Lin Qi shut off the screen, lay back down, and closed his eyes.
His thoughts gradually slowed. Wizards needed rest, too.
Night cloaked Hongguo City, but the noise never ceased in this cyberpunk metropolis.
The frenzied nightlife, the scavengers struggling to survive, and the mercenaries lurking in the shadows.
In a hundred-story apartment building not far from the Red Fruit Weapons Research Institute, a subsidiary of Liu Heavy Industries.
A man whose body was more than eighty percent cybernetic gazed at the Red Fruit Weapons Research Institute from afar, the red glow of his cybernetic eyes gleaming.
"Ten million Credit Points. That's a tempting offer."
"Tyrannosaurus, don't keep staring in the direction of the Red Fruit Weapons Research Institute. Hongguo City's algorithms might identify you."
"I know. The buildings around this Weapon Research Institute have terrible sightlines. Generating a 3D model is a pain."
"If the algorithms spot you, we'll abandon you."
"Cut the crap. The target's identity is sensitive. You think I want to scan this dump? Once we finish this job, we can take at least ten years off."
Their conversation made no sound. Everything took place inside their Brains.
Tyrannosaurus looked away and silently changed floors, continuing to watch the Red Fruit Weapons Research Institute from the corner of his eye.
After a full night's sleep, the neon lights switched off and natural light illuminated every building in Hongguo City. That meant the crazy night was over, and it was time for a respectable wage slave like Lin Qi to get to work.
Standing in front of the bathroom sink, Lin Qi stretched his arms and twisted his legs, feeling a little uncomfortable.
I should've taken this damn Exoskeleton Armor off and had a shower when I was in the Doomsday World.
Lin Qi wasn't a neat freak, but not being able to clean his limbs was still a little unpleasant.
When Lin Qi had designed the Exoskeleton Armor for his limbs, he had left out ventilation structures to preserve its resemblance to cybernetic limbs and ensure its structural strength.
Good thing the Gate's cooldown is only twenty-four hours. I can clean up tonight.
According to the information the Gate had given him, Lin Qi could currently use it once every twenty-four hours and stay in the Doomsday World for twenty-four hours each time.
And while Lin Qi was in the Doomsday World, time in the Cyber World didn't pass.
It was also possible that the Gate returned Lin Qi to the exact moment he had left.
This gave Lin Qi a period of absolute safety in which to rest and recuperate.
Tonight, Lin Qi planned to test whether he could take more items to the Doomsday World.
He wanted to set up a workshop there and make further upgrades to his "cybernetic body," creating an even more convincing disguise.
After tidying himself up in front of the bathroom sink, Lin Qi left his home, took the elevator to the apartment's rooftop parking lot, and headed out.
As an L-level Researcher at the Red Fruit Weapons Research Institute and a member of Red Fruit City's elite, Lin Qi had permission to pilot Flying Vehicles throughout Red Fruit City.
Today was the last workday before his days off. The thirty-second was the final day of every month in the Cyber World, and once March arrived, Lin Qi would once again get two days of monthly leave.
As was his habit, Lin Qi would take the first and second of every month off, giving himself two consecutive days of rest.
On his monthly days off, Lin Qi would go home. It was partly to see his family and partly to upgrade and maintain his "cybernetic body."
To the lower classes, an L-level Researcher was elite. But to the behemoth that was the Liu Family, Lin Qi was just another cyberpunk wage slave.
As soon as Lin Qi boarded his Flying Vehicle, he received a reply from "Doctor Lin."
Doctor Lin was Lin Qi's father. As the name suggested, he ran a Cybernetic Clinic.
Among all the unlicensed Cybernetic Clinics in Hongguo City, the Number One Cybernetic Clinic's business had once ranked in the top three—counting from the bottom, unfortunately.
Fortunately, Lin Qi had made something of himself and joined Liu Heavy Industries, securing a new supply channel for the clinic.
Business at the Number One Cybernetic Clinic was now only so-so, but the quality of its cybernetic parts was just as good as that of licensed clinics.
The parts came from Liu Heavy Industries, a small perk the company offered its cyberpunk wage slaves.
"What model of heart do you want? And keep a low profile when you come back. Don't run into Lin Xin again. If you two start arguing, your old man will have a hard time."
Lin Qi recalled that before heading to the Doomsday World, he had set up a scheduled message for his father.
"H-L-023. I designed it myself, so I know I can trust it. The first shipment from Liu Heavy Industries has already gone out."
"As for Lin Xin? I'll give her a piece of my mind when I get back."
Lin Xin was Lin Qi's younger sister. Since he started working for the institute, they only saw each other once a month, but they nearly always ended up arguing.
His little sister was not cute at all.
After sending the two messages, Lin Qi boarded his Flying Vehicle.
Lin Qi never trusted a Flying Vehicle's autopilot, so he piloted it to the institute himself.
Lin Qi had few days off, but his working hours weren't short, either.
He only had to start work at nine in the morning, then he could clock out at nine that evening.
Only someone with cybernetic enhancements could probably handle such a workload.
Lin Qi was tired, but it was all worth it.
At least every part of his "cybernetic body" had been designed by him, manufactured by Liu Heavy Industries, purchased by the Number One Cybernetic Clinic, and then installed after Lin Qi modified it further.
As the designer, who could call Lin Qi's cybernetic body fake?
After only about five minutes of flying, the Red Fruit Weapons Research Institute came into view.
As he was about to arrive, Lin Qi suddenly sensed that someone was watching him.
Ever since acquiring Psychic Vision, Lin Qi had been extremely sensitive to every gaze.
Especially hostile ones.
He instinctively activated Psychic Vision. As the Flying Vehicle moved, he immediately gained sight of everything within an eighty-five-meter radius.
Since returning from the Doomsday World, Lin Qi's mental strength had increased, extending the range of his Psychic Vision by five meters.
Unfortunately, he still couldn't pinpoint where the gaze was coming from.
The Flying Vehicle was moving too fast, and the gaze didn't seem to be deliberately targeting Lin Qi.
"Have mercenaries set their sights on me? No, they must be watching the Weapons Research Institute."
Lin Qi knew the way mercenaries looked. For years, he had worked in the Highest Level Mercenary Group, compiling intelligence before operations.
He never fought on the front lines, but his advance battlefield intelligence gathering was so meticulous it bordered on the obsessive.
Psychic Vision gave Lin Qi all the information within its range. It was an absolute sense that included, but wasn't limited to, sight.
"Who would set their sights on the Red Fruit Weapons Research Institute? The weapons and equipment here aren't particularly advanced by Liu Heavy Industries' standards."
"But cutting-edge technology doesn't determine the level of security. Quite a few members of the Liu Family are at the Red Fruit Weapons Research Institute."
"Could the target be a person, not the institute's research? Has someone set their sights on the Liu Family?"
Mercenaries never cared about the risks. They only cared about the rewards.
Some of the missions Lin Qi had personally taken part in had involved major powers.
When it came down to nobodies or world-famous figures, mercenaries would always choose the latter.
The latter usually meant power and wealth.
It was rumored that the two T0-level Mercenary Groups on the rankings could each stand alone against the top corporations. That was the ambition every mercenary pursued throughout their life.
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