"You took money from me yesterday! Did you spend it on that man?!"
"I took money? All your money is earned by me! You're the one using my money to find women!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
"You're the one talking nonsense!"
"Isn't that androgynous person I saw last time you?"
"You saw that on Dream Street?"
"I saw it in the park!!! How many people have you cheated on me with?"
"How dare you say that?! You filthy man!"
"..."
Qin Xuezhong and Yu Zhezhong were having a loud argument at the reception desk of the Public Security Bureau.
The volume of their exchange drew the attention of the onlookers, who were enjoying the drama.
Their faces had been subtly adjusted, and Xiao Qin had controlled the entire bureau through a program she had embedded in the system long ago, bypassing any checks on her chip during registration.
In this environment, she didn't even need Yu Zhezhong to control her body; she could ensure that the various visuals and sounds within the bureau wouldn't leak out.
Thus, they transformed into a couple with chaotic private lives.
One moment they were sweet-talking each other, and the next they were at each other's throats.
The staff at the reception desk, looking at the long list of hotel records displayed on the screen, could only think—this couple must be kept away; they shouldn't be allowed to harm others.
"Enough! Stop shouting! Go sit over there and calm down!"
The staff rubbed their forehead and helplessly ordered.
"Sit down for half an hour, and I'll arrange for someone to mediate. If you keep causing trouble, both of you will be detained!"
With that, Xiao Qin and Yu Zhezhong, still grumbling, finally settled down.
"I need to go to the bathroom!" Shortly after sitting down, Qin Xuezhong announced.
Yu Zhezhong coldly replied, "If you need to go, just go. Why waste breath?"
"I don't know where it is!" Qin Xuezhong was on the verge of erupting again.
Their words and actions clearly indicated that they were just two people with questionable character and bad tempers.
The staff, impatiently pointing to the side, said, "Go over there! Stop making a scene!"
Qin Xuezhong glared at Yu Zhezhong resentfully before getting up to leave.
The bureau was quite empty, as most personnel were out on patrol. Xiao Qin walked to the restroom without encountering anyone.
This kind of environment provided her with significant advantages.
With the cameras and sensors under her control, she confidently strolled into the Analysis Department's office.
The lights were still on.
Having been wanted, with Xie Kedo and Xue Zhi Shi captured, there was only Jin Anan in the office.
It was 11 PM, and usually, the Analysis Department, known for slacking off, would have cleared out by now.
Therefore, seeing the lights on in the office felt oddly unfamiliar to her.
She was at ease approaching Jin Anan because she knew Jin Anan probably guessed that the other three people in the office were related to the ghosts.
Yet, despite everything that had happened, Jin Anan had unconditionally helped her without many questions.
Xiao Qin hadn't wanted to involve her, but now… she had to take a chance.
Upon entering the office, Qin Xuezhong saw Jin Anan turn around, somewhat confused, her eyes widening.
Qin Xuezhong put a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. "Keep it down, Anan. Listen, right now…"
Jin Anan waved her hand dismissively. "No need to explain. What do you need?"
Her attitude left Qin Xuezhong momentarily stunned.
She had planned to explain why she was involved with the ghosts, the current situation, and then persuade Jin Anan to help her. To her surprise, Jin Anan immediately stated her intention to help.
Without hesitation, she replied, "I need a synthetic person with a complete brain-machine interface; I need to install a brain into it."
Jin Anan nodded. "I have one at home. I'll send you the keys to the door and room. But… if you want to implant a live brain, it requires surgery. I have the equipment at home. Do you want me to assist you?"
Jin Anan likely had seen the wanted notice and knew Qin Xuezhong had a brain in her possession.
Yet the notice indicated the brain was infected with a virus, so how was Jin Anan not afraid?
"No need; I have someone who can handle it," Qin Xuezhong looked into her eyes. "Thank you… Why are you helping me?"
Jin Anan smiled confidently. "How could someone who loves slacking off think of destroying the world?"
In that moment, Qin Xuezhong felt Jin Anan radiating brilliance.
---
Jin Anan's home was a bit far; they had to take a long detour through the underground and encountered several close calls before reaching their destination.
By the time they arrived, it was already 3 AM.
After a brief rest at Sky Manor last night, they hadn't really slept, and by this point, they were feeling a bit fatigued.
Considering Yu Zhezhong would need to implant a brain soon, Qin Xuezhong decided to confirm the synthetic person and equipment before resting a bit after arriving at Jin Anan's home.
However, when Qin Xuezhong opened the door and the lights came on, both of them were startled.
The room was full of people.
Or rather, it was filled with handsome and beautiful high-end synthetic beings, who looked just like real people from the outside.
Upon seeing Qin Xuezhong enter, they all bowed in unison. "Good evening, esteemed guest."
Yu Zhezhong chuckled wryly. "Your colleague has quite the unique hobby."
