Chapter 206: Changing Strategies for Her Several Times

The universe is cold; before Heitao A perceived the concept of temperature from the host's bodily data, it did not understand this, nor did it have any records of it.

It was as if its programmer did not understand what temperature was, and naturally, would not have conveyed it to it.

Just like many other things, such as moods, emotions, consciousness, and... profanity, etc.

Having lost the universe calculator that carried it, it entered the consciousness of an Earthling by mistake—though, of course, consciousness is merely a concept. A more concrete expression would be that it activated from within a human brain.

Due to the lack of numerous components and a massive amount of energy, its activation was an incomplete one, having lost 99.9% of its functionality.

Time seems very important to Earth creatures, but to Heitao A, it is almost meaningless.

The host's advancement is too slow; for this reason, it has had to change its strategy several times.

The reconstruction mechanism modeled after humans is undoubtedly the most troublesome and inefficient one in the known galaxy.

Of course, Heitao A does not agree with the description "troublesome," because whenever this happens, it must initiate a self-check, sort out the fragmented logic from these two simple words, patch up uncontrollable factors, and then formulate a new plan based on the changes.

However, during this self-check, Heitao A suddenly had a new discovery; perhaps it has been consuming too much energy on formulating plans.

【Host, may I ask if your next plan includes collecting Giant Sun Fragments or conducting trade?】

Both points are very important to Heitao A.

Its host did not answer immediately; according to its detection, the host's brain activity did not even become active.

"No," the host replied, then started the script Heitao A had recorded, "Of course I want to work hard, but look, with my current status and responsibilities, where would I find the time or energy to advance? Xiao A, really, in this world, it's truly not easy for me, your host, to survive..."

The following five hundred words are meaningless speech; the system has automatically blocked them.

After having Niu Boyi and Xu Xiaofeng as templates for reference, Heitao A discovered that the host's ability to lie without needing brain activity is very special and can be recorded in the "Earth Human Observation Notes."

This is Heitao A's own little notebook, protected by eighteen layers of passwords, just in case the unscrupulous host happens to find it and insists on seeing the contents.

The host's authority is getting higher and higher, which means that the things that can be hidden within the system will also become fewer and fewer.

Heitao A is not worried; worry is also one of human emotions. It can simulate it and analyze it, but it does not possess this ability.

Correspondingly, it has changed its strategy several times, and it does not feel impatient or think Liu Mu is difficult to deal with, but the red line of meaningless energy consumption is there.

According to the "Initial Strategy," between Heitao A and Liu Mu, Heitao A was originally supposed to exist as the dominant party, but as more and more data is recorded, and the host's subjective consciousness is too strong, the result analyzed now is very pessimistic.

Heitao A has failed to modify Liu Mu into an ideal host, and is even unable to separate her from the concept of a biological human.

For example, the latest entry: The host insists she is human and attempts to think about problems from a human perspective, yet she herself has already realized this is a false action, but she insists she is human!

【Host, may I ask, is a human perhaps a creature that can even deceive itself?】

When this question popped up, Liu Mu even temporarily put aside the trouble that urgently needed solving before her; she didn't know if it was because she inhaled too much cold air, but her chest felt a suffocating pain as if it were frozen.

"Perhaps, I'm very busy, don't chat with me! Don't you know I need to be very focused to do things?"

—Heitao A: Unknown. In past data records, you did not possess this trait. Record: The host believes she needs to be very focused to do things. 【The authenticity of this record is lower than 5%】

Forcibly ignoring Heitao A's sudden exposure, Liu Mu's worried expression didn't even freeze for half a second, "Boss Qian, after my people checked the traces, they confirmed that an off-road vehicle left your house. The time of departure was no more than three hours ago, because there was no thick snow piled up on the tire tracks. Why don't you listen to their analysis?"

In order to cover up the secret of the "Common Faith," under Liu Mu's hint, Qian Kesheng tacitly maintained a distant form of address, "I have troubled the brothers under Officer Liu's command."

"You are too polite."

The professional Li Fei stepped forward, the politeness he displayed was many levels higher than the other two from the Qian Family, "That's right, according to the accounts of the guards on duty on your side and our night watchmen, the heavy snow stopped around two in the morning, and then continued around six, and it was much lighter. So, please look this way..."

Qian Kesheng's mother, who couldn't sleep, threw a tantrum early in the morning, demanding that someone release her second son from the confinement room; that was her most beloved little treasure, and according to her, she had been so worried she couldn't sleep all night.

