Chapter 35: "Will you lie to me?"
Lin Mo couldn't openly go against Vought, so he chose to play dumb.
"I don't know the whole truth of this matter."
He shrugged.
"So I can't be sure."
This was a fact; although he knew the events in the original plot, he still couldn't guarantee whether the real-life details were completely consistent.
However, Joanna didn't dwell on whether Vought was right or wrong. Her thoughts had long drifted to herself, and she asked another question.
"What they said to me, could it also be fake?"
"Some of it is true."
Lin Mo said.
"Some might be incomplete."
"What does incomplete mean?"
"They only tell you a part and hide the parts they don't want you to know, so it can't strictly be considered lying."
Joanna lowered her head, her gaze falling on the back of her slender hands, as countless fragmented memories of the past surged in her mind.
She recalled many things she had heard in the past: drawing blood was for her health, ability tests were to help her, and isolation was for her safety.
Even her precious opportunities to meet Lin Mo were bound by the rule that she could only have them if she obediently followed arrangements. These words might contain some true parts, but beyond the truth, was there still something hidden that hadn't been told to her?
"They said the experiments are for my own good."
Joanna said.
"Is that true?"
Lin Mo didn't answer immediately. He knew Vought was listening and knew this question would arise sooner or later.
"Some check-ups can tell us about your physical condition."
"That part is true."
"Then what about the other parts?"
"They also want to know what your abilities are capable of achieving."
"Why?"
"Perhaps your abilities are valuable to the company."
Joanna raised her head.
"They only take care of me because I'm valuable?"
Lin Mo's heart sank slightly. She grasped the key point in the words even faster than before.
"I don't know what each of them thinks."
He said.
"Some might truly not want you to get hurt, while others care more about the experimental results. Everyone is different."
This was the concept he had always taught her before.
You shouldn't treat everyone as identical enemies just because certain researchers were cruel.
But similarly, you shouldn't believe that the entire company's actions stemmed from good intentions just because someone appeared gentle.
Joanna was quiet for a moment. She looked again at the darkened television and thought of that Soldier Boy.
"Does he know they would say he's dead?"
Joanna asked.
"I don't know."
"If he's not dead, would he be angry?"
"He probably would."
Joanna was full of confusion.
"Why didn't he come back and tell others?"
"He might not be able to come back."
"Locked up?"
Lin Mo looked at her.
Joanna evidently drew this conclusion based on her own life experience.
When a person couldn't appear and couldn't refute the story fabricated for them by others, the easiest reason to think of was that she was being controlled, just like before.
"I don't know."
Lin Mo said slowly.
In the playroom, Joanna had already shifted her attention from Soldier Boy back to Lin Mo.
"Will you lie to me?"
Lin Mo hadn't expected her to ask this question so quickly.
This was even more dangerous than whether Vought would lie. Joanna's trust in the company was still vague.
But her trust in Lin Mo was almost unreserved. She had always believed that Lin Mo wouldn't hurt her.
He wouldn't suddenly change the rules like the researchers, and he wouldn't completely disappear just because she refused an experiment.
If Lin Mo answered never at this moment, Joanna would immediately feel at ease, and this was also the easiest answer to maintain their relationship.
But he couldn't guarantee that in the future, for some reasons, he might conceal certain things.
"I might, too."
Lin Mo finally said.
The moment those words fell, Joanna's body noticeably stiffened.
"You will lie to me?"
Her voice was very soft.
"Everyone has the possibility of saying untruthful things."
Lin Mo didn't evade her gaze, calmly meeting her eyes.
"Why?"
"Maybe out of fear, maybe because I don't know how to tell you, or maybe feeling that not saying it temporarily is safer for you. That is also a white lie."
Joanna immediately grabbed his wrist.
"Are you lying to me right now?"
"No." Lin Mo answered crisply and decisively.
"How can you prove it?"
Lin Mo was momentarily at a loss for words. The boomerang had hit him on the head after all; she was truly being a contrarian, you couldn't play like this, with questions coming one after another.
However, anyone who lied could say they weren't lying, and Joanna clearly realized this as well.
Her fingers gradually tightened, yet she still controlled her strength, not letting Lin Mo feel any pain.
Actually, she wanted an absolute promise, wanting to hear Lin Mo tell her: "I will never deceive you. I am different from the others, and you can always trust every word I say."
But Lin Mo was unwilling to give a guarantee he couldn't fulfill.
If a promise was destined to potentially be broken, it shouldn't be spoken just for immediate comfort.
"I cannot guarantee that I will never make mistakes."
Lin Mo said.
"Nor can I guarantee that there won't be things in the future that I dare not tell you."
Joanna's gaze became uneasy, and her voice trembled slightly.
"Then how do I know?"
"You can ask, you can observe, and you can also choose not to believe it immediately."
Lin Mo grasped her hand back, giving her a trace of comfort.
"But what I'm saying right now is true."
Joanna looked at him.
"What is true?"
"Vought might lie."
"Nor am I always right. Also, I am willing to tell you all this right now."
Joanna relaxed slightly. She really disliked this answer, as it didn't provide absolute security.
Instead, it told her that even the person she trusted the most could become unreliable at times.
But precisely because of that, these words were truer than "I will never lie to you."
"What you are saying right now is true."
Joanna slowly repeated.
"Right."
"What about in the future?"
"In the future, you can continue to ask me."
"When you lie, will I be able to hear it?"
"Sometimes you can."
"How do I listen for it?"
Lin Mo originally wanted to tell her that she could look at whether expressions, tone, and behavior were consistent.
But before his words finished, Joanna had already tilted her head slightly, her gaze piercing through the reinforced glass in front of her, looking toward the observation room.
The figures of the researchers behind the glass were blurry, and ordinary people could only hear the muffled sound of equipment operating, but Joanna's senses far surpassed ordinary people, being shockingly acute, and she could still distinguish them.
Breathing, and heartbeat.
In the past, she only instinctively paid attention to these changes when she was threatened.
Now, for the first time, she actively linked these subtle physical reactions with the truth or falsehood of people's words.
The indoor broadcast suddenly rang out with a steady, standard mechanical voice, its tone lacking the slightest flaw.
"News watching time is over."
"Please return to your scheduled activities."
The moment the voice fell, Joanna's eyes narrowed slightly, her ears twitched gently, and she accurately captured the subtle changes behind the screen.
She tilted her head, listening quietly for a moment.
"When he spoke, his heartbeat sped up."
She said softly. The expressions of the researchers inside the observation room changed instantly, and the person who had just spoken subconsciously touched his chest.
Across a layer of glass, Joanna clearly caught this subtle movement and also heard that heart beating faster.
She looked at Lin Mo, carrying a meaning of seeking verification.
Chapter 36 Costume Scheme
"Is he lying?" she asked Lin Mo.
"An accelerated heartbeat doesn't necessarily mean someone is lying." Lin Mo corrected immediately.
"It could also be nervousness, fear, or physical discomfort."
"You have to look at many things."
Joanna nodded as if she understood, yet didn't quite get it.
She didn't truly understand all the judgment methods.
Yet she remembered one thing.
What people say might differ from their body's reactions; Vought's logo could appear on the screen, and the person in charge could announce a hero's death with a sorrowful voice.
Researchers could also tell her with expressionless faces that all the experiments were for her own good, but beyond the voice, other information existed.
Once doubt was planted, it was hard to completely take it back.
In the playroom, Joanna was still holding Lin Mo's wrist.
Looking at the darkened screen, Joanna suddenly asked, "If Vought is lying, can I choose not to listen?"
Lin Mo paused for a moment.
"That depends on you. Take that Soldier Boy on TV, for example; since you don't know whether he's truly dead, you can choose to seek the answer yourself. An answer you find yourself is ultimately more reassuring than one from someone else."
