Chapter 195

Chapter 195

It was certain the food was problematic, likely a product of the [Life Essence] ability, given its color.

But Life Tech Machinery Co., Ltd. wouldn’t treat Wu Mingbai’s group like Little Pink. If so many students vanished, Endless Ability Academy would investigate.

With the academy and Ability Government probing, Jiang Tianming doubted Life Tech Machinery Co., Ltd. could cover it up. To avoid trouble, the company shouldn’t logically target them.

Plus, per Zhang He’s introduction, touching [Life Essence] instantly drained life force. So the food wasn’t pure [Life Essence], just a derivative.

But what was this derivative’s purpose?

Su Bei had no intention of answering, lounging idly. He’d puzzled over why Life Tech Machinery Co., Ltd. dared target them too.

Now, he’d figured it out. As Little Pink said, those killed and “revived” by the boss' ability instinctively felt close to him. Paired with some rhetoric and drugs, they’d obey him completely.

Mu Tieren was likely an early butler assistant. Being a relative, the boss didn’t even bother with rhetoric. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have fled upon realizing their conflicting ideals.

Honestly, when Jiang Tianming said “Little Pink,” Su Bei nearly laughed. Such a half-hearted name—she really didn’t see an issue? If the boss cared about her, even a new name wouldn’t be so lazy.

After pondering, Jiang Tianming gave up. No point obsessing over what he couldn’t solve—only fools did that. He stood. “Let’s find the others.”

“I have a question.” Su Bei stayed put, eyeing him with interest. “Does Little Pink know Mu Tieren’s true identity?”

“Not sure, probably not,” Jiang Tianming shook his head, uncertain. “When we entered the warehouse space, Little Pink thought we were from Life Tech Machinery Co., Ltd. and attacked with pre-set traps. She’s really skilled—we all got hurt. During the injuries, we discovered the Class Monitor’s secret.”

Wires popping from a chest wound, black smoke from ears, odd elbow joint arcs—all betrayed his uniqueness. But everyone tactfully avoided asking. Everyone had secrets; since Mu Tieren didn’t share, they wouldn’t pry.

After catching Little Pink, she told Jiang Tianming’s group the truth. At first, they didn’t believe her, especially Si Zhaohua, unwilling to accept his family’s butler assistant was human.

Then Mu Tieren took them aside, revealing his past. Shocked, they finally believed Little Pink.

“The Class Monitor never said he was like her in her presence, but I don’t know if she noticed,” Jiang Tianming concluded, then asked, puzzled, “Why ask?”

“Kind of sad, isn’t it? The Class Monitor got a near-human body, but Little Pink’s stuck like this,” Su Bei said, feigning pity, though he wasn’t wrong.

Forget whether the scientist who helped Mu Tieren would spend big to help Little Pink. To take down Life Tech Machinery Co., Ltd., Little Pink was a key witness. She had to stay a butler assistant for credibility.

“True. Maybe that’s why the Class Monitor didn’t tell her. What if she got unbalanced?” Jiang Tianming sighed, then froze, realizing something.

He whipped around, staring at Su Bei like he’d seen a ghost. “Wait, that’s something you’d say?”

Su Bei looked innocent. “Can’t I have a compassionate heart?”

“Heh.” Jiang Tianming deadpanned, rolling his eyes, ignoring Su Bei and heading out.

He knew Su Bei’s act was off, but past experience told him he wouldn’t crack Su Bei’s hidden meaning before the event unfolded. Best not to stress.

Just outside, the workshop’s big screen lit up. Each workshop had one; Zhang He said they played shows for busy workers’ amusement.

The screen started with static, “zzt zzt,” then cleared. A man in his forties appeared, in a gray suit, exuding refined charm.

“Little Black, I know you’re here,” the man said, using a name they didn’t recognize. Su Bei and Jiang Tianming exchanged glances, realizing “Little Black” was likely Mu Tieren.

Where was Mu Tieren now? Hopefully, he didn’t slip up at this voice.

Little Black, Little Pink—the boss' naming was consistent.

“He’s Life Tech Machinery Co., Ltd.’s boss,” Jiang Tianming whispered. He’d researched before coming.

Getting no response, the boss smiled, unruffled, and continued, “You’ve been away so long. It’s time to come home. Be good, and Uncle won’t blame you.”

His kind smile, handsome face, and warm tone felt like coaxing a child. Hearing just this, they’d think it was a parent hurt by a wayward kid.

But knowing the truth, they saw him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, sanctimonious.

