Physical Anesthesia

"I remembered that these things were only recorded at Shenzhou Headquarters. Why did you know about them, Teacher Welt?" Li Ming pretended to be somewhat panicked, though part of his panic was genuine.

Reveal just enough information, then make himself look timid and bluffing to lower their guard against him.

This was one of the few bits of experience he had accumulated over his two lives. Based on what he knew of Welt Yang from the game, if he wanted to ask for his help, he probably had to put on an act now.

But if that happened, he would probably have to join Anti-Entropy.

Still, it wasn't a big problem. In this situation, if he didn't quickly find someone powerful to rely on, things would be difficult. He had no channels for many materials and no money either. As for why he wouldn't go to Schicksal... well, he absolutely wouldn't consider joining while Otto was still around.

At worst, he could stay in America for over a decade and outlive Otto through sheer endurance.

Welt glanced at the insincere Li Ming, assessing his current condition. If Li Ming showed anything wrong, he would immediately strike and eliminate him.

Yet Li Ming had instead started acting alongside him, which amused him somewhat. Did he really think Raiden Ryoma hadn't reported his trip to Shenzhou? Ryoma had used company funds for this trip!

Still, Welt felt like teasing Li Ming for a moment. "Could it be that the great figure known as the Night Flame Demon is going to deny it now?"

Night Flame Demon? What the hell was that?!

Several question marks flashed through Li Ming's mind. Welt Yang said nothing more and merely raised a hand. Blue streams of light assembled like building blocks into a complete screen, displaying footage of Li Ming wearing the Candlelight Armor: First Light last night as he went out to murder and set fires—no, to uphold justice.

Li Ming's heart skipped a beat, and his pupils contracted as he stared at the screen. Welt Yang had selected several scenes, but every one of them clearly showed Li Ming's movements.

Even when Li Ming had been swallowed by the flames of the artillery barrage, the screen precisely located where he was.

After watching every clip, Li Ming finally understood what he had done last night. But what expression should I have now? Should I honestly say I didn't know, or boldly admit it? Still, I really was pretty cool last night!

Welt Yang watched Li Ming's flickering gaze. Rather than directly explaining why he had come, he decided to keep teasing him. In a grave voice, he said, "Hatred. Confusion. Despair. These are the pillars of everything, the purest and most powerful strength. Every dark night when no light could be seen, I dreamed of that man. He lay in a pool of blood, over and over again... In the end, I returned. Under his name, I fulfilled the promise to fight for humanity.

"Strength. Belonging. Ideals. When I inherited the name Welt, I also inherited everything that man had. But beneath that name, there was nothing that belonged to me. I was merely playing the shadow of someone dead for many years. But why should I play the shadow of a failure? That's right. I saved this world. I achieved what that man could not. I have surpassed him. I defeated this world. This is my own strength, my own belonging, my own ideal. This is the true me! Let me introduce myself again. My name is..."

Oh no, rip his mouth shut already! He's about to say that line...

Li Ming hurriedly used the skills he had learned from the old man, taking the initiative and interrupting his casting. "I know. Your name is Welt Yang Transcendence. Don't move. I'll come with you myself!"

"...The executor of Alahato, Welt Yang! Uh, what did you say?"

Welt Yang had painstakingly built up the mood and tone for that whole grand speech, only for Li Ming's "Welt Yang Transcendence" to completely throw him off.

"Nothing. Go on!" Li Ming let out a breath and found a chair to sit down in. His legs felt a little weak. He had thought Boss Yang was about to evolve from Welt Yang into Welt Yang Transcendence, and he had nearly slapped him in the face with an Inch Strength Extreme: Thunderbolt out of fright.

Seeing that he had achieved his goal of intimidating him, Welt Yang smiled. "So, are you interested in joining Alahato?"

"Shouldn't it be..." The words "Anti-Entropy" caught in Li Ming's throat and nearly slipped out. Fortunately, muddleheaded as he was, he wasn't stupid. He immediately agreed without another word. "I am!"

"In our organization, you can obtain..." Welt rubbed his brow with a headache. Why wasn't this kid following the script? According to the storybooks of Shenzhou, shouldn't he first display some of his majesty before this kid shouted that he was willing to brave fire and water for his lord?

What was this situation now?

"Fine." Welt was feeling rather weary now. Looking at this unlucky kid irritated him a little. The screen in his hand changed again as he asked, "Why do you want to join us?"

Wasn't it you who asked me to join?!

Though Li Ming complained inwardly, he still looked utterly submissive on the surface and smiled. "To make money!"

That was absolutely the truth, without a single false word.

After all, even without this incident, Li Ming had been planning to start making money. He was merely going with the flow now. By joining the organization led by someone who stirred up trouble, he would have a chance to join Anti-Entropy in the future.

"Mm, good. Record his profile. From now on, you are one of Alahato's people. Our company is E.T. Studio. I'm sure you're familiar with it. Our purpose is to protect this world from destruction!"

Welt began misleading Li Ming—no, he began revealing some truths about this world to him.

