The Villain Slaps The Protagonist’s Halo - Chapter 131

Chapter 131: Hunting the World

Song Nuanyang felt a peculiar discomfort when looking at Shi Chen now. The title of Director of Imperial Information Security Bureau seemed to weigh heavily on one's mind, and if it weren't for the knowledge that he had no memories, Song Nuanyang wouldn't have known where to put his hands. But considering they were from different worlds, he found solace in that.

"I'll head back now. See you tomorrow," Song Nuanyang said, rising to leave.

Nie Jia's face turned cold. "I won't be coming to your lab tomorrow."

Ignoring Nie Jia, Song Nuanyang bid farewell to Shi Chen with a respectful nod.

Shi Chen didn't inquire why Captain Song had come to see him, instead, he sat back, took an apple, and started peeling it. Nie Jia glanced at him for a moment, then suddenly said, "I didn't make him cry."

Shi Chen chuckled. "What did he want you to do in the lab?"

"He wants me to build him a mech," Nie Jia said.

Shi Chen cut apple slices and fed them to Nie Jia, somewhat bemused. "Build... what?"

Leaning in, Nie Jia whispered to Shi Chen while resting on his shoulder, diverging from the topic.

Nie Jia had some understanding of conventional military machinery, but mechs were a different story. Even if he were given blueprints, he wouldn't be able to build one. Moreover, the military equipment in this world was subpar, lacking sufficient metal materials, let alone enough fuel to power a mech.

Nie Jia thought Song Nuanyang would forget about it after some casual conversation with Shi Chen, but the next day, Song Nuanyang tricked Nie Jia into coming to the lab. Seeing various cold metal components and blueprints in the room, Nie Jia's expression darkened.

"I've been stuck on a technical issue for a while..." Song Nuanyang showed Nie Jia a blueprint.

Nie Jia turned and walked away.

Song Nuanyang quickly caught up to him. "Please don't leave, I beg you. Just consider it a good deed for the day."

"I told you, I'm not an engineer!" Nie Jia snapped.

Song Nuanyang dragged Nie Jia back inside and shut the door, smiling pleadingly. "Just ask KK, KK will definitely know."

KK: [...]. Why is he dragging me into this?

Nie Jia was annoyed by Song Nuanyang's persistence. Grabbing the blueprint, he glanced at it briefly. Despite the advanced military equipment in this world, Nie Jia could immediately spot the problem.

"The propulsion system's energy is too high. If you install this on a person, it could dislocate their arms. You need a stabilizer to counteract the impact." Nie Jia patiently explained the stabilizer principle to him. Then he saw Song Nuanyang silently pushing him toward the workbench. Annoyed, Nie Jia asked, "What are you doing?"

"Drawing blueprints," Song Nuanyang said pitifully, clasping his hands together. "You just have to draw, I'll handle the rest."

"Design it yourself!" Nie Jia threw the blueprint at him and walked away.

This time, Song Nuanyang couldn't pull Nie Jia back. He yelled after him, "You stingy guy!"

"You annoying pest!" Nie Jia slammed the door loudly.

Meeting Shen Su, who came looking for Song Nuanyang, Nie Jia still wore a disgruntled expression and walked past without even glancing at Shen Su, leaving on his own.

Shen Su's expression wasn't much better. He knocked on the door and entered Song Nuanyang's lab, seeing his lover buried behind the computer, clearly busy.

"Why did Nie Jia come here?" Shen Su brought a box of pre-cut fruits for Song Nuanyang, looking visibly displeased.

"I needed his help with something," Song Nuanyang looked up and smiled at him.

Shen Su grew even more discontent. "What could he possibly help you with? In the future, just tell me directly. You know who Nie Jia is. Stay away from him."

Song Nuanyang sighed. "Shen, don't be so biased against Nie Jia. I've told you, he has no malicious intent, he genuinely wants to serve Huaxia. I know you hold a grudge for Kong Fei's death at his hands, but the circumstances were peculiar. He acted unconsciously."

"Are you... defending Nie Jia now?" Shen Su looked at Song Nuanyang in disbelief.

