Chapter 31: I’m Not Human Anymore!

“Get off work. Let’s go, brother, let’s head out for a drink.”

Zhang Jiwei draped his arm over Jiang Yiyun’s shoulder and spoke heartily.

“No, you go ahead. I’m going back to play games,” Jiang Yiyun said, letting out a yawn.

“Come on, let’s just have one glass.”

“I’m not going.”

“Go, go, go!”

Zhang Jiwei directly forced Jiang Yiyun forward.

Jiang Yiyun let out a deep sigh.

Braving the rain, he walked toward a surveillance blind spot next to the warehouse.

“Follow me.”

Zhang Jiwei looked at Jiang Yiyun’s back, his expression tightening slightly, but he still opened an umbrella and followed.

“What are we doing in a place like this? Or are you going to tell me some secret? Hahaha.”

Zhang Jiwei maintained his playful grin.

Jiang Yiyun, however, had no intention of laughing. Total silence fell between them.

“Uh, what’s wrong with you?”

Zhang Jiwei asked uneasily.

“As your brother, I think I still know you well enough. Don’t even think about knocking me out before I can call the police.”

Jiang Yiyun rolled his neck.

The position that person had left him in earlier was incredibly uncomfortable.

“Call the police? What are you talking about?”

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Zhang Jiwei’s forehead.

“Exactly what you think. Tzeentch. Now that I’ve said the name, do you remember?”

Jiang Yiyun’s face was cold as rainwater flowed down his cheeks.

“You… how could you?”

Zhang Jiwei’s pupils shrank instantly.

His umbrella slipped from his hand, landing in the puddles.

“Tch.”

Jiang Yiyun twisted his neck with his hand, complaining, “You didn’t even find a comfortable spot for me. I’ve got a crick in my neck.”

“Why?”

Zhang Jiwei couldn’t understand.

Hadn’t his friend been knocked out and injected with an Amnesia Agent?

“Did you forget? I grew up in America—the current North American District.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It has everything to do with it. I have a high resistance to stun batons. I actually woke up halfway through.”

“Then… you were clearly injected with the Amnesia Agent!”

“Amnesia Agent? I don’t recall that part. It’s probably because I lived in the North American District since I was a kid; my resistance is just higher.”

Jiang Yiyun shrugged, not caring that his clothes were completely plastered to his body.

“And what does that have to do with the North American District?”

Zhang Jiwei’s face was a map of confusion.

“It does. After I graduated from college, the student loans were so heavy that I took up bodybuilding to relieve the pressure. I accidentally got addicted to it. I was injecting Trenbolone like it was saline and eating painkillers like they were candy.”

“?”

“Maybe that’s why I developed antibodies to those things. Of course, the fact that I later took a liking to Estradiol might be one of the reasons too.”

“???”

Zhang Jiwei fell silent.

After accepting the reality of the situation, he asked puzzledly, “In that case, why didn’t you call the police?”

“Because of you, my friend.”

Rainwater gathered into streams and dripped from his bangs as he spoke helplessly.

“I didn’t want you to go to prison.”

Zhang Jiwei’s mouth hung open slightly.

He hadn’t expected his friend to cherish him so much.

For a moment, he couldn’t help but feel moved, rainwater masking the tears sliding down his face.

“I want you to turn yourself in and give up the others. That way, you can fight for a reduced sentence or probation.”

Zhang Jiwei shook his head bitterly.

“I can’t turn back anymore.”

Jiang Yiyun said sternly, “I’m not persuading you; I’m warning you! If you don’t turn yourself in right this second, I’ll call the police myself! I can’t just stand by and watch you go down the wrong path!”

“It’s already too late.”

Rumble!

Thunder roared as a relaxed smile appeared on Zhang Jiwei’s face.

“It’s not too late! Sentences for accomplices who surrender are very light!”

Jiang Yiyun frowned.

Zhang Jiwei laughed loudly and shook his head.

“No, what I’m saying is… it’s too late for you.”

More than a dozen figures emerged through the heavy rain, slowly surrounding them.

They were Bionic Guards.

“You should be glad you’re so kind. The Holy Church’s operation almost failed because of you. My friend, I am deeply moved by your trust in me. So, trust me one more time. Just stay here quietly for one night, okay?”

There was a hint of mockery in Zhang Jiwei’s eyes.

“Are you really not afraid that I’ll just call the police right now?”

“Hahaha, give it a try. While you were busy chatting, they already set up signal jammers.”

Zhang Jiwei laughed triumphantly.

Jiang Yiyun tried to call the police through his Optical Computer.

Just as the other man said, the signal couldn’t get out at all.

“Just stay here for one night.”

Zhang Jiwei backed away, picked up his umbrella to cover himself again, and watched as the Bionic Guards moved forward to surround Jiang Yiyun.

He smiled and said, “I won’t hurt you, friend. Believe me. Just find a warehouse and sleep for the night.”

Jiang Yiyun took a deep breath, rainwater flowing into his mouth.

“You’ve really disappointed me.”

“My apologies.”

Zhang Jiwei saw Jiang Yiyun take a fighting stance and couldn’t help but sneer.

“You know kung fu too?”

Jiang Yiyun shook his head and said flatly, “I don’t.”

