Highest Level Security Meeting

Hongguo City, Liu Heavy Industries, mid-level employee dormitory apartment.

"Xiao Ai, shut down the entire house network." Lin Qi commanded.

"Non-essential networks have been shut down."

Xiao Ai responded. Essential networks referred to the crime detection network connected to the Red Fruit City government. If a crime occurred within the detection zone, the Red Fruit Riot Control Task Force would arrive immediately, followed by a fine.

No crime could not be settled with a fine, it was only a matter of how much money.

If one couldn't afford the fine, they would be taken to Red Fruit Prison for at least 20 years of 19-hour daily unpaid labor.

In this city, the cost of crime was very high. This was a policy established by the Liu Group to maintain the city's public order.

The policy was effective and profitable, resulting in the lowest crime rate in the Asian political region of Hongguo City.

Because of this, the crime detection network was not within Xiao Ai's operational permissions. Lin Qi, who had transmigrated here 19 years ago, had not yet mastered the technology to break through Hongguo City's firewall.

Entering the bathroom, the offline timer in the corner of the mirror displayed February 31, 2089, 23:58.

Lin Qi adjusted his collar and gently touched behind his earlobe.

A micro-electrode transmitted a signal, displaying an image on his retina.

The time advanced to February 32, 2089, 00:00.

Text appeared on the screen before him:

[Xiao Ai reminds you, received an invitation to "Highest Level Security Meeting", do you wish to connect?]

There was no network in the room, and Lin Qi's AI had no signal, yet the meeting invitation appeared as scheduled.

The reason Lin Qi shut down the network was not to block the meeting, but to avoid his abnormality being detected by ordinary network intrusions.

"Connect."

[Meeting connection complete]

"Activate, immersion mode."

[Activated]

The AI established a brain-computer connection through the electrodes, and Lin Qi entered the meeting scene from a first-person perspective.

This was an absolutely sealed conference room, with no Door, no windows, and almost no lighting.

Lin Qi extended his hand but could only see its silhouette, the mechanical parts on his arm hidden in the shadows.

Lin Qi sat on the side of a long conference table, second from the end.

In front of Lin Qi was a faintly glowing name tag.

The number was the Roman numeral "V", which was Lin Qi's codename for the meeting.

To Lin Qi's left, directly opposite, diagonally left, and at the side of the conference table, sat one person each. Their codenames were marked from "1" to "4" using Roman numerals.

This was a secret gathering, but unfortunately, Lin Qi was not the initiator. That seemed to be a privilege reserved for the main character.

"Glad you're still alive."

"Wizard, have you encountered any hunters?"

"Wizard" was Lin Qi's codename besides "V".

Through the shadows, Lin Qi could still feel the gazes of the four participants.

Lin Qi shook his head, the movement clearly visible through the shadows.

Lin Qi cleared his throat and spoke in a mature female voice: "I'm planning to leave the mercenary group."

"You think we would betray you?" The voice of "4", sitting directly opposite Lin Qi, was cold and his emotional reaction was somewhat intense.

"2" and "3" remained silent but looked in the direction of "1".

"1", or rather [Guangleng], placed his left forearm on the table, his right hand resting on the upper half of his left arm, his fingers tapping lightly.

A steady, middle-aged male voice said: "Recently, Wizard professionals have been facing an unprecedented hunting operation. On the black market, specific information about a Wizard professional is worth 1 million credit points. Wizard's loss of trust in us is understandable."

"4", or rather [Arthur], remained silent, leaning back against his chair as if sulking.

He had always thought that Knights and Wizard would be loyal partners, but today he was met with doubt.

Silence filled the conference room for a long time.

[Guangleng] broke the silence: "Wizard will temporarily not participate in mercenary group operations, but can still attend weekly meetings. However, I will mute you when discussing action plans. If you encounter trouble in reality, you can ask for help from the participating members. I believe everyone would be happy to help you."

[Guangleng] showed goodwill towards Lin Qi. Lin Qi nodded slightly.

If his safety could be guaranteed, he didn't want to leave the mercenary group platform.

Participating in mercenary group operations could earn good rewards, but one's life was their own. The scale of the Witch Hunt had been too exaggerated recently.

What had Wizard professionals done to deserve this?

Anyone who was a Wizard professional was targeted. Fortunately, Lin Qi had always been prepared.

The meeting continued. When the members were discussing the latest mission, Lin Qi's ears were muted.

No participation in missions, no bearing of risks, no listening to things he shouldn't.

At the end of the meeting, the four participants offered Lin Qi their condolences.

Guangleng maintained his usual steady demeanor. "If you encounter trouble, you can send an email to the [Highest Level] inbox, and I will convene a meeting in advance."

Arthur, though displeased with Lin Qi's methods, still promised, "If you run into trouble, I'm willing to help you once, free of charge. Only once."

"Two," or rather, Master Ma's voice was a little hoarse, "A reward of one million means the mercenary groups targeting you won't be of the highest caliber. With your skills, escaping or even counter-killing should not be difficult. Of course, it's more likely they won't even find you."

Master Ma was quite familiar with Lin Qi's modus operandi. They had collaborated with mercenary groups over twenty times, yet not a single member had ever had the fortune to see Lin Qi's true face, not even their back.

Finally, "Three," or rather, Capitalist spoke, her voice clear and girlish. "I suggest Wizard continue to conceal their identity. As far as I know, Witch Hunt is related to a certain plan in the European political sphere. The intensity of witch hunts may increase further in the future."

All eyes turned to Capitalist. The intensity would increase further?

What had the Wizard class done to offend everyone?

The European political sphere?

The treatment of Wizard class professionals was like a return to the Middle Ages.

Wizards should be tied to stakes and burned alive?

"Thank you."

Lin Qi, still using their disguised mature female voice, expressed their gratitude before hastily logging off.

AI exited immersion mode. Lin Qi had been in the private bathroom of their personal apartment the entire time.

They walked to the sink and lightly touched the mechanical device on their arm. A mechanical unlocking sound followed.

After hesitating for two seconds, they abandoned the next action.

They touched it again, and the mechanism re-locked.

As everyone knew, Lin Qi, who was employed by Liu Heavy Industries as a researcher at the L-level Weapons Design Institute in the Hongguo City branch, was a pure mechanic.

They were a moderately cybernetically modified individual.

All four limbs had undergone full cybernetic modification, and AI had been integrated.

I, Lin Qi, am by no means like those Wizard class professionals with their mental purity regarding their bodies, refusing all forms of cybernetic modification.

Lin Qi decided that until that damned Witch Hunt was over, their arms and legs would just have to stew and stink inside the detachable Exoskeleton armor. They would absolutely not remove any part of the Exoskeleton disguise!