Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 239 The Showdown (First Update)
The temporary workshop is located in a specially reinforced detached building on Charter Hill.

This place was originally an abandoned safety laboratory of a biotechnology company, with excellent basic conditions.

After taking over, Chen Yu did not carry out any renovations, but instead directly utilized its robust structure and existing energy interfaces to deploy the core equipment.

The interior space is spacious with a high ceiling, and retains the original clean lines and reinforced partitions of the laboratory.

The walls are made of dense, bulletproof composite material, and the floor is covered with conductive metal grids. Thick, temporary energy pipelines are neatly installed along the base of the walls and the ceiling, connecting the central dimensional teleportation unit's main control panel and several server racks emitting a low hum.

The air was filled with a faint ozone smell from the heat dissipation of the equipment, as well as the fresh feeling of the air circulating through the high-efficiency filtration system, which was completely different from the polluted air commonly found in Night City.

Several servo-controlled skulls cruised quietly along a preset path.

Ignis and her elite guards stood silently around the key entrances and control panel. Their meticulously crafted armor and austere demeanor blended into the modern but lifeless laboratory space, creating a professional and stern atmosphere.

Mann's team, Valerie, Jack, David, and Mowell, followed the guide machine into this high-tech and temporary workshop.

Chen Yu's massive body, covered in dark red composite armor, stood silently in front of the main control panel in the center of the workshop, the crimson optical lens turned towards the people entering.

The inhuman gaze sent a primal shiver down the spines of everyone except for Mann's squad and Mowell.

"You've arrived." Chen Yu's voice rang out calmly in the workshop, without any unnecessary pleasantries. "I've gathered you all here today to clarify our future relationship."

His optical lens swept across everyone present in turn, and the invisible sensors captured each person's physiological signals and micro-expression changes.

"I am not from this world." Chen Yu's opening statement was simple and direct, as if stating an established fact: "I come from another universe, a dimension defined by eternal war, profound darkness, and an endless thirst for knowledge."

My identity is that of an explorer of sages; this is my duty.

He paused deliberately, giving everyone time to process the information.

Mann crossed his arms, his massive prosthetic limbs motionless; Dorio stood beside him, his expression unchanged; Lucy and Kivi exchanged a knowing glance—having experienced dimensional travel, they were not surprised by this truth.

Rebecca, on the other hand, stood on tiptoe and peered around with great interest, as if searching for traces of another world.

Valerie and Jack were clearly stunned.

The two looked at each other, both reading disbelief on each other's faces.

Despite having witnessed the Imperial Guard's invincibility and the mysterious annihilation of the Arasaka Fleet, the straightforward answer of "visitors from another world" still exceeded their comprehension.

Jack's lips moved, instinctively wanting to ease the tension with a witty remark, but he swallowed his words under Chen Yu's calm gaze.

A look of confusion crossed young David's face, and he subconsciously turned his head to look at Lucy.

The time they had spent fighting side by side had created a tacit understanding between the two young men, and this subtle action revealed a barely perceptible dependence between them.

Lucy's gaze met his briefly, and she nodded slightly.

Mowell stood quietly in front, her respectful posture making her stance clear.

“My work is far from over,” Chen Yu continued, his voice calm as ever, yet carrying an undeniable weight: “I will use this place as a starting point to explore this world, and then penetrate dimensions to travel to more worlds.”

This requires reliable personnel. You are among the first individuals I have come into contact with in this field and have invested resources in observing and testing you.

Data shows that you have the value and potential for further development.

He gave no room for the others to interrupt, directly revealing the core issue without any euphemism: "Now is the time for you to make a choice. Voluntarily swear allegiance, dedicate your skills and lives to my exploration, and unconditionally follow my rules and instructions."

In return, you will gain resources beyond the imagination of this world, cutting-edge technological enhancements, and security and status under the protection of my order.

He paused slightly, and even the humming of the equipment in the workshop seemed to subside, and the trajectory of the servo skull cruise seemed to become more sluggish.

Although Ignis and the Royal Guard did not move an inch, the invisible sense of oppression suddenly tightened.

“Or,” Chen Yu’s voice remained absolutely calm, but every word seemed to be frozen in ice, “you choose to refuse. Then, based on the basic principles of efficiency and resource management, I must recoup the initial investment in observation costs, testing resources, and the costs of providing shelter.”

The most effective way to make up for it is to 'reformat' you—strip you of unnecessary personal will and emotional redundancy, and transform you into absolutely obedient and highly efficient servants.

Your physiological functions and some skills will be preserved, continuing to serve my research in a purer form.

The choice is laid bare before you, simple, direct, and cruel.

On one hand, one can preserve oneself and embark on a path leading to the unknown but full of possibilities; on the other hand, one can completely lose everything and become a tool to make up for the depletion of resources.

There are no middle options, and no room for negotiation.

A deathly silence fell over the scene, broken only by the low hum of the cooling system and the faint sound of the servo skull optical lens rotating, which pounded on everyone's nerves.

Mann's thick fingers unconsciously rubbed the joints of his mechanical prosthetic hand, producing a faint metallic scraping sound.

He glanced around at his teammates—Dorio met his gaze and subtly raised her chin; Lucy and Kivi remained calm, as if they had expected this situation; Rebecca grinned, looking like she couldn't wait to make a big fuss.

They had blown up the Abandoned Tower together, set foot in another world, and now returning to Heywood to take on jobs like gang shootouts or stalking adulterers does seem a bit... beneath them.

In Night City, following the right boss is more important than anything else, and the one in front of you is clearly not a "boss" in the ordinary sense.

He cleared his throat, his voice hoarse from years of smoking: "Alright. After witnessing your extravagant spending, going back to living on the streets is really pointless."

He put it bluntly, without any fancy words: "Working for you, boss, sounds more promising."

Dorothy gave a brief "hmm" in agreement.

Sasha and Qiwei exchanged a glance. As hackers who had witnessed Chen Yu's terrifying abilities, they couldn't possibly have any thoughts that would go against him.

Rebecca excitedly nudged Pila beside her with her elbow: "Did you hear that? From now on, we're going to be doing big things!"

Chen Yu's optical lens swept over each member of Mann's team, the cold red light subtly adjusting the focus.

“A wise choice,” he replied calmly, the data stream silently recording everyone’s reaction patterns.

(End of this chapter)