Chapter 206: Chapter 206: I’m This Awesome, So What If I Have Some Mutant Friends (Bootlickers)?
"Run? Let’s see where you can run."
’I couldn’t beat you inside the Sanctuary. If I still can’t beat you now that you’ve left, then you came out here for nothing, didn’t you?’
When Qi Suian saw his opponent turn to flee, he gave chase without a moment’s hesitation.
This was a Level 3 Fire Seed Armor delivered right to his doorstep. As long as he killed his opponent, the man’s Level 3 Sanctuary would be as good as half his.
Grand Elder Sloan also noticed Qi Suian’s relentless pursuit and couldn’t help but curse inwardly, ’Where the hell did this pure-blood come from?’
Before he could even think of any leads, the Tai Sui God was already upon him.
The Rinretsu Noble’s awakening skill certainly dealt enough damage, but against the Tai Sui God, it was even less effective than the Corpse Demon General’s awakening skill, which could at least chip away at it.
"Die, you bastard!" Qi Suian cursed as he watched the Tai Sui God hammer his opponent right off his horse.
It then casually landed a headshot on the man’s horse, leaving him horseless on the spot.
Otherwise, with a horse, his opponent could have fled quickly. Without one, he was sure to die much sooner.
Sloan took the hit and almost couldn’t get back up.
Being too far from the Sanctuary meant that the Rinretsu Noble, a Level 3 Fire Seed Armor, couldn’t receive sufficient amplification. Naturally, its defensive capabilities were greatly weakened.
"Who... Who are you?" Sloan struggled to get up, muttering, "They are mutants from the Steel Brotherhood, enemies of all pure-bloods."
"How could you..."
Before he could finish, he was struck by the Tai Sui God’s hammer again.
It knocked his faceplate clean off. Before he could make another move, the Tai Sui God’s iron fist smashed directly into his face.
This time, without the empowerment from Qi Suian’s Feast energy, it didn’t blow his head apart.
But the Tai Sui God’s fist still punched straight through his skull, leaving him as dead as could be.
Then, it skillfully began to strip off the Rinretsu Noble, the Level 3 Fire Seed Armor. With this, he could now go and take the Sanctuary’s fire seed and synthesize a complete Level 3 fire seed.
’This protagonist aura is really something,’ Qi Suian mused. ’It just casually hands me everything, from cannon fodder to a Level 3 Sanctuary.’
’As a wish-granting machine, the protagonist aura certainly has a lot of potential.’
’No matter how it happens, the end result is what I wanted.’
’The process might have been a bit dramatic, but as long as it benefited him, Qi Suian just accepted it.’
’If the subconscious from Celestial Fate: Profound were still around, this probably wouldn’t have been so easy.’
’That thing probably held the corresponding authority.’ Qi Suian was glad he had eliminated it early. Otherwise, would the protagonist aura even listen to him?
’It would have probably weighed the pros and cons first before deciding whether to act.’
’Although having someone help with planning is a good thing, isn’t it even better to have the initiative in my own hands?’
’Next, shouldn’t we figure out a way to trick those mutants into coming up the mountain to work for us for free and serve as cannon fodder?’
"AI, do you have a plan?" Qi Suian’s gaze fell on the mutants from the Steel Brotherhood who had narrowly escaped death.
[Proceed as planned. You can just impersonate a mutant.]
"Alright. After that heroic rescue, all I need to do is make myself a bit uglier, and the rest won’t be a problem."
As he spoke, Qi Suian began to manipulate the Profound cells in his body, turning himself into a grotesque puddle of slime with limbs.
Then he walked over, preempting them before they could speak.
"Where are you mutants from? Why are so many pure-bloods trying to kill you?" Qi Suian asked, already knowing the answer.
"We’re from the south. The Steel Brotherhood." As the captain of this operation, the mutant Cummings stepped forward, watching Qi Suian warily.
Only pure-bloods could wear combat armor. He didn’t understand why this person hadn’t killed them.
’Rescue?’ That seemed unrealistic. The person seemed more like they were slaughtering pure-bloods.
"Never heard of it. Are mutants from the south this tough? The ones in the north are all a bunch of wimps," Qi Suian said, opening his faceplate.
Seeing Qi Suian’s appearance, the man was stunned. He was also a mutant.
"No... you... how is that possible???" Cummings looked dumbfounded, his words stumbling out.
"What’s the problem? Is it so strange that I’m a mutant?" Qi Suian said, lowering his faceplate again. "You guys are certainly tough, but not too bright. A real shame."
"It’s not a matter of my intelligence. How can you use combat armor?" Cummings asked, forcing himself to calm down.
Because of his preconceptions, Cummings had already accepted that Qi Suian was a mutant.
"Who told you this is combat armor? I stripped this off a Pure-blooded Warrior and forged it into my own Steel Armor."
"Only I can use it!" Qi Suian casually fabricated a reason.
