Chapter 135: Dieting Livestream (VII)

Chapter 135: Dieting Livestream (VII)

When Wei Heng initially received this message, he didn't quite grasp its significance.

The detrimental effects of excessive dieting were well known to everyone on the Emperor Star. Why would someone ask about this?

But his mind raced swiftly, and he soon realized that this message must have come from outside. Only someone unaware of the dangers of excessive dieting would pose such a question!

Wei Heng immediately queried, "Which star system are you from? Are you safe?"

— Utterly safe.

The internet was abuzz with discussions about the news that "not only did diet pills not induce weight loss, but they actually led to weight gain." Major manufacturers were panicking, monitoring their factories to identify the cause of the malfunction while also trying to pacify the escalating concerns online.

The Emperor Star was in a flurry of activity, with almost all available forces of the capitalists involved in the diet pill industry being redirected to the factories. Industries not involved in the diet pill sector were gleefully watching the chaos unfold. It was a moment of unprecedented slack and confusion on the Emperor Star, with no one having the time or energy to attend to minor matters.

Minor matters such as... someone sending messages to the Emperor Star.

The Emperor Star wasn't entirely isolated from the virtual network. After all, how could they prevent the elite from flaunting their status and indulging in a sense of superiority online?

Many inhabitants of the Emperor Star held online accounts, sharing messages, photos, and videos that underwent strict scrutiny to prevent accidental disclosure of the state of affairs on the Emperor Star. Quite a few were even celebrities in the interstellar online community.

However, it was difficult for residents of other star systems to send messages to individuals on the Emperor Star.

Or to put it more accurately, these messages were hardly ever seen by people on the Emperor Star.

The reason was quite simple... the reviewers were rather lazy.

Reviewing the limited population of the Emperor Star was convenient, but scrutinizing the messages from the vast interstellar populace was a never-ending task.

But without reviews, if any foreigner played the sympathy card effectively in front of the privileged sons and daughters of the Emperor Star, it might incite a wave of sympathy and chaos.

Hence, messages from other star systems rarely infiltrated the Emperor Star.

For the first time, Wei Heng found himself engaged in a conversation with someone not from the Emperor Star.

On one side was a person harboring naive yet fervent aspirations to save the unfortunate human beings, and on the other was an individual armed with countless strategies, merely awaiting a guide familiar with the Emperor Star's landscape.

Zhang Dao'an had a knack for finding the right people.

From the beginning, he sifted through the people who had tipped Aunt Li in those initial three days, identifying and messaging those who responded with "Do you think so too?", a clear indicator of a foreigner.

Advising him to exercise caution and refrain from revealing too much online represented those slightly acquainted with the inside story, yet ineligible to inhabit the Emperor Star.

Responding with a surprised, direct inquiry about their star system was, in eighty to ninety percent of cases, a hallmark of a citizen of the Emperor Star.

After a bit more filtering, Zhang Daoan quickly identified the suitable collaborators.

As for how the message was transmitted into the imperial star... Even with the interstellar developments, Earth's technology still seemed applicable here.

At this juncture, when they finally met, Wei Heng's expression inadvertently betrayed a degree of mistrust.

"Just the two of you? Can you really pull it off?"

However, Zhang Daoan chose not to elaborate, merely giving him a sidelong glance, "If we fail, you don't stand to lose anything, do you?"

It was the truth.

Although it was Wei Heng who had handled the task of receiving them in the small spacecraft and disabling the Imperial Star's protective shield, what good was it if they couldn't catch him red-handed?

Surveillance system? That device had been disabled by Zhang Daoan a long time ago.

Now that Zhang Daoan had voiced it, Wei Heng suddenly seemed somewhat sheepish.

He pursed his lips, unable to resist casting another glance at Xie Fangcheng.

"Ahem... All other things aside, could you perhaps refrain from wandering around recklessly?"

Wouldn't venturing out and encountering a patrolling robot be akin to walking into a trap?

