Complaining about the company wouldn’t change a thing. For now, Lin Qi couldn’t leave Liu’s Heavy Industries.

Whether it was Prosthetic Engineering or Pharmacy, Lin Qi still had a vast amount of knowledge to learn from the company.

Aside from joining a major corporation, there were virtually no other ways to learn advanced knowledge in the Cyber World.

He left his room and headed for the new one the company had arranged for him.

Room 1414. It sounded a bit unlucky, but Lin Qi wasn’t bothered.

After entering the room, he went straight to the bathroom and splashed his face with cool water.

Splashing his face with water helped Lin Qi adjust his mindset and stay calm.

’The company’s decision seems bizarre, but it confirms my suspicions.’

’After being probed by that sphere of light, my status has changed from suspected Liu Clan heir back to a key researcher being cultivated by the Liu Clan.’

’The latter status isn’t simple either, but in the current situation, it’s not the center of the storm.’

’Most of the danger I was facing has been resolved. That’s the main reason the company feels comfortable letting me continue to be a good little workhorse.’

Looking at his face in the mirror, dotted with scattered water droplets, Lin Qi summarized the situation he now faced.

All in all, he was safe.

Even if there was danger, it would only come from third-rate Mercenary Corps.

Soon, even those Mercenary Corps would disappear, and the number of contracts on his head on the Black Market would surely plummet.

He picked up a towel and wiped the water from his face.

Lin Qi’s mind was still racing.

Though the external threats had largely subsided, Lin Qi now had a new anxiety.

’The Wizard Profession... it seems abnormal.’

He recalled his Extraordinary Profession and the sensation of being enveloped by the sphere of light.

Lin Qi had never heard of any Extraordinary Profession being this strange.

The feeling that he was on the verge of transforming into a Tentacle Monster sent a shiver down his spine.

Activating his Spiritual Vision, he observed his own Spiritual Power.

It was still in the uncanny shape of tentacles. Each tentacle was an extension of his Spiritual Power, and Lin Qi could even control their exact number.

However, no matter what he did, he couldn’t change the shape his Spiritual Power manifested as.

’This tentacle-like Spiritual Power... did it change into this after I became a Wizard?’

Lin Qi couldn’t figure out the answer for the time being.

’The ability to "see" the shape of my Spiritual Power is something I gained after acquiring Spiritual Vision, by which time I had already become a Wizard.’

’No, according to my understanding, being a Wizard is a Talent—an inborn Talent for analyzing Extraordinary Items.’

’And analyzing Extraordinary Items relies on this very tentacle-like Spiritual Power to deconstruct them, layer by layer.’

’In other words, it’s not that becoming a Wizard caused my Spiritual Power to change. It’s that possessing this tentacle-like Spiritual Power is what qualified me to become a Wizard.’

The problem wasn’t solved. In fact, it just gave Lin Qi a bigger headache.

It seemed this was a problem he wouldn’t be solving anytime soon.

’But it wasn’t a complete waste of time. At least I understand why Wizards instinctively loathe Prosthetic Body implants.’

After this experience, Lin Qi understood the source of a Wizard’s aversion to Prosthetic Bodies.

The sphere of light would force a Wizard’s spirit to merge with their physical body, causing them to transform.

If a Prosthetic Body were implanted in the body, the transformation would continue anyway, causing the prosthetic to detach.

Even if they could transform back later, the detached Prosthetic Body would need to be reinstalled by a Prosthetic Doctor.

If key organs had been replaced by prosthetics, they likely wouldn’t live long enough to get help from a Prosthetic Doctor.

They would die the moment the transformation began.

Lin Qi had a feeling that the sphere of light wasn’t the only way to make a Wizard transform into a Tentacle Monster.

He might find out more when his Wizard Profession leveled up.

For now, all he could do was take it one step at a time.

He left the bathroom and checked the time.

5:33 AM, March 5th, 2089. The sky was still dark. Neon light reflected off the Iron Curtain, making Greenfield City look like a city that never sleeps.

But he had little time left to rest; Lin Qi still had to go to work on schedule.

He lay down on the bed and set his alarm. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

As a researcher, Lin Qi knew the importance of rest all too well.

Before resting, Lin Qi activated his Spiritual Vision and scanned the building one more time.

The fire from the explosion downstairs had been put out, and there were no suspicious individuals inside the building.

As for the bodyguards...

Only one remained.

This further confirmed Lin Qi’s suspicions.

He was mentally exhausted. He had been staying up for a long time to face this crisis.

Including the time spent in the Doomsday World, Lin Qi hadn’t slept in forty hours.

He closed his eyes and sank into a deep sleep. A Wizard’s powerful Spiritual Power made Lin Qi’s rest extremely efficient.

Even after resting for just over three hours, the vast majority of his mental fatigue had dissipated.

...

At 9:59 AM, Lin Qi walked through the company doors and successfully clocked in.

"What a coincidence."

"Indeed."

Liu Xuan’s coincidental encounters seemed immune to any and all interruptions. She’d even dragged Liu Li into these constant "chance meetings" with Lin Qi, though it was clear Liu Li was not pleased.

"Lin Qi, did you contact my sister last night?" Liu Li’s eyes were filled with suspicion.

Lin Qi raised an eyebrow.

’She doesn’t know?’

’Based on what Lin Qi knew now, Liu Li was supposed to be the Liu Clan’s true heir. Yet for some reason, she seemed to know even less than Liu Xuan. She looked like a simpleton...’

"No."

Lin Qi’s tone was firm. He definitely had not asked Liu Xuan for money last night.

Liu Li’s suspicious gaze shifted back to Liu Xuan.

In her little head, she couldn’t imagine who other than Lin Qi would contact Liu Xuan at such an hour.

In the middle of the night! When people were supposed to be sleeping!

So rude!

"Let’s hurry upstairs. It’s time for work." Liu Xuan said, pulling Liu Li away.

As always, she engaged in no further social interaction with Lin Qi beyond their "chance encounter."

Lin Qi walked to the elevator on the opposite side and rode it to the thirteenth floor, the Pharmacy division.

Lin Qi had a full schedule of work and study planned for the day.

Just as the elevator doors opened, Lin Qi saw a face.

Liu Weicai, the director of the Pharmacy division.

"Lin Qi, it’s your second day of work at this branch, and you’re already two minutes late?" Liu Weicai said, glancing at the time.

Lin Qi’s expression didn’t change. "The company determines lateness based on clock-in time. I already completed the internal clock-in at 9:59."

His logic was solid, his actions precise. Even if he were reported to the company’s smart system, he’d still be considered on time for work.

Liu Weicai was silent for a few seconds.

Then he spoke. "Before, in Red Fruit City, you had no exposure to Pharmacy?"

This was the real reason Liu Weicai had been waiting here for Lin Qi.

Lin Qi nodded. "Yesterday was my first time encountering Pharmacy. It’s not much more difficult to learn than Prosthetic Engineering."

Liu Weicai fell silent for another few seconds.

He sighed. "Come with me. Your two research findings from yesterday have already passed company verification. The company will give you a bonus commensurate with A-level Researcher clearance. Besides that, I want to get a better sense of your knowledge of Pharmacy."