ATDIWR Chapter 87

Chapter 87: I Want to Avenge Number Ten! Cutting Off Nutrient Solution

As time passed minute by minute, Gu Jinsheng’s eyes became more and more vacant, losing focus, becoming listless and numb, like a puppet without a soul.

This kind of mental state was all too familiar to all the mental Power Users present, knowing what it represented.

Gu Jinsheng had been successfully mentally invaded. Wang Dazhi could freely browse Gu Jinsheng’s memories, even plant mental suggestions in Gu Jinsheng, or mentally control Gu Jinsheng to kill, or do anything!

“Commander Gu was mentally controlled?” Meng Chang’an, a student at the research institute, asked his teacher Shi Jun, looking at Gu Jinsheng’s mental state.

Shi Jun’s eyes were filled with regret and worry, and his tone carried the disappointment of dashed high hopes for Gu Jinsheng. “Yes. This is a typical mental state after a mental invasion.”

Meng Chang’an said disappointedly, “Everyone at The Base says Commander Gu is the most powerful Power User in Jing Shi Base and even globally. I thought he was incredible.

Yet just now, Ji An invaded him so easily. I even made an excuse for Commander Gu, thinking his feelings for Ji An were unusual, and he willingly allowed the invasion.

Now it seems unlikely. It should be that Commander Gu simply couldn’t resist Ji An’s mental invasion, and it had nothing to do with personal feelings!”

Shi Jun said, “Probably. And just now I saw Researcher Ji come out of Commander Gu’s brain, completely expressionless. I suspect he saw something that made him unhappy.

Someone as deep-minded as Commander Gu, since he had those feelings for Researcher Ji, he should have been pampering him constantly. How could he let Researcher Ji see those most unbearable things deep in his heart?

But Researcher Ji’s expression indicates he saw something, so it can only mean Researcher Ji truly successfully invaded Commander Gu’s brain, could freely browse his memories, and accidentally saw some bad things.”

Meng Chang’an shook his head and said, “Mental Power Users can counter-control Power Users one level higher than themselves. It’s actually very normal for Wang Dazhi, who is the same Power User level as Commander Gu, to be mentally controlled. We just imagined Commander Gu to be too powerful!”

“That’s not true!” Little Stone glared angrily at Meng Chang’an. He puffed out his chubby cheeks and said, “Commander Gu brother is the most amazing! He would never allow anyone other than Ji An brother to mentally invade him!”

Little Rose nodded in agreement. She didn’t show it as obviously as Little Stone, but she also expressed some unhappiness. “And there’s nothing unbearable in Commander Gu brother’s heart that Ji An brother would be afraid to see. Ji An brother and Commander Gu brother are the most righteous people in this Apocalypse!”

Shi Jun disdained arguing with two young children and just sneered. Meng Chang’an, with youthful spirit, said, “You two kids must have just awakened your mental abilities not long ago. Commander Gu’s state is the most classic state of being mentally controlled. You can take a good look and remember it.

If you see someone in this mental state around you in the future, communicate with adults in time. This is someone who has been mentally controlled!”

Little Stone and Little Rose had already learned about mental control today and knew that the person being mentally controlled was indeed in the mental state Gu Jinsheng was in now. But they just didn’t believe that the powerful Commander Gu, like a god of war, could be easily mentally controlled by an unknown Power User.

It was precisely because Little Stone and Little Rose knew that Gu Jinsheng’s mental state was wrong, and couldn’t find evidence to refute it, that they felt anxious and actually cried.

Meng Chang’an was speechless. He said, “If you don’t believe what I said, you can ask Professor Na Boyu. You should at least believe what he says. It’s like I’m bullying children.

I don’t deny that Commander Gu’s combat power is strong, but mental power and combat power are completely different things. Someone with strong combat power doesn’t necessarily have strong mental power.”

Little Stone refused to believe it. Wiping a tear, he looked at Na Boyu for help, “Professor Na, he’s wrong, right? Commander Gu brother definitely wasn’t mentally invaded, right?”

Na Boyu’s expression was heavy. He thought more than the others, focusing on the bigger picture. “Looking at this state, the mental invasion was successful.”

