A Scroll of Infinite Glory

Chapter 297 In the noodle shop, at the corner

The attack on the psionic signal tower at the border hospital was actually a spur-of-the-moment event, or rather, an accident.

Originally, the three of them, including the Skywalker, arrived in the city by high-speed train at just before 2 p.m. that day, disguised as passengers without any flaws that could be detected by the crew.

All three were dressed very simply.

The woman was wearing a white baseball cap and looked like a young woman in her late twenties, not yet thirty. She wore a gray hoodie, slim-fitting trousers, and was pulling a suitcase.

Dr. Jin Meng, whom she was escorting, was wearing a shirt and trousers with a trench coat over them. He wore black-rimmed glasses, had a short, gray beard, and his hair was disheveled, reaching down to his neck.

The two of them walked together and looked like a father and daughter. However, apart from looking older, Dr. Jin Meng's eyes were still very bright and she was full of energy. After leaving the station, she looked around.

"Sigh, it's been so many years since I've ridden a high-speed train. No matter what era it is, the train food is never good."

Dr. Jin Meng said, "Let's go see if there are any good restaurants where we can have lunch before we leave."

The Dakini chuckled softly, "We're already here. In another hour at most, we'll be on the other side of Burma Mountain. What kind of gourmet food can't we get our hands on then?"

Dr. Jin Meng clicked her tongue and turned to the other person: "Mr. Leo, you two each have impressive backgrounds and distinguished statuses. Now, the two of you are traveling with me, and you still can't even afford to have lunch on the fringes of the United Government?"

Mr. Leo had high eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a hooked nose, and thin, strong cheeks. His hair was shaved very short, close to his scalp, with only a layer of yellowish stubble. He was tall and wore a blue tracksuit and white platform sneakers.

He could look anywhere from twenty to over thirty.

But he remained remarkably calm and composed, giving a gentle smile as he said, "Having lunch is no big deal. Miss Kongxing doesn't need to make such a fuss over something like this, and Doctor doesn't need to assume we're inadequate just because of this."

"In reality, the world has changed dramatically in the half-century since the Great Cataclysm. Now, only three powers can be considered truly powerful globally. The United Regime has expanded rapidly and has a large population, but compared to either of us, it cannot be said to have a genuine advantage. With your vision, Doctor, you should have known this long ago. Why bother repeatedly seeking confirmation?"

Mr. Leo waved his hand. "I won't say anymore. It's just common sense. There's no point in emphasizing it too much."

Dr. Jin Meng chuckled and said, "Mr. Leo is so composed; it's as if I've lost my composure."

At this moment, the Dakini said, "Doctor, you are a first-rate talent. To be frank, besides researching on our own turf, we Eight Leaves also have many talents who invest outside. I believe Mr. Leo's organization operates in a similar manner. Among so many talents, only the results you have researched are worth the trip we two should take together."

"The potential value of your achievement is immeasurable. Making any decision would be extremely difficult for a normal person. The fact that you are only slightly nervous shows your great composure."

"Alright, let's go have lunch before we leave."

As she spoke, the Dakini added casually, "Mr. Leo, my surname is not Dakini, just as yours is not Leo. You prefer to reveal only two characters, but according to our custom, we value our full name."

Mr. Leo was not offended and nodded calmly: "I know, it was my attitude that was not right."

The more subdued he was, the more cautious the Dakini became.

This only shows that Mr. Leo is too confident in himself. Even as he is about to step into the territory of the Eight Leaves, he feels that he can get away at any time.

Only with such confidence can one adopt such an indifferent attitude.

If one relies solely on their status and the power behind them, believing that the Eight Leaves will not rashly break off relations, such composure is ultimately superficial.

The difference between him and Mr. Leo, whose confidence stemmed entirely from his own abilities, was immediately apparent.

The woman remained calm, pulling her suitcase as she walked slowly, ignoring the two people beside her discussing where there might be good food. In reality, her mind was in turmoil, as tangled and bothersome as a drizzling rain.

The Hachiyoin did indeed invest in many talented individuals outside their own territory. In fact, their original intention was to directly recruit these talents into their own domain.

However, truly talented people all have their own temperaments. If they are forcibly taken away, they will inevitably develop some rebellious feelings. So, we can only half-monitor and half-support them, letting them continue their research in their own places.

Such an investment has yielded some returns, but the combined returns from all other people over the past few decades are far less than the value brought by Dr. Jin Meng alone.