Cummings’s heart skipped a beat when he heard this.
If he could bring this Steel Armor technology back to the Steel Brotherhood, its strategic value would be far greater than establishing a foothold in the north.
But the problem was... the technology was in Qi Suian’s hands, and they were strangers. Moreover, judging from his tone, he didn’t seem to need any help.
So the chances of getting it from him were slim.
’As for capturing him and torturing the information out of him? That’s completely unrealistic.’
’An enemy he couldn’t defeat was easily eliminated by this person. On what grounds could he possibly capture him?’
’If he showed the slightest hint of malice, he would probably be killed on the spot.’
’The best way is to trick him into coming back south with them. Then, not only would they obtain the Steel Armor technology, but they would also gain a talent who could continuously improve and optimize it.’
’Of course, just getting the technology would be the next best thing.’
’And Qi Suian himself? He hadn’t even considered him. For the freedom of all mutants, a personal sacrifice was perfectly normal.’
’He himself had sacrificed his own interests for the cause and hadn’t said a word about it.’
So, he began to scheme, planning to first get closer to him and slowly, through subtle influence, make him understand the importance of the Steel Brotherhood to mutants.
"I never thought that we mutants would one day be able to use combat armor. It’s incredible," Cummings remarked with emotion, then moved closer.
He seemed to want to say more, but Qi Suian cut him off.
"What’s so incredible about it? It’s just that you all don’t work hard enough," Qi Suian said dismissively. At the same time, the AI provided new feedback based on its observation of Cummings.
[Based on analysis of his facial expressions, he...]
’Oh, he wants the Tai Sui God’s technology, and he’s also trying to suck up to me.’ Qi Suian summarized the analysis and broke into a smile. ’Well, that makes things easy. Now we’ll turn the tables on them.’
’We’ll make them beg to be my cannon fodder.’
Qi Suian’s method was simple: play hard to get and make them willingly kiss his ass.
"Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’m going to go take out that Level 3 Sanctuary. You guys can go play wherever you want," Qi Suian said with an impatient wave.
He turned to leave, and seeing this, Cummings grew anxious and hurried to stop him.
"We’ll go with you! It’s a perfect chance for revenge," Cummings blurted out.
’If he really let Qi Suian leave, where would he ever find him again? It was better to go with him and build some goodwill.’
’Becoming friends would be best, of course. If that didn’t work, he could at least improve their relationship by being temporary comrades-in-arms.’
"You guys? Forget it. I don’t want to get distracted protecting you," Qi Suian said dismissively.
This made Cummings’s heart soar with joy. For Qi Suian to say that meant he already had a good impression of them.
All he had to do now was play his cards right, and going with the flow to become friends wouldn’t be a big problem.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have even mentioned being distracted by protecting them.
"We’ve been through the thick of it. We’re certainly no match for a pure-blood’s Fire Seed Armor, but their regular combat armor is no real threat to us."
Cummings was very confident when he said this.
He wasn’t being arrogant; he truly had the ability.
If it weren’t for their injuries and exhaustion, they wouldn’t necessarily have lost to Sloan and his Rinretsu Noble Fire Seed Armor.
Even if they did lose, they could have guaranteed a full retreat.
Of course, that’s assuming they weren’t surrounded.
Otherwise, with their small numbers, they truly wouldn’t have had the strength to fight back.
One-on-one, they could win easily. One-on-ten, they could fight their way out.
But one-on-a-hundred? They’d be lucky if even their bones were left.
In the south, while the Steel Brotherhood still stood, it was only barely holding on. It wasn’t that they were making the Sanctuaries retreat battle after battle; on the contrary, they were the ones constantly falling back, just managing to endure.
Otherwise, why would they bother expanding into the north? Besides growing their influence, they were also looking for a way out.
If the Steel Brotherhood were ever eradicated in the south, at least they would have a foothold in the north, instead of becoming homeless dogs.
"Fine. But you’re on your own. I won’t have time to look after you." Qi Suian had been waiting for this. They were still recovering and were indeed a bit weak right now.
But once they recovered, even if they couldn’t be real help, they could at least serve as cannon fodder.
As for waiting for them to recover before setting out? That wasn’t what Qi Suian wanted.
’Don’t be fooled by his good attitude. In reality, he’s a lot like me—not a good person.’
’In this Wasteland World, the only good people left are probably the survivors.’
Thinking of the survivors, Qi Suian took a look. They had almost all died off, their numbers dropping from five digits to four.
And the number was still falling. It was clear that without their initial home-field advantage, the third batch of survivors wasn’t adapting well to the Wasteland World.
’But it’s unlikely they’ll all die. Looks like they’ll need a hand from me.’
Otherwise, by the time the next Doomsday World arrived, there would be no new survivors with the new system to replenish their ranks, and he would lose another Extraordinary system.
Growth was already difficult enough. Losing one more would make Qi Suian feel very insecure.
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