“Then you still want to fight more than a dozen Androids?”

“Why not?”

Jiang Yiyun gave a confident smile.

“Don’t you think our company’s Bionic Guards are very awkward? They aren’t given any weapons or material enhancements. They’re only good for stopping ordinary people who might cause trouble.”

Zhang Jiwei silently backed away a bit further.

“So?”

“Did you forget what I just said? I used to inject Trenbolone like saline when I was young.”

“Muscle doesn’t equal combat power, not to mention your current small frame. Where would those muscles even come from?”

Zhang Jiwei clearly didn’t believe him.

“What I mean is… guess why I’m still alive after abusing all those hormones? Because…”

Rip!

Jiang Yiyun suddenly tore off his soaked jacket and gloves, revealing a right arm constructed entirely of metal.

Sizzle!

The rain that touched it evaporated instantly, letting out white steam.

“I’m giving up my humanity!”

In the rain, Jiang Yiyun revealed a bright, cheerful sunshine smile.

***

The shuttle arrived at the entrance of Story Group.

Carnation gazed at the building through the rain. It was pitch black, with only the first floor illuminated.

“I told you we should come tomorrow. Almost everyone has left work, and the rain suddenly got so heavy,” Hannah complained, resting her chin on her hand.

“The forty-second floor is still lit up, and the security guards are still there.”

Carnation didn’t hesitate, stepping out of the car and into the rain.

“Huh?”

Hannah was shocked.

“They’re still working overtime? Do they even have a life? Also, hey, use an umbrella!”

She hurriedly grabbed a large umbrella to cover both of them.

Looking closely at the building, she seemed to remember something and laughed.

“Oh, right, I remember now. I was wondering why this place looked so familiar. This is the Story Game Development Department.”

“How do you know?”

Carnation asked curiously.

In truth, she wasn’t that curious, but she knew Hannah said those things because she wanted to share.

“Sigh, this was trending before. Because of some politically sensitive factors, a studio had to delay a version they’d been preparing for a whole year by two weeks. They had to overhaul a year’s worth of work in just two weeks. You can imagine how massive their workload is!”

Hannah said with a touch of schadenfreude, “I bet the resentment in that building could probably choke a Sadako to death.”

Carnation nodded thoughtfully but didn’t take it to heart.

After speaking with the security post, they headed toward the surveillance room.

Just as the two were about to enter the main doors, a commotion broke out near the campus warehouses.

“Hmm? A gas explosion?”

Hannah stood on her tiptoes to look.

“I’ll go check it out.”

The Bionic Guards standing in the rain nearby ignored the sound, causing Carnation to frown in confusion.

The human guards were gathered in the security room playing games because of the rain, so they probably hadn’t heard a thing.

Carnation’s speed was as fast as ever.

“The umbrella! The umbrella!”

Hannah stomped her foot in frustration.

“Consider a lady’s leg power, okay? How am I supposed to catch up?”

Even so, she quickly pulled out her handgun, chambered a round, and followed while holding the umbrella in one hand.

***

“Don’t hit the face! Don’t hit the face!”

Jiang Yiyun protected his head.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

The Androids’ fists pounded into him along with the rain.

Nearby, objects they had knocked over during the fight lay scattered about.

Zhang Jiwei stepped up angrily and kicked him once, then backed away a few steps.

He let out a sigh of relief and said, “You kid, you almost actually bluffed me.”

“Bullies! Try fighting me one-on-one if you have the guts!”

Jiang Yiyun said stubbornly.

“Fine, fine, you want to be stubborn?”

Zhang Jiwei pulled out a Stun Baton.

Because of the rain, he didn’t dare turn on the electricity.

“I’ll shatter your dream of mechanical ascension in three hits!”

However, just as he was about to step forward, a ghost-like figure appeared.

Perhaps because of the darkness and the storm, he didn’t see her clearly before a single kick sent the Bionic Guards on top of Jiang Yiyun flying through the rain.

“Who’s there!”

Zhang Jiwei was startled.

He held the Stun Baton in front of him and shouted a warning.

A calm-faced Android girl appeared in their place.

The rain soaked her bangs, making them stick to her forehead.

‘Did I just develop a pain-resistant constitution?’

Jiang Yiyun thought he had become immune to pain for a moment before he saw the black-haired angel.

“Officer! Save me!”

Jiang Yiyun scrambled over, putting Carnation between himself and the guards.

“Heh, get her!”

Zhang Jiwei saw that he had more than a dozen Androids while the opponent only had one.

Strength in numbers was on his side.

Thud, crack…

However, facing more than a dozen Bionic Guards, Carnation didn’t lose any ground.

Instead, she used the rhythm of the rain as her accompaniment.

Fighting Androids was, quite literally, what she was built for.

One by one, the Androids collapsed into the puddles, moaning and unable to get back up.

Their total defeat was only a matter of time.

Seeing things going south, Zhang Jiwei threw away his Stun Baton and umbrella.

He scrambled to find the Electromagnetic Pulse Gun he had hidden nearby.

Immediately, the unease in his heart vanished, replaced by confidence. He aimed the weapon at Carnation.

“Think you’re a good fighter? What good is fighting to an Android?”

His index finger pressed against the trigger.

Bang!

A shot rang out.