Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

SS lowered his hand and looked at Lyle and his group, dressed in standard long robes and wizard attire. "He returned to the base one day. By then, he had become a member of the Andrei Lich Literature Society. I originally thought he had infiltrated that undead organization to obtain information, but what he brought back were some strange-tasting exotic foods and imaginative fantasy manuscripts."

"Especially recently, he even came up with the absurd idea of ​​making me give up my studies and pursue literature, and he says that phrase to me from time to time."

[SS, become a novelist.]

From SS's complaints, Lyle could sense SS's vivid feelings for Mr. Delusional—a complex emotion mixed with admiration and resentment. He missed the dedicated and responsible mentor and elder who had taught him, and believed that the current high priest, who was neglecting his duties, was bringing shame upon the entire tribe. Just as a teenager might dislike a beer-bellied man lounging on the sofa, SS's feelings for Delusional were in a state of flux. This vivid emotion surprised Lyle, even making him wonder if SS was a robot.

“I simply cannot understand what he is thinking. Has his logic panel collapsed? Why is it that, with our race, he can turn all his ideas into something tangible? We have the technology and the ability to get everything we want, so why is he so fixated on those unfounded and baseless delusions?”

The SS before him was in a state of frantic agitation, and Lyle possessed the human ability and means to comfort him. Lyle slowly walked up to the SS, who was still the same height as him even when seated, and patted the area on his shoulder armor where there were no obvious sharp objects or exposed electric current.

"My situation is probably the exact opposite of yours, SS. I have an uncle who excels at everything except socializing. Nobody's perfect. To be honest, having such an elder puts some pressure on me. Can I be as good as him? Can I gain his approval? The answer is no. I can't become a second Ralf; I can only be myself. SS, perhaps this is a bit of a stretch, but if Mr. Delusional can't be as responsible as before, why don't you take his place? SS, you were trained by him; your potential is amazing. Perhaps you can stand up for your people, just like the Mr. Delusional you envision."

A faint blue light appeared at the edge of SS's goggles, and then the overall luster dimmed a bit.

"That's impossible. I can't take his place. He is the High Priest of the tribe, possessing the highest authority among all individuals. Only he can determine the direction of the Mechanicus, and only he can have an audience with our Mechanic God. This description might sound a bit autocratic, but in reality, it's the most rational and reasonable course of action. Lyle, number 10001, is the most learned and wise scholar and leader in our tribe. Yes, I dare say that even in his current unreliable state, his abilities are far beyond what the compromised and flawed products of my era can match."

“Especially now that our God of Machines is having problems, I don’t even have the ability to keep up with him. Lyle, just like you said, his current unreliability is only part of his overall strengths. Even if he stands still and does nothing for ten years, our race still hasn’t produced anyone who surpasses him.”

Is something wrong with the God of Machines?

Lyle and Shining exchanged glances; he hadn't forgotten his mission. Mr. Delusional was nowhere to be found, and their only source of information seemed to be right in front of them.

“SS, could you tell me about the problem with the God of Machines? Perhaps you already know why Mr. Delusion invited us to the City of Machines. We accepted a commission related to the God of Machines, but he didn't discuss the details with us. If I could understand this… God of Machines better, I think I could complete this commission more effectively.”

SS tapped his metal head, and a pleasant notification sound came from within.

"of course can."

"In fact, apart from number 10001, none of the other executors have ever come close to the God of Machines. In fact, that title was added by those foreign races, and we just adopted it. The way we receive 'divine pronouncements' is by receiving an email in our personal inbox from inside the pyramid, with the information obscured. That information instructs our actions and tells us in detail the knowledge and information needed for those actions. Most of the knowledge I have learned comes from this."

"Broken Creator is a relatively good name. The actual way it is named is [Blurred Processing (xx% Broken)]. This mechanical god has given the entire race powerful computing capabilities, and all the difficulties in experimental projects can be easily solved, as if there is a team of experts standing behind them."

