Tonight, Alice joins the hunt.

A fight is definitely out of the question.

These assassins… or rather, these 'heroes,' while all being Teigu users, are not like the well-developed supernatural professions in other worlds—possessing both offensive and defensive capabilities and effectively handling various emergencies—in this world structured around Esdeath's memories, Teigu users are ultimately just ordinary people with specialized equipment and some expertise in physical enhancement. Even if a few members specialize in defense, facing hundreds of automatic rifles ready to fire at any moment, and an ever-increasing number of puppet soldiers wielding all sorts of strange and dangerous-looking equipment…

They wisely chose to back down.

“I apologize, Leone’s reaction was a bit excessive. Please forgive her, Your Excellency. Her friend was tortured to death by that wicked woman named Arya.” – A woman wearing an eyepatch and with an iron arm in one hand, who appeared to have a leader’s air, explained and apologized to Alice. Although her words were a show of submission, her tone remained neither servile nor arrogant.

fair enough.

Alice wouldn't utter the foolish statement, "But I am Arya, what are you going to do about it?"—though as the stronger party in the situation, she had the privilege to do so, and could even use the assumption that the other party wouldn't dare to make a move to intimidate them and make the subsequent conversation smoother. But ultimately, she was someone who disliked uncertainty. Since the other party was willing to play dumb, she might as well cooperate to some extent.

[However, the original plan needs to be revised... The interpersonal relationships in this world are really complicated. Tsk, I originally planned to use them up and let them fend for themselves. But since they have the hatred from their predecessors... then perhaps it's time to be more decisive?]

Alice thought to herself, the thought flashing through her mind without showing any outward expression. She knew she was hiding it well, but she also knew that since the other party already regarded her as Arya with a personal grudge, it meant that neither of them would have much trust in their cooperation. And since it was an unjust start, there was naturally not much to hold back afterward.

“Since it’s a misunderstanding, there’s no need to say more,” Alice replied with a friendly smile. “I am Alice, and I handle all matters of the Peaceful Path when the leader is busy. Please feel free to ask if you need anything, after all, the Peaceful Path and your rebel army…” She smiled slightly, not finishing her sentence.

While she was speaking, dozens of suspended puppets silently arrived between the two sides, carrying tables, chairs, tea, various fruits, and other miscellaneous items, setting up a temporary meeting place. Several exceptionally tall mechanical puppets carried in pillars and thick felt, and in a few seconds, they erected a sizable tent. Alice bowed slightly and gestured for them to sit down, and both sides took their seats.

This empire shared a similar custom with Alice's homeland in her previous life: business deals were often only made over a meal. Of course, this was also partly due to her noticing a slight rumbling in the stomach of a certain long-haired, katana-wielding girl among the assassins. But regardless, the dinner table was always a good platform for building rapport—especially given the previously unpleasant atmosphere.

Akame, like Leone, is a melee esper in the Night Raid assassin group. Her Imperial Arms, Murasame, is imbued with a cursed poison for which there is currently no antidote. Originally from the Imperial assassination squad, she later defected during a mission. She has a younger sister named Kurome. She is not good with words and has a fondness for meat. Her will... is fairly strong.

“Very skilled soldiers. Is this your Imperial Arms? All I’ve seen along the way are these puppets.” The blindfolded man’s subordinate sat down, followed by the others. She casually complimented Alice, picked up a cup of tea but hesitated—she waited until Alice took a sip before smiling apologetically and drinking it all in one gulp. When Alice picked up her chopsticks and tasted a small piece of food from each dish, the other assassins breathed a sigh of relief and began to feast.

"They're just a bunch of stupid machines." Alice pursed her lips and casually replied, glossing over the conversation while her mind quickly went through information about these people.

—This group belongs to the assassination organization 'Night Raid Assassins,' and those present are basically all members of the assassin group. Their leader, the eyepatch-wearing iron-handed woman, is named Najenda. She is a former general of the Empire and has a [deep friendship] with Esdeath, despite her missing eye and hand.

They were a group of idealists. Regardless of their naive thinking and tactics, and their foolish idea of ​​assassinating high-ranking officials to end the war, it was certain that they were the Empire's mortal enemies. Moreover, changing their stance in a short period of time was impossible, even if there were special reasons.

