Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'

The Outer World began to rain, a cold, freezing rain.

There was once a joke, where a group of scholars seriously discussed why raindrops falling from the sky didn't kill anyone.

A group of people cited references and made various calculations about wind resistance, mass, and hardness, trying to explain this point.

Then a farmer walked over and said to them abruptly, "Have you never been caught in the rain?"

Bang!

The red and black night sky was torn apart by lightning, the brief silver lightning illuminated the fragments of the Frost Plated national flag on the ground.

The freezing rain quickly fell and pattered, blossoming into ice flowers.

Du Zexin waited in the rock cave, shadows engulfing his ruined body, the micro-reactor adjusted to its lowest power, just enough to maintain the functions of his body.

The sound of rain was like an old melody, rising and falling steadily on the oscilloscope. It wasn't harmonious, but it evoked memories of the past.

......

40 years ago, in the Frost Plated Republic, during the Madeleine Era.

Li Aozi drove the train, leaving the Frost Plated territory gracefully. To find out his destination, the Third Rule Agency brought Du Zexin, who had just recovered from a brain hemorrhage, out from the hospital ward.

The deputy of the Third Rule agents was named Felix Apostol, with his slicked-back hair and pale skin, clearly of Outer World descent. With such an origin, advancing to such a position, it was almost inspirational.

He seemed similar to that guy Li Aozi. But the feeling he gave Du Zexin was entirely different.

Li Aozi was free and easy, carefree, while Felix was an obsequious fellow, always saying 'according to regulations'.

"According to regulations, Level 3 agent Du Zexin, you should have reported back immediately after completing the Mingji Humanity materials support, and then returned to report."

Felix, with his deadpan expression, didn't know how much hair oil he used for his meticulously combed back hair.

Du Zexin always suspected that even a fly landing on his head would sprain its foot.

"Are you listening to me, Agent Du Zexin?"

Felix spoke sternly, reprimanding him.

"Yes, sir."

Du Zexin nodded.

"Then please explain why you didn't return to report as instructed? According to the records, your team switched from reporting every 12 minutes to every 15 minutes after entering Mingji Humanity, and there were several reports synthesized by AI. If you love using AI so much, why not let AI take your position, and you obediently go back to the factory and screw nuts."

Felix clicked his tongue, saying:

"Moreover, as an elite of the Third Rule, you actually ended up as a terrorist hostage. The entire agent institution is laughing at us—Du Zexin, don't you actually think, just because you have a relative in the capital, you can act recklessly?"

"I didn't mean that, sir."

Du Zexin kept his hands behind his back, his body wrapped in bandages, maintaining a docile attitude, making it hard for Felix to criticize him further.

No matter what Felix asked, Du Zexin answered honestly and mechanically, much like a robot.

"Consider yourself lucky, unlucky fellow." Felix said displeased: "Watch out, you will slip up sooner or later—this position is in high demand."

"Thank you for your guidance."

Du Zexin ignored the threat of internal competition and said calmly.

After a barrage of criticism and the deduction of two months' bonuses and salaries, Du Zexin was finally freed and walked out of the office.

As he strolled through the office area of the Third Rule headquarters, he keenly sensed the gazes cast upon him by his colleagues.

"That's the guy, right?"

"Made a fool of himself, being held hostage by a terrorist as an agent."

"Though it's true, that terrorist was terrifying, breaking powered armor bare-handed, that's beyond ordinary human capability, isn't it?"

"I saw that terrorist, and I must say, he was quite a handsome man. If he fell into the hands of the Fourth Rule, that would be something to behold..."

"Are you crazy! That guy named Li Aozi might be a Red Arrow spy, putting aside his identity, that bastard killed over a hundred unarmed women!"

Du Zexin had long grown accustomed to these occurrences.

Is it luck, since his first day at work, all sorts of unfortunate things have happened to him, partial disbandment, the leader he appreciated being transferred, a colleague's wife cheating on him and venting the frustration on him...

This time, it's just that he ended up as an 'agent kidnapped by terrorists', compared to what he's been through, it seems like nothing.

As an external special duty personnel, Du Zexin didn't need a desk. He filled out a few forms, then packed up his things, took the allowances issued by the personnel department, and returned home in civilian clothes.

Humans are strange creatures.

Wearing a brown leather jacket and sweatpants, after taking off his uniform, Du Zexin appeared as an ordinary youth with a shoulder bag in the eyes of outsiders, and with a baseball cap, he'd blend into the crowd, unnoticeable.

On one hand, rejecting individuals who don't fit the mainstream, while actively seeking those with strong individuality.

In the first half of life, people vie to integrate into collectives, seeking recognition, only to spend their lifelong energy on independent endeavors and pursuits in later life.

