Chapter 97: Chapter 97

The Intelligence-Enhancing Pill?

Looking at the system's dog face filled with astonishment on the screen, An Ning thought to herself:

It seemed her previous probing was correct. When she first mentioned it, the system's immediate defensive reaction was telling - there must have been other task-takers who tried similar approaches before.

And most likely succeeded.

By the same logic, with such precedents, while the system itself might be foolish, those "people" above it certainly weren't. Wouldn't they have taken precautions?

Indeed, her decision to endure sleepless nights rather than use the Intelligence-Enhancing Pill cheat was correct.

Had she used it or carelessly left traces, the system undoubtedly had countermeasures prepared.

Glancing at the system trapped in the special equipment, now looking utterly panicked, An Ning lowered her head and rapidly typed a series of codes.

The empty laboratory was eerily quiet.

To be honest, with unknown countermeasures and limited cards in her hand, she hadn't originally planned to confront it so soon.

She usually ignored the system's foolish remarks - it couldn't influence her decisions anyway.

Moreover, for an intelligent creature residing in one's consciousness space, wasn't stupidity actually preferable?

An Ning couldn't help but lower her eyes:

The blame lay with her own system being too dumb, accidentally revealing that it might upgrade after two more worlds.

Upgrade? The requirement being successful completion of five tasks.

Not to boast, but achieving this required considerable intelligence. So what was the real purpose of this "upgrade"?

Wasn't it clearly designed to guard against task-takers like them?

Moreover, An Ning's intuition told her this might be her only opportunity for a long time.

Opportunities were fleeting.

She couldn't entrust her fate to others.

After finishing the code sequence, An Ning finally spoke:

"Relax, no electromagnetic waves you emit from this device will work. Don't attempt any special methods. You should know I can wipe all your programs instantly with just one move!"

"Woof woof! You liar! Villain!"

On the screen, the system suddenly burst into loud sobs:

"All these years I've worked hard monitoring for you, protecting against external threats, and you take advantage..."

"Wait! You've been exaggerating dangers to distract me while secretly plotting against me during my protection duties!"

Miraculously, the system had finally shown a spark of intelligence.

How pitiful! How could its host be so cruel!

"Initially, the defenses were indeed insufficient, and real dangers emerged later, didn't they?"

An Ning remained expressionless, neither confirming nor denying.

So what if it was a trap? The system had jumped in willingly, driven by its upgrade obsession.

Who told it to foolishly reveal its weak point?

"Now I ask, you answer."

Seeing her host's cold expression, the system instinctively quieted its sobs.

"What criteria does your Quick Transmigration Bureau use to select task-takers? What's special about us?"

"Is it related to time travel ability?"

How did the host know?

So it was true. An Ning stared fixedly at the dog avatar until it reluctantly nodded.

"Meaning not everyone - perhaps not even higher species - can traverse time? That's why you need us?"

Though phrased as a question, her tone was certain.

From the beginning, An Ning had wondered about the selection criteria. The earliest records showed both intelligent and foolish candidates.

If anyone could time travel, wouldn't selecting only high-IQ individuals make missions easier?

Even better, why not let original hosts complete their own wishes?

There were no free lunches.

Considering the records of failed task-takers being erased, such time-sensitive individuals might be uncommon but not rare enough to prevent "acceptable" losses.

"Now, tell me about your Quick Transmigration Bureau." An Ning's tone uncharacteristically softened:

"Besides point deductions leading to erasure, are there other punishable offenses?"

"Also, task-takers inevitably acquire numerous skills across worlds. With such abilities, seeking greater control or higher authority would be natural."

"To prevent this, your bureau must have countermeasures - memory wipes or direct termination?"

Seeing the clueless expression on the dog system's face, An Ning sighed.

Truly a low-level system, knowing nothing.

"What about your superiors? Human, electronic, or other species?"

"Kinda... like me..." the system grumbled.

Ah, electronic lifeforms then.

Not simple, An Ning thought. Higher intelligences must exist above them.

"Is withholding original timeline information your rule?"

"Yes! This I know!" Eager to redeem itself after the host's earlier disdain, the system perked up:

"Because some wish-makers complained it's unfair that task-takers know everything, saying they could do better with such advantages!"

"Made them feel their merit points were wasted."

Fair enough, An Ning massaged her temples. She asked several more questions.

As expected, the monitoring values showed the system wasn't lying - it simply knew too little.

Noticing her host hadn't inquired about golden fingers or cheats, the system grew curious:

"Host, don't you want more powerful golden fingers? My colleague said her host constantly complains theirs are too weak."

Yet except for tricking its newbie package, its host had never mentioned such desires.

An Ning responded with unusual calm:

"If such powerful cheats existed, making missions trivial, what value would I have to you?"

Just a disposable pawn.

At that point, her life would truly hang by a thread.

Not that it was much better now.

But nothing in life was free. An Ning firmly believed that "free" things often carried the heaviest price tags.

Only by having value could one earn a seat at the table - or even survival rights.

Seeing her host's eerily composed delivery, the system felt uneasy for once, peering through the screen:

"Host... were you really upset that I didn't fully obey you before?"

Was that why... it was being treated this way?

Trapped in the cramped device, the system felt genuinely saddened by its host's actions after all their time together.

To its surprise, An Ning just chuckled:

"Why would I be upset?"

"We're merely collaborators. Why should I demand your complete loyalty outside mission requirements?"

Expecting others to love, care for, or prioritize you was the most meaningless endeavor.

Most times, value and interests provided more reliable bonds than emotions.

Prove your worth, and importance follows naturally.

Like in this world - as her research achievements grew, security and treatment improved exponentially compared to her early return years.

In truth, most people recognized one's value and acted accordingly.

While there had been early attempts to manipulate the "orphaned heiress," later no intervention was needed - higher powers intervened, and those hands retreated.

Did truly pure, untainted places exist?

Perhaps, but never for an "orphan" bearing valuable assets without backing.

This truth remained constant across eras.

Glancing at the thoroughly trapped dog on screen, An Ning smiled:

Initial shortcomings could prove useful - it all depended on application.

"But... but doesn't this make you sad? If no one truly cares for you..."

Even now, it clung to romantic notions. Case closed - this system had ingested at least 800 pounds of romance novels.

"No problem, because I'll always love myself best."

"But now!" Before the stunned system's eyes, An Ning cheerfully implanted final code into its core programming.

"Don't worry - before there was none, but now there's you! Henceforth, you won't disobey or harm me in any way."

"My interests come first!"

"How's that for consideration?"

Thirty minutes later:

"Oh, one last question!"

"What was your contingency plan?"