This was the safest answer Lin Mo could give at the moment.
Joanna nodded gently.
"I know," she said.
"I will see if they are afraid and if they are lying."
Lin Mo looked at her and said nothing more.
In the center of the screen, Vought's logo lingered quietly, its blue letters neat and steady, symbolizing the order and reliability the company wished to show everyone.
Time was hard to truly perceive within the underground facility, at least for Joanna.
Here, changes in seasons, day, and night could not be perceived; the lights always turned on according to preset programs, food was delivered on time, and experiments were constantly repeated according to schedule.
Only bodily growth and the occasionally replaced year markings on the walls could prove that time had not stopped.
The year 1990.
Lin Mo was ten years old.
Six years had also passed since Soldier Boy heroically sacrificed himself in Vought's news reports.
The child who once had to stand on tiptoe to reach the lower edge of the control panel could now look most research equipment straight in the eye.
His physical changes far exceeded ordinary peers, and his height grew very fast. Lin Mo sometimes peeked at the researchers' reports; he was close to 1.7 meters tall, much taller than Joanna.
Likewise, his strength, defense, and recovery capabilities were continuously improving.
But Vought still failed to accurately determine the upper limit of his abilities. Or rather, from a few years ago, Vought didn't care much about him anymore, drastically reducing even general experimental sampling and data recording.
A ten-year-old body was still young, but it had already initially unlocked Kryptonian abilities, including Heat Visionand Flight.
However, he had never shown these in front of Vought, otherwise it would just be another pile of trouble.
The only pity was that he hadn't awakened the Bio-fieldyet, but based on Lin Mo's calculations, after sunbathing for a few more years, he would be able to awaken almost all of his abilities.
He was quite covetous of the Bio-field; after all, this was the essential difference in ability between him and Joanna.
Of course, there was also Joanna, whom Lin Mo had been quietly nurturing; her strength was also growing stronger and stronger. However, she still couldn't keep up with Lin Mo's growth rate, and in terms of strength, Joanna was no longer his match.
The setting of Kryptonians growing stronger by sunbathing was simply too authoritative.
After all, Joanna had her growth ceiling stuck there; she could become the Homelander from the original work by adulthood, but progress would be difficult after that.
Now her Heat Vision could steadily melt through composite alloys, and clear signs of Flight capabilities were beginning to appear. There was an essential difference between a superpower user who could fly and one who could not.
During low-gravity training and high-speed movement tests, she often temporarily left the ground.
He just wondered if she would pull off a Getsuga Tensho in the future.
But her understanding of the external world was not mature enough.
Joanna knew the concepts of cities, countries, shops, and schools, but she had never truly lived among them.
The previous Homelander possessed a standardized smile, impeccable camera presence, and a repeatedly designed patriotic image.
But now, the person standing in this position was Joanna.
She was already completely different from the Homelander in Lin Mo's memory.
Their genders were different, their growth experiences were different, and their levels of trust in Vought were completely different.
The original Homelander longed for the company and the public to give him love.
But what Joanna truly needed now had always been just one person.
Lin Mo.
Vought was also clear about this, so the company did not try to completely cut off the connection between the two.
Instead, they prepared to start incorporating Lin Mo into Joanna's training system.
When Joanna refused a class, they would have Lin Mo sit nearby; when she couldn't complete her camera expression training, they would have Lin Mo give feedback.
When she behaved too coldly in public speaking exercises, the instructor would even ask her to imagine that the people offstage were Lin Mo.
This actually had a miraculous effect. No matter what, Joanna didn't want to disappoint Lin Mo in front of him, so she studied very hard and progressed rapidly.
But Vought clearly was not prepared to wait until Joannareached full adulthood to start shaping her public image.
They would first shoot internal footage, then test audience reactions, and arrange limited government contact.
Then push her toward the camera bit by bit, step by step shaping the perfect Homelander image.
Today's sunbathing time was over. Humming a little tune, Lin Mo prepared to return to the seventh underground level of the bunker to find Joanna. Come to think of it, at this time Joanna should be learning knowledge about countries and etiquette.
Now, as Joanna grew older, the researchers had to relax their control over her somewhat. The child was growing up, and continuing the previous mental control was impossible. Joanna also had her own judgments about certain things; if they kept their previous attitude, the outcome might not necessarily be good.
Dr. Vogelbaum from the original work had said before that, given Homelander's strength, she could have left the research bunker long ago. The reason she didn't leave was still because she held a shred of family sentiment toward the bunker researchers.
The metal elevator descended smoothly, reaching the seventh underground level. As a crisp chime sounded, the heavy elevator doors slowly slid open to both sides, and a damp, slightly cool underground airflow rushed over his face.
This was the place where Lin Mo had stayed for several years, and he had long since figured out every location. Without stopping, he walked straight toward Joanna's small classroom, which was also what Joanna had agreed with him beforehand.
Otherwise, he might as well return to his small room to sleep.
Walking slowly along the narrow corridor paved with cold white lights, he hadn't walked far before two voices separated by a wall clearly penetrated the thick cement and alloy, accurately falling into his ears.
His Super Hearing had already taken initial shape; in fact, the entire bunker could be under his surveillance.
The sound originated from the research center not far away, a low-voiced conversation between two staff members.
"Starting tomorrow, public expression classes will be added."
"The image team has arrived."
"What about the costume scheme?"
"Still being modified."
"The board of directors requests highlighting the American image, with red, blue, and gold."
"Is the cape kept?"
"Of course it's kept."
Were they going to design an image for Joanna already? He was indeed a bit looking forward to it. Lin Mo stopped in his tracks, his eyes looking through multiple walls at the two researchers in the research center, among whom was Dr. Vogelbaum.
After eavesdropping for a while, Lin Mo felt bored. He withdrew his gaze, lightly clicked his tongue, and completely reined in his attention from eavesdropping.
What followed was nothing more than clothing design requirements for Joanna. It was better to go find Joannafirst; otherwise, if she waited too long, she would throw a little tantrum.
At this age, Joanna was almost reaching adolescence, or rather, the rebellious phase, and she had become even more attached to him. But there was no help for it; who asked him to take over this messy situation back then and say he would nurture Joanna? Now he finally knew how tiring it was to raise a child.
Chapter 37 You Are Simply a Natural-born Hero
Soon, Lin Mo arrived at the place where Joanna trained and studied.
However, he did not walk directly into the laboratory; her classroom was actually a modified laboratory, somewhat resembling the playroom where Lin Mo and Joanna often stayed before.
Instead, he came to the observation window outside. Just like before, one wall of this laboratory was made of glass, allowing visibility from both inside and outside. He just needed to sit here so that Joanna could see him without being distracted by Lin Mo.
This was also a plan specially proposed by the Vought researchers, which was approved by Dr. Vogelbaum and implemented together.
Joanna in the laboratory had long since discovered Lin Mo's arrival. She was very familiar with Lin Mo's aura, and she had known of his arrival as soon as Lin Mo stepped off the elevator.
Happily, she waved at Lin Mo, motioning for Lin Mo to wait for her.
The teacher responsible for teaching her stood by with a smile, nodding at Lin Mo without any sign of displeasure from being interrupted by him.
Just kidding, he couldn't beat either of the two little ancestors in front of him, so he didn't dare show the slightest bit of dissatisfaction.
Lin Mo also smiled at Joanna, casually picking up a book beside the table to read. Besides that, books carefully selected by the researchers were also placed here, all of which were autobiographies of superheroes and the like.
According to what Lin Mo discovered while listening in, even most of Joanna's courses had changed now.
Such as American history, national systems, flags and national symbols, camera expression training, and so on.
How to appear amiable, brave, steadfast, and perfect.
