A familiar saying goes, “Know yourself, know your enemy, and you will never be in danger in a hundred battles.”
When Zhushi Jiu realized that becoming a “Foresight user” wouldn’t change Xu Feng’s decision, he understood the outcome of this cycle.
If he didn’t do anything, he would be stuck at this node, unable to progress. Xu Feng wanted to know about the future developments, but Zhushi Jiu didn’t know anything except for the energy explosion, making him worthless to Xu Feng.
It would be the same even if they tried again.
So, to ensure the future continued to progress, Zhushi Jiu was determined to make a choice.
——The more he messed up this cycle, the more he would gain.
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The idea of becoming the strongest Black Soldier was still a vague, unformed plan in his mind, and he needed to slowly explore how to implement it efficiently, just like he had done in all his previous cycles.
After Zhushi Jiu finished speaking, Xu Feng remained silent for a long time.
The conference room was quiet, and Zhushi Jiu could only hear his own relaxed breathing. When he looked at Xu Feng, he found the man was quietly pondering with his eyes closed.
After a long time, Xu Feng finally spoke expressionlessly, “The risk of the Black Soldier serum is extremely high.”
Zhushi Jiu responded, “What doesn’t involve risk? We’re trying to save the world, which is the most dangerous task. Should we not do it because it’s risky? I’m not that kind of person.”
Xu Feng, of course, wasn’t that kind of person either.
He gazed at Zhushi Jiu, “If I told you that the mortality rate of ordinary people taking the Black Soldier serum is as high as 90%?”
Zhushi Jiu was astonished, not having thought of that.
“A 90% mortality rate?”
Nine out of ten people would die, a literal “nine deaths and one life.”
Xu Feng sneered, “If everyone could easily become a Black Soldier, we wouldn’t be afraid of Alien Creatures.”
Zhushi Jiu acknowledged that his plan was still half-baked, and he hadn’t thought it through.
Indeed, as Xu Feng said, if becoming a Black Soldier were that easy, they could have defeated the Alien Creatures with sheer numbers. But the Black Troop Organization’s low efficiency in dealing with Alien Creatures proved that the number of Black Soldiers wasn’t as many as he thought.
Zhushi Jiu felt some disappointment.
Xu Feng continued, “The Black Soldier serum has high physical requirements. If a person hasn’t undergone rigorous training, they basically can’t withstand the transformation.”
“On the other hand, rigorous training can significantly increase the survival rate after taking the serum.”
“Rigorous training, do we have time for that now?”
Zhushi Jiu felt disappointed again.
“Even if we had time, I wouldn’t let you use the Black Soldier serum. Normally, using the serum requires layer upon layer of approval, evaluating the user’s overall quality, before determining whether they qualify. But you…”
Xu Feng seemed to be intentionally making Zhushi Jiu’s emotions fluctuate, denying his idea while proposing an alternative.
“However, there is a lower-level substitute that doesn’t require such procedures.”
“A lower-level substitute?”
“Just like the α-series gas, the Black Soldier serum’s efficacy decreases with each dilution, eventually becoming a serum that even ordinary people can use.”
Zhushi Jiu was about to ask for more details, but Xu Feng continued.
“But that serum is basically useless against Alien Creatures, so it can only be considered a failed research product. Most research institutions have stopped studying it.”
Zhushi Jiu couldn’t take the ups and downs of his emotions and couldn’t help but ask, “So, is there still such a serum?”
“Yes.” Xu Feng replied, “I even use it occasionally.”
“You?” Zhushi Jiu was puzzled, “Shouldn’t you use a higher-level serum? Don’t you meet the physical requirements?”
“My physical fitness was already up to standard ten years ago.” Xu Feng said indifferently, his tone very casual, “But I was chosen to be the leader and commander of the Black Troop Organization, and my brain is more valuable than my physical talent. Therefore, I’ve been prohibited from using the Black Soldier serum.”
“The Black Soldier serum is a double-edged sword, capable of turning people into emotionless fighting machines, but also prone to causing personality collapse. As a leader, I need to maintain a calm and efficient thinking style at all times, so I can’t use the Black Soldier serum.”
