Boss

Yang Guang temporarily cleared out two rooms, and Gu Yan's room was next to the storage room.

Yang Guang modified the old-fashioned radio, making it perfect for secretly eavesdropping on news from the central tower.

"...There has been an update regarding the sudden explosion at the B-X01 laboratory of the Bionic Technology Research Center at the Imperial Industrial Technology Research Institute on September 9th. Dr. Catherine Lowry has been implicated and taken away by the Royal Guard for an informal investigation. However, according to the latest leads, Gu Yan, an assistant researcher in the Simulation Technology and Application Research Laboratory of the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, where Dr. Lowry serves as technical director, is a prime suspect. He has been missing for over a week, and the Federal Royal Family will discuss continuing the investigation, including but not limited to raising the level of identification in the central and border areas... Now let's turn our attention back to the Christa-type attack on humans that occurred in the Neon Cocoon on September 13th. Bio-symbiote scientist Dr. Doug Lichee points out that we cannot rule out the crucial role of both incidents, but a spokesperson for the Royal Guard states that until there is clear evidence pointing to them, they will still be investigated as two separate cases..."

Accompanied by the buzzing of news broadcasts, code silently and rapidly ran on the holographic screen. The notification sound indicating success, following the completion of the last line of code, startled Gu Yan, who had been dozing at his desk.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, his eyes, still not used to the bright light, unconsciously squinting as he looked at the information displayed on the holographic screen.

After several days of effort, he successfully connected to the lab's network. The professor's computer had been completely emptied, but all the data on it remained intact. The federal royal family had already investigated and were more likely laying a trap to catch him red-handed.

Pediatrics.

He pressed a few more keys and brought up his backup data. He had originally prepared unregistered virtual storage for extreme situations, but he hadn't expected it to be this extreme.

Just in case, he exported all the data statistics for the Ella type. Before that, even the boss and Yang Guang only had less than 50% of the data he had compiled.

After reviewing the data again, I felt like I had missed something. Are there any other data that I could study?

His gaze sharpened, and a presence that was easily overlooked came into view.

——————

Yang Guang was also listening to the news in the work area.

The self-soldering glow tube clock was crooked and distorted, the glow tube displaying minutes and seconds flickering as if it were wailing.

Judging from Liwen's timid expression, it was probably Yang Guang who hit her.

"The boss has sent a message?"

Yang Guang didn't answer, but just snorted.

Gu Yan stepped forward and logged into Yang Guang's account to retrieve the files.

"913 is a very significant number, isn't it? The androids began to rebel against humanity—although the incident was immediately suppressed, guess why? I suspect it's because there was a mole among our own people—"

Yang Guang glanced casually to the side, and when Li Wen saw his gaze sweep over her, she pointed blankly to herself with a trembling finger.

"—Don't flatter yourself, who do you think you are?"

He rolled his eyes and continued.

"So, this day wasn't named Android Awakening Day?"

"After all, only one model has a problem. I hope to ascertain the Federal Royal Family's attitude towards this matter as soon as possible." Gu Yan was still confirming the information one by one.

Yang Guang fell completely silent. He looked up and followed Yang Guang's gaze to Ella Zero and Li Wen, who was following behind her.

"We're almost out of supplies, I have to go out." Ella Zero wasn't there to discuss things with them.

“How is that possible?” Yang Guang had already looked away, crossed his arms and went to Gu Yan’s side to read the message, though he wasn’t sure how much of it had actually entered his mind. “I’ve stocked up on three years’ worth of canned food in the storeroom. Even with four mouths to feed now, it’s impossible for us to consume it that quickly.”

"Excessive salt content and a lack of variety are bad for your health."

“I’ll go out with you,” Gu Yan interjected.

"Why?"

"Why?"

Ella Zero and Yang Guang asked questions at the same time.

Gu Yan looked at Yang Guang suspiciously: "Haven't you read the contents yet?"

The death toll from the Christa incident has exceeded thirty, which is enough to shock the Central Tower.

Jiang Ping intercepted the news that the royal family was preparing a memorial ceremony to appease the nobles, and was just waiting for the date to be determined.

"If you can't get into the central tower, then everything else is pointless, isn't it?"

Gu Yan pointed to the bottom line: The venue is under discussion.

"This is an opportunity to win over the common people, and they won't let it slip by easily. The chances of them leaving the central tower are extremely high. But we still need to be prepared for both possibilities."

Yang Guang picked at his ear: "Then we need to find a way to sneak into the central tower as soon as possible."

Liwen huddled behind Ella Zero, secretly glancing at the other two.

"Get to the point." Yang Guang couldn't stand her acting like this.

Liwen pursed her lips: "When I listened to the news today... they said they've taken control of A209. If you can get her factory barcode..."

Gu Yan and Yang Guang exchanged a glance: "A cyborg factory? What do we need to do there?"

Ella Zero silently took out the Central Tower Pass she had obtained from A209; it should now be considered the old version.

Livin mustered her courage and continued, "Sometimes, guests would make special requests...like taking me to the central tower or something. But they can't let anyone know that there are humans in the neon cocoon, so they'd cover my head and take me there...and print a barcode in the same spot as in the Christa..."

"It's not a safe bet," Gu Yan said decisively.

"What kind of special requirement is this, that I have to take people to the central tower?" Yang Guang couldn't help but voice his inner grumbling.

Liwen was stunned for a moment, trying hard not to choke up.

"Excuse me, sir, could you please watch your mouth? Ask what you should ask, and don't ask what you shouldn't."

Yang Guang was in the wrong, but he stubbornly insisted: "Are you her bodyguard or her adoptive mother?"

With the farce over, Gu Yan continued his analysis: "Liwen's situation is special. It's impossible for the entrance not to scan for biological signs; this approach is almost impossible."