These were a piece of cake for Joanna. As could be seen from the peerless on-the-spot changes made by Homelander during filming in the original work, she actually had a great talent for acting.
After flipping through the book for a while, Lin Mo put his gaze back on Joanna; now his entertainment was right here.
The sounds inside the classroom came through the glass. At Joanna's strong request, this classroom was actually not soundproof.
Who wouldn't want to see what others look like when they are having class?
Watching someone else being educated and learning felt so satisfying.
Fortunately, he didn't need to be bothered by Vought, nor did he need a teacher to instruct him. The researchers also found that Lin Mo could learn textbook knowledge on his own, which also saved them the trouble of teaching him common sense.
The sound continued to spread, and the teacher inside told Joanna that a hero cannot just possess power; they must also make people willing to believe in them.
"When you walk into a crowd, you cannot keep looking at the ground."
The image consultant stood behind the camera, patiently instructing.
"You need to raise your head and open your shoulders."
"Your movements cannot be too fast, otherwise ordinary people will feel that you are aggressive and will be frightened."
Joanna also walked through it again according to the requirements.
She was wearing a blue training jumpsuit.
A short cape had already been installed behind her shoulders, but the cape had no function at all and would even cause extra drag during high-speed movement.
When Joanna put it on for the first time, she directly asked: "Why do we need to wear this?"
The teacher replied: "Because this makes you look more like a hero."
"Do heroes all wear cloth?"
"Not all heroes."
"Then why do I have to wear it?"
"Because it can make you look more solemn."
Joanna obviously didn't understand.
In her view, fabric was only divided into whether it kept warm, whether it hindered movement, and whether Lin Mothought it looked good.
"What does Lin Mo think?"
She continued to ask.
The teacher subconsciously looked toward the observation area.
At that time, Lin Mo was sitting behind the glass, observing Joanna's image course.
Seeing that Joanna needed him, Lin Mo pressed the intercom button so that his voice could be clearly transmitted.
"It's a bit in the way when walking."
Joanna immediately looked at the trainer.
"He said it's in the way."
The teacher, obviously long accustomed to this situation, continued to explain.
"This is the preliminary design; the official costume will have its length and material adjusted."
"Can the cape be kept?"
Joanna looked at Lin Mo again.
"What he said is indeed correct, a cape can indeed better showcase a hero's demeanor, but it's up to you. Keep it if you like it." Lin Mo waved his hand; would Homelanderwithout a cape still be Homelander?
"Is that so?"
Joanna turned her head back and looked at the image teacher.
"Since Lin Mo thinks it's good, then let's keep it."
The teacher wrote a line on the clipboard and recorded it.
However, the costume was not decided by Joanna; every detail of the public image needed to go through market research, board approval, and political consultant evaluation.
What she liked was never the most important factor.
The lesson continued.
The teacher marked a few positions on the ground.
"This is the hypothetical accident scene."
"You just rescued a trapped child, and reporters will interview you at this position."
Another staff member held up a microphone.
"Please face the camera and explain why you risked entering the building."
Joanna looked at the camera and revealed a standardized smile.
"When I heard there were still children inside, I knew I had to go in."
"Every single life is worth taking risks for."
The teacher immediately nodded and praised her.
"Perfect, Joanna, you are simply a natural-born hero."
However, Joanna did not tell them that she did not think every life was worth risking her life for.
If the trapped person was Lin Mo, she would go in.
If it was a stranger unrelated to Lin Mo, whether she was willing to take the risk depended on the specific situation. Such a performance was simply to save trouble.
Likewise, Vought didn't care what she truly believed; they only needed her in front of the camera to look like she believed it.
Soon, today's teaching session ended, and what remained was generally Joanna's free time.
"Lin Mo!" Joanna ran out of the classroom while shouting his name.
With her speed, she arrived next to Lin Mo in the blink of an eye and threw herself into Lin Mo's arms.
"How did I perform?"
Tucked in Lin Mo's arms, Joanna suddenly raised her little head, her pale eyes blinking gently, looking at him full of anticipation.
Just now facing the camera, she could still maintain the standard smile required by Vought, but as soon as the training ended, that carefully crafted hero shell was tossed aside by her as if it were nothing.
At this moment, she was neither Homelander nor America's most important future superhero.
She was just Joanna.
A little girl who had just finished training and couldn't wait to get affirmation from Lin Mo.
"Of course, my Joanna performed the best."
Lin Mo spared no praise, raising his hand to tousle her smooth blonde hair.
Joanna's eyes instantly curved into crescents.
Compared to the standard smile repeatedly emphasized by the teacher, this smile was obviously much more natural.
Without deliberately controlling the arc of her mouth corners lifting, she was simply happy because of a single sentence from Lin Mo.
Lin Mo gently patted her shoulder, signaling her to get down from him first.
Chapter 38: Looks Pretty Silly
Though a bit reluctant, Joanna obediently released her arms and sat down beside him.
Viewed from up close, the past few years had indeed brought about significant changes in her.
The little girl whose emotions were once written entirely across her face now had features that were gradually uncurling. Soft, smooth blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, her skin was fair, and her facial features were delicate and three-dimensional, carrying very distinct Western facial characteristics.
Even though she was still young, it was already evident that she would undoubtedly possess an extraordinarily striking appearance in the future.
This change was obviously within Vought's calculations, and Lin Mo was not surprised at all. After all, with a dad whose looks were already that high, how low could his daughter's looks possibly be?
Powerful abilities, a flawless image, coupled with the screen presence formed after receiving training since childhood—combining these conditions together, she was practically Vought's dream flagship hero and perfect commodity.
"They made me say I love this country again just now."
Joanna leaned against his side, her fingers unconsciously twisting a lock of blonde hair.
"Mm, I heard it."
"Did I sound like it was real?"
"Very much so."
Lin Mo answered very calmly.
Joanna slightly pursed the corners of her lips, as if she were somewhat satisfied with this answer.
"That teacher also said it was good."
"Isn't that perfect?"
"It's different."
She shook her head.
"When he says it's good, it's because the me in front of the camera meets their requirements."
"When you say it's good, then it's truly good."
Lin Mo glanced at her.
Over the years, Joanna had indeed grown up a lot.
She was no longer like when she was little, directly displaying all her likes and dislikes. Faced with lessons she didn't like, she would quietly cooperate, and when she heard instructors tell obvious lies, she wouldn't immediately expose them.
Even in front of Vought's researchers, she had long since learned to control her breathing, expressions, and movements.
But once she returned to Lin Mo's side, those hidden emotions would reappear.
This was both a good thing and a worrying thing, indicating that she was still willing to show her true side in front of him, and also showing that her reliance on him had not truly weakened even until now.
"Lin Mo."
Joanna suddenly called out to him.
"What is it?"
"Do you like the me on the screen just now?"
Lin Mo recalled the footage played at the end of the training.
Blue uniform, red cape, golden shoulder armor.
Joanna on the screen stood in front of the American flag, revealing a warm and steadfast smile, as if she were naturally born to stand there and accept the cheers and adoration of countless people.
That truly was a fairly flawless hero image.
"It looks quite pretty."
Lin Mo said.
Joanna blinked.
"Just pretty?"
"And a bit unfamiliar."
"Why?"
"Because her smile is too standard."
Lin Mo reached out a finger and gently tapped the corner of her lips.
"When you are truly happy, you don't smile like that."
Joanna instinctively touched her own face.
"Then how do I smile?"
"A bit sillier than just now."
The air suddenly fell quiet.
The smile on Joanna's face slowly vanished, and she stared expressionlessly at Lin Mo.
"Are you saying I'm silly?"
"I said your smile looks a bit silly."
"Is there a difference?"
"Of course there is."