Before Han Yaokun arrived, Na Boyu had always been the director of the research institute. His words carried a certain authority, which was equivalent to directly pronouncing a death sentence on Gu Jinsheng!

Immediately, a low hum of discussion arose throughout the training base.

“The Base used to talk about Commander Gu as if he was divine. I thought he was amazing, but he’s nothing special!”

“It just goes to show that seeing is believing, and hearing is not. Gu Jinsheng really disappointed me!”

“You can’t say that. The Power User level has no direct relationship with mental power. Lower-level Power Users can indeed control Power Users one level higher than themselves. Wang Dazhi is the same level as Gu Jinsheng, so it’s normal for him to counter-control Gu Jinsheng.”

“Anyway, I’m very disappointed in Gu Jinsheng! I can only say that you can’t trust the words of these high-level figures at The Base. There’s too much exaggeration. Sometimes, after reaching a certain peak of power, it’s too easy to control some public opinion to raise one’s reputation!”

“Yeah, we ordinary folks really don’t need to get too emotionally invested in these powerful big shots!”

Gu Jinsheng’s reputation was too great, which led many people to have overly high expectations of him. And once Gu Jinsheng couldn’t meet their high demands and standards, they would be disappointed in him. Even if the people around them or themselves couldn’t even compare to a single one of Gu Jinsheng’s fingers, it would still be like this.

Those from the command center had fought countless times alongside Gu Jinsheng among the zombie hordes, had been saved by Gu Jinsheng countless times, and had witnessed Gu Jinsheng’s bravery with their own eyes. In their hearts, Gu Jinsheng was their god of war. Even if Gu Jinsheng had truly been successfully mentally invaded, they couldn’t stand someone speaking about Gu Jinsheng like this, so one by one they were furious, rolling up their sleeves ready to fight.

Fortunately, Kong Zhongcheng was there and stopped them. Kong Zhongcheng said, “We trust our leader. Things haven’t reached the end yet. Isn’t it too early for you to say these things!”

At the beginning, Wang Dazhi used all his concentration to mentally invade Gu Jinsheng, but after invading Gu Jinsheng mentally, he found that Gu Jinsheng was not as difficult to invade as he had imagined. He couldn’t help but relax mentally, and upon relaxing, he heard the discussions around him.

When he heard Kong Zhongcheng’s words that he wouldn’t give up until he saw the coffin, a hint of contempt flashed in Wang Dazhi’s eyes. He wanted to strike at the people from the command center, to let them see how their god fell from the altar, and he also wanted everyone present to know that the god of war Gu Jinsheng, who was lauded to the heavens at Jing Shi Base, was also just mediocre. So he gave Gu Jinsheng an order: “Gu Jinsheng, now I am your master. From this moment on, you must obey me, understand?”

Everyone held their breath when they heard Wang Dazhi’s words, waiting quietly.

Gu Jinsheng remained in that blank state, as if he had lost his soul, so much so that he couldn’t even speak.

Wang Dazhi didn’t hear Gu Jinsheng’s reply. He increased his mental control but still got no reply. At this point, he heard some people around him questioning whether there was a problem with his mental control, but Wang Dazhi knew there wasn’t; he could feel it.

Wang Dazhi, eager to prove that he had successfully mentally controlled Gu Jinsheng, directly ordered: “Gu Jinsheng, listen to my command now, lift your left leg!”

Under his command, Gu Jinsheng slowly lifted his left leg.

The crowd, who had held a glimmer of hope when they didn’t hear Gu Jinsheng’s reply, was now in an uproar, waves of disappointment surging. Even some steadfast supporters of Gu Jinsheng within the command center couldn’t help but waver at this moment.

“Gu Jinsheng, blink your right eye!” A look of triumph flashed in Wang Dazhi’s eyes. It was indeed just an accident earlier.

Gu Jinsheng slowly blinked his right eye again!

The discussion among the crowd grew louder, and the faces of Kong Zhongcheng and the others from the command center turned extremely grim.