Xiao Qin shrugged and asked, "Are you going to rest first?"
Yu Zhezhong shook his head. "I'm wide awake from the shock. It's fine; we'll prepare first, and I'll rest after we're done."
Soon, Yu Zhezhong set up a makeshift sterile room with a synthetic person inside.
"Your colleague is indeed a dissection expert. There's even an automated surgical arm in here, which makes things much easier. We can start right away," Yu Zhezhong said.
"Alright, do you need my help?"
"No need; just stay on alert. The surgery will take about an hour, and I'm worried about unexpected situations."
"Okay, don't worry," Qin Xuezhong said confidently.
While she couldn't use wireless signals, she could control the building and nearby surveillance facilities through the panels in the room, keeping an eye on the situation at any time.
Before the surgery began, she once again communicated with the girl inside, Ouyang Zhao, explaining the situation.
Then, Yu Zhezhong began.
This was the first time Qin Xuezhong saw Yu Zhezhong as a researcher.
Unlike his high military skills during combat, on the surgical table, Yu Zhezhong didn't need to be alert to everything around him; he focused solely on the task at hand, exuding a unique charm of seriousness.
According to Yu Zhezhong, this surgery wasn't difficult.
With the help of the automated surgical arm, the operator only needed to guide and fine-tune the directions; the AI could handle the specifics of neural connections.
If things got urgent, Xiao Qin could step in.
She watched as Yu Zhezhong opened the synthetic person's head, revealing its interior.
Inside was a hollow shell surrounded by twinkling stars, resembling a crystal cave. In the center was a small mechanical core, which normally powered the synthetic person through its internal programming.
Yu Zhezhong first removed this core to make space for the brain.
Next, he had to connect the neural interfaces of the entire brain to the junction points on the synthetic person's skull, applying a layer of biological active film over the brain like a nutrient chamber to ensure its vitality.
This technology was originally designed for those with complete paralysis, allowing their brains to be transferred to artificial bodies.
However, since it wasn't a biological entity, it didn't have the refined functions of a human body and often required replacement, with poor limb control.
But for paralyzed individuals or for Ouyang Zhao, who had been trapped in her mind for so long, it was a tremendous gift.
Soon, the nerves were gradually connected, and as Yu Zhezhong closed the ultra-thin metallic skull, Qin Xuezhong used her consciousness to help the girl inside, Ouyang Zhao, come forth.
The beautiful eyes of the synthetic being slowly opened.
Ouyang Zhao's first words were: "Damn, your mother finally got the hell out of there."
Standing beside them, the elegant and smiling Yu Zhezhong looked like he was about to crack up, glancing at Qin Xuezhong.
The meaning in his eyes was clear—Are you sure this is the esteemed Dr. Ouyang Zhao who changed the Federation and is highly respected???
We've worked so hard for so long under such dangerous circumstances; you wouldn't have gotten it wrong, would you?
---
Qin Xuezhong smiled bitterly, and before she could speak, Ouyang Zhao chimed in.
"Hey, kid, what are you staring at? Don't make me teach you a lesson. Yes, I'm probably old enough to be your grandma, right?"
"Alright, enough of that," Qin Xuezhong interrupted their banter. "Now that we're wanted across the Federation and have no other help, how do we get to the Capital District?"
"Wait, I want to know first what the main brain is planning. After doing so much, there must be a purpose, right? Like that moon… what's its use?" Yu Zhezhong asked.
Ouyang Zhao looked at the two of them and smiled.
"Want to know? Come over and take a look."
As she spoke, she walked to the window.
Jin Anan's apartment was on a high floor, built on elevated ground, allowing a view of the wilderness outside Creek Valley City.
Flying cars, neon lights, towering forests, the morning sun was breaking through the brilliant rainy night, casting light into the city—a typical scene of life in Creek Valley City.
"What are we looking at?" Qin Xuezhong asked.
Ouyang Zhao awkwardly touched the back of her head and pulled out two data cables, handing one to each of them.
Once connected, a wave of strange and unique code surged into their chips.
Then came a sharp headache.
Qin Xuezhong was first shocked to discover that she could now perceive the Invisible Moon.
Ouyang Zhao could clear illusions?
Before that question fully formed in her mind, she was stunned to see many things in the distance of Creek Valley City gradually dissolving like illusions.
The old town that no one visited, the tree-covered hills far away, and the sky with a gentle rain—they all vanished.
In their place was a landscape of cracked, dusty ground scattered with ruins.
The sun rose through the dust storm, casting shadows over countless dried plants and animal bones on the ground.
In the distance, a massive tornado was forming, blocked by the energy shield protecting the city, like a dark lord eyeing the city with malice.
Ouyang Zhao said softly, "The Invisible Moon is just a small experiment; in reality, the outside world is all an illusion."