Chapter 118: Chapter 118: The Knight’s Questioning, Why Didn’t You Say So Earlier

"Old Jiang, what took you so long? The train leaves in half an hour! Hurry and run the final equipment checks!"

The speaker was an A-Class Prosthetic Implanter, and judging by his uniform, he was also a member of the train’s crew.

Lin Qi immediately pulled up the intel from Guang Ling to confirm the man’s identity, as well as the verbal tics of the engineer, Jiang Wenming.

"Got it, Old Liu. Stop rushing me."

The sound came from a sonic wave generator.

Jiang Wenming’s degree of prosthetic modification was extremely high. His vocal cords were still intact, but he was accustomed to communicating via a sonic wave generator, and he even used a heavy-metal, hardcore style for his voice.

The man he was speaking to was Liu Yi, the Iron Curtain’s deputy engineer and Jiang Wenming’s second-in-command.

Lin Qi’s response was based on the database provided by Guang Ling, so Liu Yi didn’t notice anything amiss.

"Hurry up. This old relic has a lot of parts that need to be checked three times over. The Modi Group’s equipment is too unstable, and the higher-ups said there can be absolutely no accidents today. The order supposedly came from the very top."

Liu Yi urged him on.

’The very top’ naturally referred to the current head of the Si Clan, Si Li.

The Si Clan and the European Administrative Region were already deeply entangled behind the scenes. Si Li had no choice but to properly cater to these big shots from the European Administrative Region.

The deaths of two Tier Three Knights in Greenfield City had already been enough to displease the European Administrative Region.

Si Li could only do his utmost to salvage the Si Clan’s reputation with the four remaining Tier Three Knights.

There was no turning back now. The Si Clan had thrown in their lot with the European Administrative Region, and they were stuck.

Lin Qi didn’t respond. The more you say, the more likely you are to make a mistake. He simply boarded the train quickly and, following Guang Ling’s recommended course of action, began his charade.

It was time for the train’s final inspection. The chief and deputy engineers would work together, double-checking every component. This was not the right time for Lin Qi to make his move.

Once the train was moving, the two engineers would be at opposite ends of it.

That would be the time for Lin Qi to make his move.

As for the current inspection? Lin Qi wasn’t worried. He just went through the motions, slacking off while activating his Spiritual Vision to observe the carriage where the Tier Three Knights were located.

The Iron Curtain had a total of eight carriages. The Knights were in the first one, Car Number One.

In front of Car Number One was the locomotive, where Lin Qi’s ultimate target was located: the medium-sized cold-fusion reactor manufactured by the Modi Group.

Inside Car Number One, the Knights were talking amongst themselves.

"This whole operation has been a disaster. We’ll probably be facing an inquiry when we get back."

"Damn it, who the hell is targeting us? Instantly killing two Tier Three Knights? That’s not something a no-name Mercenary Corps can pull off!"

"It had to be a Tier Four. Otherwise, with the strength Caesar and the other had, how could they have been killed instantly and without a trace?"

"The Eastern Alliance is such a hypocrite! They forbid us, an Intercontinental Influence, from deploying Tier Four or S-Class forces in the Asian Administrative Region, yet they let our people get ambushed and killed by a Tier Four Extraordinary. We have to get the Big Business Alliance to file a complaint when we get back to the European Administrative Region!"

’Tier Four?’

’There was indeed a Tier Four involved in the operation, but Master Ma never made a move.’

’But...’

’The Eastern Alliance prohibits Tier Four and S-Class forces from taking action?’

’That was something I hadn’t expected. I always thought the entity that intervened in Tier Four and S-Class deployments was the Asian Political Zone Big Business Alliance.’

’Wait a minute... Eastern Alliance? Assassin Alliance? Tier Four Blood Robe?’

’I suddenly remembered that Master Ma was constantly being hounded by a Tier Four Blood Robe.’

’Could it be that this Tier Four Blood Robe from the Assassin Alliance is acting under orders from the Eastern Alliance?’

’What role is the Eastern Alliance really playing in all this chaos?’

’I can’t figure it out. But these aren’t things I need to worry about for now.’

’Until I become a Tier Four Extraordinary Professional, I most likely won’t get entangled with the Eastern Alliance.’ 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

’The only risk is the Assassin Alliance... and my unfortunate sister, who I haven’t heard from in almost ten days.’

"Old Jiang, stop spacing out and check the equipment properly! If this Modi Group junk blows, it’ll *really* blow."

"If anything happens, the company will sue us for everything we’re worth."

"Forget about that precious Prosthetic Body of yours—they’ll chop up the last few dozen pounds of your actual flesh and sell it as dumpling filling!"

Beside Lin Qi, Liu Yi was getting more and more anxious.

’How many years has it been since this old relic was used? And it’s full of parts from the Modi Group!’

’And Old Jiang is being so careless with the inspection. If something goes wrong, it’ll be too late for regrets.’

"Mm."

Lin Qi nodded and put on a show of being serious.

He went through every carriage with Liu Yi, even checking the electrical circuits in each one.

They entered Car Number One for the inspection.

The Tier Three Knights’ gazes immediately locked onto Lin Qi and Liu Yi.

"What are you checking? This is the third time you’ve come through here."

One of the Knights shot Liu Yi a cold glare.

’Apparently, before I arrived, Liu Yi had already inspected this area several times on his own. He must be terrified this old relic, cobbled together with parts from a trash-tier company, would break down on the way.’

Seeing the situation, Lin Qi quickly chimed in, "My sincerest apologies. When the Si Clan built this train, they used far too many products from the Modi Group. To ensure everyone’s safety, we have to perform high-frequency inspections..."

Modi Group?

Hearing those two words, the faces of the four Tier Three Knights turned a shade paler.

’Why didn’t you say so earlier?’

Nearby, hearing Lin Qi utter the words "Modi Group," Liu Yi broke out in a cold sweat.

’Company policy was clear: these VIPs were absolutely not to find out about this.’

’I’m screwed!’

’Even if the trip goes smoothly, the company will probably hold me accountable after the fact.’

"Check it. Quickly. Don’t miss anything!"

The Knights immediately backed off Liu Yi, not a trace of suspicion remaining in their eyes.

’He’s just a diligent engineer, not the assassin they’d imagined.’

’It made sense. The four of them, all Tier Three Knights, were gathered here.’

’Unless a Tier Four showed up in person, no Tier Three could possibly be a match for them.’

’When it came to a group fight, Knights feared no one.’

Liu Yi hurriedly began inspecting all the equipment in the carriage, his examination so thorough it included the light fixtures.

After a good while, Liu Yi and Lin Qi left the carriage and proceeded to the locomotive.

The medium-sized cold-fusion reactor. This was the single most important piece of equipment, and it required both of them to inspect and maintain it carefully.

As soon as they stepped out of Car Number One, Liu Yi complained dejectedly, "Old Jiang, you shouldn’t have mentioned the Modi Group! We’re screwed now. Even if we keep our jobs, we’ll lose at least a year’s pay."

Using the sonic wave generator, Lin Qi consoled him, "Don’t worry. They won’t say a word about it."

’Of course they won’t say anything.’

’If all goes according to plan, when the ’accident’ happens, these four Tier Three Knights will be at the epicenter of the explosion.’

’A nuclear blast, in terms of sheer power, could be classified as S-Class.’