Within the school compound, Mia had often sparred with him, but she did not know how strong he could be if he went all out.
Staring at the radar on his screen, Nero breathed in and out to stabilize himself, allowing his energy to fill every cell of his body.
“Hu, I can do this…”
Nero did not hesitate any longer and activated his thrusters.
Boom!
His entire body shot forward, blasting through the rocks at the entrance and rushing into the sky!
The three battleships immediately set their guns and fired at Nero.
The power of the battleships’ cannons were deadly to a Grade C, but the Sky Guardian accompanying Nero shook, and rays of light shot out from it, forming a golden protective shield to surround Nero.
Boom boom boom!
All the artillery cannons bombarded the area in a burst of fireworks, but the shield only showed a slight crack, which instantly repaired itself. It forcibly endured an entire round of firepower.
At the same time, the Kunde battleships above understood Nero’s intentions and activated their shields, preventing external entry.
“Open a pathway for me!”
With a thought, the Sky Guardian released a blinding ray of Mechanical Force, which quickly reformed into a hexagonal shaped muzzle. An all-consuming black beam burst out, carrying immense penetrative force.
Pew pew pew!
The rate of fire was incredible and resembled the actions of someone who was rushing urgently toward the toilet.
The target battleship’s shields were blasted apart, and Nero seized the chance, rushing into the gap created.
Pa pa pa…
Compressed orbs were thrown out from his hands and transformed into laser cutting drills with electromagnetic bases. They attached themselves to the spacecraft, quickly cutting through its hull to create an entrance to the internal compartments.
Nero did a barrel roll in midair, slamming into the spaceship. Without a word, he threw out a large number of mechanical soldiers and activated his weapons, cutting through the ship’s members as if he was chopping vegetables.
Because this spaceship was the one that had sent the ground troops to capture Nero’s team, its strength on board was insufficient, and this made it more convenient for Nero.
Firing without any reserve, Nero did not take much time to kill his way into the main control room, and he immediately took out a Virtual Intrusion chip manufactured by the army. He inserted it into the core of the spaceship’s artificial intelligence. He was not a Virtual Mechanic yet, but the army provided such virtual intrusion aspects.
At this moment, Nero stumbled because the spaceship had suddenly begun to tremble violently!
Rumble!
Looking outside the window, Nero saw that the other two spaceships had turned around, facing him to concentrate their fire without caring about the lives of their comrades.
“To actually fire at your own teammates, how vicious.” Nero clicked his tongue but did not slow down, killing his way into the command room and seizing the authority of the spaceship.
He immediately poured the majority of energy into the battleship’s shields, controlling it to slam into the nearest enemy.
Bang!
The shields of both spaceships collided, creating firework-like sparks. The other spaceship lost its momentum, careening off course.
Whether it was a coincidence or not, the direction it was sent flying was precisely where the second enemy spaceship was. Both enemies collided toward each other, and they lost control momentarily as they attempted to steady their spaceships.
Taking this opportunity, Nero piloted the spaceship, directly sliding below the two spaceships, parallel to the ground.
“Come out quickly! I’ve got the spaceship! Meet me at the coordinates that I’m sending over. I’ll beam you guys up!” Nero shouted into the channel.
“Beautiful!”
His teammates exclaimed in joy. They then used their strong bodies to withstand the pressure, breaking out of the Kunde Race soldiers’ encirclement.
Bang!
The next moment, a portion of the rubble exploded, and the team members rushed out, with the Kunde soldiers chasing close behind.
Nero’s face lit up, and he shouted, “Captain, don’t stop!”
This was a race against time, so Nero had no time to control the two enemy ships that had adjusted to fire at him. He immediately used the traction beam to attract his team members, at the same time releasing a large number of turrets to fire at the pursuing soldiers, providing cover.
Nero did not dare drag out the battle, so after rescuing the team, he immediately rushed into the sky, fleeing into the universe.
Soon, the rest of his team joined him in the command room, rushing up to rub Nero’s head frantically.
“Kid, good job!”
“Haha, we’re saved. I thought we were gonna die this time!”
“To get it so smoothly, it seems like luck is on our side!”
Everyone had on a joyous expression, continuously praising Nero.
“Don’t count your blessings too soon. We’re not out of danger yet.” Although the captain tried to dampen their spirits, he was grinning from ear to ear himself.
While there were still spaceships after them, their situation was much better compared to before.
After celebrating for a while, they remembered the rest of their comrades who were still trapped, and their joyful expressions quickly faded.
“We’ve managed to escape, but what about those in our unit that have been surrounded?” someone asked.
“There’s no way. We cannot help them because there are too many enemies. If we try to help, we will only get surrounded again.”
His captain shook his head in response. He understood the current situation clearly. Going with just their one spaceship was as good as sending themselves to their graves. It would only waste their chance of escaping.
This should be the best time for them to separate and run; they should not engage in further battles.
At this time, Nero recalled something, and his heart began pounding rapidly.