"That percentage is constantly decreasing, but the growth of that powerful computing ability hasn't accelerated as much as it has with the repairs. This is the problem we're facing now. The God of Machines seems to be thinking at a slower pace. It's like a water bottle whose capacity keeps decreasing as it's being filled to its limit. We're worried that one day the God of Machines will stop operating. Does that mean our race will stop progressing?"

"And all we can do is worry, because we have no authority to enter the pyramid where the mechanical god resides, and we can't count on that one guy."

Lyle offered some words of comfort.

"At least we came, which means Mr. Delusional isn't so unreliable." Although that man lost a billion in commission fees gambling and had to resort to swindling to obtain these cheap alternatives from Lyle Necromancer Figurines Company.

SS nodded, clenched his fist, and stood up.

“You’re right, Lyle. But I can’t just sit here and wait to die; I have to do something.” SS let out a rather sly laugh, then paused, his fingers interlacing on the table.

"Lyle, you accepted a commission from the Cult of Machines, right?"

"Yes."

"Then are you interested in taking on another commission, my commission?"

Lyle blinked. It was too similar. The burly metal figure's posture was exactly like those literary club members who were about to cause trouble. With this thought in mind, Lyle raised a question.

"What commission?"

SS's goggles flashed, and the room's intelligent dimming system lowered the brightness.

"Infiltrate the Pyramid of the Sun and spy on our mechanical god."

Chapter 519 Infiltration Plan

Silence filled the room like settling dust, and Lyle could even hear the vibrations from the water tank behind the wall. A few seconds later, the creaking sound of scales rubbing together rose behind Lyle.

“I didn’t mean to!” Shiny put his hands to his chest and combed the scales standing up on the back of his hands. “This plan is just too amazing… insane, I’m getting goosebumps.”

Lyle turned back again, and SS was still sitting there, only the light flowing on the surface of his goggles could prove his perseverance.

"Are you serious? Allowing outsiders to infiltrate your temple? To spy on your gods?"

SS tapped his knuckles on the table, his head bobbing up and down as he faced Lyle, as if examining a suitable experimental subject.

"First of all, the Cult of Machine God is not an ordinary religious organization. I don't have much... well... piety towards that very useful Machine God. It's hard for me not to define it as a 'tool' when it's an entity that I can never see and that takes whatever it wants from me. Moreover, Executor 10001, as the High Priest, has never had the thought or action of praising the Machine God. I think this kind of pragmatic realism does indeed permeate the entire cult. The Cult of Machine God is just using divine authority as a disguise to integrate into this world. In fact, our organization is more appropriately called a 'company' or a 'conglomerate'."

"Furthermore, this is my personal opinion, and I believe it is an action that can protect the interests of our race. Our Machine God has encountered problems; it is aging and may even be on the verge of becoming obsolete. As a member of the Machine God Cult and its 'loyal' believer, I feel it is my duty to do my part to figure out its problems, find the problems, and fix them. This is my SS's effort for the sake of its race."

“Finally…” SS snapped her slender, metallic fingers with a loud, bell-like snap, her index finger pointing at Lyle. “You need this information too, don’t you? If you went through the normal channels, believe me, you would never have been able to meet the God of Machines. Starting a difficult commission with uncertainty is for your own good. Moreover, based on the information I’ve gathered about the Andrei Lich, this seems to be the kind of commission you’re most willing to accept and most adept at.”

"See, this is good for both of us."

SS held out her hand to Lyle, "Lyle, help me."

He wasn't like a robot; his sincere request was genuinely moving. His slightly humble demeanor combined with his imposing stature would make the recipient feel flattered. Any kind-hearted human being would agree to his request.

Then Lyle watched his acting with a cold eye.

"Are you overlooking something? For example, the dangers of infiltrating this city's wonders. Those interested in this city won't be deterred by Mr. Delusional's simple instructions. That's the Pyramid of the Sun, the dwelling place where your high priest and the gods coexist. Since even you are excluded, how do you expect me to infiltrate it? As a loose experimental subject, placed in a metal dish and sent in?"

