Hidden Dead Ends-Chapter 70

But everything had gone wrong. Zheng Qingrong had unexpectedly left her home, discovered her sister’s body, and survived. Attempts to capture her had failed. Then the attack on headquarters, culminating in Zheng Jiayu’s death.

“The attacker had a clear objective: Zheng Jiayu,” Ding analyzed aloud. “This suggests a personal vendetta against him or Zheng Kai. A fully enhanced cyborg requires a significant support system—maintenance, energy, security. Such a setup cannot remain entirely hidden within our nation. Therefore…”

He paused for effect, letting the weight of his words sink in.

“…this case will require extensive investigation.”

Everyone present understood what that meant. Tracing the attacker’s support system would inevitably entangle multiple interest groups. Accessing such information could expose proprietary data—details about Mech Masters, enhanced cyborgs, weapon systems, and more. No corporation would allow such secrets to be unveiled.

Ding turned as an officer approached. “Deputy Chief, representatives from Hongjin Corporation have arrived,” the officer reported quietly.

Ding faced the approaching figure, a foreign man walking briskly toward them. His usually stern expression softened into a polite smile.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Sindra.”

Sindra, disheveled and clearly dragged from bed, looked baffled. His hair was unkempt, his eyes bleary, and one side of his shirt collar was flipped inward.

“Deputy Chief Ding, what’s all this about?” he asked, clearly confused.

Ding patiently explained the situation, detailing the attack and the rationale for summoning Sindra.

“We discovered that, one hour before Zheng Jiayu’s death, a Hongjin Corporation employee accessed his phone’s location data. We need your cooperation in clarifying this matter.”

“Location data?” Sindra echoed, blinking in confusion. He pulled out his phone and began dialing. His attempts to contact the office were met with silence. Frowning, he tried another number.

Finally, he reached Song Ran, who quickly pulled up the relevant system logs. Moments later, Sindra’s screen displayed the result:

**Applicant: Li Chengyi.**

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Seeing the name, Sindra’s chest tightened slightly.

He had always harbored doubts about Li Chengyi. The timing of previous incidents, including the situation with Aishi Corporation, was far too coincidental. Yet, while suspicion lingered, Sindra had no evidence connecting Li Chengyi to any wrongdoing.

Silently, Sindra deleted the record from the system before looking up at Ding.

“There was indeed a request in our system for Zheng Jiayu’s location,” Sindra said calmly. “However, it appears the request originated from an external network that compromised our permissions. It wasn’t authorized internally.”

In a few succinct sentences, Sindra deflected suspicion entirely. By framing the request as the work of an external hacker, he not only cleared Hongjin Corporation but also cast them as victims of cyber interference.

“I see. If that’s the case, Hongjin Corporation appears to be uninvolved,” Ding concluded, accepting Sindra’s explanation without argument.

“Exactly. Our staff is too small and transient to involve ourselves in such major affairs,” Sindra said with a resigned sigh.

“Please send us a copy of your system’s logs for documentation,” Ding requested, offering a cordial smile. “And let’s grab a drink sometime.”

“Of course,” Sindra replied with a matching smile. “I’ll be heading back to get some rest.”

---

As Sindra’s car pulled away from the crime scene, it stopped a few streets later outside a 24-hour convenience store. The door opened, and a man in a black coat climbed in, taking the seat beside Sindra.

The newcomer exhaled deeply. “Boss, good to see you.”

Pulling back his hood, the man revealed his perpetually cheerful face: Li Chengyi.

“What’s going on? Care to explain?” Sindra asked, his tone calm but firm.

“My apologies for involving you, boss, but I can’t tell you everything,” Li Chengyi admitted. He knew Sindra would have pieced together parts of the truth. Without a support team or hackers to cover his tracks, there were too many loose ends.

However, he was confident that Sindra wouldn’t realize one crucial detail: that the so-called enhanced cyborg wasn’t just connected to him—it **was** him.

“Sindra,” Li Chengyi said with a grin, “I’ll make it up to you one day.”

Sindra looked at him thoughtfully. “You’re smart. Do you really think all this is worth it?”

“Boss, don’t forget—I’m a Dead-Ender,” Li Chengyi replied simply.

Sindra fell silent.

Dead-Enders were doomed individuals, living on borrowed time in the face of inevitable demise. For them, concepts like “worth” held little meaning. They were already living against the odds.

“You’re playing a dangerous game,” Sindra warned.

“I’m not planning to die just yet,” Li Chengyi said with a confident smile. “I still have plans to share a victory drink with you someday.”

For a moment, Sindra was struck by the sheer self-assurance in Li Chengyi’s eyes. It reminded him of someone else—a man named Lian, who had once stood in his office with the same unshakable conviction, declaring that he would find a way to escape the Dead-End and live.

“I hope you mean it,” Sindra said finally, extending a hand.

Li Chengyi shook it firmly. “I will.”

---

The next morning, at **Imperial Garden Florist**, a black-clad figure stood silently before the grand entrance. Purple wisteria patterns glinted faintly on his armor as he gazed at the softly glowing lights within.

“Some people think they’re invincible,” Li Chengyi murmured.

He stepped forward, pushing the door open.

“Unfortunately, they’re wrong.”

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