After the people of Hachiyoin discovered that Dr. Kimono had developed a crystallizing virus and was preparing to launch a virus attack, Sukara, the leader of the four mountain lords, immediately formulated a series of plans.

They secretly sent dakinis and openly dispatched missions to visit the coalition government under other pretexts, while also raising additional troops and seizing opportunities to occupy the five cities of Burma.

It can be said that the preparations made just to acquire Dr. Jin Meng have already consumed an enormous amount of resources, and the psychological expectation has been made that a local war may break out with the United Regime after obtaining Dr. Jin Meng.

With such heavy expectations on her shoulders, when the Skywalker arrived at Dr. Jinmeng's side, she suddenly discovered that there was another organization that had invested in Dr. Jinmeng and had also received the news, sending important figures to meet Dr. Jinmeng.

At that moment, one can imagine the murderous intent and fear that the Dakini felt towards Mr. Leo.

However, from the very first second of their meeting, she couldn't find any flaws in Mr. Leo's character.

The extent of this legendary figure, rumored to hold a high position in the Promised Land, has remained unclear for many years.

The Sky Mother was not confident in taking action, but Leo acted very cooperatively, yielding step by step, and seemed to have no objection to Dr. Jinmeng going to the Eight Leaves.

This led to the situation where the three of them traveled together.

However, the closer they got to the territory of the Eight Leaves, the more wary the Dakinis became of Mr. Leo. If they were to really make a move, this last stretch of the journey would be their only chance.

"...What's wrong? This restaurant looks magnificent to me, why didn't the professor go inside to take a look before shaking his head?"

Mr. Leo laughed and said, "Our identities are perfectly fine. Since we're going to have a make-up lunch, let's enjoy it to the fullest."

Dr. Jin Meng shook his head vigorously: "It's precisely because we want to have fun that we shouldn't go to places like this."

The Dakini said, "I know what kind of occasion the Doctor is looking for."

She led the way, and the three of them walked further and further off course, gradually approaching the edge of the city.

Upon arriving at this place, the crisscrossing three-dimensional projections high in the sky, the suspension bridges and staircases finally decreased, and even the tall buildings became fewer.

Many of the surrounding buildings appeared to have been damaged in the disaster. After simple repairs and maintenance to ensure they were not dangerous, they were renovated and used to provide free housing for newly relocated people from other areas.

Where there are people, there is business, especially restaurants.

"Haha, you really know exactly where I'm looking for."

Dr. Jin Meng smiled and pointed to a noodle shop. "Mr. Leo, the food in restaurants isn't necessarily good enough. Some people go there to buy the service and the prestige. We're just here to eat, so places like this are more likely to whet our appetites."

Mr. Leo looked at the spicy beef noodle shop sign surrounded by colorful light bulbs, the lettering made up of cheap, multicolored bulbs, and nodded, saying, "This one, then?"

The three of them entered the store.

Not far from the entrance, there was a counter with several large pots inside containing offal, beef, sauces, and noodle soup. Next to the pots were several plastic boxes filled with stacks of tableware.

Seven or eight robotic arms were installed on the wall. They were not driven by psionic energy, but were just ordinary electrical machines. Whenever the noodles, beef broth, and side dishes in a bowl of noodles were ready, a robotic arm would pick up the bowl and extend it segment by segment from near the ceiling to the customer's table.

With his stainless steel hand hanging down, he steadily placed the tray containing the bowl of noodles and side dishes onto the guest's table.

There were several customers in the shop, but only one shopkeeper was busy. He looked to be in his thirties, and for some reason, one of his hands was injured and replaced with a psionic mechanical arm. The mechanical structure was exposed, but it was very flexible. He rolled out dough, cut meat, and wiped sweat with a towel without any trouble.

Dr. Jin Meng and her two companions ordered three classic set meals and found a table further inside to sit down.

The Skywalker shook her head: "After the establishment of the United Government, when it conquers other regions, it always uses grand-sounding slogans such as civilization, human rights, and the right of the grassroots to live. In fact, even with today's advanced technology, the lives of their grassroots people are still in this old-fashioned state."

"That's actually because technology wasn't that advanced."

Dr. Jin Meng said, "Since the emergence of psionic technology, human technology has made explosive progress in many fields, but few of them have truly permeated our daily lives."

