Chapter 108

Chapter 108: Disgusting

Those screams from the students earlier were truly exhilarating—after all, they had never seen a robot in real life before.  

See? Even those flashy, superpowered teenagers could still be awed by machinery.  

It fed Amari Yota’s shut-in ego like nothing else. But if no one knew it was him behind it, what was the point? He needed a livestream—something to show the world just how badass he was.  

Honestly, this machine was amazing. It even had thermal imaging. Sure, for federal agents, heat sensors were nothing special. But for someone like him, who’d never seen one before? It was mind-blowing.  

Thanks to its deep-pocketed chairman, Meiqiantu Academy had no shortage of surveillance cameras—which, conveniently, made it easier for Amari Yota to track his target.  

The machine he controlled resembled a square mailbox with two bird-like mechanical claws underneath. It could carry up to 100 kilograms while flying, and its current catch was far below that limit.  

Flight was achieved via rear thrusters, meaning it couldn’t hover.  

“Mi Xiaoliu. Male. Thirteen years old. Originates from the Fallen City.”  

The machine’s voice modulator stripped away any real tone—a vast improvement over his own naturally sleazy voice.  

He deliberately increased altitude, hoping to psychologically pressure Mi Xiaoliu.  

But just like last time, the boy simply lowered his head and stayed silent.  

Physically, though, this was much worse than before. Amari Yota wasn’t as gentle as Yiwen. The roaring wind howled past Mi Xiaoliu’s ears, filling her skull with a dull buzz. Her short sleeves whipped against her skin like lashes. Worst of all, breathing was getting difficult.  

The metal canister gripped her arms at the wrists, the pressure making it feel like they might snap. Just because she didn’t scream didn’t mean it didn’t hurt—it was just barely within her tolerance.  

The sheer discomfort made Mi Xiaoliu immediately try to shove the machine into her System Space, only to be met with a glaring red warning:  

[⚠️ System Space cannot store living entities!]  

Sasha: “Since when is this hunk of junk a ‘living entity’?!”  

Mi Xiaoliu considered teleporting a pen inside the machine instead.  

“Master, you can’t knock it down yet! At this height, you’d die from the fall!”  

The curse of being flightless.  

Seemingly noticing her distress, the metal canister slowed.  

“Answer my questions, and I’ll let you down safely.”  

Mi Xiaoliu stayed silent.  

“Question 1: Do you possess a high-performance supercomputer?” 

(This phrasing made him sound cool.)  

“No.”  

“Question 2: What was your purpose in ascending to high altitude with Yiwen Skrek previously?”  

“Not telling.”  

Unbelievable. Even under threat, suspended midair, this brat dared to talk back.  

Where does this kid get his confidence?  

Amari Yota seethed. He was a world-shaking figure—who did this brat think he was, defying him? Did he watch too many dramas, thinking some stubborn pride would earn him respect?  

No. Not respect. Only consequences.  

Fine. If he wants to play the hero, he can try again in his next life.  

That’s right—just because Mi Xiaoliu’s attitude displeased him, Amari Yota decided to kill a thirteen-year-old boy.  

He never tolerates disrespect from others. Online or in reality, the slightest irritation was enough. And when that happened… well. Too bad.  

He commanded the machine to release its grip, casting one last pitiful glance at the boy who would soon be a bloody stain on the ground.  

Then, he severed his connection.  

What a waste. The trail to that supercomputer ends here.  

Come to think of it, he still hadn’t tested whether his ability could help him absorb knowledge. Such incredible power, and he barely knew how to use it.  

Tch. Out of fuel again. Those Federation researchers are useless. Can’t they make a purely electric combat drone?  

With a mental flick, Amari Yota disconnected entirely, letting the machine plummet.  

……

This is going to hurt.  

That was the only thought in Mi Xiaoliu’s mind as she fell. She had been smashed by White Whale before—she knew pain.  

But this was different.  

Back then, it had been instant. A single, crushing impact. Now, the slow descent, the steadily building force—it made every muscle in her body tense, even the ones she usually couldn’t feel.  

Not like White Whale.  

I’ve experienced this before. Her muscle memory told her so.  

Her only option was to brace herself with the beginner combat suit and endure.  