“No need for that,” Ella Zero said calmly. “There’s a secret passage in the underground tunnels of the Mist Outpost that connects to the main control room of the central tower. There’s a 15-minute window between cutting off the main switch and activating the backup power, which is enough time to get from the main control room to the entrance of the central tower.”

Yang Guang's face was as black as charcoal: "You knew that, why didn't you say so earlier? Wouldn't we have avoided even going to the neon cocoon?"

Ella nodded. "I did say brute force, but you may have misunderstood and rejected my plan." She turned to Gu Yan. "It seems you have more say here. What do you think of my plan?"

Gu Yan looked at her thoughtfully: "I need to introduce someone to you."

——————

Did Gu Yan have much say? Not necessarily.

But he did manage to get Ella Zero to meet the person with the most influence.

Without further ado, the group left the base together.

"Are you really going to bring her along?" Yang Guang couldn't help but ask again.

"You mean you'd prefer her to be free to explore your base as she pleases?"

"Ira Zero asked."

Upon hearing this, Liwen quickly moved closer to Ella Zero, blinking her innocent big eyes at him a few more times.

"What's there to be so smug about?" Yang Guang spat. This woman will realize sooner or later that she's chosen the wrong backer.

The group avoided the neon-lit cocoons, which were now almost entirely covered by surveillance cameras. After the lights were turned off, there were no more speeding carriages on the main road; a sense of despondency permeated the world.

"It might be a bit uncomfortable. This time we'll be going to a more outlying area." Gu Yan walked over and handed Ella a pot of water.

Ella accepted it silently, then felt another gaze. She turned her head slightly and only caught Yang Guang turning his head to the other side.

"Thank you." She handed the water to Liwen.

Seeing this, Gu Yan casually struck up a conversation, asking, "I've never really heard that you're a warm-hearted person before. You know, you only exist in the rumors in our research lab."

Ella Zero looked over, indicating that she was listening.

"The recording the doctor played for me also mentioned the details of your previous mission, and you also saved another human girl. I mean, that was the first time you were in such a situation, wasn't it? I'm a little curious about what happened to you."

“Since you didn’t learn anything from your mother, you can’t possibly learn anything from me.” She stopped to wait for Liwen, who had fallen slightly behind the group while standing still to drink water.

Gu Yan smiled, nodded to indicate that he understood, and returned to Yang Guang's side.

A chasm separated the two men and two women, as if an invisible force was tearing them apart.

Yang Guang's attention was either on Ella Zero or on Li Wen.

She seems completely unafraid of places outside her neon-lit cocoon, but this girl is prone to tears when she talks about it; she's very delicate and doesn't like to be trifled with.

He couldn't help but roll his eyes again.

"He was walking just fine, what did he do to you?" Gu Yan noticed his little actions.

"Pray for them, so they don't get torn to shreds by the boss later." Yang Guang grinned, showing off his white teeth.

Liwen turned around in horror, clearly having heard what was said and being quite frightened.

"We've arrived," Gu Yan announced, and Ella and Liwen stopped upon hearing this.

A vast, empty wasteland, where even the towering ruins surrounding the central area seemed to grow shorter.

"What's here... what's here?" Liwen asked softly, hiding next to Ella Zero.

Gu Yan pointed to the ground: "The underground passages aren't only found at Misty Sentry."

Yang Guang stepped forward and blocked their way: "I'm afraid you two will have to turn around. You don't have anything of equal value to exchange for the confidential information that follows."

Ella patted Livin on the back, and the latter obediently turned around with her. Seemingly having walked for quite a while, she asked, "I don't want to look. Can I squat down and rest?"

"Sure. Enough with the nonsense." Yang Guang laughed in exasperation.

It didn't take long for the entrance to the underground passage to be fully revealed. Yang Guang took out a holographic model from his backpack, displaying the underground structure in perfect scale. He input the key into the model, and the ground in reality trembled slightly, dust billowing as if a deep abyss had opened up. This place could easily accommodate three companies of soldiers entering and exiting within a minute.

Cover your ears.

Yang Guang took off the skull pendant hanging around his neck, gestured a few times, and then threw it into the abyss from the best angle. The pendant made a few crisp sounds as it disappeared into the darkness, followed by a burst of flames and a violent barrage of gunfire. Li Wen was so frightened that she screamed and covered her head, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

"The welcoming ceremony is over, young people." A loud voice rang out from the darkness, followed by heavy footsteps.

A ferocious-looking man appeared in the dim light. He was enormous, at least six and a half feet tall, and with his massive size, Livin had to crane her neck until it ached to see his full figure.

Like a wild beast that has just awakened from hibernation, it leisurely steps out of its den.

"I'm so glad you brought your friends. Please, ladies."

The "beast" didn't linger; it waved and turned to go underground again.

He didn't seem to intend to have any further conversations before reaching a certain place. The ground beneath his feet changed from soil to cement, and now it was a bridge made of fine iron mesh. Ahead, there were heavy steel plates again, which seemed to be a floor of a new building that had been rebuilt underground.

The "beast" finally stopped in front of a high-strength alloy steel gate, fumbled in the pocket at his back waist to find a kindling, and lit the torches on both sides of the gate.

“Forgive us for not having electricity on this part of the road, kids.” He placed his hand on the wheelchair. “Don’t worry, I didn’t lock it again when I came out to meet you, so you don’t need to avoid it this time.”

The door slowly opened, and light burst out from inside. Liwen was so blinded by the bright light that she had to cover her face with her hands.

The light shone on Ella Zero's pupils, causing them to contract slightly. As her eyes adjusted, she couldn't help but take a step forward—

"Children, welcome to my empire."