The encrypted message, appearing and disappearing like a ghost, pierced Su Nian's nerve endings like a cold needle. She didn't sleep all night, repeatedly recalling every word in the message—"abnormal data," "operation mode marked," "Manager Li is not the ultimate person in charge."

So, the 'Leap' brand really is a data hunter disguised as a sports company? They're targeting me because my gaming data exceeds the range of normal humans? Su Nian leaned against the headboard, her fingertips unconsciously picking at the sheets. Manager Li was just a pawn, so what was the background of the people behind him, or rather… the power behind him? A henchman of the Main God Space? Or a local 'anomaly' investigation agency of this world?

She tried various methods to trace the source of the message, but all her efforts were in vain. The sender was clearly an expert, or rather, the technology they used was far beyond her comprehension.

[Buzz... Information source... Encryption level... Too high... This system... Cannot help...]

[Host is advised to...prioritize...your own safety...sizzle...potato chip reserves...insufficient...anxious mood...]

088's voice carried a slight buzzing of low battery and an obvious "snack anxiety".

"Eat, eat, all you ever think about is eating! I'm about to be captured and dissected for research!" Su Nian retorted inwardly, annoyed. "And besides, doesn't your database have any information about this world's 'Anomaly Investigation Agency'?"

[Searching... World T-734... Rule Suppression... Official Institutions... No Clear... Records of an "Anomaly" Handling Department...]

However, the possibility of...non-public...or...privately funded...research organizations... cannot be ruled out...

The "Leap" brand... has a complex background... involves... multiple... technology sector investments... data... is missing...

Information is still limited, but it has at least been confirmed that the background of "Leap" is not simple.

During the second day of training, Su Nian was noticeably distracted. While her movements remained precise, they lacked the fluid, effortless grace of before; she seemed to be mechanically executing instructions. She dared not easily display her superhuman awareness and micro-management skills, fearing that the ubiquitous "data collection" would find more weaknesses in her.

Xie Chen noticed her unusual behavior almost immediately.

After a team fight ended, during the brief moment when he was recalling to base, he turned his head to the side and asked in a low voice, "Not in good shape?"

His voice came through the noise-canceling headphones, carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern.

Su Nian's heart tightened, and she quickly shook her head: "No, I probably didn't sleep well last night." She forced herself to concentrate and gave a reassuring smile, "It's okay, I can do well in the next round."

Xie Chen stared at her for a few seconds, his deep eyes seemingly able to see through any pretense. He didn't press further, but in the following matches, Su Nian clearly felt that his gaze lingered on her for longer periods, and that "protective circle" tightened even more. Several times, when she was simply doing normal warding, Xie Chen's jungler would inexplicably appear nearby, as if checking on her safety.

Brother, I know you might be a little worried, but you're following me way too closely! I feel like a national treasure under special surveillance! Su Nian wailed inwardly, but couldn't say it out loud.

During a break in training, Su Nian went to the break room to get coffee, and Xie Chen silently followed her in. He leaned against the counter, watching her frantically operate the coffee machine, and suddenly spoke:

"That brooch," he paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "is it comfortable to wear?"

Su Nian's hand trembled, almost spilling the coffee grounds. Why would he suddenly ask that? Did he sense something?

"It's...it's really nice, very pretty," she replied, trying to sound calm, while subconsciously touching the brooch on her collar. The cool touch reassured her a little.

"Hmm." Xie Chen responded, his gaze falling on the brooch, his eyes somewhat unfocused. "I have a feeling... it should be on you."

These seemingly random words made Su Nian's heart skip a beat. Should it be on me? Is this a creation of his own primal power, hence his feeling? Or... is it fragments of 'Lin's' memories at play, making him think this brooch suits me well?

She didn't dare think too much about it and quickly grabbed her coffee and slipped out of the break room. Xie Chen watched her almost fleeing figure, his brows furrowing slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. Had he... said something strange again? Why did seeing that brooch on her body give him a strange...sense of fulfillment?

In the afternoon, the team arranged a physical training session. The content included basic running, stretching, and some reaction speed tests.

In the reaction speed test, team members had to stand on a specially designed light mat and quickly step on corresponding areas based on randomly lit spots. This was to train the athletes' instantaneous reaction and hand-eye coordination under high pressure.