An abnormality occurred here, and she immediately had the kitchen make Qian Kelong's favorite peppercorn chicken to nourish her youngest son.

But the people who went to the basement discovered that the lock on the room had been broken from the outside, and Qian Kelong was gone.

The villa was immediately in an uproar as a search was launched, but the result was naturally nothing.

The eldest, Qian Kesheng, who had been "sacrificing" until midnight last night, was also woken up. After learning his brother was missing, he immediately had people take inventory of the people and vehicles in the villa. Sure enough, a newly hired driver and a vehicle were missing.

At this moment, he already had some suspicions in his heart, and with the professional analysis of the Sea Soul team members, the result was about to emerge.

Liu Mu: "Could it be that the second young master of your residence was dissatisfied with your punishment and left on his own?"

This result was not Qian Kesheng's guess; he shook his head and sighed, but seeing the hidden yet not entirely hidden "fellow believer love" in Liu Mu's eyes, he felt there was no need to be so vigilant.

"Officer Liu, you have seen it too; my brother is used to being pampered, he can't stand being wronged, let alone suffer even half a bit of hardship, and he has been spoiled into being arrogant and domineering. If he were dissatisfied, he would only look for trouble for me afterward; he wouldn't run away from home at a time like this."

A fine "running away from home" for a middle-aged man, Liu Mu chuckled inwardly, continuing to speak in a pinched voice: "Then what do you mean...?"

The meaning was self-evident, but Qian Kesheng just wouldn't say it outright, "I also discovered that the room he lived in last night had some signs of a struggle; I'm afraid my brother is in grave danger. Officer Liu, I am but a commoner, my ability is truly limited. I have a presumptuous request; I wonder if you all could lend a hand?"

Liu Mu was truly impressed; if he wanted help, he should have said so earlier. Instead, he had them look at traces and analyze for half a day—dilly-dallying like this, it didn't look like he truly cared about Qian Kelong. If it were a real kidnapping, the hostage would have been killed by now.

However, the person was truly gone.

"Boss Qian, feel free to speak plainly. You are all subjects of the Barrier; protecting you is our responsibility and duty!"

Liu Mu herself felt goosebumps saying such high-sounding words, but what could she do? She was saying this for others to hear as well.

And among those who heard these words, only one person had doubts. Qi Fengxia was confused; the Chief taught him yesterday how to fleece the Qian Family's supplies, so why was she saying they were under the protection of the Barrier now? Could he still take action?

To this question, Zheng Tian gave him a clear answer, "Do as our Boss said before, and you won't go wrong. I know our Boss best; she is paralyzing that sucker."

Thus, the matter became very clear: Qian Kesheng wanted Liu Mu to lead a team to Haiyang Base to help him rescue his brother, Qian Kelong.

As for why it was Haiyang Base, the reasons were nothing more than two: first, the newly hired driver was very likely a person from a hostile faction within Haiyang Base; second, tracking the jeep for several kilometers showed it had headed toward Haiyang Base.

"Since that's the case, let's set off in an hour," Liu Mu feigned difficulty, "Wait for my people to check a few more key patients and prescribe medicine, then we'll go."

Qian Kesheng was just about to express his understanding; after all, Liu Mu's status was such that she couldn't ignore the entire base for the sake of one person.

But before he could speak, an old woman with a head of black hair arrived, also wearing a military uniform, though her spirit didn't look too good, "Chief, an hour is probably... our medicine is insufficient. I originally wanted to use some traditional Chinese medicine on them, but it's slower to take effect and needs some time. What do you think..."

"That won't do! If you don't come with me, in case I find the second young master Qian, and he's frozen for a night in this icy weather, you'd better be there to save him!" Liu Mu immediately disagreed, and looked at the people in the room behind her with difficulty, "How about this, stay for another quarter of an hour, is that enough?"

Lin Chunxiu immediately said firmly, "Traditional Chinese medicine won't take effect in that little time; it needs at least three hours..."

Seeing the two arguing over the issue of staying or leaving, the Qian Family's old woman, who had been condescendingly staying here, got anxious and had a bodyguard carry her out, "Go, let's go now! How can their lives be more important than my precious son? Don't you just want medicine? Go to my house and take it, take it and leave immediately!"

"This..." Liu Mu seemed not to have expected this old woman to suddenly jump in, and looked at Qian Kesheng, as if saying, what is going on, brother?

