If she remembered correctly, the circuit pattern she had created by instinct back then should have come from that mysterious fragment. Thinking about it that way, the fragment's origins seemed all the more precious.
When [Cup] had placed it in the Federation, Xu Zhi had assumed it was merely meant to open a passage between Midnight and the real world. Now that she thought about it, perhaps there had also been an intention to hide the fragment?
She just did not know where [Cup]'s god had obtained that fragment.
Although Xu Zhi had some guesses about the fragment's origins, she did not dare be completely certain. If her guess was correct, [Cup]'s god would surely come looking for her to reclaim it.
But the fragment had now completely fused with her, becoming her flesh and blood. Given [Cup]'s methods, if they caught her, they would most likely try to melt down her physical body—or devour her to inherit the fragment.
No matter which it was, no one had yet discovered what was strange about the circuits within her body, and she had no intention of telling anyone.
"Does anyone else have something to say?"
She asked again. The researchers dangling in midair from Little Aberration all claimed they had more to say, but when Xu Zhi stressed that she would immediately kill anyone whose words were repetitive or useless, most of them lost their nerve. Even so, they continued begging her to spare them.
Xu Zhi ignored them. After confirming with the supervisor that all documents and backups had been destroyed, she learned that he had originally intended to activate the research institute's final defensive measures. He also told her about an emergency exit that had been built into the facility from the start.
Once everything had been settled, Xu