Chapter 154: Chapter 145: A Tier Four Big Shot Visits (2)

"In Dad’s words, I don’t want to be a nobody for the rest of my life, but I’ll never let this junk heap of metal invade even an inch of my body."

Lin Xin’s eyes were filled with determination.

Thanks to Lin Qi, she was more worldly than her peers at school.

On top of that, they had a top-tier "Sales Master," Doctor Lin, who preached the concept of "being a nobody versus making a name for yourself" to gang members every day.

Lin Xin had been exposed to these values so much that she had long since developed her own ideas.

But living in the outer edges of Red Fruit City, Lin Xin had also seen too many cyber madmen who craved fame.

They had so-called grand ambitions, but they could only cling to their second-hand Prosthetic Bodies as they rotted away, begging Doctor Lin to find a way to save them right up until they went completely mad.

In the end, they inevitably became cyber madmen, completely unable to pay Red Fruit City’s fines for illegal activities and crimes.

Eventually, they would be apprehended by the HGPD’s riot squads and would never leave Red Fruit Prison for the rest of their lives.

Having witnessed the fall of so many so-called legends, Lin Xin had developed a deep-seated loathing for things like Prosthetic Bodies.

It was practically a physical revulsion.

Hearing Lin Xin’s words, Lin Qi felt a little helpless.

’A nobody? Making a name for yourself?’

’That was just a sales pitch I taught the old man!’

’It was one thing for the gang members on the street to buy it, but how could Lin Xin believe such bullshit?’

Living in this Cyber City, survival was what mattered most.

The ultimate goal Lin Qi was striving for was simply to survive and to help his family survive better.

He didn’t want to end up dying in some random corner one day, just because some person with cyber psychosis suddenly went berserk.

Looking at Lin Xin, and then at Baili Xueyuan—who he suspected was a Tier Four Blood Robe—Lin Qi said, "I think you should talk to Dad."

He didn’t rush to stop Lin Xin; after all, he himself had walked a similar path.

Lin Xin nodded.

Lin Qi continued, "Go downstairs and wait in my workshop. Talk to Dad as soon as he’s free. I want to have a good chat with your teacher."

So far, Lin Qi hadn’t sensed any malice from Baili Xueyuan.

’If she had any ill intent, I’d have been finished long ago.’

For once, Lin Xin obediently followed Lin Qi’s instructions. She stood up and looked at Baili Xueyuan.

Baili Xueyuan waved her hand and said, "You should know the Assassin Alliance’s rules. I won’t make things difficult for your brother."

Only then did Lin Xin turn around, relieved, and head toward the basement workshop.

Now, only Lin Qi and Baili Xueyuan were left in the first-floor lobby of the No. 1 Prosthetic Clinic.

Lin Xin had already hung a "Closed" sign on the clinic’s main door and locked it.

Looking at Baili Xueyuan, Lin Qi took a deep breath and began, "I want to know, why Lin Xin? What’s so special about her? The Assassin Alliance is a T1 Mercenary Corps, one that could even become T0-level at any moment. Surely you don’t lack for a sixteen-year-old girl like her, do you?"

Baili Xueyuan didn’t answer right away. Instead, she adjusted her posture.

Just as Lin Xin had said, the people of the Assassin Alliance were strongly opposed to Prosthetic Body implantation.

Baili Xueyuan didn’t have a single Prosthetic Body on her; her body was completely natural.

But perhaps because she was a Tier Four Extraordinary, this powerhouse—whose age was unknown but who was definitely not young—looked as if she were only in her twenties.

Her clothes were also youthful, in a style popular in the Cyber City. She was even wearing a pair of fishnet stockings.

She lifted her left leg, gently crossing it over her right. Baili Xueyuan’s expression shifted as she looked at Lin Qi. "Your knowledge of the Assassin Alliance goes beyond just this, doesn’t it? I just used some intelligence-gathering methods. You’re on very good terms with certain people from Liu’s Heavy Industries. Your intelligence channels are quite extensive."

Lin Qi looked at Baili Xueyuan and felt an inexplicable increase in pressure.

Baili Xueyuan ignored Lin Qi’s reaction and continued speaking as if to herself, "The Assassin Alliance. A T1 Mercenary Corps, famous in the Mercenary Realm. Our numbers are few, but every member is an Extraordinary Professional."

