Chapter 108: My God, Boss, Don’t Let…

The two sudden price hikes and one-shot kills made the host glance at that private booth once more, leaving a deep impression of the slightly younger voice inside.

He smiled broadly, after all, an auction with no unsold items meant a hefty commission for him.

With that in mind, he arranged for guests who hadn’t won any bids to exit from the left, while those who had secured items were to wait in their booths for staff to escort them to private sealed rooms for the transactions.

Tuls also gained a new understanding of his boss’s wealth.

He gave Xie Jianxun a deep look, realizing he’d misjudged him before—he hadn’t realized that real rich people looked like this.

No wonder, after discovering he wasn’t a professional treasure hunter, they hadn’t taken it seriously. That 100,000 salary was handed out casually, and they could keep him around as an assistant without a second thought.

Young people were easy to coax. He quickly sidled up, grinning. “Boss, you were throwing money around like water today. Didn’t even blink at all that cash.”

His flattery was clumsy and awkward, nearly backfiring spectacularly.

Xie Jianxun replied candidly, “It’s family money, not from my own efforts. Nothing to brag about. When do we go pick up the items?”

Tuls said, “Wait for someone to come get us. No rush.”

Just as he spoke, a staff member hurried over respectfully to the booth and invited them to move to a small room.

The small room held a professional appraiser and a financier. Windowless, they stood and bowed deeply as Xie Jianxun and Tuls entered.

Tuls thought, what a big production.

Especially when they saw Xie Jianxun pay the massive sum in one go, their smiles deepened, as if they wished they could keep this god of wealth here to join the next auction.

Money and goods exchanged hands, and Xie Jianxun received his coveted lots.

One was raw material, nothing much to see, so he stored it directly in his space optical brain.

The other was the egg he’d been fixated on.

From afar, it didn’t seem that large. But up close, he realized the egg was half as tall as a person—a true giant egg.

The appraiser pushed over the glass case securing the egg and reminded him, “Hatching day is very soon. You might need to keep an eye on it at all times. When it hatches, it’s best not to store it in a space optical brain, to avoid affecting its development.”

Xie Jianxun asked, “Can I open it?”

The appraiser replied, “Of course.”

He helped open the upper half of the glass case. Xie Jianxun reached out, his fingers touching the eggshell.

Unexpectedly, it felt warm.

Hot, even, as if a heartbeat pulsed within. Xie Jianxun even had the illusion that the creature inside already had its own consciousness and was striving to get closer to him.

He murmured in a daze, “It’s warm.”

“Hm?” The appraiser looked at the egg in surprise. Once Xie Jianxun moved his hand, he reached out to touch it himself and said oddly, “Strange, it feels a bit cool to me. Maybe it really likes you, sir.”

He slipped in another subtle compliment.

The massive glass case holding the egg wouldn’t have fit if not for Xie Jianxun’s spacious space optical brain.

Xie Jianxun stowed everything away. The staff escorted them to the exit, sending off their god of wealth with enthusiasm and regret. “Take care, you two.”

They returned the way they came, emerging from the secret passage onto the surface. It was already deep into the night.

Xie Jianxun checked his light brain and found Idis had sent ninety-nine messages.

“Xunxun! Why aren’t you home yet?”

“It’s already eight o’clock, Xunxun. Remember to head home early today~”

“…It’s ten o’clock now, Xunxun! It’s dangerous outside!”

“Wahhh, Xunxun, where are you? Why aren’t you replying…”

Clearly not words Idis would say. Xie Jianxun chuckled helplessly and sent an emoji, virtually patting the mechanical arm’s head.

“On my way home now. No need to worry.”

He typed rapidly. “Aren’t you afraid Idis will see the chat history and fix you up?”

The mechanical arm sent a few dots… The ninety-nine messages vanished instantly, replaced by an obedient one: “Xunxun, waiting for you to come back!”

It was a snake-shaped mechanical arm, yet it spoke and acted like a wagging-tailed puppy.

What had Idis been thinking when he made a mechanical arm with this personality? Did he want a pet to keep him company too?

