I have a simple method

"Understood," Wu Chen acknowledged.

The female doctor's holographic message carried a massive amount of information. Beyond the superficial narrative background, Wu Chen also deciphered hidden player intelligence. Since the doctor confirmed that Wu Chen was the final unaugmented baseline human who had never undergone cybernetic modification, all players who had entered this narrative fragment before him and intervened in the main storyline to initiate plot-harvesting must have adopted non-human bloodlines. They might even have appeared in the form of mutated prosthetics. This meant that every single player was in a hostile faction against the Major. Except for Wu Chen. Once again, he found himself predictably standing in opposition to the players, becoming what they would call the "ultimate villain."

The central AI, Aiyi, explained to Wu Chen that the "micromachines" mentioned by the doctor generally referred to micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) at the micrometer scale, integrating micro-mechanisms, micro-sensors, micro-actuators, and micro-controllers. They were not equivalent to nanobots.

"To ensure the continuation of humanity and initiate the 'Initiate Project 2573,' we need to periodically collect germ cells from your body," the female doctor stated her requirement.

It was unexpected yet entirely reasonable. However, Wu Chen considered that "periodic collection" would be difficult to execute: "Doctor, I cannot remain indefinitely in New Port City. I also have crucial matters that I must accomplish."

"I see..." The female doctor pondered briefly and decided to make a slight accommodation: "There is another simple method: as long as a designated collector is assigned to accompany you and travel back and forth periodically, it should not be a problem."

"...Understood." This was clearly the result of the main storyline autonomously mutating after being intervened by the exclusive 0326 branching narrative line carried by Wu Chen. Since he was the instigator, Wu Chen had no reason to refuse: "Who will you designate?"

"I will go," the Major softly offered.

"Very well." Wu Chen had even less reason to refuse.

"Considering the viability cycle of germ cells, a secure and reliable internal storage device is of paramount importance." The female doctor concentrated, thinking rapidly: "Major, come with me."

"Understood." Signaling Wu Chen to wait a moment, the Major followed the female doctor's hologram into the inner laboratory.

Confirming that no one was eavesdropping, the silent central AI whispered to Wu Chen: "Master, at this stage, we cannot take the Major out of the narrative fragment. The 'collector' plot cannot be sustained."

"I know." The reshooting was far from complete, and Wu Chen knew it well: "But this is clearly a vital main storyline node; we cannot refuse it, nor can we remain detached."

"Master is right," the central AI 100% concurred with Wu Chen's judgment: "How shall we proceed?"

"We'll find out soon enough." Wu Chen decided to wait and see.

The time required was far longer than Wu Chen anticipated. Fortunately, the flow of time within the narrative fragment far exceeded that of the City of Refuge. Wu Chen had no need to be impatient; he simply needed to wait with forbearance.

After approximately ten hours, Wu Chen finally welcomed the reappearance of the female doctor's hologram: "The surgery was a success."

"So the 'internal storage device' is a prosthetic?" Wu Chen guessed.

"Indeed," the female doctor smiled. "The Major's full-body prosthetic is the optimal carrier for the internal storage device."

"Understood." Wu Chen was not surprised. As the experimental subject of the preceding Initiate Project 2572, the Major was Hanka Robotics' most successful humanoid weapon. She remained the finest integration of human brain and cybernetic body within this narrative world to date. Prior to the Major, the integration of humans and prosthetics largely fell into the category of "cyborgs." Only the Major was compatible with a full-body prosthetic excluding the brain. Utilizing a bionic structure akin to the secondary brain found in the spine of large dinosaurs like Mamenchisaurus to assist the master brain in controlling the hind limbs and tail, a biochemical sub-brain was created to help the Major's brain drive the prosthetic. There was no need to modify a portion of her own brain into an electronic brain to match prosthetic organs, as cyborgs had to do. The separation of master and sub-brains was precisely why the Major was immune to electronic brain sclerosis.

Of course, the official pretext Hanka Robotics used when reporting Initiate Project 2572 to the government and requesting the development of full-body prosthetics was to completely cure electronic brain sclerosis, rather than to construct humanoid weapon systems.

Although his memories were absent, Wu Chen's professional competence as a high-tier Sanctuary Lord remained faintly intact. In particular, his approach to narrative worlds closely mirrored his previous self.

"I have reviewed the transforming Motoko shell you gifted to the Major. Exceptional technology," the female doctor added.

The female doctor had clearly done more than just "review" it. Out of caution, the Major would certainly have handed the NM4 over to the female doctor for research and analysis to determine whether Wu Chen's parting gift was a gesture of goodwill or a trap laden with malicious intent. The mere fact that this meeting was taking place proved that Wu Chen's intentions were purely benevolent.

"It is one of the few technologies my family can still afford to display," Wu Chen smiled.

"Where do you hail from?"

"Neo-Kyoto," Wu Chen answered with a smile.

"I see." The female doctor quickly deduced that Wu Chen was the heir to some "great family" within the Asian Alliance's "Neo-Kyoto."

Of course, this was actually the self-filling worldview architecture of the Sanctuary's high-dimensional framework for the *Ghost in the Shell A⁻ Grade Narrative World*.

New Port City could be viewed as the Hong Kong of Ghost in the Shell.

Meanwhile, the "family" background was one of the staple elements of Japanese-style science fiction. The female doctor, acting as a narrative character, deeply believed in Wu Chen's identity. Wu Chen's status as a pure baseline human also sufficiently corroborated that he must have been pampered in luxury, living the routine of a pampered young master who never had to lift a finger since childhood. Therefore, he had absolutely no need to be forced into body modification for survival.

From the female doctor's perspective, Wu Chen had no reason to lie. Furthermore, the baseline human's inherent factional attribute of natural hostility toward mutated prosthetics made him a trustworthy ally. Multiple factors combined to drive this meeting, as well as the request put forward by the female doctor.

Delving deeper, whether any other baseline humans remained in the refugee camps across New Port City was irrelevant to the female doctor. Just as females in nature will only reproduce with the strongest males, Wu Chen's "noble lineage" determined that he was the most ideal candidate for "Initiate Project 2573."

The transforming Motoko shell Wu Chen gifted to the Major was also a crucial factor that attracted the female doctor and triggered the subsequent plot.

"Can the transforming shell technology..." The female doctor hesitated, leaving her sentence unfinished. She certainly knew that after the Shattering Day, a technology that was "one of the few the family could still afford to display" held paramount importance for the heir of the next generation. However, forced by circumstances—the mutated prosthetic crisis had reached a level that nearly exterminated the survivors of New Port City—she was compelled to make this tentative inquiry. Hesitating and trailing off was also a rhetorical technique left to avoid provoking Wu Chen and to preserve room for maneuver.

"Can the Doctor meet with me in person?" Wu Chen asked with a smile.