"Why?" Lin Xin retorted.
It was her money! Her hard-earned money!
Lin Qi looked straight into Lin Xin's eyes. The Mental Power of a First Rank Wizard began to radiate faintly, and a pressure settled over Lin Xin.
Cold sweat beaded on Lin Xin's forehead.
The pressure gave Lin Xin a familiar feeling.
Her teacher had a similar presence.
An Extraordinary Profession!
Her big brother had to be some kind of Extraordinary Professional.
Which kind?
A Martial Artist?
Lin Xin could only guess.
Lin Qi's near-fanatical obsession with cybernetic implants was a common trait among Martial Artists.
Martial Artists were all crazy.
Their minds held nothing but numbers. As long as something could improve their combat strength, they would pay any price.
High-grade potions and cybernetics—Martial Artists were the biggest consumers of both.
It seemed her big brother had completely become a lackey of Liu Heavy Industries.
Lin Xin's heart sank.
According to her teacher, none of the major corporations were any good.
Cybernetics were tools developed by major corporations to target and control the lower classes.
The Alliance had a long and arduous task ahead of it if it was to save this world.
Lin Xin nodded resolutely. It was just a matter of spending all her money to upgrade a membership. She could endure the humiliation and hardship. The next time she saw her teacher, she'd ask for another million-dollar crystal chip.
Her attitude had changed a little too quickly. Lin Qi couldn't understand what Lin Xin was thinking.
[Mail received from "Highest Level"]
Lin Qi opened the door and said to Lin Xin, "I want to see your new equipment within 24 hours."
With that, he once again grabbed Lin Xin by the back of the neck with one hand and tossed her outside.
He closed the door.
Lin Qi had always trusted Guangleng's technology.
Even though there was no network coverage known to Lin Qi in the room where he was staying,
the mail could still connect normally to the "Highest Level" secure mailbox.
This most likely involved a special network secretly maintained by the major corporations.
Such a network could very well have achieved full regional coverage.
Considering the signals of this network, Lin Qi's Wizard identity—which he'd thought he had hidden extremely well—might not be an absolute secret after all.
He opened the mail Guangleng had sent.
"Having obtained the consent of the other members, the Highest Level Security Meeting will be held ahead of schedule at midnight tonight, Asian Political Zone Standard Time."
His feelings were complicated. When faced with danger, he still had to rely on intelligence from the "Highest Level" Mercenary Group.
Ultimately, he still wasn't strong enough.
Perhaps he should speed up his exploration of the Doomsday World. After tonight's meeting, he would need to bring more essential items into the Doomsday World.
He shifted his attention back to the items in the workshop.
The first batch of "H-L-023" Micro-nuclear Powered Heart cybernetics, designed by Lin Qi himself and manufactured by Liu Heavy Industries, had already been prepared in advance by his father.
Doctor Lin knew his son very well. The brat was extremely conceited, and even when it came to implanting a cybernetic replacement for a vital organ, he wouldn't let anyone else interfere.
Given Lin Qi's personality, Doctor Lin wouldn't offer to help unless Lin Qi asked first.
He took the Micro-nuclear Powered Heart out of its metal case.
This modification was much simpler than the previous ones.
Or rather, it hardly needed any modifications at all.
With plenty of design experience, Lin Qi had already left a power supply port on the spinal connector he'd made by hand.
That was where the Micro-nuclear Powered Heart would be installed.
Once installed and paired with L-level cybernetic components throughout his body, the Micro-nuclear Powered Heart would be able to unleash its terrifying energy output without restraint.
It was originally meant to save his life, but now it seemed perfectly suited to the environment of the Doomsday World.
It would be enough for Lin Qi to face hordes of Zombies and seize vast quantities of Crimson Crystals.
His main task at the Cybernetic Clinic was complete. Next, he would design and build a Collecting Robot on the fly to suit the conditions of the Doomsday World.
In addition, Lin Qi had prepared a "suitcase" measuring two meters by one meter. Inside was a Mini Production Line that integrated casting, stamping, assembly, etching, and other functions.
It was a valuable piece of equipment, not much cheaper than an A-level Cybernetic Body.
If he could bring it into the Doomsday World, Lin Qi would be able to slowly build a small base there.
Thanks to the way time froze in the world after he passed through the Gate, Lin Qi would have twice as much time to develop.
With everything ready, Lin Qi sat down quietly, thinking as he waited for the "Highest Level Security Meeting" to begin.
March 2, 2089, midnight.
[Xiao Ai reminder: Request to join the "Highest Level Security Meeting" received. Connect?]
As always, the networkless environment Lin Qi had set up couldn't stop Guangleng. Lin Qi accepted at once.
This meeting had been called by Lin Qi himself.
Inside the completely sealed conference room, Guangleng, at position "1," had been waiting for some time.
Lin Qi, at position "5," was the first to join after Guangleng.
Next came the Capitalist at position "3."
Then Master Ma at position "2."
The four remained silent for a full five minutes before Arthur, at position "4," finally joined the meeting.
Guangleng was as composed as ever. "It seems our Wizard has run into trouble."
Lin Qi nodded slightly. Beneath the shadows, the subtle movement only caused a faint shift in the light.
Guangleng then looked toward position "4." "Perhaps the Wizard isn't the only one in trouble."
Arthur, who'd arrived late, seemed to be caught up in trouble too. He'd even been five minutes late to a meeting he'd booked in advance.
Arthur wasn't as composed as Lin Qi. He slapped the table, quickly pulled his hand back, and rubbed his palm.
Damn this conference room. Why was the table so hard?
Arthur took a breath and said, "There's a huge problem in the two southeastern cities of the Asian Political Zone. I've been dragged into it."
The two southeastern cities of the Asian Political Zone?
Lin Qi's heart tightened.
Liu's Hongguo City and Si's Green Land City. Those were the two southeastern cities.
The Capitalist at position "3" cleared her throat. The young woman's voice was clear. "The trouble between Liu Group and the Si Clan first began to show signs early this year. It should be connected to certain intercontinental forces."
"Also, as far as I know, several T1-level Mercenary Groups have already appeared in the two cities. We can't rule out the possibility of large-scale clashes."
"But under the agreement and the restrictions imposed by the Eastern Alliance of the Asian Political Zone, any clashes will be limited to below city-destroying scale. Weapons above S-Minus Rank will be explicitly prohibited."
"The Asian Political Zone is different from other places. With a lion keeping watch, it won't descend into total chaos."
As always, the information from position "3" was precise and far-sighted, just like when she'd revealed the mastermind behind the Witch Hunt last time.
Arthur shook his head emphatically. "Capitalist, you're not in the two southeastern cities, so you don't understand. This time, a Core Heir of a Major Corporation was successfully assassinated. I've been trapped in Greenland City, and the [Iron Curtain System] has been activated."
"The one responsible was apparently a Fourth-Order Extraordinary Professional from the Assassin's League."
"If a Fourth-Order Extraordinary Professional is involved, there's no way the fighting can be kept below S-Minus Rank."
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