The girl was thinking.

[They probably want Anning Province to send troops south to rescue the resistance forces swallowed up by an unknown force... Hmm, could this be the 'original plot development' of this world? Although it feels a bit abrupt... such a dramatic change could indeed bring about changes to this country, thus giving Esdeath an opportunity to fight freely.]

“I heard that you have come here to request that our Anning Dao send troops to the southern border of the Empire to aid the rebels who are being blockaded by an unknown force,” Alice said softly. “Of course, our Anning Dao and the southern rebels have always had a relationship of mutual support, and this is our duty.”

"Then hurry up and send your troops—" A young girl with pink hair and pigtails among the assassins slammed her hand on the table and was about to stand up when she was suddenly pulled back by a girl with long black hair and a katana beside her.

Mine, a ranged support member of the Night Raid assassin group, wields the Imperial Arms Pumpkin Cannon, whose effect is to amplify the power of artillery fire under certain conditions, suspected to be related to her mental abilities... She comes from a western minority group and usually advocates the theory of dividing the empire among various ethnic groups. She is quite popular within the rebel army...

Alice didn't answer her, but only glanced at Najenda, who was a former general.

The latter immediately let out a wry smile and raised his hand to signal his companion to be quiet.

“I know.” The one-eyed woman wore an expression that didn’t match her domineering demeanor. “While you are willing to contribute to the rebels, your army needs provisions and various expenses. Of course, you also need the most important thing: intelligence.”

“That’s right.” The girl nodded slightly, spreading her hands out on the table. “Intelligence is the most important part of a war. I can provide for my own military supplies and provisions, as support for our allies—but crucial intelligence cannot be lacking in the slightest. After all, my soldiers are not freebies that fall from the sky… I think since you are willing to come here, you must have some bargaining chips that can convince me.”

“My ears are very sensitive, and my eyes are very sharp. You all now have the opportunity to persuade me.”

“This matter is of utmost importance, and I need to speak with the leader in person,” Najenda said in a deep voice. Her gaze was fixed on Alice, her body tense, and her warriors had also made slight adjustments to their positions, ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

However, one person remained unmoved.

[...pretending.]

“What I mean is what the leader means.” Alice smiled at her, her eyes unwavering. “There are no opponents of my will in this city. What I mean is what the Way of Tranquility means.”

"...What if I insist?"

"All believers, monks, and priests in the Path of Peace now only need to pray in the church. My mechanical legion is responsible for going out to fight. I control the military, I control personnel appointments, I control the legislative and judicial systems. I am the leader, I am the Path of Peace," the girl with long, pale blonde hair said calmly. Her sky-blue eyes were like dazzling gems imbued with all the desires of the world—the color of power.

The former defector general choked. Instantly, the taut aura she had been projecting collapsed, and she slumped into a limp cocoon. From Alice's words, the ubiquitous puppets that had entered the town, and the pitifully small number of townspeople—almost invisible—she had come to a realization: this woman possessed a powerful force capable of wiping out her group in a very short time, a force that would be respectable even within the entire empire. And if they wanted to utilize this force, they had to understand their place.

[Her willingness to cooperate with us and offer our assistance suggests there might be something of interest to her in the south of the Empire, or perhaps she still needs the reputation of the Path of Tranquility. In any case, she has far more time than we do. The Empire won't bother with her until it has dealt with those monsters in the south… so she doesn't need to rush.]

She thought to herself that this was exactly the direction Alice needed her to consider—dealing with a group of idealists who had some value, were too much of a loss to kill directly, and were full of unrealistic fantasies, could not be done by using harsh methods indiscriminately, but if they could be convinced by themselves, then they could often achieve twice the result with half the effort.

then……

The leader, Najenda, waved her hand, and the tall, burly man from the Night Raid assassin group, who appeared quite reliable, produced a sealed box and placed it heavily on the table in front of him—his movements were extremely cautious, as if the 30-centimeter-sided square sealed box contained a bomb with its fuse cut and encased in white phosphorus. Before his finger even touched the open button, a thick, fully enclosed suit of armor immediately materialized around him, completely covering him!

