Zero used the excuse of being busy with official matters to refuse the celebration banquet afterward, dragging UR back to the General's Mansion.
The two fell into silence at the same time.
Zero knew that clearing a game was never something easy.
Especially a game with such a vast worldview and such a high degree of NPC freedom, one careless move and Yaoqing might just end up GG.
But what he really hadn't expected was, NPCs could actually gang up to stir trouble.
And not just any NPCs, but Aeons, the kind of high-level NPCs that can't be killed at this stage.
Zero could only exclaim, amazing, these NPCs were way too free.
He had no choice but to split his focus, to try switching perspectives and start treating UR and the other NPCs like real people.
Zero tried hard to recall any oddities in his past interactions with UR, substituting Lan's perspective.
Their general, so highly praised, had been sharply criticized by the ghost as a heartless villain boss.
Then Lan turned around and saw that same general saving a dying hamster, and afterward giving him an item that granted immortality.
Didn't that just prove the ghost's words? Treating people not like people, but treating Lan like a hamster.
Zero, "…"
At the time, it was true, because of the hamster, he thought of Lan, afraid his UR might suddenly drop dead like a pet.
But from Lan's perspective… yeah, he really did look like a villain boss.
Zero was numb.
Grinding day and night to play the game was one thing, but now he even had to spare energy worrying about NPCs' feelings…
Still, if it was UR, he was willing to consider it from his side.
So then, besides the neutron extermination tech, what else did Lan see? What was the purpose of Erudition?
Zero tried asking, but Lan refused to answer, just stared at him in silence.
As a native of Yaoqing, Lan had the morality of a normal person. He would never accept a war without cause.
From that attitude, Zero figured UR probably saw him playing Candy Crush or something.
So Zero tried working backward, taking the Aeon's intended ending, and deducing the Aeon's goal.
The most likely ending was for Zero to lose his precious UR, the two of them breaking apart.
If it were just an ordinary NPC, whatever. But if it was Lan, with perfect stats… then it needed careful thought.
Was the Aeon's goal simply to drive a wedge between him and Lan? To stall him, to protect the balance of the universe?
It seemed that in Erudition's eyes, Lan's value was beyond measure, enough for an Aeon to intervene personally, to force their separation.
Zero never cared for others' opinions in how he acted, much less being manipulated.
He felt annoyed, but he wasn't going to play into an Aeon's plan. He wouldn't let anger cloud his judgment and quarrel with Lan.
Of course he had to keep him. But he had to re-evaluate, did Lan have enough value? Was he worth Zero yielding for?
In the near-dead silence, the blue-haired, black-eyed youth showed a rare sharp gaze, about to speak, only for Zero to cut him off.
Zero lowered his eyes, pretending to be hurt, sighing, "Though I don't know what you saw, your general truly is a good person. He would never harm humans."
Lan's tone was stern, "Yes, you won't harm humans. But you will harm the mechanical lives and the swarm."
Zero, "…"
'Damn it. What on earth did Erudition show him?'
"Can you be sure what you saw was the truth?"
He took a deep breath. "Don't forget the Abundance Abominations on the Xianzhou, and those swarms we just wiped out. They were too close to us. Can you guarantee they wouldn't come to Yaoqing?"
Using Abundance Abominations and the swarm as examples, Zero reasoned with him, tried to appeal to emotion, hoping Lan would put down his prejudice against the colossus.
Lan said coldly, "You will die."
Hearing this, Zero froze.
Lan stared at him, repeating, "General, you will die."
Zero almost blurted out, 'Everyone dies.'
But wait, wasn't his health bar locked in the game? Could NPCs really gang up and kill him?
He guessed he'd better tread carefully.
Seeing no change in the general's expression, Lan realized he hadn't taken the words seriously, and went on, "You'll be up against many Aeons."
Zero fell silent.
So before clearing the game, he had to fight those high-level NPCs after all?
Looked like he'd need to play safe, research even stronger warships, just in case.
Then inspiration struck, he thought of the Aether Anchor Engine. He immediately opened the system's tech tree and carefully studied the relevant projects.
Once activated, the Aether Anchor Engine would gather energy from the universe and then elevate their consciousness to a higher dimension.
So, if he lured Aeons in, could he directly siphon their energy?
If yes, wouldn't that let him clear the game faster? Or ascend to a higher plane? Break the fourth wall?
'Wow. What a genius I am.'
Maybe what Lan saw was exactly this future, that he died, probably because he mistimed activating the engine, ending up destroyed by a bunch of NPCs.
As expected of his UR. This time, he would get the timing right.
Zero's eyes gleamed as he looked at Lan, who had just given him inspiration.
Lan, seeing the general's silence, thought he'd actually taken his words to heart.
He let out a quiet breath of relief.
But Zero, with blazing eyes, stroked the hamster while telling Lan, "I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, I won't use neutron extermination lightly. Only on planets beyond saving."
For now, he had no intention of drawing the Aeons' or other forces' attention. Staying low-key was the safest bet.
As for the promise to Lan…
'I only said neutron extermination. It has nothing to do with future techniques like Planetary Devastation or Heaven-Burning Divine Weapons, okay?'
And whether a planet can be "saved", that's up to him to define.
"Of course, I also won't have our people risk their lives to save planets that have nothing to do with us."
Zero had no plans to let his subordinates shed blood for other worlds. At most, if another Xianzhou asked for aid, he'd send them out.
Well, since they had neutron extermination now, he might as well have the research department upgrade their gear too.
He wasn't a professional, he'd just leave it to them to experiment freely.
Oh right, didn't he give UR a bow before? Time to swap it out for another.
He pulled an Amos' Bow out of the system backpack.
Zero, 'My backpack doesn't have much else, but I sure have a mountain of pity-spooked weapons… All the standard ones are refinements at five already…'
Without letting him refuse, Zero handed the Amos over with a smile, "Lan, I didn't expect you'd tell me these things. Thank you for your trust. I'll keep my word."
Lan said nothing, accepted the finely crafted bow, and continued working for Yaoqing.
Just as the general promised, he only targeted planets beyond saving. No Yaoqing person was harmed.
Having witnessed godlike, planet-destroying weapons, the people of Yaoqing revered their general even more. It felt as if the immortality they pursued was within reach.
The subordinates grew ever more fanatical. When urging him to ascend failed, they began planning to find him a wife, and even went to Lan for advice.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you think the general likes one beauty a week, one a month, or one a year?"
Lan, "…The general won't like that."
But the officials wouldn't give up, insisting Lan get a clear answer.
So with a stony face, after reporting his duties, Lan asked the general, "Do you prefer seven beauties, thirty beauties, or three hundred sixty-five?"
Zero, "…"
He couldn't remember the last time he'd slept. Now hearing this, he flared up for a moment, but too tired to care, he only took a deep breath, "Tell finance to dock this man's bonus."
Lan accepted the order, then asked, "Do you think immortality is a good thing?"
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