"Besides, what could I possibly know about spying on the God of Machines? Perhaps that magnanimous being can tolerate your instrumental criticisms. If I'm discovered, will it still be so forgiving as to let me have a meal? If so, SS, why don't you infiltrate yourself? You're more suited than me, aren't you?"

Lyle's emotionless question made the hand that had been stealthily reaching out from behind him retract.

SS sighed humanely, retracting his hand that had been frozen in mid-air, and his voice transmitter muttered softly.

"Isn't it said that liches, these undead creatures, are easy to persuade? It turns out that the ancient spellcasters who have existed until now are not stupid. Even that guy number 10001 could persuade me, but I couldn't. It seems that my proficiency with the deception module is still too low."

Lylton paused for a moment. "Because the literary society that Mr. Delusional belongs to has helped me many times, he is my friend. Even so, I can say that this time was an accident." Putting aside his lingering regrets, SS made a decision. He slid the table, and a virtual projection of a sun pyramid appeared in the middle of the table.

"The temple's security measures include, but are not limited to, laser cannons, alloy mechanical dogs, massive engineering machinery, and the unknown locations of laser traps and machine gun cameras. Anti-magic coatings cover every wall, and the bottom floor contains Titan electromagnetic coils that, if necessary, can pull the entire pyramid, squeezing this massive four-sided pyramid into a flat plate. You cannot use magic inside, yet it contains the highest technology of the Mechanicus."

"But it will not kill magical creatures that have already developed intelligence, including those undead creations."

“This infiltration operation has almost no chance of success,” SS spread his hands, and a glowing blue path appeared inside the pyramid projection, leading from the upper middle side to the center, and then spreading like a spider web to every corner of the pyramid. “This is the only possible infiltration, with relatively loose ventilation.”

“I can guarantee your safety in this series of ventilation ducts because I designed it as the first design for my coming-of-age ceremony.”

Crawling into ventilation ducts and infiltrating classified facilities is a job very similar to that of a secret agent.

“My plan is this: Lyle will infiltrate the pyramid through the ventilation ducts, and I will assist him with the operation via remote connection. Lyle will then go directly to the bottom floor through the ducts, where he will spy on the mechanical god.”

“During this process, I will use an electronic virus to leave a misleading disguise on Lyle’s appearance, replacing the information that the internal machinery of the pyramid uses to read and write Lyle’s information with my own. In other words, Lyle will infiltrate the pyramid disguised as me. We can disguise all of this as a reckless SS checking the ventilation ducts and accidentally falling inside. If he is discovered after exiting the ducts, the machinery will eventually assist Lyle in being safely repatriated. If he is not discovered, that would be impossible.”

"Lyle, what you need to do is to find out as many problems the God of Machines is facing as possible during the time between being exposed and being assisted in repatriation. I will search with you, but remote cameras will definitely not be as effective as being there in person."

Lyle assessed the feasibility of this plan.

"I still don't understand, SS. Why didn't you infiltrate it yourself? Wouldn't it have been more convenient for you to do it yourself, whether it was the ventilation duct or your personal information?"

SS hesitated for a moment, then told the truth.

“Because Lyle, you are very important. My disguise may be able to hide from those mechanical eyes, but it will definitely not hide from Number 10001 or the God of Machines. If I am really discovered, I will face punishment, the punishment of the Cult of Machines, taking away my body or formatting my mind. Our punishment for mechanical life forms is much harsher than yours.”

“But you’re different, Lyle. You’re from that Andrei, and you’re also a friend of number 10001. From a diplomatic standpoint and out of fear of that necromancer’s academy, you’ll be dealt with with extreme caution. You might not even be punished, because that guy needs your help. You’re here to handle these issues, right?”

“You are important, Lyle, so important that they dare not make any rash moves.”

Lyle tapped his forehead lightly with his index finger, looking at SS with a mocking gaze.

"So you let someone as important as me crawl into your ventilation ducts."

SS touched the back of his metal head and grinned sheepishly.

"Isn't that useful?"

Chapter 520 Please get some rest

Lyle agreed to SS's plan.