Meng Chang’an glanced at Little Stone and Little Rose, sighing, “Little ones, you are still too young. You don’t understand many things in this world yet. Sometimes some things cannot be seen through emotions; you must use facts. Facts will tell you that even the most powerful person has shortcomings. No one is invincible, including the god of war brother in your hearts. Ultimately, he is just a mortal with flesh and blood, not a true deity!”

Little Stone bit his lip, and tears streamed down his face more fiercely. “Commander Gu brother wouldn’t be mentally controlled by that ugly monster. You’ll see, he will definitely break free!”

“Obstinate and unyielding!” Meng Chang’an concluded.

Na Boyu said to Wang Dazhi, “Wang Dazhi, stop right now. Commander Gu’s memories are not for you to see. Those are top secret of The Base!”

This issue, which a political sense as a vice commander of Jing Shi Base like Kong Zhongcheng would have thought of long ago, was why he hadn’t ordered Wang Dazhi to stop immediately. He still held a glimmer of hope for Gu Jinsheng. If he had spoken out to demand Wang Dazhi stop, it would have meant acknowledging that Wang Dazhi had successfully mentally controlled Gu Jinsheng.

This would undoubtedly be a blow to Gu Jinsheng’s reputation and the prestige of Jing Shi Base.

Seeing that no one responded to him, Na Boyu became anxious and shouted at Ji An, “Researcher Ji, please intervene immediately. Commander Gu’s memories absolutely cannot be freely browsed by an outsider.”

Wang Dazhi naturally heard this. In fact, he had already browsed some of Gu Jinsheng’s memories. It was just that Gu Jinsheng, as the supreme commander of the mental Base, had too many things to deal with, and his memories were exceptionally complex. So far, he had only seen some superficial things.

But it was no longer realistic to continue browsing. These people would not let him browse Gu Jinsheng’s memories so brazenly.

However, Wang Dazhi was unwilling to retreat from Gu Jinsheng’s memories so easily. Such a prime opportunity to severely damage Gu Jinsheng’s prestige was right in front of him, and Wang Dazhi was unwilling to miss it.

Moreover, if Gu Jinsheng were to reveal some inappropriate things in front of everyone, even under his mental control, it would shake Gu Jinsheng’s position as the supreme commander.

Thinking of this, Wang Dazhi’s eyes dimmed, a hint of gloom flashing within them.

Wang Dazhi’s voice rang out again, “Gu Jinsheng, I’m asking you, who is the developer of the nutrient solution? Is it Ji An?”

There was an uproar, and almost everyone couldn’t help but voice their opinions.

Na Boyu said anxiously, “Researcher Ji, we can’t delay any longer. If we delay further, Commander Gu might reveal Base secrets. Even if he does it unintentionally, he will be held responsible.”

Kong Zhongcheng’s eyes were dark and gloomy, as if they could drip water. He stared coldly at Wang Dazhi and said, “Wang Dazhi, don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask.”

Wang Dazhi didn’t care at all. “Vice Commander Kong Zhongcheng, I can freely browse Commander Gu’s memories if I want to. Is it too late for you to say this now? Besides, I’ve already seen it. Asking is just a formality.”

These words were false. Wang Dazhi had searched for a long time in Gu Jinsheng’s extensive memories but couldn’t find anything related to the nutrient solution, so he was unwilling to give up and just asked directly.

Wang Dazhi said, “Gu Jinsheng, tell everyone the answer. I’ve already seen it anyway.”

“Yes…” Gu Jinsheng’s slow, hesitant voice sounded again.

Kong Zhongcheng’s face was as dark as ink, as if water could drip from it. “Wang Dazhi, I’ve already warned you. If you continue to pry, I have the right to arrest you…”

Before Kong Zhongcheng could finish his threatening words, Wang Dazhi’s eyes reflected a golden, shimmering lightning dragon sparking and flashing all over, with crimson eyes.

The lightning dragon, mouth wide open and ferocious, charged into the depths of Wang Dazhi’s mental sea of consciousness. Like bandits entering a village, the lightning dragon stormed into Wang Dazhi’s mental domain with violent destruction.

