Chapter 79 The Soul of the Doll
After Rong Le and Tang Qiu reached a cooperation agreement, the intelligence departments of both sides first conducted a preliminary handover.
After all, Bionic Man No. 1 is a local native. He was able to hide in the Mechanical City without being found by the Central Building. His background is very deep and hidden. After the Collection Hall connected with them, they opened up some intelligence rights to each other. Both sides gained something and were very satisfied.
I believe that with the gradual running-in, the relationship between the two sides will become closer.
These matters are basically handled by Yan Liu, who is responsible for dispatching and managing the existing resources and base camp of the collection. It must be said that this secretary discovered by Rong Le by chance is simply a worker chosen by God. He is always full of energy and continues to contribute to this career.
Rong Le was half lying on the chair, with a white shirt loosely draped over her body. One hand supported a torn book fragment, and she was flipping through it lazily.
The book in his hand is one-third of the Book of the Dead in the hands of Bionic Man No. 1.
When he got this, he received a long-awaited system prompt.
[You have discovered the core item of the module, world line tampering degree: 30%]
For ordinary people, this is like a heavenly book, literally. An overly powerful mystical item has the ability to distort and pollute the surrounding things. Normal people will feel uncomfortable if they stay in the same space with such an item for too long.
If you try to use or understand it, your body and mind will undergo unimaginable changes.
If one is lucky enough to understand the text above, his mind will be polluted, and he will gradually fall into hallucinations or even madness, or become a pagan. This is the magical charm of occult objects.
Being driven by it, becoming its slave, becoming a puppet without realizing it, looking for its next target to become its host.
The original complete Book of the Dead was also carefully stored in an empty room in the central building, under 24-hour surveillance, and no unauthorized persons were allowed to enter at will.
At this moment, this book that everyone was waiting for was just lightly held in Rong Le's hand, and he was flipping through it casually.
When Bionic Man No. 1 delivered the book, he carefully placed it in a box specially used to store occult items. This could effectively isolate the book from contamination.
But no one could have imagined that Rong Le would be so bold as to directly flip through this torn book without any regard for the possible serious consequences.
"Sure enough, I can flip through it at will without being affected by anything else. Although I don't have any memory of flipping through it at the time, I still have some impression of its contents, as if I have seen it before."
Rong Le was thinking in her heart, her dark green eyes staring at this without any emotion.
As he continued to read, his understanding of the contents of the book gradually deepened, as if he had subconsciously read it thousands of times, and it was revived again with this reading.
Rong Le pondered, "But why would the Necronomicon appear here? Why would the module contain memories? Do I have any connection to this place? Or has the God in the Mist discovered me?"
Moreover, if the Book of the Dead appears, does it mean that the boy in his memory is also somewhere he doesn't know about?
Or maybe, everything is a conspiracy against him, otherwise why would Renault appear in the back garden of the church without a clear identity, meet him every day, and why would he give him a rare occult book like the Book of the Dead? What is his purpose in approaching him?
Is all this just a game that the gods played to kill time when they were bored, playing with his fate, looking down on him as his faith completely collapsed, until he got tired of watching this drama and finally punished him with his own hands?
Rong Le's eyes flickered, and more and more complicated thoughts kept flashing through his mind. He listed every possibility and then looked for evidence to support them one by one.
His rarely seen suspicion and sensitivity completely erupted, but his expression remained calm, and no one could tell that a huge wave of emotions had already been stirred up in his heart.
Renault, Renault...
He slowly chewed the name in his mind, and in a trance he seemed to hear the boy's laughter.
Rong Le was immersed in his thoughts and did not hear the sound of dice rolling in the void. KP passed the hidden dice obscurely.
It was not known what the secret dice had resulted in, but a voice immediately called Rong Le's attention back.
"What are you looking at?"
Nika appeared not far away at some point, looking a little strange.
Rong Le's emotions had not yet completely calmed down, so her expression was still a little cold, and she turned her head slightly to look at her.
In the gloomy weather outside, in the dark room, only the light outside the window had some presence, outlining the young man into a vague figure.
"Are you talking about this?"
He gently raised the book in his hand and smiled: "If you are curious, would you like to take a look?"
Androids cannot read the Book of the Dead because the secrets that drive them are hidden in the book. Knowledge can have different impacts on different objects, just as two-dimensional creatures cannot understand three-dimensional things.
Once you learn the truth about your own existence, you may be so overwhelmed that you may collapse instantly.
