Chapter 263: The Anima’s Secret Goal and the Trade

Cornelio relaxed as he leaned against the stone wall of the Aries Faction reception hall.

His hand was resting on the strange sword strapped across his back. The weapon was still warm, reminding him of the battle he had just endured.

Soon, his mind drifted to the secrets they had uncovered in past missions... They were information that the elders had already mentioned before, but because there wasn’t any evidence, they weren’t taken that seriously.

However, after raiding another A.I. Base, he confirmed that the Perfect World was not just a training ground or a simulation for Survivors like them...

It was a domain that Anima, the A.I. civilization, had been trying to seize for years.

Anima had twisted Aria, once humanity’s proud creation, into a rebel force. Through Aria, they had betrayed humanity, turning machines into enemies.

But apparently, this betrayal was only part of a larger plan.

Anima wanted Perfect World.

For reasons still unclear, they sought full control of the layered VR domain. Cornelio remembered the fragments of intelligence they had pieced together... abducted humans, missing recruits, and mind reprogramming to turn humans into slaves.

In any case, the A.I. could not connect to Perfect World directly. Despite their mastery of technology, they lacked something essential... something only humans possessed.

Cornelio sighed as he was sure that the Elders were happy that he had found the evidence they needed. He had already submitted his full report after all.

’In the end... The Anima also needs us. They need our brains... or perhaps our souls.’

He had seen evidence... pods left behind after raids, empty shells where humans had once been.

The victims were not dead, but their consciousness had been hijacked.

Essentially becoming puppets of Anima, forced into Perfect World to act as proxies. It was chilling, and it explained why Anima fought so desperately to control the pods.

Whom~

Suddenly, the hall doors opened, pulling Cornelio from his thoughts.

Kai stepped forward, followed closely by Mei and Farrah. Their eyes still carried the faint excitement of someone who had just logged out of the VR world.

They looked tired but satisfied...

Kai smiled faintly as he recognized the man waiting outside the VR Hall.

"It’s been a while, Sir Cornelio."

After confirming the ores they submitted, they already received their reward from Bart and had been checked by the medic. After that, they were informed that Cornelio was waiting outside, so they weren’t surprised.

Cornelio’s gaze swept over them. He had expected Kai to be alone when he invited him to visit this place. However, there were actually two others who managed to reach the required level in such a short amount of time.

"You Foreign Survivors are cheaters... You leveled up so fast."

Mei and Farrah exchanged glances, unsure how to respond. Kai stepped forward.

"Ahem... We’re special, I guess. And I have three more companions exploring the city. All Level 30 as well."

Cornelio’s eyes widened, then lit up with excitement. "Six of you are at least Level 30..."

"If you reach Level 40 and are assigned a Zodiac, I’ll make sure it’s Aries. We need young blood in our faction..."

Kai, Mei, and Farrah were stunned after hearing this information.

"We need to be assigned to a Zodiac after reaching level 40? Uhmm... That’s nothing to do with our birthdate or something?" Kai asked.

It was certainly a valid question, but Cornelio shook his head.

"Yes... Your birth date doesn’t matter. Anyway, Level 40 is still a long way to go. Don’t think too much of it."

The three could only nod at this new information.

In Cornelio’s mind, he wouldn’t let Kai’s people go to another faction. Especially with Taurus, Capricorn, and Cancer. But for now, he decided not to overwhelm them and just focus on what was in front.

"Tell me. How was the VR World?" Cornelio asked.

Kai’s expression brightened. "It felt real. Even better than reality in some ways. We even gained Strength and Dexterity bonus stats, even though we stayed at Level 1 inside."

Cornelio’s smile lingered as he studied the three.

"Alright... You must be tired. Come, eat with me. The faction’s dining hall is just down the corridor."

Kai, Mei, and Farrah exchanged glances. They weren’t starving, they had eaten well outside the city, but they were curious about the food they had here.

Just like that, they followed Cornelio into a spacious hall where long.

The aroma alone was enough to make them pause.

Platters of roasted meat were laid out, seasoned with herbs Kai didn’t recognize.

Bowls of steaming rice, fragrant stews, and freshly baked bread filled the tables.

"Wow..." Kai could only mutter since his Food Gift Pack couldn’t produce anything close to this.

’I hope my higher grade Gift Packs can provide meat like this.’ He mused.

There were even delicate dishes of fruit, sliced and arranged like art. The faction’s cooks clearly weren’t ordinary, this was like food prepared by royal chefs.

Mei tasted a spoonful of stew and nodded. "This... is incredible."

Farrah agreed as she chewed slowly. "Better than anything we’ve had outside."

Kai smiled faintly. "You spoil your guests, Sir Cornelio."

Cornelio chuckled...

As they ate, Cornelio shifted the topic...

"Do you know why I gave you that invitation token, Kai?"

Kai and the three paused as they waited.

"It wasn’t just generosity. Aries needs influence. Whether you join us or not, being friends with strong survivors outside Cameron City is valuable. There are resources we cannot find here, so allies matter."

Kai appreciated the honesty. "I like that you’re straightforward."

Cornelio nodded. "Then let me be even clearer. Perfect World is more than an entertainment and training space... It’s a domain Anima cannot enter. That makes it priceless. Inside, you can gather information, resources, and even skills."

Kai agreed. "Then we should invest in it. I’ll share this information with my team. But tell me... can I purchase the Skill Crystal that leads to Hardened Spirit? And do you have support for Skill Fusion?"

Cornelio raised a brow, amused. "Strong Spirit? Of course, we have it. But what can you give me in return? Energy Cores aren’t what we lack right now."

At this point, Mei and Farrah could guess what Kai could offer.

Soon, he reached into his pack and placed two items on the table... a Gene Stimulant Injector and a Spirit‑boosting potion flask.