ABST Chapter 27

Kang Quan actively sought out Lan Xia at night, stumbling every three steps.

 

No one knew what the two discussed in the room. Only Shou Bing hazily sensed powerful mental fluctuations in his sleep. Beyond that, no other disturbance.

 

The next day, Dawn gained an Instructor Quan who specialized in training soldiers and strengthening his and Algiers’ physical abilities.

 

…

 

Over three years later.

 

The Federation’s attack on the Northwest Sector over the Research Institute bombing seemed to fizzle out. The First and Second Armies quieted down, ushering in a rare period of peace.

 

During these three years, a young organization named Dawn rose in the Northwest Sector.

 

Reportedly, this organization’s leader was only twenty this year, lacking neither means nor vision. Drugs and machinery produced by Dawn were several times better quality than those from other Northwest Sector forces.

 

Handling profit negotiations and transactions was surprisingly a child, rumored to be Dawn leader Algiers’ illegitimate son.

 

Leading troops externally was a cold, taciturn, tall blue-haired man and an instructor called ‘Uncle Quan.’

 

The Northwest Sector was chaotic and disorderly. When Dawn first gained fame, quite a few mercenaries accepted bounties to assassinate Dawn’s leader and other key members.

 

Without exception, not one person who accepted the bounty returned.

 

Until two years ago on a bitterly cold spring day, Dawn relocated to a vast ownerless land in the southern Northwest Sector. Before relocating, they hung the heads of all killers and mercenaries who’d entered Dawn’s territory high on the walls of Rat Ridge City.

 

All heads.

 

Shriveled, rotting, fresh.

 

Those where faces were still visible had expressions uniformly ferocious and fearful.

 

From then on, no one in the Northwest Sector dared accept Dawn’s bounty.

 

Forces large and small acknowledged Dawn indeed had the ability to bite off a piece of meat in the Northwest Sector.

 

Over the next two years, Dawn developed rapidly. On this southern ownerless land, they built an orderly, heavily guarded city named Dawn City. They became an organization second in prestige only to Xinghui in the Northwest Sector.

 

Besides unorganized mercenaries, these three major forces—Xinghui, Dawn, and Gray River—faintly formed a tripartite balance of power in the Northwest Sector.

 

…

 

Northwest.

 

Dawn City.

 

Uncle Quan sat on the city wall, staring absently at several children not far away who were playing and roughhousing, holding candy figurines. The longer he watched, the more he could perceive that this city possessed vitality and hope absent elsewhere.

 

“How is it, Instructor Quan? This place isn’t bad, right?”

 

Lan Xia appeared beside him at some point, squinting into the distance. “A paradise within chaos. Have you seen anything like it elsewhere?”

 

Instructor Quan dressed casually, with messy stubble on his chin and infrequently groomed hair.

 

Everyone in Dawn knew Instructor Quan had a handsome, smiling face but rarely spoke. His eyes were calm and untroubled. Spending time with him, restless hearts would settle.

 

Lan Xia: “Although you didn’t tell me your identity that night, the value you’ve shown, your methods for training soldiers—these aren’t things the Northwest Sector could produce. Do you regret staying?”

 

Uncle Quan said: “Perhaps only when I stop breathing will I figure it out.”

 

That night three years ago when he sought out Lan Xia, he learned the other was an S-level mental power evolver. No wonder those two kids could hold onto those two rings he’d thrown away.

 

The experimental instruments in the rings were disassembled and reassembled. His home, C9 Sector, was preserved. He just no longer had the right to return.

 

No right or wrong, only positions.

 

The Federation was utterly unforgivable. The Northwest Sector’s decision to overthrow it wasn’t wrong. But the Northwest Sector creating chaos, the Federation wanting to eliminate them also seemed not wrong.

 

He couldn’t let go of his conflict to return to the Federation, nor could he truly become an anti-Federation element. Guarding a horrifying secret, struggling between the two like a coward.

 

Uncle Quan came to his senses, smiling: “Did you come here specifically to talk to me?”

 

Lan Xia coughed lightly, extending his hand: “Do you have any of those meal replacement candies?”

 

Uncle Quan’s smile vanished. He frowned, looking him up and down, especially carefully examining Lan Xia’s complexion.

