Fortunately, Aha and His believers did not continue making trouble.
He and His believers were active on other planets, looking for fun everywhere.
It was heard that Aha divided His own power and gave it to a bug, seemingly wanting to do some experiment.
It's just a pity, He did not succeed as He wished, the bug died.
As for Aha personally sending over 5 billion credits, it was like a time bomb, making Zero have a constant headache.
He thought over and over, thought of the system.
Since the system backpack could store Aha's mask, it surely also had other uses, right?
Zero, relying on the system, temporarily stored the credits, then anonymously hired top hackers to transfer the credits.
In the end, the system's protection was stronger, making the hackers hit a wall.
Immediately after, he again used the system map to replace equipment for the Six Ministries under his rule.
After clicking upgrade, on the map one of the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Works, showed a progress bar, progress at 1%.
Returning to reality, the Ministry of Works officers had just received this message, calling everyone to pack up things.
Zero understood.
Upgraded equipment would not fall from the sky, the series of operations in the system would in reality be carried out in a more reasonable way.
He used the map to watch the whole process of the Ministry of Works' renovations, from start to finish.
People were meticulous, dedicated like game NPCs, starting work at 8 o'clock, and absolutely not dawdling or being late.
From leaders to ordinary workers, they neither cheated nor slacked, and did not take advantage to profit.
At the same time, once Zero learned their names, he could see their innate talents and acquired stats.
Pearls hidden under dust? Didn't exist.
Zero could find the most suitable post for everyone, placing them in the position where their strengths were maximized.
He was completely relieved, and called together the Six Ministries' heads.
Perhaps because Zero's prestige was already very high, or perhaps because of the "mental illness" buff, they did not investigate where this huge sum came from.
The heads of the Six Ministries spoke one after another, reporting their duties. After collective discussion, finally a series of plans was decided.
First to be solved were the Cloud Knight Army and the affected common people. After a series of calculations, the corresponding subsidies were given.
Next were the buildings, facilities, roads, etc., damaged in the Mara-struck incident.
Lastly, subsidies for merchants and citizens.
Among these, 1 billion was invested into the "Colossus" project that Zero had spoken of.
Although the amount was not large in proportion, Zero was very satisfied with this result.
He had not originally planned to use Aha's money at all. This unexpected fortune, no matter how much was spent, was not a loss.
Using only half the previous time, they could successfully complete the Colossus, and then begin research into Neutron Annihilation.
God-slaying was just around the corner.
Zero, like always, used the map to quickly solve documents with three swipes, leaving only the Strategist to handle all his paperwork.
He deliberately avoided the bustling crowds, stepping on the broad bluestone-paved road, walking familiarly into a secluded empty pavilion.
No other reason, Xianzhou's people were too enthusiastic.
Ever since Zero maxed out all Xianzhou's satisfaction, whenever people saw him, they would immediately turn into Doraemon, pulling out strange little things from their magical pockets.
Like elders at home, afraid you might be cold or hungry.
Wishing to wrap you layer upon layer into a bear, then stuff you with food until you were a three-hundred-kilo fatty before they'd be satisfied.
Especially the food vendors on snack street, seeing him, they wouldn't even take money, wishing to stuff him with all the delicacies they had brought.
Facing such wholehearted kindness and thoughtfulness, Zero truly could not handle it.
The worst were the little kids not even as tall as Zero's legs, smelling of milk all over, calling him "General Sir," staggering over to hug his thigh, leaving him unable to dodge.
Once he tried to leave, those big eyes, yet untainted by knowledge, instantly filled with tears, crying and refusing to let him go.
Zero's head was aching, at a loss, asking the parents nearby for help.
But the children recognized only him. Even their own dad and mom coming didn't work.
He could only pick the child up, bracing himself to coax.
Xianzhou people were too enthusiastic, enthusiastic to the point he could not withstand.
What else could he do? Only hide.
And as a man who liked slacking off, he didn't want to stay in the General's Mansion being forced by the Strategist to work, so he avoided the crowd and wandered.
Sure enough, effort paid off, he really found a secluded, empty pavilion, with a perfect view.
Zero felt pleased.