When it was Su Nian's turn, she deliberately suppressed most of her reaction speed, only showing a level slightly better than that of an average professional player. She carefully controlled her rhythm, afraid of making any earth-shattering moves.

However, just as the test was in its second half, the flashing speed of the light spot suddenly increased, and an anomaly occurred!

The brooch on her collar trembled again with an extremely subtle vibration! At the same time, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the webcam in the corner of the training room, which was responsible for recording data and connected to the computer, seemed to have adjusted its focus almost imperceptibly. A very faint, pale blue scanning beam, almost blending into the air, was slowly moving towards her entire body!

This isn't ordinary video recording! It's a deeper level of biological data scanning?!

Su Nian was terrified, her movements momentarily stiffening unnaturally. Just then, a point of light flashed rapidly behind and to her side! Given her deliberately controlled reaction speed, she absolutely couldn't have stepped on that point of light in time!

Just as she was about to "naturally" miss the spot of light—

Buzz!

The vibration from the brooch suddenly intensified! A chill several times stronger than before instantly swept through her body. Her right leg seemed to be slightly pulled by an invisible force, and with a speed she hadn't expected, almost instinctively, she stepped precisely on the extinguishing light with a "snap"!

The movements were fluid, and the reaction speed was astonishing!

"Wow! Nianbao's reaction! Amazing!" exclaimed a teammate.

The assistant coach in charge of recording also glanced at the data screen in surprise.

Su Nian froze on the spot, her back instantly soaked with cold sweat!

She...she didn't mean to step on it! It was the brooch! The brooch forcibly interfered with her movement!

It wasn't a warning! It was... forcing me to 'act normal'?! Su Nian instantly understood the brooch's intention. Under the gaze of that scanning beam, if she deliberately showed a "short-handed" reaction, it would appear even more unnatural, more like "hiding her strength"! The brooch was using this almost "exposed" method to help her maintain a relatively "reasonable" elite player persona!

This brooch, formed from Xie Chen's original power, possesses intelligence and adaptability far exceeding her imagination!

After the physical training ended, Su Nian felt as if she had fought a tough battle that left her physically and mentally exhausted. She sat on a bench to rest, her fingers tightly clutching the brooch that had saved her (or perhaps ruined her), her feelings extremely complicated.

Xie Chen walked over with a bottle of energy drink and handed it to her. His gaze lingered for a moment on her still somewhat pale face before falling on her hand tightly clutching the brooch.

"Are you feeling unwell?" he asked again, this time in a more somber tone.

Su Nian looked up at his handsome face, which seemed to say "keep away" but showed unusual concern for her. A crazy idea suddenly popped into her head.

Tell him? Tell him about the 'jumping' anomaly and the warning from the brooch?

Can he understand now? Will he believe me? Or will he think I'm crazy?

She opened her mouth, but the words that came out turned into a tentative question: "Xie Chen, if... I mean if, someone or some organization is secretly collecting some... data that is beyond the norm, such as inhuman consciousness in games, or abnormal reaction speed in reality... what kind of people do you think they are?"

Xie Chen paused slightly, his hand holding the water bottle still. He looked at her, his gaze sharpening as if analyzing the meaning behind her words. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke, his voice low and firm:

“No matter who they are,” his gaze swept over the brooch on her collar, finally settling back into her eyes with an unwavering resolve, “they cannot touch you.”

These words, devoid of any flowery language and even carrying his usual coldness, struck Su Nian's heart like a thunderbolt.

It wasn't a question, nor an inquiry, but a direct conclusion—protect her.

At this moment, the will belonging to "Xie Chen" overwhelmed "Lin God's" memories and clearly conveyed his stance.

Su Nian stared at him blankly, her heart feeling as if it had been struck hard by something, a mixture of bitterness and burning sensation.

Just then, her phone vibrated; it was another encrypted message from an unknown number, this time containing something even more chilling:

[Scan data uploaded. Assessment: Target 'Su Nian' exhibits abnormal physiological response peak, with a 87.3% match to the operational mode. 'Cleanup procedure' has entered the preparatory stage. Recommendation: Immediately remove from the current environment.]

Below the information was a vague coordinate location, which seemed to be... near this base!

Su Nian's blood seemed to freeze in that instant.

"Cleanup Procedure"... Could the "cleaners" of the Main God Space have infiltrated their ranks in another form?!

(End of Chapter 80)