"Let's take the simplest example of chef robots. More than three hundred years ago, people wanted to create intelligent robots with the skills of master chefs. But today, even with the advanced level of bionic prosthetics and intelligent machines in your Eight Leaves, how many of them could systematically prepare a complete banquet meal, from raw ingredients to perfect color, aroma, and taste?"

As they talk, the guests around them are subtly influenced and lose track of their conversation.

No matter what Dr. Jin Meng says, it doesn't attract anyone's attention.

Mr. Leo said, "Actually, if it weren't for the great catastrophe, Doctor, do you think our technology would have developed to such a comprehensive level by now?"

That's impossible.

Dr. Jin Meng sneered, "Even after the Great Cataclysm, humanity's resources, technological foundation, and talent level in all aspects are sufficient to support the rapid growth of technological levels in many fields. However, the popularization of psionic energy has caused extreme imbalance in human technology."

"Psionic power is too mysterious, too unpredictable, and too powerful. It originates from the power of the mind and spirit. Once this kind of thing becomes widespread, who wouldn't be obsessed with it, from three-year-old children to three-hundred-year-old seniors? But can they recognize their own mediocrity? Will they feel that such power should be studied and used in their mundane daily lives?"

"No! They'll just think that since we already have this power, we should urge scientists to develop technologies that can make the masses stronger. They're all mediocre, but their desires are incredibly high-end."

The Skywalker wholeheartedly agreed: "These technologies with enormous potential should be kept in the hands of the elite, leaving the decision-making to people like us."

Dr. Jin Meng said, "Elites are only self-proclaimed elites. If they rely on their background and connections to obtain resources, they may seem outstanding, but they may not necessarily be foolish."

The Dakini seemed somewhat surprised: "Does the Doctor not approve of our Eight Leaves?"

"Whether you agree or disagree is always relative. At least your ideas are much better than those of the coalition government who are stubborn and go their own way."

Dr. Jin Meng, with compassion for humanity, said, "Even if you have shortcomings, you are merely repeating history, at least you won't create a greater disaster. As for regimes like the United States... I absolutely must stop them. The masses should not wield such dangerous things as psychic powers. They are innocent lambs, why put weapons at their feet?"

The Dakini said calmly, "When the Doctor reaches the Eight Leaves, he will understand that we are not repeating history, but creating a myth."

Mr. Leo suddenly burst out laughing.

The other two looked at him together.

Dr. Jin Meng asked, "What is Mr. Leo laughing at?"

"Oh, it's nothing, I just remembered something happy."

Mr. Leo glanced at the two men, cleared his throat, and said, "You two are quite interesting. Well, the noodles are ready, let's eat."

Three bowls of beef noodles were indeed served, and Dr. Jin Meng didn't ask any questions, but simply buried her head in her food.

The dakini picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and looked at the person opposite her.

Mr. Leo took a couple of bites of noodles, glanced at the garlic on the tray, and casually tossed the garlic into his mouth. His brow furrowed slightly, but quickly relaxed, revealing a hint of surprise, and he began to eat the noodles in large mouthfuls.

The Dakini was somewhat annoyed.

The noodle shop owner, now with some free time, put his hands on his hips, looked around at the customers in the shop, and smiled.

I remember that half a year ago, he was disabled. Not only was one arm broken, but his two legs, which were hidden under his trouser leg, were also broken. He was about to die in the town when suddenly their town was taken over by the coalition government.

The town's original disabled people, orphans, and women were all gathered together. After a while, he also gained new legs.

Although the nurse who replaced his legs for free complained that they were just old and obsolete models, he was overjoyed to be able to run and jump again, and his limbs were very strong.

Later, he used these new legs to respond to the call and came to the big city.

The city's renovation and expansion plan is being implemented in phases. For the past six months, immigrants have been living in the outskirts of the city, but once the new district is completed, they will be able to be allocated housing.

The noodle shop owner has recently developed feelings for a girl next door. If they can get married before the housing allocation, the house they get will be much more cost-effective than one allocated individually.

If I work hard for a few more years, maybe I can get my legs back and have two more kids.

As the noodle shop owner pondered this, he touched his face with a touch of embarrassment, unable to stop smiling.

Anyway, since the widespread use of psionic energy, and with the large-scale development of Mars and the replacement of the second-generation liquid crystal chips, those who had chips implanted in infancy have an average lifespan of over 115 years.

The noodle shop owner is only sixty years old, still in his prime, and can still enjoy a good life.

Just as I was thinking about the girl next door, she showed up.

