World’s End: My Keyword is One More Than Others

"Brother Lie."

"Hello, Brother Lie."

A man in his thirties, wearing a floral shirt and holding a cigarette, walked through the market.

Small vendors greeted him from time to time, and he responded with a wave and a natural smile. Occasionally, he would pinch the cheeks of children running by, looking every bit like a native of Bi Xing.

I am the Sea God, real name Fan Lie, 34 years old, manager of Hongxing Market, father of a son and a daughter, but divorced three years ago and still single...

...

On the way.

Nalan Li gathered all the information related to Fan Lie, including his daily expenses and communication records, to determine if any other Alien Star warriors had joined him and to analyze what his keyword might be.

Most of the emails Fan Lie received were invitations from army groups and normal exchanges between members of the Sea God Gang he created on the Battle Network, with nothing suspicious.

The only anomaly was in Yuxi City, where several police mechas had been damaged, some losing weapon systems, others energy systems, and some radar systems...

These bizarre cases made Nalan Li feel like Fan Lie was trying to assemble a mecha using the stolen parts from these police mechas.

But that didn't make sense either; mecha manufacturing requires massive industrial equipment, and it's practically impossible for one person to assemble a mecha.

If everyone could buy parts and assemble mechas, mechas wouldn't represent the pinnacle of Bi Xing's technology.

Manually assembling a mecha is far less simple than just stealing one.

Previously, Fan Lie had formed the Sea God Gang on the Battle Network, and Du Ge speculated that his keyword might be something like aggregation, integration, or leadership.

However, what he did in reality didn't match these keywords, and now Du Ge couldn't figure out what this guy's keyword was.

But it's probably not a mental-type keyword, and that's enough.

...

Fan Lie had just walked out of the market.

Nalan Li's car pulled up in front of him, and she rolled down the window, showing her credentials to Fan Lie. "Fan Lie, I'd like to talk to you."

"National Strategic Defense Bureau?" Fan Lie was visibly stunned for a moment, shook his head, and said, "I knew the Battle Network wasn't broken. Who's behind you? Ten Steps to Kill One?"

"Fan Lie, the state has begun to clean up players like you. Join the National Strategic Defense Bureau, and we'll give you a chance to survive," Nalan Li said.

"What if I don't join?" Fan Lie asked with a smile.

"Death," Nalan Li replied.

Fan Lie looked around, then fixed his gaze on Nalan Li's face and asked, "Is it just the two of you? Isn't your recruitment a bit hasty?"

"So, you're refusing the Homeland Defense Bureau's offer?" Nalan Li raised an eyebrow, slowly rolling up the window. "Then good luck. I hope you can survive the pursuit of other Homeland Defense Bureau players."

"..." Fan Lie was taken aback. "Wait, are you really this hasty? We barely exchanged two sentences, and I didn't even say I wouldn't join!"

"What's your keyword?" Nalan Li rolled the window back down, activated a mini-computer, and looked at Fan Lie again.

"..." Fan Lie was stunned.

"Fan Lie, I need to remind you that the information you provide had better be true," Nalan Li said. "If you provide false information and it's found out, you'll still be judged."

Fan Lie frowned, looking at Nalan Li with an uncertain expression.

Clearly, this native's attitude was very unsatisfactory to him.

"You can attack me, even kill me," Nalan Li said calmly, "but everything here will be truthfully transmitted to the Homeland Defense Bureau headquarters. Next, your Battle Network account will be banned, all your credit systems will be frozen, and your coordinates will be publicly available to all players. So, I suggest you think carefully before making a decision..."

A threat?

Fan Lie lightly pressed his lips together and asked, "How many people have joined you?"

"Confidential," Nalan Li replied. "All information between players who join the Homeland Defense Bureau is kept confidential. The Defense Bureau will assign you tasks to eliminate some rebellious players, helping you grow..."

"You came too hastily. Can you give me some time to think?" Fan Lie asked.

"No," Nalan Li said. "We've already locked onto nearly 800 players. The National Strategic Defense Bureau has a lot to do and won't waste too much time on one person. We've looked into what you've done on other planets, and Bi Xing doesn't welcome you."

Nalan Li's assertiveness made Fan Lie unsure of how much information the other party had.

But he had to consider the threat. He had made a high-profile appearance on the Battle Network to boost his attributes, expecting the state to send someone to contact him, but he never thought it would be in this manner.

"What are the benefits of joining you?" Fan Lie asked.

"Join us, and you'll be an official member, enjoying the conveniences the Battle Network offers, allowing you to boost your attributes and skills," Nalan Li said. "But likewise, you'll have to fulfill your obligations to Bi Xing, such as using your abilities to fight the Hill Civilization on the front lines."

"Since you call us players, do you know the game rules?" Fan Lie laughed.

Nalan Li glanced at Fan Lie and said, "I know there will only be three winners in the end. Our initial solution is to recruit you, and in the final stage of the game, let you compete in a tournament to determine the winners."