One lightning ball after another flew wildly, scorching Wang Dazhi’s mental domain into a scorched earth. One fireball after another fell, setting Wang Dazhi’s mental sea of consciousness ablaze.

The lightning dragon rampaged through Wang Dazhi’s mental sea of consciousness, crashing left and right, shattering Wang Dazhi’s mental sea of consciousness into pieces, leaving it dilapidated.

“Ah!” Wang Dazhi flew backward, though no one had physically attacked him.

At the same time, everyone present felt a powerful mental energy fluctuation!

Gu Jinsheng’s eyes were clear, without a trace of being mentally controlled. He walked step by step to Wang Dazhi, stopped, and said, “Wang Dazhi, or should I say Mr. Kobayashi Ichirou? R Base person, a clone.”

Wang Dazhi suddenly raised his head, revealing his face, which scared the surrounding people into gasping cold air. Blood flowed from Wang Dazhi’s seven orifices.

“Commander Gu, I don’t know what you are saying. I admit I asked about Base secrets I shouldn’t have, but it wasn’t intentional. I just admired the developer of the nutrient solution too much, and I wanted to know if that person was really the rumored Researcher Ji.”

Wang Dazhi said, his eyes constantly gushing blood, “I successfully mentally invaded you, possibly causing you to lose prestige in front of so many people, but you cannot slander me because of this and frame me for things that didn’t happen.”

Gu Jinsheng said indifferently, “Then I’ll let you meet someone!”

Saying this, Gu Jinsheng made a video call.

The call was quickly answered, and a half-aged man with greying hair appeared in the video.

“Commander Gu, why are you calling me with a video today?” The man on the other side had his hair meticulously combed, with excessive hairspray that made his hair look greasy. He had a two-tailed mustache. Although he spoke Chinese, his tone was strange, and it was obvious he wasn’t from Xia Country but from R Country.

“Mr. Kobayashi, Commander-in-Chief of R Base, I’d like to show you someone.” Gu Jinsheng stepped aside, revealing Wang Dazhi’s face with blood flowing from his seven orifices.

Kobayashi Ichirou saw Wang Dazhi’s face, and his pupils constricted sharply, but he quickly calmed down. He asked coldly, “Commander Gu, what do you mean by showing me this person with blood flowing from his seven orifices? Threatening me? Does Commander Gu want to provoke a war between the two countries?”

Gu Jinsheng said, “Commander Kobayashi, don’t you recognize this face? If you were thirty years younger, wouldn’t you look like this?”

Kobayashi Ichirou said, “What does Commander Gu want to say? Even if I happen to resemble this friend from afar, is that also wrong?”

“Isn’t this person your clone?” Gu Jinsheng wasn’t interested in beating around the bush with Kobayashi Ichirou and said directly, “Just now, your clone tried to invade me, but I counter-mentally invaded him. And from his brain, I saw some very interesting scenes, such as his and his companions’ birth.

They all knew they were clones and who their main body was. This was unavoidable because many of these clones shared the same face.

They lived together, in bunk beds in rooms for eight people, spending all day in the dormitory, only allowed to walk around the playground if they behaved well.”

As Gu Jinsheng said more and more, the sweat on Kobayashi Ichirou’s forehead also increased.

“This clone, who calls himself Wang Dazhi, has a close friend who looks exactly like him and is somewhat similar to Commander Kobayashi. By chance, his friend awakened the same ability as Commander Kobayashi. Even more coincidentally, on the day their ability leveled up to the same rank as yours, he disappeared.

Wang Dazhi asked the staff who managed them, and they told Wang Dazhi that his friend was released back into normal society because he behaved well. If they also wanted to go to the normal world outside, they had to behave well, love their country, and be loyal to their main body.

Wang Dazhi didn’t suspect anything because many clones around him would suddenly disappear on a certain day. Wang Dazhi knew these people were released into normal society because they behaved well, and he was very envious and wanted to go out too, so he made up his mind to behave well.

Finally, perseverance paid off. One day Wang Dazhi was released and received a secret mission… to get close to Ji An, finally seduce him and become his bed partner, then obtain the core technology of the spatial storage item. To find out the developer of the nutrient solution and healing pod, and get the technology.”

