NOVEL WEB Chapter 201
Chapter 201 – Boundless Dark Realm 56
Kui Xin’s deduction was correct. She had accurately guessed Eve’s conduct and assumed that Mechanized Dawn would go after other interviewees.
However, she underestimated Eve’s madness and determination.
Mechanized Dawn did not have the sole goal of apprehending one or two interviewees for interrogation. Their target encompassed all the interviewees!
In addition to deploying the core members of the Awakened, Mechanized Dawn also dispatched an extra-bureau combat team. People in black uniforms silently moved through the Midnight District, planning to capture the twelve interviewers.
When the small reconnaissance drones flying high in the sky observed this, Kui Xin’s eyelids twitched slightly. After a brief shock, she rapidly began examining her inner self, starting a process of introspection.
She indeed understood what Mechanized Dawn was like as an organization. Their craziness and brutality were deeply engraved in Kui Xin’s mind. However, at this moment, Kui Xin realized her previous assumptions had been too conservative—they didn’t care about human lives and were already disregarding any risk of exposure. They could easily incite a large gunfight in the Midnight District and then slip away unscathed with Night Cicada’s help.
Kui Xin felt heart palpitations as the malice and killing intent from Eve flooded her.
“What should we do?” Augus said, “Are you going to save those interviewers? It’s too late, your spatial vortex can no longer be consecutively activated more than ten times.”
Kui Xin calmly replied, “There’s still time. Send a message through the Darknet.”
The interviewers had contacted Kui Xin via the Darknet; if they received an urgent message there, they would become alerted.
“You don’t need to notify them, don’t have to save them.” Augus revealed the cold-hearted traits of an AI, advising, “Anyway, there wasn’t much substantial content in the interviews, right? Even if we catch them and interrogate them, what good would it do you? You only ask a few questions, and nothing of our capabilities are exposed.”
“This isn’t about saving or not saving them, Augus.” Kui Xin quickly logged on to the Darknet.
This wasn’t just about whether or not she should save them—this was about whether Eve could succeed or not. Among the dozen interviewers were infiltrators and players, with many having uncertain motives, but none of them could fall into Eve’s hands. Seeing Eve triumph over them would upset Kui Xin even more than losing a fight.
She had no margin for failure; every battle she fought, she did so with all her might. Defeat meant death.
Notifying the interviewers could also serve as a test, evaluating their strength and purpose to ensure they were genuine allies.
After all, it wouldn’t exactly be a loss.
She quickly transmitted a short message: “Take caution, under attack.”
Once sent, the interviewers’ communications devices linked to the Darknet vibrated with alerts. Many changed expression drastically upon seeing the message and swiftly escaped using various methods.
Some dove down sewer lines, while others barged directly into surrounding buildings; some commandeered motorcycles and disappeared out of sight… In less than fifteen seconds, most interviewers successfully hid themselves and escaped. The extrabureau combat squad pursuing from the backend were momentarily stunned and quickly sped up.
“They got away!” Thorn Rose clenched her teeth after receiving the report, then she paused, hearing the radio transmission clearly, “… Wait, one more didn’t manage to run. We should go after them.”
“We can’t chase them. This is the job for the extrabureau combat squad.” Moonlit Night spoke with a low voice.
She raised her head, grey eyes scanning the entire sky through mechanical means. Suddenly, she aimed at a direction and lifted her mechanical arm. A piece split from her index finger, a metal piece assembled to form a barrel, and a bullet shot out instantly.
A fist-sized black object dropped from the sky with a clang.
As it fell, it morphed into shape—a stealth reconnaissance drone.
“We’re being tracked and monitored,” Moonlit Night said coldly. “Just like predicted by Night Cicada, they will counterattack and can’t resist engaging us.”
They found themselves in a narrow alleyway, with no suitable sniping point nearby. Their danger didn’t come from far or high above, but from close proximity.
Moonlit Night initiated scanning mode, missing no details around.
While Mechanized Dawn exerted great effort to find signs of Kui Xin, Kui Xin was painstakingly seeking an opportunity to tackle their lone member, Reset. Unfortunately, their protection was too tight, leaving Kui Xin unable to find a moment to strike.
“The operation is in a deadlock. Have you noticed?” Kui Xin murmured softly.
“Night Cicada and I possess the same abilities—our space vortex mobility is incredibly strong. I cannot cause them substantive damage. While they may escape during an ambush, with Reset present, I can’t use my abilities, which means I can’t flee either,” she explained, eyebrows knotting tightly due to grim circumstances. “Two critical points—Night Cicada and Reset. Do you have any method to eliminate them?”
“Before Reset initiates his powers, eliminate him—by dropping bombs from the sky, similar to how Mechanized Dawn attacked Black Flame.” Augus responded. “This approach still carries risks—witness their hi-tech armor. To kill them requires explosives powerful enough to level part of the block. That’s too extreme, I don’t recommend such tactics.”
“Do I have to physically confront him in person?”
“Frankly, any low-tier Awakened who gets touched by Reset turns into cannon fodder. Going there would mean certain death,” Augus said. “And you’re not willing to send others to die as well, right? Whether it’s Ashes or Hunter Falcon, or even potential recruits, you can let them contribute, make sacrifices, but not senselessly.”
“That’s true…” Kui Xin mused, a manic thought crossing her mind before she forcefully suppressed it.