This was the strategy Du Ge and Nalan Li had discussed on the way.

The plan didn't need to be comprehensive; it just needed to give them hope for the time being.

...

A tournament?

Fan Lie raised an eyebrow, suddenly understanding the purpose of this so-called Homeland Defense Bureau: to use Alien Star warriors against Alien Star warriors, while also helping them fight the Hill Civilization...

What a clever plan!

But over a thousand Alien Star warriors, over a thousand superhumans, and more than two thousand skills—are they really that easy to control?

Too naive!

But right now, he couldn't find a suitable reason to refuse.

Because he couldn't guarantee that others wouldn't agree to join the Strategic Defense Bureau. In a highly technologically advanced world, having a country's support and not having it are two completely different concepts.

Not to mention, cutting off his Battle Network account would be enough to severely weaken him.

"Fan Lie, since you've come to this planet, you must obey its laws and regulations. Having an official position is only beneficial to you," Nalan Li reminded. "The sooner you join, the sooner you enjoy the benefits."

"Alright, I'll join," Fan Lie said, taking a deep breath. He couldn't find a reason to refuse. With his current strength, he couldn't fight a country.

"Keyword," Nalan Li said in a businesslike manner.

"Fusion," Fan Lie replied.

Nalan Li glanced at Fan Lie, recorded it on the mini-computer, and continued, "Skill?"

"Seamless Integration," Fan Lie said.

"Skill effect," Nalan Li asked.

"I can fuse two different objects into one new object," Fan Lie said.

Nalan Li recorded the skill effect and turned to ask, "Can you elaborate?"

Fan Lie looked at Nalan Li, smiled slightly, and suddenly extended his hand. Then, right under Nalan Li's nose, his arm transformed into a police mecha cannon, the dark muzzle pointing directly at Nalan Li's forehead.

Nalan Li remained unfazed. "Remove the muzzle."

Fan Lie chuckled, and the mecha cannon instantly turned back into an arm.

Du Ge glanced at him. A humanoid Gundam, without other Alien Star warriors, this skill is quite formidable. However, if it's just this kind of fusion, it undoubtedly locks his potential.

Seeing Nalan Li preparing to continue the interrogation, Du Ge suddenly interjected, "Can it be used on others?"

Fan Lie looked at Du Ge in the driver's seat, not sensing any aura of a strong person from him, so he regarded him as a Homeland Defense Bureau staff member and shook his head. "No."

Du Ge glanced at him and said to Nalan Li, "The skill can be used on others."

"..." Fan Lie's eye twitched a few times. "Brother, I said it can't."

"Fan Lie, I'm doing this for your own good," Du Ge said. "Otherwise, if you later reveal the ability to use it on others, you'll be placed on the untrustworthy list."

Fan Lie was taken aback, gave a sheepish smile, and didn't argue.

"The second skill?" Nalan Li glanced at him and asked.

"Not awakened yet," Fan Lie shrugged. "This time, it's true."

"What about your home planet?" Nalan Li continued to ask.

"Is it necessary to say?" Fan Lie frowned.

"Very necessary," Nalan Li said. "When executing tasks in the future, we'll try to separate people from the same planet. Also, during the tournament, you wouldn't want to fight to the death with someone from your own planet, would you?"

Having said so much, he didn't mind revealing his planet. Fan Lie said, "Zhong Tian Star."

"Alright, get in the car," Nalan Li recorded his origin and nodded at him. "Fan Lie, when you awaken your second skill, report to me promptly."

"That's it?" Fan Lie was somewhat surprised.

"What else?" Nalan Li glanced at him. "Do you outsiders need to say goodbye to your families? Your accommodation will be taken care of by the organization. Get in the car; we have another task to execute."

Fan Lie laughed helplessly, opened the car door, sat in the back seat, and asked, "What's the next task?"

"Recruit Fallen Leaves Know Flowers," Nalan Li said. "If he resists, you're responsible for taking him down."

"..." Fan Lie was stunned, asking in shock, "Didn't you just say that players' information is confidential?"

"Your information is confidential to those who join later and to other departments," Nalan Li said, looking at Fan Lie through the rearview mirror. "Remember, you've joined the Homeland Strategic Defense Bureau's dark division, which is separate from the public Homeland Defense Bureau. Our information doesn't cross."

"Damn!" Fan Lie couldn't help but curse, suddenly realizing, and asked, "Am I the first person recruited by the dark division?"

"Correct," Nalan Li looked at him again and said.

"Damn," Fan Lie cursed again, laughing and crying. "I give up."

"You just made the most correct decision," Nalan Li said. "Fan Lie, if you have any questions, you can ask on the way. If you have good suggestions, you can also bring them up, and I'll consider giving you credit."

"I just want to know one thing: who leaked this information to you, Du Ge?" Fan Lie asked.

"No," Nalan Li said without turning her head. "All my information comes from the people above. I'm not sure where the specific information came from."