"The Assassin Alliance has three types of Extraordinary Professions: Blood Robe, Soul Seeker, and Death Warrior."

"We’ll set the Death Warrior profession aside for now. They’re basically a type of Martial Artist who has also cultivated a Spiritual Power technique."

"Soul Seeker. They are the source of what most ordinary Mercenary Corps know about our Assassin Alliance. They’re the only ones who take on jobs from the Black Market. Their methods are rather unique. You’ll understand if you ever encounter one."

"Finally, there’s the Blood Robe. There’s something you might not know. The Blood Robe Profession requires an innate Talent, one that is most often passed down through bloodlines, and even then, the inheritance isn’t guaranteed."

"Someone with the Blood Robe Talent, if they go down the wrong path, can easily become an Extraordinary Profession originating from the European Administrative Region, known as... a Wizard."

At this point, Lin Qi wasn’t just feeling the pressure; it was practically off the charts.

He was tempted to call the Intercontinental Stability Trauma Emergency Company, upgrade his membership, and beg for help!

But the reason Lin Qi didn’t was, once again, Baili Xueyuan.

Lin Qi’s Spiritual Vision gave him a special sense: the ability to perceive malicious gazes.

And in Baili Xueyuan’s gaze, Lin Qi still hadn’t detected the slightest hint of malice.

"Theoretically, information about the Blood Robe is a moderately big secret, but since Lin Xin has already started down the Blood Robe path, it doesn’t really matter if I tell you."

"After all I’ve said, you should have a rough idea of why I have to take Lin Xin with me."

"The Witch Hunting Plan. You’ve heard of it, right? Some of your experiences in Greenfield City were related to it. I refuse to believe you don’t know anything about it."

Baili Xueyuan’s tone shifted as she brought up the Witch Hunting Plan.

Lin Qi’s wildly pounding heart began to calm down.

’Has this woman seen through my identity or not?’

Lin Qi couldn’t be sure.

But for now, Lin Qi had to respond along the lines she’d set. "I know a little, but not through the Liu Clan’s channels. There are rumors about it on the cyber network."

Lin Qi’s answer was very cautious.

Lin Qi had never learned about this from Liu Xuan or Liu Weicai. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

And based on his outward behavior, Lin Qi wasn’t supposed to know much about what the Liu Clan had truly gone through.

’I’m not supposed to know about the Liu Clan’s conflict with the Round Table Conference, nor am I supposed to know they have Wizards among them.’

Baili Xueyuan seemed to accept Lin Qi’s response and continued, "The Witch Hunting Plan originated from a faction under the European Big Business Alliance, the Round Table Conference. In terms of strength, a single Round Table Conference could crush any T0-level Mercenary Corps. In fact, the two T0-level Mercenary Corps that exist in the world combined would be no match for them."

"The conditions for a Wizard’s survival are extremely harsh."

"Your understanding of the Witch Hunting Plan is likely incomplete. They don’t just hunt Wizards; they also hunt people with the Wizard Talent, and even the Blood Robe Professionals of our Assassin Alliance."

"Under these circumstances, if Lin Xin stays in Red Fruit City, she’ll eventually be targeted for assassination by the Witch Hunting Plan. Only by coming with me can her safety be guaranteed."

"Of course, there’s a more important point. I didn’t come here today to ask for your opinion. This is a notification."

"I’ve been searching for a suitable successor for twenty years. It’s not easy to find someone whose talent and personality both meet my requirements. I’m not giving her up."

Only now did Baili Xueyuan finally reveal the true bearing of a Tier Four powerhouse.

When Lin Xin was here, she had been holding back. Now that Lin Xin was gone, she was slowly reverting to her true self.

Lin Qi fell into deep thought, partly about Lin Xin, and partly about himself.

From Baili Xueyuan’s words, Lin Qi was completely unable to tell whether she had discovered his identity.

Seeing the solemn expression on Lin Qi’s face, Baili Xueyuan suddenly changed her attitude again, and the mental pressure Lin Qi felt lessened considerably.

"You don’t have to worry too much. I’ve already checked. You don’t have the Talent to become a Blood Robe. As long as I take Lin Xin with me, you’ll be quite safe."