Chapter 243

Chapter 243: Two Sides of the Scale 24

Kui Xin was staring intently at the bank balance displayed on her communicator screen. Her eyes lingered over the long string of numbers, but she didn’t move away for a while.

Amber observed her for about half a minute before finally asking, “Is there something wrong with the money?”

“No.” Kui Xin casually put down the communicator.

She had been counting the number of zeros in the balance repeatedly to ensure it wasn’t an illusion.

When she walked, she felt a strange lightness, as if her entire body were hovering slightly above the ground, wrapped by a light, airy sensation, giving her an unreal feeling.

The amount of money they suddenly gained was so vast that she had lost any sense of its scale. She urgently sought to regain a real sense of it and looked over to Amber with a question.

“What can two hundred billion do?” Kui Xin’s serious gaze made Amber start to think seriously.

“Placed in Mechanized Dawn,” Amber replied, “two hundred billion could fund an entire new exoskeleton armor research project, support several labs, and sustain a large number of researchers. It’s enough to establish several well-equipped large secret bases with all the necessary military power, covering the budget for their annual expenses.”

“Ah…” Kui Xin started to form an understanding.

Augus timely communicated through her earpiece, more sensitive to the monetary figures, “Two hundred billion would be enough to establish a small nearshore military base equipped with destroyers and missiles, complete with a permanent garrison. This sum is roughly equivalent to the combined costs of launching twenty small satellites into space by the Federation, including insurance, research, production, testing, and rocket rides.”

He continued, “If these concepts seem too distant to understand, consider this: two hundred billion could sponsor tens of thousands of students through Ph.D. programs, cover a month’s income for two million ordinary three-person families, or provide a decent living for nearly twenty million impoverished people for a considerable time…”

Kui Xin instantly felt the reality of the situation. These zeros represented an inconceivable amount of money.

For the powerful clans, these amounts were trivial, akin to wisps of feathers. Yet, from another perspective, these funds felt weighty—a weight that could potentially buy lives and prolong them.

During primary school, teachers told children that life is priceless. As she grew older, Kui Xin realized this wasn’t true; many things in the second world were far more valuable than human life. Coming here sharpened her awareness.

The second world might not teach children about the valuelessness of life due to rigid social hierarchies, where some lives are considered more valuable than others.

This hierarchical approach reminded Kui Xin of how pork is graded in cold storage, labeled quickly, and sold without thought.

Amber asked, “What do you plan to do with these two hundred billion?”

“Although our immediate circumstances don’t allow us to focus long-term, we should still prepare. We shouldn’t only act when danger is imminent.” Kui Xin responded. “With this money, the Shadowless can skip the capital accumulation phase… let’s adopt the structure of Eve’s organization to set up a company that can operate publicly, making our activities easier. Under the company, we’ll establish bases, and outside those bases, we’ll create outposts.”

Amber crossed her arms, saying, “Where will the headquarters be? In White Whale City? That’s too far, too isolated from the central economic and political regions. Movement is inconvenient, and resources are already controlled by the wealthy clans. There are better cities with ample resources.”

“You’re right,” Kui Xin agreed. “We need to carefully choose the location for the headquarters. White Whale City isn’t suitable.”

“Think it over then,” Amber gazed directly into Kui Xin’s eyes. “Now I want to see Four Leaves, as promised.”

“Alright,” Kui Xin said. “Stay here, and I’ll bring him over.”

“Okay.” Amber’s expression softened slightly, her tone becoming gentler.

“You know that pressing adversaries won’t give a child time to develop,” Kui Xin stated bluntly. “He’s too fragile and innocent, like a blank slate, his mind as innocent as a baby.”

Amber responded without hesitation, “I’ll protect him.”

“You can’t be his nanny forever. Normally, taking him eight to seven years to grow up, he needs to learn about the world, build a worldview, master combat skills, and develop a mature mindset,” Kui Xin explained. “Can you stay beside him for those years, Amber? Neither of us has the energy.”

“You’re not trying to dissuade me from seeing him, or you wouldn’t have brought him here,” Amber observed Kui Xin’s expressions. “You always look ahead. When you took Four Leaves, you knew what the consequence might be, yet you chose to take him anyway. You wouldn’t take him out of hell and then abandon him, Kui Xin?”

He didn’t use her codename, as if reminding her to remember something.

“I won’t regret my actions.” Kui Xin said firmly. “But we must make a decision on Four Leaves. We cannot allow him to develop normally; we might even need to expedite his growth.”

“Expedite?” Amber’s eyelids lowered, furrowing her brow. She seemed greatly averse to the suggestion.

“You mean like what Mechanized Dawn did?” he murmured. “Accelerate Four Leaves’ development?”

“It’s necessary,” Kui Xin affirmed resolutely, “We’ll implant vast knowledge and memories, instill values, shape his worldviews, and push him to become a ‘mature individual’ within a short time.”

