The third possibility Fang Senyan had surmised was that this Elite Ghost soldier, SNAKE, was... lying!

The highest form of lying isn't telling nine truths and one lie out of ten statements, but rather, telling ten truths whose actual meaning only becomes complete when combined with an unstated eleventh truth!

To use an example, imagine a foreigner unfamiliar with local customs asking who the most radiantly elegant beauty in Hong Kong is. You answer that it must be Zhao Yazhi, while secretly adding in your mind, twenty years ago...

You can hardly call that answer a lie, yet it isn't entirely true either. But if you call it the truth, how can you justify dismissing rising stars like Isabella Leong?

With suspicion brewing, Fang Senyan closed his eyes and painstakingly replayed the entire preceding sequence of events in his mind. The most suspicious element immediately surfaced: the mysterious telegram received upon landing. It commanded the landing party, in the name of GHOST, to rendezvous at a designated location. Fang Senyan had confirmed with Jillgisna that this message was not a directed transmission but a wide-net broadcast.

From this point alone, several truths could be inferred.

First, for some unknown reason, human aircraft must crash here frequently. Otherwise, this sustained bombardment of radio waves would be utterly pointless.

Second, the personnel from these scattered, downed aircraft likely hold no high military ranks. Otherwise, for SNAKE, whose leadership position relies on the special status of a Ghost Soldier, the influx of superiors would present significant complications.

Third, based on Old Charlie’s research, broadcasting across the entire lost Temple Planet would necessitate a high-power transmission station. This implies SNAKE had established a base of considerable size himself. However, this makes it difficult to explain why, upon their first encounter, SNAKE confronted the Protoss patrol team alone.

Fourth, if we assume the majority of what SNAKE said was true, then the time remaining for Fang Senyan and his team is certainly limited. The Protoss would never abandon technology comparable to that of a Carrier, and the Zerg and Humans could not afford to stand idly by. One could imagine the focal point of all three factions converging simultaneously upon this terrifying lost temple! What a gruesome spectacle that would be!

Countless thoughts flashed through Fang Senyan’s mind, generating numerous counter-strategies, but before he knew it, he realized his entire body had been utterly frozen by the extreme cold. Had it not been for the sheer power displayed by his digitized body, the man, lacking any experience living in severe cold, might genuinely have frozen to death outside.

Returning to the supply station, the warm interior immediately felt like stepping into spring, though the rush of heat brought a numbing, prickly stinging sensation to Fang Senyan’s face. Perhaps his movement when opening the door was too abrupt, as he disturbed an SCV named PANTAN.

This individual was a crucial Engineering SCV. Stripped of the bulky, heavy-duty work suit of an SCV, he was a rough-and-tumble fellow, much like most soldiers: fond of strong liquor, tobacco, and skilled at telling bawdy jokes, often punctuating them with booming laughter—which was regrettably often met with a stern beating from Jillgisna.

However, his character was sound; he was fiercely loyal. He had been assigned to the front lines to stand up for a colleague. The other two rescued SCVs also spoke highly of him.

PANTAN, hearing the disturbance at the door, quickly grabbed a wrench. Upon seeing that it was Fang Senyan, he hastily exclaimed with genuine alarm:

“SIR, I didn’t realize it was you. Good heavens, your skin is frostbitten! LEFU! You damned fool, get up now and bring some liquor to rub on his Excellency’s skin!”

Fang Senyan smiled, dismissing the concern casually:

“It’s fine. I just stepped out for a moment, but I heard some strange noises, so I stayed outside a bit longer.”

A man like Fang Senyan, even when lying, employed extreme skill and never spoke without purpose. As he spoke, he pulled a faintly phosphorescent bead from his pocket. PANTAN immediately gasped in amazement:

“God above, Excellency, that’s the Devil’s Orb! Strange things often happen in this star sector, like people vanishing during patrols. Later investigations confirmed they all crashed near this ghost planet. Research later indicated this unique little trinket only appears on this planet, so they call it the spirit of the dead, or the Devil’s Eyeball—it’s terribly ominous to find one.”

Fang Senyan smiled:

“Ominous?”