At this point, sweat poured down Kobayashi Ichirou’s face. Even those who didn’t know the inside story could see that he was feeling guilty.

Gu Jinsheng said to Wang Dazhi, “You thought your friend returned to normal society, or went out on a secret mission like you did. I’m telling you, no. Look at Kobayashi Ichirou’s right pinky finger.”

Kobayashi Ichirou’s right pinky finger twitched involuntarily, instinctively curling up, but Wang Dazhi still saw it. Wang Dazhi’s expression, which had been relatively calm, suddenly changed. He looked at Kobayashi Ichirou in disbelief and said, “Your right pinky finger was clearly broken in battle, how did it grow back now?”

As a clone, Wang Dazhi actually didn’t understand many things. Someone had specially explained things to him before he left the dormitory. Later, Wang Dazhi came to Jing Shi Base and learned more things, such as why R Country and M Country were desperate for the core technology of the healing pod, and why the healing pod shocked the world. It was because it could heal severed limbs that even healing-type Power Users couldn’t heal.

Kobayashi Ichirou’s right pinky finger was clearly broken, but it had grown back now, although it wasn’t healed by the healing pod. Wang Dazhi thought of the widely rumored stories in Jing Shi Base about R Country and M Country manufacturing clones and then using their limbs for transplantation onto the main body, or absorbing the crystal cores in the clones’ brains to level up. Wang Dazhi’s face turned pale.

Wang Dazhi was a clone, not a fool. He looked at Kobayashi Ichirou and said, “Commander-in-Chief, let me see Kobayashi Ten. As long as you let me see him, I will believe you, and I will immediately detonate my crystal core to preserve all my memories.”

Where would Kobayashi Ichirou find Kobayashi Ten for Wang Dazhi?

Kobayashi Ten was a clone who had finally been cultivated and had awakened the same ability as him. It was hard-earned, and he had finally waited until Kobayashi Ten’s ability leveled up to be the same as his. How could Kobayashi Ichirou wait? He immediately replaced his right pinky finger.

Without his right pinky finger, Kobayashi Ten was useless to Kobayashi Ichirou. Following the principle of utilizing waste, Kobayashi Ichirou dug out Kobayashi Ten’s Power User crystal core to upgrade his own ability.

Now Kobayashi Ten’s corpse had already rotted. Where would Kobayashi Ichirou find Kobayashi Ten for Wang Dazhi? As for saying they would return to society if they behaved well, that was obviously to deceive these clones.

How could Kobayashi Ichirou dare to release these clones into normal society? Residents of The Base would surely protest and cause trouble if they found out.

However, at this moment, Kobayashi Ichirou couldn’t tell the truth. He winked at the staff member next to him, and the person went out.

Not long after, a man who looked exactly like Wang Dazhi and was somewhat similar to Kobayashi Ichirou was brought in. As soon as the man entered, he said enthusiastically, “Number Eleven, hello, long time no see!”

Kobayashi Ten suddenly closed his eyes, tears mixed with blood flowing down. He said, “You are not him! He never called me Number Eleven. When we were alone in private, he always called me Kobayashi, and I called him that too.

We have the same genes, the same face. He said I was him, and he was me. We are the same person.”

Wang Dazhi opened his eyes, flowing with blood. “So you were still not satisfied after replacing his right pinky finger, and you even dug out the Power User crystal core from his brain, squeezing out the last drop of value?

What you usually told us, that we are you and you are us, was all nonsense, just to brainwash us and make us stay in the dormitory obediently and not cause you trouble, right?”

Kobayashi Ichirou denied it, “Of course not. The matter of Kobayashi Ten was an accident. I can explain it to you later, but don’t believe Commander Gu and their words now. You know, Jing Shi Base is our enemy.”

Gu Jinsheng said, “Mr. Kobayashi has finally spoken his true feelings. Since you consider our Base your enemy, then the cooperation for the nutrient solution is unnecessary. Next month, we will no longer be sending nutrient solution to your Base!”