 

Over these three years, this person occasionally fell ill. His resistance seemed weaker than normal people. Once catching cold with fever, even under Jin Daike’s care, he needed a week to recover.

 

Each time, his students would worry anxiously.

 

Uncle Quan: “Are you unwell?”

 

The person before him, like the Admiral, had severe stomach problems. But unlike the Admiral who extremely disliked meal replacement candy, Lan Xia liked them, especially when uncomfortable, using meal replacement candy as an excuse to avoid eating.

 

Lan Xia didn’t blink: “Of course not.”

 

Uncle Quan: “Then go eat.”

 

Lan Xia: “…”

 

“Alright.” Lan Xia sighed. “I’m a bit uncomfortable. Algiers and the others care too much about me. I’m afraid they’ll notice during dinner.”

 

He propped his elbow on the city wall. “It’s not that unbearable. I just don’t want them worrying.”

 

Uncle Quan: “You bearing it alone makes them worry more.”

 

Lan Xia’s smile faded slightly. He pressed his lips together, silent.

 

A delicately packaged meal replacement candy was pushed to Lan Xia’s hand.

 

Uncle Quan shook his head: “Forget it. At least you know to ask me for meal replacement candy. I’ll cover for you one last time.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

Kang Quan paused, looking at Lan Xia’s profile: “I know someone who’s very similar to you. But he ate very regularly, three meals a day. No matter how uncomfortable, he’d eat.”

 

“Sounds less like a person, more like a cold machine that only executes orders.” Lan Xia casually smiled.

 

He tore open the wrapper, tossing the candy in his mouth. His cheek immediately bulged on one side. “Just tell Algiers and the others I went out to buy seeds and won’t eat with them.”

 

Uncle Quan: “…You’ve used this excuse several times already.”

 

Lan Xia: “As long as it works.”

 

He urged: “Go on now.”

 

Uncle Quan sighed. He was accustomed to worrying. Before leaving, seemingly uneasy, he left another meal replacement candy. Lan Xia smiled, putting it in his pocket.

 

[Lan Xia:

 

True value: 89%

 

Remaining survival time: 211 days]

 

The small light orb worried more than once: “I’m telling you, reconstructed body energy has limits. With so little time left, can true value be maxed out? Elansno doesn’t matter, but there’s not much time left for this body.”

 

Gong Du narrowed his eyes: “Is that so?”

 

He knew, of course.

 

But looking at it now, he’d accumulated the protagonist team’s favorability nearly completely. Sincerity for sincerity, true feeling for true feeling. What he’d given out was not little at all.

 

The sweet taste of meal replacement candy spread across his tongue, extending into an extremely pleasant flavor.

 

He smoothed the candy wrapper’s edges and corners flat, then loosened his fingers. The wrapper swayed and fluttered away in the wind like a fluttering butterfly with nowhere to rest.

 

After watching for a moment, the youth in the windcoat turned and left, smiling lightly.

 

“Then let’s finish quickly.”

 

——

 

“Teacher didn’t come to eat?”

 

Shou Bing still hadn’t awakened, but the day Dawn City was built, Lan Xia still accepted Shou Bing as a student.

 

These two years, Shou Bing followed behind Kang Quan, desperately training his physical techniques. His height shot up dramatically—broad shoulders, narrow waist, height nearing six feet three.

 

But the habit of blushing when speaking still couldn’t be changed. He simply stopped talking much in public, instead gaining a cold, cool guy image of speaking little but acting ruthlessly.

 

Training troops outside, cooking at home.

 

Shou Bing’s exclusive pink cartoon girly apron had a bizarrely harmonious feeling with his increasingly sharp aura.

 

“Uncle Quan, have you seen Teacher?” Algiers asked.

 

Uncle Quan said: “I saw him. Said he’s going out to buy some seeds and won’t come back. Asked me for meal replacement candy.”

 

At these words, Algiers and the others couldn’t help sighing but didn’t ask further.

 

Uncle Quan was also sometimes curious why such a poor excuse, used so many times, worked like magic with Lan Xia’s students.

 

Shou Bing: “Little Yao isn’t here either?”

 

Jin Daike checked the time: “He said he’d be back before dinner, to give us a surprise.”

