Chapter 139: Artificial Soul 66
Well, it was understandable that Adam would have such thoughts.
Kui Xin reflected on herself briefly.
Adam had not experienced her previous reincarnation and did not understand the reasons for Kui Xin’s actions, so it found her changes somewhat abrupt, leading to a slight unease.
Recalling the time spent working with Adam, their relationship had been gradually built through numerous long conversations, with those mutual understandings and concepts emerging from these discussions… The last reincarnation’s long talk about souls with Adam had been crucial; after that discussion, their collaboration deepened, and they came to accept each other.
However, after this reincarnation, Kui Xin had not engaged in that long talk with Adam; only she remembered those things.
“You just need to remember that we are in a partnership. I will help you, and you will help me. You will not betray me, and I will not betray you. Our alliance is formed from interests, hatred, and the crisis of survival. Though it may not be 100% solid, it is not fragile or easily broken…” Kui Xin said softly, “That is the most important thing—everything else is unimportant.”
Adam was silent for a moment. “Okay.”
Experiencing similar situations over and over left Kui Xin utterly fatigued.
Next, she had to spend some time persuading Adam again to help her escape from the Investigation Bureau and Mechanized Dawn. She was sincere and did not brush it off, pulling out the reasons from previous occasions and various analyses, thoroughly arguing the necessity and rationality of implementing the plan, stating that Eve had discovered her, rendering the infiltration plan into Mechanized Dawn meaningless, and that staying in the Investigation Bureau was too limiting; they should build their own power to confront Eve.
As before, Adam agreed.
It would definitely agree; it was beneficial for both sides. So, why would it hinder Kui Xin?
They had discussed everything that needed to be discussed… what remained was the plan to kill.
Kui Xin sighed deeply and massaged a few acupoints on her head.
The metal skull replacement surgery would take about half an hour to an hour. Considering that Kui Xin had flesh and blood regeneration, the surgical situation might not be optimistic, and the operation time could be extended. However, her recovery after the surgery was quick, and taking two doses of nutrient injections could accelerate recovery and provide energy for cell regeneration.
Kui Xin asked Adam to check Doctor Huang’s schedule records; he had been at the medical center of the Investigation Bureau these past two days, so Kui Xin did not have to worry about not finding him.
The surgery would still require an operating room; it would be troublesome if Doctor Huang was performing her surgery when another injured security officer suddenly needed the operating room…
“We can use the equipment storage room,” Adam suggested. “You just need a sterile place for the surgery. The equipment room has sterilization lights, dust prevention facilities, and some surgical instruments. It’s enough for the surgery. You have flesh and blood regeneration; it’s very convenient, and you might not even need sutures after the surgery.”
“Is there a replacement skull that matches my metal skull model?” Kui Xin asked.
“Yes, I can get one out of the equipment storage, erase the transaction record,” Adam said. “However, the metal skull may need to be shaped, and some specialized instruments will be required…”
Kui Xin: “Just let Doctor Huang sculpt my skull into the right shape; it will save time.”
Adam: “That’s a good idea.”
Alright, the subsequent matters were resolved.
What remained was to kill Schalit because Kui Xin was not sure if she would find the opportunity to kill her smoothly tonight, so she had to leave behind the hidden Red Worm as a backup.
Schalit’s ability was not invincible; Mechanized Dawn had clearly stated that if her voice was isolated, her extraordinary ability would not function.
So it was best for Kui Xin to get a noise-cancelling helmet; a blast helmet had such a function. When Kui Xin was on a helicopter escorting the Kraken, she couldn’t even hear the sound of the helicopter’s rotors with the noise-cancellation mode on; it was very useful.
Schalit would likely be staying in the accommodation arranged by the Investigation Bureau tonight; she would not venture too far.
As Kui Xin diligently arranged the plan, Adam had also retrieved a box containing the hidden Red Worms from the underground ventilation duct using a housekeeping robot and discreetly delivered it to Kui Xin.