This feeling, it was like on a hot summer day, drinking a cup of iced sour plum soup, the ice cubes clinking.
'Praise Aha and His believers!'
Thanks to the credits they gave, Xianzhou quickly recovered to its pre-war state, as if truly stepping onto the right track.
If the other wanted fun, he would fully cooperate with Him, so long as it did not affect Xianzhou.
Just as he was praising Aha, from a corner nearby came faint sobbing.
Just now he hadn't seen anyone nearby?
Zero frowned, looking toward the source.
He saw a small figure of a child squatting in an unnoticed corner, softly sobbing.
Seeing this, Zero was relieved. He did not rashly approach, but went to a spot two meters away, crouched down, and gently asked, "Where are your parents?"
The child stopped crying, turned his head aggrieved, "He's ignoring me!"
Zero's CPU was about to burn out, stammering to coax, "Uh… it's fine, I'll help you teach him a lesson."
The child snorted, very defiant, "Do you know who my father is? In all of Xianzhou no one dares provoke him!"
Zero's spirit lifted.
'What? Xianzhou still had such power-abusing scum?'
:If you're going to say this, I'm not sleepy anymore.'
Looks like this child's dad has big problems.
'Once the situation is investigated clearly, strip him bare, lock him in the prison.'
'After all, who dislikes having more money?'
Zero held his breath, listened carefully.
The child stared into his eyes, showing an exaggerated smile, voice sharp, "He's nearly omniscient and omnipotent, not only can he command troops, but also play Aeons around in circles!"
Zero, "…Huh?"
He forced out an awkward yet polite smile, inwardly utterly bewildered.
'What nonsense, this kid's read too many storybooks? Too exaggerated, making stuff up should also have limits.'
If Xianzhou really had such a person, he would have already dragged him to work.
The child giggled, very quickly leaned closer, shortening the distance between them.
Zero instinctively felt wrong, opened the map, only to see the child had the name "Aha" above him.
Zero's pupils quaked, he subconsciously stood up, retreating a few steps.
'Aha, why are you here again?!'
He couldn't believe it, he opened the map to confirm again and again the child's name, his brain instantly froze.
Zero's gaze went blank, watching helplessly as Aha, using the child's body, hugged his leg.
The child grinned, "Daddy!"
That thunderous "Daddy" made Zero's scalp crawl.
That seemingly innocent, harmless face twisted in an instant, lines like paint on a canvas not yet set, still flowing, distorted and strange.
———
The scene before his eyes changed, the tone dark and oppressive.
[Xianzhou: Luofu]
Then, in his vision suddenly appeared a blurred figure.
"Best friend~"
"My best friend!"
"My dearest best friend!"
The other's tone was sometimes light, sometimes high, shouting nonstop.
Zero breathed deeply several times, finally regaining awareness.
The familiar ceiling, the familiar bed.
At this moment, he was not the General of Xianzhou, but the Diviner of Luofu.
Everything experienced in the dream, was it his memory?
He wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, turned his head, and saw, on the nightstand, a head wearing a smiling mask.
Zero looked closely, only to see below the neck it was empty, just a head.
Zero, "…"
He abruptly sat up, pulling distance from it, instinctively clutching his chest, eyes stiff, staring blankly at the head.
Only he himself knew, he only looked calm, in reality he had already crashed for a while.
That head spoke in a gloomy tone, nagging nonstop, "My dear best friend, you're so cold, shouldn't you give me a big hug?"
Zero quickly returned to himself. He sneered, lifted the blanket and stood, reaching out to grab the few hairs left on the head.
This time, Aha was only a head, very passively dragged along by Zero.
He giggled foolishly, never serious, throwing out topics, and when Zero ignored Him, He was not discouraged, just changed topic.
Zero dragged himself into the bathroom, stopped, lowered his head to look at Aha.
"Best friend, you finally willing to talk to me?"
Aha saw Zero finally willing to respond, was overjoyed. He glanced around, saw the showerhead on the wall, suddenly felt a crisis.
Aha desperately rolled His eyes, glanced at the toilet below, and dryly said, "Best friend, what are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" Zero sneered, "Flushing the toilet."
Aha couldn't laugh anymore.
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