Chapter 141

Chapter 141

In just half an hour, Lu Ba understood a ton of questions that had previously baffled him.

For instance, how exactly did Xie Linyuan manage to override the highest command? — This is essentially the lifeline of every Z-series semi-mechanical being. To control them, the Northern Camp even exploited human nature's darkest facets, creating an unscrupulous setting that prevents semi-mechanical beings from attacking the holder of the highest command. No one can resist the thrill of arbitrarily controlling a mechanical god of war, the pleasure of dominating a powerful being is unimaginable.

And not only could Xie Linyuan free himself, but he also managed to rescue 429 and 1305?

The most far-fetched scenario he could imagine was that Wu Xiaohu was a super genius in mechanical engineering and biology, who randomly tampered with Xie Linyuan's mechanical god of war system and directly removed the highest command.

Despite racking his brains, he never considered that Wu Xiaohu didn't solve the highest command, but rather the person who held the highest command.

Parasitism?

Such a heaven-defying ability.

...Why didn't he encounter him in the first place.

After accepting the truth, Z1068's mood suddenly dropped. It was like two stray cats, both legs broken by a car, meeting again after many years. One found a new home, with shiny fur and a plump body, while the other limped on three legs, skin and bones. The only reason for such a huge difference was the location of the accident; the former was lucky to meet a kind passerby, while the latter had no choice but to lick its wounds alone in the cold wind.

Even though he knew it was unnecessary, Lu Ba still felt a bit wronged.

As for a certain "very humane" little parasite, who at such a time completely ignored his well-being, took advantage of Lu Ba's low spirits and immobility, and controlled his body to eat three face-sized baked buns.

By the time Lu Ba realized what was happening, he was holding a large jar of peanut butter, eating it raw with the jar almost empty, while Xie Linyuan, Ah Cheng, and Grey stood beside him, looking like they wanted to say something but hesitated.

Lu Ba, lips full of the taste of peanut butter, found his throat too dry to speak, and gestured for Ah Cheng to pour him some hot water.

Taking advantage of Grey's distraction, he quietly asked Xie Linyuan, "Was it like this when Xiao Hu was in your body?"

Xie Linyuan painfully nodded after recalling the times when one worked while two enjoyed, and then someone got too handsy and nearly choked him to death, "…He's always been someone who does as he pleases, as you know."

"...” After taking the hot water from Ah Cheng and listening to Grey's admonitions, Lu Ba suddenly didn't envy Xie Linyuan so much anymore. After all, he was no longer a homeless stray cat…

……

The third peace conference at the Northern Camp opened on time at ten o'clock in the morning.

Xue Hongyi donned his human-like suit and coat again, looking dapper with a straight back, flanked by guards like a warlord from the last century, making a bold presence beside Lu Ba. Only the gun at his waist was left at security before entering, slightly missing the aura of a thug.

Lu Ba wore a wide-brimmed hat and gloves, with a metal mask covering most of his face, only his red right pupil visible. As the conference room filled up, his breathing grew heavier, and his gaze involuntarily fell to the tabletop.

Wu Yin silently resided within Lu Ba, initially observing the people seated across the long conference table. But soon, his gaze grew heavier and fixated on a teacup on the table as if trying to discern its details.

“……”

Bai Jie also attended, sitting on the other side of Lu Ba, fully armed from her shoes to her hair strands. After exchanging thoughts with Xue Hongyi these past days and learning about the confusion, self-doubt, and resistance he faced after becoming a mutant, she intended to bring mutants into the public eye, helping more of their kind find a sense of belonging.

Yet, she didn't want to make mutants the focal point today, hence her firm but mysterious attendance, as the Z-series mechanical god of war was bound to be the center of attention anyway.

Just then, a gentle voice sounded near Lu Ba's right ear: "Z810 has arrived, I saw him going upstairs."

Lu Ba uncomfortably raised his hand to rub the back of his ear, where a nearly invisible acoustic sensor communicator clung to his skin, hidden among his hair roots. Before he could speak, the voice in his mind responded for him: "Understood."

“……”

Taking advantage of his mask to hide his mouth movements, Lu Ba said in a very helpless whisper, "Is it possible he can't hear you when you speak in my mind?"

Wu Yin simply responded, "Then tell him for me, understood."

Lu Ba: "..."

Lu Ba: "Understood, thank you."

A reply came through his right ear, carrying a light smile: "No need to thank me."

Wu Yin felt slightly dissatisfied: "You added two extra words of thanks."

At the same time he spoke, Xie Linyuan seemed to take a sip of water and then asked leisurely, "Did Xiao Hu's original words include a thank you?"

Lu Ba: "..."

Please don't flirt in my mind, thank you. Keep this up, and I'll start charging rent.

For some reason, amidst the continuous speechlessness, Lu Ba gradually calmed down, his gaze no longer wandering but instead calmly meeting the eyes of all those observing him.

He could hardly believe that he, who once regarded the Northern Camp as hell, as a nightmare, swearing never to step foot on this land again, was now sitting here steadily. And it was precisely because he was sitting here that Lu Ba realized everything wasn't so frightening after all.

"Actually, peanut butter is quite delicious," he suddenly said out of nowhere.