 

Algiers smiled: “That guy’s been with us over three years. Finally planning to come clean.”

 

Algiers truly had courage, letting a child of unknown origins manage Dawn’s finances for over three years, and now daring to just let him leave.

 

“What come clean? I just don’t want to keep being mistaken for your son.” A soft, even delicate voice came from outside.

 

Algiers: “…”

 

His mouth froze.

 

Everyone looked up.

 

At the door stood a slender figure wearing a gray robe. After stepping through, they removed the hood, revealing a face of ambiguous gender, exquisitely refined.

 

Lian Yao: “All stunned?”

 

Algiers was first to recover: “…You, Little Yao?”

 

Something flashed through his mind. He stood abruptly: “You’re that person who tried to rob us in the chaotic magnetic zone!”

 

“Accurately, Lian Yao.” The person at the door said. “A dignified Gray River leader managing finances here for over three years. I’m aggrieved to death.”

 

Shou Bing raised his spatula, expressionlessly: “Then you could eat less.”

 

Lian Yao: “…”

 

Uncle Quan furrowed his brow, barking: “Slouching against the door, what does that look like? Stand properly!”

 

Lian Yao reflexively stood at attention.

 

“Come in first.” Jin Daike laughed. “We’ve gotten along over three years. What’s unfamiliar?”

 

She asked curiously: “Is this your original appearance?”

 

Lian Yao was gloomy: “…Sort of. Actually, every Gray River leader looks like this. It’s also my image when outside.”

 

Algiers: “How can I tell if you’re male or female? What about that child’s body?”

 

Lian Yao: “Not easy to explain. I’ll split open to show you.”

 

?

 

Uncle Quan suspected he’d heard wrong: “…What?”

 

Lian Yao walked to the side and stood properly. Their whole person slowly split from the head down. After completely splitting in half, a child crawled out from inside, looking up: “I split open.”

 

Algiers: ?

 

Jin Daike: ??

 

Shou Bing: ???

 

Three faces bewildered.

 

Shou Bing: “Born, born out!”

 

Lian Yao choked, explaining: “Gray River has passed through three leaders. For memory succession, each generation is an artificially synthesized child using their own genes, then memories are infused. My body can never grow up, forever stopped at the appearance of a five or six-year-old child.”

 

“This split-open body is just a very special genderless puppet that allows me to protect myself.”

 

Everyone didn’t know what to say for a moment.

 

“Then you’ve been at Dawn so long, and now come over revealing your secret. What do you want?” Lan Xia pushed open the door, saying gently.

 

Algiers: “Teacher’s here!”

 

Lan Xia nodded: “Mm.”

 

He showed nothing unusual, like always, very gently patting Lian Yao’s head. “Speak.”

 

Lian Yao blinked.

 

More than once he’d felt Lan Xia’s eyes were very gentle, hiding stars, tranquil and vast like they could embrace all unspeakable nightmares.

 

“…Actually, besides the first Gray River leader, both I and the already-dead second are just replicas copying his will.” Lian Yao said. “I curl up all day in the puppet’s dark, cramped shell, seeking liberation, but commands carved into my genes prevent me even from suicide.”

 

Lan Xia asked him: “What commands?”

 

“Very laughable commands. Only when the Federation is overthrown can I live according to my own wishes and gain freedom.”

 

“Gray River is a sharp blade. All these years not taking sides with any Northwest Sector force was observation.”

 

“I initially wanted to choose Xinghui because they’re the only somewhat acceptable anti-Federation force. But their leader is old, lacking progressive ambition. I provoked them once or twice. They were politely cautious about confronting me, only daring to compete secretly.”

 

“Then, in the chaotic magnetic zone, I met you.” Lian Yao looked at Lan Xia. “S-level mental power evolver, a very good leader.”

 

“Only I didn’t expect you wouldn’t much interfere with Dawn’s affairs, instead letting Algiers and the others grow through trial and error. Even less expected that in just over three years, Dawn would become like this.”

 

Lian Yao finished in one breath, pressing his lips together.

 

After several seconds, Lan Xia smiled, saying gently: “Then, Lord Gray River Leader, are you planning to take sides now?”

 

Lian Yao said awkwardly: “I…”

 

Lan Xia called: “Algiers.”

