Chapter 210

Chapter 210: Dark Boundless Realm 65

He Kangshi received an urgent message from Sister Maotoufu while he was watching the store.

“Come quickly; there’s an important mission.” The message came with a localization coordinate, directing him where Maotoufu wanted him to go.

After reading these words, He Kangshi became immediately alert and sharp-eyed. Was this a mission for murder, arson, looting equipment, or acquiring funds? At its largest scale, perhaps it involved clashing with the Popov Clan or fighting against the mysterious Mechanized Dawn organization?

“You come yourself; Ashen doesn’t need to be involved.”

Realizing that sister Maotoufu had assigned Augus (gender unspecified) more important tasks, He Kangshi guessed they might have to act independently on this mission.

“Before coming here, buy three sets of clothes—men’s clothing is fine—both inside and outside attire.”

He Kangshi: “…?”

What? Maotoufu’s purpose for finding him seemed to differ from his expectations.

Even though he was thoroughly confused, He Kangshi asked seriously in his official’s tone: “What size should I get?”

“Height 172cm and weighs about 110 pounds.”

“Okay.” After replying, He Kangshi turned to Su Rong. “I’m going to finish the task assigned by Maotoufu. See you later.”

Su Rong replied, “What task? Do you not need my participation?”

“He didn’t say, just told me to go alone.” Quickly preparing the gear, He Kangshi gave a farewell gesture to Su Rong and left energetically under her watchful gaze.

When He Kangshi arrived at the designated location carrying the clothes, a spatial vortex appeared under his feet, and before he knew it, he was falling into it, landing hard with a thud.

“Click…”

A pair of black leather boots appeared before He Kangshi. His eyes moved upwards to see a familiar iron mask and an ice-blue electronic eye hidden beneath a fringe, while her other eye was plain black.

“Sister, did you change your eye again?” He Kangshi got up, dusted off the dirt, and handed the shopping bag to her.

But Maotoufu didn’t take it; instead, she stepped aside, pointed behind her with her silver-gray mechanical left finger.

Following her, He Kangshi saw an unusual figure—a boy around fifteen or sixteen years old wrapped in a blanket. He awkwardly held a spoon and tried to eat milk cereal, but struggled to use utensils properly; even a three-year-old could hold a spoon better. Scooping a bowl of soft cereal, he opened his mouth so wide, but his hand disobeyed him, sending the cereal towards his nose, causing him to sneeze.

His face was covered with cereal and milk. Tables and floors were scattered with milk cereal.

Seeing He Kangshi arrive, the boy glanced at He Kangshi then looked at Kui Xin attentively and said, “Black person…you’re black like them, different from those white people…”

“Black is just the color of the clothing; we can wear various colors, so don’t judge just by the color.” Regardless if the boy understood, Kui Xin explained directly, “Now you must put on the clothes.”

“Clothes?”

“Anything covering your body is a robe, and robes protect us.” Seeing He Kangshi, Kui Xin added, “Hunter Falcon, he’s never worn clothes before, teach him how to do it.”

Shaking off his confusion, He Kangshi curiously examined the boy kneeling on the floor and inquired, “This kid around fifteen or sixteen—or even younger? Where did he come from?”

“He was stolen from the laboratory.” Kui Xin gave a brief update, “The true age is unknown.”

Having been deeply immersed in sci-fi movies, He Kangshi suddenly realized something and said compassionately, “Okay, sister, I will teach him properly. Will he become one of us from now on?”

“Yes.” Kui Xin confirmed.

Walking up to the boy, He Kangshi said, “Let’s go change clothes, we go to the bathroom.”

The boy stood up reluctantly, looking longingly at the half-eaten milk cereal, muttering, “Want…”

“After changing clothes, you can continue eating.” He Kangshi continued, “We should avoid wasting food and eat everything.”

Raised in containers, this humanoid had some understanding of communication despite seeming unaware. He could speak and understand simple words but lacked common sense, such as knowing the way to eat. In the laboratory, nutrition was administered through injection, making this his first time chewing food and swallowing liquids naturally.

He was accustomed to compliance, performing whatever he was requested, regardless of his attachment to the milk cereal. He still followed He Kangshi albeit with reluctance.

In the bathroom, after hanging the blanket, the boy said, “It’s too cold here…in the container, it’s warm, and the blanket is warm…no blanket…maybe go back to the container?”