It's hard to figure out what is more important for humans.

A collective? An individual?

Du Zexin pondered this question as he walked home.

In the eyes of others, he was already a person with moderate achievements.

Born humble, orphaned, relying on correspondence education and work-study programs, taking exams all the way to become a national civil servant.

Though he's engaged in the shady work of secret agents, it's still within the system, fed by the public, which in this world is much more stable and secure than other industries.

But to people, is it more important to integrate into the collective, or are individual feelings more important?

He traverses the residential courtyard of the old industrial park, which is merely where he sleeps, not truly a home.

The real 'home' is in the rear.

Creaaak——

The smart gatekeeper recognizes his face, and the abandoned factory's gate slowly opens, revealing a new world.

"I'm back," Du Zexin said.

Scrap metal, debris, and minerals were neatly arranged, track robots shuttled back and forth, and production lines, aided by drones, ran in an orderly manner, producing ammunition, armor, and components exclusive to Du Zexin.

Frost Plated is not a strong nation in the [Mechanic] Pathway; in this aspect, the Red Arrow Empire has significant advantages.

Even as Du Zexin poured his earnings into these production lines, it barely caught up with the Red Arrow mechanics.

Originally, with his abilities, perhaps immigrating to Red Arrow would have been a great choice.

But, Du Zexin never considered that.

Even after contact with Li Aozi, the other's carefree demeanor didn't stir his heart.

He deeply loved this land, rather than the Madeleine government controlling it.

Indeed, while this country presently has these various faults, Du Zexin instead believes that it's precisely because Frost Plated isn't good enough, it requires more useful people to stay and build it.

On one hand, he works diligently, creating a personal factory with his savings, using personal effort to bridge the gap with foreign mechanics.

But on the other hand, Du Zexin is also aware that there is certainly a problem with the current situation.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have helped Li Aozi, even risking his life alongside a gentleman.

Perhaps Li Aozi is truly from Red Arrow, but letting Mingji Humanity produce such anti-human creations… this common enemy is enough for him to discard the notion of nationality and fight.

He walked to the workbench, took off his uniform, donned an apron, protective suit, and gas mask, and began to operate.

Frost Plated places no restrictions on personal armament; theoretically, owning mechas privately at home is doable, except your home isn't airtight, you have the right to stash heavy weapons and armor, but the Third/Fourth Rule has the right to conduct home investigations while you sleep.

In this age, to resist the Frost Plated government, relying solely on a few guns or even mechas isn't sufficient; at the very least, you'd need an air fleet.

——Incidentally, Frost Plated possesses the Four Nations' most powerful air force combat strength.

Du Zexin does not intend to rebel against the government, but in any era, individuals must learn to live for their united value.

Someone like him: male, single, childless, young, strong, unsocial, still part of the military-political espionage, fed by the agency, is hard for the higher-ups to sway.

Having no family means no weakness, acting without worry of consequences, lacking social connections implies no interest in political and social groups, so his political inclination is entirely unknowable.

Combined with his mix of military, police, and espionage knowledge, he's particularly familiar with law and administrative organs, skillful at exploiting loopholes far beyond the ordinary person, ultimately there is no way to catch him.

Should he have any thoughts in mind, the destructive power he could muster would far surpass most people.

Du Zexin operates the mechanical manufacture while pondering his future.

Actually, today Felix summoned him, already expressing doubts about his loyalty.

Li Aozi isn't a Beta Rank (2), so him, a legitimate Beta mechanic, being used as a hostage by Li Aozi, even if his report is foolproof, any normal person would find it absurd.

Thus, his own career path had been effectively severed.

Then, what should he continue doing?

Du Zexin pondered.

Li Aozi disclosed to him a lot of information, including David Lyn's whereabouts.

But truly deciding to support David Lyn basically equates to supporting a coup.

If it fails, everything he has now will vanish into smoke and dust…

——But even if it succeeds?

The thought suddenly popped into Du Zexin's mind:

Even if it succeeds, it merely extends Frost Plated's rule by a few decades.

As long as Lord Entropy remains, it's bound to end eventually.

Everything is already predestined, people are just deceived and kept in the dark by the government, hating each other over trivial benefits.

Doomsday is approaching, destruction is fate.

Thinking of this, Du Zexin instead found it somewhat amusing.

"So, are you disappointed in human society?"

"A little bit, yes."

Du Zexin replied instinctively.

Having said that, he immediately seized the Magnum pistol on the table, swiftly turned to aim it at his back, and said coldly:

"Come out."

A soft laugh came from the shadows.

"Why so serious? (In English: Why so serious)"