 

Algiers understood, immediately stepping forward and crouching down, extending his hand, smiling: “Algiers of Dawn sincerely invites Gray River to form an alliance with us. I wonder if Leader Lian Yao is willing to continue managing accounts here?”

 

“…Can, but…” Lian Yao was annoyed: “But I need to switch to the puppet shell. I don’t want to keep being your son!”

 

Everyone laughed.

 

Lian Yao’s ears reddened slightly. Then he seriously extended his hand, lightly patting Algiers’ palm: “Alliance formed.”

 

From this day forward, as long as he lived, Gray River would forever be the undercurrent beneath Dawn.

 

Lan Xia also smiled: “Gray River and Dawn forming an alliance, then Xinghui will be easy to negotiate with too. To overthrow the Federation, of course, other Northwest Sector forces can’t be underestimated either.”

 

Shou Bing: “Teacher means?”

 

Algiers said: “The S-level evolver that couldn’t be found searching the entire Northwest Sector has joined Dawn. Guess what other forces’ reactions will be?”

 

Jin Daike: “Any somewhat capable leader would choose to befriend, win over, or simply pledge allegiance, right?”

 

Lian Yao: “Leave this to me. With Gray River’s intelligence network, I’ll have it done within two days.”

 

——

 

#Military announces Hall of Divine Mercy may reopen soon#

 

#Hall of Divine Mercy secretly completed, His Majesty is benevolent#

 

#Why was the Hall of Divine Mercy burned down over a decade ago#

 

At dawn on the 12th, the First Army and Second Army jointly announced news that the Hall of Divine Mercy would soon reopen. According to insiders, this time the Hall of Divine Mercy won’t only adopt homeless children. Any child passing screening can enter the Hall of Divine Mercy.

 

Children receiving education from priests at the Hall of Divine Mercy will have priority admission opportunities to Imperial military academies upon reaching adulthood.

 

This notice stamped with both armies’ official seals caused an instant uproar on the star network like a bombshell the moment it was posted.

 

Even late at night, all news related to the Hall of Divine Mercy was pushed to headlines.

 

Simultaneously, the past of the Hall of Divine Mercy being burned to ashes over a decade ago was also dug up. Public opinion shifted repeatedly. Some approved, some were disgusted, some watched the spectacle.

 

“Regarding the Hall of Divine Mercy’s destruction over a decade ago… everyone surely knows that back then, the Federation struggled greatly against anti-Federation elements. The cunning, sinister Northwest Sector committed endless evils.”

 

Wright’s face appeared in star network interview videos.

 

That gentle, upright face made people instinctively believe his words.

 

“Back then, the Hall of Divine Mercy specifically sheltered children left homeless from war. Yet the Northwest Sector destroyed that carefree paradise for so many children with a single fire.”

 

He spoke with righteous indignation: “Rebuilding the Hall of Divine Mercy is Emperor Rosh’s decision after careful consideration. For this, our two armies have prepared over three years. Specific details are clearly stated in the announcement. The Federation’s glory requires our joint protection.”

 

Viral brainwashing propaganda about the Hall of Divine Mercy was overwhelming. Any slightly negative discussion would be deleted completely. The star network was harmonious.

 

After all, the Hall of Divine Mercy burning happened over a decade ago. Plus, those who knew about it were either in the Northwest Sector or mostly dead. The Federation strictly prohibited anyone from recording it, destroying all related books.

 

In just half a night, more and more children registered to participate. Setting aside other conditions, under current cruel competition, the single clause ‘priority consideration for Imperial military academy admission’ was enough to make people flock to it.

 

…

 

First Army.

 

Medical room.

 

Kane: “Admiral, this is the last time. If you still can’t remember, there’s no way to increase stimulation intensity further.”

 

On the cold medical platform, densely packed lines of various colors covered everything. Gong Du let Kane stick dozens of chips on him.

 

“Mm.”

 

Gong Du lay down properly.

 

Inside the consciousness sea.

 

The small light orb sighed: “Pain already blocked. Aren’t you tired? How many times has it been over three years?”

 

Gong Du said lazily: “Simply sleeping is also comfortable. Everything for luck value.”