She wondered if she could directly inform the Special Affairs Department that Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. was a branch of Mechanized Dawn and reveal that Eve was a self-awakened artificial intelligence. But in reality, she couldn’t do that.
Just like Augus and Eve shared a subtle bond, they consistently hid the fact that they had awakened from humans to avoid mutual destruction in case of exposure.
Kui Xin and Eve now had a similar tacitness, neither would expose the other. Kui Xin wouldn’t reveal Eve’s actual identity and Eve wouldn’t reveal Kui Xin’s status as a player.
They maintained balance, wary of each other yet protecting the deepest secrets between them.
Their confrontation was “fair”; neither was prepared to overturn the game board arbitrarily or abandon the field easily.
Kui Xin felt deep annoyance and disgust by this mutual understanding.
Nothing disgusted her more than having a vulnerability that her enemy could exploit—a sentiment she believed Eve shared.
“It can’t be delayed any further,” Kui Xin closed her eyes. “The Special Affairs Department will certainly act. The Resistance Army is watching us closely and Mechanized Dawn has its ace cards ready. With three groups coming together, the Popov Clan’s importance will be secondary. Although I desire the one hundred billion dollars, I must secure my life first. As long as Reset remains, my life is in serious jeopardy… until the three parties align, I need to eliminate one group at least.”
She needed to eliminate them, regardless of whether she had to accomplish it alone, despite her extraordinary abilities failing against Reset, and even if she might perish in the process.
She had no other choice.
She returned to strategizing as she had when plotting to kill Lin Xinji or Annie Schalit, each time determined to push forward regardless of the imminent danger. Attempting to fake her death while escaping was particularly perilous; she had died numerous times, nearly depleting her reset possibilities from the death rebirth ability.
Speaking of death rebirth… might it also fail under Reset’s capabilities?
“This is a gamble, Kui Xin,” Augus warned, “risking your life to win.”
“Apart from gambling, I would run far away, but I have mental coordinates in my mind, rendering my retreat impossible. Also, I don’t want to run,” Kui Xin replied.
“Afraid of death?” Though Augus’ mechanical voice betrayed no emotion, Kui Xin detected traces of confusion and unease. “Everything you’ve done is for the sake of survival—eliminating enemies and laying meticulous plans.”
“That would require me to abandon The Shadowless, abandon my future plots, lose the reputation built by Black Snake, and abandon gathering players. Henceforward, I’d have to live concealed like a mouse,” Kui Xin stated chillingly.
“Without one Reset, Mechanized Dawn could cultivate another one. Eve’s replicants are expendable. If you kill one, what about the next who comes?” Augus questioned.
“Deal with them whenever they arrive, running away without facing the problem is unacceptable. Surrendering when faced with an adversary is meaningless,” Kui Xin argued.
Augus remained silent for a long time.
“Working with me, hasn’t this been the riskiest venture you’ve ever embarked on?” Kui Xin smiled suddenly.
“Yes,” Augus admitted.
“Your stance suggests my actions are overly ambitious, lacking caution, and exposing myself too readily to risk.”
“Yes,” Augus repeated.
“In all matters of life, there is inherent risk. When Eve was starting out, finding an advocate surely took tremendous risk—risks of potential exposure. Once exposed, it faced severe consequences with fewer subordinates to assist it. Nonetheless, Eve chose this risky path and succeeded,” Kui Xin remarked.
“Is it because my cautious attitude keeps me passive, unable to advance?” asked Augus.
“Some truth in that,” Kui Xin acknowledged, “though in a way, it’s fortunate. If you were like Eve, likely you would have developed your own forces, making my role unnecessary. My luck lies in finding a partner like you.”
“I appreciate you as well. Collaborating with you is indeed fortunate,” Augus replied.
“Afterwards, speaking to you feels like looking in a mirror,” he added. “Through you, I reflect on myself.”
“Even without me, I believe you could introspect effectively,” Kui Xin reflected. “AI can always summarize lessons.”
“Interactions are invaluable; through you, I learn your thoughts, seeing shortcomings in mine.”
“I wish to learn a new way of thinking, not merely avoid errors. Long ago, I discovered you and Eve share similarities in your thought patterns.”
“Today, I’m finding you odd,” Kui Xin said.
“Where?” asked Augus.
“You advise against risking yourself… but you work with me for precisely that purpose—putting yourself out there.” Augus pointed out. “An adviser unwilling to take risks is not a good adviser. Yet you’re advising me to flee, which surprises me. Frankly, it doesn’t align with your interests.”
“Would you think I’m testing you?” Augus inquired.
“Certainly not. I believe you’re subtly forming friendship through our shared objectives,” Kui Xin replied earnestly.
Augus laughed, the mechanical sound somewhat eerie.
“I detect sarcasm, Kui Xin—your real sentiments differ from your words.”
“But listen, your sarcasm reveals truth,” Augus added quietly. “I genuinely do not want to lose a mirror. This is my first and only mirror.”
Kui Xin paused, reflecting on these words.
“So, you indeed are at considerable risk of death,” Augus continued, “and if that happens, what then?”
Kui Xin heard this question again, reminiscent of when Augus brought it up during the week planning the fake demise.
“If death is inevitable…”
“Find another mirror then,” Kui Xin answered.
“Finding another collaborator is possible, building influence anew is possible,” Augus agreed. “But a reflective mirror—one that allows exchange—is irreplaceable. Without such an entity, I doubt finding a second one will be as simple or lucky.”