246: Chapter 246 Persuading with Reason: The "Reason" in Physics

Chen You weighed the [Mind Racket] in his hand; the metal mesh shimmered with a cold, eerie light under the chamber's lighting.

He circled around Kuroda Ryuji, who was strapped to a specially designed restraint chair.

Kuroda Ryuji's eyes were filled with vigilance and disdain, a low growl emanating from his throat.

"What can this thing do? It's useless! Imperial warriors..."

"Whack!"

Before he could finish, a crisp, muffled sound echoed through the chamber.

Chen You swung his arm full circle and landed a solid whack on the back of Kuroda Ryuji's head.

It sounded painful just to hear.

Kuroda Ryuji jolted violently, stars dancing before his eyes, his brain buzzing.

The second half of his "I would rather die than submit" was forcibly smacked back into his stomach.

"..."

The three members of the Dragon Scale Squad beside them all twitched at the corners of their eyes.

Especially Liu Ming, who was burly, subconsciously rubbed the back of his own head.

Is this... what they call "convincing people with reason"?

The "reason" of physics?

Director Li Guoan's expression remained as calm as water, but his crossed fingers tightened almost imperceptibly.

Chen You shook out his wrist and looked at the bewildered Kuroda Ryuji.

He cleared his throat and tentatively issued the first command.

"Come on, say you're an idiot."

Kuroda Ryuji's pupils dilated, then suddenly focused again. A surge of anger and humiliation flooded his face, causing his pale complexion to flush red.

"Baka! You..."

"Whack!"

Another crisp, loud smack to the back of the head.

Chen You didn't hesitate, following up with a backhand strike.

"Seems like the force wasn't enough," he muttered to himself, like a kind teacher instructing a mischievous student. "Let's try again."

Kuroda Ryuji was struck until his vision went black, but the fierce glint in his eyes grew even more intense as he glared dead at Chen You.

This was a clash of wills.

"It's useless..." he squeezed the words out through gritted teeth, "You..."

"Whack!"

The third strike.

Chen You frowned slightly.

This thing only had six charges in total. With no reaction after three hits, the success rate was a bit disappointing.

He looked back at Director Li Guoan; Director Li just nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

Chen You took a deep breath, his expression becoming serious.

"Looks like I have to get serious."

If control couldn't be established, then there was no need to keep this person alive.

"If this doesn't work, we'll switch to the backup plan."

He aimed at the back of Kuroda Ryuji's head, as if playing a decisive final set, tensed the muscles in his arm, and swung down hard!

"Whack!!!"

This sound was deeper and louder than the previous three combined!

Kuroda Ryuji's body convulsed violently as if electrocuted, then his head slumped to one side, and he went completely silent.

All the spark in his eyes—the anger, the defiance, the resentment—faded away in that instant.

All that remained was a dead, hollow clarity.

The chamber was silent.

Chen You tossed aside the [Mind Racket], carefully stepped forward, and snapped his fingers.

"Hey, little Jap?"

The puppet-like body slowly raised its head, its hollow eyes focusing on Chen You's face, gradually regaining their spark.

"Here."

It worked!

Chen You breathed a sigh of relief and immediately issued a more complex command: "Report your mission objectives and all information about spies in China."

Kuroda Ryuji did not hesitate at all and began to spill everything, revealing information he considered top secret.

Beside them, the stenographer brought by Zhang Yunhai was typing furiously, their expression growing increasingly grave.

A look of satisfaction finally appeared on Director Li Guoan's face.

He patted Chen You on the shoulder, his voice filled with a hint of approval: "Well done."

...

Half an hour later, at the newly opened exclusive helipad at the Qinling Base.

An all-black private jet with no markings sat quietly, its engines emitting a low roar.

Director Li Guoan personally escorted the four of them to the gangway.

His gaze scanned calmly over Mu Xi, Lin Miao, and Liu Ming, finally resting on Chen You.

"Remember, safety first."

His tone was more serious than ever before.

"Regardless of the mission outcome, the four of you must return in one piece."

"Yes!" the three from Dragon Scale responded in unison, standing as straight as spears.

Chen You nodded: "Don't worry, Director Li. I'm the type of person who fears death the most."

Director Li Guoan looked at him, his eyes complex.

It finally turned into a simple parting wish.

"Go. We'll be waiting for your return."

The four boarded the plane one by one, with the controlled Kuroda Ryuji walking in front, his gait steady and showing no abnormalities.

The cabin door slowly closed, cutting off the view of Director Li Guoan.

The plane taxied smoothly, then lifted its nose and slowly took off.

Inside the cabin, the luxurious leather sofas and comfortable, climate-controlled environment stood in stark contrast to the upcoming mission.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Mu Xi, Lin Miao, and Liu Ming sat in their seats like statues.

Their backs were straight, their eyes fixed forward, and their entire demeanor exuded the tension of "executing an S-rank mission."

Chen You sat opposite them, feeling completely uncomfortable with the atmosphere.

He felt like he had accidentally walked onto the set of some spy movie.

"Ahem," Chen You coughed twice, breaking the silence.

"Everyone, relax. We still have a few hours to go. Sitting like that makes me want to stand at attention too."

Upon hearing this, the three of them stiffened in unison.

Mu Xi was the first to react; his tense shoulders relaxed slightly as he gave Chen You a slightly stiff smile: "Sorry, it's just a habit."

Lin Miao adjusted the non-existent glasses on the bridge of her nose, the sharpness in her eyes also receding a bit.

She looked at Chen You curiously: "Chen... Captain, we're very curious."

"Just call me Chen You," Chen You waved his hand and leaned back into the sofa, "Curious about what?"

"The Source Realm," a light flickered in Lin Miao's eyes—a pure desire for exploration.

"Is it really... like a game?"

"Pretty much," Chen You thought for a moment.

"Except the monsters are a bit ugly, the NPCs are a bit dumb, and the other players are a bit stupid..."

"We've watched recordings of you in action," the burly Liu Ming spoke in a muffled voice.

His voice was as heavy as his build, "Can that sword of yours really let you fly?"

"Yeah, it can," Chen You smiled.

"The advantage is that it's eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and ignores traffic jams. The disadvantage is that it has no roof, you have to hold your own umbrella when it rains, and at high altitudes, it's windy, so your hair gets messed up easily."

Pfft.

Mu Xi, who had maintained a cool image the whole time, couldn't hold it in and chuckled.

This was too different from the unfathomable "immortal path pioneer" image they had imagined.

The atmosphere suddenly eased up.

"Then... what do you usually do in the Source Realm?" Lin Miao asked.

"Most of the time... I'm AFK," Chen You shrugged, looking sincere.

"Grinding mobs, doing quests—it's just like clocking in at work. It's very boring."

"The 'riding the sword with the wind' and 'avenging grudges with a blade' that you imagine probably only takes up one percent of the time."

"The remaining ninety-nine percent is just a history of blood and tears, struggling for improvement."

He sighed, speaking with deep feeling: "Honestly, if I couldn't slack off on the company's dime, I would have quit this job long ago."

These honest words left the three members of Dragon Scale looking at each other, not knowing how to respond for a moment.

The image of the ethereal, decisive powerhouse in their minds was instantly replaced by an "office worker" complaining about the boredom of work.

But it was precisely this contrast that made the Chen You before them feel incredibly real and incredibly approachable.

He wasn't some god detached from the world, but someone just like them.

An ordinary person who complains.

And a comrade-in-arms who, for the sake of the country and their mission, stepped onto an unknown battlefield.