Unable to grasp the exact nature of the duo's scheme, Wei Heng advised them instinctively, to which Xie Fangcheng responded with a reluctant and instinctual dismissal.

Although they continued their conversation, their actions didn't cease. Despite harboring some doubts about the competence of the seemingly too young Zhang Daoan and his companion, Wei Heng didn't hesitate to lead them inside.

At the moment, everyone was aboard a small spaceship that could accommodate eight people, swiftly advancing towards a more central area.

Suddenly, a patrolling robot seemed to detect something, its screen intensely focused on the spaceship zooming past it.

Just as it was contemplating whether to intercept, the spaceship passing by abruptly lowered its window. Following which, a golden object was thrust out, ensnaring the robot in one fell swoop.

It was a golden net. In one swift movement, it captured a robot and hastily retracted, even ruthlessly snapping one of the robot's arms when it got stuck at the window.

Before the mechanical voice could fully issue a "Warning, warning", Xie Fangcheng had already neatly and cleanly dismantled it with a few swift moves, all in front of the stunned Wei Heng and his group.

The golden net transformed into a golden cleaver, striking the robot and deeply imprinting into the witnesses' eyes.

Little did Wei Heng know that his casual caution would lead to such a drastic demonstration of fearlessness towards these mere patrolling robots.

"You... this, this..." Wei Heng gaped, speechless as he stared at the mechanical debris scattered on the ground.

Xie Fangcheng asked amicably, "Is there any other danger?"

It seemed that if Wei Heng were to mention any other dangers, Xie Fangcheng was highly likely to snatch it up and eradicate it directly.

Wei Heng opened his mouth, his mind seemingly drifting elsewhere as he shook his head, only to nod assertively a moment later.

"Patrol robots are ubiquitous in the Imperial Star, their role is strictly 'patrolling', not offensive. Our destination is the central city of the Imperial Star, where not only do patrol robots exist but also cleaning robots equipped with lethal weaponry... No, it's not just robots."

Wei Heng took a deep breath.

"In the central city, nearly every household employs over a dozen well-trained security personnel, whose expertise surpasses that of any robot!"

Serving as security personnel on the Imperial Star, they might find opportunities to live in more peripheral areas once they retire, should they no longer find a place in the central city.

These individuals initially had no chance of coming to the Imperial Star. In the eyes of its residents, providing them with the knowledge of the real world and allowing them a job opportunity - even the chance to retire, is considered a great benevolence.

Not only do the Imperial Star citizens think this way, but also a vast number of ordinary people residing in the peripheral cities, whose wealth is inconsequential in the Imperial Star, existing solely to serve the inhabitants of the central city.

However, everyone tends to compare their situation with other stellar systems.

See, isn't this a case of a fish leaping over the dragon gate?

Consequently, over the years, a significant number of potentially dangerous humans have emerged in the Imperial Star, yet these individuals have never contemplated rebellion, instead gratefully accepting their circumstances as a gift.

Whenever an incident occurs in the central city, these "greatly favored" individuals rush to assist, eagerly offering their help without expecting any compensation, seemingly hopeful of catching the eye of a noble and moving into the central city.

At this moment, when Wei Heng spoke, Xie Fangcheng responded politely, yet his words were rather chilling.

"Then, I'm even more skilled, aren't I?"

Skilled at what??

Wei Heng looked at him in horror, then glanced at the scattered mechanical debris on the ground.

Could his expertise be in doing this sort of thing to people?? What was his previous occupation? There were no executioners in space, were there?!

For a moment, the spaceship fell silent.

Soon, the spaceship reached its destination.

Zhang Dao'an looked out through the glass: "A third-tier university on the Imperial Star?"

"Yes. My family's assets are modest, allowing me only to attend a third-tier university, which anyone can get into."

Despite being third-tier, the Imperial Star is facing a shortage of talents, and the university is well-equipped, offering descendants of the service personnel a chance to move slightly up the social ladder.

