Several minutes later, inside the office of the Medical Department head at Dream Corporation's Branch 16.
Ren Yiyi said nothing and did nothing, simply staring at Mo Wen as several minutes passed in silence.
Eventually, she was the first to break, frowning coldly. "Had enough fun? Feeling proud now?"
"The entire company is calling you humanity's strongest solo operative. Other corporations have heard the rumors too—if not for confidentiality measures, you'd be world-famous by now."
Mo Wen lowered his head without responding.
Anyone who's been to school knows this scenario: when a teacher berates you for wrongdoing, answering back makes them angrier, admitting fault invites "Then why did you do it?", and staying silent prompts "Why aren't speaking? Ignoring me?"
There's no winning—it's a death trap.
But Mo Wen had a unique presence.
When he wasn't channeling combat intent or steeling his resolve, just standing there alone, he radiated the aura of an orphaned debt-ridden terminal patient who couldn't afford meals and had to sell blood between part-time jobs.
Faced with this image, Ren Yiyi's psychological defenses crumbled first. She sighed helplessly. "Fine. Let's set aside how you went overboard during sparring, injured colleagues remotely, and hospitalized them."
"Now they're bragging about forcing the 'strongest solo operative' to lose control—claiming their injuries prove their strength. They're happier than the uninjured ones."
"Can't you pay more attention to your own condition?!"
"Tell me, what do your augmentation diagnostics and brain scans say?"
"DECEASED!"
"If I hadn't noticed anomalies in others' reports and ordered your immediate examination, you wouldn't even know you were dead!"
Mo Wen didn't argue about being tough, having resurrected before, or how this was just a minor injury. He remained silent, awaiting Ren Yiyi's verdict.
Faced with this "dead" piece of stubborn meat, Ren Yiyi gnashed her teeth, wanting to crack open his skull to see its contents... Well, she already knew, which made her angrier.
"One day, you'll die from your own recklessness!"
"Remember this! Your psychic power might keep you alive, but if the Dream Creator gets damaged and your power goes berserk, you'll die completely—not even ashes left."
"From now on, submit reports for training and missions. No accelerated-time training. Get checked immediately after doing something stupid. I won't tolerate a stinking corpse puppet wandering around."
"Now wait outside until I take you for maintenance."
Mo Wen obediently exited, closed the door, stood straight, and focused on reviewing recent lessons.
Strangely, despite confirmed brain death, he still felt the fatigue from the learning device's memory implantation—apparently couldn't use brain death to skip cooldowns.
Soon, Ren Yiyi stormed out dragging him to maintenance.
The 1.35-meter-tall woman usually carried an authoritative presence when expressionless, but now her scowling face made her resemble an angry elementary student.
Wait... had she gotten shorter?
...
Half a day later, Mo Wen opened his eyes post-maintenance to find not Ren Yiyi, but Branch 16's External Operations Director standing before him, with the Headquarters Director's projection beside him.
The moment Mo Wen awoke, the Headquarters Director eagerly said, "You're awake. Remember the Corporation agent incident?"
"We've reached a resolution. It was all a misunderstanding—the agent acted excessively. He'll personally apologize and compensate. Moreover, you've earned passage to the Corporation's orbital fortress to meet Qi Shiming."
"After unifying humanity and restoring order, he's been increasingly withdrawn, focusing entirely on new psychic technology research to solve societal issues through breakthroughs."
"But gaining his approval means gaining recognition from the Corporation and all other companies."
The Headquarters Director smiled wryly. "Honestly, I'm reluctant. Before the Corporation noticed you, we could've kept you. But after meeting Qi Shiming, you'll probably join them voluntarily."
"That fortress fights for humanity's future—removed from worldly conflicts, purely pursuing progress. Staying there is an immense honor. Many who go never want to return, dedicating their lives there."
"If I hadn't been there and returned myself, I'd suspect they installed mega-watt brainwashing devices." He chuckled. "Not needed—creating unprecedented achievements is temptation enough."
"Psychic democratization, post-natal genetic enhancement, innate psychic new humans, mental networks, star gates, hyperspace... Some projects are intoxicating just to learn about, and many have already been realized these years."
"Pity... Had the technology existed earlier, we could've decisively transformed old humans instead of hesitating over their obsolescence, avoiding so many deaths."
Hearing this, the Branch Director coughed lightly, making the Headquarters Director realize his digression. The projection patted the Branch Director's shoulder. "Alright, you take over."
The Branch Director got straight to the point: "Simply put, your squad takes a rocket to the fortress tomorrow."
"Dragonblade Ninja, Phantom, and Ren Sisi are excellent new humans, but they have minor flaws."
"Dragonblade has severe genetic issues—intense homicidal urges toward old humans, calling them 'mortals' uncontrollably. Though he's mastered self-control now, the fortress might solve this at its root."
"Phantom... You may have noticed he vanishes when action's needed, hard to locate normally. He calls this 'energy conservation.'"
"Ren Sisi's simply too talented—lacks motivation without worthy opponents, becoming somewhat lazy."
"Showing them the fortress, letting them witness true dedication to humanity, might help their growth."
Though Mo Wen didn't know the fortress's specifics, his lifelong luck told him his life only had downs—even with recent psychic awakening and apparent strength, he expected no change.
But if he refused this trip, his bad luck might doom Dream Corporation.
He kinda liked this place.
"Can I go alone without teammates?"
The Branch Director frowned slightly. "You may have misconceptions, but this is genuinely beneficial."
"I've already informed your team. If you really don't want them joining, convince them yourself."