Lin Mo explained with a straight face: "The former is evaluating intelligence, while the latter is describing an expression."
Joanna stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly judging whether this sentence was just brushing her off.
Afterwards, she suddenly reached out her hands, grabbed Lin Mo's cheeks, and pulled them hard to both sides.
"Then you're pretty silly right now too."
"Let go."
"Not letting go."
"The surveillance camera is still on."
Joanna's movements paused slightly.
Her gaze swept across the surveillance camera in the corner of the room without a trace.
The next second, she casually released her hands, sat properly once more, and even the gentle smile just taught by her teacher surfaced on her face.
The transition of her movements was so natural that there was not the slightest pause.
Lin Mo looked at her, his gaze tightening slightly.
The reaction from just that single instant was already enough to prove Joanna's current level of sensitivity to surveillance.
She knew when she could display closeness, when she should restrain herself, and even more so, what kind of self the people on the other end of the camera hoped to see.
"What's wrong?"
Joanna perceived his gaze and asked softly.
"It's nothing."
Lin Mo shook his head.
"Just feel that you've truly improved a lot."
"I can control it very well now."
When she said these words, a faint smile was still maintained on her face.
But Lin Mo knew that her so-called control wasn't just Heat Vision and strength.
It also included emotions, dissatisfaction, and even hostility towards Vought.
When facing Edgar and Dr. Vogelbaum, she could also remain calm, as if she had long forgotten how Vought used Lin Mo back then to force her to submit.
But she hadn't forgotten; she had simply kept all those matters firmly in her heart.
Lin Mo had once casually asked whether she still hated those researchers.
Joanna only shook her head at that time, and only after walking out of the surveillance range did she calmly say a single sentence.
"I don't need to hate them."
"It's enough to just remember what they've done."
Only then did Lin Mo truly realize that the changes caused to Joanna by the research over those years were far more profound than he had imagined; had it not been for his existence, Joanna would not have been so obedient.
Vought thought she had learned obedience; in truth, what she had learned was disguise.
"Today's training is over, right?"
Lin Mo asked.
"It's over."
Joanna nodded, then as if recalling something, her gaze lit up slightly.
"They said I performed very well today, so I can have an extra half hour of free activity."
"What do you want to do?"
"Go out."
"Where to?"
"The observation area on the third floor."
Joanna leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"Someone pushed over a pot of flowers yesterday."
Lin Mo was somewhat surprised.
"Flowers?"
"Mm."
"Yellow."
Joanna gestured earnestly.
"The leaves are green, and it has a very faint scent."
There were not completely no plants inside the research center.
Some experimental areas would place strictly screened potted plants, used to test superhuman reactions to pollen, plant toxins, and natural scents.
It's just that such things rarely appeared in areas where Joanna could freely access them.
"Do you want to go take a look?"
"I have never touched a real flower."
She said.
There were forests in history textbooks and grasslands in promotional videos.
Sunlight, the sky, and city parks frequently appeared in the background visuals of hero rescue lessons.
But those were merely images to Joanna; she knew what a flower was, but had never truly touched a petal.
Lin Mo was silent for a moment, then stood up.
"Let's go."
Joanna immediately stood up to follow.
"You're taking me?"
"With an extra half hour of free activity, we can't just keep sitting here."
"They might not let us touch it."
"Then let's go take a look first."
Joanna naturally reached out her hand, preparing to grab Lin Mo.
But just as her hand was raised halfway, she saw the surveillance indicator light in the corner of the wall still glowing.
Her movement paused accordingly.
Afterwards, as if nothing had happened, she withdrew her hand.
Lin Mo noticed this point.
He didn't speak, but actively took her hand as he passed by her side.
Joanna was slightly startled.
The calm expression on her face maintained for the camera also developed a crack in an instant.
"Aren't we going to see the flowers?"
Lin Mo said.
"Keep up close."
Joanna lowered her head and looked at their intertwined hands.
A moment later, she gently tightened her fingers.
"Mm."
She didn't look at the camera again.
The two left the training room along the familiar corridor.
Joanna followed beside Lin Mo, full of anticipation as she thought about that small yellow flower she had never touched with her own hands.
For Vought, her future belonged to the camera, applause, and the entire United States.
But for the current Joanna, the world remained very simple.
A real flower.
Half an hour of freedom.
And Lin Mo holding her hand.
These things were far more important than that seemingly perfect future on the screen.
Chapter 39 The System Has Returned
The speed of time passing was much faster than Lin Mohad anticipated.
It felt like in just the blink of an eye, he welcomed the day of his adulthood.
Of course, Vought's researchers would not specially celebrate his birthday, because they didn't even know when Lin Mo was born.
He was sent to this world by the system as an infant, and even he himself could not determine the exact date in the past.
But why he knew he was already an adult now was thanks to an accident.
A surprise that had been waited for a full eighteen years.
That night, around exactly twelve o'clock.
Lin Mo and Joanna ended their whole day of joint activities early and returned to their respective rooms.
Calculating the time, Joanna was also about to come of age.
Vought's training arrangements for her recently had grown closer and closer to public event standards. Image teams, media consultants, and the hero operations department frequented the research center, and documents regarding the new leader of The Seven also began to appear in high-level meetings.
If everything developed according to Vought's plan, it wouldn't be long before Joanna joined The Seven as Homelander, becoming both the nominal and actual leader.
That would also be the starting point for Vought Corporation to truly enter a stage of rapid expansion, at which point some familiar superheroes from the original work would also begin joining The Seven one after another, such as Queen Maeve and A-Train.
Lin Mo was originally lying in bed, pondering his subsequent arrangements.
Present-day Joanna was already able to control her power relatively stably and possessed a certain degree of judgment.
Perhaps he should run away and stroll around this world; having stayed here for nearly eighteen years, he was almost suffocated with boredom.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, a voice without any warning suddenly resounded in his mind.
[ Ding! ]
The crisp mechanical prompt tone made Lin Mo instantly open his eyes.
His entire body stiffened on the bed, and it took a full three seconds for him to confirm that he hadn't heard wrong.
This voice...
The system that had been dormant for a full eighteen years had actually reappeared.
If it hadn't suddenly popped up tonight, Lin Mo would have almost concluded that this so-called system would keep crashing forever, and wouldn't have any reaction until he died of old age.
Following closely, the cold mechanical voice sounded once again.
[ Detected that the host has entered the adult stage. ]
[ System basic conditions have been met. ]
[ Dimensional Shuttle System is officially online. ]
[ System functions are loading... ]
[ Loading complete. ]
[ Hello, host. ]
Lin Mo's brain, which still retained a bit of sleepiness, instantly became completely awake.
Dimensional Shuttle System.
His system actually had this name. In his past life, he was well-read in tomato web novels and was not unfamiliar with this. Even systems had hierarchies; some awesome systems directly checked in on the spot to become emperors right away, then stepped on their left foot with their right foot to ascend to heaven and become immortals, practically invincible to the extreme.
The meaning represented by these words of his system, although it didn't sound as directly invincible as some check-in god-making systems, far exceeded any pure ability enhancement.
It meant that he perhaps no longer needed to be confined to this world.
Lin Mo quickly sat up.
Before he could sort out his thoughts clearly, the system prompt sound continued to ring in his mind.
[ System functions are as follows ]
[ The host can obtain system energy by causing an impact on the current world. ]
Lin Mo couldn't help frowning slightly.
"Cause an impact?"
This definition was simply too vague.
Does changing a person's choice count as an impact?
Does sabotaging Vought's plan count as an impact?
Or—does destroying the world also count as a major impact?
Just as this thought appeared, the system seemed to perceive his question.
[ Yes. ]
Lin Mo's expression paused.
The system continued to explain.