[A Teigu, possessed by a demon, wielded by the former traitorous general, Brand. It boasts exceptional close-quarters combat and defensive capabilities. The Teigu also includes a spear, and according to unreliable information, it possesses even more hidden effects… A rare all-around Teigu, is it protagonist-type equipment? But this guy looks like he'll be a doomed character who gets killed early on?]

Alice's gaze swept over the box, and she noticed that everyone in the Night Raid assassin group had instinctively made defensive movements before the box was taken out. The pink-haired girl with twin tails reacted the most, almost slipping to the other end of the table.

"What is this? You all seem very nervous?" Alice tilted her head in confusion, and she also got up from her seat to examine the sealed box in front of her with an inquisitive look.

“These are those… things that appeared in the Southern Border.” The heavily armored warrior spoke in a deep voice from within his helmet, emphasizing the word “things.” “I happened to be on the border when what happened in the Southern Border. Thanks to this armor, I managed to bring back spoils after coming into contact with those… things. But you still need to be careful, sir. These ‘things’ are extremely corrosive; even an Imperial Arms user… will be infected if they come into direct contact with them. And then become like them…”

He shook his head, unwilling to reveal the truth that everyone could guess.

With his cautious movements, a segment resembling an enlarged insect's arthropod appeared in Alice's view, inside a small transparent box sealed within the box. It was still alive; its outer surface was even wriggling and mutating, sprouting numerous strange mouthparts and glands, releasing wisps of murky smoke when it touched the outer wall of the transparent box. If it weren't for the special material of the box, capable of constantly filling any gaps in the container, this arthropod would likely have already escaped!

[Supramolecular engineering, biological weaponry.] Alice's brow twitched sharply, a strong sense of alarm rising within her. [This is different from those Arachnids outside who just drop their insects; this is genuine biological weaponry!]

【...How could something like this be here!】

"When it's complete, this 'thing' looks like an enlarged worm. But its speed, strength, and regenerative ability... are almost on par with a general-class warrior who isn't equipped with an Imperial Arms. Not to mention its bizarre corrosive ability. And the number of these things... I've seen more than ten thousand!"

"Brad said."

However, at the same time, another voice rang in Alice's ears.

—'Side quest list updated: Earn 100 reward points for each Prototype Warrior Insect killed.'

........................

My brain feels like it's burning up like mush...

And I shipped out OAO, and even my second baby.

Section 37 Platter

"……really."

Patchouli sat on the platform in the command hall, listening to the divine prompts echoing in her mind, a profound silence settling over her shoulders. She opened the communication link and casually made up an excuse to appease Zheng Zha, who was making a ruckus on the other end—fortunately, the others in the team didn't require any special explanation. In that respect, it saved her a little trouble.

But she still felt very tired.

Chu Xuan's guess was correct, and Alice's experiment verified it. The world's greatest and deepest secret has been revealed to the Central Continent Team. Now, the only question is whether to cross this line and explore this hidden secret.

“I initially thought this was just an ordinary interstellar war world. I never imagined… it would incorporate a worldview similar to The Matrix…” Patchouli reached out and gently tapped the light screen that appeared before her. The panel, formed by the aggregation of photoelectric signals, magnified and disassembled before her eyes, revealing its intricate internal structure. However, no matter how hard she tried to dissect it, the limit of her observation remained at the molecular level.

The human eye is not a tunneling microscope, nor is a witch's eye. For certain things that are far too intricate, even reincarnators who have surpassed mortals in some aspects are helpless until they break through that barrier. Even if you stare blindly, you can't see binary data streams on the surface of matter.

However, just because you can't see it doesn't mean you can't guess it.

This world is riddled with inconsistencies. For example, the insects are far too weak; the Federation's technology tree is bizarre and distorted; and there are top-tier technologies that, despite being developed long ago, are locked away by the Federation's higher-ups—Patchouli discovered these discrepancies when she hacked into the Federation Academy's database… Such a vast and advanced nation, possessing technology capable of easily extinguishing stars and tearing planets to pieces, is still playing house with these insects. Even ignoring this, the other inconsistencies are still easily discernible.

The human federation in this world is not some anti-intellectual, closed-off, backward nation. On the contrary, it is authoritarian, dictatorial, and rejects all religions while emphasizing the aggressiveness of its people. They yearn to create a powerful warrior force and have no concern that these warriors will shake their foundations. Yet, at the same time, they have experienced three hundred years of peace... To put it bluntly, this is a history that completely contradicts human nature!

