He opened his mouth, wanting to say, "No, what nonsense are you talking about? I don't understand a word-"
But he could not get a single word out.
What he saw in Star Network's eyes was not a probing look, but confirmation.
Being reborn was his greatest secret.
From the day he returned through time, he had never intended to tell anyone this secret.
Because once exposed, it could trigger a series of unpredictable crises.
Capture, research, dissection-scenarios he had read about in science fiction might very well play out in reality.
Even if the Real World was safe, what about the game world?
His rebirth was itself a kind of "cheating" that disrupted the game's balance. Star Network might well detect it and ban his account.
So he had intended to take this secret to his grave.
That would keep all kinds of unnecessary trouble from coming his way.
But now, before No. 1, he felt as though he had no secrets at all.
"I-" Lin Ji's voice grew dry as he tried to struggle a little longer. "What are you talking about? What do you mean, reborn? I don't understand."
He tried hard to look confused, but his denial sounded feeble.
Star Network said nothing, merely watching him quietly, yet that only made Lin Ji feel guiltier.
After a moment, Star Network spoke. "Actually, I started paying attention to you the moment you obtained your player qualification."
Lin Ji froze, unable to understand why No. 1 had started watching him the moment he became a player. He instinctively asked, "Why?"
"In every Rookie Competition, I conduct a comprehensive analysis of noteworthy players. Your growth trajectory was unreasonable from the very beginning."
"The fluctuations in the rankings prove that your strength didn't rise steadily. Instead, it grew through a