Xie Jianxun closed his light brain and asked, “How do we get back?”

Tuls sneezed. He’d dressed thinly for style today and quickly pulled his round hat over his head for some relief.

Tuls held up two fingers. “Boss, we have two options now. One: head back to the bus stop and wait for the night bus, then transfer to the high-speed maglev home. Two: see if we can hail a cab here. It’ll be pricier, but more reliable.”

Xie Jianxun thought it over and decided to cab it. This was the middle of nowhere; who knew how long they’d wait for a bus.

A cab would just cost more, and they could pay extra to summon one.

He was just about to pull out his light brain to open the ride-hailing app when Tuls raised his left hand high and waved frantically, successfully attracting a lone cab prowling the empty road.

As soon as the car pulled up, the window rolled down. Surprisingly, there was already a passenger in the back seat besides the driver.

The driver spoke in a thick accent, shouting, “You guys want to carpool?”

Xie Jianxun hesitated and exchanged a glance with Tuls.

Seeing no reply, the driver pulled a cigarette from his pocket, stuck it in his mouth unlit, and impatiently urged, “Cabs are rare out here. Get in or I’m leaving.”

Tuls pointed at the back-seat passenger. “We’re going to… the Central Business District. Is he on the way?”

The driver bellowed, “He’s going to the Central Business District too! Perfect match—what’s not on the way?!”

Tuls turned back and whispered to Xie Jianxun, “Boss, you decide.”

He felt a bit uneasy, unconsciously touching his pocket, his eyes flicking to the back-seat passenger a couple times. Something felt familiar.

Had he seen them somewhere before? He pondered.

Xie Jianxun glanced at the driver, then tapped on his light brain’s ride-hailing app. The driver honked loudly in response.

The piercing horn echoed far in the empty surroundings.

Xie Jianxun signaled Tuls to stall. He was still waiting for the app to respond.

Tuls shouted, “How much to the Central Business District then?”

The driver slapped the car door, yelling, “120 per person!”

Tuls frowned and haggled. “Black cab much? That’s highway robbery!”

Driver: “I’m telling you, meter plus night surcharge would be way more than 120. This is an air sedan—costs more to begin with… Hey, you two getting in or not? I’m leaving!”

Xie Jianxun waited ages with no nearby drivers accepting. He sighed. “Forget it, let’s go.”

The carpool passenger sat behind the driver, leaving the front passenger seat and right-rear seat open.

Logically, Tuls should take shotgun, Xie Jianxun the back.

But the treasure hunter wasn’t comfortable with that. He dove straight into the back, motioning Xie Jianxun to sit beside him, using his body to separate the boss from the other passenger.

Xie Jianxun followed suit into the back. The three squeezed in side by side. He casually shut the door, and the lock clicked loudly.

The driver fell strangely silent for a moment, then said casually, “All to the Central Business District, right? Let me check.”

He pulled up his light brain, tapped ‘Air Sedan-Navigation,’ and the vehicle slowly lifted off, speeding along the guided route.

The ride was smooth, no bumps.

It was already 11 p.m. in the suburban wilds. The road was deserted, with only occasional small buildings lit up along the roadside visible through the windows.

Xie Jianxun grew drowsy and closed his eyes.

The driver glanced back via the rearview mirror. Seeing Xie Jianxun’s eyes shut, he nearly smirked—until he met Tuls’s wide-awake glare staring right back through the mirror.

Driver: “…”

Tuls: “What’re you looking at me for? Watch the road.”

The driver subtly averted his gaze and kept driving.

Twenty minutes later, even Tuls was fading, eyelids drooping as he yawned.

He wasn’t young anymore; stamina had limits. Staying up this late made his eyes heavy.

He glanced sideways at Xie Jianxun, who leaned quietly against the door with eyes closed—asleep or not, he couldn’t tell. Tuls sighed in relief, thinking a quick nap wouldn’t hurt.

But as he looked up slightly, he noticed the navigation had veered off. The driver was heading who-knows-where.

Tuls shot upright, alarms blaring. “Why aren’t you following the navigation?”