That’s right. I don’t know how Mia’s team is doing…
Having thought of this, Nero could no longer sit still, he immediately passed the spaceship to his teammates to operate while he took out his communicator.
The time that it took to connect was akin to him being boiled alive; it was excruciatingly long.
Nero’s heart was burning with anxiety as he waited, but the call never got through. He called every single one of Mia’s teammates, but no one answered as well.
The call only connected when it reached Mia’s captain. From it came the sounds of battle.
“Cough cough… Nero? You guys have escaped?”
“That’s me. You guys got ambushed too? How’s the situation? We have a spaceship that can save you!” Nero spat out quickly like bullets.
“Don’t… don’t come over. You guys must take the chance to run. My entire team has already been captured, and I’m the only one still left resisting. I will not be able to hold on for long as well. You guys can’t save us. Quickly go cough cough…”
While speaking, the communication was suddenly cut.
Nero’s expression tightened, and he turned to walk toward the hatch of the spaceship.
Having witnessed the previous scene, his teammates immediately leapt up, swarming over him as a mob and restraining him.
“Nero, don’t be suicidal,” the captain shouted.
“I have to save her!”
Nero was tackled by the seven or eight blokes, and he could not move at all even if he struggled. However, his attitude was firm.
“Don’t be a fool. I told you just now, but going over to save them is as good as suicide!” the captain roared in anger.
“I know. That’s why I’m not intending to ask for help!” Nero gritted his teeth. “This is my own choice. I will not let you guys get involved. You
can pilot this spaceship, and I’ll go down alone. Don’t stop me!”
“Going solo will make it even more impossible. There’s no point sending yourself to die!” The captain was set on holding Nero down.
Nero struggled for quite a while before he finally calmed down. He sat down on the ground, his hands covering his face as he kept silent.
Empathizing with Nero’s situation, the captain could not help but sigh, patting Nero’s shoulder. He also did not know what to say, and he could only mutter in a depressed tone, “She has only been captured. She’s not dead yet. There may still be a chance for their survival. We can only escape for now and think of ways to save her later.”
The moment he spoke, Nero raised his head and spoke in a low tone with reddened eyes.
“You’re right. I was too rash. Thanks for stopping me… I cannot allow Mia to fall into the enemy’s hands, not knowing what they will do to her. I still have one last hope.”
As he spoke, Nero stood up, taking out his communicator. Taking a deep breath, he mustered the courage to dial Han Xiao’s number on the communicator.
He had originally decided not to rely on Han Xiao during his service so as not to disappoint him, but he did not have a choice…
The communicator rang three times in total. The interval between each ring seemed like eternity to Nero. After three rings, Nero heard the familiar voice.
“Oh, Nero. What have you called me for?” Han Xiao’s face wore a slight smile as he answered.
“Godfather, I’ve disappointed you.” Nero rubbed his eyes, softly speaking. “I’ve met something I cannot solve, and I hope you can help me.”
“Go on,” Han Xiao simply replied.
Nero quickly explained the situation with his head lowered, waiting for a reply.
Seeing his expression, Han Xiao stroked his chin as he smiled. “I refuse.”
Nero jerked his head up with an expression of shock and surprise.
“Very surprised?” Han Xiao kept his smile. “Your identity now is different. You’re no longer my godson but also an ordinary soldier. While I indeed give you preferential treatment, I cannot give you special care forever.”
“But… but…” Nero’s eyes turned red.
“It’s not that I cannot help. Putting aside our relationship, let’s look at this from a business perspective. What can you give me to hire me?” Han Xiao indifferently continued.
“I… I don’t know.”
“Then, how can you expect me to help?” Han Xiao blinked. “My relationship with you is not fake, but I cannot help you without a reason. Rules are set like this, so what you desire must be exchanged for something else. Throwing away your identity, what else do you have to offer me?”
Nero’s emotions were a mess, and he muttered, “I… I have nothing…”
Looking at Nero covering his head with both hands, his expression despondent, Han Xiao spoke softly as he smiled. “What? Are you feeling despair now? Think about it, how long have you not expressed your thanks toward me?”
Hearing this, Nero’s figure shivered, and he lowered his head.
“I’m sorry… I beg you…”
“Let me ask you again. Have you felt this despair yet?” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, emphasizing on his words.
Nero was silent for a long time before raising his head. His lips were bleeding due to his biting, and his eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Han Xiao and nodded.
“Good. Remember this feeling, and don’t ever experience it again.” Han Xiao straightened himself up before laughing. “Relax, I’ll agree to your request this time and save your little girlfriend.”
Nero’s emotions seemed to have risen back up after being thrown into the depths of hell. He stared stunned for a while before he recovered his spirits, grasping the communicator with both hands tightly.
“Thank you… thank you…”
“Don’t rejoice so early. I never act without a price.” Han Xiao propped his head with his hands. “You don’t know what you can offer me, but in reality, you are not worthless. At the very least, you have a strong gift for machinery. How about using that as a bargaining chip?”
