Arrival in Greenland City, the Iron Curtain

Within the hundred-meter range covered by Psychic Vision, Lin Qi possessed absolute perception that extended beyond mere sight.

Without drawing the attention of at least a Third Rank Wizard, he could eavesdrop on their communications.

Compared to the Train Conductor's abilities, the first Extraordinary ability Lin Qi had gained seemed even more special.

"The Train Conductor's abilities match my understanding of Extraordinary Professions. An information-gathering ability as overpowered as Psychic Vision is extremely rare among Extraordinary Professionals."

Lin Qi was very satisfied with his ability and continued eavesdropping on the communication.

On the other end, Liu Xingyuan said grimly, "The mole within the Liu Group is just an old, festering problem."

The Train Conductor continued, "I've sent you the details of Car Two. We can't identify the cause of death for that mercenary squad for now, but there aren't any external injuries. It looks a lot like Liu Li's style."

Liu Xingyuan shook his head. "Liu Li's Extraordinary power was an experiment, but as far as I know, it can't kill people through walls."

The Train Conductor sighed. "Then I don't know. Perhaps it was another company's method. The identities of the passengers on this train are far too complicated."

Liu Xingyuan replied, "The pressure from the Large Enterprise Alliance is too great. The Liu Group and Si Clan can't withstand it alone unless the Eastern Alliance steps in to mediate. But judging from the current situation, that's almost impossible."

"The Eastern Alliance only cares about the overall stability of the Asian Political Zone. So long as a city-destroying war does not break out, they will not intervene directly. This time, even the Assassin's League's actions bear the Eastern Alliance's mark."

"Once you arrive in Greenland City, you only need to protect Liu Xuan and Liu Li. Liu Yue and Liu Heng are merely targets."

The Train Conductor nodded. He was the true bodyguard on this trip.

A Third Rank Wizard with all sorts of strange abilities, a Third Rank Wizard who perfectly countered cybernetic implant users.

Even an S-Class Implant User was someone the Train Conductor could contend with.

"Has it been confirmed that it's Liu Xuan? Her condition is rather serious. I'm worried..." The Train Conductor's words caught Lin Qi's attention.

What was this about?

Were they planning to get rid of me?

Liu Xingyuan sighed as well. "Unless there is absolutely no other choice. As for Liu Xuan's problem, there may be a way to solve it in the future. Before then, you need to ensure Lin Qi's safety. Although he is Liu Xuan's weakness, he is also a talent. He has the potential to become an X-level researcher in the future. The Liu Group needs talented people."

Liu Xingyuan appeared deeply helpless.

The Liu Group seemed to have reached a turning point in its fate.

Would it continue to flourish?

Or head toward its curtain call?

The chairman of Liu Heavy Industries seemed on the verge of losing control of this great ship of Liu Heavy Industries, battered continuously by raging waves.

"Protect me?"

That was good news. It seemed the Train Conductor had merely been trying to scare him earlier.

As for why he had become Liu Xuan's weakness...

Lin Qi did not fully understand, but after all these years, he had vaguely formed a guess.

It was still that experimental accident from back then.

Who knew what experiment Liu Xuan had been conducting? A powerful mental storm had erupted.

Under the interference of that mental storm, Lin Qi's Mental Power had collided with Liu Xuan's.

That was the first time Lin Qi had clearly sensed the existence of the [Gate].

The [Gate] had allowed Lin Qi to remain conscious amid the mental storm. Only then had he found Liu Xuan and shut down the machine.

From then on, Liu Xuan began appearing in Lin Qi's life from time to time.

Faced with someone who did not care much for him but had remained a consistently recurring NPC for years, Lin Qi had eventually built some rapport with Liu Xuan. They could be considered friends.

The rest of Liu Xingyuan and the Train Conductor's conversation contained no further information. They merely discussed the aftermath of the incident in Car Two before ending the communication.

Lin Qi was unable to obtain any more intelligence.

Reclining in the spacious seat, he kept Psychic Vision active as he observed his surroundings.

Car One was utterly silent, but Lin Qi noticed that the two male members of the Liu Family were trembling faintly.

Fear. They were afraid.

"Targets." That was how Liu Xingyuan had summed them up.

Their purpose for appearing on this train was to draw fire on behalf of the sisters Liu Xuan and Liu Li.

Though they were all members of the Liu Family, their statuses were worlds apart.

These two were cannon fodder.

Respecting their fate, Lin Qi no longer paid attention to them.

He turned his gaze back to Car Two.

The carriage was littered with corpses, but some people were still alive.

After all, they were A-level researchers. Who did not outfit themselves with a few life-saving cybernetic prostheses?

A few were still breathing.

But they clearly did not have much breath left. Without treatment, they would not last long.

As always, Lin Qi respected other people's fates and left them alone.

He withdrew Psychic Vision.

The train's mishaps had basically ended here. Lin Qi no longer needed to interfere in any way.

All Lin Qi needed to do was hide his identity, stay alive, and make plans after reaching Greenland City.

He closed his eyes and rested.

The train moved at a steady pace. By his calculations, it was about to reach its final destination.

Lin Qi opened his eyes, but he could not see the environment outside the train.

Once the train began moving, all its armor plating had lowered, making it impossible to observe the outside from within.

But that could not stop Lin Qi's Psychic Vision.

With Psychic Vision's hundred-meter range fully spread out, Lin Qi saw the scene outside the train.

Greenland City was already close at hand.

"So this is the Iron Curtain."

The true appearance of the Iron Curtain System entered Lin Qi's view.

It resembled an enormous lotus flower, its petals stretching upward from the ground.

The flower bud had closed, wrapping Greenland City from every direction.

The petals were not entirely seamless. Directly ahead of the train lay one such gap.

The Iron Curtain System did not completely seal off Greenland City.

Judging from its shape, Lin Qi estimated there were at least six gaps like this one serving as train entrances and exits.

But they were likely under the Si Clan's strict control.

"Arthur is trapped in there?"

"No wonder he couldn't escape. It would be stranger if he could."

Greenland City had been completely locked down in the physical sense by the Iron Curtain System.

To leave, one had to break through the Iron Curtain—these lotus petals.

The Iron Curtain's material grade might not be especially high, perhaps only around M-level or L-level, but it was surely covered in sensors.

Any attempt to destroy the Iron Curtain and leave would certainly be detected by the Si Clan in advance.

Greenland City was the Si Clan's stronghold. Leaving aside absurd existences like X-levels, there were certainly S-Class Implant Users here, and likely quite a few of them.

Should I still contact Arthur? It feels like I can't help him. He might even bring trouble to me...

Forget it. Guangleng has already replied. I should still get in touch with Arthur.

At least I have the Liu Group's protection now. I won't easily encounter any major danger.

Tonight's meeting should first clarify exactly what trouble Arthur has run into.

The train passed through the narrow gap in the Iron Curtain and entered Greenland City at a reduced speed.

The train led directly to Greenland City's central district.

Two skyscrapers hundreds of stories tall rose into the air, like Twin Towers standing at the heart of Greenland City.

At the most conspicuous spot on the Twin Towers was the logo of [Si Pharmaceutical].