A sensation like being electrocuted coursed through him.
"This chip is my latest research achievement. It's a bit rough, but the recovery effect has improved by 12.1% compared to the one you had before."
"Players really do have the best stuff," the Dinosaur Head Warrior said, looking at his own body in the distance.
[New device detected]
[Updating necessary drivers...]
His muscular body lay on the surgery bed, his back opened, revealing a spine filled with devices. The female doctor replaced one of the devices with a new, blood-red one.
Gurgle gurgle~
His head was immersed in a nutrient tank filled with liquid, a wire connected his head to the nearby main brain, and more wires connected the main brain to his body.
[Driver update completed]
"How is it?" the female doctor asked.
The paralyzing sensation from the electric shock disappeared, comfort spreading from his body to the main brain like oil on machinery, and then from the main brain into the Dinosaur Head Warrior's brain.
"Great!" The voice of the Dinosaur Head Warrior came from the main brain, "I can't wait to get injured!"
"There are plenty of opportunities on Konglu Star." The female doctor had the robot prepare the Dinosaur Head the next day, a trivial matter that did not require her presence.
She walked out of the laboratory, hands in her pockets, and saw Itheri standing in the corridor, looking out of a porthole.
"Waiting for me?" The female doctor moved her elegantly long legs like scalpels and walked over to Itheri.
Outside the porthole was the dreamlike sea of stars of the Mist Star.
"We're almost there," Itheri said.
"I've just received the notification, I was about to head there," the female doctor replied, "Just say what you need to."
The relationship between the two was not bad, but not good enough to specifically come and notify.
"Luo Lei... do you really plan to join him?"
"The captain wasn't killed by him, and we have to find a new captain. Isn't it good to have one ready?" The female doctor tilted her head, "Besides, he is a Player, he grows faster than an Ascension Warrior replacing parts."
Itheri turned her gaze away from the enigmatic nebula outside the window to look at the female doctor.
"Players are everywhere in the universe, dying by the billions, tens of billions, every day."
Luo Lei glanced at her and said, "Do you remember on IAO Star, when he let us split the bounty?"
"Of course."
"Why would he share it with us?" Luo Lei looked out the window again, "I've been thinking about it these past few days, either he really doesn't like Money, or it's guilt."
"Guilt? What does it have to do with guilt?"
"He's a Player, he must complete missions, we aren't, we don't have to, so he feels guilty," Luo Lei said, dissecting the surface of the issue with surgical precision.
She continued:
"Also, the way he interacts with the people around him, it's very humane. Although I don't like humaneness, I would be happy if my captain had it.
"Following him, there are funds, a continuous stream of research projects — just that drop of blood alone has many aspects I need to continue researching — and a safe research environment. Is there anything more appealing than that?"
Itheri slowly nodded.
Luo Lei's analysis was flawless, and most importantly, if they could follow Li Changzhou, they might be able to stay together.
"The captain isn't as good as you guys say," said the Dinosaur Head Warrior as he walked out, his head now attached.
"Eavesdropping on a lady's conversation, you believe I won't reset your brain to zero next time?"
"No chance for that, Itheri; he's about to get hurt, and while treating him, I'll swap out his biological brain," Luo Lei said.
The Dinosaur Head Warrior scratched his head: "I'm telling the truth."
He missed the point, but it sparked the ladies' curiosity.
"The reason?" Itheri asked curiously.
"I can smell the overwhelming scent of blood on him," the Dinosaur Head Warrior lowered his voice as if scared of something, "I've seen those who have slaughtered planets, our captain has definitely done the same thing—a planet, regardless of age, all..."
He made a throat-slitting gesture.
"He plundered an entire planet?" Itheri was taken aback, "Doesn't that mean he's very wealthy?"
"Research materials are plentiful," Luo Lei said, supporting her delicate chin with her fingertips.
The Dinosaur Head Warrior paused: "...is that the point here?"
"Anything Players do is quite normal," Li Qianxia approached, "Aren't we about to go and pull away a star from a planet now?"
The Dinosaur Head Warrior immediately fell silent; aside from feeling terrified, his chip was frantically calculating why he hadn't noticed her approaching.
"Let's go!" Li Qianxia said with a smile to Itheri, "My brother and the others are already on the bridge."
In the past seven days, the relationship between the two had grown considerably (both young, both playful); Li Qianxia even dyed her hair for the first time with Itheri's help — picking a hint of red within her ponytail.
It must be said, Li Qianxia is a good kid; after getting highlights, she met Li Changzhou, skittishly worried about being scolded, specifically wrapped that hint of red within her ponytail.
Li Changzhou only glanced at it once, without commenting on its looks.
The four entered the bridge; everyone had already arrived.
Li Changzhou inquired with his eyes towards Luo Lei.
"Upgrades completed," Luo Lei responded.
The Dinosaur Head Warrior struck a bodybuilder's pose in cooperation.
Li Changzhou nodded and said to Engineer Thick, "Final confirmation of the plan."
"Okay," Thick waved his tentacles.
"I, Da Yi, will pilot the robot troops, responsible for eliminating the opponent's mechanical forces; Chris (the Dinosaur Head Warrior), Luo Lei, cover us, ensuring we are not assassinated by Ascension Warriors or anything else."
The Dinosaur Head Warrior and Luo Lei nodded.
"Li Qianxia, Bi, Little Turnip, you three protect the hacker, find the Constant Star Controller."