Chapter 171 - Li Ling Is Cruel

Laura was stunned for a second and only after a few seconds did she scream in agony as she looked at the hole in her chest that should have possibly killed her. 

Zhihao frowned as he wondered how this girl was still able to remain alive with such a fatal wound on her chest. In fact, this wasn't the only thing that had shocked him today. Even the three gunshots on both her legs and stomach hadn't managed to hold her down. 

For a normal person to be injured like this, the chances of survival would be slim and the pain should have been enough to make them pass out. Laura, even after going through all that could still crawl back to her feet, this in itself was pretty suspicious and Zhihao didn't know if he was supposed to be impressed with her or think of her like an earthworm that would stay alive even after being cut in half. 

Well, even earthworms would wiggle around for just a few more minutes and in the end, they would still die after being cut in half. 

No matter if she was an earthworm or not, he had to agree with one thing: She was a strong girl. 

Li Ling's hand transformed once again and it went back to looking like a hand instead of an air gun. He took a few steps closer to Laura and crouched down as he asked her, "Leader, you don't have much time left to live if you keep being stubborn like this.. Why don't you try fixing yourself?" 

Laura gritted her teeth as she rolled around on the ground, staining it with her blood that poured out from all the wounds on her body. "You bastard!!" She cursed as she screamed out, but Li Ling only smiled thinly as he looked at her wriggling pitiful body. 

Li Ling, "Time is ticking away, Captain. You better act fast." 

Laura took a sharp breath in as she gritted her teeth and shouted, "Take me to the operation theater!! Move fast, you freaking idiots!!!" 

As soon as this order was given out, the white mecha suited soldiers moved from their place and two of them picked her up, taking her to somewhere else in a hurry. 

Li Ling waved his hand as if bidding her bye-bye with a delighted smile on his face. 

Zhihao looked at Li Ling and sighed as he commented, "Gege, sometimes you scare me with your cruelty." 

Li Ling chuckled as he heard this, "Do I? But I think Captain Burn is crueler than me."

"..." Zhihao pursed his lips but said nothing. He was also capable of shooting someone in a virtual game like that, but he was still different from Li Ling. At least, he could proudly say that he won't be smiling when he does it. 

Leyah looked to be confused and her face which was twisted only got even more twisted as she asked, "Captain Liv, what about me?!" 

Li Ling looked at the girl up and down as he asked, "You look completely fine to me. You haven't been shot yet. Why would you need surgery too?"

"..." 

Leyah shook her head frantically as she looked down at her hands and exclaimed, "That's not it! My memories... What do I do about them...?" 

Zhihao sighed as he looked at the girl's helplessly confused expression as she raised her hands to clutch her head. 

"What do I do...?! My memories are all fake, aren't they?! They were all fabricated... I'm not me... All these feelings don't belong to me...!!" She looked as if she was having an identity crisis and it was only natural that she did. Zhihao was sure that if it was him in her shoes, he would also be questioning everything and panicking. 

Li Ling stepped up to her and patted her head as he reassured her, "Just because she brainwashed you, it doesn't mean everything you know is fake. Even with missing or fake memories, your feelings are still real. You love Utopia and its people. You want what's right for the future of humanity. Such type of will can't be faked." 

Leyah looked up at him with big dark eyes that could see a little hope, "It can't be faked...?" 

Li Ling broke out smiling as he answered, "Sorry, I was lying. It can be faked." 

"..." 

"But doesn't necessarily mean it's fake." Li Ling added as he stopped chuckling, "Even if she didn't play with your head, I'm sure your will to see humanity flourish was always there. You want to fight the Ribix war. You want to fight for humanity and I don't think that's something that can be easily faked. Right now, that's all that matters. After this war, you have your whole life ahead to decide what you truly want to do with it." 

Leyah seemed to be motivated as she heard this. Her eyes seemed to shine with hope as she was once again brainwashed but by a different person. 

Zhihao who saw Li Ling manipulating her to how he wanted her to act couldn't help but feel a bit surprised and impressed. His initial thought that Li Ling was a scary man got further strengthened. Not only was this man ruthless and cold if he wanted to hurt someone, but he was also perfectly manipulative to get what he wants. 

As soon as Zhihao realized this, he couldn't help but think: Had he also been manipulated by Li Ling? Li Ling was good at this so even if Zhihao had been manipulated to act a certain way or say something according to Li Ling, he would never realize it. 

The thought sent a shiver down his spine. 

He could only hope that he was wrong. 

"You're right..." Leyah muttered as she looked down, "What matters is our future. We need to win the war..." 

Li Ling nodded as he agreed, "We need to win it at all costs." 

Zhihao also joined him, "We must definitely win!" 

Of course, they needed to win it at all costs. Only after doing so would they be able to win this level. 

Li Ling stretched his hand forward for a handshake as he suggested, "I look forward to working with you." 

Leyah gulped as she took his hand and responded, "I'm undeserving of leading this war, but I promise to try my best." 

Li Ling smiled brightly as he exclaimed, "That's exactly what we want from you." 

Zhihao also smiled thinly as he spoke up, "If you try your best, the result will also naturally be the best." 

After saying that, Zhihao turned to face Li Ling as he asked, "But what about Laura?" 

Li Ling snickered as he heard this question, "She'll also join the war." 

"What if she runs away or hides?" Leyah questioned. 

Li Ling shook his head as he answered, "She can't." 

"..." 

He turned his head to look at Zhihao as he asked, "Do you remember what happened when we were fighting those bees?" 

Zhihao thought back to how he was on Li Ling's shoulder and was being protected by him. He clearly remembered it all but he was embarrassed to admit that he had been protected like that so he simply shook his head in denial. 

Li Ling smirked, he clearly knew that Zhihao remembered it, "Well, the bees attacked us but they didn't attack Alvi." 

Zhihao frowned as he stated, "Of course they didn't. She's a...." He turned to look at Leyah and stopped before he could say the word 'bot' 

OOC still had a firm hold of fear in his heart after what happened in the last vampire level. 

Li Ling shook his head as he spoke up, "That's not the reason why." 

Zhihao's eyebrows furrowed up as he asked in confusion, "Then why would they not attack her?" 

"She didn't interest them." 

"..." 

Li Ling chuckled as he saw the speechless expression on Zhihao's face, "Those creatures are attracted to everything connected with the Ribix." 

"Wait! I've heard about this!" Leyah exclaimed as she seemed to be remembering something, "Ribix is attracted to the Ribot gemstone! Normally, only a Ribot would have that embedded within its system, however, in some cases, the Captains in charge of Ribots would also have it surgically embedded into their body. It helps improve their overall senses and heightens regenerative abilities." 

Li Ling nodded as he spoke up, "You're right. The Ribot gemstone can change a person's life. They would develop and have inhuman abilities, however, only captains of Ribot armies are licensed to have such a gemstone implanted in their bodies. The reason is because it's dangerous for a person. Even if it increases your abilities, there is a huge price to pay for that." 

"What price?" Zhihao asked with an apparent frown on his face. 

"The Ribix love the Ribot gemstone and can detect it. If you have one inside you, it's easier for a Ribix to find you and there is no way you can hide yourself from it. It's like a Ribix magnet." 

Zhihao was a bit shocked to hear this as he uttered, "Captain of Ribot armies... Isn't that us? Do we also have those... Ribix magnets inside us?"