Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 41: Chapter One

The researcher said with half belief: ”The whole Federation is buzzing. They say a Special Soldier Company Commander single-handedly rescued over 200 war captives from behind enemy lines. I also heard that this battle’s simulation was done by this commander.”

The researcher paused, then praised with admiration: ”That’s incredible. But the commander emphasized multiple times not to reveal his name. Everyone in the Federation is guessing, but no one knows who it is.”

Fatty thought proudly, of course it was me. Who else has this kind of skill? However, he said with a face full of disdain: ”That guy is an idiot. If it were me, why not admit it? Money and beauties would all come my way, and being in the spotlight feels amazing!”

While saying this, he cursed his bad luck inwardly for calling himself an idiot.

The researcher wasn’t ready to give up, he asked eagerly: ”Why did you and those war captives come back on the same Transport Ship? I actually saw it myself this morning at the airport testing area.”

First pig at the trough gets slaughtered first; Fatty didn’t want to be the target of everyone’s attention. Safety first was his principle.

”I don’t even know who those people are. I was not in the Special Soldier unit, but a poor Reconnaissance Camp. The difference between the two is huge.”

With quick thinking, Fatty pointed to Boswell’s lab door and said with a mischievous expression: ”I managed to get into the Combat Department thanks to my teacher helping me pull some strings.”

Considering Boswell’s temperament, as long as it’s unrelated to research, no one dares to ask him. Pushing the blame onto him felt quite effortless.

Disappointed, the researcher said: ”So it’s really not you.” Seeing Tian Xingjian nod affirmatively, the researcher finally gave up, muttering while shaking his head as he walked away.

Tian Xingjian chuckled secretly. Anyway, I won’t admit it even if I die. I won’t be a front-line hero with a medal. Better safe than sorry!

When he turned around, he saw Milan’s door had opened at some point. Milan was looking at him smugly, her white hand covering her mouth as she giggled.

Knowing the serious consequences if the secret was exposed, Tian Xingjian shamelessly went up to her, disregarding Milan’s disdainful look, he begged her for confidentiality while circling around her.

Fatty thought, since I’ve already lost face, today I’ll use some methods to make this girl completely confused. If that doesn’t work, I’ll resort to force, using violence to conquer. If all else fails, I’ll directly eliminate and destroy all evidence.

Milan’s body twisted, but she wouldn’t look at Fatty directly. She busied herself walking around the lab with a pretentious attitude, occasionally laughing out loud, making Fatty grind his teeth in frustration.

Tian Xingjian felt helpless and smiled bitterly: ”Dear Milan sister, what do you want me to do? Perform tricks or sacrifice myself?”

Milan’s face turned red, she glared at Fatty and spat: ”Get out of here! Who is your dear, who wants you to... sacrifice whatever, you two-timing scoundrel!” She extended her hand to shove the shameless Fatty aside: ”Move, you’re blocking me from doing my experiment.”

At the mention of experiments, Fatty quickly moved closer again and said: ”Junior sister, the teacher asked me to take a look, saying there are a few research projects related to my Mecha.”

The scoundrel intentionally added a flirtatious hint to the words ”junior sister” to close the distance.

Milan, irritated by him, chuckled and asked with hands on her hips: ”Do you even care about the teacher? Since when have you sold me off like the teacher?”

Fatty, typically someone who seizes any opportunity to climb up, moved closer to Milan and said: ”I was forced earlier, there’s just us. Do you think I would sell you out? I’d rather be sold out by you!”

Milan huffed: ”Who has any relationship with you? And what wouldn’t you sell? Not only did you frame the teacher earlier, but you also dared to hit me.” Perhaps recalling the unpleasant scene earlier or the flirtatious way of talking, her white cheeks turned red again.

Even the most beautiful and rational woman experiences her first awakening of love.

In a dull lab, trivial experiments, and the first close contact with a male peer for six months, it’s inevitable that flirtation would develop. As a self-proclaimed psychology master, Fatty certainly knew this.

But despite this, he still had an unrequited first love hanging in his mind. Whenever his thoughts wandered into the realm of emotions, a figure would unknowingly appear in his mind.

Was he really here to join the army just to lose weight? His heart knew it was for her.

If this feeling were to be exposed, it would be the biggest joke in the universe. He would be dubbed the purest man in the universe, enshrined in a museum for people to see.

Tian Xingjian stared blankly at the blush on Milan’s cheeks, seemingly too embarrassed to face her, he lowered his head.

Seeing Tian Xingjian droop his head in silence, Milan suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of sympathy and no longer had the heart to tease him. She pulled out some files from the central computer and snorted: ”Fatty, read these, you’re lucky this time!” She then turned and left the lab, lightly closing the door.

As soon as the door closed, Fatty laughed; he had been acting all along.

This was the classic technique of the emotional scammers in ”Realistic Imitation”: their faces showing a hint of sadness, with clear and tender eyes holding painful and bleak memories.

Fatty had practiced these expressions in front of the mirror countless times.

Humming a tune, he sat down and opened the research materials Milan had left. Tian Xingjian was immediately attracted by a research project, which was about instantaneous changes in Biological Dual State Metal, aimed specifically to alter Mecha’s physical defense in a split second!

Imagine if an enemy’s blade hits the Mecha and suddenly the thickness at the impact point increases by several centimeters. Even if it gets damaged, it can be quickly repaired through rapid dual-state transformation. What would that mean in close-quarter combat?

The second document also made Tian Xingjian ecstatic.

This research was a demonstration of various electronic attack devices originally developed for heavy Mecha and Space Battleships now being applied to regular Mechas. These devices are much more advanced than the Antenna’s electronic attack technology, offering diverse means of electronic signal deception, simulation, control, and attack, proving extremely fierce.

However, the biggest drawback of this system was its high energy consumption in a short period, plus the document was merely a concept still under verification, which slightly disheartened Fatty.

There were also some direct modifications to Logic’s finer details. Although the impact wasn’t as significant as the previous two, the thorough consideration provided notable enhancements to Logic’s combat capability.

Seeing the names of researchers responsible for these projects, he found that in the director column, they all had Milan’s name. Fatty was stunned; he knew the research procedures in the lab well enough. Whoever proposed a plan and got it approved would be the research director responsible for executing a substantial part of the work, while other researchers only assisted.

It meant Milan had proposed almost a year’s worth of work plans for Logic within the twenty days he was away. Clearly, her mind had been solely focused on Logic’s research.

Apparently, he owed this junior sister, whom he had spent six months with, a significant debt. Tian Xingjian thought, he must definitely repay Milan properly when the chance arises.

Facing a beautiful woman awakening to love, could saving her and then doing XXXX be considered repayment in the spirit of rescue and aid?

This scoundrel fantasized heartlessly.