[ The "impact" defined by the system includes but is not limited to changing the destiny of original characters, interfering with major plot nodes, disrupting established world trajectories, and killing important plot characters. ]
[ The higher the degree of world deviation caused, the more system energy obtained. ]
Lin Mo stared at the virtual panel gradually emerging in his mind, not speaking for a moment.
No.
He had just casually given an extreme example just now.
It was actually really possible?
Destroying the world also counts as a way to acquire energy?
As expected of the standard configuration of otherworldly demons, I like it.
This system's value judgment seemed even simpler and cruder than Vought's.
Suppressing the corners of his mouth that wanted to curl up, Lin Mo's gaze shifted downward.
On the translucent virtual panel, lines of text were slowly appearing.
[ Host: Lin Mo ]
[ Age: Eighteen years old ]
[ Current World: "The Boys" ]
[ World Impact Degree: Calculating ]
[ System Energy: Pending Settlement ]
[ Completed Impact Events: Detecting... ]
Seeing the last line, Lin Mo's eyes changed slightly.
Detecting completed impact events?
That is to say, although the system officially went online only today, it would calculate the changes he had caused over the past eighteen years.
And the greatest impact he had caused on this world was undoubtedly Joanna.
The original tyrannical giant infant Homelander no longer existed.
Replaced by Joanna, who had completely different gender, personality, growth experience, and emotional reliance.
Soldier Boy's destiny might also have deviated due to his existence, and Vought's hero-cultivation plan had fundamentally changed direction even more.
If all these could be judged by the system as world impacts, then he should be able to obtain a quite considerable amount of energy on the very first day the system officially opened.
Just as Lin Mo thought of this, the text on the panel suddenly flickered.
[ Detection complete. ]
[ The host has caused multiple major impacts on the current world. ]
[ Conducting the first energy settlement... ]
[ Detected that the destiny trajectory of core characters has experienced severe deviation. ]
[ The current world line has produced an irreversible divergence from the original plot. ]
Lin Mo looked at the continuously popping-up prompts, and the surprise on his face gradually turned into strangeness.
Irreversible divergence.
This was indeed within his expectations; from the moment he decided to change Joanna's growth trajectory, it was already impossible for this world to develop according to the original plot anymore.
What truly concerned him was another matter.
How much energy does dimensional shuttle require?
Can it carry other people?
And can it travel back and forth between different worlds? How does the time pass during the back and forth?
And the most important point, can he still go home...
But no matter what, it only had benefits for him.
Just as he was about to check the system functions, the mechanical prompt sound sounded once again.
[ First settlement complete. ]
[ Detected change in the plot direction of original work's important character Homelander. ]
[ Congratulations to the host for obtaining 1800 energy points ]
Lin Mo looked at the continuously rising energy numbers in the center of the panel, was silent for a moment, and his gaze gradually became serious.
Perhaps his own plan could also change a bit.
Before Lin Mo could think about his future way out, the system's voice sounded in his mind again.
[ The fixed energy points the host can earn daily is 50 ]
Can he still have ability point income every day? A question had just not been answered yet, and another question followed closely behind.
Lin Mo was full of question marks, his body uncontrollably sat up from the bed, and he asked the system in his mind.
"What is this daily energy income about?"
[ Host, the impact caused by changing the plot can be divided into two types ]
Chapter 40: Being a Hoarder
The system quickly gave its answer.
[First, by changing character trajectories yourself, such as killing important plot characters, you can obtain abundant energy points.]
[Second, by changing a character's original destiny. For instance, Host, you changed Homelander's personality, causing the current Homelander to make different choices when facing certain issues. Every time he takes an action, he deviates from the original script, continuously generating energy points.]
I see. Lin Mo instantly understood the system's explanation. One provided sustainable energy points, while the other took effect immediately and granted a large amount of energy points.
Which of the two was better was immediately obvious.
However, this did not mean Lin Mo would hold back from attacking original characters just for energy points. Don't forget, his system was called Dimensional Shuttle; even if he completely ruined this world, there were still other worlds waiting for him.
Whether to kill or not still depended entirely on his own thoughts.
After figuring this out, Lin Mo continued communicating with the system in his mind, getting ready to learn more about its functions.
"System, what are energy points generally used for, and how much energy does a dimensional shuttle require?"
The system's cold, mechanical voice then rang out in his mind.
[Host, there are two main uses for energy points.]
[First, exchanging for items, abilities, bloodlines, knowledge, and special services through the system mall.]
[Second, consuming energy points to open dimensional channels and travel to other worlds.]
As the system's voice faded, the virtual panel in front of Lin Mo flickered slightly, and a brand-new icon slowly emerged.
[System Mall]
With a slight movement of Lin Mo's thoughts, he clicked it open directly.
The next second, a massive amount of commodity information flashed past his eyes like a waterfall.
[Basic Living Supplies]
[Technological Creations]
[Weapons and Equipment]
[Supernatural Abilities]
[Special Bloodlines]
[Cultivation Techniques and Inheritance]
[Knowledge and Skills]
[World Coordinates]
[Conceptual Commodities]
...
Looking at that almost endless row of categories, Lin Mo's breath paused for a fraction of a second.
Good grief.
This mall really sold everything.
From ordinary food, clothes, and medicine, to high-tech armor and spaceships, all the way to various supernatural bloodlines and cultivation systems, it was practically all-inclusive.
Lin Mo casually clicked open the supernatural abilities category.
[Psychokinesis: 1000 Energy Points]
[Primary Healing Factor: 500 Energy Points]
[Spider-Sense: 500 Energy Points]
[Teleportation: 1500 Energy Points]
[Kryptonian Bloodline: 10,000,000 Points]
[Saitama Physique (Hair-Care Edition):???]
[Infinity Stones:???]
The further down he looked, the more ridiculous the product names became.
However, behind those truly powerful items, specific prices were not displayed; instead, they were replaced by a series of question marks.
Though he was certain he definitely couldn't afford them, he couldn't help his curiosity.
"System, what do these question marks mean?"
[Host's current authority is insufficient to view specific information on high-level commodities.]
[When the Host possesses sufficient energy or enters a world of the corresponding level, commodity information will automatically unlock.]
"I knew it."
Lin Mo rubbed his chin.
If a mere eighteen hundred points of energy could directly exchange for Saitama's physique or the Infinity Stones, this system would be far too charitable. Besides, if he didn't already possess the Kryptonian bloodline himself, he wouldn't even be able to view it.
Still, it wasn't fair to say the system was bad. Look at that—the Kryptonian bloodline worth ten million was given away just like that, directly serving as his newbie gift pack.
However, even if he could only purchase currently unlocked items, the value of the mall was still immeasurable.
As long as he had enough energy points, he could get almost anything he wanted here.
Abilities have flaws? Buy items to make up for them.
No cultivation method? Exchange for it directly.
Lacking equipment? The mall had everything from cold weapons to star-destroyers.
Even knowledge could be sold.
This meant that when entering other worlds in the future, he wouldn't need to be limited to a single power system at all.
Magic, technology, immortality cultivation, superpowers—as long as energy points were sufficient, he could have them all. Who wouldn't want to fiercely pull out a Spark Lens in some technological world and violently shatter the worldview of the natives?
Lin Mo forcefully suppressed the impulse to spend immediately.
Right now, he only had eighteen hundred points of energy on hand.
It sounded like a lot, but placed in the entire system mall, it could only buy some basic commodities.
Therefore, he was going to be a hoarder and wait until he could buy an ability with infinite potential before making a move, or else wait until he truly encountered danger to buy it wouldn't be too late.
After all, the things in the mall could be bought at any time.
Right now, the most important thing was to figure out the rules of dimensional shuttle.
