CHAPTER 143: CHAPTER 138: TURMOIL! CONSTANTLY EMERGING CHANGES

[[The identity of the newcomer surprises you. It’s your classmate, Liu Haofeng. You wave gently at him, signaling him to come over, and ask with a smile why he is here.]]

[[Seeing the expression on your face, Liu Haofeng only feels more terrified. He hesitates for a moment before finally suppressing the tremor in his heart, lifting his head to look you directly in the eye.]]

[[Liu Haofeng brings you news. By auditing the mine’s accounts, he discovered a massive discrepancy. Furthermore, based on your previous actions, he deduced that your true target is the Energy Crystals within the mine.]]

[[You take a slight interest in this Liu Haofeng and let him finish. After hesitating for a few more seconds, he gives you another surprise: there is a second Energy Crystal warehouse in the mine, and it contains even more Energy Crystals than the current one.]]

[[You ask Liu Haofeng for his real reason for telling you this secret. He says he offered this information simply to stay alive, because he saw death in your eyes.]]

"Well, well!" Chen Pingchuan muttered aloud. "Is the pressure really that high? I have to say, I preferred your old rebellious attitude."

Chen Pingchuan carefully compared himself to his divine self and realized that this capricious and uninhibited nature was indeed more terrifying to others. Just look—even this small-time villain of a classmate, who had constantly opposed him in the simulations, had now submitted to the tyrannical power of his divine self.

A ruler must use both kindness and coercion; that is the way to manage subordinates. And this Liu Haofeng seems to have a good head on his shoulders. Perhaps I really can recruit him. After all, he wouldn’t want his own secrets getting out, would he?

At this thought, Chen Pingchuan couldn’t help but recall his two former underlings, Guo Yihang and Liu Yaofei.

That damn fatty Guo Yihang was doing well for himself. He was probably still in the Doomsday Bunker, lost in pleasure with who knows which of his many mistresses, having forgotten all his troubles. But where had Liu Yaofei gone? Last time, things were too rushed and urgent, and he had forgotten to ask Guo Yihang about him. If the initial simulation data was correct, he should have been captured and sent to the Imperial Capital’s strongest Genetic Transformation Academy on the surface by now.

This world had already undergone earth-shattering changes due to his interference, and Chen Pingchuan could no longer be certain of the true situation of those around him. Finding himself without any helpers, he was suddenly overcome by a strong obsession.

I need a sidekick who knows how to read people. This person doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, he *must* be imperfect. He will be the one to act as the ’bad influence’ by my side.

Chen Pingchuan rubbed the stubble on his chin, making up his mind. He would find some time to secretly recruit Liu Haofeng. As for why he wouldn’t use the Parasite Seed, it was simply because those puppets parasitized by the seed could no longer be described as independent entities; they had transformed into an entirely new form of life.

[[You pat Liu Haofeng’s shoulder and tell him to rest easy. Hearing this, Liu Haofeng lets out a long sigh of relief, knowing his life has been spared.]]

[[In reality, he is still hiding something from you. Liu Haofeng is not as useless as he appears. He learned the art of concealing his strength from a young age. Thus, despite having awakened the special talent of Danger Prediction, he kept it a secret. This was also the reason he initially harbored malice toward you—because he sensed danger from you.]]

[[After some deduction, the two of you successfully locate and break into the hidden Energy Crystal warehouse. You eliminate the few remaining guards and stay for half an hour before leaving.]]

[[You don’t take any of the Energy Crystals with you. Liu Haofeng is puzzled by this strange behavior but doesn’t dare to ask. The two of you return to the battlefield.]]

[[By this point, the Nightingale Squad has successfully captured several strategic tower points and has begun to counter-encircle Li Laoqi’s men. By your estimation, the Nightingale Squad will completely shatter the mine guards’ defensive line in about four hours, before nightfall.]]

[[The two forces continued their fierce battle for another two hours. Due to the cowardice of your parasitic puppets, Li Laoqi’s defensive line collapsed even faster than expected, though this also inflicted some casualties on the Nightingale Squad.]]

[[Sensing the situation was turning against him, Li Laoqi commands his men to resist while he himself continuously retreats toward the edge of the mine. Just as the two sides are about to determine a final victor, you see a look of joyful surprise on Li Laoqi’s face. You know his mysterious reinforcements have arrived.]]

[[As the group draws closer, these mysterious reinforcements are finally revealed. They are all large and imposing. Except for their exposed muscles, the rest of their bodies, just like Li Laoqi’s, have been implanted with mechanical prosthetics.]]

[[With these mysterious reinforcements joining the fray, the mine guards’ morale soars. Shaking off their disadvantage, they launch a full-scale assault against the Nightingale Squad. Relying on their powerful defenses, these mysterious allies with their half-machine bodies inflict heavy casualties on the Nightingale Squad.]]

[[The Nightingale Squad’s defensive line is continuously pushed back. You and Liu Haofeng are "naturally" captured by Li Laoqi’s men. Of course, this is just a self-injury ruse you orchestrated. A good viewing position is crucial for observing the battle, and naturally, the mine guards holding you are all your parasitic puppets.]]

Mechanical prosthetics?

Chen Pingchuan turned to the side and looked at the uneven wall, where he noticed a small pit. He picked at the hole with his finger, his mind racing.

There don’t seem to be any half-mechanical people, or lifeforms, among the forces of the Celestial Palace. On the other hand, there was that Markel from a previous simulation, who had seemingly used an item called the Mechanical Heart to transform himself into a half-man, half-machine creature.

Chen Pingchuan tried hard to recall movies from his past life where similar beings existed. Their name was cyborgs.

Cyborgs are a special form of life whose bodily functions are augmented or expanded through mechanical or electronic devices. Humans merge with machinery by implanting chips, mechanical limbs, and artificial organs, thereby acquiring strength, speed, and perception beyond that of ordinary people.

Things are getting more and more interesting, and the risks seem to be escalating as well. Do I really have the talent of a protagonist, destined to become a human-shaped calamity who brings great terror wherever I go? No, that can’t be right. After all, while those kinds of downtrodden protagonists exist, they’re relics from decades ago.

[[As you are "captured," the members of the Nightingale Squad are forced back into the cafeteria. They can now only barely hold their ground, unable to break out.]]