Zhushi Jiu didn’t fully understand.
Xu Feng explained, “After taking the Black Soldier serum, a person’s emotions will be temporarily erased. With continuous use, even someone with passionate emotions will eventually become an emotionless fighting machine. Do you think that’s a good thing? No, such people are actually the easiest to defeat.”
“Even without external interference, the users themselves will eventually feel uninterested in life and self-destruct.”
“So, we strictly control the use of the Black Soldier serum, secretly evaluating a person’s willpower to determine whether they qualify. I can’t make an exception for you, but the weakened version is usable even for ordinary people.”
After listening to Xu Feng’s evaluation of the Black Soldier serum, Zhushi Jiu was more concerned about one question: “Are there any side effects to the weakened version?”
“It erases emotions, just like the Black Soldier serum.”
Zhushi Jiu was shocked, “But the strengthening effect is much weaker?”
“That’s correct. The risk is very low.”
No wonder this serum hasn’t been widely used… Zhushi Jiu furrowed his brow.
Xu Feng asked, “Will you still try it?”
“I will.” Zhushi Jiu replied quickly, seemingly without much thought.
…
Zhushi Jiu was lying.
Xu Feng saw through it.
When Zhushi Jiu claimed to have foreseen the future and become a Black Soldier, it was fundamentally impossible from a programming perspective.
Moreover, Zhushi Jiu failed to convince him, violating the organization’s regulations.
Xu Feng was testing Zhushi Jiu’s thinking, trying to change his mind, but Zhushi Jiu failed. This meant that the “becoming a Black Soldier” path was a complete lie, and Zhushi Jiu didn’t know what he was thinking.
So, could he really foresee the future?
Xu Feng didn’t continue thinking about it.
From the moment Zhushi Jiu lied, Xu Feng had mentally sentenced him to death.
When a Foresight user lies, it means they can’t be trusted, no matter what future they predict. Xu Feng couldn’t believe Zhushi Jiu anymore.
Zhushi Jiu’s importance in Xu Feng’s eyes had fallen to the edge, from a human hope to a disposable tool.
So, Xu Feng agreed to Zhushi Jiu’s proposal.
He would first give Zhushi Jiu the weakened version of the Black Soldier serum and test his talent.
…
Zhushi Jiu was brought to a pure white, empty room.
There was nothing in the room, and the floor, walls, and ceiling seemed to be made of the same material, giving a sense of unity. The sound of footsteps on the floor was crisp, echoing in the empty room.
Next to him was a doctor in protective gear.
The protective gear covered the doctor completely, making it impossible for Zhushi Jiu to tell if it was a man or woman. The only thing he could be sure of was that the doctor’s hands were steady, holding a syringe.
“According to our tests on other ordinary people, you may experience temporary dizziness after taking the serum, followed by body tremors, and intense pain within ten to fifteen minutes…”
“Just do it.”
Zhushi Jiu interrupted the doctor, his expression not worried at all, but rather, a sense of fearless sacrifice.
Only he knew that it wasn’t because of his great character, but because he could “retry.”
The doctor looked at Zhushi Jiu with surprise, then said, “Stretch out your hand.”
“Which hand?”
“Either one.”
Zhushi Jiu stretched out his left hand, and the doctor didn’t hesitate, slowly injecting the serum into his arm.
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At first, it was a hot feeling, followed by an intense itching and stinging sensation from the soul’s depths. Zhushi Jiu carefully experienced the transition of the serum’s effects and the various changes he felt.
Although Xu Feng told him that even ordinary people had a high probability of withstanding the serum’s effects, Zhushi Jiu was more willing to trust his own body sensations.
The doctor left the pure white room after finishing the injection.
Leaving Zhushi Jiu alone in the room, standing quietly.
The numbness in his arm spread to his chest, then his neck, and finally his head. When the numbness enveloped his entire body, it transformed into pain—a burning, fiery pain! The pain from his skin was still within his tolerance, at least compared to those fancy ways of dying.
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I’ve been too busy before the National Day, so I could only write one chapter today. Forgive me.
How many days off do you have for National Day?
I only have three days off.
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