But before she could even try—  

A streak of light cut through the city.  

To those it passed, it was nothing more than a blur—too fast to register. Only from a distance could one barely make out a golden thread flickering through the air.  

Then, at a certain point, it arced upward—  

And in the next instant, Mi Xiaoliu was caught midair in a princess carry.  

Gloria.  

She smirked down at him (her), her usual lazy grin sharp with adrenaline. “Pretty cool, huh?”  

If this brat dies, I’ll never hear the end of it from that old hag.  

Still holding Mi Xiaoliu, she let momentum carry them toward the rooftop of a nearby skyscraper. Her boots screeched against the concrete as she skidded to a stop, finally slamming into an exhaust vent to halt completely.  

For someone with her physical abilities, the maneuver wasn’t impossible—just reckless. The real challenge had been keeping balance while holding another person. Her thick-soled shoes paid the price, the rubber peeling away with a harsh, grating sound.  

Damn. Can’t turn into light with extra weight.  

She’d been this high up before, of course. But normally, she’d just dissolve into light and streak back down—fast enough to earn a passing grade from Ultraman Gaia.  

This time, though, she’d even had the spare focus to kick the falling metal canister away midair, ensuring it wouldn’t crush anyone below.  

Dropping Mi Xiaoliu unceremoniously, Gloria wiped her hands with exaggerated disgust.  

Rubbing her sore backside, Mi Xiaoliu stood and looked up. “Something’s there.”  

Amari Yota, realizing his prey had been snatched away, was already sending more machines.  

This was the ability he prided himself on most—splitting.  

Not mere multitasking. No, his consciousness could fracture into countless independent shards, each fully autonomous yet still connected. No hierarchy, no dissonance—just pure, unified control.  

It was a bizarre state of being. He still felt whole, could still share sensations across every fragment. Yet the destruction of any single one meant nothing to him.  

———————-

Meanwhile, with Yiwen…  

“What? Xiaoliu got attacked? Why?” She stepped over the wreckage of a downed machine, baffled.  

First, they’d been hunting imposters city-wide. Now, it was rogue robots. What’s next? Goblins?  

At least these things weren’t attacking people indiscriminately—just flying around causing panic. But that didn’t make the situation any less unsettling.  

What the hell is the mastermind even trying to do?  

“Probably targeting those connected to ESP officers now that he’s got their data.” The liaison’ voice was weary. “Don’t worry—we’ve already sent people to protect your mother and brother. Just check the news. Any channel.”  

This wasn’t Yiwen’s usual contact. The police’s entire digital network had been compromised. Now, communications relied on a telepath and a clairvoyant working in tandem.  

Most officers didn’t need the assistance. But for a directionally challenged person like Yiwen?

Essential.  

She pulled out her phone and flipped to a news broadcast.  

No stern-faced anchor greeted her. Instead, the screen showed a computer interface. In the top-right corner was a photo of a man—his name, age, address, ID number, even his ESP officer codename displayed beneath.  

Above it, in glaring red text:  

“WHO KNEW THE ‘HEROIC’ ESP OFFICER’S COMPUTER WAS FULL OF FILTH?”  

The opened files left no room for doubt. Catgirls. Uniform fetishes. “Private tutoring” videos.  

One of their own had been doxxed—his private stash forcibly broadcasted to every news outlet.  

Failing to overpower federal forces with his machines, Amari Yota had fallen back on his old, slimy tactics: humiliation.  

A hacker with unrestricted access to every electronic device on the planet… Did the Federation even bother re-securing nukes and orbital weapons? The implications were terrifying.  

Yiwen recognized the exposed officer—a kind man who’d always looked out for rookies.  

“He’s the third today. He got off easy—just his profile and personal collection leaked.” The liaison sounded drained. “The last guy? Nudes he sent his girlfriend got aired. Even his in-game trash talk logs…”  

Any ESP officer who engaged the machines was doxxed mercilessly. Most had withdrawn from the operation entirely.  

They’d fight blade-to-blade without hesitation. But having their private lives dissected and displayed for the world?  

Yiwen knew all too well the agony of being doxxed.  

“Fall back for now. We’re switching to old-school uniforms for this operation,” the liaison said.