Nika shuddered uncontrollably, but she resisted the urge to retreat. Her expression was a little stiff: "No need."
"What a shame." Rong Le sighed sincerely, "So, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Nika restrained herself from looking up there. She raised her hand to stroke her long, curly brown hair and said calmly, "I've been working here for a while now. I originally agreed to work here to pay off my debts. I think I've almost paid it off now, so it's time for me to leave."
"You want to leave?" Rong Le's voice sounded a little surprised.
Nika pretended to be calm: "Yeah, what's the matter? You don't want to let me go, do you?"
Rong Le: "Where do you want to go?"
Nika: "This has nothing to do with you, right?"
"Really?" Rong Le sighed and slowly closed the fragment in her hand.
Nika immediately felt a dangerous chill all around her, as if something was baring its fangs at her.
Nika's whole body tensed up, and she felt a little regretful.
She should have left here a long time ago, or perhaps she shouldn't have gotten close to this mysterious mechanic in the first place.
If she hadn't chosen to put on a show to get close to the suspicious repairman because a repair workshop appeared near the edge of the city.
If she hadn't been so stubborn and stayed here as an employee, she could have observed Rong Le up close.
If she hadn't stayed here out of inexplicable curiosity, until this studio was filled with many difficult characters...
She might even be able to escape easily.
Rong Le said with a bit of distress, "I thought I was being gentle. After all, Nika took the initiative to bump into me. Wouldn't it be irresponsible to leave now?"
He looked so calm, as if he wasn't worried at all that Nika might cause him any harm. The mechanic seemed to have known her background for a long time, but he hadn't taken any action against her.
Nika moved her feet slightly, and the cold clamp suddenly pressed against her back.
Assassin 1018 appeared silently behind her at some point, his ordinary face calm.
Nika realized that she had been exposed a long time ago.
"What do you want?" She gritted her teeth.
If she had known this earlier, she would not have tested him. Now, she has learned so many secrets of the mechanic and can't leave even if she wants to.
"Of course I'm staying here."
Rong Le said as a matter of course, his upturned green cat eyes full of innocence, but no one would regard him as someone who is easy to get along with: "Ni Ka has nowhere to go anyway, why not stay with us."
Nika stood quietly in place, with 1018 behind her, but hiding in the dark was Tina, who was well hidden but could still sense the presence. She knew that the loyal Zero must be nearby.
She didn't know when she fell into the predator's carefully woven net like a reckless prey, and was trapped in the impenetrable net layer by layer. When she woke up, she could not escape even if she struggled.
She has no way out.
She struggled violently in her heart, but finally gave in: "I understand."
The girl looked dejected, like a defeated puppy, with her hair all wilted.
Rong Le couldn't help but clench her fists, pressing them to her lips and smiling softly: "You are a member of the Bionic Man Organization No. 1, and you are not an ordinary Type III android. You must have been transformed... Don't get me wrong, I won't restrict your freedom. You can go wherever you want. Just don't forget to come back. This will always be your home."
Nika stopped pretending and said coldly, "Nice people tend to die early."
Zero poked his head out from a distance, frowned in disapproval and retorted, "Nica, you can't say that about the Master."
Nika tutted her words, too lazy to look at the brat.
1018 nodded in agreement. "Although ruthlessness is still necessary in this world, I fully approve of the boss's actions... Don't look at me like that, Nika. You know better than me what happens to betrayers. You've already done well."
Of course Nika knew this, and it was precisely because of this that she felt inexplicably unwilling.
It was clearly she who first discovered the secret hidden in Rong Le, and it was clearly she who first discovered the existence of the mechanic, as if it was a treasure buried in the sand, being carefully picked up by a gold digger.
However, why is it that in the end, even though she had been with him the longest, she did not gain an ounce of his trust and was even guarded against so badly?
…I was the one who discovered it first!
Nika couldn't help but sneer at the unwillingness of discovering a treasure that didn't belong to her. Although she didn't know what kind of result she wanted, she still had an expectation in her heart that she didn't want to admit.
At least, at least... I'm special too, right?
"Are you being a spoiled brat, Nika?"
The mechanic asked as if he had discovered a new world.
There was a hint of helpless indulgence in Rong Le's eyes. He walked up to her and leaned over to look at her:
"It's obviously you who's been causing trouble all along. From the very beginning, I knew your purpose in approaching me, and I could roughly guess your identity, but I never guarded against you. You've always been a part of the studio, Nika."
