Before Returning

Bang!

A nearly inaudible gunshot rang out.

Several hundred meters away, a person's body suddenly exploded, blood splattering across the ground.

"Overestimating yourself."

"What number is this today?"

"Who knows?"

Panwang Security's nineteenth-ranked combat team conversed over comms, not taking these cannon fodder seriously at all.

There had been more and more such cannon fodder these past few days.

So far, no one had managed to get within thirty li of the mountain range where the laboratory was located.

"Don't let your guard down. If someone breaks through from our direction, gets close to the laboratory, and disturbs the boss, you know what the consequences will be."

The captain of the Nineteenth Combat Team remained vigilant, his expression grave as he warned them.

"Understood!"

The other team members fell silent at once, each of them sharpening their focus. The comms went quiet.

As time passed and success in the research drew ever closer, many people could no longer sit still.

The enemies that appeared grew increasingly powerful, but all of them were driven back by Panwang Security.

"Interesting. I thought they could keep enduring forever."

"Wouldn't it be better to obediently be dogs? Why insist on becoming wolves that hunt for their own food?"

Looking at the intelligence in his hand, Wang Pan smiled.

Did they think he was old? Did they think he had lost control over this small country?

Coming back to himself, Wang Pan's eyes turned icy. A chilling smile appeared on his aged face.

"Deploy the Space-based Weapon. Give them a hard one. I'd like to see who still dares to jump out after this."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the current commander of Panwang Security's pupils contracted. Clearly frightened by Wang Pan's order, he nevertheless obeyed immediately and turned to head for the control room.

Half an hour later, air defense systems across various countries began sounding alarms!

Countless people sprang into action. After endless calculations and analyses confirmed that the target was not their own country, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Yet none of them relaxed their guard. All kinds of air defense weapons were activated, ready to intercept the strike at the first opportunity.

Though Space-based Weapons were terrifying and beyond the reach of ordinary air defense weapons, that terror only applied to small countries.

Every major power possessed the ability to intercept them.

A Super Electromagnetic Cannon capable of eight thousand kilometers per second was no decoration. If Panwang Security truly dared to attack one of those major powers, even counting the time needed to charge the electromagnetic cannon, the Space-based Weapon it possessed would become a fireball forty-eight thousand kilometers above the ground in no more than half a minute.

In orbit forty-eight thousand kilometers above the planet's surface, a colossal satellite more than three times larger than a communications satellite traveled along its path.

Then, at a certain moment, two successive crimson beams fired from beneath the satellite, like Crimson Lightning, flashing away in an instant!

Their speed was beyond imagination. In only three minutes, the two bolts of Crimson Lightning entered the atmosphere!

The two attacks struck the ground almost simultaneously and bored deep underground. For that one second, every sound between heaven and earth seemed to vanish completely.

The surrounding space also stalled, falling still.

People and objects were like insects encased in amber, powerless to struggle, able only to wait quietly for death to descend.

Boom!

An incomparably terrifying roar erupted, and the surrounding mountains and rivers collapsed into the depths of the earth.

It was as though a Black Hole had appeared underground, madly Devouring everything on the surface.

At last, the ground stopped collapsing downward.

But the nightmare had only just begun!

A horrifying explosion erupted from underground, and a Mushroom Cloud more than a hundred kilometers high rose between heaven and earth.

The terrifying Shockwave swept in all directions, destroying every obstacle that dared stand in its path!

The world fell silent.

Half a month later, Wang Pan was wheeled into the operating room.

"Boss, you're awake. The operation was a success."

A robot standing only one meter eighty tall stepped down from the workbench.

"I feel better than ever. My entire body is brimming with strength."

Wang Pan flexed his hand. It was extremely nimble, no different from the body he had possessed in his youth.

"It's just a pity that my happiness is gone."

Glancing between his legs, Wang Pan felt somewhat melancholy.

"Th-this..."

"This is only the first generation. In subsequent research and development, we'll do our best to add that function."

"Put people first, grow bigger and stronger."

The supervisor at the side was quick on the uptake and immediately began flattering him.

"Simply growing bigger and stronger isn't enough. What matters most is giving users an authentic experience."

Wang Pan extended an arm, intending to pat his subordinate on the shoulder, but seemed to remember something the next moment and withdrew his hand.

"Yes, yes, yes. Your will is the direction in which we advance."

The supervisor, who had taken a trip through the Gate of Hell, wiped the sweat from his forehead, still trembling with lingering fear.

As one of the main personnel involved in developing this robotic body, he knew perfectly well just how terrifying the power contained within this seemingly one-meter-eighty steel body was.

And the boss's brain had only just been transplanted into this robot. He had not yet acclimated to the robotic shell. If the boss failed to control his strength properly, then he would be finished.

One slap, and half his body would probably be smashed to pieces.

Simulation event settlement in progress...

You were an angel, and also a demon.

You propelled human civilization forward, yet because of you, countless people fell upon the road of civilization you advanced.

You successfully changed your own fate.

This event was completed beyond expectations. Your evaluation has greatly increased!

You obtained 30,000 Simulation Points.

Before Wang Pan could marvel at the gains from this run, Life Simulation refreshed once again.

Your head is incomparably sturdy. Even the hardest substance in nature cannot crack your skull.

You can fish without wearing a helmet.

You obtained 300 Simulation Points.

This Life Simulation has ended. Will the simulator return?

"If I choose not to return, how long can I stay in this world?"

Until your life reaches its end.

"Then I won't return for now."

Since he had already completed this Life Simulation, Wang Pan was in no hurry.

Over the following years, Wang Pan began forcibly memorizing vast amounts of knowledge with the talent of Extensive Knowledge, Rote Memorization.

At the same time, he did not reduce his investment in the laboratory. He merely turned over a new leaf, moving the laboratory back into the country and conducting proper research in an honest manner.

Over the years, the laboratory had recruited countless talents, acquired the world's leading equipment, and accumulated innumerable achievements.

Once it no longer had to serve Wang Pan alone, its various achievements sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain.

That year, Wang Pan was one hundred and forty years old.

Wang Pan's life came to an end. His brain had completely decayed, beyond reversal.

Three days later, news of Wang Pan's death was announced, shaking the world.

One media outlet reported, "Wang Pan's death is a loss for the world. For many years to come, there will not be another entrepreneur like Wang Pan, so great and selfless in advancing human civilization."

Wang Pan's passing plunged countless people in the scientific research community into grief. Countless researchers who had once worked under Wang Pan stated:

"Perhaps we'll never again meet such a generous boss as Wang Pan."

Others were overjoyed upon learning of Wang Pan's death, especially the small country that had taken two Space-based Weapon strikes.

That day, countless citizens of that small country voluntarily took to the streets in wild celebration, and the day was designated a national public holiday.

Yet whether they hated Wang Pan or liked him, they had to acknowledge the contributions Wang Pan had made to the progress of human civilization.

Although Wang Pan only knew how to give money, give money, and give money! He did not understand scientific research at all...