Chapter 55: All Is in Readiness

In the blink of an eye, more than two months passed in the otherworld.

During this period, Wang Xi descended into the fairy tale world several times.

He did not spend much time acting in person; altogether it added up to only about ten days. The remaining two months were spent using autonomous projection and automated idling.

With every descent, Wang Xi adjusted his course of action according to the changes in the "Seclusion Preview," methodically gathering evidence to prepare for Calvin's downfall.

First, he led Pinocchio to the Magic Workshop, where they discovered the secretly manufactured "humanoid automata."

These automata were completely incomparable to Pinocchio.

The gap between them was like that between dozens of bootleg action figures and a thousand-credit prize figure.

Both in terms of strength and appearance, they were worlds apart.

Their exterior resembled department store mannequins—rigid all over, glossy, with stiff expressions and creepy fake smiles, as if they had all been carved from the exact same mold.

Moreover, they were all brainless idiots.

According to Chaos's investigation, this type of automaton was named the "Delta General-Purpose Automaton: Assistant," and all qualified units uniformly reached the two-star level.

This discovery greatly surprised Wang Xi.

For every single automaton to possess two-star strength was a terrifying concept. Although they were stiff and mechanical, their sheer hard frames and brute iron strength were enough to rival a guards captain like Bennett.

And automata like these could be continuously produced as long as resources were sufficient, eventually forming a massive legion that obeyed commands one hundred percent.

It was terrifying just to think about it.

Fortunately, he had Pinocchio along. The boy could find the "backdoor" of the automata with his eyes closed.

With Pinocchio's help, Wang Xi pried out the "secret keys" hidden behind the waist of each automaton—they were small, button-shaped gears, entirely pale purple in color.

Upon investigation, these gears were crafted from ether crystals, with intricate and bizarre patterns engraved inside, resembling receivers or control hubs.

Pinocchio explained that as long as these "secret key gears" were removed, Calvin would never be able to control them again.

Therefore, Wang Xi unhesitatingly removed the gears from the more than one hundred automata produced in the Magic Workshop.

This was the first time Wang Xi had ever gotten this tired from prying out gears.

Not only were his hands covered in machine oil, but the automata didn't react at all, making the task quite dull.

Fortunately, the gears could also be converted into energy, which offered Wang Xi a slight comfort. Although a single gear wasn't much—only 10 points—the quantity was more than enough. He tossed them all into his mind and fed them to Chaos, yielding a total of over a thousand energy points.

As the saying goes, harming others for one's own benefit invites divine retribution.

However, specific situations called for specific analyses. If the person being harmed was that dog Calvin, Wang Xi reckoned he was accumulating boundless merit, and he thoroughly enjoyed doing it.

Quietly erasing Calvin's most relied-upon trump card, Wang Xi deliberately left a single gear behind as evidence.

During his subsequent descents, he also ordered the fat minister Andor, the mint master Dick, and the apothecary Marco to personally write confessions and statements of accusation.

Watching the three of them weeping bitterly and sobbing uncontrollably at the time, Wang Xi wore a benevolent and gratified expression, gently patting their heads in the name of a father.

Then he rewarded each of them with a piece of candy.

Good children deserved candy!

By this point, he basically possessed the confidence to shake Calvin's foundation. But to thoroughly convince the Queen, Wang Xi made a special trip back to the Magic Forest to collect several special pieces of evidence.

That was the true trump card Wang Xi had prepared.

He had long since conducted multiple psychological profiles of Queen Siana, and he knew very well what kind of woman she was, and what methods should be used to make her turn against Calvin.

"Sometimes, reasoning with women doesn't solve problems. They are more willing to see your attitude, sincerity, and determination..."

Little Wang Xi put down the *Misogyny Bible* and picked up the *Playboy Gospel*, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"If men are compared to the sun, women are more like the moon. They radiate brilliance because of your light and warmth, and wax and wane depending on your distance... They are both beautiful and emotional spirits, yet also demons who will throw caution to the wind for intense emotions."

Calvin.

You don't understand automata.

And you understand women even less.

...

Two and a half months in the fairy tale otherworld corresponded to twelve days in the main world.

June 14th, the day before the Professional Awakened assessment.

Gu City, Foundry District.

Inside a clean ward on the sixth floor of the hospital, the room was brightly lit by the brilliant morning sunshine.

Wang Xi had long since changed out of his striped hospital gown and into an Oversize black short-sleeve shirt and board shorts, sitting casually on the edge of the bed to bask in the sun.

Today was the day he was discharged.

In fact, the injuries on his body had healed almost completely days ago. The reason he recovered so quickly, apart from the more advanced technological medicines of the current era, was also due to his own reasons.

The two-plus months of automated idling projection in the otherworld had certainly not been for nothing!

The experience bars of the two auxiliary one-star white cards, "Lockpicking Mastery" and "Double Drinker," had both reached 80/100.

As for the combat cards—

"Water Arrow (Skill Card/White One-Star): 50/100"

"Water Blade (Skill Card/Green One-Star): 60/200"

"Tidal Blade (Skill Card/Deep Green One-Star): 55/300"

"Bloody Knight (Skill Card/Deep Green One-Star): 100/300"

Among them, "Blueberry Sugar Coating" successfully completed a star upgrade, reaching White Two-Star and transforming into an un-upgradable "Zenith" state.

To Wang Xi's surprise, it actually spawned a three-choice branch reinforcement!

"Option 1 - Mud Sugar Pill: The sugar coating can be condensed into a sugar pellet and fired, granting ranged offensive capability."

"Option 2 - Macchiato Glaze: The surface of the sugar coating can be gelatinized, granting strong adhesive properties."

