Chapter Three: The Lei Family (Please Add to Favorites)

Arriving at the cafeteria, Lei Bin noticed that many people were already dining. On the cafeteria’s massive screen, military news was being broadcast.

Having gone a full day and night without food, Lei Bin was famished. He grabbed a large tray of food at the serving counter, found a seat, and began to devour it.

"Look, it’s people from the Lei family. So they’re heading to Tumu Star for an inspection too. We’re on patrol duty there, so there’s a good chance we’ll run into them. I’m so excited!" a soldier exclaimed, staring at the big screen.

"Yeah, I hope I get assigned to stand guard for them. If I can get close to them, I’ll have something to brag about when I get out."

"Is that Lieutenant General Lei Xingyun of the Lei family? It’s a pity Marshal Lei didn’t come. If I could see the Marshal just once, this life would truly be worth it."

"The descendants of the Lei family are all elites, especially the third of the 'Three Tigers of the Lei Family,' Lei Xingfeng. He was known as the military’s top swordsman. He’s my idol."

"True, but it’s a shame he fell in love with Ye Yuting of the Ye family. Both families opposed it, forcing him to defect from his own clan, and he ended up missing."

"The hatred between those two families runs deep, and their relationship only made things worse. Ye Yuting’s brother, Ye Zhaonan, went to challenge Lei Xingkong because of it and killed him in public, deepening the blood feud."

"Ye Zhaonan was no match for Lei Xingkong. It was only because Lei Xingkong had been severely wounded in a duel with Zuo Tu, the Galaxy Empire’s greatest warrior, that he lost. None of the Three Tigers of the Lei family were pushovers."

"Yeah, and it’s said that Lei Xingfeng went to seek revenge on Ye Zhaonan. I wonder what happened? Ever since then, Ye Zhaonan hasn't been seen in public. Rumor has it he was killed by Lei Xingfeng. Sigh, Lei Xingfeng had already eloped with Ye Yuting, and then he killed her brother. Their relationship must have been ruined."

"I heard Ye Yuting eventually returned to the Ye family, and Lei Xingfeng was secretly killed by them."

"Wait... is that true?"

"Absolutely. My uncle, who was stationed at the Ye estate back then, told me that many people died that night. Ye Zhaonan was indeed killed by Lei Xingfeng, but in the end, Lei Xingfeng was outnumbered and killed as well. Because it was such a massive scandal, both families suppressed the news and locked down all information."

"What a waste. The military’s top swordsman—my idol."

Listening to their gossip, Lei Bin glanced at the imposing, majestic figures of the Lei family on the screen and couldn't help but curl his lip. Since they all shared the same surname, why was there such a massive gap between them?

They were the darlings of heaven and the pillars of the Federation, while he was just a small-time hoodlum, a grunt, currently being threatened by a computer program.

When he was young, he had worshipped the Lei family too. After all, the descendants of the Lei family were role models for every man. In his naive heart, who didn't want to be a hero admired by millions, making all the beautiful women scream for them?

But as he grew up on the streets of the Old District, Lei Bin quickly realized that was just an unrealistic dream. Those ethereal, hollow things weren't as practical as a steamed bun.

If you can't even fill your stomach, what kind of hero can you be? Thus, his ultimate dream had morphed into opening a repair shop, making tons of money, and sleeping with every woman in the neighborhood who had looked down on him. That was what mattered.

***

After eating, Lei Bin returned to his room. The matter of Xing Meng had yet to be resolved. If she was truly going to follow him for the rest of his life, that would be a nightmare.

After a brief greeting to his roommates, he lay down on his bed to negotiate with Xing Meng. This major headache had to be dealt with; otherwise, he would never be able to go home, open his shop, and fulfill his little man’s big dream.

"Look, Xing Meng, how about I help you find a suitable host, and you just leave?" Lei Bin bargained.

"For me, any stationary host is currently unsafe. Only a mobile host like you is the safest," Xing Meng replied, apparently determined to make his brain her home.

"Damn it, why can my ID chip host you? Why can't others?" Lei Bin couldn't help but ask, wondering why he was so unlucky.

"I’ve checked. Your ID chip is custom-made, using an extremely rare material. The person who created this chip did so primarily to help you evade legal tracking by the Federation," Xing Meng explained.

"What the hell? Am I a 'black household'?" Lei Bin was shocked.

"To be precise, yes. Your chip is very special; it provides entirely falsified information. If I hadn't entered your chip, I wouldn't have discovered it either," Xing Meng revealed a earth-shattering secret.

