Christian observed the data and the indicators of Zero's performance, while Eva and his sister continued chatting with him.
After some time passed, Christian finally felt that it was enough… that their curiosity had been satisfied for now. So, he moved toward Zero.
He first removed the cable from the back of Zero's neck, then looked at him and said sternly, "Don't call me Master. Instead, Boss is good."
"And let's go to another place, to test your strength and body."
"Understood," Zero replied.
And like that, they moved to another room, and the next round of tests began.
Holding a tablet in his hand, Christian alternated his gaze between it and Zero, who stood in front of him.
He checked everything carefully for a long while, going through each reading with focus, before finally concluding that everything inside Zero's body was functioning properly.
In terms of toughness, Zero's body could endure about three times more than an average human's. When it came to physical strength, he could exert force around doubt of that.
His body also had hidden weapons installed, and he was capable of using all kinds of conventional weaponry.
But when it came to actual combat, this alone wasn't enough.
Christian estimated that, at most, Zero could take on someone who was just at the threshold of entering the first stage. And even that would require the right conditions to succeed.
Because people who trained in essence didn't just have physical strength beyond ordinary humans… they also had essence itself.
Their battle instincts, the intuitive way they handled fights, their reaction speed, it was something different entirely.
And while the processor Zero had was top-notch… it still couldn't compare to those who had trained with essence. Their reaction speed was practically superhuman.
But even with all those shortcomings in mind, Christian was still satisfied with Zero's performance.
"That's enough for this test. Come here," Christian said.
"Yes, Boss," Zero responded.
Christian watched him as he stepped closer, then said, "You'll go out now, on your own. You have one month to get used to your body, and get used to interacting with humans."
"You'll be disconnected from the main database here, and you'll need to figure everything out by yourself."
"You have a one-month period, where you can do what you want. Prepare how you want."
"But after that… the real work will begin."
"Do you have any complaints?"
Zero shook his head and replied, "No, Boss."
"Chris, isn't it better to let him stay here for a while before sending him away?" Annabelle asked from the side. She had remained nearby the entire time, watching the many tests unfold along with Eva.
But Christian, firm in his decision, didn't change his mind. He replied, "If there was really a need to test him further here, I would naturally do that."
"But there's no need."
"For the current Zero, what he needs most is to interact with as many people as possible."
"He needs to go through many experiences on his own, and learn from them… adapt through them. So letting him stay here, where he can only interact with just us, is not appropriate."
Hearing his firm reply, Annabelle didn't say anything more, and Christian returned his gaze back to Zero.
Was it because of his sister?
He didn't know. But at that moment, he suddenly felt his heart lean slightly, and so he added, "Even though you'll be disconnected from the main database here, you can still contact us if you need anything."
"Thank you, boss. But, I will still avoid unnecessary inconveniencing you," Zero replied, standing straight with his hands behind his back.
Christian smiled slightly at that formal tone, before continuing, "Throughout this month, while you're learning, you can recruit people if you feel the need to."
"Because I don't expect you to do everything alone. What I want, later on, is for you to accomplish the mission I assign you."
"What I want is results."
Christian paused slightly at this point, then continued his speech.
"Your mission later will involve creating a company. A business. In other words… make money."
"But the main purpose isn't the money itself. It's the connections you'll build through that money."
"I've already sent you the necessary information about the current situation around the world."
"So, your first goal will be to build connections with influential people. Later, you'll need to build relationships with people from the other side, those involved in essence."
"Any new piece of information regarding essence, like a new technique, for example, is extremely valuable. You'll be tasked with acquiring all of it."
"Maybe you'll even be assigned to assassinate certain targets, and retrieve what they possess for us."
Assassination, something Christian hadn't initially planned for Zero to do. But at this point, after understanding how chaotic the world had become, he had changed his mind.
For those people who were too harmful to society, Christian didn't mind lending a helping hand to the government… while keeping whatever those people possessed as a handling fee.
Shaking his head, Christian finished his speech with, "You will be my hands out in the world, and anything I need secured… I'll assign it to you."
"Understood. I will aim to produce results as quickly as possible," Zero replied.
Christian took a moment to think, trying to recall if he had forgotten anything. Then he added, "Also, avoid engaging in close-range combat if possible. If you were injured, it could become obvious that you aren't human."
"And that's something I want to avoid at all costs. The secrecy of your identity as a robot is the most important thing."
"So, if you ever find yourself in an extremely dangerous situation, with no other choice… destroy your body."
"Your core memory and operational data are continuously synced with the smart ship's internal systems, which are in turn linked to secure external servers. So even if your body is destroyed, nothing will be lost. I'll simply construct a new body for you."
Everything Christian said just now had already been uploaded as core directives to Zero. They were the very protocols and regulations that governed his actions. Above all, the highest command priority was always Christian's voice.
These codes were absolute for Zero. But Christian still spoke them aloud, to emphasize the importance of them. Maybe he was nagging a bit… but Zero accepted the words calmly, without the slightest sign of annoyance.
Seeing that he had finished, Christian turned to Eva and Annabelle and asked, "Do you have anything you'd like to ask or say to him? He'll be heading out immediately."
Eva shook her head. "For now, there's nothing."
But Annabelle looked at Zero with gentle eyes and said softly, "Take care of yourself."
To her, Zero was the first creation of her brother… and despite his large, intimidating form, he still felt like a child to her.