Chapter 35: Chapter 35: This Information is Absolutely Secret
Investigating the Iron Curtain couldn’t be done openly. Lin Qi couldn’t put himself in danger for King Arthur’s sake.
He looped back to the Prosthetic Clinic. After careful selection, Lin Qi spent 120,000 Credit Points to purchase over ten used Prosthetic Bodies.
Five of them contained micro-nuclear reactors.
Looking at his Credit Points account balance, Lin Qi’s heart bled.
The salary of an L-level Researcher wasn’t as high as one might think. Besides, Lin Qi had to pay a hefty insurance premium to the Intercontinental Stability Trauma Emergency Company every year.
’Credit Points are getting tight. I have less than 500,000 left. Thankfully, I listened to Guang Ling’s advice back then and didn’t quit the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps.’
’If the Mercenary Corps has a mission, I’ll have to take it. You can’t get by without money in the Cyber World.’
For five Credit Points, Lin Qi boarded an orbital vehicle back to the employee apartments.
The bodyguard following from a distance was quite puzzled.
’This person under the company’s special protection just bought a pile of junk Prosthetic Bodies?’
He couldn’t figure out Lin Qi’s motive, but that wasn’t his job to worry about. He just followed silently.
Only when they returned to the high-level employee apartments did the bodyguard’s tense nerves finally relax.
Not long after he got back to his apartment, the Prosthetic Clinic delivered the used Prosthetic Bodies Lin Qi had purchased.
This was the first time a delivery worker from the Edge Zone had ever come to a residence of this level.
He timidly set down the goods and hurried away.
Class consciousness in the Cyber World was a terrifying thing.
Grabbing his tools, Lin Qi got to work.
Just like yesterday in the workshop, he dismantled the micro-nuclear reactors and temporarily stored them inside his Exoskeleton, ready to be taken to the Doomsday World.
The Doomsday World still had a power supply for now, but Lin Qi estimated it wouldn’t last long.
Without manual maintenance, power outages were to be expected.
If he wanted to develop in the Doomsday World, energy was essential.
’If I get the chance, I need to get a few higher-level reactors. Relying on this pile of junk for power is too much trouble; they’ll need frequent replacement.’
Lin Qi really wanted to get his hands on a Miniature A-Class Reactor. Its energy output was more than ten times that of an L-Class, and its fuel could be replaced to extend its life.
The fuel wasn’t technologically complex. As long as Lin Qi established a basic industrial foundation in the Doomsday World, he could refine it himself.
It would be even more perfect if he could get an S-Class reactor. A reactor of that level didn’t even need refined raw materials. You could throw anything in and it would react, making it perfectly suited for the Doomsday World.
Unfortunately, Lin Qi looked at his Credit Points balance and could only shake his head.
After a flurry of activity, it was already approaching midnight.
The view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows remained unchanged.
Shrouded by the Iron Curtain System, not a single ray of sunlight could enter Greenfield City. The city’s neon lights were always on, making the treacherous metropolis still appear prosperous on the surface.
Commerce, medicine, prosthetics, and drug overdoses—these were the city’s bywords at the moment.
...
March 4th, 2089, 00:00.
[Classmate Xiaoai reminder: You have received an invitation to the "Highest Level Security Meeting." Connect?]
The meeting convened as scheduled. Standing in front of his bathroom mirror, Lin Qi connected immediately.
The Roman numeral "V" materialized before Lin Qi. He looked around. Guang Ling was always the first to arrive.
Capitalist and Master Ma followed, with King Arthur being the last to connect to the meeting.
Capitalist was the first to speak. "These meetings have been a bit too frequent lately. The last one was just the day before yesterday."
Master Ma was as calm as ever. The powerful Martial Artist never seemed to run into trouble.
Guang Ling looked at King Arthur and said, "This emergency meeting was also called at Wizard’s request. He hopes to establish a secure line of communication with you, King Arthur."
Everyone’s gazes turned in Lin Qi’s direction.
Lin Qi maintained his disguised, mature female voice. "I’ve run into some trouble. I’m also in Greenfield City now."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. King Arthur was completely astonished. "Greenfield City? How did you get in?"
"Wait, I remember now. A few days ago, a train entered Greenfield City through Channel 3. Wizard, were you on that train?"
The Red and Green Train entering Greenfield City was no secret. The real core of the matter was the Liu Clan heir who was on board.
Lin Qi didn’t answer that question, continuing, "I did a simple probe of the Iron Curtain System and found a structural cavity within it."
"If we follow the path of the structural cavity, we can probably find a special passage that the Si Clan left behind when they first built the Iron Curtain System."
Escaping Greenfield City—this was King Arthur’s goal.
Before King Arthur could speak, the ever-composed Master Ma interjected, "I don’t recommend you use the Si Clan’s pre-built passage to leave. The area outside Greenfield City has been saturated with sensors. Even if you make it out, your position will be detected."
Capitalist agreed with Master Ma’s point. "The Big Business Alliance’s analysis concludes that there is over an 80% probability of an S-Class or higher firefight breaking out in Greenfield City. However, City Destruction Level weapons are unlikely to be deployed, so hiding inside Greenfield City is safer for now."
’A high probability of an S-Class or higher firefight?’
’Has the situation in Greenfield City really gotten that grim?’
The scene Lin Qi had witnessed in Greenfield City today had been peaceful, with no sign of tension at all.
Lin Qi looked toward Guang Ling. This person certainly knew no less than the others.
Guang Ling’s fingers tapped lightly against his other arm. He then said, "Inside and outside Greenfield City, large numbers of Extraordinary Professionals and A-Class Prosthetic Implanters have gathered. There are also a lot of Mercenaries."
"The number of missions related to Greenfield City on the Black Market has surged, and the offered prices are skyrocketing. In next Monday’s meeting, I will announce a new mission for our Mercenary Corps."
"Aside from that, I agree with both of you. Now is not the time to try and force your way out of Greenfield City."
"I suggest that you two, Wizard and King Arthur, establish two-way communication and watch each other’s backs inside Greenfield City."
Lin Qi looked in King Arthur’s direction.
King Arthur decided quickly. "I agree. But how should we communicate?"
"Tomorrow at 9:00 AM, outside Tower B of the Si’s Twin Towers, and also on Miracle Street in Greenfield City’s Edge Zone, two Quantum-Locked Text Interaction Devices will appear. I will email you the specific locations shortly."
"You must retrieve them before 9:30. They are products ordered by the [Holy Relic Legion]. They aren’t subject to work governance, are untraceable, and are worth over six million Credit Points."
*Gasp!*
’So this was Guang Ling’s idea of finding them a secure method of communication?’
’Stealing something from a legendary T0-level Mercenary Corps?’
’And another thing!’
’The T0-level Mercenary Corps has people in Greenfield City!’
That simple statement revealed a massive amount of information.
Both Lin Qi and King Arthur fell silent.
Guang Ling added at the right moment, "This information is absolutely secret. There are no surveillance devices at the relevant locations. As long as you go after 9:00 but before 9:30, there is no risk whatsoever."
’Absolutely secret?’
’What a load of "absolutely secret"!’
Even the ever-steady Master Ma and Capitalist were looking at Guang Ling from the shadows with complicated expressions.
’Is this really the leader of our Highest-Level Mercenary Corps?’
’Our Mercenary Corps really does have what it takes to be the highest level... coming up with a plan that targets one of the only two T0-level Mercenary Corps.’
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