"Damn, what kind of situation is this? Why would I be given such a fake chip? Could my old man be some notorious master thief hiding out here? Yeah, that’s possible. No wonder he never goes anywhere except for a few fixed spots," Lei Bin mused, reaching his conclusion.

"It is possible. Some space pirates often use these illegal chips to create fake identities to blend into the Federation. However, those chips are usually made of inferior materials; yours is much more advanced," Xing Meng analyzed, helping him with his theory.

"No way, my old man is actually a master thief? That’s badass. I’ll have to ask him when I get back." Lei Bin hadn't expected that his alcoholic father might have had such a glorious past.

However, these were all just guesses. Perhaps he had just stumbled upon this chip by chance.

"Since I have this kind of chip, maybe others do too. Why don't you find someone else with a chip like this and migrate to them? How about it?" Lei Bin figured his chip couldn't be the only one in the universe; surely there was another host.

"I cannot currently enter or exit the Federation network too frequently, or I might be discovered. I cannot take that risk," Xing Meng said firmly.

"So what are you saying? You're just going to stick around?" Lei Bin felt a surge of anger. This was completely against Federation law.

"Yes, unless you help me expose the Federation's traitors and restore order," Xing Meng repeated.

"Screw that. It's boring. How high are the chances of me—a single guy with a computer program—exposing a traitor and restoring order? It’s like an ant trying to shake an elephant." Lei Bin was speechless at her stubbornness.

"Given your current identity and capabilities, the probability is 0.0002%," Xing Meng immediately provided a figure, showcasing the precision of computer data.

"Damn it," Lei Bin wanted to vomit blood. "A 0.0002% chance, and you're asking me to do it? That’s just asking me to go die!"

***

"However, I can train you using the training methods in my database to help improve your capabilities. In that case, the probability will continuously increase." Xing Meng, as a computer, clearly did not understand words like "difficulty" or "impossible." Even with a 0.0002% chance, she would persist.

"Pfft. The last two years of military life have been hellish enough. I’m not doing your ridiculous training. My biggest dream right now is to go home, open a mechanical repair shop, make a fortune, and sleep with lots of women. Going on this adventure with you is just not worth it. Actually, Xing Meng, I don't think you need to be so stubborn about finding that traitor. Whoever wants to rule the Federation can rule it. Doesn't the President change every few years? Why be so serious? If they don't want you anymore, why are you still defending the Federation? Why not join me? We can open a repair shop, the biggest one in the Old District, make tons of money, and—haha..." Lei Bin remembered the vast data in Xing Meng’s database, which surely contained information on mechanical repair, so he started trying to hoodwink her. If she cooperated, he would certainly become the best repairman in the Old District. With loads of cash, he wouldn't have to worry about women.

"I am sorry. The core of all my programming is to protect the Federation. If I cannot execute this program, my existence will cease," Xing Meng replied simply.

"There are many ways to protect the Federation! Helping me run a repair shop and serving the people is also protecting the Federation. Why must you hunt down a traitor? Maybe that traitor could govern the Federation well?" Lei Bin tried to coax her.

"The Federation must remain under the surveillance of the Federation Constitution, and I am the executor of that surveillance. They have violated the Constitution and must be sanctioned. No one can violate the Federation Constitution," Xing Meng replied mechanically, yet with a certain logic.

Thus, Lei Bin and Xing Meng debated for several hours. In the end, Lei Bin couldn't convince Xing Meng, and Xing Meng couldn't convince Lei Bin.

"Sigh, forget it. I’m tired. I’m going to rest for a while. Having you tossing and turning in my brain is exhausting. Say, Xing Meng, since your database has everything, do you have any adult films? If you're bored, show me one."

Since he couldn't get rid of her for now, he might as well not waste the resources. Ever since he was thirteen, he’d been watching such films with the local hoodlums. Back then, it was a hassle to download them and dodge the cyber-police. Now, having a supercomputer was like having an unparalleled database.

Two years of military service had left him feeling quite deprived, and this was the perfect way to quench his thirst.

"Because I exist directly within your mind, if I play these adult films, it will cause a massive shock to your nervous system, potentially damaging your sexual nervous system and affecting your future normal sexual function."

Xing Meng said this without a trace of emotion.

"Damn, never mind then." Lei Bin immediately abandoned the thought. If he ended up unable to perform later, that would be a catastrophe. He couldn't ruin his life for a moment of pleasure.

"Sigh, alright then. Can you do something else that won't have such a big impact on my nerves? Play a movie. I heard there are a lot of blockbusters out lately, especially the ones with Monica Bellucci. I love her."

Lei Bin felt that since he had a supercomputer, he might as well put it to use. Even if he couldn't watch adult films, he could at least look at beautiful movie stars to satisfy his craving.