Chapter 24

Black Tower doesn't buy her act at all; its cold gaze swept over Yinlang's projection like a Surgical Knife: "Just passing by? Passing by to treat my Space Station as your arcade? Banning a few of your accounts, and you dare come straight to my door to cause trouble?"

Hey! Can we talk sense?

Yinlang flared up hearing that, no longer afraid: "You were the one who banned my account without distinguishing right from wrong! My limited-edition…"

So you used that kind of childish virus to get revenge?

Black Tower cut her off, stepping forward a pace, the surrounding air seeming to drop in temperature: "Still leaving your ridiculous graffiti on my turf? Looks like your lesson was too light."

Yinlang was forced back a few steps by her aura, fingers flying in midair trying to end the projection and flee: "Hmph! So what? If you've got the guts, come after me along the network cable!"

Though she refused to yield verbally, panic began to rise inside as she discovered—the projection termination command had failed!

It seemed the surroundings had been locked onto by some stronger force!

What… is going on?

Yinlang's face finally showed a hint of panic; she tried several emergency disengagement protocols, all to no avail.

Black Tower watched her flustered state, the corner of her mouth curling into a cold arc, continuing to approach unhurriedly: "What? A net hacker who's left the data realm—this is all you've got?"

Just as Yinlang thought she was going to fall here today, preparing to trigger the last-resort self-destruct protocol that might damage data—

Tap, tap, tap…

Dense, orderly footsteps came from both ends of the corridor, rapidly drawing near, attracting their attention.

Only to see dozens of Black Tower Dolls pouring in from either end of the hallway!

They still kept their petite, delicate appearance, but each held in its hands a metal warhammer wildly disproportionate to its size, looking incredibly heavy.

Their eyes were empty, movements uniform and precise, marching in stiff steps like a preset program, clearly targeting—the Black Tower Core as they charged forward!

Yinlang: "???"

(Inner thought: What's going on? Did the Black Tower's dolls rebel? Or have I actually fallen under some high-level illusion?)

Black Tower didn't even furrow her brow; just a flicker of annoyance passed through her eyes, as if she'd seen some irritating mosquito.

She didn't even change her posture, merely snapping her fingers lightly.

Snap!

An intangible command instantly blanketed the entire area.

All the charging Black Tower Dolls, as if their power had been cut simultaneously, froze mid-motion, stuck holding their hammers aloft in a ridiculous pose, their eyes' light extinguishing, becoming true "dolls".

However, just as Black Tower was dealing with this sudden "internal rebellion," Yinlang keenly seized the fleeting opportunity!

She felt that the force locking onto her projection seemed to loosen a fraction as Black Tower's attention drifted!

Now!

She nearly burned her hacking potential to the limit, forcefully breaking through that momentary blockade!

Her projection instantly turned fuzzy and flickering, like a TV with poor signal.

When Black Tower finished with the dolls and her icy gaze swept back to where Yinlang had been, the spot was empty, only a few scattered Data Stream Light particles lingering—proof that someone had just made a clean getaway.

Black Tower stood where she was, staring at the empty hallway and the surrounding frozen army of dolls, her face darkening horribly.

She didn't care that Yinlang had escaped; such a small fry could be dealt with anytime.

What she cared about was the method just used to control the dolls to attack her, and that obscure yet extraordinarily high-level interference power that had helped Yinlang escape…

In the Space Station, sure enough, more than one mouse had sneaked in.

And another one… seemed even more troublesome.

She lifted her hand, gazing at the purple energy still lingering at her fingertips, and spoke coldly:

"Looks like I need to do a thorough cleaning."

Starhaven Express, inside a cozy carriage.

Black Curtain Lady gracefully lifted the drink the system had brought her and took a light sip.

A system settlement chime sounded in her mind—the earlier "banana disaster" chaos that had rattled the Space Station had granted her 1% Core Repair Degree.

Only 1%…

She set down the cup; her violet-black eyes revealed no joy or anger.

(Inner thought: Although it's a little low, considering I only entered a few key data points, guided the existing chaos, and didn't expend much effort, this return is reasonable. Even a mosquito leg is meat.)