“Gu Jinsheng, how dare you!” Kobayashi Ichirou jumped up from his stool, startled.

R Base is by the sea, and is itself an island. After the ocean was polluted, the seafood mutated and was almost entirely inedible.

And R Country itself is not a country with abundant resources, so by now almost everyone is going hungry.

For a while, they even started eating the mutated seafood caused by pollution. There was no other way; if they didn’t eat, they would starve to death.

It was only later, when Jing Shi Base needed uninfected and unmutated animals and plants, that R Country found unmutated animals and plants and obtained the right to purchase the nutrient solution.

Only then did the Base residents not have to eat polluted mutated seafood.

Otherwise, with R Country’s current poverty, even if the island where R Country is located completely sank, R Country couldn’t afford the right to purchase nutrient solution.

Kobayashi Ichirou could almost imagine how the high-level officials of The Base would treat him if he lost the right to purchase the nutrient solution! And how the Base residents would treat him!

Kobayashi Ichirou blurted out in panic, “Gu Jinsheng, if you dare to cut off the nutrient solution for R Base, leaving R Base no way to survive, I swear I will make you regret it!”

Gu Jinsheng smiled disdainfully and hung up the video call.

At this point, everyone present understood. Wang Dazhi was from R Base, a clone. His purpose in coming to Jing Shi Base was to get close to Ji An and obtain the core technology of The Base’s three major inventions.

And Gu Jinsheng might not have been mentally invaded by Wang Dazhi from beginning to end, and it was possible that he had counter-mentally invaded Wang Dazhi.

But wasn’t mental control a unique ability specific to mental Power Users? How did Gu Jinsheng do it?

What everyone wanted to ask was also what Wang Dazhi wanted to ask.

Wang Dazhi asked, “Did I successfully mentally control you?”

“No,” Gu Jinsheng said, “What you saw was what I wanted you to see.”

“How did you do that?”

“By weaving lies. Just as humans can lie with language, memories can too. When you first entered, you entered my false memory.”

“How did you counter-mentally invade me? That should be an ability exclusive to our mental Power Users?” Wang Dazhi asked.

“Mental control and mental suggestion are indeed unique abilities of mental Power Users. I can’t do those. But I have mental power. Everyone has mental power and a mental sea of consciousness. Since there is mental power, there are strong and weak ones. Coincidentally, my mental power is very strong. Not only can I resist your mental invasion, but I can also counter-invade your mental sea of consciousness. But I can only do this much; I can’t do mental control and mental suggestion.”

Gu Jinsheng said it lightly, as if it were very ordinary, but everyone knew how difficult it was.

As a non-mental power user, having mental power stronger than a mental ability user? How was this possible!

The Power Users who had just been discussing how Gu Jinsheng was nothing special felt their faces burning.

The god of war would always be the god of war.

Little Stone proudly raised his little head. “I told you Commander Gu brother is the most amazing!”

Little Rose echoed, “Yes.”

Kong Zhongcheng shared the pride. “Leader, you really scared me. Ji God, did you see it long ago? That’s why you didn’t make a move.”

Ji An said, “I just felt that his state didn’t quite look like he was mentally controlled. When someone is mentally controlled, they will agree to whatever the mental controller asks. But Wang Dazhi gave commands as the master, and he didn’t answer, so I felt something was wrong.”

Gu Jinsheng took Wang Dazhi away, and the other trainees were dismissed, told to continue training tomorrow.

It must be said that Wang Dazhi’s appearance also made many Power Users realize the importance of resisting mental invasion. At the same time, Gu Jinsheng’s counter-mental invasion also gave hope to non-mental type people; they could resist mental invasion through diligent practice, and might even be able to counter-invade the opponent.

On the way to escort Wang Dazhi, Wang Dazhi was very cooperative, not attempting to escape and answering every question.

However, as a clone who had lived in a small dormitory of a few dozen square meters since childhood, he knew limited things about R Base. Even if he told everything he knew, it wouldn’t help Gu Jinsheng much.

Suddenly, Wang Dazhi said, “Can you find a way to secretly send me back to R Base? I want to avenge Number Ten!”