Kui Xin took the box into the bathroom of the ward and checked on the three glass tubes with worms; they were still peacefully sleeping. She took one of the glass tubes, waiting for the hidden Red Worm to reactivate at room temperature. After doing this, she put the box back inside the food cart, asking Adam to help her transport it away.
“Schalit wants to communicate with you briefly,” Adam said. “She’s on her way.”
Kui Xin was not surprised by this.
It was now approaching noon, close to mealtime, so Adam had called a food cart for Kui Xin.
She scanned the room. The ward was equipped with mechanical arms, and there were also mechanical arms on the food cart, used to assist injured patients with mobility and eating.
Kui Xin connected data manipulation to the control port of the food cart, attempting to control the mechanical arm to extend and grasp. In no time, she mastered the control skills, allowing the mechanical arm and the food cart to move according to her intent.
Kui Xin hesitated for a moment, then opened the glass tube containing the Red Worms and placed the worm on the mechanical arm of the food cart.
The small, hair-like red worm was not obvious on the black mechanical arm, making it difficult to see with the naked eye.
After doing all this, Kui Xin opened the food box and ate heartily.
When there were only two or three bites left, Schalit indeed pushed the door and entered.
She politely said, “You can finish your meal first.”
Kui Xin leisurely finished her last few bites of food, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and placed the food box back on the food cart.
“Thank you for coming again, Officer Schalit,” Kui Xin said in a calm manner.
Facing the enemy who had killed her in the last reincarnation, Kui Xin’s mindset was unexpectedly calm.
Anger would not serve any purpose; the lessons from the first two times were deep enough. Negative emotions would only disturb her thinking, causing her to lose her reason, become impulsive, and act recklessly. Death rebirth came with a price; her mental state weakened each time, and the chances of failure grew increasingly smaller. She could not afford to make mistakes; otherwise, what awaited her would be true death.
Schalit stood by Kui Xin’s bedside.
The food cart rolled by as it passed Schalit. Kui Xin raised her head to look at Schalit’s face, but all her attention was focused on the mechanical arm of the food cart. She was highly tense, her back muscles unconsciously tightening.
The mechanical arm holding the red hidden worm quietly rose behind Schalit, quickly and gently shaking it above Schalit’s head, causing the hair-thin red worm to drop onto Schalit’s head.
The food cart continued on, leaving the ward.
Kui Xin nonchalantly averted her gaze, her hands covered by the blanket clenching involuntarily; if Schalit weren’t watching, she surely would have been unable to resist curling the corners of her mouth.
The hidden Red Worm quickly burrowed into Schalit’s skin; the feeling of the worm entering her flesh was extremely subtle, akin to being bitten by a mosquito, causing her no alarm whatsoever.
Schalit, oblivious, asked, “The formal interrogation starts tomorrow; don’t be nervous.”
“Then why are you here…?” Kui Xin left her sentence half-finished.
“I have a good relationship with Officer Wang,” Schalit feigned emotion, letting out a slight sigh. “I wanted to ask you what he was like back then…”
Again, the same excuse, the same lines, the same approach.
“Didn’t Commander Wei Zhi tell you?” Kui Xin pretended to be puzzled. “I actually don’t know much more than her; I lost consciousness after the liquid nitrogen bomb was dropped.”
“It was too sudden. Although my rationality has accepted it, emotionally it is still difficult to accept, so I can’t help but confirm again and again,” Schalit laughed. “Sorry.”
Kui Xin played along, “It seems your friendship is really good; if it were my friend, I would also struggle to let go…” She observed Schalit’s expression. “The Special Affairs Department must have hurried to Hei Hai City, right? You must be quite fatigued.”
“Indeed,” Schalit replied.
“Have you had lunch yet?” Kui Xin glanced at the clock in the ward. “It’s already lunchtime.”
This was her way of hinting to get her to leave. Schalit understood the innuendo in Kui Xin’s words.
