Chapter 87: Oh No, Even Starnet Accounts Can Get Hacked…

Watching Xie Jianxun run off into the distance, Xun Jia thought to himself, This is bad. Who knows what kind of mess he’s going to cause.

In a spot where Emory couldn’t see, he quickly exchanged a glance with Seles.

What now?

Go for it if you have to. Don’t be scared. Worst case, you get bagged and beaten. That was what Seles signaled with his eyes.

Xun Jia couldn’t read that many words from his eyes and could only make do with understanding: Go!

Did Seles think he didn’t know that? Otherwise, could he just bail on the spot?!

He let out a slight breath and rolled his eyes.

Facing Emory, who came up again to ask about his intentions, Xun Jia displayed an almost superhuman level of insight. With no other references, he recalled Xie Jianxun’s usual behavior. He had Emory lead the way in front, while he walked in the middle, with the people Emory had brought and Seles bringing up the rear.

They left the noisy hall packed with students and professors, exited the building, and boarded a campus transport vehicle, heading straight to a secluded small building.

Emory introduced it as a warehouse he had rented with the school. Many mechanical engineering students banded together to rent one to store their practice projects and assembled parts, since professional classrooms didn’t have that much capacity.

As he spoke, the group got off the transport vehicle, and Emory swiped a card to open the warehouse door.

The warehouse door slid upward, and a beam of blue light swept from the deepest part of the warehouse, scanning over them before vanishing.

Xun Jia jumped in fright, thinking it was some kind of killing mechanism, but Emory acted as if it were nothing and emerged unscathed, smiling as he invited them inside.

“Come on in. This is my warehouse…”

Seeing Xun Jia and Seles standing still, he looked puzzled for a moment before suddenly realizing: “Oh, that’s my personal Intelligent Mecha. I added a semi-automatic program to it—if it detects someone opening the door without me present, it launches an automatic attack. It’s dormant now, so don’t worry, Mr. Xie.”

Acting like some laser-wielding murder machine… Xun Jia grumbled inwardly as he stepped into the warehouse.

The warehouse was huge, storing twenty or thirty Intelligent Mechas in various states of disassembly or completion. The shelves on both sides were stacked with parts of all shapes and bottles and jars. Emory said there were quite a few Rare Mineral Ointments inside that he had bought at great expense, used to repair discontinued parts.

“You can’t buy this level of Mineral Paste in ordinary malls,” Emory said with irrepressible pride, lowering his voice. “You have to go to higher-level auction halls!”

“If there’s a chance later, I’ll take you to see for yourself.”

Xun Jia’s gaze fell on a certain jar of Rare Mineral Ointment. It had a bright orange canister painted with the ointment’s name, serial number, and fine print for the origin in special coating.

Seeing him stare for so long, Emory specially picked up the jar for him to look at to his heart’s content.

He suddenly said, “Wait, I’ll have someone deliver this to your hotel later—as a thank-you gift from me.”

Wait, what delivery? What thank-you gift?

Xun Jia didn’t react at first and frowned at him. Emory thought he wasn’t satisfied with its value and gritted his teeth: “Anything you like here, you can take back to play with.”

Xun Jia’s first instinct was, This good? I’ll take it all!

…Ahem. No, that wouldn’t do.

He snapped out of it and shook his head slightly. If he really said that, Emory would be the first to fight him over it.

“This is enough. You’re too polite, Mr. Emory,” Xun Jia said distantly.

Emory replied, “These are all just little toys. Mr. Xie, let’s go further in. There’s a big one that I guarantee you’ve never seen.”

Xun Jia pretended to say casually, “Mecha development in the East Territory isn’t that prosperous. It looks like we need to catch up quickly.”

Emory thought he wanted flattery and immediately followed up: “But the East Territory leads the Federation in bionic science. That’s something the Western Border can never catch up to.”

They stopped in front of a sealed display case.

Emory showed it to everyone and said solemnly, “This holds a brand-new Intelligent Mecha. It’s still in the testing phase, but I was lucky enough to buy one and see its internal structure.”

Xun Jia looked up. The display case completely obscured the object inside.

But it was really huge—several times larger than the surrounding ordinary Semi-Automatic Mechs. He estimated that the mecha inside was big enough to fit a person.

“At this stage, our use of Intelligent Mechas is still limited to engineers controlling them via manipulation panels, which comprehensively restricts both precision and field of view.”