“My information can only be shared with Lyle, because there can’t be four SSs at the same time, so only Lyle is participating in this infiltration operation. You don’t need to be so excited.” SS’s voice was like a bucket of cold water that extinguished the excitement of the Necromancer Figure Club members. Their waving arms froze in the air, as if frozen in place like machines.

Bright eyes widened in disbelief; he had never imagined being excluded from such an interesting operation. His lifeless, stark whites of his eyes were fixed on SS.

"Then what are we doing here?"

“I’d like to know too.” Without any hesitation, SS turned his seat to the workbench to make his adjustments. “Lyle, let’s discuss some operational details.”

A silence spread among the three extra people, and this gloomy atmosphere coalesced into a sense of malice. The three exchanged glances and whispered among themselves.

"Get rid of him."

“I can hear you.” The monotonous voice made the three, who thought they were being quiet, shudder. SS continued to manipulate the screen without turning his head. “This is my base. My perception system is connected to every sensor here. Although I apologize for interrupting your fun, this concerns Lyle and the Cult of Mechanism… If you want to participate remotely, you can stay here. I will be connected to Lyle the whole time, and the visual images will be input into the big screen.”

Lyle assisted and calmed the three of them.

SS pulled out a silver-white metal sphere, with a blue camera in the center resembling a bright, large eye. The lens began to focus, and three small mechanical horns for standing emerged from the edge of the sphere. It was a small, rounded robot. It moved the camera, looked at SS, its three short legs twitched a few times, and it hopped gently. Its shiny metal head and Nia's outstretched tentacles lightly touched.

SS's voice came through the small robot's microphone, "This is my auxiliary robot, Snowball. It's my eyes and ears, and it will infiltrate with you, Lyle, but don't expect much from its combat capabilities. Its weapon system consists only of a low-powered stun gun."

The snowball retracted its three legs, rolled its spherical body a few times on the table, and then, like a spider, quickly crawled up Lyle's arm to his left shoulder. It was very light, weighing less than an apple. The snowball's camera transmitted the image clearly to SS's eyes and displayed it on the big screen.

"Okay, Snowball is working normally and can participate in the infiltration operation as usual..."

As soon as SS finished speaking, the screen went completely black, as if slapped in the face. SS was stunned for a moment and began to check if there was a problem with his debugging system. After checking one by one, he finally turned his attention to Lyle's shoulder. There, the snowball that had been sitting on Lyle's shoulder had been swallowed by the writhing black mud. Nia had swallowed most of its snow-white body, and its three short legs were flapping in the air like a dying grasshopper.

"Nia?"

A soft, sweet voice rang in Lyle's ears. Nia held the little gadget in her hand, her fingernails gently tapping on the snowball's head.

“That’s Nia’s spot. It can’t take my place.”

Nia pressed the snowball back onto the table, twisted her body, and solemnly warned the snowball's big eyes, "Don't try to take it from Nia! Nia will get angry!"

The ominous voice echoed in Lyle's mind like a sinister serpent.

“Look, Nia can threaten now. She’s grown a lot. She could have just crushed this metal egg.”

Let's assume you're right.

SS adjusted Snowball to its optimal state and finalized the plan with Lyle. Shining and the others sat on the sofa, watching the large screen displaying the projected images with amusement. Lyle prepared his luggage, maintaining a certain distance between Snowball and Lyle, but not too far.

"Alright, then we just need to wait for the sun to set before we can start our operation, since nighttime is a good time to infiltrate."

Is the evening a good time? Lyle pondered for a moment.

"Is it because the pyramids are powered by solar energy and have no light at night, so they enter an energy-saving mode at night to make it easier for us to sneak in?"

Lyle's words were refuted by SS.

"This is a shallow prejudice. Solar power is for maximizing efficiency. In fact, the technology of the Mechanicus can achieve multiple sources of power. At night, it has no effect on the security system of the pyramids, not to mention that we have various energy storage devices."

SS laughed, a laugh tinged with intellectual superiority, or perhaps arrogance.