"Old Ox!"

A woman in her forties, with her shirt sleeves rolled up, entered the store. "Are you free?"

"A new group of people arrived in our district today, saying they came from the south of Myanmar. They're getting checked out at the medical area first. The district has discussed it and decided to hold a simple ceremony so they can at least have a meal. If you have time, could you see if your shop can provide a few extra bowls of noodles?"

The noodle shop owner rubbed his back and quickly replied, "Yes, yes, I'll make it right away. I'll deliver any extras I have."

"Okay, I still need to notify the others. You... be careful, don't overwork yourself."

The woman quickened her pace and hurried out the door.

Noodle shop owner: "Hehe!"

Inside the shop, Kongxingmu put down her chopsticks.

"South of Burma Mountain?"

She was already angry, and said with a hint of rage, "What are Tian Er and the others doing? They actually let people escape."

Dr. Jin Meng finished her bowl of noodles, sighed comfortably, and shook her head, saying, "They were originally residents of the five cities of Myanmar. They could have simply stayed put and had their psionic chips removed with a painless, minimally invasive surgery. But instead, they chose to leave their homes for this little bit of psionic energy that can only be used to light light bulbs. That's why I say that giving psionic energy to the masses is the root of all evil."

The Sky Mother's eyes flickered, and she said, "There should still be finished crystallized virus products near the Doctor, right?"

Dr. Jin Meng nodded: "We do have them, but we no longer have the kind of bionic robots that you used to release the drugs."

The Dakini said, "There are too many opportunities to release the potion in these border areas; there's no need to sneak into those important occasions in human form."

Click!

The Dakini broke off one of her fingers.

Liquid metal surged and regenerated from the severed finger, covered by bionic skin, instantly restoring it.

As for the severed finger, it swelled up after just a shake, with many cavities appearing inside, and the outer membrane gradually taking shape and changing color.

In just three or four seconds, a severed finger transformed into a little black cat.

Mr. Leo was astonished. In the field of bionic prosthetics, Hachiyo truly deserves to be the best.

The black cat wagged its tail and meowed softly.

To turn a severed finger into a living thing—such a feat would have been considered an incredible supernatural power three hundred years ago.

This is the supernatural power created by technology.

Dr. Jin Meng took out a small glass bottle from his jacket pocket, about the size of a thumb joint, with a rubber stopper sealing in tiny specks of light.

Like a swarm of tiny, bluish-purple fireflies.

The black cat bit the glass bottle with just the right amount of force and walked out of the store.

All the customers in the shop, including the noodle shop owner, ignored the elegantly gaiting black cat.

This noodle shop is actually very close to the psionic signal tower behind the border hospital; the straight-line distance is no more than two kilometers.

The bottle of crystalline virus, once released into the psionic signal tower, resonated and slightly affected people within a three-kilometer radius of the tower.

The most terrifying thing about the crystallizing virus is that once infected, even if the symptoms are very mild at first, as long as the spiritual energy in the body continues to exist, the virus will continue to grow and the symptoms will worsen.

Unless the speed of the psionic impact far exceeds the speed at which the virus receives psionic energy, splits, and reproduces, it will be impossible to expel this virus and annihilate it in the air.

In other words, this virus currently has almost no effect on psionicists of level four or higher.

But that's enough.

Even in this era, only about one in two hundred thousand of the human population has reached the fourth level of psionic power.

After the crystallization virus is released, those who escaped from the five cities of Myanmar will definitely not escape unscathed.

After the black cat left, Mr. Leo and Dr. Kim each ordered a bowl of beef noodles, ate them with relish, and then paid the bill and left the small shop.

They continued walking toward the edge of the city.

Two minutes later, just as they were about to leave the city completely, Mr. Leo suddenly raised his hand and blocked Dr. Jin Meng's path.

"He's really going to make a move!!"

The Skywalker suddenly clenched her knuckles, almost raising her hand to retaliate against Mr. Leo, but within a fraction of a second, she sensed something else amiss.

The gaze that was originally directed at Mr. Leo abruptly stopped and turned forward.

Ahead lies an old, deserted street. Some residential buildings, dating back countless years, have broken apart from the second floor, with tiles peeling off and walls covered in moss.

A person emerged from the shadow of the dilapidated building.

"I was originally planning to wait until you reached the primeval jungle."

Guan Luoyang, holding a black cat in his hand, asked with a smile, "Is this your cat?"

(End of this chapter)