Chapter 317: The Puppet
Chapter 317: The Puppet
Gader drove along the highway, soon entering the bustling city center where vehicles and various colorful light screens gradually became more numerous. Chen Chuan suddenly noticed something different from before.
He felt his senses had become sharper than before, as if he could precisely judge the trajectories of vehicles on the road and the unrelated movements of passersby.
When he focused on a particular spot, the voices of two pedestrians by the roadside seemed to stand out from the noisy background, and he could even smell the scent of the anti-mutation drugs they were taking.
As he drove past, these sensations gradually faded, but whenever he focused on a specific area, the details would become clear to his senses.
This situation...
He understood what it meant; he was gradually approaching the Third Limit.
The altered tissues within a fighter's body don't appear suddenly; they grow over time through gradual and subtle changes.
For Third Limit fighters, the brain undergoes a certain degree of alteration, which is a natural transition that occurs after the altered tissues become strong enough and reach a certain level.
After returning to the Mystic Palace Tower, he reflected on his dedication to self-improvement over the past few years, coupled with his diligent cultivation without slacking off, he was now gradually approaching this level.
The breakthrough was not far off.
Upon returning to the Mystic Palace Tower, he entered his dormitory, placed the Xuanjun Blade properly, took a quick shower, and then glanced into the wall cabinet.
There, he found the incubator sent by the Serpent Sect, with a constant temperature light on it. During his absence over the past few days, there didn't seem to be any changes.
He approached the desk, took out the medicine box from Jade Bag Apothecary, and took one Vitality Pellet to consume.
Since he was unsure about the specific situation during the Serpent Sect's ancient healing service, he couldn't predict if the Vitality Pellet would conflict with the effects of the serpent shedding treatment. Therefore, he didn't take it in advance this time.
Although there had been an interval of more than four days, such a gap was not an issue. It's worth noting that test subjects typically take the medicine every ten days, which is considered normal by Jade Bag Apothecary, allowing them to monitor the effects within three months.
Despite the longer interval compared to previous gaps, it was better this way, making him seem somewhat special but not overly so.
After taking the medicine, he headed to the training room to resume his daily routine, which had been interrupted for several days. After the training, he recorded and sent the medicine's reaction to Jade Bag Apothecary and then returned to rest.
The physical exertion during these days was not significant, but the mental exhaustion was.
This time, to allow for a comprehensive adaptation to the altered tissues, he didn't just passively resist but actively engaged various body parts to counter the alterations. Now, he could gradually relax his tense state.
He rested from the evening until late at night, and when he opened his eyes again, his spirit was fully restored, and his dark eyes shone with vitality.
He got up, tidied up briefly, took the Xuanjun Blade, and left the room, driving to the outskirts of Depth Wu District.
Lu Fang's private residence in Xunfeng Garden was located on the outskirts of Depth Wu District, not far from Bright District. On the way, Chen Chuan contacted Lu Fang through the Boundary Token and confirmed his location, then headed there to meet with him.
Lu Fang hadn't returned home for several days, staying outside the residential area to keep watch. When they met, he briefed Chen Chuan on the situation.
"I've been observing for a few days. The lights in this house turn on after 6 pm and off after 10 pm. No one has ever come out, and it's already 11 pm, so they should be resting. We can go in now without triggering any field frequencies."
Chen Chuan contacted Wu Bei, "Any new clues about this house?"
Wu Bei replied, "Either they're hidden very deeply, or they've been deliberately deleted."
Chen Chuan said, "I understand. Can you block the field signals inside?"
Wu Bei said, "Yes, just a moment... Done. You can enter now without triggering any field signals." In less than a second, he cracked the field signals, allowing both of them to enter without setting off any alarms.
Lu Fang said, "Junior, we should leave someone outside. I'll go in first to check."
Chen Chuan replied, "Be careful."
Lu Fang nodded seriously, took a short stick, and walked towards the door. He didn't encounter any abnormalities, and when he reached the front door, he gently touched it, using soft force to break the lock instantly, emitting only a faint, barely audible sound.
In reality, this sound was barely audible to most people, but Chen Chuan felt as if the sound was right next to his ear, and his attention focused there, making his senses perceive it clearly.
After Lu Fang entered, there was a brief silence, but soon, the sounds of a fight came from inside.
Chen Chuan stayed outside, and from the sounds of the fight, he could tell that Lu Fang's opponent was likely another Second Limit fighter, but their skills and movements were inferior to Lu Fang's. The opponent likely used a long blade as a weapon.