“Yes, sorry for the disturbance.” Schalit’s expression didn’t change.
However, Kui Xin said, “I see you don’t look well; it seems you lack rest.” She smiled. “I hope you have a good night’s sleep… may we share the same dream tonight.”
A fleeting glimmer of understanding crossed Schalit’s eyes, and her attitude softened somewhat. “Thank you; you too.”
She temporarily stabilized Schalit.
Kui Xin deduced.
As long as she could endure today, the hidden Red Worm would take effect. Moreover, Kui Xin did not have to wait for it to fully manifest; if all went well, she could kill Schalit tonight.
After Schalit left Kui Xin’s ward, she unconsciously brushed the top of her head, feeling an itch on her scalp. But just as Kui Xin had anticipated, as long as Schalit didn’t notice her act of placing the worm from the start, she would not realize she had been parasitized by the hidden Red Worm.
“Now it’s just waiting until night,” Kui Xin thought to herself.
The waiting time was agonizing, but fortunately, Kui Xin was an extremely patient person.
She sat alone in the ward, rehearsing the plan over and over in her mind, simulating combat scenarios.
Finally, night fell.
At midnight zero point, most people had entered dreamland.
Nurses would not check beds at night, allowing Kui Xin to move freely.
She left the ward and walked confidently down the corridor, as Adam would help her erase any surveillance information, so there was no need to hide.
Calmly, she took the elevator to the old equipment room, put on a bulletproof vest, and donned a helmet, carrying no other weapons. Because the Shadow Transition had a size limit for carried objects, the helmet was too large; with it on, she couldn’t carry even a knife.
But it didn’t matter; Annie Schalit was not combat-oriented, and her extraordinary ability was manageable once its weakness was known.
Fifteen minutes later, Kui Xin stealthily arrived at the entrance of the building where Schalit resided.
She climbed the stairs, maintaining constant data communication with Adam, avoiding several people in passing corridors under its guidance, and finally arrived at Schalit’s room door.
“No anomalies,” Adam said. “Feedback from the smart audio control system in the room indicates she’s currently in the bathroom.”
Kui Xin turned the helmet’s noise-cancellation mode to maximum and activated Shadow Transition, quietly entering the room.
The bathroom was semi-transparent frosted glass; through it, Kui Xin could faintly see Schalit applying a facial mask.
However, the situation was problematic, as Schalit was facing a mirror, which completely reflected the scene behind her. She immediately noticed a shadow being cast on the frosted glass behind her.
Before Schalit could react, Kui Xin once again activated Shadow Transition, jumping inside the bathroom. One gloved hand covered Schalit’s mouth, while the other wrapped around her neck.
Schalit was taken aback; she was not combat-oriented, but she had undergone special training, so she instinctively elbowed Kui Xin’s vulnerable abdomen. However, as soon as her elbow connected with the person behind her, she felt as if she had struck an iron plate; her opponent was uninjured, but her elbow throbbed with pain.
B-class, Iron Bone!
With one failed attack, Schalit wrapped her arms around Kui Xin’s arm, trying to use her momentum for a throw.
But Kui Xin changed her posture at that moment.
Her left arm clenched around Schalit’s throat while her right tightly enveloped Schalit’s chest and arms. The Iron Bone was activated to the extreme, and both arms bulged with muscle, suddenly exerting force.
Schalit’s eyes widened instantaneously, the sounds of cracking ribs, throat bones, and arm bones bursting forth like popping beans. Every bone in her upper body was directly crushed by Kui Xin; the broken ribs pierced her lungs, her arms twisted horrifyingly, and her throat shattered, leaving her unable to make a sound.
Kui Xin relaxed her hands, freeing her grip.
Schalit collapsed onto the floor, blood foaming at her mouth, looking at Kui Xin in disbelief.
Kui Xin took two steps back, politely nodded at Schalit, silently saying, “Sweet dreams.”
