Fate Trading System – Chapter 122

Plan A

Interstellar Guardian 7

Dark Room

Su Xin thought it might have been better to just wear the previous gift outfit during the gap, though thinking carefully, there wasn’t much difference in the level of embarrassment.

Su Xin very calmly put on her underwear, bra, black work vest, and fitted combat pants.

The jacket wasn’t worn, just draped over the sofa.

The temperature in the residence was always perfect, regulated according to the outside temperature to maintain the most suitable temperature for the human body’s surface, achieving optimal comfort.

“General.”

Su Xin’s body instinctively stood up and gave a salute.

Renee nodded and returned the pendant to Su Xin.

“It’s been taken care of.”

“Thank you, General.”

Very polite, with clear hierarchical respect.

Fourteen, go check what’s different now.

【Mm.】

Fourteen scanned through the entire mecha’s AI program and reported the results to Su Xin.

【The mecha’s performance has been optimized, attack speed and defense strength have greatly increased, weapon damage capability has been enhanced, the mecha’s AI program hasn’t been altered, but a connection has been established… wait… there’s a surveillance system.】

Fourteen became interested. The surveillance system was placed in the most concealed corner, covered by various program codes, it was an incredibly intricate existence. If Fourteen hadn’t been thorough, such deep-layer elements might not have been discovered.

The surveillance system wasn’t some extraordinary design, but its placement in such deep layers showed the creator’s clever thinking and superior concealment abilities.

Sure enough, Fourteen carefully screened through once more and discovered another system.

【There’s also a self-destruct system.】

Wow.

Su Xin whistled internally, realizing this General really didn’t trust her. With both a monitoring system and a self-destruct system, it seemed if she ever did anything not to the General’s liking or showed any slight signs of betrayal, she’d likely be reduced to bits.

It seemed gaining this person’s trust wouldn’t be an easy task, as she was extremely cautious to such an extent.

What exactly happened to make someone become so suspicious? Indeed, Renee’s methods were effective – if she hadn’t let Fourteen enter the mecha and replace the original AI, she might never have discovered this design. If something were to happen, she would die without even knowing why.

Renee sat naturally on the sofa. Su Xin, whose acting skills were always on point, pretended not to have noticed anything.

“You don’t need to be so formal at home. You can choose to return to your room or stay here.”

Renee had Little One bring her nutrient solution – the most basic kind without flavor that was difficult to consume.

There were clearly better options available, just more time-consuming.

Su Xin chose to sit on the sofa and look at her light brain, the display screen visible to Renee.

Using a terminal could avoid the issue of screen exposure, but Su Xin saw no need for that.

The floating light screen in the air displayed mecha battle videos, still analyzing Renee’s fights.

Renee’s eyes didn’t even glance this way, seemingly unconcerned.

Su Xin thought that Renee actually disliked these kinds of videos.

Putting herself in Renee’s position, Su Xin felt she wouldn’t like it, so instinctively assumed Renee wouldn’t either.

This was indeed a symbol of strength – having every match recorded, analyzed, and watched by countless people with admiration.

But surely no one would like having their fighting style documented like a textbook. Su Xin preferred unexpected attacks, and if someone could predict her patterns and moves, that would undoubtedly be a fatal blow.

If every move Renee made was memorized by others, and they could even guess her next action, what was the point of fighting?

However, an excellent general wouldn’t remain stagnant at this level. Renee sat properly on the sofa, her thoughts unknown.

A somewhat chaotic noise appeared in Su Xin’s mind, which was quite incredible.

That feeling… it was as if Fourteen had face-rolled on a keyboard.

But that’s impossible, as systems don’t communicate with their hosts that way.

What’s wrong?

【Nothing… just some unexpected situation.】

Fourteen answered after a moment of silence. In fact, not just Su Xin, but all hosts had heard that sound from their systems just now.

Su Xin sensed something unusual, tapped the light screen, and looked at Renee with words caught in her throat.

“There’s nothing else for today. Be at the door at seven tomorrow morning sharp.”

Renee said coldly, eyes fixed on Su Xin.

“Yes, Commander!”

Su Xin gave a military salute and went to her room.

Although Renee said there was no need to be formal, that wasn’t possible. Su Xin maintained her character’s identity, keeping a serious expression.

Master Fourteen, has the situation been handled now?

【Actually yes. Just now, the creator was adjusting programs for a system, which interfered with us, that’s why you heard that sound, host.】

What? That’s possible?

【Host, do you remember Thirteen?】

Yes, what happened? Did something happen to it?

Su Xin had good memory – she remembered Fourteen saying there were fourteen systems so far, and when she first entered this world, Fourteen had connected her with Thirteen through voice chat.

