Chapter 521 - - 467 The foundation of keeping a low profile is being able to go high-profile at any time_1

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Overwhelming traffic!

After hanging up the phone with Tang Houming, Duge savored the pleasure of his rapidly improving attributes with satisfaction.

Perception constrained by physique.

Now nearly the entire network is searching for him but to no avail, his low-profile attributes almost causing a sensation, as his physique soared higher and higher. Combined with his spiritual power of over five million, almost the entire Imperial Capital was covered by his perception.

…

“Have you heard? The tide has turned. The technology provided by Kill One Every Ten Steps is all authentic. The entire design department is working overtime to improve the mechas.”

“I really want to know what Kill One Every Ten Steps is like in real life?”

“Qing Yan, I think you won’t have the chance to fight side by side with him on the battlefield. That guy is definitely going to be protected as a national treasure…”

“With such professional knowledge, he must be at least an old man in his forties or fifties!”

“Living in the same era as such a great master is my tragedy…”

“Indeed, it’s the tragedy of every mecha designer, but it’s the fortune of all humanity.”

…

“Forget about Kill One Every Ten Steps. We need to figure out how to kill that masked hero. He’s already seriously interfering with our business.”

“Boss, according to the usual pattern in movies, when these superheroes appear, there’s bound to be a supervillain. However, there doesn’t seem to be any formidable character in the Imperial Capital!”

“No matter how strong the masked hero is, can he be stronger than a mecha? Shouldn’t we build a mecha and then draw him out…”

…

“Director Luo, the influence of the War Net is too powerful. Kill One Every Ten Steps is growing too quickly. You should make up your mind soon and call our planet’s forces here. Otherwise, in just a few days, Green Star will definitely descend into chaos.”

“Xu Wan, don’t rush, I’m applying to the higher-ups. I’ll have a result for you soon,” Director Luo said.

“Director Luo, you’re moving too slowly. You have no idea how many players will grow each day we delay? How much more difficult will it make for us to take them under control?” Xu Wan said urgently.

“Xu Wan, I’m different from you. We must ensure nothing goes wrong,” Director Luo replied.

“Fine, as you wish, but before your application comes through, I must log in to the War Net…”

…

Apart from some specific areas that either the magnetic fields affect or use some special materials, Duge was unable to hear the information inside.

Most of the Imperial Capital was under his surveillance, including Luo Yan’s National Defense Bureau.

The myriad of complex information flooded his mind, many discussing his undercover persona, but mostly they were trivial and useless tidbits.

What seemed slightly useful was the Imperial Capital’s gang plotting to draw out the masked hero and kill him with a mecha!

But to Duge, who considered these ineffectual fellows as if they were scheming right under his ears, they were of no concern at all.

With his current physique, mechas had become a burden to him, offering nothing more than a greater attack range when compared to his own formidable body!

It was only because he couldn’t expose his Divine Power; otherwise, no one within his perception range could escape his Seven-Hole Touch.

Besides, Duge’s soul now integrated both Solar Divine Power and Dark God Power.

The Solar Divine Power allowed him to teleport short distances, and the Dark God Power enabled him to hide invisibly in the night. Theoretically, he was invincible on this planet, effortlessly able to kill the likes of Xu Wan and Mo Shengmin.

Unfortunately, there was still Pan-Universe Entertainment above him…

…

Yet, with such a commotion this time, no new skill related to being low-profile surfaced, leaving Duge somewhat perplexed. But after some thought, he understood what was going on.

It was repetitive!

Even though he switched from pilot to designer, the pattern was the same.

While this definitely helped him to build his attributes, repetitive actions obviously wouldn’t spawn new skills…

He had taken the wrong approach to being low-profile!

Being low-profile is a Principle for engaging with the world, an attitude towards life, a form of wisdom;

Being low-profile means staying calm and composed, embodying elegance, and moral integrity;

Being low-profile is a taste, a cultivation, being unobtrusive, appearing bland on the surface but in actuality, it’s a profound strategy for life;

…

Perhaps being low-profile is not about hiding oneself, leaving everyone clueless about one’s identity. Maybe, by letting others inadvertently discover one’s true self, it can better accentuate one’s disregard for fame and commitment to being low-key.

Since the new skill didn’t emerge, Duge had to rethink his definition of low-profile.

Then, he really did figure out a new path.

Of course, aside from being low-profile, there was also romance. Those guys on the War Net were all focused on the improvement of mechas; none of them cared about the romance he talked about.

Duge felt it was necessary to remind them.

Nothing was more important than leveling up skills. Duge immediately logged into the War Net.

Upon entering the War Net, the first thing Duge saw was his War Net Coins—1,105,630. His assets had almost increased by two hundred times, and the number kept rising. At least for the foreseeable future, he wouldn’t have to worry about money.

And yet, his title still remained “Intermediate Designer” and “Intermediate Mecha Pilot”.

The War Net was a rigid system, and despite his significant contributions to the mecha industry, his title had still not changed because he hadn’t gone through the official assessment process.

However, for Duge, whether his title changed or not had already lost much of its meaning.

…

“Logged in.”

When Duge appeared in the mecha design module, a group of people who had been waiting there swarmed toward him.

