Chapter 130: Artificial Soul 57
“The gap between your skull and the metal skull has decreased, but there’s no excessive compression,” Doctor Huang said, putting down the instrument thoughtfully. “It could be that your extraordinary ability level is relatively low, coupled with a weak regeneration capacity in your bones. This has led to the metal being compressed but not expelled. As it stands, the situation isn’t too concerning.”
Kui Xin asked, “Do I need to replace a bone?”
Doctor Huang said hesitantly, “You do need a replacement, but the key issue is your weak bone regeneration ability. If you remove the metal skull, your bones won’t be able to grow back and fill the gap on their own. You’ll still need to install a small metal bone plate on top, essentially replacing it with a fitted new part. It’s foreseeable that the matching model of your metal skull will continually change. Perhaps in the future, your bone regeneration ability could fill the gap in your skull by itself.”
“I see… When do you think I should have the surgery?” Kui Xin asked.
“Come see me every other day for a check-up. I need to confirm your bone regeneration speed before finalizing the treatment plan,” Doctor Huang said. “Your headaches shouldn’t be caused by bone regeneration; it hasn’t reached that severity yet. Tell me about your headaches.”
“My temples and the back of my head sometimes have throbbing pain,” Kui Xin said. “It comes in bouts and goes away after a while.”
Doctor Huang asked, “Is your daily schedule normal?”
Kui Xin honestly shook her head. “I haven’t had a normal schedule in a long time.”
Doctor Huang looked at Kui Xin with empathetic eyes. “I understand.”
Kui Xin silently returned the look, sensing the helpless sigh and mutual understanding in his gaze.
After a series of examinations, Doctor Huang prescribed medication for Kui Xin to take before bed.
“It’s a nerve-soothing medication that will help you have a stable dreamless sleep. If the dosage is small, there are no side effects, but don’t take it too often, or it may lead to dependence,” Doctor Huang advised. “Adjust your schedule; there are more and more young people dying suddenly these days.”
Kui Xin weighed the medication as she left the medical center.
What should she do next? Train? It was too tiring; she had trained during the last reincarnation. Forcing herself to train in a poor mental state could accelerate sudden death. Rest? There were too many pressing matters on her mind, and she was a bit restless.
As Kui Xin walked slowly down the corridor, she planned to return to her office and put the medication in her personal locker, waiting until the TQC’s interrogation was over to retrieve it.
She reached the elevator and pressed the button. The elevator was in an upward ascent and stopped perfectly at her floor.
When the elevator doors opened, there stood a woman in a gray business suit with black hair and blue eyes, a mixed-race face—Annie Schalit, the awakened from the TQC.
Kui Xin paused for a moment but maintained her expression as she walked in and said, “Hello.”
“Hello.” Schalit looked Kui Xin over. “I remember you. You’re Kui Xin, right?”
“Yes, I am. And you are?” Kui Xin expressed her curiosity appropriately.
“I’m Annie Schalit from the TQC, responsible for interrogating you and Wei Zhi,” Schalit said amiably. “The interrogation will likely begin in about an hour; the brain machine is being assembled.”
The Investigation Bureau’s elevator was quick; by the time they exchanged a few words, Schalit had reached her designated floor.
Kui Xin told her, “See you later, Officer Schalit.”
Schalit seemed to take a moment to think and smiled at Kui Xin. “This hour is free time; why don’t we go to the rest room and chat? I have many things I’d like to understand about that mission.”
“If this is a necessary procedure for the interrogation… alright.” Kui Xin agreed.
“Don’t be so tense; this is indeed an interrogation, but you and Wei Zhi are not criminals. You’re simply unfortunate informed individuals and witnesses,” Schalit said, stepping out of the elevator. “Come with me, Kui Xin.”
Kui Xin replied, “Okay.”
It seemed the Investigation Bureau had prepared a room especially for Schalit and her team; she opened the door to a room set up like a rest area.
“Please, have a seat,” Schalit said.
Kui Xin sat on the sofa, facing her.
Schalit unbuttoned the gray blazer, half-reclining against the sofa back, revealing a bronze pendant chain around her neck.
“I imagine you must be quite fatigued,” Kui Xin initiated. “Yesterday, when I left work, the TQC team hadn’t arrived, but this morning, I was notified to stand by at the building. You must have rushed here overnight.”
Schalit paused for a moment and smiled, “That’s true. Duty calls; no time to delay.”
She brushed her hair back, pulling the pendant chain into view, which had a bronze “angel” pendant.
Kui Xin’s gaze sharpened, fixating on the angel pendant.
“I received the information from the Investigation Bureau and know you graduated just this year,” Schalit said. “You have awakened an extraordinary ability, correct?”
“Yes, my ability is super speed healing,” Kui Xin replied.
Schalit pondered for a moment. “What do you think of the Mechanized Dawn as an organization?”