Song Nuanyang took Shen Su's sleeve. "I know you don't like this, and I don't want to upset you, but I hope you understand that Nie Jia isn't the same person you think he is, he's not even the same person anymore. I also understand you can let go of other things, but Kong Fei's death weighs heavily on you. But when you pushed him to the brink at Asakawa Airport, even setting up snipers, his retaliation was only natural."

Given the current situation and Nie Jia's importance, Shen Su couldn't oppose Nie Jia anymore. Even though there were still a few high-ranking members in the United Front Department who didn't accept Nie Jia's existence, after Captain Song's inspection, this minor opposition immediately subsided.

What else could Shen Su do?

Song Nuanyang knew he wasn't feeling well. After all, his close friend died in battle, let alone bringing the perpetrator to justice, the government even welcomed the perpetrator with open arms, Kong Fei's sacrifice didn't even cause a ripple. But all of this was meaningless... he couldn't articulate it.

"Are you also agreeing with Nie Jia now? Just because he's the only Sixth Tier ability user?" Shen Su's expression turned icy, he shook off Song Nuanyang's hand and left the lab.

Song Nuanyang watched his departing figure with a sense of helplessness. Everything in this world was predetermined data: Kong Fei's death, the Oasis's hegemony, the original owner Nie Jia's madness, even his and Shen Su's love was a pre-set combination... Song Nuanyang suddenly felt very bored, everything seemed so meaningless.

He didn't go after Shen Su, after a moment of daze, he continued to work on the stabilizer's blueprint.

The former leader of the hunters, Nie Jia, officially became a force for Huaxia and successfully advanced, becoming the only Sixth Tier ability user from ancient times to the present. President He Qingtang immediately had this news spread. There was no need to conceal something worth boasting about.

Of course, President He's purpose was not to show off but to deter the Oasis.

A metal ability user, what extent would his abilities expand to when he reaches the Sixth Tier? No one knows for sure, not even the United States dares to easily provoke and find out. During the time when the leader of the Oasis was still Huang Geng, the Oasis maintained relatively amicable relations with both Huaxia and the United States. However, since Ning Lang came to power, the Oasis unilaterally severed all ties with other countries. If it weren't for satellite surveillance still detecting their activities, both Huaxia and the United States would have almost suspected the Oasis of disappearing entirely.

Ning Lang was a staunch advocate of the Shark faction. In such times, as soon as he came to power, he severed ties with other countries. Who knows what he's up to. Now, it's only hoped that the emergence of a Sixth Tier ability user can make him reconsider his actions before acting recklessly.

In the face of such a situation, even if many high-ranking officials harbor dissatisfaction and resentment towards Nie Jia, they have to admit that Huaxia needs Nie Jia at this moment.

If a real war were to break out with the Oasis, Huaxia might not necessarily lose, but it would only end in a Pyrrhic victory. Wars between ability users would result in rivers of blood and widespread suffering, something that He Qingtang, the President, didn't want to see. That's been her reason for advocating against war all along.

She'd rather keep the tension high like this for a long time, bearing all the anxiety and pressure before the outbreak of a real war.

But obviously, Ning Lang didn't think so.

On a very calm night, Nie Jia woke up drenched in cold sweat, finding himself alone.

When Shi Chen returned from a phone call, he entered the bedroom to see Nie Jia curled up on the bed, trembling slightly under the moonlight.

"What's wrong?" Shi Chen's heart tightened. He went over and sat on the bed, soothingly patting Nie Jia, only to feel his cold sweat.

"I had a dream," Nie Jia looked at him, his expression calm but filled with immense fear, "I dreamed that you went to a faraway place and left me behind. No matter how I called you, you ignored me, and I couldn't catch up, only able to watch you walk away."

Shi Chen let out a gentle laugh, pulling Nie Jia into his arms and comforting him, "I can't believe I left you in my dream. I'm so cruel. I'll punish myself by not kissing or hugging you for a day. Let me hug you now."

Nie Jia nestled in Shi Chen's embrace, feeling the warmth emanating from his chest gradually dispel the icy fear in his heart. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Where did you just go?"