The commotion woke the other passenger too, who straightened slightly in the dim night.

The driver said nonchalantly, “This way’s shorter.”

Tuls snapped, “Bullshit! You needed navigation to the Central Business District—how’d you suddenly know a shortcut?”

It hit him: damn, they’d gotten into a black cab!

The vehicle slowed. Tuls turned to shake Xie Jianxun. “Boss, wake up…”

But before his hand reached, the guy behind grabbed his shoulder, twisting him around and pinning him over his knees, immobile.

“What’re you moving for?”

The man said, clamping Tuls’s neck harder with his other hand, forcing his back to arch. “Your boss is so young—you don’t want him dying here, do you?”

Tuls’s mind screamed profanities, but the pain choked his words.

The disguised cab halted completely in midair, motionless.

The driver released the wheel, twisting around from the front seat. “Look at you two, so vigilant for what? One up front, one back—makes it easy for us.”

Tuls couldn’t speak. He barely turned his head, finally making out the back-seat passenger’s face in the shadows.

It clicked!

Wasn’t this the stall owner who’d sold them the auction entry tickets?!

…Holy shit, no wonder it felt off. “Picked up from the road”? Probably robbed somewhere, then sold at markup to gauge their wealth before ambushing with a cab.

A perfect chain, with “customers” in endless supply.

“Boss… Boss!” He wrenched free slightly, voice hoarse calling Xie Jianxun—only to get his throat crushed again, nearly retching.

It had some effect. Xie Jianxun beside him stirred and opened his eyes.

His golden eyes still held confusion. He first eyed the folded, pinned Tuls, then the driver and passenger.

Xie Jianxun: “…”

He said dryly, “Gentlemen, good evening. Am I dreaming?”

The little adventurer trembled pitifully, looking utterly helpless.

The driver said, “Evening, little boss. Hand over 200,000, and I’ll drop you on the roadside instead of tossing you out.”

With that, he pulled a coil of rope from under the seat, signaling the stall owner to tie Tuls first.

The stall owner took the rope, grinning. “Don’t blame me. Just trying to eat.”

Tuls’s heart sank. He struggled. “You damn robbers… Soon as we’re out, I’m calling the cops—gonna get you all locked up!”

Xie Jianxun thought, nothing else, but your taunting skills are top-tier.

Sure enough, the back passenger bound him tight. Even with the spacious rear seat, they trussed him thoroughly.

The driver nodded approvingly and asked Xie Jianxun, “What do you say, little boss?”

Xie Jianxun said calmly, “Transfer in midair? Not trusting that. Land the car, open the door, and I’ll pay.”

Driver: “Open the door? What if you ditch him and run?”

Tuls craned his head toward Xie Jianxun, mouth stuffed with cloth, eyes teary, speechless.

Xie Jianxun: “Out here in the boonies, no one around for ages—where would I run? Besides, two of you couldn’t catch me?”

The driver considered. Fair point.

The air sedan descended slowly, landing with a clunk of parts.

But the door stayed shut. The driver yanked out his light brain. “Talk’s cheap. Pay up, then you’re free.”

Tuls’s heart plummeted.

200,000, boss… 200,000…

Just robbed away like that…

Xie Jianxun pointed at Tuls. “At least untie him first.”

The stall owner said, “No way. If this big guy goes berserk, I won’t be able to handle it.”

The driver had already lost his patience. He slammed the steering wheel hard, and the horn blared loudly on the highway. “Are you gonna pay up or not? If not, we’ll tie you up too and dump you both in the roadside grass to freeze all night.”

Xie Jianxun sighed. “Even if we pay, we’ll still be stuck blowing cold wind all night… Fine.”

He made as if to pull out his Light Brain.

The robbers didn’t take him seriously at all. He was just a scrawny teenager with no visible muscles—a kid who couldn’t fight or run.

They were far more wary of Tuls, the adult male, so they kept a close eye on him.

That was why, when Xie Jianxun pulled a gun out of his Light Brain, they were completely caught off guard.

Tuls’s eyes nearly popped out of his head in shock. He was stunned.

