86: Section 86

“I was just about to discuss the modifications for the war blade with you.”

Jessica led Jing Yuan into one of the studios, where an unassembled plasma light blade battle saber was laid out.

Jessica pointed to the parts on the workbench and said, “Your gravity body allocates all its energy to the machine’s performance, leaving no quota even for remote weapons. This plasma light blade battle saber also requires energy. According to the original design, the war blade itself carries a micro-energy source, but as a gravity body weapon, it can only unleash its maximum power when connected to the gravity body’s energy source.”

“Will connecting it to the gravity body system have any impact?”

“Of course, it will. But given your pursuit of close combat performance, I doubt you would accept it.” Jessica walked over to another workbench and said, “However, I have another modification plan.”

Jing Yuan looked at the other workbench, where a long-handled blade was laid out. Judging by its size and form, it was not a gravity body weapon, but a standard single-person weapon.

gravity body weapons are one size larger than weapons used by individuals.

Jing Yuan said, “This war blade isn't suitable for gravity body use, is it?”

Jessica said, “The plasma generator of this war blade is damaged and unusable, but its energy source is intact. Conveniently, the built-in energy source of this blade is in the handle, while the built-in energy source of the gravity body war blade is in the blade. I can connect their blades and handles together, and the energy supply will be sufficient.”

“Wouldn't that be perfect?”

“There's one more issue.” Jessica smiled and said, “The specifications of the two weapons are different. The handle of the long-handled blade is sized for a normal human hand, and for a gravity body, the grip won't be sufficient!”

“What about the strength?”

“There isn't much difference in strength. In fact, this smaller war blade might even be slightly stronger.”

Jing Yuan picked up the long-handled blade from the desk and swung it, suddenly realizing he also lacked a handy weapon.

If this plasma light blade battle saber was modified this way, he could use it himself even without the gravity body.

Thinking of this, Jing Yuan immediately said, “Let's modify it this way then! I can just overcome the grip issue myself.”

“Alright!”

After discussing the war blade modification with Jessica, Jing Yuan made an excuse to leave.

He arrived at the Workshop containing the 3d printer. Jing Nan had set up access control here, and for now, no one except Jing Yuan and 4277 could enter.

Jing Yuan opened the door and found only machines running automatically inside.

“4277 isn't here?”

Everyone had just attended the Far Journey Ceremony, so 4277 probably hadn't returned yet.

Jing Yuan looked at the scale flying daggers that had already been printed nearby and immediately controlled them with psychokinesis, playing with them.

According to the description in the “Psychokinesis Object Manipulation Method,” these scale flying daggers automatically adhere to each other when in scale disk form.

However, the printed flying daggers could not automatically adhere, so magnetic coating had to be used to compensate.

4277 moved her studio here, and the application of the magnetic coating was also done here.

Half of this batch of flying daggers had already been coated.

Jing Yuan only needed psychokinesis control to make the flying daggers piece together.

Just as he was practicing control of the scale disk flying daggers in the Workshop, the door suddenly opened, and 4277 walked in.

Jing Yuan slowly controlled the flying daggers to land, turning to look at 4277. Her expression was somewhat dejected; she might have encountered something.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing.” 4277 forced a smile.

“Did something happen to you? Do you need my help?”

4277 looked at Jing Yuan, wanting to say something, but hesitated and then kept quiet.

“It's alright, you can tell me directly.” Jing Yuan said with a smile.

4277 had helped him so much; he definitely had to help 4277 if she was in trouble.

“Uh...” 4277 hesitated for a moment, then spoke, “4079 said 4068 has been missing for a day. We're worried something happened to him.”

“4068 is missing?”

Jing Yuan also found it strange. Lighthouse was only so big; there was no way he could have gotten lost.

Therefore, 4068 must have been taken away by someone.

“Don't worry, he'll be fine. I'll ask someone to help look into it.”

Chapter 88: Charles and 4068

Inside the Law Enforcement Office, 4068 was stripped naked and tied to a mobile platform, undergoing the cleansing of the “Light of Purification.”

The intense sunlight outside passed through a massive convex lens, concentrating into a single point on 4068's body.

Instantly, an intense burning sensation struck him.

