"WHAT? There are two pieces!?" Vincent's voice was laced with a deliberately suppressed excitement! For the research industry, the quantity of such scarce samples directly dictated the speed of development. If Vincent only had one chip, many potentially destructive research methods could not be employed. But with an extra spare chip for reference, the pace of research would at least double!

"Just name your price." Vincent suddenly calmed down, leaning back into his chair. He realized something was off. This damned fellow in front of him operated with meticulous thoroughness, seemingly orchestrating everything perfectly. It was clear he had arrived fully prepared after extensive prior consultation.

Since he brought these two items he was determined to acquire, he must already have a set price in mind. If that price wasn't met, any further discussion would be pointless!

Fang Senyan glanced around at the noisy surroundings and said lightly:

"Is there somewhere quiet to talk?"

Vincent evidently noticed this too. His desire to keep things secret was no less intense than Fang Senyan's, so he stood up with a set expression:

"My car is spacious enough. Let's talk in there."

Vincent's vehicle was an off-road recreational Jeep. Its exterior, much like its owner’s appearance, was rugged and coarse, naturally unkempt. Once the two men were inside and the windows rolled up, Fang Senyan dropped the pretense and immediately presented his item: Cobalt Steel Exoskeleton (Left Arm Portion) (Incomplete).

"If you can help me repair this fully—along with the US dollars and the pocket watch you previously produced—then both of these chips are yours."

Vincent took the Cobalt Steel Exoskeleton, turning it over and examining it repeatedly. His movements were highly professional; he tapped it lightly with his fingers, held it to his ear to listen, and finally bit it gently. But what he said next sent a chill down Fang Senyan's spine:

"It's impossible to repair."

Vincent continued coldly, "The very concept behind this item is as foul as a rotting sandwich; it’s almost a direct imitation of human anatomy! Only the micro-driving program shows a glimmer of competence. If you only require it to be fixed completely... my answer remains impossible, because the material is highly unusual—it possesses the hardness of steel yet offers considerable elasticity. I surmise it’s the Cobalt Steel Alloy that Rockefeller has been struggling to perfect. I can't even find the materials needed for repair, so how could I possibly fix it properly?"

Fang Senyan, however, seized on a sliver of possibility in his words immediately:

"Are you saying that you can't fix this, simply because you lack the right materials?"

Vincent scoffed, "Precisely."

Fang Senyan pressed on, "Then use the best materials you can find. Fix it as completely as possible. Go and do that right now, and once it's done, we have a deal."

Vincent considered this. "To repair this, I'll need to go to the Engineering Department, and I must coordinate with the Metallurgy Zone beforehand. Whether they approve the request is uncertain. Most importantly, this item is likely from the same source as the chips. My lack of interest doesn't mean the Metallurgy personnel share it. Therefore, I cannot have anyone else present while I'm working on it. Even if all procedures go smoothly, it will take three hours! That conveniently coincides with the company's lunch hour, allowing me an opportunity to slip away."

Fang Senyan stared at Vincent, sensing he was likely telling the truth, and nodded. Since the two chips Vincent desired were still in his possession, he wasn't worried about Vincent slacking off. And three hours... he could wait.

Watching Vincent’s Jeep speed away towards Cybarding Computer Corporation, Fang Senyan returned to the steakhouse, selecting a table by the window. He ordered a coffee, and the waiter, having received a handsome tip earlier, very attentively delivered the day's Los Angeles Times. Fang Senyan appeared to be reading the paper, but his mind had already flown towards the magnificent building not far away. On one hand, he worried about potential complications in Vincent’s repair operation; on the other, he was immensely covetous of the technology and weaponry housed within. A company capable of developing a supercomputer like Skynet could hardly be ordinary!

Time passed quickly. Fang Senyan checked the wall clock nearby; half of the agreed-upon three-hour window had already elapsed. He nodded slightly, unable to stop himself from speculating on the attributes of the repaired Cobalt Steel Exoskeleton. By now, his coffee had been refilled four times, yet the patrons in the steakhouse had only increased, making the noise even louder.

Before entering the Nightmare World, Fang Senyan's favorite pastime was solitude, listening to "The Blue Danube" or a saxophone solo of "Going Home." But now, Fang Senyan found he quite enjoyed this noisy, chaotic, even slightly greasy environment, because being immersed within it made him feel like a smooth cobblestone embedded in a riverbank—hard to single out, offering a rare sense of security.

