Deep in the Living

Chapter 572 Metal Infection
Because the Gang of Three had limited range of activities,

We can only choose the familiar all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant for our gatherings.

Because they have recently become deeply addicted to games, the three of them spend almost all their time on them, relying on instant noodles to fill their stomachs every day, and haven't eaten out for a long time.

The barbecue was a truly enthusiastic and lively meal.
Libert, who was not familiar with everyone before, quickly became friends with them after tasting human barbecue and beer for the first time, and they discussed all sorts of things related to humans.

On the contrary, Roddy, the only human present, had no idea how to join the conversation.

David also became very interested, and every now and then he would reach out his greasy, lewd hands to pinch and grope Libert's body. It seemed that he had never seen such a special physical structure in all his time in hell, and he was quite impressed.

Roddy, on the other hand, was having a private conversation with the unshaven Mr. Hawke.

"Senior Hawke,"
"Weren't you trying to expand your area of ​​activity? Why are you still confined to this area... Shouldn't you reduce your internet usage time?"

Hawke, however, disagreed. "It won't be reduced at all. Besides, plans are always changing, Roddy! I didn't know the situation here at first, but the expansion plan has been changed. I'm sure you've already noticed."

We plan to focus on internet cafes and try to gradually instill the "hellish mentality" in every customer who goes online.

We've discovered that people who play video games, use the internet, and read novels are better at accepting things and have better physical abilities than the average person, making them more suited to accepting hell.

Internet cafes are essentially talent screening venues, a fact we've personally verified, so there's no doubt about it.

The subsequent expansion of Hell will be carried out on a per-person basis, which will be more efficient.

Moreover, these people who come to the internet often don't have the opportunity to become investigators and are unable to accept ordinary people in the Corner system. Giving them another chance is a good thing.

Based on the contract we signed with Mr. Kraft, these individuals may be able to guarantee their own safety in the future.

"Row……"

Although Roddy was more inclined to believe that Hawke and the others had developed a deep internet addiction, he had just witnessed the situation in the internet cafe, and it was indeed not a strange thing.

After all, an invasion could really happen, so it's always good to prepare in advance.

They had almost finished eating.

Roddy suddenly transmitted some information to Mr. Hawke through metallic resonance.

Upon receiving the information, the latter was utterly shocked and immediately put down his chopsticks.

"Roddy and I have urgent business to attend to at the torture chamber."

David gave an OK sign. "Then we won't wait for you. We'll just take Liberty to the internet cafe and he can take your place. I can tell this young man is very talented. With a little practice, he'll definitely be good enough."

Oculus, who was wearing glasses, had originally intended to go to the torture chamber, but his eyes had clearly caught sight of something, so he ultimately decided to go to the internet cafe instead.

Fifth Hospital, Director's Office.

The seemingly normal office is rapidly expanding in size, with the overall color scheme gradually darkening, and a series of metal hooks descending from the ceiling.

Now there is no need for any transition; as long as you are in the Fifth Hospital, you can directly switch to the Hell Torture Chamber.

Hawke also transformed back into his iconic monk form.

Without any further words, Roddy took the manga fragments out.

For a time,

The hooks in the preaching room began to rattle wildly. If Hawke hadn't been there, these hooks would have automatically targeted the tattered pages, pierced them, and taken them to the incinerator to burn.

Hawke stepped forward, picked up a torn page of the comic book, and sensed its essence.

"Is this one of the reasons Mr. Kraft is cooperating with us? Some kind of mysterious, unknown extraterrestrial invasion is coming, and it is starting from the depths of the corners, gradually infiltrating your world."

Although the real hell has invaded many worlds, I have never seen anything like this before, and this aura is completely unfamiliar to me.

It may look like paper, but it is actually a kind of [connection medium].

Once an individual accepts this, their thinking should form a channel-like structure that is influenced by external factors.

This paper itself carries [attributes] that will affect the recipient's abilities... It seems beneficial, but if there is any lapse in vigilance, it will gradually be infiltrated and influenced.

The paper you received contains a highly invasive, unusual metal, and it also carries the smell of the sea and fish. Did you come all this way to me want me to extract the metal and render it harmless?

"No... I just wanted to show this unusual metal to Senior Hawke, because when I fought against the original owner of this fragment, I was completely suppressed by him at the metal level."

This abnormal metal can assimilate the torture chamber metal in my body.

Moreover, I have a vague feeling that although these two metals do not belong to the same world and have completely different origins, there may be a possibility of them fusing together.

So I thought I'd show it to you, Mr. Hawke. With your understanding of metal structures, perhaps you could decipher the nature of this unusual metal, or even upgrade the torture chamber or something.”

Snapped!
Hawke slapped Roddy on the forehead.
"It's not enough to just infiltrate your place, is it? We also need to create an infiltration point in the real hell as well."

Moreover, the prison system is already well-established; if other material systems are introduced, the entire system will have to be rebuilt.

"However, what you're saying about this stuff being able to assimilate torture chamber metal is quite interesting. Let's do an experiment first."

At the altar,
A metal hook, removed from the top, was placed on the altar, and then the manga fragments were wrapped around it.

When Hawke released his fingers that were pressing down the torn pages...

Hiss~ A foul odor, similar to gas, wafted from between the torn pages, beginning to affect the metal hook. A few seconds passed.

The original structure, which was very simple and had a smooth surface, has been completely changed.

It wasn't just covered with layers of rust,
Two additional exposed gear connection points have been added to the surface of the hook, allowing for structural modifications and greater maneuverability.

Suddenly, the mutated hook began to move on its own, just like a creature's leg.

The gears rotate.

With some unknown force, the hook suddenly leaped up and plunged straight into Hawke's face, as if it were a solitary living creature trying to infect the surrounding life forms.

However, the hook stopped completely just as it was about to pierce Hawke.

As Hawke's finger made a snapping motion,
click!
The hook broke in the middle.
Its internal structure has also changed, and it is a refined change, with flexible metal tubes resembling "blood vessels" nested inside the hook.

These hoses transport the foul-smelling gas released from the debris, serving as a "power source."

It is these gases and intricate structures that enable an ordinary metal object to move autonomously, blurring the lines between inanimate and living things.

"grass!"

Hawke immediately uttered a curse word, "national essence."

"What's wrong, Senior Hawk?"

"What else could we do!? Do you know that the new season of the game just started, and I made a pact with a few of them to climb the ranks together."

Now look what's happened! They had to bring this stuff over here, ugh! I can't even play the game. Oh well, I'll ask the internet cafe manager to boost my account for me, and give him a little something in return.

This fragment is indeed remarkable, capable of performing sophisticated biological modifications on metal in a short period of time.

However, mastering this technology and extracting the metal-related substances from the fragments will require considerable effort.

During this time, Roddy, you stay here and assist me, and try to get it done as soon as possible.

If we could obtain this technology, it would indeed bring some changes to the torture chamber... and perhaps your left arm could also be upgraded.

It might also be possible to uncover some information about outside the domain.

Of course, the pages might get damaged in the process, is that alright?

"It's alright! Senior Hawke, just go ahead and operate it. If it breaks, it's on me."

This is exactly the result Roddy wants; he doesn't want to recklessly intervene with extraterrestrial factors.

We sought Mr. Hawke's help to mitigate the risks. He was just one step away from the plant's maturity, and we couldn't afford for something to go wrong at this crucial moment.

(End of this chapter)