Chapter 238: 238, Betray trust

Ren Xiaosu sent Chen Wudi to tidy up the items, then found himself alone in an empty room, where he intended to dismantle the nano-warrior weapons he had acquired to extract the nanobots within.

Ever since their joint hunt of the nano-warriors with the wolf pack, Ren Xiaosu’s stock of nanobots had multiplied severalfold, to the point where he could now coat both his arms with the external armor.

Thus, he had been hesitating—should he dismantle these weapons to harvest the nanobots?

The weapons operated on a principle of deploying pre-programmed nanobots to experiment with high-frequency particle cutting, a concept that sounded mystical, yet water jets worked on a similar principle.

High-frequency particle cutting had traditionally required heavy machinery, for the “blade” was unshapable, impossible to forge into a weapon.

But the nanobots helped the Li family solve this problem, enabling them to craft sharper melee weapons.

These weapons were certainly inferior to the Black Blade in Ren Xiaosu’s hands, but what if those students beside him also wore nano-armor someday? Could they not use them then?

Yet now, Ren Xiaosu had no time to ponder the future—he was dismantling the nanobots not for himself, but for Yan Liuyuan.

After completing the reconfiguration, Ren Xiaosu called Yan Liuyuan into the room. Yan shut the door and asked curiously, “Brother, what’s the matter?”

“Extend your hand,” Ren said.

Yan complied, only to see Ren grasp his hand, and immediately a silver stream seeped from Ren’s body, spreading toward Yan.

“This is the Li family’s nanobots. You’re smaller in stature—perhaps these will suffice to forge a lighter set of nano-armor for you, or even enhance your muscle and bone strength internally. This is for your protection. Never reveal it to others,” Ren said. “If danger arises, you may use it to kill.”

Yan stared blankly at Ren: “Brother, you’ve given all the nanobots to me. What will you do?”

As he spoke, he tried to pull away to halt the influx of nanobots, but his strength was too feeble to break free.

Ren held Yan’s hand tightly, pinching it until it ached, and spoke solemnly, “In times of need, you may command these nanobots to protect everyone.”

No ornate or melodramatic words—Ren spoke only of the practical truth.

Just as Yan had once offered his life to grant Ren a wish, Ren could likewise pour all the hard-won nanobots into Yan’s hands.

Only thus could they endure the hardships of their past together.

Ren had never relied on nanobots, for his own power was formidable.

Moreover, Ren believed that more nanobots awaited him on the battlefield ahead, for the Li family was generous indeed.

So on the front lines, he might even cobble together nano-armors for the remaining eight students.

In his mind, Ren murmured, “Palace, reconfigure the nanobots.”

The next moment, Palace replied, “A processing fee of 20,000 yuan is required.”

Ren was stunned—this damn Palace demanded a fee for reconfiguring the nanobots, when he had barely 20,000 left on him?!

Yet at this moment, Ren could only swallow the bitter pill: “Proceed with the reconfiguration. I’ll retrieve the money myself.”

He spoke in his mind, and the 20,000 yuan in his storage space vanished. The nanobots previously linked to his neurons detached from their connection, and Ren looked at Yan: “Coordinate with the nanobots during the reconfiguration, and test whether you can command them.”

As the nanobots flowed into Yan’s body, his veins turned silver. Yan frowned and said, “They’re easy to command, very obedient—like using my own fingers.”

Ren exhaled in relief. His greatest fear had been Yan’s low synchronization rate, rendering the nanobots useless.

But now, it seemed Yan’s synchronization was exceptionally high.

“Do not use them casually,” Ren said. “If misused, the Li family will surely take notice.”

“Understood,” Yan nodded.

At that moment, voices of alarm erupted outside: “Where’s Liu Zhaojiang?!”

Ren pushed open the door: “What’s happened?”

Li Qingzheng stared at Ren, his face ashen, and spoke with difficulty, “Liu Zhaojiang took some salt and cured meat and vanished. He also stole a gun and half the ammunition.”

“Vanished?” Ren froze. The outpost sat atop the mountain, with only one path downward. If Liu had disappeared, he must have ventured into the mountains.

Liu Zhaojiang was a refugee who had fled the 109 Bastion alongside Ren and the others. With no kin here, upon learning he would be sent to the battlefield as cannon fodder, he had resolved to flee.

Liu Zhaojiang not only fled but also took supplies for his survival.

Li Qingzheng’s face was lifeless: “Why would he run? What of the others if he flees?”

Li Qingzheng had stayed because he regarded the soldiers in the outpost as brothers, only to have one of them betray him.

Chen Wudi looked at Ren: “Master, why do such people exist in this world?”

Ren spoke calmly, “They are the darkness that seeks to devour your light.”

“What do we do now?” Li Qingzheng muttered. “With one fewer, we’ll all face punishment.”

Someone suddenly said, “Shall we run too? We’re doomed on the battlefield anyway.”

Yet another voice interjected, “I have a wife and daughter in the settlement. I cannot flee. Please, perhaps with one less person, we won’t be punished.”

Another man pleaded, “Please, don’t flee. If you do, how will we, who have families, survive?”

Li Qingzheng looked to Ren, and all eyes followed his gaze. In truth, the one whose word carried weight in the squad was not Li Qingzheng, but Ren.

Ren met their gazes, pondered for two seconds, and said, “We’ll go to the assembly point together. I have a plan.”

“Really?” someone asked. “Are you joking, Squad Leader?”

Upon hearing Ren’s words, Li Qingzheng’s heart lightened: “When has our Xiaosu Squad Leader ever joked? Trust him—he’s never wrong!”

At this moment, Ren had become the true leader in everyone’s eyes.