On the 53rd floor of the skyscraper, Mu Ye Xingchen found Honglian Zhiwu.
After shooing away two male rabbits from the lounge, Mu Ye Xingchen quietly watched Honglian get dressed.
"You actually have the leisure to bother with your subordinates," Honglian Zhiwu teased good-naturedly. 138 Reading Net
"Xiao Wu, while I was away for these two months, the Black Dawn plan was fully entrusted to you. This concerns both our futures and destinies, so you must watch it carefully."
"When I ascend to the throne of the Black Star Empire commander and return in triumph, we will then fulfill our dream."
Honglian Zhiwu snorted disdainfully, her gaze sharp and cold as she stared at him. "That's your dream, not mine. If you truly cared about me, you would come back and marry me."
After a calm glance at Honglian's indifferent yet resentful gaze, Mu Ye Xingchen calmly left Honglian's lounge and returned directly to his own.
Fu Yafang was sitting in the room, looking very serious as she organized the campaign materials for Xingchen.
The dark circles under her eyes, visible on her delicate face, indicated she hadn't rested in a long time.
Xingchen gently held Fu Yafang's hands and said softly, "It's alright, leave the rest to the servants."
Fu Yafang calmly asked, "What else do you need me to do while you're away?"
After more than ten days of interaction, Fu Yafang had outwardly, and somewhat reluctantly, complied with Mu Ye Xingchen.
However, in secret, it was Fu Yafang, with her superb acting skills and meticulous planning, who had skillfully maneuvered Mu Ye Xingchen into various traps she had designed.
Fu Yafang precisely understood Mu Ye Xingchen's psychological and physiological needs. She knew very well that men have moments of vulnerability and loneliness, and with a little attention and a few subtle moves, she could control this extremely intelligent man.
In Mu Ye Xingchen's mind, Fu Yafang was the loser in this emotional game, his spoils of war.
At the same time, he considered Fu Yafang a trustworthy, semi-girlfriend, and a captivating, occasionally rebellious, career-assisting partner, which was fatal to Xingchen.
Xingchen thought for a moment, placed a pre-prepared badge into Fu Yafang's hand, and said calmly, "While I'm away, you can visit our folks on the 23rd basement level. If necessary, discipline Honglian Zhiwu for me."
After saying this, Mu Ye Xingchen leaned down and lightly kissed Fu Yafang's lips.
Fu Yafang gently embraced Xingchen and said softly, "I'll wait for you to return."
Watching Mu Ye Xingchen stride out of the lounge, Fu Yafang finally relaxed, a subtle, triumphant smile appearing on her calm and refined face.
Two hours later, having confirmed that Mu Ye Xingchen had left Shan Hai City, Fu Yafang slowly rose and headed to the laboratory on the 23rd basement level.
When Fu Yafang produced the badge, the guards no longer blocked her.
From thirty meters away, with just one glance, Fu Yafang was stunned by the scene.
Dozens of scientists were working diligently around a massive cylindrical instrument.
A young man, completely encased in a transparent viscous liquid, was suspended within the large cylindrical experimental apparatus, occasionally making movements that were impossible to decipher.
The liquid was peculiar, flowing without dripping, like a slowly churning patina outside the body.
"It really is Gu Ya!" Fu Yafang thought in shock.
Her memory was excellent. Over a year ago, when she was delivering documents to her superior, she had heard a cry and identified the pilot of the black mecha as her former classmate Xu Jie, promptly relaying the information to her contact. That led to Gu Ya's subsequent battle to eliminate Xu Jie.
Now, looking at Gu Ya in the experimental apparatus, Fu Yafang felt not only shock but also a touch of sadness.
She hadn't expected that two of her fellow students from the 12 Wastewater Treatment Area Academy would be captured by the Black Star for experimentation.
A curvaceous female scientist walked steadily toward her, her white coat fluttering behind her.
"Hello, may I ask what you need?" the female scientist asked politely but warily.
Fu Yafang showed her Xingchen's badge and said calmly, "I am Commander Xingchen's personal assistant, Fang Yue Dailian. I've been ordered to visit the experiment."
A complex expression flickered across the female scientist's face, and she nodded with a wandering gaze.
This did not escape Fu Yafang's notice. The astute Fu Yafang keenly perceived that this female scientist harbored affection for Commander Xingchen.
A plan quickly formed in her mind.
Fu Yafang quickly glanced at the female scientist's name tag, a perfectly fitting smile appearing on her face. "You must be the chief female scientist that Commander Xingchen often mentions, Hui Ye Aili."
With her exceptional memory, Fu Yafang immediately recalled that the Hui Ye family was an elite scientific family within the Black Star Empire, a prestigious lineage.
"Your Hui Ye family has served the Black Star with unwavering dedication; you are indispensable. You are diligent and responsible, and the Commander often speaks highly of you."
Fu Yafang's demeanor was undoubtedly first-class. Her smile could not only captivate many men but also win over women.
With just these two sentences, she had established a close relationship with Aili, not only sidestepping her own relationship with Xingchen but also subtly fostering a connection between Aili and Xingchen, achieving three objectives in one go.