Lu Fang, despite only wielding a short stick, managed to maintain control and restraint in his movements. His strategy was evident: to ensure his own safety first, then wait for the opponent to become complacent or impatient before launching a counterattack.
Through their continuous sparring and exchange of techniques, Lu Fang could roughly gauge the opponent's height and weight just by standing there. He even accurately discerned the breathing rhythms of both individuals.
Just then, he suddenly felt a faint static noise coming from his Boundary Token.
Wu Bei spoke up, "Chen, someone is attacking your Boundary Token. There's probably a Resonator in the room, but I've already blocked the field interference for you."
Chen Chuan acknowledged with a sound, knowing that Resonators could not only attack Boundary Tokens but also interfere with implants. However, since Lu Fang had no implants, the interference was minimal.
After waiting for about ten seconds, Lu Fang found an opening and struck.
Chen Chuan could discern that Lu Fang's stick had landed squarely on the enemy's chest and abdomen, followed by a light punch to the side of the opponent's skull, rendering them unconscious swiftly. His movements were efficient and clean, avoiding any vital areas.
The sounds of combat finally ceased, and a rustling conversation ensued. After a while, the lights in the room turned on, and Lu Fang's voice came from the Boundary Token, "Junior, everything's fine now."
Chen Chuan walked over and entered the house, where he found a masked man lying on the ground, carrying a foreign-style long sword.
Standing in front was a young girl, appearing to be thirteen or fourteen years old, petite in stature, with a delicate face. She was likely the same girl shown in the scene display.
It seemed that they had found their target, saving them a lot of effort. However, her identity needed further confirmation.
Lu Fang spoke softly, "She says she's Zhao Qian's servant. I told her Zhao Qian is dead, but she doesn't seem to believe it."
Chen Chuan used his Boundary Token to scan the girl, and the token immediately displayed a dense array of implant information, but there was no name.
The ease of scanning wasn't just because it was a Processing Bureau-issued Boundary Token, but also because the girl lacked the identity of a formal Central City citizen.
Chen Chuan tapped the token and said, "I'll send you proof of Zhao Qian's death."
In a 6-9-1-9-1-book-1-bar-1-look-1-no-1-wrong!
The girl glanced at him, then added him as a contact. Soon after, a message from the Processing Bureau confirmed Zhao Qian's death, accompanied by an additional photo of his head.
The girl fell silent for a moment, then raised her head and asked, "So, you're my new master?"
Lu Fang was taken aback. He sighed, "No one is your master. Zhao Qian wasn't, and no one else will be. You are your own master."
The girl's eyes seemed to reflect a moment of bewilderment.
Lu Fang couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity. He softened his voice and asked, "What's your name?"
"Number 13."
Lu Fang said, "Not a code name, but your original name."
The girl replied, "This is my name."
Lu Fang asked, puzzled, "Have you always been called this? What was your name before?"
"I don't remember. Mr. Zhao gave me this name."
Lu Fang began to understand. He took a breath and asked, "And... what's the earliest thing you can remember?"
The girl answered confidently, "Three years ago, when Mr. Zhao brought me here."
Chen Chuan remained silent. The girl's emotional response while speaking seemed genuine, indicating that she was telling the truth. At that moment, Wu Bei's voice came through, "Chen, I think I know what's going on with her..."
Lu Fang asked hurriedly, "What about her?"
Wu Bei hesitated, "She might be a puppet."
"A puppet?" Lu Fang was taken aback, the word conjuring up many unpleasant associations.
Wu Bei whispered, "'Puppet' refers to slaves or servants created through brainwashing, hypnosis, and implant modification to cater to clients' various fetishes and needs. There are specialized companies engaged in this business... My family used to have one." His tone made it clear that he held a strong dislike for such objects.
Chen Chuan and Lu Fang's Boundary Tokens simultaneously received some information about puppet-making techniques.
The most prominent domestic company in this business was Zheren Company, while internationally, Yuoren Company boasted the most advanced technology. These companies maintained their own race repositories, and mid-to-high-end puppets were cultivated and brainwashed from a young age.
Smaller workshops also engaged in this trade, employing more brutal methods. They purchased implants from companies and then brainwashed criminals without identities or those deprived of life, transforming them into puppets.
Chen Chuan noticed a mention of Yuoren Company and became particularly interested. He said, "If she has indeed been modified into a puppet, is there any way to prove it?"
Wu Bei replied, "Company-modified puppets will always bear the company's mark, but those modified by small workshops won't have any."
He continued, "However, her face seems to have undergone some adjustments and shaping. The implants in her body are not cheap, but they're not low-end either. Such techniques are likely the work of a company."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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