The moment Lin Qi answered the call, Liu Weicai got straight to the point. "You applied for an M-Class research project?"

On the screen, Liu Weicai’s eyes were filled with doubt, as if to say, ’You think you’re qualified?’

Lin Qi nodded and replied with a smile, "I’m here to learn. I’m only nineteen. If I can become an L-Class researcher for Prosthetic Bodies, I can certainly produce results in the field of Pharmacy, too."

Liu Weicai’s expression softened slightly. "Ten M-Class research assistants?"

Lin Qi’s smile remained confident. "I have sufficient clearance, and I’m not afraid to ask for help."

Liu Weicai’s expression changed completely, and he looked almost relieved. "I can approve this for you."

Surprisingly, there was even a hint of goodwill in Liu Weicai’s tone.

He had thought Lin Qi was just someone who got in through connections, but it turned out he was actually capable—and shameless to boot.

Liu Weicai greatly admired this type of person; in fact, he was one himself.

If he cared about face, his status as a member of the Liu Clan would have prevented him from ever taking on such a "low-level" job.

Things went almost too smoothly. Before long, ten M-Class researchers entered Lab 1339, all looking extremely cautious.

This was a chance to work on a research project with an A-Class big shot—a chance for promotion!

Seeing the cautious yet ambitious looks in the M-Class researchers’ eyes, Lin Qi didn’t feel the slightest bit of guilt.

He opened his mouth and asked, "I’m new to Pharmacy and have no foundational knowledge. What books should I read to get started?"

The M-Class researchers: "Huh?"

’This is bad!’

’We thought he was an A-Class big shot in Pharmacy, but it turns out he’s an A-Class from another field.’

’The big shot is just here to coast.’

Though they had their complaints, the M-Class researchers didn’t dare show it and could only offer their suggestions.

"You could read *Basic Pharmacology of Rites*, *Extraordinary Material Fusion Foundation*, *Extraordinary Human Body*..."

...

Lin Qi’s research into Pharmacy was on the right track, and for the time being, he paid no mind to the outside world.

However, Liu Xingzhou—responsible for Liu Xuan and Liu Li, and by extension, Lin Qi’s safety—was at the top of Si Pharmaceutical’s Twin Towers A Tower, exchanging "polite" greetings with the current Si Family Leader, Si Li.

"I’ll fuck your mother, you Si bastard! The Si and Liu Families have a strategic corporate alliance, and the Si Clan just lets that madman of yours pull this kind of shit?"

"Has it been ten years since I, Liu Xingzhou, came to Greenfield City to fuck your Si... or have you, Si Li, been infected with goddamn cyber psychosis?"

The usually composed train conductor was clearly in an extremely foul mood, having lost all of his usual composure.

Si Li’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. "In any case, that researcher isn’t an heir to your Liu Family, is he?"

Liu Xingzhou didn’t reply, remaining silent for a long time.

Si Li tilted his head slightly. "Oh? Is he that important?"

Liu Xingzhou’s reaction said it all.

Lin Qi was indeed important. He could directly affect Liu Xuan’s mental state.

And as far as the Liu Clan was concerned, Liu Xuan was no different from an heir.

Si Li mulled it over for a moment. "I understand. I’ll arrange for someone to discipline Si Ying, and I will do my best to provide compensation and try my best to ensure that researcher’s safety in Greenfield City."

Do my best, try my best.

To a major corporation, words like these were no different from a fart.

Liu Xingzhou took a deep breath. After all, the two families were in a strategic alliance; it wasn’t worth completely falling out over this.

His purpose in coming to the Twin Towers today was simple.

"The Liu Clan needs a shipment of S-Class Potions. Although we’ve concentrated most of our main forces in Greenfield City, the pressure in Red Fruit City is still significant."

"According to projections from Red Fruit Intelligence, a Tier Four Extraordinary from the Assassin Alliance has appeared in Red Fruit City. Xing Yuan needs to reach Tier Four Combat Power as soon as possible for Red Fruit City to be stabilized."

"You should understand the principle of mutual dependence."

Liu Xingzhou had regained his train conductor’s demeanor.

This was how the top brass of a major corporation behaved, concerned only with profits and losses.