4068 shouted, “Isn't a dozen lashes enough?! Ah...”

“Stop!”

Charles walked in from outside. He went up to 4068 and said, “Unauthorized entry into a gravity body, interfering with Light Bearer enforcement—you have committed so many crimes. This is merely a slight punishment.”

When 4068 saw Charles, he quickly said, “I didn't enter the gravity body without authorization, I...” 4068 remembered how Vice-Captain Jing Yuan had excused him, and said, “Vice-Captain Jing Yuan told me to enter the gravity body!”

Charles sneered, “Is that so? Then why did he say you entered the gravity body without authorization when reporting to the City Lord?”

4068 opened his eyes wide in terror.

At the time, entering the gravity body was indeed his own decision.

Jing Yuan only said that later to help excuse him.

“No! That's not right! I...” 4068 didn't know what to say. If Jing Yuan had voluntarily taken the blame for him, that was his issue. But if 4068 framed an Upper Citizen, the crime would be even worse.

Charles stared at 4068 and said with a smile, “So many people were present at the time. Jing Yuan just wanted to pretend to be a good person, especially in front of 4277. After the incident, who would care about you?”

When 4277 was mentioned, 4068 felt even more resentful.

“But I protected the supplies, and I even saved a Wasteland Hunter.”

Charles laughed, “Is that so? Then why didn't Mark and Jing Yuan mention it even once during their report?”

“Maybe they thought I wasn't worthy of protecting the supplies!”

Charles turned around. “The lord of light and shadow would never let a good person suffer injustice. You protected the supplies and should be rewarded.” Charles looked at a nearby Law Enforcer and said, “Take him down!”

Charles brought 4068 to the dining hall and had him eat Upper Citizen food.

4068 ate the Upper Citizen food, instantly forgetting the pain he had just felt.

“Delicious! It's too delicious!”

“Leader, thank you for rewarding me.”

4068 looked at the steak in front of him. It wasn't the first time he had eaten steak. 4277 had once brought him a small piece of steak.

That piece had been brought by Jing Yuan to 4277, and 4277, in turn, brought it to him and 4079.

However, although the piece 4277 brought allowed him to taste steak, it was far less delicious than the warm steak in front of him now.

At this moment, 4068 thought of 4277, and he wanted to bring Upper Citizen food to 4277 as well.

Seeing 4068 spacing out, Charles asked, “What are you thinking about?”

4068 quickly replied, “This food is too delicious! We Dust Citizens can only eat bug cake!”

“Then can you still stomach bug cake now?”

“What difference does it make if I can't stomach it? I'm just a Dust Citizen.”

Charles smiled slightly, “Then, do you want to become an Upper Citizen?”

4068 stared at Charles with wide eyes, even putting down the delicious steak.

“Lighthouse has never had a precedent of a Dust Citizen becoming an Upper Citizen.”

“In the presence of the lord of light and shadow, nothing is impossible!” Charles looked at the astonished 4068 and continued to press him, “Think about it, why does your friend 4277 like Jing Yuan? Isn't it just because he's an Upper Citizen?”

When 4068 heard this, he looked utterly furious, grinding his teeth.

Ever since Jing Yuan appeared, 4277 was often nowhere to be seen, and her attitude toward him had changed.

“If you become an Upper Citizen, I can provide you with Upper Citizen food and even make you a Wasteland Hunter. By then, you can openly wear a gravity body to kill Phage Beasts. Will you still worry about failing to win the affection of a Dust Citizen girl?”

4068 was tempted.

Among the Dust Citizens, 4068 was definitely one of the most outstanding; he learned things quickly.

In the field of electronics, he could understand things immediately just by looking, and master them instantly just by learning. The knowledgeable older Dust Citizens often praised him.

4068 himself believed that if he weren't a Dust Citizen, he wouldn't be inferior to anyone else on Lighthouse!

And all of this was because he was a Dust Citizen.

And now, a heaven-sent opportunity was placed right before him.

But 4068 also knew that nothing comes for free.

He proactively asked, “Leader, how can I become an Upper Citizen?”

Charles smiled faintly, “It's very simple: help me kill Mark!”

4068 was so shocked he immediately jumped up.