“Kill One Every Ten Steps, do you remember me? I’m Lan Zixing, a senior mecha pilot from the Second Group Army…” Lan Zixing was cut off mid-sentence as several pairs of large hands dragged him back into the crowd.

“Pilots, step aside. Kill One’s talent should be more devoted to mecha design, not charging into battle on the front lines.”

Following that, a crowd of designers surrounded Duge so tightly that water couldn’t escape.

“Kill One Every Ten Steps, I’m Tong Chuan, the vice chancellor of Blue Sea University. I’ve talked to you before, but you never accepted my request…”

“I am Zhong Shiping, a distinguished designer, currently the vice director of the Green Star National Academy of Sciences. You have great talent in mecha design. Tell me your real identity, and I will immediately send someone to bring you to the academy.”

After the handsome old man spoke, the noisy surroundings instantly fell silent, and everyone’s gaze toward Duge turned to envy.

The Green Star National Academy of Sciences represented the highest honor for scientists, where the most cutting-edge technologies were researched.

What was most crucial was that the captured spaceship from the Hill civilization was at the Green Star National Academy of Sciences.

Studying a spaceship from a more advanced civilization held a fatal attraction for scientists.

“Director Zhong, thank you for your kindness, but I don’t want to go to the academy for the time being.” Duge looked at Zhong Shiping with a sheepish smile, tactfully declining his offer.

“…” Zhong Shiping was taken aback, “Young man, I’m talking about the Green Star National Academy of Sciences.”

“I know.” Duge nodded, “I also know I could come into contact with the Hill civilization’s spaceship at the academy, but my current level is not adequate. I want to wait until I’ve improved a bit more…”

He didn’t finish his sentence.

Before he could, Zhong Shiping interrupted him, his voice tinged with anger, “Young man, do you know what you’re talking about?”

“I do.” Duge looked at Zhong Shiping and bowed, “Director Zhong, I’m only seventeen, still a school student. The mecha improvement ideas I brought out before were the result of a sudden inspiration. I know my level isn’t qualified to enter the academy…”

Previously, no one knew Duge’s real information, but since he had provided so many mecha improvement suggestions, everyone’s guess was that he was at least a professor-level figure, aged over forty.

Now, he himself had said he was only seventeen and still a student…

Boom!

The crowd immediately exploded into chaos.

“How is that possible?”

“Seventeen years old, did he start learning while still in his mother’s womb?”

“It’s fake, right?”

“Wow, seventeen years old, a student, the scope of the search for him has narrowed down, such a genius can’t have gone unnoticed!”

…

Meanwhile, orders were rapidly issued.

The Group Army and the heads of various schools were the first to search for traces of Kill One Every Ten Steps within their own institutions.

…

Zhong Shiping raised his hand, signaling for silence around him; he looked at Duge with a frown: “Are you telling the truth?”

“Absolutely.” Duge said, “I didn’t want to reveal my identity before because I didn’t want others to disturb my normal academic life.”

“Kid, if you truly are seventeen, it’s all the more reason you must come to the academy.” Zhong Shiping could barely hide his excitement, his voice trembling, “You have exceptional talent, and the professors at the academy can only hold you back. The academy has all of Green Star’s top scientists, and with their personal guidance, you can reach the pinnacle of science.”

“Director Zhong, you might not have heard what I’ve said.” Duge paused for a moment, and then said, “My dream is actually to be an ace mecha pilot, what I pursue is the romance of the stars and the sea, the dash and elan on the battlefield…”

“You…” Zhong Shiping furrowed his brow.

“Director Zhong, please hear me out.” Duge looked at Zhong Shiping, smiled, and continued, “You might think I’m naive and irresponsible toward myself. But what young man doesn’t want to fight for his dream at least once?

Previously, someone called ‘Questioning the Truth’ said I was afraid of death, that’s why I didn’t continue to challenge the ace mecha pilot rankings. But only I know what I am doing, and I have always intended to visit the front lines, that goal has never changed.

Not afraid to make you laugh, the reason why I put some effort into mecha is to personally design a mecha exclusively for a girl I like. That girl is an excellent mecha pilot.

I want her to wear the mecha I crafted for her and stand with her on the battlefield defeating enemies. That’s what motivates me to move forward; before I realize this dream, I don’t want to be distracted by too many other things…”

“Who is that girl?” Zhong Shiping asked.

“…” Duge shook his head, “I can’t tell. I don’t want to disturb her life.”

“Stubborn.” Zhong Shiping looked at Duge with a glance that mixed pity with anger, “Do you know what you’re saying? You’re not being romantic; you’re squandering your talent, that’s downright irresponsible to Green Star…”

“Director Zhong, how about this!” Duge looked at Zhong Shiping, “I’ll set aside some time for studies at the National Academy, and let me arrange the rest of my time, okay? However, all of this is contingent on the academy not disclosing my information. I don’t want my personal life disturbed by all sorts of people; it would affect my progress in training and research.”

“Alright.”

At this point in the conversation, what choice did Zhong Shiping have but to agree? Duge’s displayed talent was too striking, and he wouldn’t let this person slip away no matter what.

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