"Then how much energy is needed to travel to other worlds?" Lin Mo felt as though he had turned back into that thirst-for-knowledge child.
[Different energy levels, danger degrees, and distances of various worlds will cause variations in the energy points required to open dimensional channels.]
[Low-energy world: Minimum consumption of one thousand energy points.]
[Mid-energy world: Minimum consumption of ten thousand energy points.]
[High-energy world: Minimum consumption of one hundred thousand energy points.]
[Ultra-high energy worlds and special worlds need to be calculated based on actual circumstances.]
Lin Mo raised his eyebrows slightly.
"One thousand points is enough to travel through a low-energy world?"
Didn't his current eighteen hundred energy points already meet the minimum travel conditions?
[Yes.]
[But please note, Host, opening a dimensional channel only represents obtaining the qualification to enter that world.]
[If the Host needs a designated world, a designated time node, a designated arrival location, or to carry other life forms to travel together, additional energy points will be consumed in all cases.]
The smile on Lin Mo's face subsided a bit.
As expected.
It was impossible for the system to leave such an obvious loophole.
Randomly entering some low-energy world versus precisely heading to a plot world he was familiar with were obviously not the same price.
"How big is the gap between random travel and designated travel?"
[Randomly search for a low-energy world, consuming one thousand energy points.]
[Designate a low-energy world, minimum consumption of two thousand energy points.]
[Designate a plot time and location node, consuming an additional five hundred to five thousand energy points.]
Looking at the eighteen hundred points of energy in his account, Lin Mo's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
He was still two hundred short.
He originally thought that after working so hard to change Joanna, the energy points he obtained would be enough for a free trip.
As a result, not to mention a designated time and location, he was still just a bit short even for choosing a world.
Of course, random travel was already enough.
It's just that Lin Mo wasn't prepared to risk his life drawing a blind box; a low-energy world did not mean absolute safety.
An ordinary apocalyptic world could similarly be classified as low-energy. If he randomly dropped into one where the air was full of lethal viruses or straight into a black hole, given his incomplete superman strength, that would be a huge joke.
However, seeing this classification of world levels, Lin Mogenerated a new question.
"How are world levels classified, and which level does my world count as?"
[The Boys where the Host is located belongs to a mid-energy world.]
The system quickly cleared up Lin Mo's confusion. Look at the accuracy of this answer—it was so much better than Doubao next door.
[Answering with the Host's existing knowledge, excluding some accidental circumstances, a low-energy world is like the Host's original planet, lacking supernatural powers and a technological explosion, with the natives generally having lower strength.]
[And a mid-energy world, just like The Boys where the Host is currently staying, belongs to the technological explosion type.]
The Boys actually counted as a technological type? Lin Modidn't react at first, but then suddenly remembered that superhumans like Homelander were caused by Compound V, making them technological products in a certain sense.
The system's answer was still continuing.
Chapter 41 World Classification
[Medium-energy worlds usually already possess mature supernatural systems, or technological achievements far exceeding ordinary civilizations.]
[The top individuals in this tier of worlds often possess the ability to destroy cities, change the course of wars, and even threaten entire countries.]
[For example, "The Boys", "Resident Evil", "Terminator", "Harry Potter", and some superhero worlds can all be classified as medium-energy worlds.]
Lin Mo looked at the names appearing on the panel and touched his chin.
Resident Evil and Terminator were understandable.
One of them was biotechnology going wrong, turning the entire world into a large-scale zombie movie set.
The other was even more ruthless; as soon as the artificial intelligence awakened, its first thought was that deleting humanity altogether would save a lot of trouble.
As for Harry Potter...
On the surface, a group of wizards holding little wooden sticks casting lights at each other seemed to have power that was just so-so.
But thinking about it carefully, the spatial teleportation, soul magic, time-turning, mind control, and all kinds of unreasonable curses inside really could not be measured by the standards of an ordinary world.
Especially the Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra; once fired, no matter how high the defense was, it might not work.
It was a typical example of attack power not necessarily being overly exaggerated, but the mechanism being disgustingly lethal.
"Why are they only some superhero worlds?"
Lin Mo quickly grasped the key point in the system's words.
In superhero worlds like Marvel and DC, the gap in strength was anything but small.
Street-level heroes were still fighting with pistols and daggers, while those freaks in the universe had already begun resetting timelines, devouring planets, and even rewriting reality at will.
Cramming them all into the same tier was simply too outrageous.
[Because within the same work system, multiple tiers may also exist simultaneously.]
[When the system evaluates world tiers, it considers not only the average strength of ordinary life forms, but also comprehensively judges the world's upper limit, the completeness of its power system, the level of civilization development, the number of special individuals, and the possibility of world destruction.]
[For example, some parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as "Iron Man 1", before involving high-dimensional beings and the multiverse, can be classified as medium-energy worlds.]
[However, when the Infinity Stones, Celestials, the multiverse, and higher-level entities intervene, the world tier will be upgraded to high-energy, or even ultra-high-energy.]
"It can even upgrade dynamically?"
[Yes.]
[World tiers are not permanently fixed.]
[The same world at different time nodes may be at different energy levels.]
[For example, a world originally devoid of supernatural power might see its overall tier rise rapidly after the recovery of spiritual energy, alien civilization invasion, dimensional fusion, or doomsday disasters.]
Lin Mo instantly understood.
This was quite reasonable.
Just like some novels where the beginning involves acting cool and slapping faces in the city, and the protagonist can drag out dozens of chapters just fighting an underground boxing champion.
As a result, writing into the later stages, the map suddenly expands, and worlds of cultivation, immortality, and gods pop up one after another; the so-called peerless experts from the early stage might not even be qualified to guard a door in the later stage.
It was not that the early world was too weak, but that the author simply hadn't loaded the later maps at the beginning.
The system obviously wouldn't judge purely based on the performance in the early stages of the plot, but would scan the true upper limit of power that the entire world could achieve.
"What about high-energy worlds?"
[High-energy worlds typically possess mature cosmic-level civilizations, complete mystical power systems, or can stably give birth to planet-destroying, star-level, or even stronger life forms.]
[Top entities in this tier can easily destroy ordinary planets, operate across galaxies, and interfere with time, space, soul, and some world rules.]
[For example, certain periods of "Dragon Ball", the later stages of "One-Punch Man", "Warhammer 40K", as well as worlds possessing immortals, gods, or cosmic-level powerhouses.]
The corners of Lin Mo's eyes twitched slightly.
Good grief.
Isn't this span just a little bit too large?
In a place like Warhammer 40K, for an ordinary person, opening their eyes meant officially entering an internship in hell.
One moment you might be hacked to death by Orks, the next you might be eaten by the Tyranids, and with even worse luck, you could run into a Chaos God sending you warmth across the warp.
By comparison, "The Boys" felt almost like some peaceful retirement world.
At least before Homelander killed someone, there was a high probability he was still willing to say a few words to you; maybe if you made him happy, he might just let you go.
Those things in Warhammer probably wouldn't even bother giving you lines.
As for Dragon Ball...
Lin Mo could only say, don't ever look at those Saiyans eating and fighting normally like a bunch of heartless idiots.
When they truly started fighting, planets were just large-scale disposable consumables.
In the early days, they could still seriously shout about destroying the Earth.
By the later stages, destroying the universe seemed to have almost become the basic unit for measuring combat power.
""One-Punch Man" also counts as high-energy?"
[Judged by the world's existing performance and hidden upper limits, it belongs to high-energy worlds.]
[Some individuals possess the ability to destroy the planet's surface, or even threaten the planet itself.]
[However, the growth upper limit of certain special characters cannot be accurately calculated, which may lead to a further increase in the world rating.]
Special characters.
One didn't even need to ask to know who was being referred to.
A bald hero for fun.