Facing the display case, Emory spoke eloquently. “But I dare say this mecha will lead Intelligent Mechas into a new era. As a fusion of mecha and Exoskeleton, it uses neuroscience to link the control panel directly with the brain domain.”

He didn’t know what button he pressed, but the display case slowly opened.

Xun Jia took a step back.

“With it, we can truly achieve solo spaceflight and greatly enhance individual combat power. The built-in intelligent system assists in combat, so Advanced Mech Engineers will no longer be mere intellectuals—their role will be greatly elevated.”

Emory continued slowly, “This is a mecha from the military. I acquired it through connections. From now on, Advanced Mech Engineers will truly have a place in the military.”

With clear intent, Emory handed a button to Xun Jia, his gray-blue eyes narrowing suggestively: “Its field of view is broad and clear. Want to give it a try?”

Xun Jia took the button but didn’t move.

After a moment, he cautiously handed it to Seles: “You check it out.”

The ‘bodyguard’ needed to protect the employer’s safety. For something unfamiliar and potentially dangerous like this, it was perfectly normal for the bodyguard to go first… It was just a shame for this brand-new mecha of his!

Emory’s smile revealed nothing: “This way.”

Seles looked eager to try it. As a local born and raised in Silver Watchtower, he had been immersed in mecha culture since childhood. Though he hadn’t chosen a related major, his interest in innovative mechas was naturally several times greater than Xun Jia’s.

With a flip, he climbed into the mecha entrance specified by Emory, buckled up like in a spaceship, and connected to the brain domain controller.

The controller was split between brain domain and manual. Suddenly, his vision blurred, and then the entire field of view sharpened and expanded—he could clearly see every corner of the warehouse!

With a slight finger movement, the mecha responded like an extension of his own body, agilely lifting an arm and pressing down on the top of the adjacent display case.

Soon, Seles climbed out of the mecha.

Xun Jia asked with interest, “How was it?”

Seles thought for a moment and spoke in the most bodyguard-like tone: “Like… an amplified Exoskeleton. Enhanced vision, operation precision… improved several times over.”

Big bro, your bodyguard impression isn’t that great either.

Xun Jia held back a laugh as he looked at him. Did bodyguards really spit out words one by one like that?

Now it was his turn. Xun Jia took a deep breath and nodded: “It does look novel. The military always comes up with good stuff.”

Emory said, “Mr. Xie, this good stuff is yours now.”

He gestured for them to look at the button in their hands. Xun Jia glanced down and realized it looked very similar to Xie Jianxun’s Space Optical Brain.

“The military calls them Mecha Buttons—a new product using space storage tech, just like the previous Space Optical Brain that you know about.”

He acted generously: “I’m giving it to you because you like it, Mr. Xie. Don’t mind that it’s second-hand from me!”

He deliberately cracked a joke to close the distance between them.

Sure enough, ‘Mr. Xie’ laughed and said he was really something.

As they left the warehouse, Emory’s heart bled.

Everything he gave away today wasn’t cheap. He had hemorrhaged resources, all hoping for more in return.

His family company had been rooted in Silver Watchtower for years but was subtly excluded by established groups, with no extra development. They had no choice but to spend money on favors and resources, accumulating connections bit by bit.

If he could tap into East Territory connections, why worry about the Western Border market?

Hoping this lord’s prince would come in handy…

With that thought, Emory perked up and told a few cold jokes about mechas, warming up the atmosphere.

The previously aloof ‘Mr. Xie’ now warmed up too, thanks to his efforts. Emory hummed inwardly.

No matter the status, no one could dislike someone as perceptive and capable as him.

But heaven didn’t want to help. Just as they were about to exit the path to the warehouse, a girl suddenly burst out from the side and grabbed Emory’s arm.

She appeared too quickly and caught everyone off guard—no one could stop her. She actually touched Emory.

“Emory!!!”

Emory cursed inwardly about who this woman was. Looking down, it was his junior from last month whom he had just dumped. Now she clung to his arm, tears streaming down sadly.

This is bad, he thought, then pressed her shoulders.

“Why are you here?” he whispered. “Didn’t I say we weren’t right for each other? We broke up ages ago.”

But the girl didn’t catch his implication or notice the situation—maybe she did, but didn’t care.

Tugging his sleeve, she cried, “You call that breaking up? Even job rejections aren’t that heartless—a text message as notice!”

Xun Jia took half a step back, aligning with Seles.

He mouthed: Whoa.