Mu Tieren didn’t reply. The others, searching for teammates, regrouped in Workshop Four to watch the boss' act. Splitting up risked being picked off; together was safer.

Seeing the six watch the screen warily, the boss, spying from somewhere, sighed. “Little Black, Little Pink, you’ve misunderstood me. It’s not what you think. Yes, I made you this way, but only because you’d have died otherwise!”

“Don’t lie!” Little Pink snapped, emotional. “I saw it—you collected my info. The report said I was healthy!”

That was why she fled. Like other butler assistants, she’d trusted the boss' story. But seeing her health report, realizing she wasn’t terminally ill as he claimed, she broke.

Her supposed savior was her destroyer. Her past obedience felt like a joke.

The boss sighed again, looking helpless through the screen. “Ever thought I lied because the truth was crueler? It was a white lie.”

Little Pink wasn’t easily swayed. “What’s crueler than being healthy but turned into this?”

“See for yourself.” The boss, prepared, pulled documents from a drawer, showing them one by one.

The first was a family photo of three, the girl in the center wearing a pink princess dress, smiling brightly.

The past beauty entranced Little Pink. She murmured, “That’s me…”

Next, the boss showed a dark web bounty, targeting the family from the photo.

Seeing Little Pink’s widened eyes, he spoke. “Remember your family’s job? Ability Police. Your father refused to go easy on a suspect, offending a big shot. They put a bounty on your family on the dark web.”

Ability Police, under the Ability Government, were like regular police but less authoritative. In the ability world, might made right, making the job far riskier. Retaliation was too easy.

Little Pink froze, her robot face showing confusion.

The boss continued calmly, “I admit, I didn’t warn you after seeing the bounty. I investigated but had no duty to alert strangers, right? But I did save your life. Your parents were already dead when I arrived. I faked your death to save you from the assassin.”

This starkly different truth stunned everyone. Had Little Pink misunderstood?

Still, they stayed vigilant. Wu Mingbai’s group’s disappearance was undeniable. Whatever the butler assistants’ deal, it didn’t erase the boss targeting students. “Why not tell me the truth?” Little Pink asked stubbornly, sensing a conspiracy, unwilling to trust his goodwill.

“Because I feared you’d seek revenge on the killer and die. You’re too weak,” he said indulgently. “I saved you, not to let you die. If you followed my plan, worked well, and earned the buyer’s trust, I’d tell you the truth. Then, you could stay if you didn’t want revenge or use the buyer’s power to avenge yourself.”

He added, apologetic, “As your uncle, I didn’t want you hating me for… let’s say, not saving your family, at your immature age. That’d hurt me.”

He gave a bitter smile. “But it seems my efforts were in vain.”

From his view, he’d planned Little Pink’s future. Who knew she’d flee without giving him a chance to explain?

“No, you’re lying!” Little Pink stepped back, eyes full of doubt, shaking her head, metal clanking. “If you meant well, why not explain then? Why send me to Li Jinhui?”

She vividly recalled those unbearable days of mental torture, driving her to kill Li Jinhui despite the risk.

“It was the only way. You don’t know, Li Jinhui’s [Mental Torture] has a derivative ability. Used on someone for a week, it erases their last month’s memories. I wanted you to forget and live the path I designed.”

[Mental Torture] causing memory loss was plausible, and they believed the boss wouldn’t lie about it.

Little Pink softened. Due to [Life Essence], she naturally liked the boss. She’d only stayed rational thinking her life was threatened.

Now, learning it was a misunderstanding, that the boss wasn’t harming but helping her, her fondness resurfaced, though she didn’t apologize.

Cutting her off, Jiang Tianming asked, “Where’s Wu Mingbai’s group? And the teachers? Where’d you take them?”

“Meng and the others got a sudden task, so I’m watching you. Check your phones… oh, I forgot, the factory’s network is cut to prevent spying,” the boss rubbed his forehead, acting frazzled. “That’s the deal. The students, since absorbing life force often causes fainting, I took them to a rest room.”

He adjusted the camera, showing eight people lying neatly on a large bed nearby, faintly glowing green, looking mystical.

Seeing them intact, everyone sighed in relief. True or not, they seemed safe for now.

Si Zhaohua glanced at the dejected Mu Tieren and asked, “What about Little Black? What did he misunderstand to escape?”

All eyes turned to him. Mu Tieren’s eyes held gratitude, but his face was stone, unwavering. Despite the boss' solid reasoning, his experience screamed not to trust him.