“What does this mean?” Nero could not understand.
“If I really must explain, you can understand it as me not wanting you to waste your gifts. You don’t need to fully understand this now, and you only need to say whether you accept or reject this arrangement.” Han Xiao spoke with a smile that was not really a smile at the same time.
Nero was still befuddled, but he had no choice. He could only grit his teeth and nod his head.
“I agree. Please help me!”
At the same time, Han Xiao received a notification on his interface while seated in his Black Star Palace.
_____________________
You have triggered the Special Character Mission: Nero’s Request!
Mission Introduction: Nero has agreed to your transaction and is willing to use his own talents and abilities in exchange for your help.
Mission Requirements: Save Mia Moretto.
Reward: Select one of Nero’s Abilities or Talents.
Chapter 976 - Great Director Han
“It really appeared, and to think I get to decide what to learn. I thought it would be a random draw…”
Looking at the mission description, Han Xiao’s eyes lit up with an expression of joy.
This type of mission was similar to seeking employment. In his previous life, when players received missions from NPCs, they could negotiate to obtain certain mission rewards from the particular NPC, such as increased pay, better skills, or rarer items. There was even a type of non-combat class named [Lobbyist], which had the opportunity to improve one’s success rate when communicating with NPCs. This effect was similar to the amount of favorability given to players based on personal reputation.
However, the task of specifying the ability to learn had the lowest probability, and it required a lot of luck. Most of the time, it was just a random reward.
Han Xiao had merely copied the words of the players in his past life to influence the reward after the mission was generated. It was not guaranteed that this would succeed.
In his plan, he thought that it would at most be a random draw reward. This was an unexpected boon.
“If that’s the case, I don’t need to rely on luck.”
Han Xiao heaved a sigh of relief.
He had worried that he might not obtain the [Perfect Mechanical Sense] from Nero, so he had planned many ‘scenarios’ for him. He did not expect himself to succeed in one try.
With this, there was no need to continue ‘torturing’ Nero.
At this moment, Han Xiao suddenly made a weird hypothesis, and his expression froze up.
Could it be… that even his mission rewards were affected by Nero’s Advanced Luck Glow, such that he would obtain what he wanted in one try so that Nero could avoid further torture? It seemed very likely!
“How terrifying, truly terrifying…”
Han Xiao’s lips twitched, not knowing what expression he should make.
In actual fact, this whole scenario deviated slightly from his script. In his original plans, Han Xiao wanted Nero to fall into despair before calling for help. But he did not expect the kid to be so good at fighting, to be able to kill his way out and nearly escape, foiling his plans.
If not for the fact that he had prepared a backup plan and had lured that little guy’s lover in, Nero would probably not even have sought help from him.
As such thoughts flashed by, Han Xiao recovered, and seeing Nero still nervously awaiting his answer, he gave a smile.
“Okay, the deal is completed. Leave everything to me.”
Nero nodded quickly, drying his tears. He could not help but urge, “Godfather, when will you arrive? I’m afraid that if you are too late, Mia will…”
He did not know about Han Xiao’s mechanical troops being hidden within the team’s cabin and thought that it would take several days for Han Xiao to come over
and save Mia, which would be too late.
Hearing this, Han Xiao laughed out loud and shot him a meaningful look. “Relax, it won’t take too long.”
With this, he hung up, not allowing Nero to understand his meaning.
Breathing out a contented sigh, Han Xiao turned his attention back to the mechanical host carrying his avatar and nodded.
“Time to act.”
…
“Urgh, where is this place?”
Mia’s brain felt like it was filled with chaos, and her eyelids were incomparably heavy. She struggled to open her eyes a little and took in the sight before her.
A few meters in front of her was a transparent glass window, where a few Kunde soldiers stood. They were looking toward them, whispering, but the glass blocked off the sound, so she could not hear a single word.
Her body was filled with fatigue and could not be controlled. It was as though a ghost was pressing down on her, making it difficult to even move a finger. Her body seemed to have been injected with an extremely potent sedative, and all she could feel was that her body was fixed to a device.
“What’s this? Why am I here?” Mia racked her brains, trying to recall what she had experienced before losing consciousness.
Her brain seemed to be filled with lead, her thinking speed slow and torturous. The memory fragments slowly emerged within her mind, and she thought for more than ten seconds before she pieced everything together.
She had followed the team into the wilderness to check for the abnormal signals, but they had encountered several enemy ships that suddenly attacked them. She was seriously injured and fell to the ground, losing all combat ability. Her brain received a huge shock, and before she went into a coma, she saw that the Kunde soldiers had approached and squatted down in front of her.
“Then I’ve been captured? What about the others?”
Mia wanted to turn her head, but her head was locked in position, so she could only strain her eyes to the corners, glancing about with the corners of her vision. She saw that there was a row of fixtures beside her, with all her teammates fastened on them. Most of them were still unconscious.
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