"You're the one who takes care of Tina and Zero for me, and you're the one who handles the studio's affairs and the reception of guests. You're a very important veteran member, and the studio can't do without you. If you leave, I'll be very distressed, Nika."
“…”
Nika was speechless.
How could he say such a thing? Nika felt dizzy and could hardly recover, but inexplicable emotions filled her chest, leaving her with nowhere to vent and at a loss.
No, this is definitely, definitely a conspiracy by the mechanic...
Rong Le sighed: "Although my way of keeping you here was a little rude, I will definitely reflect on it...but since I'm begging you so much, please stay, okay?"
This cunning bastard.
Nika could clearly see that everything he did was just to keep her. Whether it was his tough stance or his current pleading to keep her, they were just means, just a facade to achieve his goal.
He is so despicable and shameless yet he feels justified in doing so. He is evil in a legitimate way, as if he knows that no one can do anything to him.
However, this trick did work, at least she was defeated in a shameful way.
After a moment of silence, Nika said cautiously, "Don't think you can control me. I'm only staying here temporarily. You have no right to control me where I want to go."
Don’t even think about getting ahead of yourself. I won’t let you succeed easily, her eyes seemed to say clearly.
Rong Le couldn't help but chuckle again, clenching her fist and lightly pressing it against her lips. This time, her emotion was particularly real.
He said in an almost indulgent tone, "Of course you can do anything. Not only you, but also Zero, 1018, and Tina."
As employees of the studio, you are all independent individuals, and no one can hold you back.
You have the right to decide your own behavior and thoughts, and no one can tell you what to do.
Nika understood what he meant. She pretended to be calm and raised her head, indicating that she was withdrawing her previous resignation application. She ignored 1018 behind her and walked downstairs proudly as if she had won a battle.
The beautiful maid doll has a mysterious origin but a kind heart. Even though she came to the studio with a purpose, she still cared for her companions as if they were her family. This was a fact that everyone could see clearly, and therefore no one chased after her, but instead silently watched her back.
No one could see the tears welling up in the girl's eyes.
Obviously, the resignation storm in the studio was over and everything returned to calm. 1018's calm gaze swept across Rongle, nodded slightly, and then left.
Ling looked at Rong Le, turned around and ran to 1018, and went downstairs together with light steps.
Tina had been hiding in the dark, huddled in a corner and observing them, and now she quietly returned to where she should be.
Rong Le stood at the door, quietly lowering her eyes. Her deep green pupils drooped slightly, sweeping across the sleeves of his casually rolled-up wrists. The exposed white wrists were clean and thin, but possessed the charm of turning decay into magic.
He knew the progress of his task and had taken a small step forward.
[Character Mission: 3, Collect the souls of the puppets and make them serve you.]
[Current progress: 2/3.]
——New character, Nika.
*
Ever since she picked up Tina, Rong Le has been busy dealing with various things and has had no time to visit him.
Thin children are in the period of growth. After they have obtained a safe and comfortable environment and received enough nutrition, their bodies will grow rapidly and begin to grow desperately, racing against time to make themselves more adaptable to the world.
When Rong Le saw him again, Tina looked like a completely different person.
Rong Le looked at him in amazement and said with emotion: "I haven't seen you for a few days, and you look completely different."
Tina pursed her lips, her cheeks slightly red, and lowered her head shyly.
The boy who is in adolescence is growing rapidly. His body has gradually become healthier from thin. His hair is carefully groomed and neat. He wears clean and comfortable clothes. It seems that you can smell the fresh scent of soapberries.
He looked like a small, dusty animal that had been taken home and washed clean. His whole body exuded the comfort and relaxation of someone who had been carefully cared for.
He was delighted with his changes, but also felt a little uneasy about Rong Le's behavior, fearing that his appearance would not meet her expectations.
After all... he looks really ordinary.
There are a lot of gray little things like him in the chaotic urban area. Tina is not the best or the cutest among them. Her personality is mediocre and unpleasant. She has no advantages at all as a pet.
Whenever he woke up in the middle of the night and thought of the moment when Rong Le brought him home on the shabby street corner, he would feel anxious as if a pie had fallen from the sky.
He was afraid that he would be thrown away.
Tina has been completely addicted to the sweet poison and can no longer quit. From now on, he can only constantly crave Rong Le's love and care for him, which is like a sweet rain that nourishes his spirit. If the supply is cut off, he will go crazy.