He pinched and flicked the object, which instantly disintegrated into wisps of faint green powder that sifted through his fingers—quite a beautiful sight. Fang Senyan looked at the SCV who clearly admired him and suddenly had an idea. He pointed to an empty room nearby:

“PANTAN? Come here.”

The constructed supply station appeared seamless from the outside, but the interior was divided into several rooms, making a private conversation possible. Fang Senyan looked seriously at PANTAN:

“I don't believe in ghosts or anything supernatural, but the enemies on this planet are likely far more terrifying than specters. Therefore, the chances of us surviving this mission are slim.”

PANTAN was silent for a moment before nodding slowly. Fang Senyan continued, observing him:

“But under any harsh condition, I have never surrendered hope. That is why I am still alive. As for why I called you here: because your designation, Engineering SCV, means you can theoretically construct any structure, and theoretically, you are the only hope we have for a turnaround. That’s why I see potential in you.”

PANTAN’s spirit instantly lifted. Fang Senyan then looked at him intently:

“You weren't in the fight today, but you must have heard about the combat from the others.”

PANTAN instantly became animated:

“Yes! I heard you took down three Zealots and two Dragoon Knights single-handedly! Wow, that was absolutely cool!”

Fang Senyan didn't correct his terminology but looked at him seriously:

“That’s right. I endure; I possess immense power, and this power isn't derived as much from soldiers and high-tech external tools like the Ghost Soldiers utilize. My power comes from this and this.”

As Fang Senyan said “this,” he slapped PANTAN’s rock-solid pectorals and biceps. PANTAN licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with excitement and anticipation. This guy was clearly fond of muscle and hard-hitting combat himself, and it was evident he trained frequently. He immediately prompted:

“And then, SIR?”

Fang Senyan continued:

“I can make you stronger—for instance… strong enough that you could take down a Marine simply by wielding your welding cutter.”

“How is that possible?” PANTAN asked in shock. “Even if that guy took stimulants?”

In StarCraft lore, an SCV’s health is generally considered 60 points, while a Marine’s is only 45, as the former’s armor is judged to be thicker. Their base attack power is comparable—5 for the SCV, 6 for the Marine—but the Marine's attack speed is double that of the SCV, even without stimulants!

More critically, the Marine is a ranged unit; an SCV might lose half its health before even closing the distance.

Thus, PANTAN’s astonishment was understandable. Facing the large man’s questioning look, Fang Senyan stated with certainty:

“Yes, just like how I tore apart those Zealots and Dragoons… I must state upfront: this kind of power enhancement carries risk. Significant risk. You must consider it carefully.”

“How big is the risk?” PANTAN hesitated.

Fang Senyan shook his head with a wry smile:

“I don’t know. But as long as you can withstand the initial reinforcement, the risk of subsequent enhancements will gradually decrease.”

PANTAN’s eyes nearly bulged out:

“There can be multiple reinforcements??? Does that mean I might not only take down a Marine, but possibly dispatch a Zealot with my beloved welding cutter? Just like what you did on the battlefield?”

“Yes, just like what I did on the battlefield,” Fang Senyan nodded seriously.

“Done! Let’s do it!” PANTAN roared, blood vessels showing in his eyes. Yes, he was a small player, but he was also a gambler. At this moment, he was wagering his life for the chance at a glorious future!

Fang Senyan pulled out the Protoss Soul Crystal from his personal storage. Although there were no explicit demands, Fang Senyan felt obligated to explain every detail, believing that, much like in surgery, minimizing the patient’s internal panic and resistance would help increase the chance of success.

“Come here,” Fang Senyan nodded to PANTAN, then placed the light blue Protoss Soul Crystal in his hand: “Feel it.”

PANTAN held the object carefully, as if grasping his very soul.

Fang Senyan smiled and clapped his shoulder:

“This is the gift left behind by the Protoss I killed today. I have a special method to strip away a portion of their power, condense it into this object, and then inject it into your body. Whether this power resonates with your body depends entirely on your luck. However, rest assured, I will control the dosage constantly, giving it little by little. This way, the enhancement might not be dramatic, but it certainly won't endanger your life.”

PANTAN suddenly waved his hand decisively:

“Don’t bother. Just go with the maximum dose. I have confidence in myself!”

Fang Senyan glanced at him and immediately sensed that if this fellow didn’t die, he might actually deliver a genuine surprise!