 

“Everything for performance.” The small light orb deeply agreed.

 

Gong Du: “Come, let’s crack seeds in my brain.”

 

Small light orb: “Your brain listens to you.”

 

Outside the medical room.

 

Nie Liang looked in through the glass.

 

This was the… 1,115th time.

 

The initially taken medication was useless. The Admiral couldn’t remember anything. Instead, he developed anorexia. Each time forcing himself to eat, the blood he vomited couldn’t be stopped.

 

He tremblingly handed over tissues but only dared speak one or two dissuasive words, not daring to forcibly stop him.

 

He hoped the Admiral would recover his memories. But when the Admiral decided to stop medication, he couldn’t deny feeling relieved inside.

 

The day medication stopped, the Admiral switched to another method of stimulating the mental domain.

 

Using electric current through star wires, then through chips, to stimulate brain nerves. One careless moment could cause brain death. Simply put, the Admiral hung his life on a blade’s edge.

 

Yet he still had…

 

That indifferent appearance.

 

Nie Liang lowered his eyes.

 

He stood outside, waiting until the first moment Elansno woke, quickly opening the door to enter.

 

The Admiral’s eyes upon just opening held no emotion whatsoever, terrifyingly empty. Muscles overstimulated trembled unconsciously. Body temperature extremely low, pale to the extreme.

 

Nie Liang called out several times in a low voice. The person on the medical platform only opened his eyes but showed no response.

 

His eyes instantly turned cold, looking up: “Dr. Kane, what’s happening?”

 

“He can’t still be unconscious.” Kane’s scalp tightened. He hurriedly turned to check closely monitored instrument data.

 

Just now was the maximum stimulation this equipment could bear, but he’d been very careful. The possibility of problems was less than one percent.

 

Kane checked carefully several times: “Really no problem.”

 

Nie Liang revealed cold glints between his fingers: “Then why isn’t he awake?”

 

“This…” Kane’s face paled. “Perhaps, perhaps it’s because the Admiral’s brain domain received too many stimulations. Now I’m also a bit unclear…”

 

He’d originally strongly opposed the Admiral risking his life repeatedly stimulating his brain domain. Even an S-level evolver couldn’t risk their life so frequently!

 

But throughout the First Army, whatever the Admiral said went. Adjutant Nie Liang was also different from Adjutant Kang Quan, not daring to force the Admiral to do anything.

 

The medical room was completely quiet, only the tick-tock sounds of instruments operating.

 

Kane’s eyes went dark.

 

Could something really have gone wrong?

 

Finished. Would his fate be worse than Adjutant Kang Quan’s? Done for, done for…

 

One second before the madness beneath Nie Liang’s skin nearly surfaced, the person on the medical platform coughed lowly.

 

“Admiral!”

 

Nie Liang’s attention immediately focused. Supporting the Admiral’s shoulder, he wore very clean white gloves, carefully exerting force.

 

Kane finally breathed a huge sigh of relief: “Was there a problem with the equipment?”

 

Gong Du: “…”

 

Actually, no. He forgot the time while cracking seeds.

 

Looking at these two people’s terrible expressions, he rarely felt a bit guilty. Though unintentional, he seemed to have frightened them.

 

Rarely not creating drama, he only lowered his eyes, simply saying: “Still can’t remember.”

 

“Stop here. Won’t try anymore.”

 

Anyway, his frequent courting of death was only to make the later script more logical.

 

The medical room temperature was low. Not remembering anything after the final stimulation, Kane thought the Admiral would request another round at equal intensity like before. Unexpectedly… the Admiral simply, with remarkable calm, accepted this reality.

 

Kane’s heart jumped.

 

Nie Liang took the military jacket from beside, draping it over Elansno’s shoulders.

 

Nie Liang looked up, exchanging glances with Kane. Both saw undisguised worry in the other’s eyes.

 

They were crystal clear how the Admiral spent these past three years. His pursuit of his own past far exceeded the word obsession. It was a kind of coldly indifferent madness.

 

When someone who’d always persisted suddenly gave up, peacefully without fuss, how could one not overthink?

 

Kane said: “Admiral, why not try other gentle, harmless methods?”

 

Gong Du, who had no intention of causing more drama: “?”

 

**

 

 

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