"You know how to manipulate souls now?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Chuan showed no concern but instead looked at Lu Tianming with curiosity, his tone carrying a hint of suspicion as if asking, "When did you secretly study this behind my back?"
"Don't you have any thoughts about handing over your soul?"
Seeing Xia Chuan's response completely missing the point, Lu Tianming felt exasperated... and somewhat puzzled as he replied.
"I still don't even understand what a soul is... Why should I care about that?"
Xia Chuan remained completely unfazed by this, dismissing it with a light laugh.
"Besides, if you're the one doing it, I can trust you... With your skill level, you probably couldn't hurt your father even if you tried."
Lu Tianming initially felt quite pleased hearing the first part, wondering when Xia Chuan had changed his ways... until the abrupt shift to generational warfare in the latter part reminded him that this guy was still the same as always.
Seeing Lu Tianming's frustrated expression, Xia Chuan immediately pressed his advantage triumphantly, cheekily playing his creepy "hehehe" laughter in 3D stereo throughout the cockpit.
He still remembered the grudge from being woken up by that early morning alarm last time, and now that he had the chance, of course he had to get back at him twice as hard!
"Damn... when did you learn the Blue Poison Beast's Nether Sound Wave Technique?"
Lu Tianming felt helpless, even suspecting that this guy spent all his idle time thinking up these kinds of dirty tricks.
"Well, I was afraid the speakers would grow mold if left unused... But back to business, what's the principle behind those glasses of yours? Why do they require me to offer up my soul?"
Xia Chuan estimated that if he didn't stop now, Lu Tianming would likely organize a counterattack, so he smoothly steered the conversation back on track.
"It's not really offering your soul in the literal sense. For you, it's probably more like allocating some computing power to create a secondary account."
"The inspiration for this technology came from your remote operation of the Manta Ray and Wired Backpack."
"At the time, I thought since you can split your attention during combat—part focused on operating your main body, another part on controlling external objects—couldn't the same be done through remote links to operate other things?"
"So recently, I followed the feeling of the connection and referenced previous data to create this thing... Once actually connected, you should be able to project part of your attention onto it following the same feeling as when operating the Manta Ray, and it will automatically adapt."
Since Lu Tianming had accidentally taken control of the Strike Suit's body during the previous incident, he could roughly predict what kind of sensation Xia Chuan might experience based on his own brief experience.
Xia Chuan listened somewhat confusedly but generally understood the meaning. Following Lu Tianming's instructions, after signal pairing... he actually managed to connect.
According to Xia Chuan's own description, although the principle sounded complicated, in practice it felt similar to having an extra pair of eyes and ears. Essentially, the computing power injected into the glasses merely served as a signal base station to maintain the connection.
After confirming that Xia Chuan showed no adverse reactions, Lu Tianming breathed a sigh of relief.
He had initially worried that this might carry the risk of Consciousness Dissociation, but it appeared not to be the case—after all, although Xia Chuan's spirit had been "split" into two parts, he only controlled one body.
This was quite different from when Lu Tianming had split his own spirit into two, with one part in the Strike Suit and the other in his physical body.
Moreover, Xia Chuan had a mechanical body and an electronic brain, which might naturally be better adapted to multitasking than a purely biological one. Under these combined factors, Xia Chuan had ended up perfectly fine.
"Speaking of which... how did you sense this thing? Don't tell me you've actually become some kind of security inspection NT?"
Lu Tianming looked curiously at Xia Chuan. His little glasses had been well hidden at the time, yet Xia Chuan had inexplicably discovered them—something he still couldn't figure out.
"Maybe so. After all, the link works both ways. It can't be that only you are making progress."
Xia Chuan chuckled cheerfully. He couldn't really explain how it worked... but he was sure it had something to do with the link between them.
"I don't understand the exact principle, but when you bring that thing near me, I can sense some parameter changes... Huh? Why is something triggering my Radar again?"
Just as Xia Chuan was about to try explaining with his limited knowledge of physics, he suddenly sensed something strange.
The screen flickered and changed, finally focusing on a small corner of the hangar.
On the display, Flay was seen sneakily hiding near the Strike Suit, glancing around. After confirming no one was in the hangar, she took out a small electronic device, fiddled with it, then clipped it to the back of her waist and began walking toward the Strike Suit.