Other people's cultivation emphasized bloodlines, talent, cultivation techniques, resources, and life-and-death tempering.
But look at him.
One hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, one hundred squats, and running ten kilometers every day.
He stubbornly trained his hair away, and trained the worldview to collapse along with it.
If this training method could really be replicated, gyms would have long ago become the most dangerous faction in the myriad realms.
"What is the standard for ultra-high-energy worlds?"
The system paused slightly.
[The power system of an ultra-high-energy world can already stably involve cosmic creation, cosmic destruction, timeline resetting, multiverse interference, and rule-level power.]
[Top entities in this tier of worlds may no longer be bound by conventional matter, distance, and time.]
[Some individuals can modify reality, reverse causality, delete concepts, or simultaneously influence multiple parallel worlds.]
[For example, the Marvel Comic Universe under a complete system, the DC Comic Universe, "Honghuang"-style worlds, some top-tier xuanhuan worlds, and works possessing multiverse-level deities.]
Lin Mo fell silent.
Deleting concepts.
Altering causality.
Resetting the multiverse.
Listen to that.
Is this still an ability that a normal life form should be able to master?
He hadn't even officially walked out of Vought Research Center's gates yet, and the big shots in those worlds were already studying how to delete others from existence conceptually.
If he accidentally traveled to such a place, let alone Joanna's Heat Vision, even if The Seven were tied together, it probably wouldn't be enough for those people to take a second glance.
With just a single thought from the other party, their very birth records would vanish.
"I probably can't go to this kind of world right now, right?"
[The host's current permissions are insufficient.]
[But with enough energy points, naturally you can.]
Lin Mo rarely felt that a lack of energy points was a good thing, but this also hurt his little heart just a little bit.
Chapter 42: A Cross-World Suicidal Trip
However, what the system said made sense. If he were really thrown into a primeval flood-type world right now, any random mountain peak he found might be suppressing a demon that had lived for millions of years.
That harmless-looking old man by the road might just be some Grand Unity Golden Immortal experiencing mortal life. If he ran his mouth and complained at that moment, his soul would be instantly scattered the next second, and the system would delete his account and restart him all over again.
"What about special worlds?"
[Special worlds cannot be judged solely by energy levels.]
[Worlds of this type may have a relatively low overall strength, but they possess extremely dangerous special rules.]
[They may not have powerful individuals, but they possess anomalous phenomena sufficient to threaten high-level life forms.]
[For example, time loops, cognitive pollution, rule-based ghost stories, meme infections, unfathomable entities, and must-die causal mechanisms.]
The relaxed expression on Lin Mo's face slowly faded. This was truly the troublesome type.
At least most powerhouses in high-energy worlds could still be seen, and even if you could not beat them, you knew how you died.
But rule-based worlds were different.
You might just look at a picture.
Hear a sentence, or remember a name.
Or even just realize that something existed, and you would have already triggered the death condition.
You would not even know where the enemy was, let alone fight back.
[The physical fitness of ordinary life forms in some special worlds might be far lower than the host's.]
[However, their world rules could still bypass physical defense and directly act on the spirit, soul, causality, or existence itself.]
"In other words, even if I am stronger than everyone in that world combined, I might still die inexplicably a few days after entering?"
[Yes.]
What the fuck, then he would not go to this world in the future. Protecting his life was paramount; one must remember that Krypton's magic resistance was much weaker than its physical strength.
"Give me a more detailed grading standard." Lin Mocontinued.
[Affirmative.]
The virtual panel flashed gently, and a more complete piece of information appeared before Lin Mo's eyes.
[Low-Energy World]
[Main characteristics: No public supernatural powers exist, or supernatural phenomena are extremely rare. Civilization is dominated by conventional technology, and individuals are usually unable to directly confront modern armies.]
[Representative types: Ordinary metropolis, historical warfare, martial arts, primary doomsday, survival adventure.]
[Reference worlds: Fast & Furious, John Wick, Jurassic Park, Train to Busan, and most ordinary modern-themed worlds.]
When Lin Mo saw Fast & Furious, his expression turned slightly strange.
Did that world really have no supernatural powers?
Normal people could drive cars into airplanes, fall off cliffs without getting hurt, and even drive cars into outer space.
Was this definitely not a special cultivation system centered around family? Or some idealist power?
The system ignored his complaint and continued to display.
[Mid-Energy World]
[Main characteristics: Supernatural powers or advanced technology have formed a system. Top individuals can destroy cities and threaten nations. The world may contain alien life, artificial intelligence, magic, mutant creatures, and superhumans.]
[Representative types: Superheroes, magic wars, technological doomsdays, primary immortality cultivation, monster disasters.]
[Reference worlds: The Boys, Harry Potter, Terminator, Resident Evil, Pacific Rim, and the early-to-mid stages of Naruto.]
The early-to-mid stages of Naruto counted as mid-energy.
Then, without guessing, the later stage definitely went up.
[High-Energy World]
[Main characteristics: Top life forms can destroy planets, and civilizational activities extend to the universe. Time, space, and soul-type powers are relatively common, and some individuals can survive in the cosmic environment for long periods.]
[Representative types: Cosmic warfare, advanced immortality cultivation, god-and-demon worlds, interstellar civilizations.]
[Reference worlds: Dragon Ball, the later stage of One-Punch Man, Warhammer 40K, Swallowed Star, and the higher tiers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.]
[Ultra-High-Energy World]
[Main characteristics: Cosmic-level, multiverse-level, and rule-level life forms exist. They can create or destroy universes, modify reality and timelines, and the world itself may consist of countless dimensions and parallel universes.]
[Representative types: Top-tier fantasy, primeval myths, multiverse wars, conceptual deity systems.]
[Reference worlds: The complete Marvel Comics universe, the complete DC Comics universe, and some top-tier primeval and infinite-flow worlds.]
[Special World]
[Main characteristics: Undetermined level, sources of danger do not rely on conventional combat power; may possess rule-based kills, cognitive pollution, meme propagation, time loops, and unpredictable world mechanisms.]
[Representative types: Cthulhu mythos, rule-based ghost stories, infinite loops, anomalous containment, and some horror worlds.]
After reading the complete classification, Lin Mo finally had a general understanding of the system's traversal function.
Simply put, low-energy worlds were not necessarily absolutely safe, but with his strength, as long as he did not encounter interstellar wars, fatal viruses, and rule-based anomalies, he could basically walk sideways.
The span of mid-energy worlds was relatively large.
In weaker ones, he could still maintain an absolute advantage, while in stronger ones, entities capable of threatening him might already appear.
As for high-energy and ultra-high-energy worlds...
At this stage, it was better to just look at the commodity introductions to satisfy his eyes.
If he really went in, that would not be dimensional travel.
That was called making a cross-world suicidal delivery.
"So, with my strength, am I most suited to go to low-energy worlds?" Lin Mo struggled for a moment before asking.
[Yes.]
[Low-energy worlds have overall lower danger, and the host possesses a significant strength advantage, making them suitable for initial traversal, resource collection, and familiarization with system functions.]
[However, the system suggests that the host prioritize worlds that possess special resources while lacking excessively high dangers.]
Lin Mo's eyes lit up slightly; this was indeed his thought.
Although ordinary urban worlds were safe, aside from looking at scenery and eating delicious food, he basically could not get anything of value.
If he really spent thousands of energy points to go over, he could not just take Joanna on vacation, right?
Right, thinking of this, he had not asked one thing clearly yet.
"Can I bring people along?"
[Yes.]
The system's reply made Lin Mo's eyes brighten.
[The host can carry life forms that have established a stable connection with themselves to travel together.]
[For each life form carried, the consumed energy will be calculated based on the target's strength and life level.]
"How much does Joanna need?"