Aili pursed her lips and smiled demurely. "I contribute to the Black Star without regret. I... dare not hope for the Commander's remembrance."
Fu Yafang smiled inwardly. She was certain that Aili had a very good first impression of her, and she could now proceed to extract more information.
"By the way, I'm so curious!" Fu Yafang put on an eager-to-learn expression and tone, but it was natural, not forced. "Who is that person in the big barrel?"
Having been charmed by Fu Yafang in their initial encounter, Aili had let down most of her guard. Coupled with Commander Xingchen's badge, she began to speak freely.
She recounted Gu Ya's background, his capture, his re-entry into the experiment after waking up, and the events leading up to the present.
Seeing that Fu Yafang had difficulty understanding, Aili rephrased and explained it patiently once more in simple terms.
It seemed this female scientist was quite kind-hearted, Fu Yafang thought with delight. She was indeed someone easily exploited.
"What is the liquid that envelops the test subject?" Fu Yafang asked curiously.
"In general terms, it's called anti-flow substance. This substance possesses most of the characteristics of a liquid, but its internal microscopic particle activity is extremely high..." Fearing Fu Yafang wouldn't understand, Aili rephrased, "You can think of it as a blob of 'slime,' um."
Fu Yafang nodded in understanding.
Aili continued, "The test subject is currently very stable. The new assessment report has just been calculated. Based on the current rate of fusion staticization, it will reach the fusion standard in less than twenty days."
Fu Yafang interrupted appropriately, "Uh... I don't understand at all, hehe. Fusion... what does that mean?"
Aili smiled warmly, like a teacher, and explained, "We intend to fuse Gu Ya's consciousness with the 'Black Dawn' computer. To fully awaken Black Dawn."
"Fully... awaken?" Fu Yafang was even more confused. "I'm sorry, can you explain it more clearly? You know, the Commander asked me to visit the experiment for a reason."
Aili smiled indifferently and said, "No problem. You can imagine 'Black Dawn' as a humanoid robot with human consciousness. Currently, 'Black Dawn' has awakened a part of its human consciousness, but it's not complete and requires the test subject to catalyze and perfect it. What we are doing now is to bring the test subject to a level where it can perfectly integrate with the computer."
Fu Yafang's heart trembled at this exceptionally plain statement!
Firstly, "Black Dawn" had already awakened a part of its human consciousness! This was a clear prelude to an AI crisis.
Secondly, Black Star intended to fully fuse Gu Ya with "Black Dawn" to create an even more intelligent monster!
This was undoubtedly anti-human!
This was not just a catastrophe for Xian Xia, but for all of humanity.
Aili offered a kind and gentle smile. "Sister Dailian, you needn't panic. We have created three fail-safe backdoors for 'Black Dawn'; it will absolutely not escape our control."
Looking at Aili's sweet and friendly smile, Fu Yafang found it utterly disgusting and eerie!
"Phew! You scared me so much, I almost thought we were going to be ruled by robots!" Fu Yafang said, patting her chest as if catching her breath.
"Look at you, saying such things. Since we dare to research this, we will certainly ensure that humans are not replaced by computers. We are the all-knowing, all-powerful humans, the creator gods of computers," Aili said, covering her mouth and chuckling softly.
Fu Yafang did not pursue the matter further and smiled. "Yes, Commander said as he was leaving that I should interact with you more, that you have an excellent character and are very approachable. With great scientists like you, our Black Star will surely dominate the world."
"Really?" A trace of shyness appeared on Aili's face, and she asked sheepishly, "Did the Commander really say that?"
Fu Yafang nodded gently, moved closer, and whispered in a confidante's tone, "He also asked me to probe your thoughts and said that after he becomes the commander of the Black Star Empire, he wants to ask you out. Don't be fooled by the Commander's usual composed demeanor; I'm telling you, based on my observations for so long, the Commander is very shy and concerned about appearances internally, he never explicitly asks people out!"
Aili's face turned even redder, and she covered her face, afraid to look up.
Fearing Aili might overthink things, Fu Yafang added with a hint of regret, "Alas, I'm not so lucky. I've been with the Commander for so long, and he doesn't even give me a proper glance."
"Sister Dailian, don't say that. You are also excellent; you are beautiful and have a good personality," Aili, with her flushed face, still managed to console Fu Yafang.
Indeed, so kind it was pitiable, Fu Yafang thought with delight.
Fu Yafang continued, "Let's have dinner together after work. I'll tell you some things about the Commander to prepare for a successful date in the future."
"Okay!!" Aili nodded seriously and earnestly.
"Oh, right!" Fu Yafang leaned in and whispered into Aili's ear, "Don't let General Honglian know I was here. She's hostile towards any woman who gets close to the Commander! I've been framed by her several times! You have to be careful too!"
"Okay!!" Aili nodded seriously and earnestly again.
After Fu Yafang left the laboratory, her heart was bursting with joy!
This trip not only uncovered Black Star's top-secret intelligence but also won over the chief female scientist, creating a rift between Aili and Honglian.
Next, she would deepen her relationship with Aili, extracting more confidential information about the experiments!
Ideally, she would also obtain the method to activate and deactivate this cylindrical instrument! This would prepare her for rescuing Gu Ya in the future!