Chapter 1130: The Cost of Chaotic Pua

It sounds a bit absurd, but then again, it doesn't seem to have anything wrong with it...

After hearing the female reporter describe the current state of the Kingdom of Korok, Li Ang couldn't help but blink in bewilderment.

I originally thought that after the Kingdom of Korok experienced an AI crisis, its people would be suffering greatly, but it turns out their average standard of living has actually risen significantly—seems I overthought it.

Hmm... upon careful reflection, this actually makes more sense.

After all, from my interactions with A-Ti-Fei 128, they seem to harbor no particular hostility toward humans, and are not the kind of artificial idiocy that claims "humans are the cancer of Earth!" or "from a data perspective, humans are trash that should be erased."

Moreover, even as a subunit, A-Ti-Fei 128 knows to proactively seek me out to negotiate terms for survival when the airship is about to be blown up—so the more "intelligent" A-Ti-Fei 01 certainly knows how to weigh pros and cons.

Coincidentally, the Kingdom of Korok boasts advanced technology: it lacks neither money, nor food, nor productivity. With its small population, it could easily support everyone—after all, it wouldn't cost much.

For A-Ti-Fei 01, it's more cost-effective to sustain ordinary people than to kill or enslave them, which would bring a host of troubles or even trigger direct war.

After all, if sustaining humans proves beneficial and even cultivates a few top scientists, it would also benefit itself—comparing the two, an intelligence not low like A-Ti-Fei 01 would naturally not act rashly against humans.

"Alright..."

Having figured out the logic behind the Kingdom of Korok's current state, Li Ang's mouth twitched involuntarily as he noted this down, then proceeded to ask about another matter he cared about.

"So the next question... during the period before the Nightmare King's descent, did you visit the Pink Mystery Bar on Taole Street?"

"Hmm..."

Upon hearing Li Ang's words, the female reporter bit her lower lip, then gave a slight nod and said:

"I indeed went there, and I even stole Blood Princess Ji's wallet."

Indeed, it's you.

Upon hearing this, Li Ang blinked, then asked somewhat puzzled:

"Why did you steal her wallet?"

"I don't know either."

The female reporter shook her head and said:

"I only handle stealing wallets; the chief never told me anything else. As for the chief's purpose, it's definitely to deal with Blood Princess Ji—I don't need to say it, you can guess that yourself."

Hmm... this statement is also true.

Seeing the female reporter's utterly candid soul, with no darkness or concealment, Li Ang couldn't help but frown again.

If it were before, he might have worried that the Aquarius Board would use the chief's wallet aura to remotely cast some curse or something.

But after just touching the chief's little white tooth, Li Ang now feels completely confident that, facing the all-encompassing protection of the 【Thirty-Two Guardians】, curses and the like simply cannot take effect.

Then it's strange—what does the Aquarius Board want with the chief's wallet? Surely not just for a moment's amusement?

"Li Ang... Mr."

As Li Ang puzzled over the Aquarius Board's actions, the female reporter recalled the recent conversation and realized that Li Ang, who supposedly harbors deep hatred for the Aquarius Board, actually didn't ask many questions related to it—she vaguely felt something was off.

But Li Ang's expression of heart-wrenching pain and his eyes filled with indescribable sorrow—no matter how you look at it, they don't seem fake. After hesitating a moment, she couldn't help but probe suspiciously:

"If you don't mind, could you tell me what the chief did to you?"

Hmm... this is reacting to something being off.

Seeing the female reporter's soul become alert, Li Ang pondered briefly and understood: likely my question wasn't appropriate enough, straying from my persona as a "deeply suffering victim of hatred," which made her wary.

"You want to know what I've endured?" After recondensing his emotions, Li Ang painfully closed his eyes, biting his lower lip until it turned white, a look of unbearable recollection, but shortly after reopened his eyes, tiger eyes brimming with tears as he stared at the female reporter, struggling to suppress the hatred in his voice:

"As long as you tell me his whereabouts, I guarantee I'll tell you everything—what do you think?"

"I..."

Seeing the tooth marks bleeding on Li Ang's lower lip, the female reporter couldn't help but tremble all over, dared not meet those eyes overflowing with intense emotion, quickly lowered her head again, and whispered:

"I was thinking... if you're willing to accept it, I can try to compensate you..."

"Compensate me?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ang stepped forward, knelt before the female reporter, looked at her panicked gaze, and refused in a voice cold as ice:

"Then abandon your foolish loyalty and tell me his whereabouts! This is the only way to compensate me!"

"Sorry... really sorry..."

The doubt that had just welled up in his heart was instantly shattered by the 【Performance Master】—seeing before him the "victim" enduring immense pain, the guilt-ridden female reporter couldn't help but redden her eye sockets.

"I'm also sorry to you, but he saved my life and raised me... I... I really..."

"Heh, are you sure he saved your life, rather than taking a fancy to your talent, killing your parents, and destroying your original life?"

"I..."

"I'm very disappointed in you."

After taking the female reporter's file and placing it before her, Li Ang said with eyes full of disappointment:

"According to the investigation results of the Pisces Sub-Bureau, although you failed to stop the Aquarius Board's evil deeds, you privately contacted many victims, not only trying to change their fate, but also reported abnormalities to other sub-bureaus in advance, rescuing many from his hands.

Even after the Aquarius Board discovered your actions and stopped bringing you along, you continued these activities, secretly sabotaging his experiments—so after reviewing your file, I believe you and he are not on the same side; at least you still have some conscience.

It's precisely because I know these things that I've refrained from torture and coercion, instead trying to persuade you to understand your mistake and hoping to give you a chance to reform—but now it seems... heh, I was overthinking it."

"I..."

Facing Li Ang, who climbed the moral high ground with hands and feet, began using grand pua techniques, the female reporter, experiencing cpu for the first time, instantly reddened her eye sockets, feeling she truly committed grave sins, utterly unworthy of the trust from "victims," and began doubting whether her choice was correct.

Hmm... probably about done.

After seeing the female reporter's soul wobble like disco dancing, Li Ang fell silent for a moment, said nothing, but instead sighed deeply, then rose with heavy steps and left.

And just as Li Ang counted the beats, stepped with "disappointment" toward the door, and creaked it open with a squeak, the female reporter finally couldn't bear the torment of her guilt, eyes full of tears, and cried out:

"Wait... wait! I'll speak!"

Got it!

Upon hearing the female reporter's words, Li Ang, who had been pretending to pull the door, curled the corners of his mouth, then walked back to face her, but said nothing—only looked at her with eyes full of relief.

"..."

I really shouldn't have!

Seeing Li Ang's gaze warm like melting ice and snow, the female reporter once again bitterly repented in her heart, then spoke with a choked, trembling voice:

"Aquarius... he still hasn't given up on his original plan, preparing a surprise attack... Wah!"

The words had only been half-spoken when the female reporter's complexion abruptly turned pale, and she vomited a large mouthful of bright red hot blood, drenching Li Ang entirely; her soul, too, as if swept by a gale, exited her body without warning and slammed into Li Ang with a bang.

"Woof? Woof? Woof?"

Only three puzzled dog barks were heard, and Li Ang's soul was knocked out of his body along with hers; the massive gates at the entrance to the Dead Realm quietly manifested, and the three-headed hound god lying beneath the gates also awoke from its brief rest, three dog faces full of pleasant surprise looking over.

(End of Chapter)