Chapter 90

The rain has gotten heavier…

Standing atop the giant's head, the man murmured softly, coldly gazing down at the city below, its lights dim and scattered.

Whether bustling commercial streets or dilapidated slums, all were equally submerged by this vast, sweeping rain.

Only a few scattered steel titans, towering into the clouds, still stood firm, enduring the boundless fury of wind and rain cascading over their bodies.

"Mr. Paul, shall we continue tonight? The rain is too heavy… Even the most advanced Floating Cars can't guarantee one hundred percent safety."

"I thought you'd be glad to see me leave?"

"How could I? … Mr. Paul, you misunderstand…"

Zhang Xian'an bowed his head carefully, daring not to show the slightest hint of disrespect.

"No matter what you think…" Paul shook his head, "let's return to our previous topic."

"Yes, Mr. Paul." Zhang Xian'an eagerly pulled out the chair for him, then sprinted back to his own seat.

"How is the CPH-4 experiment progressing?" Paul placed his palm on the solid wood desk and tapped it three times with his fingertips.

"Based on data from multiple test subjects…" Zhang Xian'an produced pre-prepared documents and meticulously reported the results of days of labor, "the drug's efficacy and side effects are both pronounced…"

"Continue."

"Yes…" Zhang Xian'an paused, taking a small sip of the warm water beside him, "after injecting the drug into several test subjects diagnosed with Cyberpsycho, effects appeared within just twenty-four hours—their mental state nearly returned to normal levels."

"Good. What about the side effects?"

"Side effects…" Zhang Xian'an flipped through several pages, selecting key points to report, "First, after the effect wears off, Cyberpsycho symptoms intensify; second, the drug is addictive; third, when it causes test subjects to die, strange phenomena occur; fourth…"

"Wait… strange phenomena?" Paul tapped the desk twice sharply, "Show me the records."

"Of course, Mr. Paul." Zhang Xian'an was unsurprised by his reaction, pulled out a pre-prepared Data Chip, and inserted it into the desktop computer's slot, projecting the footage onto the massive screen behind him.

Thus, the noisy rain began to patter softly within the soundproof office.

That rainy night crossed through time and space, invading the present.

Paul opened his mouth, then closed it again, speechless.

On screen, two figures racing through the rain swallowed his words along with the raindrops, leaving no trace.

They were two High Speeders locked in a deadly struggle.

Like two scarred male lions, glaring at each other, foreheads pressed to foreheads, teeth locked against teeth, every muscle taut as stone, each desperate to be the first to snap the other's throat.

"Which one is the test subject?" Paul asked softly, his blue eyes fixed on the screen.

"Technically… both are." Zhang Xian'an chuckled lightly and pressed a key on the computer.

The brutal, knife-edge duel slowed down countless times.

It became a slow, elegant, deadly tango.

Paul frowned slightly but said nothing.

The tall and short men exchanged blows, their Mantis Blades clashing fiercely—even slowed countless times, the strikes still radiated lethal intent and a surge of kinetic beauty.

Even with artificially controlled playback speed extending the duration, the brutal fight eventually ended.

Zhang Xian'an clicked the computer again, and the playback speed returned to normal.

"I don't like promises. Neither the act of promising, nor making promises to others."

The man's deep voice, amplified by high-end surround speakers, easily drowned out the thunder roaring outside the window.

◎

"I got them home safely." Yahweh closed the door, shutting out the cold, damp air chasing after him.

"A kiss for your trouble—thank you!" Xida tiptoed slightly and pressed a light kiss to his lips.

"Hey, I'm still here!" Lucy propped her chin on her hand, scowling as the two doted on each other right before her.

"Hehe…" Xida smirked mockingly at Lucy and made a piggy face.

"So just find someone yourself, then."

"Easy for you to say, standing there! Where's it that simple?" Lucy snorted, too lazy to argue with some fairy-tale princess.

"Nyah nyah nyah…" Xida stuck out her tongue playfully, ran over to Lucy, and snuggled beside her on the Sofa.

"Not going home tonight?" Yahweh asked politely, still concerned.

"Xida was afraid I'd be lonely and insisted I stay…" Lucy shook her head, exposing the truth.

"It was you who whined about being bored and scared of the dark and thunderstorms—begging to stay!" Xida nudged Lucy with her head, loudly arguing to twist the facts.

"Who'd believe that?" Lucy scoffed, reaching out and gently wrapping her arm around Xida's pale neck.

"Ugh… I'm dead again!" Xida wailed, sticking out her tongue and collapsing into Lucy's lap.

"Why 'again'?" Lucy gently combed her fingers through Xida's soft, slightly tousled hair, tilting her head to ask softly.

Yahweh, who had been silently watching, finally couldn't hold back and explained: "She was playing a game on the computer, and her character died…"

"Xida, little baby…" Lucy laughed and gently stroked the girl's head with her warm palm.

"Why do you talk so old-fashioned? Trying to take advantage of me?" Xida fell silent for a moment, then gathered her sudden emotions and changed the subject.

"Mm-hmm…" Lucy murmured noncommittally, turning to Yahweh beside her with a slightly apologetic look. "Sorry for intruding on your evening again…"

"I don't mind…" Yahweh shook his head, "but be prepared—she might suddenly start groping you tonight."

"Hey! How can you talk trash about me to my face?!"

"Ha…" Lucy chuckled softly, helping the girl lying in her lap sit up. "Thank you, Xida."

"Hmph, I'm not thinking anything like that—I didn't stay for you…"

"Ugh…" Lucy gagged, feeling a wave of nausea.

"Didn't I do it well? It's all the rage in movies lately! Yahweh, back me up!" Xida wrinkled her nose and turned to her boyfriend.

"Where is he?"

"He just ran to the bathroom…" Lucy pointed with one finger toward the restroom, the other hand over her mouth, trembling with suppressed laughter.