Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

She stared intently at Bai E's expressionless face, "So, can you make a change?"

"What, a change?"

"Become more obedient, stop engaging in those dangerous acts… You should know which of your actions tend to alarm others," Helen said, her tone light but her eyes firmly locked onto Bai E's, "Or perhaps, become more covert, without letting others spot any flaws."

"..."

Was this a negotiation?

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Had she discovered something?

Indeed.

In all of Blackwater City, she had the shrewdest mind and the most intimate knowledge of her own body, and it was impossible that she hadn't noticed anything unusual during their several encounters.

Even though he had always provided perfect explanations, when facts and cognition clashed dramatically, rationality would question everything.

Seeing her current attitude, even though she knew he had an ulterior motive, she seemed willing to help him cover it up.

But he wasn't sure if she was just bluffing, ready to have him seized the moment he stepped out—if he admitted to anything…

Should he take a bet?

However, if he continued to hide the truth, he might never have the chance to establish a good relationship with her again.

If he rejected the olive branch, only weapons remained.

But he couldn't simply confess everything either, for then he would lose all initiative.

In a slight pause, Bai E glanced downward, looking at the "shackles" he still wore on his hands.

These were placed on him by a person from the Mechanical Court, and after putting them on, his physical strength and Spiritual Energy were both tremendously suppressed.

Wearing these, Bai E had no leverage to turn hostile.

Bai's subtle movements were not too noticeable, but Helen, who kept a vigilant watch over every move he made, would not miss any detail.

Seeing this almost imperceptible action, Helen, who had kept a stern face, finally revealed a bright smile.

Walking toward Bai with her long elegant legs, her right hand casually swept through the air, and with a slight fluctuation of Spiritual Energy, a silvery-gray metal key suddenly appeared in her hand.

Inserted into the lock, electronic password accepted…

With a "click," the shackles binding Bai sprang open and with a "thud" fell to the ground.

Feeling his body swiftly regaining power, Bai E moved his wrists slightly.

Meeting Helen's eyes, which held a trace of amusement, Bai E's face remained calm, "Thank you, Helen."

Helen raised her right eyebrow slightly, neither confirming nor denying, "I can cover for you."

"I don't quite understand, Helen."

"I don't need you to 'understand' right now," Helen turned away to tidy up the experimental table and documents, "You can go if there's nothing else."

"No need for a mind wipe?"

Helen turned her body halfway, revealing part of her face, "Do you wish for it?"

Bai E fell silent for a moment, gazing into Helen's eyes before slowly replying, "I don't wish for it."

Helen beamed a bright smile, "Then that settles it. Go on, the rest room is next door. Stay there for a couple of days… Also, after a mind wipe, there's a recovery period ranging from a few days to a month, during which we will keep observing you."

This was the downside of current technology.

If Weslin knew about the mind-wiping technology, he wouldn't be unaware of its associated symptoms; deception was pointless.

With that, Helen stopped paying attention to Bai, solely focused on organizing her materials, letting Bai stay or leave at his discretion.

Bai stood still for a moment, then turned and walked toward the door.

"Hiss~"

Upon hearing the sound of the door opening and closing, Helen, who'd been packing away items, paused her movements and relaxed, sinking into her chair and whispering in a voice only she could hear.

"As expected…"

The communication between smart people didn't need to be too explicit; an unspoken understanding left more room for both parties to maneuver.

Bai was gambling; she was gambling too.

Fortunately, Bai was betting correctly, and she probably wouldn't make a wrong bet either.

Rather than risk exposing themselves, they went so far as to do things that raised alarms, all for the sake of saving some unrelated wilderness wanderers.

How dangerous can a person with their own awakened will be, even if such a person exists?

Starting today, you will put on a new mask, but also tear off the old one.

Bai E...

Let me see, once the mask is removed, what you truly look like.

I just hope, you won't disappoint me.

...

Weslin immediately gathered the senior officers, including Hamilton, who had just dispersed, upon receiving news from Helen.

"Helen has successfully brainwashed Bai, a big success!"

Upon hearing this news, both Hamilton and Carlos's faces lit up with pleasure.

"That's great!"

"However..." Weslin pondered slightly, "The recovery period for brainwashing surgery can range from several days to a month. This time is an observation period to confirm the results and the recovery of the mental state. So, we still need to consider it a bit longer."

"Then let's stick to the plan we agreed upon earlier, let him serve as a 'mech servant' for me for a month. We can't afford to have him completely lose his familiarity with mechas because of a wasted month."

As long as the defects of Bai E as an artificially created person disappeared, this combat power, capable of single-handedly annihilating an entire Intelligence Machinery Group Army through mecha combat, could not be wasted no matter what.

"Just do as you say..." Weslin waved his hand dismissively, unconcerned with these minor details.

In Hamilton's eyes, the armored battalion was his private territory.

But in his own eyes, the entire military camp belonged to him.

As long as Bai E could perform well subsequently, how he should be promoted was entirely up to his discretion. After all, wasn't he the one with the greatest say in shaping Bai E's future?

This kid knew gratitude, and nurturing him would surely yield an obedient and promising talent.

"What about the general offensive that was scheduled for five days from now?" Dewa was the only senior officer called in who thought about matters other than Bai E.

"It remains unchanged." Weslin said nonchalantly, making the decision with a casual wave of his hand.

However impressive Bai E's combat power might be, he was still just one person.

However strong an individual is, how much decisive impact can they really have on a battle against the Bug Race?

Keep in mind, the Bug Race, humanity's greatest adversary, is far more challenging than mere mechanical contraptions.

The same achievements, if given to a mech pilot from the Mechanical Court, could be replicated with just a few more added to the mix.

To curry favor with the military camp, in hopes of getting priority allocation of Bai E later on, even the Chief Justice of the Mechanical Court promised to pitch in several excellent mech pilots for the upcoming total offensive against the Bug Race, to help them secure this crucial battle.

With or without Bai E, he didn't see any immediate and absolute impact, and there was no need to hold back the foundation they had already established everywhere, just to wait for his recovery period which could take up to a month.

The recent large-scale troop withdrawals from the barracks for pre-war training were meant not only to enhance the soldiers' combat abilities but also to cut off the "tentacles" the Bug Nests had stretched out.

Five days later would be their planned optimal time for the offensive, and it would not be altered due to any unforeseen event!

"Is there anything else?"

"No."

"Then let's disband. Hamilton... Bai E is in your care. Pay extra attention during this time. The technology of the Scientific Research Institute isn't foolproof; we still need to keep an eye on it ourselves. By the way, Helen said he's quite exhausted from the brainwashing and has gone to rest. Don't disturb him tonight, talk to him again in a couple of days."

"Got it," Hamilton replied cheerily, his departure quickening with a brisk stride.

After everyone had left, a shadow moved slightly in the corner of the meeting room.

A slender figure holding a sword and with hands folded across her chest stepped out from the shadows silently.

Should she wish, she could go anywhere in this military camp that was now defenseless against her—only the so-called scholar's lab was a bit of trouble.

So she had waited here...

"Brainwashing... 'mech servant'?"

A trace of worry flickered across Yue Ying's dark pupils.

The military camp hadn't taken forcible measures against Bai E, so it wasn't fitting for her to make a move directly.

But brainwashing... Could they have damaged the kid's brain?