"Why is it that troublesome woman again..."
Lu Tianming sighed softly. Seeing her head straight for the Strike Suit's Cockpit, he guessed she was probably there to corner him and immediately prepared to make a quick exit.
But after carefully estimating the distance... it seemed too late to avoid her now. No matter which way he went, he would run right into Flay.
Realizing he was unintentionally trapped, Lu Tianming sighed again and looked at Xia Chuan:
"Can you tell what she hid just now?"
"I'm not sure, but I saw Kira tinkering with something like that earlier... I think it might be a voice recorder?"
"...A voice recorder?"
Lu Tianming was puzzled. What was she planning to do with that?
His instincts told him this woman was definitely up to no good, but there was no avoiding her now... Flay had already reached the Cockpit door and was knocking on it tentatively. Her rhythm was unhurried but carried an air of insistence.
Judging by her past behavior, if he pretended not to be there, she would likely wait right there until someone else came to the hangar... Lu Tianming couldn't stand being trapped by her for hours.
"Looks like her clothes are disheveled—she's probably here to offer herself and use the recorder to document the whole thing to blackmail you."
"Why not let her in first, then I'll close the hatch, you confiscate the recorder, and give her a good lesson right then and there!"
Xia Chuan remained silent for a long moment before suddenly experiencing an epiphany of extraordinary wisdom. He predicted Flay's plan and directly devised countermeasures for Lu Tianming.
He even seemed eager about the idea of Lu Tianming turning the tables on Flay, as if he were the one involved instead of Lu Tianming.
Perhaps this guy had really awakened some strange fetish.
Just as Tianming was about to criticize Xia Chuan's approach, he heard Flay knocking on the cockpit again. He immediately abandoned the thought of continuing his conversation with Xia Chuan and warned:
"Whether we turn the tables depends on the situation... Just stay quiet for now and don't reveal your identity."
"Then I'll just log off to avoid being a burden~"
After cheerfully saying this, Xia Chuan fell silent, leaving Tianming unsure whether he had really left or was hiding somewhere waiting to watch the drama unfold.
But Tianming had no time to worry about him now. The incessant knocking from Flay outside was grating on his nerves like a death knell. He could only press the button to open the door and let her in for now.
As the cabin door opened, a wave of fragrance washed over him—it was clearly just the common scent of daily shower gel, likely because Flay had paid special attention to her personal hygiene before coming.
When the door fully retracted, Flay's complete appearance came into Tianming's view.
This time, Flay looked different from her usual attire. She had combed even her side hair back into her ponytail, creating a fresh and novel visual impression.
Perhaps feeling stuffy in the cabin, she gently pulled down the zipper at her chest, allowing the loose military uniform to slide off her fragrant shoulders and reveal a pink fitted tank top underneath—the hem of which she had tied into a knot just below her chest to better accentuate her curves.
With clear aggressive intent, she directly threw herself at Tianming, pressing her entire body against his chest before looking up slightly, her tone carrying a hint of grievance:
"You're finally willing to see me?"
Tianming's expression remained impassive as he slightly raised an eyebrow and asked coldly:
"What do you want?"
"...It seems you still hold a grudge about my previous mistakes."
Flay sighed softly, speaking in a humble and regretful tone.
"But I truly regret my actions and hope you can accept my apology..."
"Does expressing apology require dressing like this?"
Tianming sneered, yet his body offered no resistance... Although he could stop Flay's absurd behavior at any time, if he didn't let her play out her scheme this time, she would likely just plan another attempt.
Might as well follow her intentions and see how far this woman plans to go.
Noticing Tianming's continued harsh words but lack of further resistance, Flay secretly smiled to herself.
Playing all righteous... Why aren't you pushing me away this time? Don't you actually want me to go further?
While thinking this, she maintained her innocent facade perfectly, her voice tinged with timidity as she said:
"I just want to be completely open with you..."
As she spoke, she slithered up against Tianming's chest like a water snake, while her left hand gently pressed the button on the control panel to close the cabin door.
As the door gradually closed, she turned slightly, her left index finger hooking at her chest while her right hand rested on Tianming's collar. Breathing out like orchid fragrance, her voice soft as silk, she whispered seductively:
"...Would you be willing to show more 'sincerity' to each other with me?"
