Zero sat upright at the desk. He raised his eyes and looked at the subordinate standing beside him.
He showed Guanliang a smile and asked, "What's wrong?"
Guanliang slightly lowered his head and looked at his superior.
The Marshal had a very deceptive face.
If he walked on the street, he would be the first choice when passersby needed help.
That harmless expression and gentle tone easily made people trust him first.
When others later learned his real identity, it would only make their backs turn cold.
Guanliang knew his superior had become suspicious.
'But you are thinking too much, aren't you?'
He once thought the Marshal was the type to plan ten steps ahead after one step.
But this is already beyond ten steps, right? His thinking is spreading way too far.
Guanliang kept a calm face and said, "Nothing much. I thought you would give 'Feather Dust' to her as a coming-of-age gift."
Zero smiled and said, "I prepared other surprises for her."
He did not say more, waved his hand, and started sending him away.
After the person left, Zero dropped the smile, face expressionless.
According to the fable, the system came from him and Zandar, while the items came from another world.
And items from another world would have reduced effect when used here. Only when meeting someone truly compatible could they show full power.
Hua was the person most compatible with "Feather Dust." So could she delete the memory of the "high-dimensional intruder"?
Zero did not want to know the answer.
Right now he only had one goal.
To achieve it, he had to be cautious.
If his memory really got deleted… wouldn't he have to keep being Marshal?
If the previous loops counted as restarting after deleting save data, then now Zero just wanted to delete his account and quit the game.
Even without past memories, he did not want to keep going.
It had no meaning.
Next, he had many issues to consider.
For example, as a "high-dimensional intruder" with near immortality, how could he be freed?
If his subordinates disobeyed his order and made the same choice as in the fable, causing the universe to restart again…
Then how could his next-cycle self avoid repeating the same mistake?
Zero thought about it, opened the system inventory, took out that fable book, and wrote hints on the last page.
Only he understood himself best.
If he gave a direct answer, his future self would only doubt it.
Only by being an annoying riddle person could he gain his own trust.
After leaving the hint, Zero put the book away and continued thinking.
To avoid repeating mistakes and to stop playing with a player mindset, he had to find a way to shut down the system.
Since he and Zandar created the system, he surely could shut it down.
Zandar really was a good teacher.
These years, Zandar would often mention some "Erudition" Emanator, telling Zero their name and address.
The teacher was thoughtful and even explained their personalities so Zero could recruit them easily.
Over time, Zero did recruit quite a few people.
More accurately, not exactly recruit.
Research projects burn money the most. Having Marty alone was enough.
Even if Marty got too busy, he could freeload from Zandar.
Zero was his student, and roughly speaking, Hua as successor was also Zandar's student.
Since that was the case, if not freeloading, at least a discount was reasonable, right?
Thinking of this, Zero only told subordinates to keep contact with those geniuses and occasionally cooperate with them.
But to most people, those proud geniuses cooperating with Xianzhou meant they must have been recruited.
Zero picked up the jade terminal and contacted Zandar.
He did not mention the system. He indirectly said he wanted to learn programming.
The other side quickly listed a book list.
Zero formally thanked Zandar, then said he would travel with the Aeon Akivili and asked if there were any recommended tourist places.
Others, even gods, would not notice anything unusual.
Actually, Zero was asking for the exact location of the "Imaginary Tree."
Soon, Zandar sent a message.
[Marshal, you really make things difficult]
[Aren't there enough scenic spots in the Xianzhou Alliance? Whether natural landscapes or ancient sites, they already fascinate travelers across the star sea]
[But if it's a god? You probably haven't seen the 'Amber Lord,' right]
Zero understood and stopped asking.
Zandar could not directly tell the correct place, so he could only hint.
Zero thought of the research ship.
It was like the Statue of the Seven.
Previously, the system map needed the research ship to explore before unlocking new areas and knowing real conditions. The "Imaginary Tree" was too special…
Looks like he had to rely on the Astral Express, go near the Aeon of Preservation, then unlock the exact location.
Hopefully the next journey would go smoothly.
This time, Zero only wanted to delete his account and quit the game.
If the Aeons tried to stop him, he did not know what he might do…
Wait, there was still Zandar, the informed person.
They repeatedly collected experiment data for dimensional ascension. If Zandar wanted data, hacked the Xianzhou system, and activated the engine, could Marty stop him?
Zero tried thinking from another angle.
If he asked Marty…
The other would probably show the same clear but foolish blank look as the Labrador named Mimi he kept, then point to himself, "What did you say? Me surpass Zandar?"
Zero gave up this option and changed perspective again.
To compare, he and Zandar invested together in a company. It was running fine, and suddenly he wanted to withdraw investment…
Then what compensation would make Zandar stop pursuing the matter?
Zero thought for a long time. Even before sleeping, he still had no idea.
The next day, after finishing documents and reading books from the list his subordinate found, he suddenly got an idea.
To make Zandar stop… maybe try emotional persuasion? Convince him to change career together?
Best result, Zero successfully deletes his account and quits, and the low-dimensional world stops looping.
Worst result, if he failed to persuade Zandar… he could not leave a mess behind.
First, Zandar's personal safety.
Second, the replacement candidate for Zero.
In the fable, Little Gray could cross barriers to the higher-dimensional world. But information was too little. Even if Zero wanted to find Little Gray, he had no clue, so he gave up searching for another "high-dimensional intruder."
Then he could only choose someone from this world.
People in a low-dimensional world lacked power to kill gods, but with system items, this partner could still survive.
Zero had few demands for Hua, but that relied on Xianzhou backing her.
If he chose a partner for Zandar… he had to be very careful. That person must at least be stronger than him.
This person must gain Zandar's approval.
So they needed a smart mind, overall leadership ability, and strong stress tolerance.
They must not easily be swayed by power, money, or beauty.
Also, they must be decisive and ruthless outwardly, but not too extreme inwardly.
Only then could they gather enough people, obtain resources to build the engine, and finally survive and win against the Aeons.
Zero sighed deeply.
Forget it. Better learn programming first.
If he could not dismantle the system, thinking more was useless.
As the coming-of-age date approached, most generals sent subordinates to Yaoqing to deliver gifts to the Crown Princess.
Among them, Zhuming General Chanzhen personally came to Yaoqing and handed her gift to the Crown Princess's guards.
Zero put down the last unfinished book and looked at his subordinate.
Chanzhen forced a smile, voice barely audible, asking to use "Feather Dust" to delete memory.
Zero paused briefly, then calmly said, "Alright. But… you need to wait one more day. Rest in the nearby courtyard tonight."
It had been many years since Hua last used "Feather Dust."
The successor should first practice on death-row prisoners.
After settling the subordinate, Zero took out "Feather Dust" from the system inventory, called Hua, and asked her to practice at the Ten Lords Commission.
The next day, Chanzhen saw the Crown Princess. She noticed a small braid tied into Hua's ponytail beside her temples.
She stayed silent a long time, then smiled, "The Marshal really cares about you."
Chanzhen half-jokingly said, "Even I'm a bit jealous of Your Highness the Crown Princess."
Zero arrived slightly later and happened to hear that sentence.
He said helplessly, "What's going on?"
Chanzhen only smiled, saying nothing more.
Just before Hua used "Feather Dust," she looked at Zero, eyes bright, voice choked, "Will I forget you?"
Zero raised his hand, gently rubbed his subordinate's head, tone firm, "No."
Chanzhen asked again, "Really?"
Zero smiled and said, "Really."
Chanzhen blinked, took a deep breath, held back tears, "Then can you braid my hair for me?"