During their time at the school, each student is allocated a personal laboratory, which enabled Wei Heng to discover excessive radioactive elements in a finger sample.

At this point, Zhang Dao'an unexpectedly remarked, "It really is a society that categorizes people into different classes, huh?"

The people of the Imperial Star consider themselves to be top-tier, while those from other star systems are viewed as inferior.

A similar hierarchy exists within the Imperial Star itself.

Although Wei Heng and others had grown accustomed to this situation, they didn't feel much about it until Zhang Dao'an mentioned it. Once he did, everyone gazed at the "third-tier" sign on the university's plaque, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Zhang Dao'an simply made that remark, and then signaled Wei Heng to lead the way.

But Xie Fangcheng halted, his mission differed from theirs.

Zhang Dao'an was set to scientifically demonstrate the harmful health effects of excessive thinning, debunking the malicious narrative propagated by weight loss drug manufacturers that "thinner is more beautiful".

Xie Fangcheng, on the other hand, intended to create a visual shockwave.

He planned to live stream, exposing the culprits who sold these drugs that skeletonized humans across different stellar systems, showcasing how they merrily danced and celebrated on the graves of their victims, raking in enormous profits.

Now at the school, Xie Fangcheng readied himself to bid a temporary farewell to Zhang Dao'an.

Before leaving, he couldn't resist asking one more time.

"Are you sure we can split up, huh? You'll really be fine on your own?"

"I'll be fine," Zhang Dao'an smiled, "I'm not like Nie Shuangshuang and the others, needing your protection."

Zhang Dao'an was incredibly competent. Though his combat ability wasn't high, his perception of danger and grasp of the situation were unparalleled. It would be highly challenging for a regular instance to harm him. His level of strength was outrageously on another level, which was evident from his success rate when clearing instances solo.

This was not the Nie Shuangshuang who needed protection from Xie Fangcheng... Eh? What did this have to do with Nie Shuangshuang?

Puzzled, Xie Fangcheng scratched his head, waved at him, and then turned to leave.

Only after his figure disappeared from view did Zhang Dao'an shift his gaze away.

As Wei Heng led him towards the laboratory building, he couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Um... Sorry if this is prying, but what's your relationship with the person who just left?"

As he spoke, Wei Heng ventured his own guess, "Are you two a couple?"

With a faint expression, Zhang Dao'an inquired, "Do we look like it?"

Although his expression remained calm, Wei Heng sensed a cheerful undertone in his demeanor.

"It seems like..."

Now it doesn't resemble a couple, but more like an unrequited love...

However, Wei Heng wisely swallowed those words, choosing not to utter such rash comments.

As they hurried to the laboratory, Xie Fangcheng had already initiated his live broadcast.

This was part of the plan they had agreed upon.

Xie Fangcheng would first draw the attention of the Imperial Star's inhabitants. While he distracted them, Zhang Dao'an would start his live stream, opening the donation channel to quickly accumulate enough Meishou points. By the time the capitalists of the Imperial Star realized and sought retaliation, Zhang Dao'an would have already left the instance.

As for the aftermath within this instance... that was not their concern.

"Others will naturally seek vengeance, no need for us to intervene," Zhang Dao'an remarked.

At this moment, Xie Fangcheng began his live stream. After disabling the donation channel, the hidden camera continued to provide a clear feed, allowing viewers to appreciate the scenery of the Imperial Star from various angles.

As a new broadcaster with little following, Xie Fangcheng traversed quite a distance before finally garnering three viewers. Two of them did not pay much attention, leaving only a comment, "What the hell is this place? Why are there so many fat pigs walking the streets? How can they shamelessly waddle around in public looking like that? Don't they have any sense of shame??"

Then, he ran off.

Only one viewer remained, stunned for a moment before finally spotting a passerby inadvertently captured by the camera—

"Damn... the person who just passed by looks a lot like a certain internet celebrity from the Emperor Star... just a chubbier version."