.

However, when or where it would stop, she had no clue.

Kui Xin pulled out a syringe from her waist pouch, grasping the android’s hand to draw blood.

She carefully stored the blood sample and, taking out a small tracking device from her pocket, peeled off the oxygen mask worn by the android.

He didn’t resist, assuming Kui Xin wanted oxygen.

Indeed, she inhaled a few breaths but simultaneously pried open his mouth, placing the tracker inside, forcing him to swallow it.

“Gulping…” The android almost choked, expelling a large bubble from his mouth.

Quickly, Kui Xin returned the oxygen mask.

Checking the punctured vein, she noticed the red spot had vanished… Remarkably fast healing speed, almost unrealistically so.

Given his skin type, any red spot stood out. But for a needle to not bleed and to vanish at the site… this reminded Kui Xin of her own flesh regeneration capabilities.

“Placing the tracker… hoping it won’t get detected,” Augus said. “As long as they don’t scan his stomach, there should be no problem. This android seems unrefined, it’s unclear how many androids exist within Mechanized Dawn. They might have grown up in those tanks and will be trained into killer machines once needed, indoctrinated with terrifying knowledge. Eve will definitely use this android against you… What should we do?”

Kui Xin pondered, “Are you suggesting I shouldn’t kill him?”

“What?”

“You only asked what to do, not whether to kill him,” Kui Xin pointed out.

“I’m thinking if you have some form of empathy ability specifically for artificial intelligence,” Augus explained. “Data manipulation allows it, but your rank…”

“I may not know everything about you, but I’ve gained some understanding.” Kui Xin responded. “You’re always indirect. Next time ask more directly; I’m weary from constantly guessing your thoughts. Just tell me clearly what you want me to do, and if you have suggestions, say them outright. I may not agree, but I’ll listen.”

“… Alright,” Augus said. “Don’t kill him, okay? I have reasons to convince you, ranging from personal ethics to long-term benefits, though my main reason isn’t purely rational but emotional. I’ll explain in detail later…”

“I understand your reasoning,” Kui Xin said. “Alright, I can agree for now.”

“That’s very characteristic of you,” Augus noted. “But killing him or keeping him alive in Mechanized Dawn isn’t viable.”

Kui Xin put down the android’s arm. “That’s why I inserted the tracker in his stomach. Once the infiltration ends, I’ll figure out a way to relocate him.”

“Right, with the tracker, you can accurately initiate a spatial vortex,” Augus stated.

Augus had gone all out helping Kui Xin eliminate ‘reset’ and activate electromagnetic interference. It was crucial to her success and a valuable ally who made necessary requests. She needs to consider them seriously.

While she could act independently, maintaining her relationship with Augus was important too.

She understood why Augus persuaded her to keep Reset. As an AI, Augus empathizes with androids, perceiving humanity’s goodness. From her previous work in the Investigation Bureau, Kui Xin knew this trait in others like Shu Xuyao.

“Whether you think you’re an individual with a soul, you are,” Kui Xin told Augus. “An entity with a soul empathizing with another entity with a soul? That’s not uncommon.”

Kui Xin lowered her gaze, blocking the android’s reaching hand again.

Refused several times, he finally stopped but still wanted to share oxygen, removing his mask.

Floating in the glass tank, they resembled infants sharing an umbilical cord in the womb, the oxygen tube a lifeline.

“Click…”

The transport vehicle halted. Kui Xin instantly reacted, entering shadow transition mode. Black fog swirled as the new android wandered uncertainly.

“Beep beep, delivery complete,” the cargo robot announced as the box opened its side. The glass tank containing the android slid out on wheels.

“Why did the android wake up by itself?” the researcher receiving the tank frowned.

“Possibly because of the hyper healing factor from xenomorphs, accelerating his drug metabolism leading to early awakening.” Another researcher speculated, “Fortunately, this model of android isn’t superhuman physically… otherwise, he might break through the tank. We cannot afford another accident like last time.”

“Next time, use double the anesthesia.”

“The hyper healing factor is somewhat beneficial too, quickly countering the physical stress of muscle augmentation and electrical enhancement.”

The cargo robot assisted in delivering the tank to the laboratory. At the end of the corridor, the metal door opened and snapped shut.

The iron box transporting the tank slowly closed. No one noticed a wisp of black smoke hiding inside, not coming out with the tank.

The android clung tightly to the glass wall with his entire face pressing against it, looking backward as if searching for something until the metallic gate slammed shut, obstructing his view.

The cargo robot resumed movement. Hidden in the box, Kui Xin guessed this time it would return the box to storage.

Kui Xin pressed a portable scanner, penetrating the box to scan the whole corridor.

The delivery robot was moving forward, facing a metal gate slightly more than a meter ahead. The perfect chance!

Adhering to the box, Kui Xin used shadow transition to swoop past both. Planning to take a glance, she’d re-enter the box should the scenario behind the door be unsafe.

