During the last bout, Hao Ren had deactivated his Steel Membrane Shield just at the very last minute. He believed that the sudden flicker would look like sweat reflected under the sunlight. However, without a doubt, Nolan had noticed that something was off: She kicked into a shield, which felt harder than titantium.
Looking deep into Nolan's eyes, Hao Ren was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of being seen through. He could not believe the girl before him was merely 17 to 18 years old: Her eyes gave out a sense of pressure that would not pale in the face of a serious Vivian. But he quickly calmed himself down and pretended to relax. "What's that?"
"You're sure bad at changing the topic." Nolan said bluntly. "What was that? That was not something possible even with bio-enhancement. And you are a Natural."
Hao Ren suddenly remembered a fool-proof excuse that he read from the novels. "Have you heard of Qigong Kungfu...."
He was just about to weave a story that he was a undercover professional, a skill learned from a master stemmed from a favour given long ago, but Nolan reacted even faster than he could. "Qigong? I've heard of that. I've also sparred with masters of the martial arts before, they were indeed really good, but that was definitely not Qigong. I saw my kick landing on a light screen."
Nolan's expression was no different than a rock as she said that. It was obvious she was not buying it. Hao Ren was at loss for words. Wasn't this a fool-proof excuse? Apparently the lass actually defeated a Qigong master before..
Her observation too was sharp, and the presence of the shield did not escape her thus trying to pass it off as some sort of combat technique is now not possible. Even the most accomplished masters in this world would not be able to produce a barrier out of thin air. Thus Hao Ren shook his head. "Alright, alright. It's actually some technological equipment, a barrier generator of sorts."
"An equipment?" Nolan frowned. Seemed like she could at least buy this now. "Why have I not heard of this?"
"No Naturals asked to be born weaker than an Evolved." Hao Ren finally found something that he could weave his bullshit. "The city I'm from are researching for equipment that could improve the combat capabilities of the Naturals. I took a set when I left. But don't bother asking, we don't know each other that well yet, I won't give it to you."
As Hao Ren bullshitted he tried to run through the various possible scenarios that he might encounter. One after another ran through his mind and he did not plan to dwell on things if she did not buy it. But he never expected Nolan to have so little to say on the matter. "Oh, so it seems. That means technology is still advancing..."
Hao Ren immediately swallowed whatever he was about to say down as he discussed with the MDT in his mind. "Did you record Nolan's movements earlier? What you think?"
"Many of my modules are still offline, so I couldn't scan her energy signatures, but based on her combat ability it was within the realms of normal human mbeings. Her strength and speed is humanlike, but she have reached the pinnacle in terms of skills and experience. She seemed to be very well versed in any form of combat, and her poise shows that she is very experienced in facing foes."
"I think she is really all skill and experience." It was a rare moment when Hao Ren concurred with the MDT. "I did not sense any supernatural abilities earlier either, so Nolan probably has nothing to do with the Guardians. Her abilities are humanlike, with a few add-ons and enhancements."
"Therein lies the problem. She's only seventeen." the MDT reminded Hao Ren. "Even if she started learning kungfu in the womb, and practiced Muay Thai from birth, she should not have skills of this level. Even if Lily was here, and both of them were to fight on the same terms, that husky would be on the losing side."
Hao Ren's gut immediately tightened. "That strong?"
"I have records of all your combat data. While my sensors are down, I can still calculate and simulate things."
Nolan noticed Hao Ren was deep in thought and prodded him with a casual question. "What's wrong?"
"How are you that strong?" Hao Ren asked.
He knew that Nolan needed a few more moments before she fully recovers. Even the potent nanomachine rejuvenants could not heal her immediately. So Hao Ren decided that now was a good time to better understand Nolan, and asked her whatever he could.
"Must there be a reason for being strong?" Nolan looked apathetically at Hao Ren.
