Lin Qi stared directly into Si Ying’s eyes, but all he saw was madness.

Lin Qi was utterly certain that Si Ying was mad.

After a long silence, Si Ying raised his finger, pointed at Lin Qi, but then lowered it. "I don’t believe you."

The four words seemed to drain all the strength from Si Ying’s body.

Lin Qi offered no reply. He had said more than enough—enough for everyone listening in on this conversation to understand his position.

After another moment, Si Ying smiled. It wasn’t a smile of relief, but one tinged with contempt. "You’re going to die, and very soon."

With that, Si Ying turned to leave.

Lin Qi suddenly spoke. "Is that a curse? Or a prediction?"

Without turning back, Si Ying shook his head. "This is your destined end."

Lin Qi’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.

The desire to kill Si Ying grew even stronger in his heart.

’Si Clan? Heir?’

’I don’t care if you’re the real deal or not. I don’t care what plans the Si and Liu Families have.’

’Since you’ve dragged me into this danger, you can just go and die.’

Not a hint of his killing intent showed. On the contrary, his eyes revealed a deep-seated fear, and his body trembled slightly, as if in terror.

Lin Qi hadn’t forgotten that this was a Liu’s Heavy Industry Branch, nor had he forgotten that he was just an ’ordinary’ researcher.

He had to play the part convincingly, especially under Liu Xingzhou’s gaze.

...

In the elevator across the way, the purple light flickering in Liu Xuan’s eyes grew more intense; the display in her vision even started flashing a warning.

Liu Xuan didn’t relax until Si Ying walked out the main doors of the Liu’s Heavy Industry Branch, but even then, her body was still trembling faintly.

Haaa...

She let out a long breath, seemingly calming herself.

The elevator doors opened. "What a coincidence."

Lin Qi shifted his gaze from Si Ying’s distant figure and saw Liu Xuan, whose left prosthetic eye was flashing with an intense purple light.

As soon as Liu Xuan saw Lin Qi, the purple light in her left eye faded rapidly.

This indicated that Liu Xuan’s emotions were only just beginning to settle, and her Suppressor was reducing its output.

"It is quite a coincidence." Lin Qi smiled, nodding to Liu Xuan and Liu Li in turn.

Lin Qi had seen everything that transpired inside the elevator, including the moment Liu Li promised Liu Xuan she would kill Si Ying one day.

He was in a good mood, and it even improved his impression of Liu Li considerably.

’Now that’s what you call a model sister.’

Lin Qi stood still, and Liu Xuan and Liu Li didn’t hurry to leave either.

Liu Xuan looked like she wanted to say something, but after a moment’s hesitation, she decided to stick to the script, playing out their ’chance encounter’ just as they always did.

Liu Xuan turned, and Liu Li hurried to follow.

As they were leaving, Liu Li suddenly called out, "See you tomorrow!"

Lin Qi raised an eyebrow slightly.

’Done with the act?’

’So much for the chance encounter.’

’Did Liu Li just blow her sister’s cover?’

Liu Li apparently got a couple of taps from Liu Xuan, as she turned back and added, "See you tomorrow... if we’re fated to meet again!"

Liu Li’s impression of Lin Qi also seemed to have changed slightly.

It seemed his earlier remarks had also significantly improved his standing with the true heir to Liu’s Heavy Industries.

’It wasn’t intentional, but it’s a good thing nonetheless.’

Watching the pair walk into the distance, Lin Qi also headed out of the building.

To Lin Qi’s confusion, the intense feeling of being watched never faded. This meant Liu Xingzhou was still observing him.

’Will he show himself?’

Lin Qi didn’t know, but he made sure not to linger in the building.

If possible, Lin Qi preferred to keep his distance from a true titan of Liu’s Heavy Industries like Liu Xingzhou.

’Right now, my true level is only that of an L-level Researcher in Prosthetic Engineering. For Potions, I haven’t even reached the L-level threshold.’

’Setting aside my Extraordinary Profession, I’m just an unknown nobody in the Cyber World.’

’Only those who are alive have the right to be called a Legend. The dead are just cautionary tales.’

As he walked out of the building’s main entrance, the feeling of being watched faded away.

A certain miserable A-Class Implanter bodyguard was still tailing him from the shadows.

Lin Qi’s security detail had been reduced, leaving only this one A-Class bodyguard.

It seemed the Liu Clan was also deliberately creating a false impression.

In the original plan, Lin Qi was a scapegoat who had been inadvertently exposed. But now that the truth was out, the Liu Clan provided only symbolic protection in the form of a single bodyguard.

It was just like Si Ying’s situation.

Everyone knew he was the scapegoat, but the public pretense was maintained.

’This, in a way, is a form of protection for me.’

Lin Qi didn’t blame the Liu Clan for their choice.

Thanks to Liu Xuan, Lin Qi had already overheard the conversation between Liu Xingzhou and Liu Xingyuan.

The Liu Clan had never intended to use him to draw fire from the very beginning.

The only one who had truly dragged him into danger was Si Ying.

’I’ll find a way to finish you tonight!’

A vicious glint flashed deep in his eyes. Since arriving in the Cyber World, Lin Qi had never felt such strong killing intent toward anyone.

...

Inside Liu Xuan and Liu Li’s secure vehicle, Liu Xingzhou’s call came through.

"Second Uncle." The two sisters maintained a respectful tone toward Liu Xingzhou.

"Liu Xuan, you did very well," Liu Xingzhou began, praising her first. "You didn’t act impulsively."

"Impulsiveness is the most useless of emotions," Liu Xuan replied. "I will remain perfectly calm at all times."

Liu Xingzhou’s tone shifted. "Can you really do that? At all times?"

Liu Xuan was silent.

"Second Uncle, please don’t pressure my sister," Liu Li quickly interjected.

Liu Xingzhou didn’t press the issue and moved on to the main topic.

"What happened with Lin Qi was unexpected. It wasn’t part of my original plan, but the company has profited enough from it."

"After yesterday’s events, the danger to Lin Qi is now negligible. No one pays attention to a nobody."

"From now on, all the major powers will turn their attention back to the younger generation of the Si and Liu Families. Liu Yue and Liu Heng will become the prime targets. There’s no risk of your identities being exposed anytime soon."

Liu Xuan already knew everything Liu Xingzhou was saying. The real reason for the call was just that first sentence.

What happened with Lin Qi wasn’t his doing.

Liu Xingzhou didn’t want Liu Xuan to get the wrong idea.

Liu Xuan responded, "I know."

’But will Lin Qi understand?’

The purple glow that flared up in her left eye proved that, deep down, Liu Xuan was not at peace.

Seeing the purple light flare, Liu Xingzhou felt a sense of resignation.

Liu Xuan was too important to the Liu Clan.

In a way, she was even more important than Liu Li, the designated heir.

If a true crisis occurred, if one had to be chosen between the two sisters to be saved...

Liu Xingzhou was almost certain that Liu Xingyuan’s choice would be Liu Xuan.

Heirs can be found again, but there is only one miracle.

After a brief pause, Liu Xuan spoke up. "Second Uncle, in my opinion, hiding here in Greenfield City seems pointless. We’re just buying time."

"Buying time is enough," Liu Xingzhou nodded. "The Si and Liu Families are under immense pressure. For the crisis to be truly resolved, we’ll need Xing Yuan to make progress on his end."

"Either we get the Big Business Alliance to intervene, or our Liu Clan pulls out of the alliance and sides with..."