Humans love peace? Humans dislike war? What a joke!

Human beings have always been an extremely warlike group of individuals. The saying "the world, after a long period of division, will unite; after a long period of unity, will divide" perfectly illustrates this. People of the same color fight against people of different colors, people of the same religion fight against people of different religions, people of the same country fight against foreigners, people of the same ethnicity fight against people of other ethnicities, people of the same village fight against people from other villages… As long as there are more than two people in a closed area and no extremely powerful external force exerts pressure, war will inevitably occur. And war, war never ends.

For faith, for land, for family, for property, for honor, for affection… humanity always has reasons to wage war. Those death-mongers among humanity who make a living from war will never stop their efforts to instigate conflict. If such a race could persist for three hundred years without waging any war, then there are only two possibilities.

First, these humans are fake; they are something disguised by some alien race that looks similar to humans but is fundamentally different. They may look like humans, but their genes and spirits have been castrated by some external force, rendering them devoid of resistance and a willingness to challenge, thus turning them into a group of obedient citizens who compliantly accept the rule of the higher-ups in the 'Brave New World'.

Secondly, the war never ceases. On the surface, there is no war, only that it occurs in areas imperceptible to ordinary people. Moreover, this war has lasted for three hundred years, without a single victory, without ever being abandoned, yet without ever suffering retaliation. This indicates that the opposing side possesses extremely overwhelming power. And they are indifferent to human resistance… or rather, they haven't even noticed human warfare.

Patchouli hoped it was the former, and after learning of the fascist nature of this federal government, she initially thought so too. However, the federal authorities' thirst for elite warriors and thousands of secret genetic analysis reports negated this answer—after all, this was the interstellar age, with plenty of land, space exploration, and jobs; the option of "consuming excess population to avoid political instability" simply did not exist.

Since it wasn't the former, and considering other unbelievable possibilities, the latter's likelihood of being true increased significantly—Chu Xuan had confirmed this guess from the beginning and started his plan. The witches, however, due to wishful thinking and considerations to increase their chances of winning, did some unnecessary and superfluous work.

They captured the captain of the Southern Flame Continent team and used her and Alice Margotrovid's near-transcendental mental power, along with other auxiliary materials, to construct a virtual world. Then, while shielding all participants... or rather, the decoys' key memories, they introduced the brain worm's mental power into it. Through its extremely powerful computing capabilities, they simulated and infinitely pushed that virtual world towards reality.

The witches have been creating a world within a world, deceiving the external world into believing that their inner world is also real—this is what they have been doing these past few days. If their speculation is true, and this world is indeed an illusion… then, considering humanity's current behavior and their existing reality, the organization maintaining this false world must be a mechanical, unrefined, and unflexible autonomous institution. If another false world appears within this false world, then this organization is highly likely to directly treat it as part of the external world and incorporate it into its own rule system. The God's scoring list is proof of this.

If the Supreme God doesn't acknowledge that the insects in the virtual world are a scoring item, then Chu Xuan's guess is wrong. There is no powerful mastermind behind this world; the Federation's stupidity is genuine and without any hidden agenda. The upcoming team battle won't present many unexpected changes.

This virtual world still serves its purpose, allowing Alice to strengthen herself, train newcomers, and use the brain worm's mental link to pinpoint the location of the Insect God in the third movie. This adds a new source of income for the Central Continent team and eliminates the possibility of the Forest Continent team turning the tide with the Insect God's momentum. Although the costs have increased, the victory in this horror movie remains in the witches' control.

Patchouli hoped for this outcome, and Alice hoped for it too.

However, it turned out that the truth was on Chu Xuan's side.

The fact that the Supreme God has recognized the value of the insects in the virtual world means that this war has thus been elevated to another level. Of course, in this galactic world, the Central Continent team can freely rack up points. After all, the Supreme God has acknowledged the insects in this world, so no matter how strong the Senzhou team is, the Central Continent team can simply run away after wiping out the Nanyanzhou team, suffering the penalty of point deduction for mission failure.

however……

"The Matrix universe has gameplay elements like unplugging and shutting down the computer," Patchouli said softly to the command center, where she was the only conscious person, her expression shifting between light and shadow.

