Qi Heng glanced at the [Begin Simulation] button and asked, “Is there anything I should be aware of?”
Since this was his first time using the ability, it would be better to understand everything clearly beforehand.
He did not have much energy to waste on another attempt.
【While using a spacetime archive to observe and simulate the future, any injuries you suffer will not be transferred to your physical body.】
【However, the pain caused by those injuries will be reproduced through your mental entity.】
【If possible, Overlord, it would be best to avoid being injured during the simulation.】
After hearing A0’s warning, Qi Heng asked thoughtfully, “In other words, even if I die inside it, my actual body won’t be affected.”
【…Correct.】
Had A0 possessed a physical body, its expression would probably have twisted at that moment.
Why did the Overlord always focus on the most dangerous part?
“Will the system enter Archive No. 1 with me?”
【Yes. Everything you see and do within the spacetime archive will be recorded by the system in exhaustive detail.】
“Will the system’s record be limited to what I observe through my own eyes, or will it use an omniscient perspective?”
The difference was considerable.
Overall, the latter would provide a far greater advantage, like activating an omniscient viewpoint inside a game so that no secret could remain hidden from him.
【The system can observe only events influenced by you.】
【The system cannot “see” futures in which you do not intervene.】
So it operated according to the butterfly effect.
He could observe only the futures altered by his actions.
Although that could not compare with a truly omniscient viewpoint, it would still provide considerable assistance when used properly.
After explaining the necessary precautions, A0 fell silent.
The decision of whether to begin rested entirely with Qi Heng.
Qi Heng was not someone so weak that he feared moving forward.
He could remain quiet and drift with the current, but he also possessed the courage of a hawk striking into the open sky or a fish swimming against the current.
He simply paired that courage with reason.
Therefore, after considering the matter, he did not begin recklessly.
Instead, he asked one final question.
“What happens in reality while I’m observing and simulating the future?”
【Between the moment you enter Archive No. 1 and the moment you leave, the difference in real time will be compressed infinitely to within one second.】
One second.
That was effectively no change at all in reality.
Such a difference in the flow of time was terrifying.
Qi Heng’s mind immediately began turning rapidly.
If he encountered an unavoidable danger in reality, could he use [Chamber of Time] to simulate the encounter, then emerge and catch the enemy with a sudden counterattack?
The skill’s uses were even broader than he had imagined.
Perhaps he could develop other applications as well.
Interesting.
The system was useful in practically every respect except one.
It devoured energy in enormous quantities.
Compared with the plump Zerg, its appetite for energy was even greater.
Qi Heng pressed the [Begin Simulation] button.
The next instant, the environment around him distorted, and an intense wave of dizziness swept through his body.
The entire process lasted only a moment.
Had the dizziness not been so strong, Qi Heng might have wondered whether he imagined it.
【[Spacetime Archive No. 1] observation and simulation in progress. Total duration: seventy-two hours…】
It had not been an illusion.
The simulation had truly begun.
Qi Heng looked at the countdown and then at himself.
He remained seated perfectly normally inside Yan Ning’s house. Even his posture had not changed.
He stood and walked outside.
Ever since transmigrating, Qi Heng had never investigated the system’s origin.
Doing so would have been pointless.
The system had displayed nothing but goodwill toward him.
Furthermore, judging solely from its advanced capabilities, at its peak it could have overwhelmingly surpassed practically anything in the Milky Way.
What sort of individual or civilization could have manufactured the “system”?
It certainly was not something a Level-6 or Level-7 civilization could even imagine producing.
Perhaps only the theoretical god-tier civilizations could accomplish it.
The system was manipulating both time and space, effectively manufacturing an artificial parallel spacetime.
Even though there were limits on distance and duration, and even though this “parallel spacetime” would cease to exist once its allocated energy was exhausted, the achievement remained extraordinary.
Qi Heng stood outside Yan Ning’s home.
The surrounding scene appeared identical to the reality he had always seen.
Only now did he truly understand A0’s claim that the archive reproduced reality with complete accuracy.
There was no time to lose.
After leaving Yan Ning’s home, he headed toward the center of the trading area.
The sun had not yet set, but that did not interfere with what he intended to do.
Inside Spacetime Archive No. 1, as long as Qi Heng did not directly alter the archive itself, any energy consumed by the simulated system would not actually be deducted from reality.
The archive was a complete reproduction.
Naturally, under the system’s operation, its own abilities had also been copied into it.
Unfortunately, even a copy needed to follow basic laws.
It could not create energy points from nothing.
When Qi Heng entered Archive No. 1, the system had approximately eight thousand energy points remaining.
That meant he could use the same amount inside the simulated spacetime.
Furthermore, he did not need to worry about lasting harm to his real body.
Although Qi Heng remained cautious, his actions became considerably bolder.
The energy consumed here would not be transferred to reality.
There was no reason not to use it.
For the first time, he experienced the happiness of becoming rich overnight.
Inside the trading area, Qi Heng casually selected one of the lines for “blood donation” and joined it.
Ever since learning from 058 what the blood was used for, he had wanted to see the operation inside.
Previously, his identity made that unsuitable.
If someone discovered something unusual about him, he would be the one facing trouble.
Now he no longer needed to worry.
Regardless of what happened, Archive No. 1 would disappear when the three days ended.
Any information Qi Heng exposed inside the archive would vanish with it.
However, the information revealed by everyone else would remain known to him.
That was an exceptionally profitable exchange.
[A0, activate Level-2 scanning. Cover the entire structure of the trading area, including everything underground.]