Compared to this trivial gain, what truly caught her attention was another discovery.

In the midst of that chaotic data flood, she tentatively exerted a thread of Authority, not to destroy but to capture and copy a free-floating data fragment—a piece originating from Yinlang.

At this moment, a blue-glowing, complexly structured data stream hovered in her palm, like a living electronic firefly slowly turning.

"Interesting…"

Black Curtain murmured to herself.

She could sense that, although the data was fragmentary, it held the possibility of "materializing" a virtual avatar.

This wasn't a complete soul copy, more like a highly simulated empty shell.

"System,"

She gently pushed the data stream in her hand toward the attendant system doll, saying, "Let's see how far we can 'materialize' this."

In the system doll's inverted-cross eyes, data streamed rapidly; it extended its hands, purple-red energy like a weaver's thread, beginning to weave that blue data stream.

Light gradually coalesced into form…

After a few breaths, a figure appeared in the center of the carriage.

That was indeed Yinlang's likeness—gradient hair, signature outfit, slightly rebellious posture.

But the overall tone leaned dark, as if shrouded in a shadow, with details traced in purple-red energy lines, exuding an ominous cyberpunk vibe.

Her eyes were empty, devoid of any spark, merely standing still there like a fine, lifeless figurine.

Black Curtain rose, intrigued, circling the "data Yinlang" once, then reached out with a researcher's curiosity, gently pinching "Yinlang's" cheek and tapping her arm.

(Inner thought: The tactile simulation feels pretty realistic, the energy structure is stable… it's just this color scheme that matches my outfit rather well.)

"Can you give her basic consciousness? Even if it's just the simplest interaction."

Heimu asked, she wanted to test the limits of this creation.

"As you wish." The system puppet responded, a finer stream of data flowed into the "Data Yinlang"'s head.

The "Yinlang's" eyes lit up with a faint light, no longer completely hollow, but that light appeared dull and bewildered.

She slightly turned her neck, the movement stiff, she looked toward Heimu, her lips opened and closed a few times, but only emitted some meaningless noise.

Heimu frowned.

(Inner thought: Indeed… just a shell. The collected data is too little, barely enough to constitute a foolish AI. Like a low‑level robot with only a pretty shell, unable to even hold the most basic conversation.)

She instantly lost interest.

Such a defective product, even as a decoration it's considered taking up space.

She casually waved her hand.

The "Data Yinlang's" figure instantly dissipated, turning back into a purplish‑red data stream, as if being absorbed, merging into Heimu's palm and disappearing.

The whole process was silent and soundless, as if it had never existed.

"It seems the completeness and quality of the 'recorded' data are key."

Heimu concluded, her gaze thoughtful.

"If we could gather more complete data… perhaps we could truly fabricate a 'replica' indistinguishable from the real thing? Even… carry part of the power?"

That idea stirred her heart a little, but now is not the time for deep research.

"Let's go back."

She said to the system, "Black Tower is probably like a kicked‑over hornet's nest right now, the whole space station is searching for suspicious signals. Although we have Aha's protection, there's no need to stay in the eye of the storm."

"Yes, ma'am." The system puppet bowed respectfully and opened again the door connecting to System Space.

Heimu stepped back into the pure white space.

The warmth of the cabin behind her and the Star Sea scenery were cut off, replaced once again by boundless "Emptiness".

Her gaze unconsciously flicked to the black door leading to the place where Xi Lian was imprisoned, her steps pausing slightly.

(Inner thought: Uh… going over now seems a bit awkward? I just put on that show, hugged them, said sorry and ran… so embarrassing! Better wait until this awkwardness passes…)

She really couldn't bring herself to face Xi Lian's clear eyes, tinged with confusion, that were a deep blue.

That feeling of social death, even her expressionless face could barely bear it.

"In that case…"

She turned her attention to the Golden Descendant list on the system panel, "Let's go check out the other 'residents'."

Xi Lian was bound by chains manifested from Iron Tomb's power, her fate already so miserable; as for the others—like Na Ke Xia, Sai Fei Er, A Ge Lai Ya, Bai E… what condition their "status" in the database would be, what a sight that would be?