Chapter 418: Hua Jian Lei: Heh

Xing Ke choked up; he realized that his cheap junior brother wasn't someone easy to get along with.

But what does it mean that his research direction has a high overlap with his own?

Xing Ke's research focus is the development of Rune weapons, actually leaning more toward the traditional use of Source Crystals to power Rune weapons, while Fang Zhiyan's research direction is related to Mutation.

The Dome's Rune technology truly ranks among the top levels across the entire wasteland world today, but such rapid development comes at a huge cost.

For example, the energy the Dome currently uses can still be called Source Crystal, but in fact it is based on technology previously developed by Fang Zhiyan, compressing the Mutation that should have been eliminated, thereby reducing its impact on users.

However, prolonged exposure to this kind of energy causes one's Mutation Value to increase rapidly, leading to the Dome's massive demand for suppressor drugs.

And Xing Ke's current research work is entirely based on this "new type of energy" developed by Fang Zhiyan.

That's not the point; the point is that Ying Duo said their research directions have a high overlap? So does that mean Ying Duo is also involved in weapon development?

That's very strange.

In our world's terminology, Fang Zhiyan is now researching the biological field. When he was still under Fang Zhiyan, he already had a resistant mindset toward these, so later when someone wanted him to shift to physics, Fang Zhiyan didn't block him.

Xing Ke has always thought that Fang Zhiyan looks down on his current research direction.

But Fang Zhiyan actually took on a student who specializes in this area?

He watched Ying Duo completely ignore him, devoting himself to studying the files on his console, and couldn't help recalling when he first followed Fang Zhiyan.

Back then, he relied on Fang Zhiyan's backing, feeling that every door in the world should open for him, believing no necessary material was out of reach, but he eventually understood the price of those privileges.

"What's your name?" Xing Ke asked as if offhand.

"Ying Duo."

Xing Ke nodded and fell silent, simply making himself a cup of coffee for a pick‑me‑up.

He couldn't understand what purpose it served for Ying Duo to merely glance over all the blueprints so casually—like just going through a cutscene.

If he truly intended to use these weapons for something, he could have brought tools to copy the documents, but Ying Duo clearly had no such plan.

Let him be, then.

Xing Ke saw his own past reflected in Ying Duo, and didn't mind granting a few privileges to his cheap junior brother.

Privileges have always been something only the living can truly enjoy.

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"Is everything almost ready?"

When Ying Duo entered the bar, he saw the whole place shrouded in swirling smoke.

One can only say that the only one here who cares about quality of life is probably Hua Jian Lei, so after he returned, although the outpost still looked shabby from the outside, the interior was at least decent.

Ah, this place also owes its existence to Xi Ren Sheng being dragged to do the heavy lifting.

It seemed to be some special incense that Hua Jian Lei had just brought back, but seeing the smoke drifting everywhere, Ying Duo thought it would be better suited as a prop in a xianxia drama.

However, the ordinary smoke, when hit by that pale pink lighting, acquired a hint of ambiguous atmosphere.

"Partner!" Xi Ren Sheng tried to stand up but was glared back by Hua Jian Lei with a sharp eye, forcing him to sit properly while Hua Jian Lei tidied his hair.

What surprised Yang Yixie was that Xi Ren Sheng's previously grass‑green hair had somehow turned back to black.

As if noticing Yang Yixie's gaze, Xi Ren Sheng wilted completely.

Although Lao Bao didn't agree to go to the barbershop with him, Hua Jian Lei agreed to accompany him and act as a strategist; consequently, as soon as they entered the barbershop, Hua Jian Lei pinned him to the chair and demanded the barber dye his hair black.

Xi Ren Sheng was still fiercely resisting; on the way there he had seen a head of hair dyed in a rainbow of colors, like a palette, and had instantly decided to go for that color.

In the end, Hua Jian Lei completely shattered his colorful dream.

Hua Jian Lei merely let out a cold laugh; although he isn't a combatant, he might not be at a disadvantage fighting Xi Ren Sheng, especially since Xi Ren Sheng was still fuming over the design draft issue.

The barber nearby was completely terrified by the standoff, and finally the colorful hair that Xi Ren Sheng had coveted passed by from outside, rescuing the barber who was caught between fire and water.

It ended with a set of lines like "Black is the final product of all colors mixed together," "Black symbolizes the chaos that devours everything"...

Such a batch of cheesy, over‑the‑top lines coaxed Xi Ren Sheng into actually dyeing his hair black.

All that talk was music to Hua Jian Lei's ears.

After fixing Xi Ren Sheng's hair, Hua Jian Lei handed him the high‑end suit jacket he was holding.

"Everything's almost ready; now you can tell us how you plan to have Xi Ren Sheng alone draw all of the Dome's attention away?"

Hua Jian Lei had some guesses about Yang Yixie's plan, after all he had personally seen the wanted notice for the Flame City Cannon, not to mention the numerous achievements on Ying Duo's record.

Hua Jian Lei guessed that the assault team wanted Xi Ren Sheng to bring a gate cannon inside and set off fireworks there?

The only problem with this plan was how to get Xi Ren Sheng to bring the item inside.

The entrance to the fashion show venue has ample security, making conventional means of smuggling in impossible.

"I know that!"

Xi Ren Sheng, excited, cut off Hua Jian Lei's words; for this operation, Ying Duo had already asked the three of them in advance about their Aberrant Arts details.

Hua Jian Lei and Lao Bao only need to set up an ambush near the Dome Headquarters in advance; how to shift the Dome's attention at the appointed time is Xi Ren Sheng and Ying Duo's job.

But Xi Ren Sheng didn't intend to tell this method to Hua Jian Lei in advance; he merely pretended to be mysterious, while actually smiling slyly.

"Of course this relies on the fiery combo technique between me and my partner."

Hua Jian Lei ignored him outright, instinctively glancing at Ying Duo.

Unexpectedly, Ying Duo merely pretended innocence and winked at him, clearly not intending to tell him.

"Aren't you rushing over to meet Lao Bao? He should have arrived at the location by now, right?"

Heh.

Hua Jian Lei couldn't help but roll his eyes at the two, then waved his hand and walked toward the exit.

These past days Yang Yixie has been gathering intel everywhere and drafting plans, and he almost forgot that this guy sits at the same table as Xi Ren Sheng.

Although both are unreliable, when it comes to causing trouble...

Heh.