"I think so too," Wu Yin responded in his mind. "But I've eaten it all. Is there any left?"

……

Soon, the last important attendee took their seat, and the meeting officially began. The ceremonial staff poured hot water for the last to arrive, a blond man, then quietly retreated to the side.

Through Lu Ba's eyes, Wu Yin met the man's deep blue pupils.

In that moment, Xie Linyuan confirmed that the man was indeed the so-called Paul Quint.

However, the Paul before him not only differed greatly from his photographs but also from the image Xie Linyuan had sketched based on his actions.

The man who, in memory, sought revenge against an entire hospital for his deceased wife and even planned vengeance upon the world, was supposed to be angry, cold, and hostile, like a raging flame, determined to succeed or die trying.

But the man now sitting at the end of the table, with a dark stubble on his chin, fatigue in his eyes, pronounced nasolabial folds, and very apparent dark circles under his eyes, seemed like ashes with only embers left, ready to extinguish at any moment.

What exactly had happened to him? Wu Yin wondered.

……

The peace conference was anything but peaceful.

It resembled not a meeting but a contentious debate. It started with each side stating their views, then escalated to a back-and-forth of accusations and insults, and eventually devolved into a market-style quarrel, restrained from physical violence only by the live broadcast to all major camps, resorting at most to throwing shoes at each other.

Wu Yin noticed Z810's gaze; his purpose at the meeting was clear, to discern the truth about Z1932's identity, and he seemed to have found his answer, quietly whispering to a high-ranking official seated at the front.

The official's attitude became instantly haughty, and his subordinates argued even more fearlessly.

In contrast to the immunes who vigorously brainwashed others to preach the righteousness of their camp, and the non-immunes who wished nothing more than to tear apart these frenzied extremists, Paul sat quietly, out of place at the meeting.

Unlike Bai Jie, who was also silent but observant and gathering information, Paul's silence stemmed from disinterest in the meeting. Bai Jie was still participating, but Paul was completely detached.

Halfway through the meeting, Xue Hongyi also took his leave.

But compared to others who attended merely to quarrel, his arrival seemed particularly confident. He knew he had a piece of news far more explosive than anything about Z1932 up his sleeve, one that would turn the meeting room upside down and ensure that by tomorrow, the whole country would know his name and the name of the Southern Camp.

Just seven days ago, starting from the hypothesis that "Calamity pollution is a parasitism by an unknown organism" and combining it with data provided by Professor Xie, scientists from the Southern Camp indeed found significant clues within the polluters' bodies. Moreover, following leads from Wu Yin and Xie Linyuan, they contacted Director Liu from the Beastmen Country's hospital, who was more than willing to share his research findings with the Southern Camp, contributing his modest efforts.

Team Rain Absorption C

With sincere cooperation from both sides, just seven days had passed, and the Southern Camp's researchers, buoyed by high spirits, worked through the night to produce several genuine results, confirming the validity and reliability of the parasitism theory.

Before leaving in the morning, Xue Hongyi even made a special effort to style his hair, claiming to represent the image of the Southern Camp.

The introduction of the parasitism theory silenced representatives from various bases, both immune and non-immune, who were facing similar predicaments to the Northern Camp, with immunes rebelling or stirring, spreading subversive messages.

The core belief among the immunes was that the calamity pollution represented a natural selection, akin to the extinction of dinosaurs, with humans unable to resist and merely needing to comply, positioning immunes as the gold sifted from sand, the seed of human civilization.

The notion that 'non-immunes deserve to die for wasting resources' was particularly rogue.

However, the research outcomes from the Southern Camp shattered this foundational theory, proving that calamity pollution was not a natural selection but a man-made disaster, and it was indeed preventable and treatable.

All immunes present wore very unhappy expressions, casting angry glances at Xue Hongyi as if they wished to devour him alive.

Yet, Xue Hongyi was not concerned about their menacing looks; after all, if it came to a fight, he, being a mutant, wouldn't be the one at a disadvantage.

Wu Yin then turned his attention to Paul, whose weary face finally showed a different expression. He watched the research reports projected on the screen in surprise, amidst the escalating discussions around him, his disbelief mingled with panic and... regret.

Just ten minutes later, three researchers from the Northern Camp were called into the meeting room, seemingly from the immune side, as Wu Yin heard nearby government military personnel snicker and express their dissatisfaction.

After reviewing the complex data on the table, the researchers' expressions grew increasingly grave, but they unanimously dismissed it as 'nonsense,' stubbornly refusing to acknowledge it.

Yet, the truth was clear as day to everyone. No longer interested in arguing, they hurried to excuse themselves and relay the information back to their leaders.

Paul Quint also stood up with the crowd, intending to leave.

But just then, he felt a slight pull at his ankle. Looking down, he found a green sprout winding around his shoe, its leaves fluttering as if gazing at him.

The thought had barely formed when Paul sensed trouble; he knew what such a sentient plant signified, but before he could react, his mind went blank, and he was momentarily frozen, his facial expression stiffening.

It took him about ten seconds to snap back to reality, looking down to find no trace of the green foliage on his shoe.

Paul coughed lightly, lifting his hand to touch the stubble on his chin.

"...It's prickly."

A resigned voice came from beneath his golden hair, "Knowing it pricks, why still touch?"