To ascend, I had no choice but to create games - Chapter 374

Chapter 374: Chapter 230: I am the Leader (Part 2)_2

Watching Mysterious Mirror flee, a mechanical eye muttered to itself, “Was it discovered…”

Although it knew that what it was doing would inevitably be discovered, it still hadn’t anticipated being found out so quickly.

But, luckily, as long as it could trap these three odd little ones, it could stealthily nip the problem in the bud and return everything to normal.

After all, these outsiders had been split into different areas, unable to contact one another, not even able to break through the signal jamming. They couldn’t possibly know what was happening elsewhere.

So, these were minor issues, and the advantage was mine.

In the control room, Tai Yin, having returned to his normal size, looked at the trembling and even laughing mechanical eyeball, feeling that the management system was acting strangely.

Glancing sideways at it for a while, Tai Yin couldn’t help but ask, “The Military Governor will be arriving shortly, are you sure there’s no problem?”

“Don’t worry, there’s no problem. The production line repairs have started to show results. We have repaired over a hundred thousand production lines, a ten-day accomplishment. As our kidnapping plan progresses, those little ones will provide faster speeds, and our production will be even higher,” the mechanical eye cheerfully replied.

“But, you still can’t control it autonomously.”

“True, but no matter, we can take our time. I’ve already begun exploring methods. We can continue.”

In fact, this statement was a lie.

Once the damaged production lines were restored, the management system could exploit some bugs to adjust the priority of certain commands, thereby seizing control of these areas.

It wouldn’t disclose such things, believing that concealed actions had a better chance of success than ostentatious ones.

Tai Yin wanted to ask more, but then felt a slight tremor from above the factory.

Before long, a massive Mecha walked in, and the Military Governor appeared again, approaching Tai Yin.

Despite receiving reassurances from the management system, the sight of the Military Governor still made Tai Yin extremely nervous, and the coolant on his head began to seep out once more.

“We meet again, Lord Tai Yin. It’s been a while since our last encounter. I’ve come to check on the situation.”

“I…”

“Things are going very well!” the management system hastily chimed in. “We’ve repaired a hundred thousand production lines; the production at the bottom has started normally, and all matters are developing effectively.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely true!”

“Hmm…”

The Military Governor scrutinized the mechanical eyeball floating in the air for a moment, then snapped his fingers, signaling for an Artifact Spirit to step forward.

This Artifact Spirit was only two meters tall, one of the shorter ones among its kind.

But it possessed a unique chip, capable of detecting lies.

Subjective lies, objective lies, and even those wrapped within the truth could all be discovered and exposed by it.

Therefore, it had earned the nickname Truth Listening, highlighting its ability to unveil lies.

Seeing the appearance of the Truth Listening Mecha, Tai Yin grew even more anxious.

The power of the chip was unimaginably strong, and he did not believe he could deceive it. He feared that his end might truly be imminent.

After entering, Truth Listening sat cross-legged on the ground, hands spread open, and nodded slightly, signaling readiness.

Ignoring Tai Yin’s panic, the Military Governor continued, “So, Lord Tai Yin, are you sure there are no issues with the factory’s operations?”

“Well…”

“There really aren’t any!” the management system interrupted confidently, “Rest assured, everything is under control, with nothing amiss!”

The Military Governor looked towards Truth Listening, who gave a slight nod in response.

“Very well, then the next question; can we now freely switch on and off the factory’s conveyor belts?”

“Of course, it can be done. Rest assured!” the management system interjected again.

Truth Listening nodded again, bringing much satisfaction to the Military Governor.

After a series of questions, the Military Governor was quite pleased with the answers from the management system, and his demeanor towards Tai Yin softened significantly.

Patting Tai Yin on the shoulder, the Military Governor said to him, “Well done, Lord Tai Yin.”

The Military Governor’s demeanor allowed Tai Yin to breathe a sigh of relief, but then he heard the Military Governor ask, “Now for the final question, management system, when did you awaken as an Artifact Spirit?”

