Rhine Lab

"Haaah..."

Bai Ye opened his eyes to a pitch-black room. He slowly sat up in bed and let out a long breath.

I really was overthinking it... That final move must have been Sword Rain. What a terrifying Originium Art.

The countless golden blades descending from the sky had left a tremendous impression on Bai Ye. That dazzling radiance, along with the phantom Originium swords that blanketed the heavens—anyone who saw it even once would remember it for the rest of their life.

Bai Ye rubbed his eyes and searched the floor for his slippers for quite a while. Then, with a dark expression, he stretched out his pale feet and hooked both slippers out from beneath the bed.

He got up and walked to the window, pushing it open and letting the cool night breeze brush across his cheeks.

Opening the system panel, Bai Ye saw that the mission had been completed. Although he had ultimately failed to completely defeat Texas and had instead been defeated by her Originium Art, Bai Ye was still very happy.

Through Overclock Mode, he had actually pushed Texas that far. For the young man, it was an immense sense of accomplishment—after all, half a month ago, Bai Ye had been nothing more than a complete weakling who could not fight at all.

"The next step is learning how to use divine arts proficiently while fighting. After all, I'm a priest. Strictly speaking, healing people and applying buffs are supposed to be my main job..."

It was not as though Bai Ye had never tried fighting Texas with divine arts in the pure white space, but the girl was simply too fast. Moreover, in such an intensely tense combat environment, Bai Ye found that his casting was easily disrupted.

Therefore, Bai Ye added two items to his upcoming training plan: increasing his casting speed and strengthening his concentration while casting.

"But for now... I should take a break."

After half a month of being put through hell, Bai Ye was already exhausted. He planned to get a good night's sleep.

Before going to bed, Bai Ye began checking the rewards he had received.

[Sweet Dreams]

Quality: None

Description: A gift from the system that lets you get a good night's sleep and have sweet dreams along the way

Note: Good night

[Weapon Enhancement]

Quality: Purple

Description: Unconditionally raises a weapon by one quality tier (maximum: purple)

Note: Enhancement without enhancement stones

"So that's how it is... If it really could enhance things unconditionally, that would be way too imba."

Bai Ye shook his head, but he still took out Hagiri—it was the only piece of equipment worth enhancing at this stage.

A faint golden glow slowly enveloped Hagiri, forming something like a cocoon around it.

"That's it?"

After the pale golden cocoon formed, there was no further movement. Curious, Bai Ye reached out and poked it.

Fortunately, the enhancement did not keep Bai Ye waiting for long. Soon, the ball of light seemed to melt, slowly flowing into Hagiri.

At last, the light completely faded away. Hagiri lay quietly on the table, with almost no visible changes, as though nothing had happened at all.

Bai Ye gently picked it up, only then noticing a few subtle changes.

First, it fit his hand better. When Bai Ye had wielded Hagiri before, there had been slight awkwardness to it. Now, the weapon seemed custom-made for him; even the hilt perfectly matched the lines of his palm.

Naturally, its sharpness and durability had also improved.

Other than that—Bai Ye could not tell!

Fortunately, with the system's assistance, Bai Ye could easily view Hagiri's enhanced attributes.

[Hagiri - Modified]

Quality: Purple

Description: Hagiri, enhanced by the system, possesses the sharpness and sturdiness to break through materials

Effect 1: A jet device has been added to the tsuba (handguard). After charging, it can increase the power of iaijutsu.

Effect 2: A jet device has been added to the front section of the blade's spine. After charging, it can increase the power of slashes.

Note: A high-quality arts weapon, combining traditional forging techniques with arts technology

"This is a little too..."

Bai Ye nodded in satisfaction. Although it had not gained any supernatural abilities, both effects could effectively increase the power of his slashes.

"Let's head to the exhibition center downtown first."

Early the next morning, Bai Ye carried two sandwiches and cartons of milk bought from the roadside, then sat in the passenger seat beside Texas.

"Okay."

Texas started the Originium engine and drove toward the exhibition center.

Bai Ye first unwrapped one sandwich and handed it to Texas. Then, while eating his own sandwich with milk, he reviewed the materials provided by the client.

"Rhine Lab..."

Bai Ye's expression became extremely complicated. As a player of the Arknights game, he was naturally very familiar with Rhine Lab.

Rhine Lab was a highly regarded Columbian research organization dedicated to expanding the practical applications of all kinds of cutting-edge technology. It had many undisclosed projects within its walls.

However, anyone who had played the game knew that Rhine Lab had already touched upon some rather taboo matters.

"Biological experiments, and human experimentation carried out under the guise of treatment... What a crazy technology company."

Bai Ye's gaze sharpened, but he quickly restrained it again.

Not yet...

"What is it?"

Texas keenly caught the change in Bai Ye's aura. As an assassin, she was naturally highly sensitive to killing intent.

For that brief instant, Texas had sensed an exceptionally pure and chilling killing intent from the young man.

"Mm, it's nothing."

Bai Ye shook his head. For now, he would only keep it all buried in his heart. When he became strong enough—he would make those who crossed the line pay the price.

Before long, they arrived at the exhibition center built in the city center, the venue for Rhine Lab's touring science and technology exhibition.

The commission Bai Ye had accepted was to ensure the venue's security. Naturally, he was not the only one; this commission was a multiplayer mission.

Although Texas was not a bounty hunter, she could join this commission as Bai Ye's assistant—honestly, this assistant was far more capable in a fight than Bai Ye!

Although Rhine Lab had its own Security Department, its main forces still needed to remain concentrated at headquarters, maintaining internal company order, monitoring special projects, and dealing with dangerous experimental subjects.

Thus, security work for the touring technology exhibition had been entrusted to mercenaries and bounty hunters.

For example, more than half of the security for this exhibition had been outsourced to Blacksteel International—they were actually the main force this time, while the rest had been entrusted to bounty hunters.

When Bai Ye and Texas arrived, an isolation barrier had already been set up around the exhibition center. Before the venue opened, this place was a restricted area.

At the sole entrance, two fully armed Rhine Lab Security Department personnel stood holding weapons. Upon seeing Bai Ye and Texas, they hurriedly raised their hands to stop them.

"I'm a bounty hunter. This is my assistant."

Bai Ye took out his ID card and credentials and handed them over.

"My apologies. We didn't expect the two of you... ladies to be bounty hunters."

After verifying Bai Ye's information, one of the Security Department guards spoke apologetically. However, he did not underestimate them because of their appearances.

After all, the director of the Security Department—their superior—was a beautiful but exceptionally powerful woman.