Seeing her pose so seductively that it was practically an explicit invitation, combined with the hidden recording pen, Lu Tianming found it amusing—Xia Chuan's astonishing insight had probably hit the mark this time.
Flay was likely planning to set him up in a honey trap, just as Xia Chuan had said: first seduce him with her body to expose his weaknesses, then abruptly stop once she had collected enough 'evidence' to 'prove' his promiscuous lifestyle, before revealing her hand and gaining leverage.
In this plan, the most crucial element for Flay was the recording pen. At least in her mind, as long as the pen remained undiscovered, the scheme was guaranteed to succeed.
However, she probably never imagined... the very tool she intended to use to 'defeat the enemy' could also backfire on her.
A faint smile tugged at Lu Tianming's lips as a plan instantly formed in his mind.
He extended his left arm to support Flay's slightly tilted body, pulling her back into his embrace. His right hand then lightly traced down her spine along the vertebral line, pretending to gradually succumb to her seduction.
Seeing Lu Tianming take the initiative to touch her, Flay secretly sneered.
She knew this guy would eventually take the bait. Usually acting so aloof and superior, yet so eager to grab at the slightest temptation—how pathetic...
Just as she was about to inwardly laugh at him—Lu Tianming's hand paused at her waist before suddenly pulling back, as if extracting something.
Flay was momentarily stunned, unable to comprehend his actions—but the sudden emptiness at the small of her back sent a jolt of panic through her.
What Lu Tianming had just pulled out was the recording pen she had hidden at her waist!
He... had known all along?!
Realizing her plan was exposed, Flay trembled violently.
Her left hand shot toward the control panel, intending to press the button to open the cockpit door, but Lu Tianming anticipated this and intercepted her wrist mid-air.
"What's wrong? Trying to run already... Won't you show me more of your 'sincerity'?"
Lu Tianming raised an eyebrow, studying Flay with feigned curiosity. The previously charming and shy woman was now exposed, her expression twisted... like a rabbit caught by the neck, struggling helplessly.
How quickly her mask fell... She'd make a talented actress.
"You... don't you dare mess around! If you lay a hand on me... I'll... I'll report you to the Military Court!"
Flay twisted her body, trying to free her captured wrist from Lu Tianming's grip, but his hold was like an iron shackle, rendering her struggles useless.
Seeing physical resistance was futile, she resorted to verbal threats, shouting loudly.
"Wait... aren't you getting things backwards?"
Lu Tianming genuinely couldn't hold back his laughter at her words.
Report him to the Military Court? Was she joking?
"You're saying: you brought a suspicious data storage device into the only MS Cockpit of the current alliance, dressed provocatively, attempted to seduce its pilot, and activated the device to collect external information during this process."
"Then, when the seduction failed and the information collection was thwarted, leading to your capture on the spot... under these circumstances, you plan to threaten your captor with the Military Court?"
"I won't address what charges you're using to report me for now... but do you realize what crimes your recent actions could constitute?"
Under Lu Tianming's verbal guidance, Flay gradually realized how foolish her earlier words had been.
If one ignored motives and only considered the substance of actions... what she had just done was almost indistinguishable from espionage.
If this were brought before the Military Court, whether Lu Tianming would be convicted remained uncertain, but she would likely face sentencing without exception.
At this thought, Flay's body went limp. If Lu Tianming hadn't been gripping her wrist and lifting slightly, she would have collapsed entirely in the cockpit.
"However, speaking of which... the evidence is in my hands. Whether to report you or not is simply a matter of my whim."
Seeing Flay's weakened state, Lu Tianming changed his tone and 'kindly' reminded her.
Hearing this, Flay seemed to grasp at a lifeline. She abruptly looked up, her clothes disheveled, and clung to Lu Tianming's leg, pleading:
"Please... don't report me!"
If she were reported, not only would she be imprisoned, but even her father's heroic reputation of dying in the line of duty would be tarnished by her actions...
She didn't want to see that future—she'd rather die than face it.
So... what would be the cost?
Noticing the slight curl of Lu Tianming's lips, as if recalling her earlier words, he smiled meaningfully and said:
"In that case... why not let me see this 'sincerity' you mentioned."
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