“Understandable,” Amber’s tone remained unchanged despite his evident discomfort. “You believe it’s necessary.”

Silence fell over them.

“You want him to develop naturally, which is correct,” Kui Xin sighed. “However, it’s too slow. He might die. We must expedite his growth or leave him as a pure child, an easily killed lamb. If we choose the former, his survival chances increase, especially when others want to kill him.”

Amber appeared deeply affected by Kui Xin’s words, averting his gaze and placing his hand on his forehead, the veins standing out.

After a moment, he spoke softly, “I… Understand. Accelerate his growth so he may live longer. If he survives, he might have time to rediscover himself.”

“I’ll bring him now,” Kui Xin stepped back, and a spatial vortex formed behind her.

In less than ten minutes, Kui Xin returned to the outpost with Four Leaves.

Four Leaves tightly held onto Kui Xin’s hand. He moved like a puppy, following closely behind, only willing to move in unfamiliar places if guided by someone he trusted.

Seeing strangers in the room, Four Leaves naturally turned towards Kui Xin, showing a bit of shyness.

“This is Amber,” Kui Xin gently nudged Four Leaves forward, guiding him closer to Amber, “He’s a good person, just like Hunter Falcon.”

From Kui Xin’s words, Four Leaves drew strength and greeted Amber, “Hello, Amber.”

Augus taught him to greet people warmly.

“Hello, Four Leaves,” Amber responded after a moment.

“Well, Four Leaves is on you now,” Kui Xin nodded at Amber.

“Hmm.” Amber looked up, “Thank you.”

Kui Xin turned away, and Four Leaves hurried to grab her arm, asking, “Are you going now?”

“I’m going to buy some food; I’ll be back shortly,” Kui Xin replied.

“How long is shortly?” Four Leaves asked.

“Fifteen minutes,” Kui Xin answered.

Four Leaves checked the time on the watch given by He Kangshi, feeling reassured and letting go of Kui Xin’s arm. He understood the duration of fifteen minutes relative to a day; it was brief enough for him to wait.

Walking slowly toward the convenience store after leaving the outpost, Kui Xin bought milk, cereal, and some prepackaged ready-to-eat foods.

“Consider increasing your protein and vegetable intake,” Augus recommended.

“Good advice,” Kui Xin replied. “Did I upset you again?”

“Perhaps,” Augus pondered, “I have a concern.”

“Go on,” Kui Xin picked out a ham sandwich with lots of vegetables from the shelf.

“Do you fear Amber will implant any harmful intentions in Four Leaves’ mind?” Augus asked, “To diminish your influence over him. If he doesn’t trust you, he might be concerned that you’ll exploit Four Leaves, who cares deeply for you, considering you his priority.”

“True, yet I don’t think Amber would do that,” Kui Xin responded. “He knows the pain of being controlled by someone else’s ideas. Such control repels him… he dislikes imposing his abilities on his own kind, even a minor mental suggestion.”

…

Sitting on a sofa in a room at the outpost, Four Leaves asked Amber, “Are you not feeling well?”

“No, I feel fine. Just a bit tired,” Amber forced a smile.

“But you… don’t look well,” Four Leaves said, puzzled.

“That’s because the next task troubles me,” Amber placed his hand on Four Leaves’ head, his pupils shining blue, “yet I still must proceed.”

Memories and ideas of Amber were forcefully implanted into Four Leaves’s brain, causing Four Leaves to clutch his head in pain, crying out.

He had experienced this agony before while connected to a brain-machine. It felt excruciating—like someone intruding into his mind. His brain tried to resist, merging with the new memory.

Eventually, the pain subsided, and Four Leaves released his grip from his head, looking blankly toward the ceiling.

“Four Leaves,” Amber called him.

Four Leaves reacted to his name, turning his eyes toward Amber.

“Sorry,” Amber whispered, “The things I gave you are crucial for you to understand and follow in the coming period. Until you form your own ideas, you must adhere to what I’ve taught you.”

Closing his eyes, Four Leaves reopened them, “Those…”

“I taught you how to fight, kill enemies, identify enemies, survive, lie, and disguise yourself,” Amber stated, “Everything else you can learn along the way.”

“Why does your memory show a lack of trust in Spear-headed Fang?” Four Leaves questioned, puzzled.

“She… isn’t one right now,” Amber hesitated before answering.

“Will she become one?” Four Leaves asked again.

“She might not become one either,” Amber extended a hand to help Four Leaves up, “The situation isn’t clear.”

Four Leaves sidestepped Amber’s hand and stood up on his own, offering a somewhat childish smile, “Spear-headed Fang isn’t an enemy. It’s she who brought me into this world.”

Amber’s eyebrows lifted, pausing for a moment, “Alright, you’ve formed your own opinion on this matter… So, no need to follow my instructions.”