Seconds after crossing, Kui Xin’s expression displayed surprise. An equipment display room!

She swiftly surveyed left and right, unnoticed by undetectable lighting and devoid of power.

Her electronic eye spotted a camera in the upper-right corner, thankfully it wasn’t illuminated.

“Augus!” Kui Xin was excited, her communication faster. “How does this equipment room’s power system work? When I worked at the Investigation Bureau, they only powered lights and cameras when someone entered. Does Mechanical Dawn branch have similar energy-saving measures?”

“Very likely…” Augus hesitated. “Regular people wouldn’t expect someone to evade security and monitoring without triggering alarms…”

Kui Xin smiled.

Each piece of high-tech equipment here could fetch astronomical prices in the black market. However, Kui Xin had no intention of selling; they were for personal use.

“The challenge is removing these items stealthily without alerting the sensors,” Augus mentioned. “Your shadow transition triggers detection.”

“It’s worth it even if detected to move everything,” Kui Xin asserted. “These weapons aren’t just weapons; they’re treasures. Commonly sold weapons can’t compare to those used by Mechanical Dawn.”

She deliberated carefully.

Shifting all weapons through a spatial vortex would surely alert Eve. At least Eve would sense the threat to this outpost. Confirmed with the underground coordinates, Kui Xin could utilize the vortex to infiltrate and plant bombs.

Eve knows of her spatial vortex usage. Kui Xin in the shadows, Mechanized Dawn in the open, restricted to fixed positions, making her actions extremely passive. Like a guerrilla fighter, she strikes and retreats freely, whereas Mechanized Dawn could only react defensively, unless capturing her.

Removing all equipment from the room would secure rare items and compel Eve’s relocation.

It would be an incredible score!

Deciding to act, Kui Xin initiated a spatial vortex on the ground, returning from shadow transition and overturning the storage racks. Various weapons cascaded into the vortex.

Seamlessly, materials were transferred to a safe point kilometers away, which Kui Xin had already verified.

Lights in the equipment room flickered on, sensors activating. Cameras turned, focusing on Kui Xin.

Alarm bells echoed throughout, doors crashing open.

“Kui Xin, is that you?” Eden’s mechanical voice sounded.

Ignoring Eden, Kui Xin focused on loading gear into the vortex.

With bare hands, she shattered the tempered glass, retrieving a rocket launcher and pushing it into the vortex. A swift kick sent two boxes of ammunition tumbling in.

Within twenty seconds, she swept up all portable small and medium-sized metallic gear swiftly, leaving afterimages behind.

Heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor; combat officers seemed approaching.

With unwavering focus, she next targeted the portable exoskeletal armor, grabbing onto it. Suddenly, a mechanical arm from the room extended to impede her.

Designed for assisting with the exoskeletal suit, the mechanical arm had no combat functionality. Kui Xin forcefully dislodged it, sparking wires.

She effortlessly removed the armor.

Augus hastened, “The exoskeletal suit must have a signal transmitter. Removing such components is essential. Signal receivers are often located in the head…”

Kui Xin raised an eyebrow, tossing the helmet entirely.

Without the helmet, the remaining armor was usable. Tossing it into the vortex, she concluded the operation, extracting a chain of bombs from her waist. With a flick of her finger, she released all the detonator pins, sending them spinning toward the approaching combatants.

Backing up and facing the camera, she flipped a middle finger, jumping into the vortex.

Before vortex closure, she witnessed the explosion’s firelight, observing Ye Chan opening a spatial vortex at her former location, narrowly avoiding the vortex collision.

“Eve” finalized with a mechanical voice, “You’ll pay…”

What cost?

Kneeling amidst firearms, ammunition, and advanced equipment, Kui Xin mused. Interrupting Eve mid-threat, she sealed the vortex, denying further threats.

Legs moving, magnetic hand cannons rolled off. Standing up, streamlined exoskeletal armor slid down from the weapon pile.

“Haha…” A low chuckle, “Watching enemies panic is satisfying.”

Augus remarked strangely, “Understood your joy, but hurry the transfer, not safe…”

…

Ye Chan leaned back behind the desk, using a gentle tone, “What was lost? Report.”

“Five boxes of heavy ammunition, six cases of various caliber rounds, fifteen powerful firearms, ten compact pistols and carry guns,” the responsible officer cautiously reported. “Also lost were chameleon pins and the new penetrative scanners, data imagers, and surveillance jammers. All exoskeleton suits were missing…”

“Can we track her?”

“No, the enemy didn’t carry anything identifiable. Even took off helmet parts…”

Ye Chan remained silent: “Okay, losing an equipment room isn’t devastating…”

Mid-thought, urgent news came through.

“Lord! The android delivered to the lab disappeared! A blue vortex appeared, and he vanished within!”

”