Chapter 20: The Loyal Servant

"Hey, everyone, look over here!" Ma Jun shouted loudly through his homemade megaphone.

"Isn't that the heretic?" The captain turned to the first mate. "Wasn't he locked up?"

"Of course, but something unexpected must have happened—he's escaped!"

Ma Jun waved a torch to draw attention and proclaimed in a booming voice, "Behold, the Lord's punishment has come! Did you think I destroyed the lifeboats because I was mad? No! I am the Lord's messenger, sent to help him punish you all!"

"The Titanic has struck an iceberg. Five watertight compartments are already flooding! Do you know what that means?" Ma Jun continued, his speech growing faster and more fervent, the very image of a raving zealot. "It means the Titanic is doomed to sink! You're all headed straight to hell, ha ha ha ha!"

He ended his tirade with a long, manic laugh.

The captain looked deeply troubled. How could an ordinary man know that the Titanic's limit was four flooded compartments? Was this truly the Lord's retribution?

"Now, I must take my leave. I will remain in this world for a time, carrying out the Lord's will, while you all enjoy your descent into hell!" With these final words, Ma Jun produced three life jackets from thin air, donned them, and before the crew could seize him, he ran to the side and leapt into the sea.

The icy water sent a violent shudder through him. Clumsily paddling in a doggy style, aided by his life jacket, he surfaced as quickly as possible, fished out a door panel, hauled himself onto it, lit a torch, and sat on the makeshift raft.

Because of inertia, the Titanic was still moving forward. Countless people clung to the railings, gazing down at Ma Jun. Uncertain whether the ship would truly sink, none dared to risk jumping into the water.

Gradually, the Titanic receded into the distance, growing ever smaller in Ma Jun's sight. After less than ten minutes, the ship finally came to a halt.

Onboard, there was no means of escape left. The crew told the passengers only that the ship was taking on water and repairs were underway, but as time passed, the passengers were no fools. Watching the ship slowly settle lower and lower, panic began to spread.

People started to recall Ma Jun, the fanatical cultist. Some imitated him, hacking apart anything that might float. Others fell to their knees, praying toward his direction. Many cursed his name.

With no lifeboats, even those who managed to cling to floating debris would face the deadly chill of the Atlantic before rescue could possibly arrive—how many could hope to survive?

"Uncle, our reputation in this dimension has reached its limit. I've used five thousand units of energy to conquer it. We can return at any time!" Xiaohua announced.

Ma Jun lit a cigarette, gazing at the distant Titanic. "Xiaohua, after we've conquered a dimension, does that make us gods there? With complete control over time and space, able to do as we please?"

"It's not that simple!" Xiaohua snorted. "Do you think it's like snatching candy from a child? It takes hundreds of thousands or even millions of years of persistence to reach that level!"

"So all this work, and it's for nothing?"

"Not at all. From now on, we can come and go from this dimension without expending energy. And if you die here, you can be revived with energy. In other words, you're immortal in this world!"

"Alright," Ma Jun shrugged. "Let's wait until the Titanic sinks completely before we leave. Such a spectacle is worth witnessing!"

"Uncle, don't tell me you can't break out of your role as a crazed zealot!"

"Of course not!" Ma Jun protested, though his eyes never left the distant ship.

As the Titanic slipped beneath the waves, Ma Jun pressed the return button. The cold was just too much to bear.

In the next instant, he found himself back in his hotel room. He immediately stripped off his wet clothes and, naked, rushed into the bathroom, filled the tub with hot water, and sank in with a sigh of contentment.

"Xiaohua, let's tally up the spoils!"

"Is that really necessary? You dolt, can't you count for yourself? One thousand reputation, nine thousand energy," Xiaohua replied.

"I recall it only takes five thousand energy to upgrade, so let's do that first. I'll try my luck with a draw!"

"Alright, the dimension invasion system is upgrading. Estimating upgrade time: five minutes," Xiaohua's voice was unusually solemn.

Once the system upgrade was complete, the store would unlock—a feature Ma Jun greatly anticipated. He eagerly opened the lottery interface.

On the wheel, six slots were labeled: Basic Acting Skill, One Servant, One Laser Gun, Half a Failed Novel, One Lucky Coin, and One Supercar.

"Let’s hope I don’t end up with that failed novel—utterly useless. And what good is a one-yuan lucky coin? Giving it a fancy name doesn’t make it useful!"

"But this 'servant' option… what could that be? Perhaps a seductive female secretary?" Ma Jun chuckled, not dwelling on the thought, and spun the wheel.

"Congratulations, Uncle! Your luck is off the charts—you've drawn 'One Servant'!"

"Really? What use is this servant?" Ma Jun asked curiously.

"A bio-cloned servant with perfect special forces training and skills, also accomplished in finance, entertainment, technology, literature, and more! Loyal to you above all, but otherwise a regular carbon-based human," Xiaohua explained, conjuring up a hologram. "The only pity is—he’s a man! Uncle, are you disappointed it isn’t a sexy maid?"

"Not at all," Ma Jun replied unconvincingly. "With you for company, I'm perfectly content. See, I don’t even mind you watching my robust physique!"

"Go to hell, you pervert!" Xiaohua’s projection vanished instantly. "I'm going to make a voodoo doll and curse you!"

Good grief, she’s learned a new trick! Ma Jun laughed to himself. The brat's making a voodoo doll now.

Suddenly, a man appeared out of thin air.

"Hey! How did you just pop in like that?" Ma Jun yelped, hastily covering himself. This must be the servant, he realized. He wasn’t scared, just uncomfortable being seen naked by another man.

The man bowed respectfully. "Apologies, boss. I’ll turn around at once."

Ma Jun relaxed somewhat.

The servant stood nearly six foot three, even taller than Ma Jun. He wore a sharp black suit, his figure upright and imposing. Glimpsing his face, Ma Jun saw it was unremarkable but resolute, with a close-cropped military haircut, looking to be about thirty years old.

"Respected boss, shall I introduce myself?" the servant asked.

"Go ahead," Ma Jun replied. "Oh, and don’t call me 'master.' People might get the wrong idea. Just call me 'boss.'"

"Understood."