Collapse Iron: I just transmigrated! You want me to save the Black Tower?!

Black Tower leaned against the lab bench and casually remarked, "At least several dozen Amber Ages, who remembers that?"

Nguyen Mai nodded.

"probably."

Jiang Jiu stared into her eyes for two seconds, then looked at her again, his gaze lingering on her eyes for what seemed like dozens of Amber Ages...

It's normal that Hei Ta doesn't remember the exact time; does Nguyen Mai not remember either?

Those who study life should be very sensitive to time.

But he didn't say anything, taking it all as if he was overthinking things; he simply changed the subject.

When was the last time you did research with Black Tower?

Ruan Mei thought for a moment.

“It’s been a long time,” she said. “The Black Tower is too busy, and so am I. Besides, our fields are different. We would talk occasionally, but we rarely did research together. I don’t remember.”

Jiang Jiu nodded.

He asked a few more questions, all about everyday matters, which Nguyen Mai answered one by one, her attitude calm and without any flaws.

But Jiang Jiu felt that something was wrong.

They were so cooperative.

That's perfectly normal...

It was as normal as if he were... reciting a memorized text.

He stood up, walked a few steps around the laboratory, and glanced at the instruments.

After looking at it for a while, his gaze settled on a petri dish.

Inside are some simple cell samples, rapidly dividing—normal things, just dividing at a rate far exceeding that of ordinary cells.

...Wait, what kind of cells are visible to the naked eye? What is this thing?

That's what he thought, and that's what he asked.

"what is this?"

Ruan Mei glanced at it and said nonchalantly, "Basic cell culture, materials given to me by the Black Tower, just playing around with it."

Jiang Jiu nodded.

After watching for a while, he turned around and looked at Nguyen Mai.

"One last question."

Nguyen Mai looked at him and nodded: "Go on."

Jiang Jiu asked, "What do you think you are?"

Nguyen Mai was taken aback.

"What do you mean?"

“Literally,” Jiang Jiu looked into Ruan Mei’s eyes and asked, word by word, “What do you see yourself as? A person? A genius? A researcher? Or a…”

He paused.

"...a slice?"

Chapter 199 I will kill you to prove me right or wrong.

When Jiang Jiu asked his last question, the atmosphere in the laboratory froze for a moment.

Ruan Mei looked at him, and a change finally appeared in her calm eyes. Her gaze was not one of fear or anger, but rather... curiosity.

It was pure curiosity about what Jiang Jiu said.

“A slice? A clone?” She repeated the word, a hint of curiosity in her voice. “You think I’m not Ruan Mei? Or… do you think I’m not the real me?”

Jiang Jiu did not answer.

His gaze had turned cold, and he looked at Ruan Mei as if she were an experimental subject.

Ruan Mei tilted her head: "It's a strange, but bold idea, Lord Shi Jin. Your question is very interesting, but what's your basis for it?"

Jiang Jiu shook his head: "The organism in that petri dish seems to be dividing very quickly?"

Ruan Mei glanced at it, her expression unchanged: "The materials provided by the Black Tower are of good quality. Is it strange that they split faster?"

Jiang Jiu shook his head.

"It's not surprising, what's surprising is you."

Jiang Jiu continued, "Your answers were perfect. You gave the most reasonable answer to every question. You cooperated so well, it was as if you had rehearsed it countless times in advance."

He paused, then continued.

"And there's one more crucial point..."

“You are too calm, Nguyen Mai.”

So calm he didn't seem like a person.

Nguyen Mai looked at him without saying a word.

Jiang Jiu didn't care about Ruan Mei's reaction and calmly said, "A person who is imprisoned, whose life and death are in the hands of others, will have some emotions no matter what, fear... anger... resentment... expectation... whatever it is, there will always be some."

"But you have nothing."

"You're just answering questions, like you're completing a questionnaire that has nothing to do with you."

He stared into her eyes.

So I'll ask you one more time... what do you think you are?

Nguyen Mai was silent for two seconds, then smiled helplessly.

"Lord Shi Jin, perhaps you are overthinking it."

Jiang Jiu looked at her without saying a word.

Nguyen Mai stood up, walked up to him, and looked up at him.

Those eyes remained calm, without any ripples.

“I am Nguyen Mai, myself, not a slice, not a clone, not any substitute.”

"As for the calmness you mentioned, perhaps it's just my personality. You don't understand me, so you can ask Black Tower, right?"

Black Tower paused for two seconds, then shook his head.

“Jiang Jiu, she does have a very calm personality, but I can’t guarantee that she is who she really is.”

After all, they operate in different fields. Black Tower can't tell whether the person in front of it is real or fake, but if Ruan Mei really wants to...

She could easily create a flawless clone.

Her research topic is life. She has gone the furthest on this path. She can even reproduce life. There's no reason why she can't do these things.

The problem now is...

How to distinguish them?

Jiang Jiu crossed his arms and nodded after listening to Hei Ta's words.

The person in front of him seemed fine on the surface, but some things... were just a feeling to him.

I think you have a problem, that's all.

He felt that the woman in front of him, Ruan Mei, was too clean, as clean as a blank sheet of paper.

“I don’t believe it,” Jiang Jiu said.

Ruan Mei tilted her head and asked curiously, "Then what will it take for you to believe me?"

Jiang Jiu shook his head: "Don't get me wrong. I don't need a reason to doubt you. I can't be sure if my thoughts are right or wrong, so I'll just use my method to verify them."

"I will kill you to prove me right or wrong."

Nguyen Mai was taken aback.

Black Tower, standing to the side, was also taken aback for a moment before straightening up.

"...Huh? So sudden."

Jiang Jiu didn't turn around; he just looked at Ruan Mei and spoke calmly.

"After death, the truth will be revealed."

"If you are real, I will die with you once, as an apology for your sins."

Ruan Mei was stunned for a moment, and before she could react, murderous intent had already enveloped her.

Jiang Jiu looked at the empty person in front of him, who had been eroded by nothingness, and clicked his tongue.

"......Fake."

Black Tower stood beside him, watching this scene with a somewhat solemn expression.

"If Ruan Mei weren't here... by now, the Immortal Ship would have already been cleared out, wouldn't it? Then all that would be left is..."

"...Fanghu Immortal Boat".

Jiang Jiu lowered his eyes, his expression devoid of emotion.

He connected to the company's communication system, and Diamond answered.

"Lord Shi Jin...? Is there something you need?"

"Have you sent anyone to investigate Fanghu's situation? What's going on?"

Diamond was taken aback, not expecting Jiang Jiu to care about such a small matter.

They did send people to investigate, but not long after they arrived, no concrete information came back.

"Lord Shi Jin, we sent people to investigate Fang Hu, but not long after they arrived, we haven't received any concrete news yet. Is something the matter?"

Jiang Jiu remained silent for a second.

"How long?"