Liu Yue, one of the targets, had made a public appearance, gathering all the top elites of the entire branch company.

More importantly, Liu Xuan had intentionally blocked the email that should have been sent to him, preventing him from appearing at this event.

’What is Liu Xuan trying to do?’

The same word quietly surfaced in his mind.

A target, or rather, bait.

Liu Xuan was betting all of the company’s elite forces in Greenfield City, deliberately luring the hidden powers into action.

If it was bait, there had to be a follow-up plan.

’What is Liu Xuan’s follow-up plan?’

Lin Qi couldn’t imagine what other moves Liu’s Heavy Industries could possibly have in Greenfield City.

The Tier Three Wizard Liu Xingzhou, sent by the company to oversee all matters, was already dead. The Liu Clan could only rely on the forces already present in Greenfield City.

Lin Qi was certain the Liu Clan had no other hidden cards to play on the Red and Green Train.

’I only had King Arthur pass on the news of the Si Clan’s betrayal of the strategic alliance. Isn’t Liu Xuan’s reaction a bit too extreme...?’

Lin Qi’s head throbbed. It felt like he’d shot himself in the foot. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

It was just that according to Liu Xuan’s original plan, Lin Qi wasn’t supposed to be on the top floor—the venue for Liu Yue’s speech.

But who could have expected him to run into the well-meaning Liu Weicai, who not only stopped him from leaving the elevator but even kindly pressed the button for the top floor.

It was just that Liu Xuan’s plan hadn’t accounted for this change.

Now that it had come to this, Lin Qi had no way to slip away.

God knew if there were people from the Si Clan or other factions on the top floor. Leaving rashly would only get him targeted.

Lin Qi activated his Spiritual Vision and, steeling himself, followed Liu Weicai to the top floor.

...

This was a conference hall that could hold a thousand people, typically used for the company’s major addresses.

Now, one-third of the hall’s seats were filled with various high-level company personnel.

There were researchers and managers.

Liu Weicai led Lin Qi to the area belonging to the Pharmaceutical Department.

"See? There’s an exact number of seats. Even if you pulled some strings to get here, you can’t just ignore company emails."

Liu Weicai said didactically, pointing at the empty seat.

You could tell Liu Weicai was a rather strait-laced person who placed great importance on company rules and regulations.

"Right."

Lin Qi nodded, but his mind was elsewhere as he scanned everyone in the hall.

He couldn’t detect anything out of the ordinary.

But this was, after all, an exclusive venue for the Liu Clan’s senior staff. It would be extremely difficult to infiltrate without prior preparation.

Though there was nothing abnormal within his Spiritual Vision’s range, Lin Qi felt numerous gazes fixed on the area.

The gazes felt extremely familiar. It was the stare of mercenaries.

This was a beyond-visual-range scan using high-grade equipment. Judging from the intensity of the sensation, they were probably just using devices like life-sign detectors.

’It’s confirmed. The venue is being watched by mercenaries.’

Lin Qi didn’t know Liu Xuan’s plan, but his intuition screamed that something was dangerously wrong.

Unfortunately, there was no longer any chance to withdraw. He could only wait and see what happened.

Just as he sat down in the empty seat belonging to the Pharmaceutical Department, his Intelligent Brain suddenly received a communication request.

The caller was Liu Xuan.

Lin Qi accepted at once.

Electrodes behind his ear used electrical signals to project the image onto his retina.

Liu Xuan’s face appeared clearly in the call window.

"Lin Qi, you..."

Liu Xuan trailed off, her left eye emitting an incredibly intense purple glow.

Liu Xuan’s Suppressor was operating at extremely high power.

Lin Qi didn’t speak either, glancing around the hall as if to show that this wasn’t a good place to talk.

According to company regulations, taking personal calls during work hours resulted in a pay deduction—a hefty one.

After a long moment, Liu Xuan spoke. "If something happens, get on the ground and play dead."

After she said this, the purple light flickering from her left prosthetic eye seemed to reach its absolute limit.

Then, Liu Xuan ended the call.

Lin Qi sighed.

Just as he thought. This inaugural speech, with Liu Yue—one of the targets—at its center, was all just a part of Liu Xuan’s scheme.

He didn’t know the goal, but it was predictable that the senior company members in attendance today would suffer catastrophic casualties.

...

「Greenfield City. A hidden Liu Clan safe house.」

Liu Xuan’s face was contorted in extreme pain. The Suppressor in her left eye was working frantically.

"Sis, you..."

Liu Li reached out to pat Liu Xuan’s back, but a scratch instantly appeared on her finger.

Liu Li quickly pulled her hand back. "Sis, you need to calm down."

Liu Xuan raised her right hand to her left eye socket and dug her fingers in.

She pulled out the purple prosthetic eye.

With the Suppressor removed, her condition worsened dramatically.

Liu Xuan quickly grabbed another prosthetic eye from the table and fitted it into the socket.

The new prosthetic eye also began to glow purple.

Liu Xuan’s symptoms eased.

Seeing this, Liu Li grew even more worried. "Sis, that’s an S-Class Suppressor. If Lin Qi really..."

"Will you really be able to handle it then?"

Liu Xuan waved her hand dismissively. "The company comes first. Ah Li, you need to remember who you are. You are the heir to the Liu Clan. You must always think from the company’s perspective."

Liu Li nodded, then shook her head. "But from the company’s perspective, you’re more important than I am."

Liu Xuan stiffened slightly. "But you know that so-called miracles can’t be replicated. Besides, I’m sick. I have cyber psychosis, and I’m already on an S-Class Suppressor."

"It might not be long before I become a complete lunatic."

Liu Li wanted to say more, but Liu Xuan cut her off.

"Brace yourself. If today’s plan fails, the next target will be Liu Heng. And after him, me."

"We have three chances at most. We have to get the evidence. Otherwise, with things as they are now, you won’t be able to escape."

"If you survive, you must learn this lesson: even the most stable strategic alliance is untrustworthy in the face of greater profit."

"The price the Liu Clan pays today is a lesson written in blood."

The conversation between the two sisters was heavy, a testament to the immense impact the Si Clan’s betrayal had on the Liu Clan.

After all, in the eyes of the Liu Clan’s current leader, Liu Xingyuan, the Si Clan’s betrayal of the alliance should have been impossible.

Betraying the strategic alliance meant the Si Clan would lose the backing of the largest supplier of raw materials for High-tier Potions in the entire Asian Administrative Region.

Liu Xuan continued, "There is only one explanation for the Si Clan betraying their strategic alliance with the Liu Clan: they have also betrayed the Big Business Alliance of the Asian Administrative Region."

"As long as we can obtain evidence, we can invoke the second clause of the Big Business Alliance committee. Then, the Alliance will be forced to intervene."

Risking all the company’s top brass for a single, decisive victory.