What was truly right

Upon hearing Ailan Rainbowlight's words, Lin Yu showed a somewhat surprised expression.

"Oh... you're quite well-informed, Miss 'Adventurer'."

Ailan looked at Lin Yu with a helpless expression.

"This isn't a matter of being well-informed or not... Your name has appeared in the news—it was even on the front page of a newspaper."

"The news about Truth Company restarting the 'Fear' project has actually sparked quite a bit of discussion... including about you, 'John H. Arthur.' Although your name doesn't appear in the news very often, you actually have some name recognition."

"A little inquiry will reveal that you are the most crucial person driving this 'project' forward."

At this point, Ailan Rainbowlight paused for a moment.

"But I'm still a little confused... Based on some rumors I've heard, I thought you were Direct Lineage of 'Nightless Sky Huo Le,' so why are you working for Nightless Sky Huo Ming now?"

"Could it be that the rumors circulating outside have all gone wrong?"

Lin Yu shrugged. "Your inside information is correct. I am indeed working for Nightless Sky Huo Le within Truth Company or Nightless Sky Family."

"But that doesn't mean I'm only allowed to work for Nightless Sky Huo Le City."

Ailan Rainbowlight thought for a moment, then said, "That makes sense—I've seen your resume. After all, you worked on the Great Wilderness before, albeit as Independent Researcher... but it's normal that you had some dealings with Nightless Sky Huo Ming."

"And then again... your investigation of 'Dark Rock,' which led you to me, was all because of 'Paris,' a staunch confidant of Nightless Sky Huo Le," Ailan stroked his chin. "Ah, so... does this mean that Nightless Sky Huo Le and Nightless Sky Huo Ming are currently in a temporary cooperative relationship?"

"I thought that Nightless Sky Huo Ming was trying to seize the position of Family Head by forming Association and operating in the Outer City."

Lin Yu shook his head. "How could that be... The Nevernight family is different from other families. Anyone who isn't a fool and has a little common sense knows that the future head of the Nevernight family is and can only be Nevernight Fire Music—because this is the will of the current head of the Nevernight family."

"Even among all Noble families, the Family Head of the Nightless Sky Family has unprecedented control over the entire family... No matter how ambitious Nightless Sky Huo Ming is, she only hopes to gain more power and be closer to the center of power, rather than actually vying for the position of Family Head."

"After all, doing this is not going against the Nightless City Fire Music itself... but against the will of the Nightless City family head."

Alan Rainbow Light clicked her tongue slightly. "Then I fully understand... Disobeying the head of the Nevernight Clan and going against her is really not a good idea."

Then, Ailan Rainbowlight paused for a moment, and said, "However, you didn't come here solely on the orders of Lord Nightless Sky Huo Le, did you?"

Lin Yu didn't answer the question directly; instead, he asked a question in return.

Why do you think that?

"It's just my intuition. The atmosphere between you and Nightless Sky Huo Ming City... doesn't feel like Nightless Sky Huo Le City sent you here, and you're representing Lord Huo Le in this collaboration."

Lin Yu thought to himself, "Isn't this obvious? After all, the guy in front wasn't even Nightless Sky Huo Ming, but Nightless Sky Fire Apricot."

However, Lin Yu certainly couldn't correct Ailan Rainbowlight's misunderstanding, and instead continued to give a vague response on the topic.

"So... what do you think the 'atmosphere' is like between us?"

"I think it's more like a spontaneous collaboration between the two of you," Ailan Rainbowlight said thoughtfully. "But that raises a question... I know why Nightless Sky Huo Ming got involved in this matter—you said she needs to gain more 'power,' even if it's not to compete for the Family Head, she needs to have more leverage. Whether it's to curry favor with Nightless Sky Huo Le or to demonstrate her abilities and consolidate her position, this is indeed a good thing."

"But what about you... Supervisor Arthur? Why are you here?"

Lin Yu smiled silently, "Can't I be just as ambitious?"

"Of course you can. If you weren't an ambitious guy, you wouldn't be on the front page of the newspaper... But don't bite off more than you can chew, Arthur."

"For someone like you who isn't of Noble birth, focusing on your 'fear' project is probably the most profitable thing to do, isn't it?"

"Why did you get involved in this Murder Case...? And I feel that your goal isn't just the case itself, but rather that you want to understand everything about 'Supreme Evolution,' right?"

As Ailan Rainbowlight spoke, she slowly asked the question she most wanted to ask.