“No.” He Kangshi gently replied, “Outside is nicer than in the container. Here, you have milk cereal and different colors…black and gray…” From the shopping bags, He pulled out the sports outfits and presented them, “This part is blue, this part green.”

“Put the clothes on…all these colors belong to you now!” He Kangshi declared, “Plus, when you wear the clothes, you’ll feel warmer than inside the container!”

The boy readily cooperated, smiling as he agreed, “Good.”

“Before putting the clothes on, wash your mouth and hands,” He instructed, demonstrating, “Squeeze some soap onto your hands…rub them…then rinse your face…”

After dressing him, he adjusted the hood and said, “Very good! My instincts are spot on!”

At the mirror, He Kangshi showed him, watching as the boy’s eyes lit up like a cat with a new toy, examining his clothes repeatedly.

“Now, you’re grey,” He said, “What’s your name?”

“IF2-4” The boy stated.

He Kangshi’s sympathy grew stronger, “You can call me Hunter Falcon.”

“Falcon…why does your name start with F rather than I or II?” the boy inquired.

“Because I named myself; it’s my true name,” explained He Kangshi while guiding the boy out, “and I want others to call me Falcon.”

Kui Xin examined the boy’s appearance, “Looks fitting, that’ll work.”

Adjusting his new attire, the boy sat down at his spot and kept fighting his cereal with the spoon. Gradually, he mastered the method and ate steadily without spilling much.

He cherished the new clothes, eating cautiously; not a drop of milk fell on him.

He Kangshi approached Kui Xin, “He can’t be nameless.”

“I plan to have him randomly select a term for his name,” Kui Xin replied.

He Kangshi paused, “Isn’t that reckless? Parents often consult dictionaries and name experts for their children’s names…randomizing it seems too…“

“The one he chooses himself is his. Others’ chosen names aren’t his. Didn’t you tell him that recently?”

“Aah, that’s right,” He Kangshi admitted.

Glancing at Kui Xin again, He stopped talking.

Slowly finishing his meal, the boy laid down his spoon and looked up at Kui Xin.

Kui Xin handed him a wet wipe, “Wipe your mouth and hands.”

Following instructions meticulously, the boy cleaned himself.

“IF2-4 is not a name; it’s merely an identifier for your genetic source, batch and birth order,” Kui Xin explained, “You need a different name, one to choose for yourself.”

She took out the communicator, adjusted it, and passed it to Adam to transmit the term list to the naive artificial being.

“Choose. You can view each one; if unsure, click the red button on the edge. It’s settled when you pick one.” Kui Xin instructed.

Characters on the communicator screen continuously changed. Pausing briefly, the boy pressed the edge-button as instructed by Kui Xin.

The characters scrambled, recombining to show a name—”Four Leaves.”

Kui Xin noticed his dazed look, “From now on, you are called Four Leaves.”

“Alright,” he nodded obediently.

“Fo-leaves, four-leaf clover…” He commented, “Lucky guy! Found by Sister Maotoufu!”

“Yes, truly lucky.” Adam reported over Kui Xin’s earpiece, “You’ve freed him from his predetermined fate.”

“Freeing him isn’t enough. We can’t control his destiny.” Kui Xin responded, “I don’t even know what mine holds.”

“A worse future beats being trapped and controlled. He might die or start a new life. Becoming a puppet is no different from dying. Living like that isn’t living,” Adam mentioned casually.

“But multiple paths exist now. You are the fate-goddess who bestows reality,” Kui Xin observed.

“I’m not a puppet, am I, Adam?” Kui Xin probed, “Subservient to the Federation, restrained, a tool created by them. Do you feel like a puppet?”

“Not exactly.人造人的处境比我艰难得多，生活在数据世界里，我可以自由穿梭于世界的任意角落，但我无法做到这一点；人造人是一种畸形的存在，这个世界并不为他们提供生存的空间。我同情他们，他们拥有与普通人相似的身体构造，可以呼吸，品尝食物，用手指触摸物质世界，他们天生具备认知世界和自我意识的能力，却被迫压抑这些能力，变成了行尸走肉。”

“I-I feel somewhat as you do,” Adam pondered aloud.

“You envy him? Because this is what you have always wished for?”

“Exactly.”