“Little Black, my first butler assistant…” The boss' meaningful gaze swept over them, knowing Little Black was among them. But who?

He had a story for that year too. “I know why Little Black fled. He thought my actions were wrong, that I shouldn’t turn people into robots. It’s a matter of principles, and I can’t change that. But one thing you’ve misunderstood.”

Mu Tieren’s gaze locked on the boss, who said firmly, “I never harmed anyone for experiments.”

That was why Mu Tieren fled. Through clues, he strongly suspected the tragedies of those brought by his uncle for transformation were caused by him.

Now, hearing this, he wondered if he’d misunderstood. Their ideals differed, but maybe his uncle wasn’t as ruthless as he thought?

No, wrong. Mu Tieren snapped out of it. Without solid evidence back then, he wouldn’t have cut ties and fled. His uncle’s pursuit wasn’t fake. Without Papa Mu’s rescue, he might’ve lost his consciousness entirely.

Seeing Mu Tieren subtly shake his head, unmoved, the others knew he had doubts.

Ling You, rarely speaking, asked, “Why target him so harshly back then?”

Mu Tieren had briefly mentioned his pursuit. Though vague, it was clear the pursuers meant to kill.

“A miscommunication, I learned later,” the man on-screen sighed. “I told them to bring you back, but they took your robot status to mean dead or alive.”

Reasonable. If they didn’t know Mu Tieren was human, just a robot, heavy-handedness made sense. As long as it wasn’t destroyed, they could deliver.

The boss rubbed his forehead, smiling wearily. “Years later, those events are still vivid. I’ve thought of you all this time. Come back. You’re my only family in this world, and I’m yours, right?”

If Su Bei had doubted the boss' truthfulness before, this last line cemented his certainty—the boss was lying.

No other reason: the “still vivid” line felt too contrived. Recalling years-old events so clearly was suspicious, but if he wasn’t guilty, he wouldn’t notice it as a flaw.

Yet he said “still vivid,” solely to explain his clear memory. If he wasn’t guilty, why justify it?

But Mu Tieren missed this. His stance softened, though lingering caution kept him from revealing himself.

He didn’t speak, but others did. Little Pink turned to Mu Tieren, outing him. “Why hide? Uncle’s been so sincere! We misunderstood him. Now, knowing the truth, we can’t apologize fast enough. Why won’t you reunite with Uncle?”

Little Pink had clearly noticed Mu Tieren’s identity and fully sided with the boss.

Exposed, Mu Tieren pursed his lips, no longer hiding. “It’s me. Maybe you didn’t mean to kill me, but I don’t buy your defense. If you didn’t harm those people, what were the documents I saw?”

Finding Little Black, the boss smiled. To Mu Tieren’s words, he replied unhurriedly, “I said it’s a misunderstanding. Some documents were my prior investigations, like Little Pink’s. I only observed, didn’t harm.”

Pausing to sip tea, he continued, “The rest were from avenging their killers. Those documents came from the culprits. You saw them and thought I was the one who harmed them.”

“Is… that so?” Mu Tieren said, uncertain. Like Little Pink, revived by [Life Essence], he felt strong affinity for the boss, his uncle. Only sheer willpower had kept him resistant.

Now, the more he heard, the more he thought his uncle might be right. Maybe he’d misunderstood. His uncle, avenging his people, getting evidence from killers, was plausible.

In stark contrast, Su Bei grew clearer-headed. The boss was definitely off. Remembering such old events so vividly? You’d think it happened yesterday.

No, he couldn’t stay. Sure, the protagonist team would survive, but why risk it when he could vanish?

Stepping back, the boss' gaze locked on him. “Student Su Bei, right? You left for the restroom during lunch and vanished. Suspected me, didn’t you?”

Without waiting for a reply, he said approvingly, “Great vigilance. Ability users need that, or they’ll suffer in Different Spaces.”

He sounded like a kind elder. To classmates who thought the misunderstanding was cleared, he seemed so.

Since he loved acting, Su Bei played along, smiling. “Yeah, I think vigilance is good too, so I won’t change it.”

“Good, keeping it is—huh?”

Before he finished, the boss watched Su Bei vanish on-screen. His words choked, his face showing rare shock.

The others, used to Su Bei’s style, laughed awkwardly. Qi Huang fake-smiled, covering for him. “Su Bei’s a bit flaky. Ignore him. He’ll show up when needed.”

She laughed on the surface, but inwardly cursed Su Bei to high heaven. Vanishing without a word—this jerk was as dog-like as ever!