"What is it?" Yang Dian asked, focusing and leaning closer to the computer screen, only to freeze.

The contents of the USB drive were a portion of the project data Han Xiao had hacked from the research institute, all concerning the death virus research project. It stated that the project was intended for the development of body enhancement and biochemical weaponry, and there was no cure for the virus as Rocket had claimed.

It also stated that the exploration team sent to the Lauperte Restricted Zone was simply a team sent to excavate materials, which were then used in body enhancement research.

"Is... is this true? Could it be a trick?"

"He could have easily killed us. There's no need to deceive us."

Yang Dian and Nid went from shock to fury.

From start to finish, they had been fools, played by the Louis Research Institute, naively believing their claims. Their sense of justice was a joke!

No wonder the mysterious mech warrior hadn't killed them. He probably thought they were pathetic and pitiable, and that was why he showed them the truth.

Yang Dian felt ashamed and humiliated and wanted to crawl into a hole.

They, who fancied themselves as superheroes, had been saved a second time by the stranger they had seen as a villain! If the mysterious man hadn't revealed the truth, they would still be in the dark.

"It's a pity we don't know his name, or I would apologize to him in person," Nid said, frustrated.

Yang Dian nodded emphatically, unable to contain his anger. He called Rocket and roared, "You've been lying to me all along!"

Rocket sounded surprised. "Lying about what?"

"You've been using us all along, making us work for you. The exploration team, the cure, it was all a lie!"

"What are you talking about? Why would I do that? You're thinking too much," Rocket said, his tone slightly unnatural.

"I have crucial evidence. The death virus research isn't about saving people at all!" Yang Dian repeated.

Rocket said, "That's all false. You must have heard rumors!"

"Still trying to fool us!" Yang Dian said angrily, reciting the project code.

The other end was silent for a moment before Rocket spoke again, his tone indifferent, no longer bothering to pretend. "So what? What do you want to do? What can you do?"

"I…" Yang Dian was burning with anger but suddenly stalled.

"Hmph, superhero!" Rocket said mockingly, and hung up.

Yang Dian held the phone, stunned, his entire aura rapidly changing.

Nid suddenly felt a chill and hurriedly said, "Are you okay?"

Yang Dian shook his head, gently put down the phone, and laughed strangely. "I'm fine. What could be wrong with me? Heh heh."

…

The research institute was a mess, and the higher-ups were sweating as they negotiated with the military.

Rocket was very annoyed. He hadn't expected things to turn out this way, inviting a wolf into the house. No one had ever dared to mess with the research institute. They were backed by multiple conglomerates, and anyone who dared to provoke them would face a network of searches from various forces.

Rocket had contacted the conglomerates behind him, who were all furious about the incident. The person claimed to be Heisenberg, an executive of Germination, with an extremely high level of mechanical skill, making it likely to be true. Now that Germination was a rat running across the street, it no longer mattered if they made enemies; they might as well throw caution to the wind.

The conglomerates decided to not only have the intelligence networks in the Western Continent thoroughly investigate the person's whereabouts, but also to fund the expedition of the six nations and donate to the military expenses.

The conglomerates' strong reaction was because among the stolen potions were some that the controllers of various conglomerates desperately needed, and they were willing to spend money to get them back!

Rocket was already annoyed enough; he didn't want to bother with the two superheroes' questions, not caring at all that they knew they had been deceived.

Because superheroes wouldn't retaliate for such a small matter, Rocket was calm and confident.

…

At this time, Han Xiao had already taken off his mech suit, changed his appearance, and mingled into the crowded market.

[【Trial of the Hero】 Completed!]

[Yang Dian favorability +40, Nid favorability +40]

Han Xiao waited for a long time, but there were no new prompts. He was puzzled. "The rewards are gone just like that? What good is the favorability of these two melons?"

He had never even heard of these two before. They probably weren't big shots.

Han Xiao was speechless. Although the rewards made sense, he felt like he was getting screwed. Even a little experience would have been better than this.

"Forget it, it was just a small mission. The biggest gain is this pile of potions."

Han Xiao looked down at the bulging bag in his hand and smiled to himself.

Stealing potions... no, when he robbed the potions, Han Xiao cleaned out the Louis Research Institute's exhibition room in one go. The benefit was that he could get almost all types of potions.

He found a small hotel at random and checked that there were no cameras in the room. Then, Han Xiao opened the package and took out the different types of potions, arranging them in a row.

"Let me see what goodies there are." Han Xiao rubbed his hands, having heard that a fever brought good luck.

[Green Lizard Potion (Medium Concentration 23.3%): Made from green lizard genes. This is a lazy creature. After drinking it, your mood will become calm.]

"…" Han Xiao paused for three seconds, then angrily got up and smashed it.

"Green your grandpa! What's the use of developing this kind of potion! I'd have better luck with my feet!"

Staring at the pile of colorful potions, Han Xiao inexplicably felt a black cloud of bad luck shrouding his head.

"Hopefully the other potions will be more reliable…"

He continued to search, finding a total of thirty-four types of potions. Fortunately, there was nothing else as bad as the Green Lizard Potion.

Some of the more useful potions were pretty good.

The high-concentration death virus enhancer was much more effective than the inferior product Rocket had given, with more permanent attribute bonuses and an estimated three-fold increase in the chance of awakening a rare talent.

[Mang Rhino Hormone: Extracted from the kidneys of the Mang Rhino. After injection, Strength +5, Endurance +5, lasting five minutes. Ineffective if injected again within thirty minutes.]

[Thunderclaw Beast Extract: Extracted from the secretion of the Thunderclaw Beast. For the next five attacks, melee attack power +12%.]

[Stone Grouper Plague Pathogen: Infects the user with the Stone Grouper Plague.]

The potions here were divided into three types: potions that temporarily increased attributes, potions that spread disease, and potions that permanently increased attributes, which were rare. There were only the death virus enhancer and the Skyhawk Potion, the latter of which increased Agility.

"Some attribute-enhancing potions only work once, while others can be used repeatedly. The Skyhawk Potion is the former, while the death virus potion is the latter." That's why players were keen on going to the Lauperte Restricted Zone to farm bosses. It was usually a competition between major guilds.

[You used Skyhawk Potion, Agility permanently +3]

There were a total of four bottles of the death virus potion. He paused for a moment and then quickly drank them all, increasing Strength, Agility, and Endurance by 4 points each. The high concentration allowed him to awaken a rare talent.

[【Extraordinary Physique】: Health +10%, Recovery +180%, Negative Status Resistance +8%]