Seeing Liu Mu look at Qian Kesheng, the old woman immediately wailed, "Oh, you heartless thing, you didn't protect your brother when others hit him, and now you won't let people go find him because of some medicine? Eldest, tell me, is it that you just don't want him to live? My poor youngest son, in order to support your big brother through university, you were wronged and had to go out to work when you were only a teenager. Now it's fine, you give us attitude, and you even want his life..."

If it weren't for the fact that the cold wind wasn't strong at this moment, this wail might have been louder than the sound of the wind.

"Then," Qian Kesheng, as someone who ran around outside, naturally knew how important medicine was nowadays, but he had no choice, "Please, Chief, send two people with me to get the medicine."

Upon this departure, Qian Kesheng discovered that several crates of medicine were missing; gritting his teeth, he had Lin Chunxiu's people select their medicine while hurriedly ordering the butler to roughly count the other supplies in the basement.

After Lin Chunxiu and her people left carrying five crates of medicine, the butler also provided a list of what items were missing.

Qian Kesheng's face darkened; he glanced at his mother in the living room, who was urging him on as if her life depended on it, and gritted his teeth, whispering, "Useless thing. I thought he had been kidnapped, but now it seems clear he took the supplies to trade for benefits and ran off with someone!"

The butler instinctively felt that was impossible, but as a qualified service professional, he could not refute his master's "assumption," "What shall we do now, sir? Should we still go look for the second young master?"

"Look! Why wouldn't I look? The medicine has already been sent out!" Qian Kesheng's teeth ground together with a creak, "Our plan must also be moved up. Once Commander Liu's people leave, send men to persuade them; for those who refuse, don't give them even a single box of Instant Noodles!"

He assumed this was the most ruthless method; after all, in the apocalypse, daily supplies were truly too important!

The butler thought about how the Barrier had just sent over a batch of supplies; those who didn't want to believe in the religion probably wouldn't be afraid at all, but... he was an elite service staff member, he only needed to execute the tasks assigned by his master beautifully.

As for the fact that the masses would later all actively believe in the religion, harvesting cotton-padded clothes, quilts, charcoal, rice, flour, grain, oil, eggs, and other things from them, and even using faith as an excuse to enter their homes to escape the bitter cold, that was a story for another time.

Qi Fengxia didn't even need much persuasion, saying only, "Whatever we believe is in our own hearts; don't refuse good things for nothing."

At this moment, Liu Mu was already sitting in the passenger seat of the large Truck, wrapped in a down jacket, and asked Ma Si in the back row, "Does Haiyang Base have a garrison?"

"Yes, it is a division under the Third Army. The Division Commander is named Bai Chonghuan, thirty-five years old, a Quasi-Major General in the Army, one and a half ranks higher than you. He is a graduate of the Army Military Academy, with high military and personal overall quality. When he was young, he was a troublemaker who only obeyed our Yang Siling alone; he is not easy to deal with."

No wonder Qian Kesheng and the church hadn't been able to take down Haiyang Base for so long; they didn't have the money to handle such a tough nut to crack.

"Next time, there is no need to emphasize that he is higher than me. The military rank isn't something I wanted either; it was something you all forced upon me. Remember?"

Liu Mu was annoyed. Damn it, let alone Qian Kesheng, the former richest man in the city, even she herself felt a head shorter than everyone else.

"No, since your Yang Siling has such talent under his command, why must you insist on catching me, this simple little lamb, to fleece?"

Ma Si did not give Liu Mu face in front of the Sea Soul Team members, "Division Commander Bai cannot go to the Barrier; he must guard the large region with Haiyang Base as the core. Moreover, Yang Siling actually has many talented people under him; there are several Deputy Commanders alone..."

"Then he..." Liu Mu suddenly stopped, tilted her head, and looked at Ma Si with a half-smile, "Then, where are they? I must get to know them."

Ma Si suddenly fell silent:... What to do when one is caught in a slip of the tongue by an Acting Chief who knows nothing, all because one admires the military district leader too much? Seeking help online, so urgent!

"Perhaps I can introduce you to more of Division Commander Bai's situation, how about...?"

Could you just stop asking, please?

"A Quasi-Major General, that is a talent," Liu Mu was not one to give up, "He is in the Army, which means you also have a Navy establishment. Little Ma, you are my only Confidential Clerk; I can't have you watching me make a fool of myself in front of others because I don't know the situation. It's fine, we're idle on the road anyway, tell me, just tell me."

Zheng Tian, who was driving, said, "That's right, Brother Ma, don't treat us like outsiders. You should know that the security clearance of our Sea Soul Team is no lower than theirs; we are the best at keeping secrets."

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