Lin Yu could clearly sense...

After all that buildup, Ailan Rainbowlight's biggest concern is actually this very issue.

After all, it's only natural that Nightless Sky Huo Ming is interested in "Supreme Evolution".

For members of Royal Nobles families like Nightless Sky Huo Ming, "Supreme Evolution" is a "high-risk project" worth trying.

But...

Objectively speaking, for an A-Class manager like "John H. Arthur," this is not an opportunity that can be easily approached.

"Without the backing of Noble status, someone like you, coming from Commoner background, is a mid-level manager in the company... perhaps considered high-level, but easily labeled as 'dangerous.'"

Ailan Rainbowlight spoke as if it were a warning and a test.

Lin Yu understood what Ailan Rainbowlight meant.

After all, the legendary "Creator" of "Supreme Evolution" was just an ordinary Commoner —and this company is very keen to recruit Alchemy Genius from among the Commoner, and even gives some alchemical researchers from "Lower-Class Citizen" backgrounds the opportunity to lead projects.

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, many people actually regarded "Supreme Evolution" as a symbol and case of "breaking the Noble' monopoly on Alchemy."

This is why the companies, large and small, in the City That Never Sleeps were so united when it was being liquidated.

Or rather... many Scholar speculate that the Values conveyed and presented by "Supreme Evolution" are also the reason why it was "purged".

Lin Yu looked at Ailan Rainbowlight and responded with a rhetorical question.

"And what about you, future Duke, Your Excellency the Heir of the Rainbowlight Family... You are clearly Noble, so why have you chosen to stand on the side of 'Supreme Evolution'?"

"And then there's 'Mr. Candle,' 'Omia Bosen'... Actually, I can understand Lord Omia, after all, he was one of the investors in Supreme Evolution back then, and he has always been a supporter of the 'Creator.'"

"But... what are you doing here, the Miss of the Ducal Family whose 'Supreme Evolution' was already finished when you were born? Just now you were seriously talking about 'you Noble '... aren't you Noble yourself?"

"You worship the 'Creator' so much... Don't you know that if the Creator had actually succeeded, if 'Supreme Evolution' had actually succeeded, the most affected would have been old Noble families like yours?"

"Especially since... you're a Duke."

When Lin Yu asked Ailan Rainbowlight this question, she did not hesitate or waver in the slightest.

Her expression was calm. "I know... The rise of 'Supreme Evolution' will inevitably harm the interests of many Noble and companies, including my family and myself."

"But... that doesn't mean I can't choose 'Supreme Evolution' —because in my opinion, 'Supreme Evolution' represents the right direction."

"The continuation of Noble families relies solely on so-called 'Bloodline'... But according to the research of Life Alchemy, all of us Noble are well aware that 'Bloodline' do not make us noble from birth."

"We don't even need much theoretical research to know; just by observing the phenomena, we can see that... often, geniuses skilled in Alchemy can be born into Commoner families, while fools who know absolutely nothing about Alchemy can be born into Noble families."

"Perhaps, due to 'genetics,' Noble families have a higher probability of producing individuals with greater alchemical affinity and intelligence. However... 'genetics' is an uncontrollable black box. The slight increase in probability due to 'parental talent' is completely meaningless in the face of a difference in 'order of magnitude.'"

How many Noble and Commoner are there in the City That Never Sleeps?

"This is a 'common sense' that touches on the very foundation of alchemy... Even though Noble are several times more likely to have offspring with Alchemy Talent than Commoner, this 'probabilistic advantage' is negligible in the face of the enormous difference in numbers between the two."

"The reason why Noble seem to maintain an advantage in the field of alchemical research is mainly due to differences in family education and resources for nurturing them."

"Of course, 'resources' and 'property' are also part of what the Noble own, so in a sense, there's nothing wrong with the current system of the City That Never Sleeps — the Noble control more resources and occupy more important positions, so those who make the Rule will naturally ensure that the Rule always benefit them."

"But what if we step outside the framework of how to perpetuate the privileged status of the 'Noble' and maintain world stability?"

"For the development of the entire 'City That Never Sleeps' and the entire 'Alchemy Field'... I believe the 'Creator's' idea is undoubtedly correct."

"This highly developed yet impoverished city, this vast yet desolate world, absolutely does not need Noble forever aloof and Struggle amongst themselves."

What it needs is... some truly 'right' ideas.

"While I am Noble... I prefer to stand on the side that is truly 'right'."