“Cold, precise, unfathomable,” Kui Xin stated. “They are capable of deploying liquid nitrogen bombs, which already indicates their strength. How many terrorist organizations can make liquid nitrogen bombs? There must be substantial technical support and funding behind this; the scale of this organization may far exceed our imagination.”
“Indeed, it’s hard to believe such a vast power has risen right under the Federation’s nose, and they are completely unaware,” Schalit mused.
After a brief silence, she asked, “What was Officer Wang like in the end?”
Seeing Kui Xin look confused, she apologized, “Sorry, I’m quite close to him, so I brought you here to ask. It’s a bit personal; there are certain things I can’t say in an official setting, so I called you privately.”
Kui Xin hesitated, “He fell, liquid nitrogen pouring out from the deep blue vortex, extinguishing his flames, just like that. He didn’t say anything because he lost consciousness and didn’t leave any instructions.”
Schalit lowered her eyes, remaining silent for a long moment.
“Those in this line of work must always be prepared for death,” Kui Xin said.
Schalit lifted her head, arranging her expression as she looked at Kui Xin. “Are you prepared to face death as well? You’re still so young.”
Kui Xin sincerely shook her head. “No. When faced with death, one would likely regret it, so all you can really do is set your will and last words in order.”
“Living on the edge of life and death for a long time creates a different aura around people. You were an officer in the field operations team, right?” Schalit queried.
“Yes,” Kui Xin affirmed.
“And your major in university?” Schalit asked again.
“Criminal investigation,” Kui Xin responded.
“Well… your time with us is short; you may not fully understand the relationship between the TQC and the Investigation Bureau. The two departments work closely together, and many action specialists from the TQC are selected from the Investigation Bureau,” Schalit explained. “After reviewing your profile, I find you quite suited to the selection criteria for TQC specialists.”
A storm of emotions rose in Kui Xin’s heart.
Annie Schalit was directly extending an invitation to her! That had not happened in the last reincarnation! According to Augus, Schalit had only included her name on the shortlist after consulting with Meng Jing.
In the first cycle, Augus mentioned that Schalit had only considered transferring Kui Xin to the TQC after her dialogue with Meng Jing, but this time, Schalit was laying it all out in the open. What was going on? According to the normal timeline, Schalit should not have even discussed the shortlist with Meng Jing yet.
Unless… the conversation with Meng Jing was merely a cover.
Whether or not Meng Jing recommended her, Annie Schalit would have recruited her into the TQC!
What was she hiding? Why was there an anomaly in the declaration of her extraordinary ability level? Who was she really?
In the first reincarnation, Schalit never had the chance to speak privately with Kui Xin; in the second reincarnation, she met with her and had this conversation. Was this change the reason for Schalit’s different response?
“This is quite unexpected for me,” Kui Xin feigned surprise, masking her emotions. “I mean, I’m still in the interrogation period…”
“Of course, you’ll need to get through this interrogation period and pass certain evaluations before being let in. I’m merely putting you on the shortlist; not just anyone can join the TQC,” Schalit clarified. “I’m only mentioning this; you may not end up being selected after all.”
She smiled gently.
Although Schalit provided an explanation, the seeds of suspicion were quickly taking root in Kui Xin’s mind.
She began to suspect that Schalit’s conversation about Mechanized Dawn and Wang Feichi was also a facade, a diversion. She discussed those topics to steer the conversation toward eventually recruiting her into the TQC.
This was Annie Schalit’s tactic!
“Alright, I’m sorry for taking a bit of your time; you can get back to your business now,” Schalit nodded at Kui Xin. “We’ll notify you once the brain machine installation is complete.”
Feeling heavy-hearted, Kui Xin had no choice but to stand up, maintaining an expression of normalcy.
Schalit kindly stood to see her off, her angel pendant swaying slightly, drawing Kui Xin’s attention again. She furrowed her brow subtly and tentatively asked, “That pendant is lovely; where did you get it?”
“Um, it’s custom-made, a gift from someone, a very meaningful gift,” Schalit said. “It was nice to meet you, Kui Xin.”
As Kui Xin stepped back into the corridor, she pressed a hand to her forehead.
That angel-shaped pendant, she had seen it before—when Eve inserted it into the brain machine to retrieve memories, the image of an angel had repeatedly appeared in her dream, reminding her that this was a dream, not reality.
Now the angel pendant appeared in reality.
A thin layer of cold sweat broke out on Kui Xin’s back, and she couldn’t help but use data manipulation to connect with Augus, asking, “Is this reality, Augus?”
“Does your reality refer to the First World or the Second World?” Augus replied, puzzled.
“The Second World,” Kui Xin clarified.
“Then, of course, you are in reality. What’s wrong?” Augus inquired.
“Annie Schalit has issues. The pendant around her neck appeared in my dreams,” Kui Xin explained. “What is her ability?”
“Hypnotic Sound, Grade B,” Augus responded.
“My Investigative Eye shows she’s Grade A!” Kui Xin revealed this information during this reincarnation, “I have a feeling that Schalit is approaching me with a specific purpose… what does she want?”
