Chapter 26: Androids: The First Meeting of Arno and Xiao Qin

"Since both of these people are free, why aren't they the same?"

"Why? What reason is there? A massive brute and a little girl—there's definitely no comparison!"

As Zheng Zha was speaking, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he blurted out

"It's attributes. Physical attributes. No, no, no—to be more precise, it's the values of those six stats."

Zhan Lan continued, "That's right. But it's not just that. Chu Xuan just discovered that the highest physical attribute was twice the baseline. However, everyone, even with the same physical attributes, people are still different. Tell me, if I were to create a Bruce Lee or a Zhang Sanfeng, do you think they could beat James?"

Although the people present had just heard Chu Xuan speak about this once, Chu Xuan had focused solely on the concept of uniqueness at the time. Now that Zhan Lan had framed it this way, they instantly understood the implication.

The three men exchanged glances once more, once again shocked by the intelligence of this bespectacled girl. It turned out the world had deceived them; having large breasts didn't necessarily mean being brainless.

This time, Li Xiao also hadn't expected that, inspired by Chu Xuan, Zhan Lan would be able to think this far. It shared a similar logic with Chu Xuan's earlier mention of androids who possessed various skills and maxed-out attributes. It seemed he had truly underestimated this mentalist from the original work. One could only say that her creative thinking was truly worthy of a writer.

"They could. They definitely could. Bruce Lee's寸拳 (inch punch) and Zhang Sanfeng's Tai Chi are the culmination of thousands of years of our combat techniques."

"I get it! It's skills. No, or rather, it can be called experience!" Zheng Zha said with certainty.

Zhan Lan nodded in agreement. "Unfortunately, I tried it right after Chu Xuan finished speaking. The God can only create a (Normal) grade Zhang Sanfeng who masters the martial art of Tai Chi. As for whether the Tai Chi of a martial arts master is superior to the combat skills of a mercenary, I wouldn't know."

Zhan Lan waved her hand and continued, "But the logic is sound. This first opportunity to create a person should be, as Chu Xuan said, intended to provide newcomers with bodyguards."

"However, I stand by my own view." Zhang Jie shook his head, his expression turning grim. "Li Xiao, I thought we were the same kind of person. Now it seems there's no difference between you and Chu Xuan!"

Li Xiao:!!!????

*Wait, don't talk nonsense. I'm nothing like a double agent like you. And there's no way I'm related to a stoic guy like Chu Xuan. I'm pure as a lily, okay?*

Li Xiao shrugged. "Sorry, I didn't mean to mock you all. I'm just stating facts. Perhaps my views are similar to Chu Xuan's."

Chu Xuan looked at the arguing group and spoke slowly, "This is your wisdom... truly the inherent flaw of mortals... In that case, let the facts speak. Arno!"

Chu Xuan suddenly shouted toward the door.

As soon as the words fell, a man standing at least two and a half meters tall with a massive build pushed open Chu Xuan's door and stepped out, hunching over to clear the frame. He walked slowly to Chu Xuan's side. His black short-sleeved shirt looked as if it were about to burst. Just standing there silently, he exerted an immense sense of pressure.

"This... is the body the God can produce for free with peak physical attributes."

"Any stronger, and it's not permitted by the God, or it requires additional reward points."

Li Xiao looked him up and down and said with a smile, "What a coincidence. I also created an android. Xiao Qin, come out!"

The group was startled and turned toward the doorway of Li Xiao's room. When they saw the person arriving, Zhan Lan's eyebrows twitched instinctively. This person looked very familiar, as if she knew him well, yet she had never actually met him.

Zhang Jie's emotions had recovered, and he said with an exaggerated expression, "Holy crap! The trench coat, the sunglasses, the black hat, and the long silver hair? Are you imitating The Matrix? Or the mafia?"

Thanks to his superhuman senses, Zheng Zha felt a faint sense of crisis emerging as the figure approached. Beside him, Zero stood with arms crossed, looking highly alert.

"That voice?"

"No, there's something wrong with his weight!" Chu Xuan remarked out of the blue.

Zheng Zha and Zero instantly understood; it was the sound of this man in black's footsteps. Even though he looked to be only about 1.9 meters tall and had a much leaner build than the 2.5-meter-tall, muscular Arno—meaning he should clearly be much lighter—every step he took produced a heavy, dull thud.

Looking at the approaching figure, Li Xiao introduced him to the group, "Everyone, meet Gin. The main antagonist from Detective Conan."

Zhan Lan's eyes lit up upon hearing this. Before Li Xiao could say more, she quickly added, "The most charismatic existence in the Black Organization, a professional assassin. Skilled in all types of firearms and also a sniper. His reasoning, observation, and adaptability are all top-tier." She paused. "Also, one of my favorite characters."

Zhan Lan suddenly took a step forward. "Um, can I ask... why didn't you just kill Shinichi Kudo back then? Do you regret it?"

Li Xiao: Uh!!!! Gin: Uh!!!!

Those present who knew the meme were speechless. Gin, who had been maintaining a cold and suave demeanor, froze. He bypassed Zhan Lan and finally stood behind Li Xiao, deciding that silence was golden.

Zhang Jie and Zheng Zha exchanged looks, both wearing smirks. As expected, the more serious a person is, the more of a closet pervert they are. Even Chu Xuan was no exception.

"Arno!" Chu Xuan called out coldly to Gin.

Since there was doubt, a test was indispensable. Behind him, Arno—who had been infused with the memories of a special forces soldier—was massive in build but agile and swift as a tiger. With a flash of movement, he lunged forward. Due to his height and long limbs, his stride was enormous. His fist, as large as an average person's face, struck directly without any flourish, like a cannonball being fired.

Just as the black-clad, black-hatted Gin was about to strike back, Li Xiao suddenly intervened.

"Don't move, Xiao Qin!"

In the next instant, Arno's fist connected solidly. But the following sound was like a great bronze bell—like the morning bell of a temple.

*CLANG!!!!*

A dull, heavy boom rang out. Due to the proximity, the sound left Zhan Lan momentarily deaf, and she covered her ears in pain.

Retreating after a single strike, Arno did not attack again. He stepped back to Chu Xuan's side and said in a muffled voice, "I am not his match."

The men present all widened their eyes. Gin, who had taken Arno's punch head-on, had not moved even half a step. Forget being injured—on the contrary, Arno's entire arm was now hanging limp, clearly injured and dislocated.

Chu Xuan looked at him as if he had spotted a storage ring in the middle of an Alien movie. His eyes radiated a burning intensity that the others could not comprehend.

"A cyborg?"

"No, with that hardness and that echoing sound... it's a robot!"