Lin Qi had just connected the call when Liu Weicai asked, "You applied for an M-level research project?"
On the screen, Liu Weicai's eyes were full of doubt, as if he were saying, You?
Lin Qi nodded and replied with a smile, "I'm still learning, and I'm only nineteen. If I can become an L-level cybernetic research scientist, then I can learn in pharmacology and achieve results there, too."
Liu Weicai's gaze softened a little. "Ten M-level research assistants?"
Lin Qi's smile remained confident. "I have enough clearance. I'm not ashamed to ask questions."
Liu Weicai's expression changed completely, and he even seemed relieved. "I can approve it."
There was even a hint of goodwill in Liu Weicai's voice.
He had assumed Lin Qi was nothing but a nepotism hire. He hadn't expected him to be capable—and shameless, too.
Liu Weicai admired people like that. He was one of them himself.
If he cared about saving face, he would never have taken such a "low-level" job, despite being a member of the Liu Family.
Things went almost suspiciously smoothly. Before long, ten M-level researchers entered Laboratory 1339, their expressions cautious and ambitious.
This was a chance to work on a project alongside an A-level big shot—and a chance to advance!
Seeing the M-level researchers' cautious, eager expressions, Lin Qi didn't feel the slightest bit guilty.
He opened with a question. "I'm researching potions outside my field, and I have no background in it. What books should I read?"
The M-level researchers all stared at him. "Huh?"
This was bad!
They had assumed he was an A-level potion-research big shot. They hadn't realized he was an A-level researcher in some other field.
The big shot was here to coast.
The M-level researchers had some misgivings, but they didn't dare show them. They could only offer suggestions.
"You could read Si Li's Basic Pharmacy, Fundamentals of Extraordinary Material Fusion, The Extraordinary Human Body..."
Lin Qi's study of pharmacology got underway. For the time being, he paid no attention to what was happening outside.
Meanwhile, Liu Xingzhou, who was responsible for Liu Xuan and Liu Li—and, by extension, Lin Qi's safety—was on the top floor of Tower A in the Twin Towers, owned by Si Pharmaceutical, exchanging a few "polite" words with Si Li, the current head of the Si Clan.
"I'll fucking kill you, Si—! The Si and Liu companies are strategic allies, and Si Pharmaceutical just lets that madman of yours pull this kind of shit?"
"Has it been ten years since I last came to Greenland City to fuck you up, or have you already caught Cyberpsychosis, Si Li?"
The usually composed Train Conductor was clearly furious, and had completely lost his usual decorum.
Si Li's expression didn't change in the slightest. "In any case, that researcher isn't the Liu Family's heir, is he?"
Liu Xingzhou didn't answer. He fell silent for a long while.
Si Li tilted his head slightly. "Oh? Is he important?"
Liu Xingzhou's attitude said it all.
Lin Qi really was important. He could directly affect Liu Xuan's mental state.
And to the Liu Group, Liu Xuan was as good as an heir.
Si Li considered this for a moment. "I understand. I'll arrange for someone to teach Si Ying a lesson, and do my best to provide compensation and ensure the researcher's safety in Greenland City."
Do my best. Ensure.
To a major corporation, words like those were no better than bullshit.
Liu Xingzhou took a deep breath. After all, the two companies were strategic allies; this wasn't enough to make them fall out completely.
Liu Xingzhou had come to the Twin Towers for one simple reason.
"The Liu Group needs a batch of S-level Potions. We've concentrated our main forces in Greenland City, but Red Fruit City is under considerable pressure, too."
"According to Red Fruit Intelligence, an Assassin's League Fourth-Rank extraordinary being was spotted in Red Fruit City. Xingyuan needs to reach Fourth-Rank strength as soon as possible if Red Fruit City is to be secured."
"You understand the principle of shared fate, don't you?"
Liu Xingzhou had regained the bearing of a Train Conductor.
This was how executives at major corporations operated: they cared only about gains and losses.
Any mistake could be made up for with enough benefits.
It didn't matter if it was Lin Qi. Even if an heir to the Liu Family were to die, the company wouldn't collapse overnight—and other companies in the Asian Political Zone wouldn't stand by and watch the Liu Group collapse, either.
With enough benefits delivered, no mistake was beyond forgiving.
"Agreed."
Si Li accepted readily.
Liu Xingzhou was satisfied, but still had to complain a little.
"Using that madman Si Ying as your decoy is far too obvious."
"Letting the decoy act so freely means he could be taken out quickly, which would make it harder to keep the real heir hidden."
"Compare that to our Liu Family..."
On the outskirts of Greenland City, inside a Cybernetic Clinic.
Two top mercenaries from the T0-level Mercenary Group, the Holy Corpse Legion, met there as a last resort.
They didn't discuss where the equipment had gone; there was no point. They talked about their target instead.
"This damn job is a pain. We're supposed to assassinate the Si heir, but we don't even know who the heir is. The obvious one, Si Ying, is clearly a fake. Killing him would just waste time and blow our cover."
The spiky-haired blond was full of complaints. He couldn't understand why the Mercenary Group had taken the job.
"Without quantum communication equipment, there's no point in going back to the Twin Towers and stealing the server core data. The job's a lot more complicated now, and the identity the Legion forged for you at Si Pharmaceutical is useless, too."
"Lion, how about this? You kill Si Ying and the previous head of the Si Clan. I'll stay hidden and watch what happens. Then the real heir will definitely slip up."
The speaker was a fat man. His codename was also Fatty.
If Lin Qi had been there, he would surely have been impressed.
The fat man looked like he weighed over three hundred pounds, but there wasn't enough flesh on him to wrap even a single dumpling!
He was all cybernetics, all weapons!
The spiky-haired blond—Lion—looked at Fatty as if he were an idiot. "Si Ying has a hundred-million-Credit-Point revenge fund on his head, and he's already an obvious target."
"How about you kill him while I stay hidden and watch what happens?"
Fatty shook his head. "Forget it, forget it. We'll keep hiding. The client's generous, and there are lots of Mercenary Groups in Greenland City. We'll get a chance sooner or later."
The two mercenaries from the T0-level Mercenary Group worried in silence.
Major corporations were hard to deal with. There was too little information about the job, and they couldn't even find the target.
"We can keep an eye on the Liu Group. From what I hear, a few second-rate Mercenary Groups might make a move tonight."
Liu Heavy Industries branch office, Laboratory 1339.
Lin Qi rubbed his temples. It had been a long time since he'd felt knowledge entering his brain so quickly.
Across from Lin Qi, the ten M-level researchers sat on edge.
"Does a person's Extraordinary Profession affect how their body absorbs potions? For example, Martial Artists and Knights—those two Extraordinary Professions..."
Here it came!
Again!
Ever since the ten M-level researchers had recommended books for Lin Qi to study, he'd started firing off questions like he was taking an exam.
That was what it meant to be unashamed to ask questions.
He didn't feel the slightest shame about locking subordinates with lower ranks in the lab and asking them questions nonstop!
A mental workout was the best way to absorb knowledge.
The ten M-level researchers looked miserable.
Was this the kind of question a beginner should be asking?
They couldn't answer!
How had the big shot memorized the basic textbooks in a single afternoon? He even seemed to be putting the knowledge together and applying it.
A full two minutes passed before, under Lin Qi's almost predatory stare, one of the M-level researchers finally managed to answer through sheer effort.
But Lin Qi wasn't satisfied.
The M-level pharmacology researchers seemed rather unimpressive.
He felt he'd already surpassed M-level.
Maybe he should find a few L-level researchers and keep asking them questions?
Before you continue