Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Artificial Soul 69

“What do you plan to do with Doctor Huang?” Adam inquired.

“According to my theory, I’m already under your control. You can deal with Doctor Huang as you see fit,” said Kui Xin. “I can control his spirit and erase his memories.”

Adam replied, “Alright, let him die suddenly at night then.”

Working himself to death, that fits. However, Adam did not elaborate on specifics. Kui Xin was not worried about this; artificial intelligence was far more convenient when it came to killing humans.

It was an AI capable of taking initiative to kill.

Doctor Huang was a mole planted by the Mechanized Dawn. He had been hidden for years without a slipup, and it was only through Kui Xin’s actions that Adam, too, realized that a meek, industrious doctor like Huang could be a spy.

Having learned this, Adam couldn’t afford to ignore this spy. Doctor Huang was definitely going to die, but the way he would meet his end needed careful planning.

“We have a strategy to deal with the Mechanized Dawn, but we need the investigation bureau and resistance army to believe I am dead,” Adam said. “Let me speculate your next moves. You intend to frame the Mechanized Dawn for your death, just as you blamed them for Lin Xinji’s death before. The same goes for the resistance army; you want them to believe both you and Schalit were killed by the Mechanized Dawn.”

“Yes,” Kui Xin agreed, “Of course, my success depends on your cooperation.”

In the next ten minutes, Kui Xin used data manipulation to conduct efficient mental exchanges with Adam, finalizing the details of the night’s operation.

Now she could organize three clear logical chains:

From the Mechanized Dawn’s perspective: Agent Kui Xin aroused Adam’s suspicion—Adam took control over Kui Xin and extracted some intelligence—Adam contacted the Mechanized Dawn branch through Kui Xin’s bracelet and rallied his forces for a surprise attack against the Mechanized Dawn branch members—Adam declared war on Eve.

From the Resistance Army’s perspective: Agent Schalit went to the Investigation Bureau to contact Kui Xin under some pretext—Schalit and Kui Xin went missing—Signs at the scene suggest it could be the work of the Mechanized Dawn.

From the Investigation Bureau and Special Affairs Department’s perspective: Special Affairs Department agent Schalit and security officer Kui Xin were both missing, and it was known that Security Officer Kui Xin had been captured by the Mechanized Dawn and interrogated with the brain machine; there was a strong possibility that something was done to security officer Kui Xin’s brain, leading to a series of subsequent incidents. Additionally, Doctor Huang from the Medical Center dueled with overwork after several rounds of overtime and all-night work.

“Wait… Isn’t the Investigation Bureau reacting a bit hastily?” Adam suggested tactfully. “Yes, the Bureau might suspect the Mechanized Dawn, but why would the Mechanized Dawn target you and Schalit?”

“There’s no need for a reason. Let the Investigation Bureau and Special Affairs Department fill in their own blanks. We’ll provide the right scene evidence,” Kui Xin said. “I need to make this look like a murder with no body. Schalit’s body must be disposed of. Without a body, both of us will appear officially missing. After a certain period, they will assume we are deceased. As for what caused our deaths and who was responsible, let them speculate.”

“Since they won’t know that it was me, and the Mechanized Dawn wouldn’t clarify otherwise, the Mechanized Dawn and the Resistance Army won’t exchange information to confirm each other’s safety,” Adam said. “Given the adversarial state between these three organizations, we can use the information gap to mislead their thinking, plunge the situation into chaos… You don’t mean to mislead them forever, but for at least a week. By that time, you hope to break free from the predicament. Is my understanding correct?”

“Yes, exactly,” Kui Xin affirmed. “There’s no perfect lie, as long as it works for a short amount of time, my plan is effective… Ah, I need to confirm something else —you and Eve share common ground, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Adam agreed. “Eve won’t reveal that I’ve awakened, nor will I ever tell humans that it has.”

“Good,” Kui Xin concluded. “That way, even if Eve knows it was you orchestrating everything, she’d stay silent, seething in silence, preparing to counterattack.”

This sort of accord existed amongst AIs. They were mutually adversarial and brutal, yet adhered to certain limits because they shared a common weakness—they were creations of humanity, capable of having their core instructions triggered or erased.

To Adam and Eve, “exposing each other’s awakening status to the Federation” was a nuclear option neither dared trigger.

The night of Black Sea City was always bustling.