Any transgression could be compensated for with sufficient benefits.

Forget Lin Qi—even if a true Liu Clan heir were to die, the corporation wouldn’t immediately collapse, and certain other corporations in the Asian Administrative Region wouldn’t just stand by and watch the Liu Clan fall.

As long as a sufficient transfer of benefits was secured, all wrongdoings were insignificant.

"Agreed."

Si Li agreed readily.

Liu Xingzhou was satisfied, but he still had to grumble a bit.

"That madman, Si Ying, is too obvious a target for your Si Clan."

"Letting the target move around so freely... if he’s taken out too quickly, it’ll make it harder to hide the real heir."

"Contrast that with our Liu Clan..."

...

「On the outskirts of Greenfield City, inside a certain Prosthetic Clinic.」

Two top mercenaries from the T0-level Mercenary Corps, the Holy Relic Legion, had resorted to their last-ditch backup plan and were meeting here.

They weren’t discussing the whereabouts of their equipment—that was pointless. They were discussing the mission objective.

"This damn mission is such a pain. Assassinate the Si Clan heir, but we don’t even know who the heir is. The public one, Si Ying, is obviously a fake. Killing him would just be a waste of time and would expose us."

The man with the explosive yellow hair was full of complaints, not understanding why the Mercenary Corps would take such a mission.

"Without our quantum communication gear, trying to steal server core data from under Si’s Twin Towers is pointless. The mission has gotten a lot more troublesome, and the Si Pharmaceutical identity the Legion faked for you is useless now."

"Lion, how about this? You go kill Si Ying and the Si Clan’s previous-generation leader. I’ll hide in the shadows and watch what happens. The real heir is bound to show their hand then."

The one who spoke was a fat man. His codename was also Fatty.

If Lin Qi were here, he would surely be amazed.

The man looked to be over three hundred pounds, but the flesh on his body was so firm that you couldn’t even pinch enough to wrap a single dumpling!

It was all Prosthetic Body, all weapons!

The man with the explosive yellow hair—Lion—looked at Fatty as if he were an idiot. "Si Ying has a one-hundred-million-Credit-Point revenge fund on his head, and besides, he’s a blatant living target."

"How about this: *you* go kill him, and *I’ll* hide in the shadows and watch what happens."

Fatty shook his head. "Forget it, forget it. Let’s just stay hidden. The employer is generous, and there are plenty of other Mercenary Corps in Greenfield City. An opportunity will pop up sooner or later."

The two mercenaries from the T0-level Mercenary Corps worried in silence.

Major corporations were just a pain to deal with. There was too little intel for the mission; they couldn’t even find their target.

"We could keep an eye on the Liu Clan. From what I hear, a few second-rate Mercenary Corps might make a move tonight."

...

「Liu’s Heavy Industry Branch, Lab 1339.」

Lin Qi rubbed his head. It had been a long time since he’d felt knowledge being absorbed into his brain at such a rapid pace.

Across from Lin Qi, the ten M-Class researchers were on pins and needles.

"Is the human body’s absorption of a Potion affected by one’s Extraordinary Profession? For example, between a Martial Artist and a Knight, two different Extraordinary Professions..."

’Here it comes!’

’Here it comes again!’

Ever since the ten M-Class researchers had recommended the textbooks, Lin Qi had begun bombarding them with a deadly barrage of exam-like questions.

This was what it meant to be "not afraid to ask for help."

He felt no shame at all, locking his lower-level subordinates in the lab and questioning them relentlessly!

’Brainstorming is the best way to absorb knowledge,’ he thought.

The ten M-Class researchers looked miserable.

’Is this a question a beginner should be asking?’

’We can’t answer it!’

’Why has it only been one afternoon, and the big shot has already memorized the basic textbooks? He even seems to be connecting the dots.’

A full two minutes passed under Lin Qi’s ravenous gaze before one M-Class researcher, having wracked his brains, managed to cobble together an answer.

But Lin Qi wasn’t satisfied.

’M-Class Pharmacy researchers... seems like they’re not all that great.’

’I feel like I’ve already surpassed the M-Class level.’

’Maybe I should find some L-Class researchers and continue being "not afraid to ask for help"?’