I've Become the King of Villains in the Game

The reason Chen Lun recognized this machine actually traces back to a chance encounter in his previous life.

It was one day while surfing the internet, he unintentionally stumbled upon a post in a gaming forum. The poster claimed to be a high-ranking member of a well-known guild and shared a private photo labeled as a "game server," thanks to their connection to a relative on the official game development team.

Initially, this photo was met with a lot of skepticism.

After all, the poster's identity couldn't be verified, and with the technology level at the time, not to mention photoshopping, even creating such a picture using AI technology out of thin air was possible, making it hard to discern its authenticity.

However, after the poster shared another screenshot of their relative's "identity badge," the doubts gradually subsided.

Those who had been sharply criticizing the poster suddenly went quiet and disappeared.

Because the screenshot was of a "Federation Research Center" researcher's identity card, accompanied by the "Azure Holy Church" emblem.

No one dared to forge such a thing.

The dramatic reversal of events left a deep impression on Chen Lun, so much so that he instantly recognized the large machine projected in the shrine's firelight as the supercomputer of the Federation Research Center, which also served as the server for the entire game "Era of Mystery"!

'What is the connection between the Redemption Church of the Outer Continent and the Azure Holy Church in the real world…'

Chen Lun pondered quietly.

Aside from the two churches worshipping the same ancient "Azure Holy Flame," he believed there was some connection yet to be uncovered.

And this supercomputer likely served as some kind of hub or medium.

At this moment, Chen Lun's attention was suddenly drawn to something small in the firelight projection—

It was a black disk inserted into the main control console slot of the supercomputer, looking quite ordinary, like a standard data disk commonly seen in digital shops on the street.

Yet a mysterious intuition surged within Chen Lun's heart.

This was the final clue…

It might even be the last 'Four Seasons Bookmark' symbolizing summer!

Whoosh!

Within the shrine, the azure flames burned fiercely.

Perhaps due to someone approaching, the flames suddenly underwent some strange changes.

Every flickering flame strand displayed a data line projection, with the ends connected to flickering red and green plugs!

At a glance, the azure flames within the shrine resembled a "mechanical octopus," with dozens to hundreds of "data tentacles" extending recklessly!

Chen Lun was stunned by the scene.

A wisp of flame slowly meandered out of the shrine, bringing its data line projection close to Neil's body.

With a slight deliberation, Chen Lun did not inhibit it, allowing the flame to coil around Neil's neck, arriving at the area behind his ear.

At the touch, a brand, long and oval-shaped, appeared on the back of Neil's ear!

At that moment, Chen Lun realized something.

The knights Neil saw as a youth in the Black Horn Domain, with data interfaces behind their ears…

Originated from the fire within the shrine!

'So the so-called "baptism" was the Holy Fire fused with technological power, instantaneously creating a corresponding chip projection in the human brain.'

Chen Lun secretly marveled.

The Holy Fire not only absorbs power from other sources but also integrates distant reality's black technology… finally manifesting through flames in an incomprehensible form.

Then, a flame pierced into the data interface branded behind Neil's ear.

[User "Jack Spett" requests access…]

[Connecting to game…]

[Connection failed!]

[Upon detection, you are already in the game!]

[...]

[Data error...]

Chen Lun's amazement intensified with each panel alert.

Soon, another notification arrived—

[Data has been reset...]

[User "Nerlucius" requests access…]

[Connecting to game…]

[Connection successful!]

[Loading...]

[Load successful!]

Whoosh——

Through Neil's senses, Chen Lun suddenly found the scene before him drastically changed—the previously dim underground chamber and shrine all vanished.

In their place were dazzling, flickering rainbow lights!

He stood on a smooth composite-material street, with straight pedestrian lines projected forward, flanked by high-tech street lamps.

Various colorful, different-styled streamlined hover cars flowed incessantly on the left-hand side road, cutting through streaks of light.

In the distance, towering buildings with gigantic holographic projections flickered across the night and building surfaces, with radiant gold, cyan, pink, and bright purple lights forming a bustling, vibrant night city.

'This place is… the center of the Azure Federation, Splendid City!'

Chen Lun controlled Neil's body, standing by the street, looking around, showing astonishment and a hint of nostalgia.

He even spotted a building not far away bearing the Flash Eagle Group's logo, with the "Hall of Valor" guild tag on the holographic projection.

'I've actually returned to reality… Is the so-called "game" two-way?! Federation players come to Anita World through sleeping pods, while native "NPCs" can also travel to the Federation through the Shrine's Fire… and the core hub is that supercomputer?!'