Shi Chen's expression turned serious. "I need to go to Qinghai Gate."

"Now?" Nie Jia glanced at the time. It was already half past three in the morning. "Is there an emergency?"

Shi Chen nodded. "Satellite surveillance detected that all the missile silo doors in the Oasis are fully open. The President and the United States are currently in urgent video conferences to discuss countermeasures. It's not yet known where the Oasis intends to strike, and there's no way to contact them."

Upon hearing this, a heavy feeling settled in Nie Jia's heart. "I'll go with you."

The situation was urgent and there was no time to delay. Without even changing their clothes, the two rushed to Qinghai Gate in their sleepwear.

President He Qingtang was also awakened from her sleep, and there was no time for her to tidy up her appearance. With her hair disheveled, she connected with the President of the United States and the Secretary of State via video conferencing.

As soon as Shi Chen entered Qinghai Gate and glanced at the conference room, he saw all the senior officers present, even those with real power among the colonels.

"What are you doing here?" Shi Chen frowned. "Major, immediately mobilize all the personnel from the Ninth Bureau to evacuate the residents along the coastline. Go quickly!"

Scolded by Shi Chen like this, He Qingtang finally came back to her senses, her face pale. "Yes, General!"

He Qingtang rushed out, and the others also reacted, sending people to assist He Qingtang in clearing the coastline.

If the Oasis launched all hundreds of nuclear missiles, the coastline of Huaxia would be flattened in no time. The situation was urgent, and there was no time to think about it.

Nie Jia caught up with He Qingtang and whispered, "Among the people I brought, there's a spatial ability user who can help with mass evacuation. Go find Meng Jia. She knows more about their abilities than I do."

He Qingtang nodded, saving time by leaping directly from a tall building, his hands bursting into dazzling and eerie red light to counteract the downward momentum.

Nie Jia returned to Shi Chen's side and asked softly, "Can we intercept?"

Shi Chen frowned, shaking his head solemnly. "There are too many of them. We can counterattack, but we can't intercept accurately. Once they launch towards here, the coastline won't be defensible at all. It would be pointless to retaliate at that point. The Oasis probably doesn't care whether Huaxia retaliates or not. Now, we can only hope that Ning Lang will show up to negotiate terms."

But obviously, Ning Lang didn't seem to think so.

Shen Su hurriedly arrived, took a glance at the satellite monitoring screen, and broke out in a cold sweat.

Hundreds of nuclear missiles... What is that lunatic Ning Lang trying to do?!

"Mr. Nie, Lieutenant Colonel Shen, you are the top metal ability users. Can you intercept?" President He turned her head, her brow furrowed in deep worry.

Shen Su's face showed a difficult expression. "I'm sorry, Madam President, the domain and kinetic energy of so many nuclear missiles are terrifying. If they were to concentrate their attack on me, I could try my

 best to intercept, but that's highly unlikely."

One nuclear missile is enough to destroy the coastline. If Ning Lang really launches an attack, how could they possibly concentrate their fire? It would definitely be a scattered attack, with a terrifying range. Plus, multiple trajectory changes, even a Fifth Tier metal ability user wouldn't stand a chance.

Nie Jia glanced at the anxiety in Shi Chen's eyes and said quietly, "If Ning Lang really attacks Huaxia, I can try to intercept."

"How confident are you?" President He was excited, trembling as she stood up and breathed heavily, leaning on the table.

Nie Jia thought for a moment and said, "Given the quantity and range... I'm one hundred percent sure."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.

Shen Su looked at Nie Jia with a subtle expression, gritting his teeth. "Nie Jia, don't use millions of lives to show off your abilities."

"If you can't do it, then shut up." Nie Jia didn't even look at Shen Su, coldly rebuking him.

Shi Chen held his hand, gently rubbing his fingertips, and Nie Jia smiled at him, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "The worst-case scenario is just overexertion and a two or three-day sleep. Nothing will happen, don't worry."

Shi Chen silently rubbed Nie Jia's head, barely managing to muster a pale smile.

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