[Pay particular attention to the One-Horn residential area and any locations where the children might be detained.]
The trading area was large, but it was still insignificant compared with all of District 49.
Furthermore, 058 had said that the children were taken elsewhere.
That meant some kind of transportation was necessary.
Whether the children were hidden nearby or transported away, it was unlikely to happen aboveground.
The system’s basic scanning function could remain active for extended periods without unnecessary energy expenditure.
Level-1 scanning consumed energy at a fixed rate and expanded the scan’s range, while Level-2 scanning could penetrate structures and terrain.
【Deducting five hundred energy points for a temporary upgrade. Beginning Level-2 scan…】
【Overlord, no traces of the children have been found.】
【However, an underground tunnel has been detected approximately ten meters below the surface. Vehicle tracks remain on the tunnel floor.】
【According to the analysis, the underground tunnel has been in use for more than one thousand years and displays signs of artificial excavation.】
【Metal reinforcement frames have also been detected within its walls.】
【Three tunnel entrances have currently been identified. The tire tracks upon them are recent, indicating that heavy vehicles passed through within the last several days…】
【This is the simulated appearance of the vehicle based on the available analysis…】
As A0 spoke, it displayed the analytical report before him.
Qi Heng was about to study it carefully when a voice suddenly came from behind him.
“I finally found you.”
Qi Heng’s body reacted faster than his mind.
Almost the instant the other person approached, he tilted his shoulder to the right and avoided the hand reaching toward it.
He turned around.
The moment he saw the other person’s face, a trace of disgust passed through his eyes without leaving any visible sign.
“What do you want?”
Qi Heng remembered who the male Zerg was practically at first glance.
After all, he had interacted with very few male Zerg.
Beyond his good memory, the primary reason was that being propositioned by another man had left a strong impression on him.
“Do you remember me?”
Carlos smiled.
Male Zerg were always more tolerant toward female Zerg who interested them.
Had Qi Heng been someone he did not find attractive, Carlos would never have greeted him with a smile.
“We met before.”
Not only had they met, Qi Heng had also thrown him to the ground.
Remembering that incident, Carlos inwardly ground his teeth.
This time, he would definitely obtain the black-haired female Zerg.
He had come fully prepared and now knew everything about him.
Carlos glanced toward the line of female Zerg waiting to have their blood drawn.
Smiling, he flicked the golden hair he had deliberately tied back.
“You came here to exchange for points, didn’t you?”
“I can help you, should you need it.”
“This isn’t a good place to talk. Why don’t we find somewhere quiet and chat for a while?”
Qi Heng silently stared at the male Zerg before him.
Honestly, he wanted to know who had given Carlos the courage to appear in front of him again.
Had Carlos believed Qi Heng’s warning last time was a joke?
How else could he dare reach for him again?
Or was his confidence based solely on the two female-Zerg patrol members nearby?
Qi Heng’s powerful mental perception made him highly sensitive to other people’s gazes.
He had already noticed female Zerg watching him.
They were most likely connected to Carlos.
Male Zerg naturally attracted female Zerg’s attention.
Carlos had been there for less than two minutes, yet many female Zerg were already looking in their direction.
Qi Heng showed no reaction, but inwardly frowned.
He had no desire to attract attention.
“Let’s go.”
He left the line.
It would be better to deal with Carlos first.
Being watched would make his later investigation inconvenient.
“You lead the way.”
Carlos had not expected matters to proceed so smoothly.
He froze briefly before recovering.
“Oh. All right.”
Remembering how dismissively the black-haired female Zerg treated him last time, Carlos had assumed he would need to use certain unconventional methods.
He had even summoned the patrol team, yet in the end, they apparently would not be needed.
Carlos grinned so widely that his eyes nearly disappeared.
He did not know why he felt so happy.
Perhaps it was because the Zerg he had set his heart on had agreed to be alone with him.
When Carlos first heard that Qi Heng had appeared, he had intended to teach him a lesson.
As long as Qi Heng attacked him, Carlos could have the patrol team arrest him immediately.
Once that happened, would Carlos not be free to do whatever he wanted?
But after actually seeing Qi Heng, the resentment inside him abruptly disappeared.
Carlos felt that Qi Heng looked even more attractive than during their previous meeting.
He was suddenly reluctant to let the patrol team arrest him.
“I know somewhere quiet. It’s very suitable for a private conversation…”
Carlos spoke while eagerly leading the way.
He had no idea that Qi Heng, following behind him, was inwardly sharpening his knife and preparing to dispose of him.
“I was too abrupt last time. You had every right to be angry.”
“We can take things slowly. How about beginning by getting to know each other?”
Listening to Carlos, Qi Heng found the situation extremely strange.
This was not the first time someone had tried to flatter him.
However, given the present inequality between male and female Zerg, was Carlos not being excessively accommodating?
No.
Rather than accommodating, his behavior strongly resembled an Earth-style simp desperately pursuing someone who had no interest in him.
The thought left Qi Heng feeling as though something disgusting were lodged in his throat.
Was his current face genuinely that attractive?
Even if Qi Heng liked men, which he did not, he would never be interested in someone like Carlos.
Carlos’s appearance was completely unlike the type he might have found attractive.
Notes:
- Simulation limits: Injuries sustained within a spacetime archive do not affect Qi Heng’s real body, but the pain is reproduced through his mental entity. Even death within the archive would not kill him in reality.
- Passage of time: No matter how long Qi Heng spends inside the archive, less than one second passes in reality.
- System observation: The system can record only futures affected by Qi Heng’s intervention. It does not provide a completely omniscient view of unrelated events.
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