The system fell silent for a short second.
[Detecting target life information.]
[Target: Joanna.]
[Current identity: The core plot character of this world, Homelander.]
[Life level: Intermediate.]
[Carrying the target to travel through a low-energy world is expected to consume an additional one thousand energy points.]
One thousand?
Lin Mo touched his chin.
This price was acceptable.
One must know that with Joanna's current strength, she could be considered a walking natural disaster in quite a few low-energy worlds.
According to what the system just said, the stronger the target, the higher the carrying fee. This was also reasonable.
"In other words, if I want to designate a low-energy world and take Joanna along, I will need at least three thousand points?"
[Yes.]
Lin Mo calculated.
He currently possessed 1,800 energy points.
With a fixed gain of fifty points per day, he was still short 1,200 points, which meant twenty-four days—less than a month.
This time was much shorter than he expected.
Having stayed in the bunker for eighteen years, he did not mind waiting another twenty-four days.
"Can I still come back after entering other worlds?"
Chapter 43: Worthy of Growing Up at Vought
[ Affirmative. ]
[ The system will automatically record the world coordinates visited by the host. ]
[ When returning to a recorded world, there is no need to pay the world positioning fee again, but basic energy to open the dimensional channel will still be consumed. ]
" What about the time flow rate of different worlds? "
[ The host can select the time mode before transmigrating. ]
[ First, synchronization mode. After the host leaves, time in the original world flows normally. ]
[ Second, anchoring mode. After the host leaves, the time flow rate in the original world will be suppressed to the minimum. ]
[ Enabling anchoring mode requires continuously consuming energy points based on the duration of departure. ]
Lin Mo's eyes flickered slightly; this function was extremely important.
If he could only synchronize time, if he went to other worlds for a few years, when he returned, a few years would similarly have passed in the world of "The Boys".
But with time anchoring, this situation could be avoided.
Of course, it was impossible for the system to help him freeze the world's time for free; who wouldn't understand this shady profiteer.
Presumably, the longer he left, the more energy would be required.
" What is the ratio for anchoring mode? "
[ At the lowest, the time ratio between the original world and the target world can be adjusted to one to one hundred. ]
[ When the host stays in the target world for one hundred days, only one day passes in the original world. ]
[ Higher ratios require upgrading system permissions. ]
One to one hundred was already quite good.
Staying in another world for three months meant not even a day would pass here.
As long as he was adequately prepared, he could completely treat other worlds as growth dungeons and take his time.
Gain abilities, collect equipment, and continue accumulating energy.
At the very least, he had to find a world with special technology, rare medicines, or something that could make up for his shortcomings.
For example, a world with mature artificial intelligence technology, or a world with strengthened mental power but without overly strong individuals.
Or worlds where the power ceiling wasn't high, but special cultivation systems existed.
As long as they were chosen well, low-energy worlds could likewise bring huge returns.
However, that wasn't always the case; fortune is sought through danger, and going to high-yield, high-energy worlds naturally brought benefits that low-level worlds couldn't get.
Thinking of this, the travel plan that Lin Mo had originally prepared to execute in his heart suddenly underwent a huge change; he now wanted to travel and play in other worlds, but he still lacked energy points.
Originally, he didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but now the people of this world would leave him no choice.
" What about my original world? "
Lin Mo was silent for a moment, and finally asked the question he cared about most.
" Can I still go back? "
This time, the system did not answer immediately.
The light on the panel flickered gently, seemingly searching for some kind of information.
After a few seconds, the mechanical voice sounded again.
[ The complete coordinates of the host's native world were not detected. ]
The expectation in Lin Mo's eyes sank slightly.
[ But the system retains some spatial traces generated when the host's soul transmigrated. ]
[ When the system permissions are upgraded and sufficient energy is obtained, it can attempt to trace back to the native world. ]
[ The current success rate cannot be calculated. ]
The room fell silent.
Lin Mo leaned against the head of the bed, silent, but after a moment, he suddenly pinched his thigh hard.
What was he thinking? Even if he wanted to find a way back, it should at least be when he became a true powerhouse. Furthermore, he didn't really have that many attachments to his original world.
Eighteen years had passed, and he was no longer as obsessed with going home as he was at the beginning.
Just like whether the people from his past life were still alive? Were the time flow rates of the two worlds the same? Even if he found the coordinates, could he return to a time before his death?
All of these were unknowns, and not something he could change just by thinking about it now. Besides, the system had at least given a possibility.
As long as he continuously gained energy and upgraded permissions, he could try it one day.
This was already much better than having no hope at all.
" System, can you recommend a suitable world based on my existing energy and strength? "
[ The world recommendation function is not yet unlocked. ]
[ Unlocking requires paying five hundred energy points. ]
The smile on Lin Mo's face vanished instantly; what a rip-off.
He shouldn't have held any unrealistic expectations for this system.
Asking a single question cost money; no wonder the system slept for eighteen years.
It probably wasn't upgrading, but secretly learning how to become a qualified capitalist.
" Forget it. "
" One last question. "
Lin Mo slowly exhaled a breath.
" After transmigrating, will the system arrange an identity for me? "
[ Basic transmigration does not provide a legal identity. ]
[ The host can additionally purchase identity implantation services. ]
[ Ordinary identity: one hundred energy points. ]
[ Complete identity: five hundred energy points. ]
[ Special identity: Priced based on world background and identity influence. If there are enough energy points, one can even directly replace the protagonist of the original work. ]
" I knew it. "
Lin Mo couldn't help but roll his eyes.
This system was good in every way.
It was just that behind every function were written two words.
" Pay extra. "
But thinking about it carefully, this fit the positioning of a dimensional shuttle system.
Energy points were both currency and the core resource for using the system.
Wanting safer, more convenient, and more precise transmigration naturally required paying more.
Lin Mo waved his hand and looked back at the eighteen hundred points of energy on the panel.
One thousand for a low-energy world, two thousand for a designated world.
If specific time, location, identity, and safety screening were added, at least another three to four thousand points would need to be prepared.
From the looks of it, he still needed to wait a while before true dimensional travel in the real sense.
But there was no rush; he didn't need to leave so quickly anyway. This world posed no real threat to him, and of course, he could quickly acquire energy through other methods.
To be more direct, going and killing a batch of Vought's upper management might likewise cause a huge impact.
If he did something more to make this world deviate from the original work even faster, the time for energy accumulation would be greatly shortened.
Lin Mo's gaze flickered; Vought was forming a new The Seven.
In the current timeline, Queen Maeve was about to appear, and A-Train, Black Noir, and other familiar characters would enter the plot one after another.
These were all walking energy points!
" System, do I have my own panel? "
[ Of course. ]
[ Generating system host panel information... ]
A stream of virtual data quickly formed in front of him, and within a moment, along with the system prompt repeating:
[ Generation complete. ]
Lin Mo hurriedly looked at his personal panel.
[ Host: Lin Mo ]
[ Age: Eighteen ]
[ Bloodline: Krypton bloodline ]
[ Abilities: Man of Steel, super strength, Heat Vision... ]
[ Current World: "The Boys" ]
[ System Energy: 1800 ]
[ Daily Fixed Income: 50 ]
[ World Coordinates: 1 ]
[ Unlocked Functions: System Mall, Dimensional Shuttle, World Anchoring ]
Seeing this, a trace of a smile couldn't help but surface on Lin Mo's face.
Now that the system was online, he had previously been too lazy to bother with Vought, but as for now, Vought couldn't blame him for showing no mercy.
Lin Mo lay back down on the bed, but he had completely lost all sleepiness, and continued to casually browse through the various functions of the system.
However, on the other hand, Vought's upper management's plans regarding Lin Mo and Joanna had changed slightly.
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