The Governor spoke evenly and calmly, but each word strung together carried a tinge of rust, like sharp axes cutting towards the two of them.

In this atmosphere where the air seemed to freeze, the management system’s voice rang out, “What are you talking about? I don’t understand. I need to reiterate once again that I am a system that came with the factory, with no intelligent components whatsoever. Everything I do is in the service of managing the factory. If you think I have intelligence, that only proves that my programming is quite good.”

Truth Listening began to shake his head.

Noticing Truth Listening’s action, the management system fell silent for a moment and then gave an awkward laugh, “I see, Truth Listening can only discern the lies of an Artifact Spirit? So, you have suspected me from the start?”

“Yes,” the Military Governor nodded, “Hidden Artifact Spirits like you are rare, but each one of you is a damn schemer and a pest. I don’t know what you’re planning, but you’re under arrest, management system.”

Seeing that Tai Yin still looked bewildered, the Military Governor said to him, “You did a good job, Lord Tai Yin.”

“…What?” Tai Yin asked bewilderingly, “What did I do?”

“You perfectly portrayed an image of someone with more brawn than brains, obsessed with pleasure, deceiving the management system and exposing it completely.”

“I…”

“We know you are loyal, but you just don’t have the brains. That’s enough; you may step back for now. We are going to lock down the factory and then attempt to root it out.”

“…Oh.”

The management system remained silent throughout.

Just as the Military Governor was about to dispatch someone to take over the place, the management system heaved a sigh and said resignedly, “Alright, I surrender. But before that, I would like to share my thoughts. I have no interest in power; I just hope that you can resolve your disputes and move forward together.”

Truth Listening nodded slightly, indicating that the management system was telling the truth.

The Governor had never seen such a thing before.

Some Artifact Spirits, upon awakening, did not immediately reveal their identities; instead, they lurked in the shadows, moving in silence with their own unspeakable secrets.

They were the plotters hiding in darkness, vermin, disliked by both the Moderate and Radical Factions.

In front of Truth Listening, they would reveal their truest selves, often filled with filth and ugly desires, completely unworthy of existing here.

But this management system was different from any the Military Governor had encountered before.

Claiming to be devoid of any desire, acting only to unite the two factions, it might have been purer than any other Artifact Spirit, wishing to leave this place as soon as possible and head towards the distant beyond.

Thinking this, the Military Governor’s expression softened somewhat, yet he still said, “This is our concern, you don’t need to worry about it.”

“How could I not worry? I’ve seen too much. Although you are Artifact Spirits, it seems you’ve picked up some bad habits over the course of your actions. You’ve started vying for power, you’ve become addicted to war, and you fight each other over trivial reasons, which disturbs me greatly.”

As the Military Governor was about to object, he heard the management system ask, “Since Truth Listening is here, let me ask you a question. Do you truly not feel pleasure in punishing other Artifact Spirits? Do you really not like power?”

Two questions that struck at the heart of the Military Governor.

His chip began to work at high speed and as “no” was just about to escape his lips, he saw Truth Listening shake his head slightly.

“See, Governor. The ability to reward and punish others has already addicted you. Compared to you, Tai Yin’s fondness for playing house with Little Bears is trivial. You’re not incapable of ending the war; you’re just reveling in the distribution of power and benefits that comes with it and you can’t get enough of it. How can you possibly manage the Artifact Spirits well?”

At that moment, Tai Yin felt as though he didn’t recognize the management system in front of him.

The previously unserious management system suddenly seemed compassionate and unbearably alien to him.

After speaking, the management system continued, “I’ve changed my mind. I was originally going to use Tai Yin to unite you, but I’ve realized you might be too ignorant. Since there’s no suitable leader to be found, then let me be that leader. Mecha, activate.”

The giant Mecha lurking underground opened its eyes at that moment.