Lin Qi didn't find it strange not to bump into Liu Xuan on his way to work anymore.
He stepped into the elevator, which scanned his identity.
"L-level Researcher Lin Qi, today is your day off. Please state your reason for coming to the company."
The Red Fruit Weapons Research Institute's intelligent system recognized Lin Qi and asked him a question.
"I'm working on a new design and need to use the company network to look up some information." Lin Qi told the truth. There was no need to hide it.
"Verifying. This action presents a risk."
"L-level Researcher Lin Qi has no record of working overtime. Probability of working overtime is below 1%. Requesting human review."
At the intelligent system's reply, Lin Qi's facial muscles twitched twice.
What did it mean, a less than 1% chance of working overtime? When had the company's intelligent system gotten so sensitive?
The system's analysis wasn't wrong. Given Lin Qi's consistent habit of clocking in and out on time every day, he really wasn't likely to work overtime. But in the past, the company had never stopped anyone with the proper clearance from entering the institute.
Could this mean security in Red Fruit City had been upgraded?
A holographic projection appeared inside the elevator.
It was Wei Wei, the supervisor on the 13th floor and Lin Qi's direct superior.
"Lin Qi? What are you doing at the company? According to the intelligent system's assessment, your behavior carries a considerable risk."
Wei Wei wasn't a researcher but a professional manager. He strictly relied on the intelligent system's assessments for every decision.
"I need to look up some information and use the company network." Lin Qi repeated his reason.
Lin Qi's reason was sound and reasonable. Under normal circumstances, there was no cause to turn him away.
But Wei Wei shook his head. "The company's security level has been raised to S. Your reason isn't sufficient to pass the system's assessment. And because of your unusual behavior, you'll be reviewed by the company's Security Team."
Lin Qi frowned. This was exactly the situation he'd hoped to avoid.
Although his Exoskeleton design was clever and carried little risk of exposure, the Security Team's review would involve certain lie-detection methods.
"I request a manual review by a staff member with higher clearance. Requested reviewer: Liu Xuan."
Wei Wei shook his head again. "Lin Qi, just cooperate with the review. Given your level of development, the company won't make things too difficult for you. With the company's current security level, your request is sure to be rejected, so why don't you—"
Before Wei Wei could finish, his holographic projection vanished.
It was replaced by a reply from the company's intelligent system: "Request approved. Level 4 clearance holder Liu Xuan is coming online."
Level 4 clearance was very high.
The company's clearance levels ranged from 1 to 15. Lin Qi had Level 12 clearance, one level higher than a regular L-level researcher. It was a privilege granted to personnel the company was grooming for advancement.
As a department supervisor, Wei Wei had Level 8 clearance, nowhere near as high as Liu Xuan's, thanks to her membership in the Liu Family.
Almost the moment the request was approved, Liu Xuan's holographic projection appeared inside the elevator.
Through the projection, Lin Qi could see that Liu Xuan was at home, not at the company.
"Lin Qi? What are you doing at the company today?" Liu Xuan asked, just as puzzled.
As someone who'd spent years stalking—no, keeping an eye on Lin Qi, Liu Xuan never went to the institute when he was off work.
"I'm working on a new design and need to use the company network to look up some information." Lin Qi gave his reason again.
Liu Xuan acted quickly. "All right, I've approved it. The company's security risks have increased lately. If something like this happens again, you can contact me in advance."
Her voice was rather cool, but she was extremely efficient.
"Okay, thanks." Lin Qi smiled at the projection.
Liu Xuan's face flushed slightly. Almost at once, she ended the call.
The intelligent system's voice sounded inside the elevator. "Level 4 special authorization granted. Proceeding to the 13th floor."
Lin Qi rubbed his chin. Even after all this time, he still thought Liu Xuan's behavior was odd.
He couldn't shake the feeling that Liu Xuan wanted to see him, but was also a little afraid to.
"Am I really that scary?"
Lin Qi couldn't make sense of Liu Xuan's thoughts. When the elevator reached the 13th floor and the doors opened, he strolled toward his lab.
Hongguo City, residential district for senior members of Liu Heavy Industries.
Liu Xuan gently touched her cheek. It felt a little hot.
Data appeared in her left prosthetic eye: "Abnormal mental state elevated. Please replace with a higher-level Suppressor."
Liu Xuan's left eye was a prosthetic—and a suppressor for mental abnormalities.
Her strange feelings toward Lin Qi were partly normal emotions and partly the result of her mental abnormality.
In other words, ever since the lab accident back then, Liu Xuan had been infected with a mild case of Cyberpsychosis.
As Liu Xuan stroked her cheek, a voice came from behind her. "Sis, the family says we're to head to the Greenland City Branch. Greenland City has activated the Iron Curtain, so its security level is higher than Red Fruit City's. All Liu Family members in Red Fruit City need to take shelter there for now."
"The family has already reached an agreement with the Si Clan. The security forces from both families will be concentrated in Greenland City."
Liu Li came around the sofa and stood in front of Liu Xuan.
Only then did she notice that Liu Xuan's face was unusually flushed. "Sis, why is your face so red?"
"My Suppressor is acting up," Liu Xuan replied. "I need to go to the institute and replace it."
Liu Li was taken aback. "Doesn't the family have some? Several models of Prosthetic Eye Suppressors..."
Liu Xuan quickly cut her off. "The Purple Prosthetic Eye I like is at the institute."
Liu Li: "Huh?"
Liu Li couldn't understand her sister's thinking, so she could only remind her, "Remember to bring the Security Team."
Liu Xuan nodded and hurried out.
By the afternoon, Lin Qi had quickly finished looking up the information.
M-level Mech Design wasn't a high-end research project. The reason Lin Qi had spent so long on it was to come up with a plausible excuse.
On the company network, Lin Qi left traces of searches for "Large Prosthetic Design," "Expandable Prosthetic-Mech Connection," and "Phil Group's Jason Sledgehammer (Mech-Style Prosthetic Connection) Design Concept," among others.
It was all to make his information searches seem legitimate.
After all, Lin Qi had never researched mechs since joining the company. A sudden search would cause the company's intelligent system to flag his behavior as abnormal.
If he got tagged that way, Liu Xuan's clearance might not be enough to help him.
After loading a mech design onto a Blank Chip, Lin Qi left the lab, satisfied.
It wasn't a workday, so he didn't need to clock out on time.
He took the elevator to the Vehicle Parking Lot on the top floor of the Weapon Research Institute.
The elevator doors had barely opened when the opposite elevator opened too.
Liu Xuan was inside.
"What a coincidence." Liu Xuan stepped out of the elevator. She didn't say anything else to Lin Qi, heading straight for her Flying Vehicle.
Lin Qi's facial muscles twitched uncontrollably twice.
Coincidence.
What a coincidence!
The first time: a chance encounter in the afternoon.
The 745th time: a chance encounter on the top floor of the institute.
Before you continue