Finally, Vincent’s imposing figure appeared in the doorway of the steakhouse, a black briefcase tucked under his left arm. He walked to the opposite seat and sat down. He placed the briefcase on the table, then pulled out the dollars and the gold-cased pocket watch, saying nothing, only fixing Fang Senyan with a gaze that was simultaneously hungry and detached.

Fang Senyan had no intention of lingering either. He very straightforwardly handed over the chips, completing the transaction. After equipping the gold pocket watch via the Nightmare Imprint, Fang Senyan indeed felt his Physique increase by 1 point, and his maximum Health rose to 190. As he opened the briefcase, however, he found the Cobalt Steel Exoskeleton nestled within a transparent container, gently sloshing within a clear, viscous fluid. Just as he was about to inquire, Vincent spoke with the characteristic rigor and arrogance of a German:

"While repairing this, I noticed subtle damage to its internal structure, so I performed additional processing. It now needs to be steeped in a specialized condensation liquid. If you wait an hour before removing it, you will achieve a perfect repair. Of course, you can take it out early, but the cost will be that the subtle internal damage cannot be fully remedied, and the repair effect will only be considered 'good.'"

Fang Senyan was delighted by this news. Waiting just one hour for a "perfect repair" sounded like no loss at all. Though he didn't yet know how "perfect" this repair would be, it was surely a pleasant surprise. Watching Vincent’s slightly stooped but tall back push through the door and exit, Fang Senyan’s lips curved upward, and he settled back into his seat.

Then, a man in a gray suit from the neighboring table approached. He had a large, ruddy nose and, with a blank expression, pulled out an identification card from beneath his suit jacket. With a deliberately cold politeness, he said:

"Sir, I regret to inform you: lunchtime is over. We have sufficient reason to suspect your activities have harmed the interests of the great United States of America. We require your cooperation in this investigation."

Simultaneously, several seemingly ordinary FBI agents rose from nearby tables. With practiced synchronization, they partially lifted their trench coats, revealing the black, silenced muzzles of five guns pointed directly at Fang Senyan’s vital areas!

Fang Senyan remained outwardly calm, but internally, a tidal wave surged. There truly was no such thing as a free lunch! As soon as the guns were aimed at him, he immediately attempted to complete his mission and quickly return to the Nightmare Space. However, he received a red warning prompt: "You are carrying related mission items; mission return impossible!" This meant that if Fang Senyan wanted the perfectly repaired Cobalt Steel Exoskeleton, he would have to endure the FBI's pursuit for this entire hour!

America's law enforcement is divided into two systems: one comprises federal government (central) agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which has offices nationwide, is headquartered in New York, falls under the Department of Justice, and operates under a single command structure.

The other consists of local police agencies, such as the Los Angeles Police or the New York Police, which answer to the Los Angeles municipal government or the New York municipal government, respectively, and are not directly controlled by the central government. Without question, the FBI, directly subordinate to the central Department of Justice, surpasses local police in both equipment and quality.

Of course, Fang Senyan also noticed another crucial point: even in this environment, the Nightmare Space had left an escape route open. That path was to immediately unseal the Cobalt Steel Exoskeleton. In that case, the mission would be voided, eliminating the need to wait the hour, allowing him to successfully complete the main objective and escape within five minutes.

Everything hinged on Fang Senyan's choice. Simultaneously, Fang Senyan realized something: his Perception ability had not given him an earlier warning, which undoubtedly meant the enemy possessed sensory abilities at least equal to his own!

In mere moments, Fang Senyan had plummeted from a position of full confidence to that of a trapped beast. The cruelty of the Nightmare World was vividly demonstrated!

"Hands on your head, face the wall, and slowly crouch down!" The FBI agent opposite him had become stern, as if to lend greater conviction, and he too drew a firearm, having already put his ID away.

Fang Senyan slowly raised his hands first, signaling that he held no weapons, intending to put the FBI agents at ease. Then, his eyebrows, dark and sharp as blades, lifted slightly, and he said with considerable composure:

"I believe I am about to be treated unjustly. I demand to call my lawyer."

(To be continued, please visit for the latest chapters: .)