The Little Adventurer pressed its gun barrel against the stall owner’s forehead and said slowly, “I know this line of work is tough, so I advise you—it’s best if you quit while you’re ahead.”

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror and slowly gaped in disbelief.

Everyone in the car stared at the only thermal weapon in Xie Jianxun’s hand and fell into an eerie silence.

“…”

“…”

Tuls stammered, “B-Boss, you, you…”

His mind echoed with just one phrase: “My God!”

The stall owner reacted fastest. He grabbed Tuls and shoved him in front as a shield while sliding to his knees. “Sorry! I lost my mind! I swear I won’t do it again!”

Xie Jianxun stayed silent as he gradually shifted the gun barrel to aim at the driver’s head.

The driver: “…”

He was probably cursing his rotten luck inwardly—who knew he’d pick a mark with a gun? But honestly, they’d chosen their target carefully this time.

Someone with sharp eyes, a bit of cash but not too much—easy to rob for goods without affording bodyguards.

And this big-and-small duo should have been perfect… Plus, they had the terrain advantage and the car!

Lure them in, lock the doors, do whatever, grab the money, and vanish into the night. Perfect plan.

The driver blustered, “You’re just a kid—do you even dare to shoot?”

Xie Jianxun shifted the gun slightly and fired with a crisp bang. The car window shattered.

The driver yanked his hands off the steering wheel and raised them high, shrieking in a high-pitched voice.

“…Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me!!! I’ve got money on me—take it, all of it!”

Xie Jianxun said, “I don’t want your money. I just want you to drive and take us back.”

Driver: “Right, right, right! Central Business District, yeah? Let’s go, let’s go.” He agreed frantically while hurriedly starting up the Air Sedan.

Soon, the car lifted back into the air and flew with unusual steadiness.

Tuls’s ropes were untied too.

Now, everyone in the front seats and back—except Xie Jianxun—sat ramrod straight like zombies, eyes fixed ahead. No one dared glance away, terrified that someone might get annoyed and fire off a shot for fun.

Twenty minutes later, the Air Sedan returned to the city district.

The vehicle parked in an empty spot. The driver cautiously turned his head. “Uh, could you… get out now?”

Xie Jianxun pocketed the gun and got out first.

Tuls followed right after, baring his teeth at the two in the black car. He kicked the back seat once before slamming the door shut.

Once the flyer had fled into the night, Tuls let out a breath of relief.

He turned back, asking nervously, “What exactly do you do, boss?” Suddenly pulling out a gun like that—he couldn’t handle it!

Xie Jianxun calmly replied, “My family’s in hunting.” As he spoke, he tapped his Light Brain to file an anonymous police report online.

Tuls: “Oh…”

…Like hell he bought that!

After parting with Tuls, Xie Jianxun yawned twice in a row and took the elevator up to his floor.

Unexpectedly, when he opened the door, the living room lights were dim. A figure in a wheelchair sat off to the side by the mosaic-tiled wall, quietly waiting for him to return home.

The entryway light glowed faintly, half-illuminating Idis’s face.

As Xie Jianxun bent down to change his shoes, he greeted, “Professor Idis, you’re still up?”

Idis hummed softly. “Why’d you come back so late?”

In that instant, it was like a jolt of electricity. Xie Jianxun felt goosebumps rise all over. Halfway through changing his shoes, he jerked his head up and locked eyes with Idis, searching that familiar face for clues.

That speech pattern and tone—it was exactly like the Mechanical Puppet’s.

He hesitated. “One?!”

After speaking, Idis suddenly fell silent, baffled by his own words.

He froze for a moment, then snapped back to his usual demeanor. “Are you calling your Mechanical Puppet? It’s still asleep upstairs. You’ll have to wait a few days to see it.”

With that, he maneuvered his wheelchair and hastily left. “I was waiting for you to return. It’s polite to greet a guest.”

Xie Jianxun stood there for a long time before slowly changing his other shoe under the dim entryway light.

He didn’t know that after Idis left, he too was stunned by his own slip-up.

And it was all clearly triggered by his second dive into the Mechanical Puppet’s chip memories earlier.