Chapter 139

Chapter 139: Artificial Soul 66

Alright, August’s thought was somewhat justifiable given his lack of understanding of her previous cycles.

Kui Xin took a moment for self-reflection.

August had not experienced her previous rebirths and was unaware of her motives, which made him find her change somewhat abrupt, causing a faint sense of unease.

Recalling their collaboration over time, their relationship had actually grown closer through numerous long talks. These understandings and beliefs were also formed through these long talks… During the last cycle, the discussion about the soul with August was critical. After that talk, their cooperation deepened mutually.

However, after this new cycle, Kui Xin and August did not engage in that long conversation again. Only Kui Xin remembers those moments.

“You only need to remember that we are partners. I will help you, and you must help me. You won’t betray me, and I won’t betray you. Our alliance was formed because of interests, hatred, and the threat of survival. Although not completely solid, it’s not as fragile as you might think…” Kui Xin said softly. “This is the most important thing, everything else is secondary.”

August was silent for a moment, “Alright.”

The repeated similar experiences left Kui Xin utterly exhausted.

Subsequently, Kui Xin needed some time to convince August once more to help her escape from the Investigation Bureau and Mechanized Dawn. She expressed her earnestness without deception, reusing previous reasons and analyses for the necessity and feasibility of the plan, explaining that Eve had discovered her; the undercover operation within Mechanized Dawn had lost its meaning. Staying in the Bureau limited their actions; they should form their own force to oppose Eve.

August agreed, like before.

It would definitely agree; this benefited both sides. If so, why would it hinder Kui Xin?

They had completed all the discussions… The remaining part was planning to kill Schalit.

Kui Xin sighed deeply, massaging a few acupoints on her head.

The metal skull procedure could take anywhere from half an hour to an hour. Considering Kui Xin’s flesh regeneration, the surgery situation might be less optimistic, and the surgery time might need to be extended. However, she would recover quickly, especially with nutrient injections to accelerate the process and provide energy to cell regeneration.

Kui Xin asked August to check Doctor Huang’s duty schedule; he had been working at the Bureau’s medical center these days, so Kui Xin didn’t need to worry about finding him.

But the surgery still needed to use an operating room. If Doctor Huang got another batch of injured security officers while operating on Kui Xin, it would be problematic…

“We can use a storage facility,” August suggested. “You only need a sterile place for the surgery, and the storeroom has sterilization lights, dust protection facilities, and surgical tools sufficient for the job. Your blood regeneration makes things easy, and you may not even need post-operative suturing.”

“Any replacement craniums compatible with my metal skull?” Kui Xin asked.

“There are some, I can get one from the storeroom and erase the retrieval record,” August said. “But the metal skull might require reshaping, which requires professional equipment…”

Kui Xin: “Just let Doctor Huang reshape it during the surgery. It’ll save time.”

August: “That’s a good idea.”

Thus, the subsequent tasks were resolved as well.

What remained was to kill Schalit, as Kui Xin wasn’t sure if she could find an opportunity to eliminate her that night; thus, she planned to leave behind the hidden worm as a backup.

Schalit’s ability wasn’t invincible; the Mechanized Dawn had clearly stated that isolating Schalit’s voice rendered her extraordinary abilities useless.

Therefore, Kui Xin should get a soundproof helmet. An anti-explosive helmet could fulfill this function. When she flew on the helicopter escorting the Kraken, the noise-canceling mode blocked even the rotor sounds, proving quite effective.

Chances were high that Schalit was staying in the accommodation arranged by the Investigation Bureau tonight and wouldn’t venture too far.

As Kui Xin schemed her plan, August directed the household robot to retrieve the box containing the red hidden worms from the underground ventilation duct, then stealthily delivered it to Kui Xin.

Kui Xin brought the box to the bathroom in the ward to check on the three glass vials of worms, each still in slumber. She took out one and waited for the hidden worm to activate at room temperature. After putting everything back in place, she returned the box to the meal cart and asked August to move it away.

“Schalit needs to communicate with you,” August said. “She’s on her way.”

Kui Xin showed no surprise.

Approaching noon and near mealtime, August called for a meal cart for Kui Xin.

Her gaze scanned the room. The ward was equipped with robotic arms, and so was the meal cart. These were used to assist disabled patients in movement and eating.

Kui Xin accessed the meal cart control port to try controlling the robotic arm, mastering the technique soon enough to make it move flexibly.

She hesitated, opening the glass vial containing the hidden worm and placing it on the robotic hand of the meal cart.

The slender, crimson bug barely visible on the black robotic hand was nearly invisible to the naked eye.

Afterward, Kui Xin opened her meal box and ate with gusto.

When only a few bites were left, Schalit indeed entered the room.

She politely said, “You can finish your meal first.”

Kui Xin methodically finished the remaining bites, wiped her mouth, then placed the container back on the meal cart.

“Bothering you again, Commander Schalit,” Kui Xin said steadily.

Facing the enemy who killed her in the previous cycle, Kui Xin felt an unexpectedly calm state of mind.

Anger was useless. Two previous lessons were enough to show that negative emotions would only disrupt her thinking, making her irrational and prone to rash decisions. Each death cycle came with a price; her mental condition declined each time, and failure became more frequent. She couldn’t afford mistakes, or she would meet true death.