Chen Lun couldn't help but be stunned.

If that's really the case, then for the local NPCs, aren't the players living in the Federation just a bunch of meaningless "NPCs" too...?

'No, that's not right...'

Chen Lun quickly calmed himself down again.

He used his perception to radiate outward and immediately noticed something unusual.

At that moment, a few passersby were walking towards him.

Chen Lun happened to want to test something, so he manipulated Neil's body to greet them and grabbed for a man in a high-collared jacket.

However, the man had no reaction, "Neil's" hand passed through the man's body, and the latter continued walking forward as if he couldn't see him at all.

'This is just a projection... No, I am the projection!'

Chen Lun confirmed this fact on the spot.

'Because the Shrine's Fire isn't a real server, the "natives" of the Outer Continent can only come here as projections, and even Federation people can't see them...'

[You have triggered the Main Quest: Baptism!]

Quest Description: You have passed the Church's review and are qualified for baptism. Next, follow the guidance and go to the designated location to receive the power of our Lord.

Mission Target: Reach the location "Federal Research Center" and download modules such as "Universal Swordsmanship," "Combat Skills," "Horsemanship," and "Archery."

Mission Reward: Recognized "Knight" status by the Church.

Chen Lun looked at the panel's prompt and was momentarily dazed.

'This isn't a prompt for me, it's for Neil... Although the Shrine's Fire absorbed the supercomputer's functions, it's quite rigid, mistaking this body for a knight's retinue coming for the "baptism."

He looked up, and immediately saw an illusionary arrow flashing on the ground, seemingly pointing the way forward.

Chen Lun thought it interesting and followed the arrow forward.

He was quite familiar with Splendid City because in his previous life, he lived here, so even without the arrow's guidance, he knew the way to the "Federal Research Center."

Along the way, the bustling passersby brushed past him, but none of them noticed him at all.

Chen Lun was like a ghost wandering in a bustling metropolis.

At this moment, he seemed to see a historical scene—

In the past, the "natives" of the Outer Continent, much like he is now, came here through the Shrine's Fire. Looking at this unfamiliar yet grand city and various technological inventions they had never seen before, they were deeply shocked, and then knelt to praise and pray to the Gods of the Flame.

"Neil" lowered his gaze, exhaled, and continued walking forward.

Not long after.

He arrived at the Federal Research Center.

The mechanical sentinels and cyborg security here were completely unaware.

Chen Lun walked in unimpeded, bypassed the hall and corridors, and went straight to the deepest research room.

Just entering the enclosed bulletproof glass door, what greeted his eyes was the massive machine standing in the center of the hall.

Dozens of researchers in white lab coats hurriedly moved back and forth in the hall. Four or five gathered around the supercomputer, tapping away at various complex keyboards and buttons on the control panel.

Two female researchers stood behind them, holding semi-transparent notepads, recording something with their fingers.

Chen Lun glanced around and silently approached the massive machine.

[Finally reached the destination...]

[Module downloading...]

The supercomputer seemed to emit an invisible force, affecting "Neil."

Chen Lun remained silent, observing the changes in "Neil."

[Downloaded "Universal Swordsmanship," "Combat Skills," "Horsemanship," "Archery," "Polearm Weapon Mastery," "Plate Armor and Leather Armor Maintenance," and fourteen other modules!]

[Main Quest: Baptism completed!]

[Congratulations, you have become a formally recognized Knight by the Church!]

As the panel prompts popped up, Chen Lun instantly noticed that out of nowhere, many pieces of knowledge appeared in "Neil's" mind. This body inexplicably gained mastery over several skills, as if it were the result of years of training.

Soon after, a strong pulling force came from a distant place.

Chen Lun found that this body was gradually becoming transparent.

'It's about to forcibly return to the Outer Continent...'

He thought to himself.

Chen Lun quickly contemplated and, taking advantage of this last moment, suddenly reached out towards the slot on the control panel.

There sat a quietly inserted black disk.

However, "Neil's" hand passed through the disk, making it impossible to touch.

Although Chen Lun was disappointed, he expected this result.

But in the next second, Chen Lun felt a strong emotion emanating from the black disk...

Return home!

It wanted to return home!

Return to the embrace of Chen Lun!

Chen Lun was startled.

He instantly confirmed that this was the final Four Seasons Bookmark!

The missing key piece for mastering Original Sin "No Return Land!"

It symbolized summer, and its name was—

Blooming Flowers!