"Some monsters called Honkai have invaded this world. Our special abilities are because of this as well. Honkai Beasts, zombies... oh, in Shenzhou, these are also called demon beasts and those possessed by demons."

Knock, knock, knock!

"Is anyone there? Is Doctor Slawek here?" A nurse's voice called from outside the door.

"It seems this isn't a good place to talk. Come, let's change locations."

Welt stood up, the hem of his coat fluttering behind him. He flew directly out the window and slowly rose into the air. Watching Welt gradually disappear, Li Ming was somewhat stunned. You're leaving without taking me?

Li Ming merely glanced down. Below was a street packed with traffic and pedestrians, yet no one seemed to notice the activity overhead.

He gripped the edge of the wall. Fortunately, it was sloped enough for him to climb.

Using both hands and feet, he climbed onto the rooftop after several leaps. Welt Yang was already waiting for him there.

"Based on what happened last night, you have already shown signs of losing control. That thing on your right hand is a manifestation of Honkai Energy corruption. I'll explain the difference between Honkai Energy corruption and Honkai disease later. Today's urgent task is to resolve your corruption."

Li Ming instinctively looked at his right wrist, where pale red patterns were branded into his skin.

"Come on, to our secret base!" Blue light shot toward Li Ming as Welt extended his hand.

Before losing consciousness, Li Ming had only one thought. This bastard... I really give up on him!

After knocking Li Ming unconscious, Welt extended a finger and carried him westward.

Houston, Texas. Welt flew all the way here with Li Ming. Whenever Li Ming showed signs of waking along the way, Welt would slap him unconscious again.

At last, they landed in a remote wilderness. A manhole cover opened, and the two descended inside. After passing through a long underground passage, Welt brought Li Ming into a laboratory, where Tesla sat to one side, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Welt.

"The great Leader activated an entire safehouse just for this?"

"Please call me Executor. I am currently Alahato's executor: Welt Yang." Welt Yang spoke with a perfectly serious expression, only to receive an eye roll from Tesla. "This kid is the lead you mentioned?"

Welt simply raised his hand, and blue light enveloped Li Ming. His figure could vaguely be seen inside.

When the blue light faded, Li Ming's clothes were in Welt's hands, while Li Ming lay on the testing equipment in a tight-fitting life-support suit that exposed his long legs and muscular arms.

Though Tesla's mouth was as sharp as ever, she still operated the equipment and began examining Li Ming's body. Data appeared one item after another on the screens.

Especially the readings for Honkai Energy inside his body.

"Huh, that's strange. The Honkai Energy in his body isn't showing signs of activity, and these energy fluctuations..."

Hearing her words, Welt's face broke into a gentle smile. "They feel familiar, don't they? Yesterday, Li Ming came into close contact with the Type I Clone, and the Type I Clone used its core in what appeared to be an energy extraction or transfer process. Though his body shows signs of corruption, his mind hasn't displayed rejection, confusion, or other reactions."

"If this method of using Honkai Energy can be inherited and mastered, then he will be the best vessel for containing Honkai." Following Welt's explanation, Tesla understood Li Ming's current state as well. "But this is only a hypothesis. We still don't know enough about Honkai, and he has no antibodies in his body. In the end, he'll collapse because he can't withstand such powerful Honkai Energy."

"Um, can I ask what exactly is going on here first?" Li Ming, who had been physically forced into unconsciousness by Welt several times, finally woke up groggily.

Welt Yang wore a harmless smile, though a faint red gleam flickered in his eyes as he spoke. "Naturally, we're helping ease your Honkai Energy corruption. Now I'll ask you again: have you decided to join Alahato?"

"I'm already like this. Teacher Welt, do you think I can still refuse?" Li Ming joked, but his thoughts remained clear. Based on the images Welt had shown him, the one controlling his body last night should have been the Li Ming who appeared in his dreams. The cause was very likely a deepening of Honkai Energy corruption. So if joining Alahato could resolve this problem quickly, then so be it. It wasn't as if Welt Yang was going to eat him.

"It's good that you agreed. Then let's begin the anesthesia!"

Tesla watched their exchange in silence. What puzzled her was that she clearly remembered not preparing any anesthetic, since anesthesia would affect the immature medicine's effects.

Then she saw Welt roll up his sleeves and deliver two solid punches to Li Ming's head. The fist as large as a casserole flashed before Li Ming's eyes, and he promptly passed out.

Tesla's mouth twitched as she looked at the unconscious person on the equipment. Welt merely wiped his fists. "Physical anesthesia. This is how we handled it all the way here. I had trouble judging the force before, but now I guarantee he won't wake up for at least two hours. Begin injecting the experimental serum!"

Tesla sighed and operated the equipment. Dozens of needles pierced Li Ming's body, and pale blue liquid flowed into him. The patterns on his right wrist, once corrupted by Honkai Energy, gradually faded. Yet veins bulged across his arms, his brows tightly furrowed as though he were enduring immense agony. The two could only watch, unable to help Li Ming in any way. Pain like cellular reconstruction could only be endured by gritting his teeth.