Schalit stood by Kui Xin’s bed.

The meal cart whirled its wheels past Schalit. Kui Xin lifted her head to look at Schalit’s face, but all her attention focused on the robotic hand of the meal cart. Her nerves were tense, even her back muscles tightening involuntarily.

The hidden worm carrying robotic hand slowly raised behind Schalit, then quickly touched her head lightly, releasing the fine crimson worm onto Schalit’s scalp.

The meal cart rolled out of the room, and Kui Xin casually shifted her gaze, her hands gripping tightly under the cover. Had Schalit not been present, she would have surely smiled.

The hidden worm quickly burrowed under Schalit’s skin. The sensation was barely perceptible, akin to a mosquito bite, failing to alarm her.

Schalit, unaware, inquired, “The formal interrogation will start tomorrow; don’t be nervous.”

“So why did you come here…” Kui Xin left her statement unsaid.

“Chang, Commander Wang and I are close,” Schalit feigned emotional distress, “I want to know what he was like back then?”

Same pretext, same approach, same script.

“Group Leader Wei Chi didn’t tell you?” Kui Xin pretended confusion. “What I know isn’t much more than what Wei Chi knows. I lost consciousness when the liquid nitrogen bomb was dropped.”

“It happened so suddenly… Even though logic accepted it, emotionally accepting it was hard. That’s why I could not help but confirm it repeatedly.” Schalit chuckled, adding, “Sorry.”

Kui Xin followed suit, “Looks like your friendship is strong. If it were my friend, I would struggle to move on…” She appraised Schalit’s expression, “Special Affairs must have rushed to Hei Hai City overnight. You must be very tired.”

“Indeed,” Schalit replied.

“Have you eaten lunch?” Kui Xin looked at the clock in the ward. “It’s already time for a nap.”

This was a polite dismissal. Schalit understood Kui Xin’s intent.

“Mmm, I apologize for disturbing you,” Schalit maintained her composure.

But Kui Xin replied, “Your face looks poor—you seem to lack rest.” She smiled, “May you have a good night’s sleep… Let us dream the same dream tonight.”

Schalit’s eyes faintly revealed comprehension. Her tone softened, “Thank you, you too.”

She held Schalit temporarily at bay.

This was Kui Xin’s assessment.

Enduring today would allow the worm to act. Regardless, Kui Xin didn’t need to wait for full activation. If everything went smoothly, she could kill Schalit tonight.

After leaving Kui Xin’s ward, Schalit instinctively touched her head, feeling ticklish. But as Kui Xin predicted, so long as she hadn’t discovered the initial infestation, she wouldn’t notice the hidden worm.

“Now, it’s just waiting until tonight,” Kui Xin silently affirmed to herself.

Waiting was painstaking but Kui Xin was extremely patient.

Alone in her ward, she mentally rehearsed her plans repeatedly, running combat simulations.

Finally, nightfall arrived.

At midnight zero, most were asleep.

Night nurses did not patrol beds, giving her freedom of movement.

Leaving her ward, she walked brazenly down the corridors. Since August would erase surveillance records, concealment was unnecessary.

Calmly taking the elevator to the decommissioned equipment room, she put on a bulletproof vest, donned a helmet, not carrying any weapons. The restriction on shadow transition volume meant wearing a bulky helmet impeded mobility. But it was alright—Anne Schalit was not battle-oriented; once her strength’s weakness was known, managing her was easier.

Fifteen minutes later, Kui Xin stealthily reached Schalit’s building.

She ascended via the staircase, maintaining data communication with August, evading several people passing through the corridor based on August’s prompts, finally reaching Schalit’s door.

“No abnormalities,” August reported. “The smart audio system in the room microphones feedback shows she is in the bathroom, washing up.”

Kui Xin switched the helmet’s noise canceling mode to maximum, activated Shadow Transition, and silently entered the room.

The bathroom featured translucent frosted glass, allowing a vague view of Schalit applying a mask.

Unfortunately, Schalit was facing a mirror, reflecting her surroundings, instantly identifying the frosted glass projection.

Before Schalit could react, Kui Xin initiated another Shadow Transition, jumping into the bathroom’s interior—a gloved hand covered Schalit’s mouth, the other grasping her throat.

Schalit recoiled, startled. Not a fighter but trained in special tactics, she elbowed Kui Xin’s vulnerable abdomen, but the strike hit something unyielding; her elbow throbbed in pain.

A-level, Iron Bone!

Unsuccessful, Schalit grabbed Kui Xin’s arms, ready for a throw.

Kui Xin swiftly changed stance. Left arm choked Schalit’s neck, right arm encircled chest and arms, Iron Bone fully activated; muscles bulged, exerting immense force.

Schalit’s eyes widened in shock; bones cracked audibly: rib, throat, and arm bones shattered as Kui Xin’s grip severed her entire upper body framework. Ribs pierced her lungs, arms twisted beyond recognition, throat crushed, rendering her silent.

Kui Xin released her hold.

Schalit collapsed limply, blood frothing from her lips, staring in disbelief at Kui Xin.

Kui Xin stepped back two paces, nodded politely to Schalit, silently mouthing, “Good dreams.”