The sunglasses on Seles’s nose twitched, probably showing some expression, though it was hidden.

It looked tricky, but Emory had his own way of handling her.

He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, turned back to give Xun Jia an apologetic smile, indicating he needed to handle an urgent matter first, and had his subordinate lead the others away.

Then he took the girl to a nearby grove and whispered in her ear.

Moments later, her expression indeed improved.

Reluctant, she said, “You really chose Miss Nevi. What about me?”

Emory smiled, affection flowing in his gray-blue eyes.

“You got what you deserved. For the rest, I’ll compensate you personally—as our little secret,” Emory said smoothly. “If you need anything in the future, come find me. I won’t turn you down.”

After sending her off, he turned back and saw Xun Jia still standing there.

He didn’t think it was a problem and smiled apologetically: “Sorry for the show, Mr. Xie.”

‘Mr. Xie’ suddenly asked, “How many girlfriends do you have?”

Emory raised an eyebrow: “Of course, only Miss Nevi! The others are from before—when I was young and foolish. I’ll clean them up soon. It won’t affect our… cooperation at all.”

The previously relaxed atmosphere vanished in an instant.

Xun Jia looked at him sadly. Just five minutes ago, he had been naively hoping Emory might differ from the rumors, without so many flings. Their interactions were just an accidental side plot.

Now he realized this was Emory’s normal life.

He and his family were just a small segment of Emory’s ‘foolish youth.’

He repeated, “Foolish?”

Emory nodded: “Yes, yes, young and foolish. Now that she’s gone, shall we continue? Up ahead is Silver University’s functional field, and over there is…”

Xun Jia didn’t know how he held it together without letting Emory notice anything wrong.

Back at the hotel, the anger lodged in his spine finally dissipated, leaving him utterly miserable.

A while later, Xie Jianxun came in. While changing into indoor slippers, he casually said, “You’re back already? I just went to find Professor Idis, but the guy wasn’t there again… You, what’s wrong with you?!”

Why did he look like he was about to cry?!

Not only did Xie Jianxun think something was off with Xun Jia—Seles couldn’t help but comfort him too: “Want to hide in the bathroom and cry it out?”

The young man pretended to pull invisible earplugs from his pocket and plug his ears: “We absolutely won’t eavesdrop.”

Xun Jia grumbled thickly through red eyes: “I’m not.”

Xie Jianxun eyed his reddened eyes and the nasal tone in his voice, worried: “You sure you don’t need to?”

Xun Jia said loudly, “I’m fine! I’m super fine!”

Seles quietly told Xie Jianxun, “On the way back, Emory had an ex-girlfriend show up and pester him. He handled her very smoothly. We suspect he’s done this more than once.”

Xie Jianxun fell silent for a moment, then suddenly had a lightbulb moment.

The Little Adventurer said coldly and ruthlessly, “Let me extract his usual address. Then we can find a night to put a sack over his head and give him a beating.”

Xun Jia stopped picking his nose. “…”

Xie Jianxun continued, “Tie him up with rope and hang him under a streetlamp.”

Seles said sincerely, “Xunxun, you’re amazing.”

Xie Jianxun added, “Hang a sign on his chest that says ‘Scumbag with No Morals Who Dates Eight Women at Once,’ so everyone can see it.”

Xun Jia had already been led astray by his train of thought. “Can we really do that?”

Xie Jianxun replied, “No.”

Xun Jia: “…”

Xie Jianxun walked over and draped an arm over his shoulder, sighing as he said, “Since we can’t do that, we’ll have to find the right time and opportunity. Don’t worry—he’ll end up hanging from a streetlamp sooner or later.”

That evening, Xie Jianxun lay on the bed, his waist and abdomen wrapped in the hotel’s high-end, soft down comforter. A faint breeze whispered from the ceiling nearby—the hotel’s central ventilation system exchanging air.

His Light Brain flashed, as if a new message had arrived.

He flipped over, squinted his eyes, and opened the Light Brain’s instant messaging with one hand. He mumbled the words on the screen, “New friend, hello, I am Idis… Hmm?! Idis!”

He instantly approved the friend request. Just as he was about to type, a message popped up from the other side, so fast it seemed like it had been waiting in the input box all along.

“Hello! You’re Xunxun, right? Very happy to meet you!”

The delighted expression on Xie Jianxun’s face slowly faded.

He thought to himself, Oh no, this is either a scammer or a hacked account.