Hao Ren shook his head. "Unless your combat ability is directly downloaded from a brain chip. But as far as I know this world doesn't have that sort of technology. Even the second generation Evolved could only temporarily store what they've read in their minds and not directly translate them into experience. Where did you learn how to fight like that?"
"There's no need for me to answer that." Nolan stood up, slightly wobbly as she seemed to have lost interest in the topic. "I still have something to do, you..."
Hao Ren was caught off guard and immediately called on Nolan. "Wait up. I have something to pass to you. I found this in Hilton's room."
As he said that, Hao Ren's hand ruffled his chest pocket and pulled out from his Dimensional Pocket Hilton's diary and passed it over to Nolan. "What's that? Hilton's diary?"
"While I don't know Hilton, this was probably the reason of his betrayal." Hao Ren pointed at the diary. "Look at the last few pages."
Nolan frowned as she opened the diary, and after a few flips she closed the book. A flash of doubt appeared on her face. Looking at Hao Ren, she asked. "Have you seen what's in the book?"
"Yes." Hao Ren nodded. "But I didn't understand anything, seems like a madman's rambling."
"Madmans..." Nolan muttered. "Perhaps it's quite the opposite. He probably got too close to the waking world."
Hao Ren raised an eyebrow at Nolan. "What does that mean?"
"Nothing. Nothing to do with you either." Nolan shook her head as she kept the diary. "Thank you for bringing this to me. But keep it a secret from others, this will cause unnecessary trouble."
As she said, Nolan turned to leave. "Do you know what's actually going on?" Hao Ren called from behind.
Nolan kept silent as Hao Ren continued his question. "What is the nightmare that Hilton talked about. Is it a mental echo, or something real? He said that this world is fake, is there an actual 'real' world? Are you..."
Nolan suddenly turn around and looked at Hao Ren straight in the eyes. "Do you know what you were doing in your past life?"
Hao Ren was dumbstruck by this odd question, and answered by instinct. "This... How would anyone know their past life?"
A light within Nolan's eyes quickly faded away and she turned away. "You should know. Using your imagination to escape reality is not a reliable refuge."
As she said that, the grey-haired lass walked on and left the place.
Hao Ren looked as Nolan's figure disappeared into the distance. He rubbed his chin as he muttered to the MDT. "Actually.. I'm guessing that..."
"Samsara? A system reboot? You're suspecting that this world is trapped in a continuous cycle? Or you're suspecting that Nolan is the herald of those nanomachines?" The MDT knew what Hao Ren was thinking, but it did not agree with 'guessing'. You can place thousands of possible guesses to explain something, but without solid proof, do not entertain the 'guesses' to much as it may cloud your perceptions."
"I know. I still remember what's in the Inspector's handbook." Hao Ren let out a breath. "Section seven, line five. There's always an explaination to everything, but before the truth is known do not explain anything. Lets leave that behind and go fix that body of yours."
The MDT immediately let out a defeated voice. "I don't like that topic at all."
Hao Ren almost instantenously rolled his eyes. "Oh stop complaining. You're just laying there while I'm out here doing the hard work."
"I still don't like that topic." The MDT let out a very human sigh in Hao Ren's mind. "My body is now vulnerable, and if not for existing laws you might do something funny to it."
"...Like your mother I would!"
The two bickered as Hao Ren made his way back to his quarters. As as he expected, no one had went into the room since the day they left.
And naturally, no one realised the disappearance of the corpse princess.
Hao Ren started looking around as he stepped into the room, and after a while only did he manage to find the droid that he had left behind. The droid seemed to be a stunned stupor since it was left there and only belated reacted and went back into the Dimensional Pocket after Hao Ren motioned to it. Hao Ren then threw the corpse back on the bed as he tried to check for any changes to the body.
"Wait a minute!" The MDT roared as it was thrown. "I... I think I saw something."
Hao Ren did not need the MDT's protest to remind me of the change that he witnessed. As he pulled the blonde girl out from the Dimensional Pocket, he saw the latter blinked so ever slightly.