Her impression of it was that it was very lively and talkative, completely different from her proper Master Fourteen.

【Not exactly, but it fell in love with its host.】

This scared all the systems, and even the creator was surprised.

Aren’t you all just data? How can you fall in love with humans?

【Um… I’m not sure. Just now the creator was modifying its program, but Thirteen’s host will have to pay a great price.】

No need to explain further, we won’t fall in love anyway.

【…】

These days really anything can happen.

【Host, please control your facial expressions. This house has an intelligent monitoring network, and the house’s owner has the highest authority. She can view any corner of this house whenever she wants.】

Oh.

Su Xin slightly frowned internally, then relaxed.

This was actually better, if Renee really watched…

Master Fourteen, can you ‘deceive’ the hidden systems in the mecha?

【Of course.】

Su Xin lay on the bed, relaxing her body, closing her eyes in false sleep.

Renee had returned to her study, her fingers sliding across the virtual screen. In the upper right corner was a minimized window showing Su Xin with closed eyes.

Renee’s gaze swept over it, harboring a slight expectation for this person, hoping she wouldn’t betray her trust, although currently, she was very stingy and had only given a tiny bit.

It was the first time she had let someone step into her home.

Su Xin was still discussing systems and hosts with Fourteen.

Fourteen’s system avatar was a cold, handsome man, while Thirteen was a lively youth.

Su Xin looked at Thirteen’s image in her mind – it looked like a little sun, especially considering its terrifying chatty ability…

【Host, I’m about to take on a new host.】

Fourteen’s voice was somewhat downcast.

Systems also had tasks and couldn’t slack off. It was time for it to take on a new host.

The shadow (psychological trauma) left by Sun Yixiao still weighed heavily, making it more cautious in selecting hosts.

Although it considered saving energy for the creator, it also needed to protect its hosts. It hoped its hosts could live happy lives after completing their transactions, but the first host Sun Yixiao…

Thinking about how the person Sun Yixiao had always loved stood dazed at the spot where she jumped into the sea, Fourteen rarely felt a sense of satisfaction, followed by heartache, despite not having a heart.

Not worth it… not worth it.

Then go ahead and take one. Have you found a suitable candidate?

【Yes, one. Still observing.】

Fourteen was still hesitating about this host. It could sense that this person would definitely be capable and complete tasks excellently, but might be somewhat antisocial.

With a fair, clean little face looking like a loli, but kills without blinking, with a heart black as coal.

She was different from Su Xin, deeply sunk in a quagmire, without a single ray of light.

This reminded Fourteen of Thirteen’s host, who was also severely antisocial, dark inside and out, had been imprisoned for decades, rarely spoke, but Thirteen’s constant chatter made him feel safe and warm, leading to the current situation.

Such people are very capable but tend to develop obsessions with things.

Both Su Xin and Sun Yixiao were good at letting go – Su Xin because she didn’t care, Sun Yixiao because she had been hurt too many times.

Very hesitant?

【Hesitant.】

Let me see.

A fast-forwarded movie began playing in Su Xin’s mind, showing almost the entire life of that young girl.

Su Xin felt chills. If this were really a movie, it would be dripping with malice, soaked in evil.

Master Fourteen, let’s choose someone else.

【Oh?】

Look at this part.

Su Xin adjusted something like a progress bar in her mind, replaying a specific scene.

She doesn’t need redemption. If she becomes a client, things could go wrong.

The young girl killed an innocent person who had been kind to her, simply because she didn’t want to be moved by anything.

Seriously ill.

【…I’ll look again.】

The next day at seven, Su Xin appeared at the door punctually.

“You don’t need to go out with me.”

Su Xin looked confused.

“Those who follow me can’t be too weak. Starting today, you’ll receive my special training.”

“Yes, Commander!”

“Go down here.”

A section of the floor suddenly opened up, and Su Xin walked down without hesitation.

“Wait for me to come see you.”

Renee adjusted her military cap, her voice rising at the end, carrying a hint of pleasure.

Su Xin walked along the extending staircase. In fact, the sides of the staircase weren’t narrow darkness, but rather an endless sea of stars.

A beauty that could easily make one lose their way, as if suspended in this vast emptiness.

Suddenly, all colors vanished, turning pitch black.

Su Xin felt as if she was locked in a sealed room, unable to see light or hear sound.

The space for movement seemed to have become narrow, only allowing her to stand.

Su Xin wasn’t unfamiliar with this situation; long ago, she frequently underwent this kind of training.

No food, no water, no light, and no sound, just standing until her legs went numb.

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