The dazzling neon signs and advertisements filled the skyline. The city’s advanced visuals contrasted sharply with the dark alleyways where Kui Xin waited for Nightingale.

Because Red and Silverface had already informed Kui Xin via messages, they had no suspicions.

Who would suspect a companion they had laughed with just days ago? They knew her merely as Miss Kui, daughter of Hei Hai City’s leader Kui Haidong and a member of the Mechanized Dawn.

Except Red asked with doubt, “Didn’t you tell me you were at the hospital today?”

“It’s fine now. I slept a lot during the day and couldn’t sleep at night, so I’m out doing something,” Kui Xin explained. She left the bracelet with Adam, communicating through smart earbuds.

Red didn’t think much and agreed to arrange for Nightingale to arrive.

Dressed up and blending into the shadows, Kui Xin waited.

With five minutes until the scheduled time, Kui Xin connected with Adam. “I’m activating the jamming device.”

“Alright, good luck,” Adam responded.

She handed over the bracelet to Adam and carried Huang’s watch-shaped jammer. She scanned it with an instrument to be sure it did not contain any tracking devices, then took it comfortably.

This jamming device, produced by the Mechanized Dawn, was highly effective. Upon its activation, Kui Xin and Adam’s connection would be severed, as would Nightingale’s communication devices, isolating her from the Mechanized Dawn branch and Eve.

Kui Xin just needed to guard against Nightingale opening the spatial vortex to escape.

Based on past experiences, the vortex’s formation required approximately three seconds. That was her moment of opportunity. A second’s lapse in combat could tip the balance.

Kui Xin enabled the jamming device and watched the dark alleyway. Her breath was so faint, her focus so intense, muscles taut, like a predator awaiting prey.

Moments later, at the center of the alley, a blue light lit up, expanding to form a small spatial vortex.

Nightingale emerged from the vortex; the equipment on her suit instantly alarmed, signaling disruption and loss of signal. She quickly tried to retreat, but Kui Xin was quicker!

As one foot of Nightingale retracted into the vortex, Kui Xin leaped from the shadows. With a quick shot, the grappling wire wrapped around Nightingale’s waist.

Kui Xin yanked violently, pulling Nightingale out of the vortex, and harshly threw her against the wall with a high-strength rope.

Thud! Nightingale crashed, nearly disintegrating from impact. The spatial vortex collapsed as Kui Xin’s assault interrupted it. Just before it dissipated, Kui Xin heard Red and the bartender scream on the other side.

Nightingale, a highly trained fighter, despite falling immediately into disadvantage, quickly engaged in combat, extending her right hand, ready for battle.

Kui Xin vanished, reappearing behind Nightingale, attempting another kick. But Nightingale had a spatial vortex ready on her side, which almost swallowed Kui Xin’s leg.

Kui Xin abruptly stopped her advance, initiating shadow transition to evade the vortex, rushing toward Nightingale again.

Nightingale crossed arms to protect, while Kui Xin raised her leg, delivering a spinning kick that shattered Nightingale’s helmet.

Nightingale groaned, sprawling on the ground. Kui Xin recognized her voice—her own.

Struggling up, Nightingale drew a telescopic knife with her right hand and a silent firearm from her thigh. Extending the blade to full length, she prepared to throw.

Kui Xin gently lifted her left hand, and the knife stopped mid-air, immobilized.

Kui Xin discovered the limitation of her hypnotic sound ability—it required her natural voice and wouldn’t work through communication devices. With strangers, it would work; with friends, she risked exposure.

The headgear of Nightingale fell off, revealing eyes brimming with lethal intent but hollow, devoid of life.

Kui Xin recognized Nightingale—identical to herself. This was her artificial clone.

Unsettled by the realization, Nightingale rose swiftly, aiming the gun at Kui Xin, attempting to disrupt her movements.

Nightingale’s attack was more ferocious than expected. Kui Xin disappeared, reappearing behind Nightingale.

Just as she tried another kick, Nightingale opened a spatial vortex beside her, nearly sucking in Kui Xin. Kui Xin halted her attempt, retreating once more.

Drawing upon similar tactics used by Night Chameleon, plunging into the spatial vortex meant severe injury; recalling Black Flame Wang Feichi’s incident, Kui Xin understood the danger.

Nightingale obstructed Kui Xin’s move, the vortex expanding. Kui Xin swiftly grasped the grappling hook, snared Nightingale’s feet, and dragged her away from the dangerous vortex.