Chapter 276 - 4: Player Movements, Early Exposure, and Intelligent Mechanism Preparations

Lower City District. Armed Robot Factory.

Inside the deserted robot factory, an azure Octopus stood beside the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, gazing down from a high platform at the fully automated production line below.

At the same time, several smirking Octopuses stood beside the blue one, watching her.

"So? What we offer is exactly what you need, isn’t it?"

"And this is just a fraction of the aid we’re offering. Later, when the time is right, we can provide you with even more assistance!"

The gray Octopus was at least half a head taller than the blue one.

He stood beside the blue Octopus, his tone casual.

"So, Mr. Zane, what is it you truly want?"

"I don’t believe you lords from the city districts would so kindly help us, the descendants of sinners from the surface. State your terms."

The blue Octopus, Greta, looked at the gray Octopus with a stern expression.

"Sinners? Aren’t we all part of the Octopus clan? What’s so strange about helping our own people?"

"And to be frank, the people I represent and I are actually quite sympathetic to our kin on the surface. We just so happened to learn of your resistance army, and with some time on our hands, we decided to place a few chips on you."

Greta’s expression was cold. "So, Mr. Zane, you’re just bored, and you see our resistance as nothing more than a farcical performance?"

The gray Octopus let out a startled laugh.

"Whether it’s a performance or not depends on how far you can take this."

"Ultimately, you probably won’t believe anything I say right now. In short, all you need to know is that there is a faction in the city districts silently watching over our compatriots on the surface. We, too, have long been dissatisfied with the Mainframe’s dictatorial rule. Everything we’re doing now is simply an attempt to find an ’opening.’"

"And your resistance is just one of many we are backing on the surface."

"It’s a shame we found you so late. Otherwise, this meeting wouldn’t be so rushed."

The two stared at each other.

Finally, the blue Octopus let out a long sigh, her stern gaze softening slightly.

"In that case, it seems I’ve misjudged you."

"But for you to hand this armed robot factory over to us so brazenly... aren’t you afraid of being discovered by the Mainframe’s terminal?"

In response to the blue Octopus’s question, the gray one simply laughed.

"The Mainframe is omnipresent. Even in the Lower City District, its terminal has assigned numerous sub-brains to monitor the various numbered sectors."

"And the fact that I can be here, even command this Intelligent Mechanism factory to help you... surely you’ve figured it out by now?"

"You hacked the terminal sub-brain for Sector 36732?" the blue Octopus asked hesitantly.

"Something like that. But that’s not your concern."

Here, the gray Octopus’s tone became firm.

"Oh, and a piece of advice: after your people take this district, you should ’pillage’ what you can and leave quickly."

"Otherwise, I’m sure you know the consequences."

"Under the Mainframe terminal’s control, there are tens of thousands of Lower City Districts like this one. You people from the surface have no idea how terrifying the Mainframe’s Power is."

"So, just take all the supplies you can carry from this Lower City District. I’d also recommend you scatter and lie low underground for some time. Otherwise..."

The gray Octopus said no more after that.

Instead, under the blue Octopus’s solemn gaze, he turned and led his companions out of the factory.

"So, who are you people, really?"

"Survive the Mainframe terminal’s localized purge that’s sure to follow this, and then we can talk. You’ll find out in due time."

The gray Octopus raised a tentacle in a wave, then disappeared from the blue Octopus’s view.

Watching him leave, the blue Octopus, Greta, sighed, her expression growing heavy.

"Deputy Leader, what do we do now?"

As the other Octopuses left, one of Greta’s subordinates behind her asked the question hesitantly.

"The leader never intended for us to occupy this Lower City District permanently."

"Ultimately, we are only here because the surface territory we control no longer has the resources to support our population."

"Those people must have known that, which is why they gave us that advice as they left."

"Regardless of their motives, the fact that we were able to take this district so smoothly is indeed thanks to them."

"So, we’ll do as they said. Go inform the others. Have everyone strip this place bare, and do it quickly."

"And smash anything that can’t be moved!"

"Our greatest victory this time wasn’t capturing this Lower City District. It was learning that these people exist. They are the hope for the surface, regardless of their true motives! With the help of powerful figures from the city districts, we ’sinners’ of the surface finally have a glimmer of hope to see the light of day again."

"..."

——————

’This world is really interesting.’

’The entire planet has been built up into layers of so-called city districts, and all these Octopus-like intelligent life forms live within them.’