Chu Xuan is indeed formidable. If it weren't for him, the witches might still be busy building up their forces, preparing to overwhelm the Senzhou team when they arrive... Such a strategy isn't unfeasible. Perhaps the Senzhou team isn't as strong as anticipated, and their combined forces could wipe them out in one fell swoop. Even if they can't wipe them out, they might be able to fight to a standstill, or even maintain their dominance until the main quest ends without suffering any losses.

But what if we can't win?

What if the other party gains control of a certain channel and directly "jumps" to the next level to "unplug" or even "shut down" the connection?

Patchouli closed her eyes.

She had to admit that she was indeed inferior to Chu Xuan, unable to compete or complement him, and that developing her intelligence and strategic planning was a complete waste of time and resources... This made her feel very unwilling, yet helpless.

[All along, I've been the one advising Alice. I've been the one filling in the gaps in her plans, the one solving the problems she caused, and then I'd see her face, clearly embarrassed but forcing herself not to show any weakness... Is all of that going to become a thing of the past?]

[Hundreds of years... including tens of thousands of years in the world of memories... This feeling of not being able to help Alice with her weaknesses and flaws, but only being able to cooperate with her in certain areas that I can do, but she can also do. It really is...]

[...It makes me a little unwilling.]

Patchouli's gaze slowly swept over Alice, who was sleeping in the cross-shaped instrument. She reached out her hand, as if trying to grasp something, but then froze in mid-air. After a few seconds, the outstretched hand slowly lowered itself.

She wasn't the kind of fool who would hold her companions back. Now that it was proven she was indeed inferior and had no hope of catching up, she wouldn't waste time on that area. Their arrangements hadn't actually hindered Chu Xuan's plans, because she had already informed him when the operation began in Korenda. She had told him she might be making some schemes that would 'reduce the final gains'—and for someone like Chu Xuan, who defied categorization… incorporating such a simple scheme into his own plan was as easy as breathing.

The ongoing plan doesn't need to be stopped, and the completed arrangements don't need to be revised. Since we are not as intelligent as others, there's no need to make unnecessary decisions on our own. We only need to continue with the original plan and then guide the battle in the right direction.

The Morizu team will be arriving soon. Whether they are stronger or weaker than we anticipated, I ultimately need to determine their location and then decide on the intensity of the probing battle and the personnel involved based on the firsthand reconnaissance report... and there are only three possible locations where they could be.

She glanced at the countdown beside her, which was rapidly approaching zero. Commands were then transmitted via communication channels to the processing centers of every starship in the Hunting Fleet. With the weapon systems warming up, the entire fleet instantly entered a critical state, ready to jump between star systems and immediately join the battle.

The landing point for the Morizu team must be relatively safe, allowing them to quickly participate in the storyline. Therefore, their most likely landing points are three.

First, there's Korenda, and second, Earth. The former has already been transformed into a boiling inferno thanks to a secret report I sent two hours ago. The latter, with Chu Xuan making arrangements there, doesn't need to consider the possibility of the Senzhou team arriving. And the third point…

Patchouli glanced at the rows of monitor buttons flashing green dots on the screen beside her. She then slowly counted down the countdown on the other side of the screen.

"Three." — All the green dots were still flashing in an orderly fashion.

"Two." — It seems that due to some unexpected circumstances, such as the influence of cosmic rays, the flickering of some of the light spots began to become more intense.

"One." — The magnitude and number of the light spots are increasing, with more than a third of them even turning from light green to deep red in an instant!

"Zero." — Time's up. Patchouli has lost half of her surveillance cameras. The cause of the loss is unknown, but she can confirm that the area where the Morizu team landed is in that blank space.

—That was the outer orbit of Korenda. Six days ago, in that unsuccessful, barely-successful, landing operation, a large portion of the expeditionary fleet was permanently trapped in outer space by the Zerg's plasma bombardment. Only wreckage remained, and a small portion of this wreckage was cleared on the spot to avoid hindering the subsequent warp jumps of the fleet. The rest was preserved, and specialized small cleaning ships were tasked with recovering the larger pieces of the hull, collecting the remains of the fallen, and the few survivors still struggling in their sealed compartments—and Patchouli had installed monitors on all the small cleaning ships.