"Option 3 - Hard Rock Candy: The sugar coating can be further hardened, granting stronger defensive capability."

Wang Xi spent 10 seconds making sarcastic remarks in his mind, and then used 1 second to choose the third reinforcement, "Hard Rock Candy."

The first two were merely functional extensions; to him, their cost-performance ratio was far inferior to actually strengthening the sugar coating itself.

A defense card should look like a defense card, so he needed to be pragmatic. Much like a technician, one should focus on improving technique rather than practicing the ability to spin stories.

No matter how touching a story was, it was illusory; only when the technique hit the spot would people be willing to pay.

After Wang Xi determined the direction of evolution, the Zenith sugar coating underwent a miraculous change.

Not only did a circle of golden patterns appear on the front of the card, but a brand in the shape of a deep blue candy also surfaced in Wang Xi's mind.

Through Chaos's interpretation, he learned that this brand symbolized that he had completely mined the potential of "Blueberry Sugar Coating."

Even if he handed this card over to someone else, what they would obtain was only the normal form of the card, not the Zenith card.

Aside from "Blueberry Sugar Coating," another universal card had also completed its star upgrade and reached "Zenith."

That was the "Rondell Body-Forging Technique"!

This White Three-Star cultivation technique card was also the major contributor that allowed Wang Xi to be discharged early. After the star upgrade, his physique was further enhanced, rivaling that of the witch hunter Colin.

Similarly, the body-forging technique presented three branch reinforcements.

"Option 1 - Unyielding: The body's resistance to blunt force trauma is enhanced, maintaining clarity despite sustained injury."

"Option 2 - Fighting Through Blood: The heavier the injuries sustained by the body, the stronger the combat capability, though it will result in a state of sustained weakness afterward."

"Option 3 - Tireless Journey: Physical endurance is enhanced, and stamina recovery rate is increased."

Wang Xi chose the third option without hesitation.

For no other reason than that most universal cards consumed stamina. Only when his stamina was high enough and his recovery fast enough would his own strength be greater.

In his mind, next to the blue candy-shaped brand, a small brand of a figure running with a heavy load had appeared.

"Mr. Wang."

At that moment, the ward door opened, and a familiar young female nurse walked in holding a clipboard and pen.

"Your discharge procedures are all settled. 'Cupid Housekeeping' has paid off all treatment and hospitalization expenses for you. Please sign here."

Wang Xi pulled back his thoughts, stood up, and stepped forward to take the paper and pen.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

He signed his name with a flourish, looked up, and smiled:

"Nurse, thank you for taking care of me during this time. Do me the honor of having a meal together after your shift? My treat."

"No need." The nurse took back the paper and pen, gave him a side-eye, and deliberately added: "I have a boyfriend."

With that, she turned around and left.

"Having a boyfriend is fine too!"

Wang Xi shouted after her.

"We can be girlfriends! After eating, we can go shopping together, check out the latest styles at 'Pretty Lady,' and get a manicure by the way..."

The nurse's footsteps hurried.

Clatter, clatter, clatter, she ran far away.

Wang Xi withdrew his gaze and turned to pack his things. He opened an exquisite wooden box and glanced inside. Resting within was an iron cross medal, labeled with the words "Brave Citizen."

This was delivered a few days ago by two security department officers. They had also extended regards on behalf of Supervisor Yu Zizi and informed him that he had been recommended to the Awakened Association for the "Professional Awakened Assessment," reminding him to attend on time.

In addition, the bounty from the security department that had been delayed for over a week had finally arrived. The credit balance in Wang Xi's personal account had now become "148,200."

Wang Xi walked out of the ward and, amidst the dodging glances of the nurses, swaggered away from the hospital.

Once his figure completely disappeared.

That group of young nurses all breathed a sigh of relief. Exchanging glances, they secretly hoped this wretched freak would stay disease-free, live a long life... and never come back again.

...

Wang Xi took the railcar back home.

Having not returned for over half a month, everything was still the same, save for a thin, unassuming layer of dust.

"If a worker wants to do a good job, he must first sharpen his tools."

Wang Xi lay on the sofa and let out a long breath.

"Time to buy an equipment card for tomorrow's assessment."

Having prepared for the assessment during this period, he had long since learned from the internet that the "practical combat" portion of the Professional Awakened assessment would in most cases require weapon-type equipment cards.

Toward such a matter of utmost importance, Wang Xi naturally wouldn't be stingy.

He picked up his phone, opened the "Flying Hat" online shopping platform, and carefully filtered through the options. Finally, in a card shop under the Shining Consortium, he took a fancy to an original universal card produced in a labyrinth: "The Executioner's Decapitation Sword."

According to the description, it came from the card pool of the Spade 3 labyrinth "Cinderella," priced at 80,000 credits.

Wang Xi didn't hesitate; he gritted his teeth and placed the order.

The balance in his account shrank to "68,200."

Shortly after finishing lunch, the delivery person dropped off a package. But this time it wasn't Miss Ning Meng, but a crew-cut young brother.

After signing for it, Wang Xi couldn't wait to unpack it.

It was also a wooden box. Upon opening it, the card inside was protected by black foam and a plastic seal.

"The Executioner's Decapitation Sword (Equipment Card)"

"Quality: White Two-Star (Un-upgradable)"

"An executioner's ancestral decapitation sword. The shadow of the guillotine seems to flow along the blade's spine, be it nobility, wealthy merchants, robbers, or scapegoats."

"Upon use, you will wield it. This sword is sharp, tough, and exceptionally effective for decapitation."

Ah-le-ah-le, the decapitator's dedicated weapon has arrived...