The small door had a palm-sized control panel etched with instructions on how to open it. Red Hair didn't even glance at the panel; she simply pressed a button, and a section of the wall slid open smoothly, revealing the brightly lit scene outside the hotel.

The two stood side-by-side at the threshold, gazing out at the spectacle with an eagerness that made them want to leap straight out.

God, this is overwhelming!

After countless days and nights of confinement, the feeling of being back in the world of humans was intoxicating!

Red Hair's eyes, still bloodshot from poring over the blueprints, turned red again. She clutched the spatial device in her hand, tempted several times to summon her mech from the ring and slide down the walkway, desperate to escape the monstrous Korai Hotel immediately.

However, when she turned and saw the relief shining in Lan Li’s eyes, she quietly slipped the ring-shaped device back onto her finger, offering him a bright smile. “Let’s go.”

She offered no explanation, but Lan Li understood: they hadn't sought the blueprints merely to flee the hotel, but to track Stass and the President of the Interstellar Federation, searching for a true path out.

Having found the exit, the most crucial matter wasn't leaving, but securing greater leverage in negotiations, gaining the ultimate authority among this trapped populace.

They were here for politics.

He smiled faintly, extended his hand, and clapped hers. “Good.”

Red Hair pressed the key to close the door, and the pair retraced their steps.

This time, Red Hair’s steps were remarkably light, her high heels clicking crisply against the floor. Lan Li, standing beside her, couldn't help but think that Red Hair was actually a woman who deeply needed cherishing.

But before he could have the chance to cherish her, he first needed to reach her level.

During their days in the hotel, he felt utterly feeble compared to her.

Yet, as they stood together at the doorway, surveying the myriad lights below, he made a firm resolution: he had to reach Red Hair’s height, if only so he could properly care for her!

They took the elevator back upstairs. As they stepped out, they were immediately assaulted by sounds of screaming, pounding footsteps, and warning shots being fired. The lightness in their hearts plummeted—what fresh hell had broken out now?

Lan Li was fully prepared this time. As Red Hair drew her weapon, he quickly stepped in front of her. Just as he stabilized himself, someone covered in blood stumbled toward them, followed closely by the entire contingent of legion leaders dragging themselves behind.

They had grown too accustomed to a life of ease.

Most of them maintained their physiques through advanced cellular modification techniques.

They were, almost universally, severely lacking in physical conditioning.

Each one of them was gasping for air, and coupled with their bleeding wounds, they looked exactly like refugees fleeing a battlefield.

Red Hair frowned. “What happened to you all?”

No one had the time to answer her. Seeing the elevator, they all desperately scrambled to squeeze inside.

Red Hair and Lan Li exchanged a look of suspicion, and then she grasped the situation.

As more and more people flooded down, Red Hair grabbed one acquaintance and demanded, “What is going on?”

The person choked out, “Peizhe has gone mad!”

Red Hair could only manage an inquisitive, “Hm?”

The person continued, breathlessly, “If it were a normal person, I wouldn’t be afraid. But he isn’t human! I suspect he’s a robot under external control or some genetically mutated freak—his strength is unbelievable! He can grab a person’s head with his hand, and with a mere squeeze, the skull cracks, and brains spill out…” As he spoke, his face grew paler, until he couldn't continue, rushing frantically toward the elevator. Only one thing was certain: they needed to get out of this hellhole immediately!

Red Hair watched the display of cowardice, a hint of sarcastic coldness curving her lips.

What defeated humans wasn't powerful men or weapons, but humanity itself.

Once humans lose the will to fight, they are already defeated.

There were dozens, perhaps hundreds here, yet Peizhe was only one man.

And yet, not a single one had attempted to stop him, allowing Peizhe to slaughter unchecked, resulting in none of them being able to live peacefully.

As more people streamed down, each one more terrified than the last, Peizhe emerged behind them like a demon from the depths of hell. He was smeared with blood, both hands stained crimson. He walked against the backlight, and though Red Hair couldn't see his face clearly, she knew his killing intent was thick in the air.

Why didn't anyone fire a shot behind him?

The thought had barely formed in Red Hair’s mind when she saw a gun barrel emerge from behind Peizhe.

Red Hair’s brow furrowed briefly.

Since Peizhe was a variant, conventional firearms might not suffice. At this distance, she doubted the shooter could even hit Peizhe’s vital spots.

The next second, a bullet spat from the muzzle.

Faster than words could describe, Peizhe’s back seemed to sprout eyes; he sidestepped, raised a hand, and now held a particle cannon that hadn't been there a moment before.

He flicked his wrist back, and the shooter instantly collapsed.

A flicker of surprise crossed Red Hair’s face.

Such a powerful individual. No wonder they fled so desperately?

She glanced at Lan Li. “Fight or flee?”

Lan Li looked at her earnestly. “If you want to fight, I’ll fight with you. If you want to run, I’ll cover the retreat.”

Red Hair swept a gaze over him. “In that case, let’s run too!”

Even as the two spoke, Peizhe had reached the space directly in front of them, moving with a speed that defied belief.

As he drew closer, Red Hair could finally see clearly: his eyes were a solid, terrifying crimson, blood flecks clinging to the corners, making him look three parts more frightening than any devil.

Red Hair had survived since childhood on the edge of blades and cannon fire; even accustomed to ruthless killing, a chill went down her spine seeing him like this.

However, she possessed enough composure to maintain a calm exterior. “Hello, Peizhe,” she said, rapidly searching her database for his profile. “I saw you at the Kaga Mech Competition. You are a highly skilled pilot.”

Peizhe seemed jolted awake from a deep trance. A flicker of confusion crossed his face, yet his eyes cleared by a noticeable margin. “You know me?”

Red Hair remained still. “Yes. If you spend more time practicing your piloting, you will definitely reach the pinnacle someday.”

Peizhe stared blankly, his thoughts impenetrable, but the movement of his hands slowed.

Those who had stopped running upon seeing the standoff paused, quietly admiring Red Hair’s audacity while awaiting the next move.

Just then, an emotionless mechanical voice boomed out: “Peizhe, what are you waiting for? Kill them!”

The small vestige of clarity in Peizhe’s eyes vanished instantly, and the scarlet flood reclaimed his gaze.

He raised the particle cannon toward Red Hair. She stepped aside, delivering a sharp kick to his arm, knocking his weapon askew. The red glow in his eyes intensified as he fixed his stare intensely upon her.

Red Hair’s kick was merely a probe, an attempt to gauge his strength. Against a normal person, a kick like that would have disabled their arm or at least forced them to drop their weapon. Peizhe was completely unfazed!

The earlier reports were correct: Peizhe wasn't just a variant; he was a puppet.

To defeat Peizhe, they first needed to find the puppeteer.