However, the expected cold stare did not come.
The mechanic touched his head, feeling the soft, fluffy hair beneath his hand. "How have you been these past few days? Have you encountered any difficulties in life?"
Tina shook her head quietly.
"You're so good." Rong Le praised, "If you want anything, just tell me. The puppets in the studio can take care of you."
Tina said immediately, "I want to help you."
Tina could tell that Rong Le was planning something by going out early and coming back late every day, or locking himself in the room. He had also heard about the turmoil in this mechanical city. He didn't care about the future of this city, but only cared about whether she could help him.
"I can help you."
He repeated it, looking at Rong Le stubbornly.
Rong Le rejected his idea: "You don't need to worry about this matter. You are not ready to face these things yet. Wait until you grow up a little and become more like an adult. Then come and help me, okay?"
Tina couldn't disobey Rong Le's idea, so she whispered, "I understand."
Tina: "But before that, you will always be by my side, right?"
Rong Le was a little distressed and thought about it as if her own child was throwing a tantrum.
Finally, he replied: "Tina, as long as you are strong enough, I will always keep my eyes on you."
"Tina, after we leave here, I will adopt you and educate you so that your talents can be fully utilized. You can call me teacher."
"I promise to take good care of you. I will stay by your side until you are able to live independently."
He gently stroked Tina's head, and his warm palm conveyed a lingering warmth. The boy pursed his lips slightly and hummed softly.
After a moment of silence, the commentator said, "Family members, have you noticed anything wrong?"
"Isn't it completely impossible to ignore it?"
"Although I've noticed before that Rong Le might have some serious psychological problems, this is the first time I've discovered it so directly. Rongrong, this isn't how you raise a child!"
"After Rong Le said that, my pupils immediately trembled. As long as you are strong enough, I will always keep my eyes on you. Is it really okay to say that? That kid is almost fooled!"
"This is inevitable. After all, although Polant is at a very late stage in terms of time, Tina's future is already set. Rong Le cannot deviate from the future direction. Tina is destined to become the person we know."
"Having said that, is Rong Le really just fitting in the direction of the worldline? With all due respect, I feel like he sometimes doesn't really act. Is the 'Rong Le' he portrays really not himself? Are the choices he makes based on his character setting, or his own values?"
"The upstairs is terrifying when you think about it."
"If that's the case, then is the Rong Le we observed a real player, or just a character on a role card?"
"Help me! Why are people discussing such profound things after just going to the bathroom? I'm completely confused. Rong Le is of course Rong Le. The purpose of character cards is role-playing. Some people are playing a role, while others are playing another possible version of themselves. Everyone, please don't make up your mind!"
"That makes sense. So Rong Le really has a mental problem?"
"...I can't refute it, but it doesn't matter. Even if it's true, so what? Live streaming will magnify every aspect of a person. We can't just use a magnifying glass to observe and judge. Genius is something that mortals can't understand. No matter what you think, I think Rong Le is more charming this way."
"Upstairs, the boss can teach the little dog whatever he wants. Tina's personality is a bit paranoid, and Rong Le is his only belief. No matter what, she will become his spiritual guide."
"Thinking about how Tina was in the later period, it's really interesting to see them getting along now."
"I always feel like I'm really watching a movie... The boss has a really good grasp of the scale. I feel like I'm really watching something that happened in the past."
The barrage of comments followed one after another.
Tina kept Rong Le's words in mind. As long as he became stronger, Rong Le would always watch over him. This was a special and unique existence in his destiny.
His guardian, his teacher.
…
A few days later, a new storm shook the entire Mechanical City.
Because it was so bizarre and shocking, it instantly caused a frenzy of public opinion in the city.
Viscount Uriel, the heir to an old noble family, was issued an arrest warrant by the Central Building for suspected crimes of treason, treason, and armed androids, and was immediately arrested.
There were ninety-six bionic dolls in the mansion, and all of them defected.
The Central Building has issued an A-level wanted order. Residents in the city can report any unidentified suspicious puppets they see to the Central Building Intelligence Department. Each puppet will receive a reward of 50,000 contribution points and be allowed to attack the suspicious puppet, rendering it incapable of movement.
As soon as the wanted order was issued, the violence in the Mechanical City suddenly soared, and various conflicts and violent incidents triggered endless discussions and topics.
In an instant, chaos appeared in every area of the city.
And an unexpected visitor knocked on the door of Rong Le's studio late one evening.
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