Chapter 148: Chapter 142: The Train Home, the Attack on Lin Qi (Part 2)

The doors of the Red and Green Train had yet to open, and the Liu Clan’s employees were gathered on the platform.

"What a coincidence."

A familiar voice drew Lin Qi’s gaze, as well as the attention of most of the company’s employees.

Liu Xuan, the company’s highest-ranking public figure—or, one might say, its public-facing heir.

She had put herself on the line, becoming a target to trade for a sliver of hope for the Liu Clan.

If not for Lin Qi’s interference, Liu Xuan might not have been standing here today.

"What a coincidence," Lin Qi nodded.

As usual, the two didn’t exchange many words.

It was as if yesterday had never happened—as if Liu Xuan had never given Lin Qi special instructions, and Lin Qi had never risked hunting down the mercenaries arranged by the Si Clan.

Opening his Spiritual Vision, Lin Qi saw that Liu Li wasn’t on the platform. She was already inside the train, and seated next to her was a formidable individual whose body was over 85% prosthetic.

’An S-Class Prosthetic Implanter? And if I’m not mistaken, that neural synapse implant in his head is an Extraordinary Item? An Extraordinary Item within an S-Class Prosthetic Body?’

Lin Qi felt as if he had discovered a new continent.

Currently, Lin Qi’s clearance in Prosthetic Engineering was only L-Class, so he was completely unaware that once Prosthetic Bodies reached S-Class, they were divided into more than just standard and flagship models.

There was also a special category called the Immortal Prosthetic Body. The uniqueness of this type of Prosthetic Body lay in the fact that it could itself be classified as a special Extraordinary Item.

By relying on the properties of an Extraordinary Item, the Immortal Prosthetic Body could achieve far greater performance. They were absolutely not for sale by any prosthetic manufacturing corporation.

’Looks like this is the Liu Clan’s true trump card in Greenfield City. An S-Class Prosthetic Implanter evacuating on the Red and Green... this means the Liu Clan is completely abandoning its Greenfield City operations and has given up all illusions about the Si Clan.’

Seeing the situation inside the train gave Lin Qi a more precise understanding of the current state of affairs.

Suddenly, Lin Qi detected two gazes fixed on him, gazes that held not a shred of goodwill.

He immediately activated his Spiritual Vision, tracing the gazes back to their source.

The gazes came from Si Mansion, the top floor of the remaining Twin Towers A Tower.

The distance was great, and even though his Spiritual Vision could still provide a clear normal view beyond its effective range, Lin Qi couldn’t make out the specific features of the two people.

But he could make out that one of them was a young woman wearing a long black dress.

The vast majority of the malice came from this woman.

...

At the top of Si Mansion, Si Li and Si Ranran were looking down at the Red and Green Train.

"I think the one who murdered Si Ying is on that train."

Si Ranran remained stubborn. Even though the Si Clan had already abandoned its plan against the Liu Clan, she still held a deep obsession.

An obsession named revenge; she wanted to avenge her beloved.

"Do not attack any members of the Liu Clan. That is the bottom line. You must remember your duty as the heir."

Si Li issued a warning. If Si Ranran were to use Extraordinary Power to attack members of the Liu Clan, then the concessions the Si Clan had made last night—the division of interests—would all become meaningless.

Even if the Si-Liu Alliance were to break, the Si Clan could not leave behind any public evidence of betrayal.

"I want to use covert methods to kill a few Liu Clan employees."

Si Ranran stubbornly stated her demand.

Si Li turned around and paused for a long time, knowing he couldn’t change Si Ranran’s mind.

As one of the older generation, he couldn’t control the heir’s will forever.

Si Li waved his hand dismissively. "Suit yourself."

Just as Si Li had stated, his bottom line was that Si Ranran was not allowed to attack members of the Liu family itself.

But if only a few employees died, it wouldn’t prove much.

To a large corporation, employees are only distinguished by their value; none are truly indispensable.

A straw doll appeared in Si Ranran’s hand, her gaze locked firmly below.

’Even though it’s impossible you were the killer, you were the one who had the most direct conflict with Si Ying. And now, it seems your relationship with that so-called Liu Clan heir isn’t a shallow one. Regardless, you must die...’

The sight of Lin Qi and Liu Xuan’s simple greeting became a sharp thorn in Si Ranran’s heart.

Combined with the past conflict between Lin Qi and Si Ying, Si Ranran was now convinced: Liu Xuan had sent a Wizard to attack Si Ying for Lin Qi’s sake.

Therefore, Lin Qi must die!

...

In Lin Qi’s perception, one of the gazes disappeared.

But the malice in the remaining gaze grew more intense, now saturated with killing intent.

The killing intent grew stronger, until finally, Lin Qi suddenly noticed the Spiritual Particles around him reacting abnormally.

’Someone’s making a move on me? Using an Extraordinary method? What is this?’

A strange Spiritual Power condensed around Lin Qi.

It coalesced over his chest into a fine, long needle that seemed poised to pierce his heart.

Alarm flared in his mind. ’Which Extraordinary Profession’s technique is this?’

A sense of danger washed over him; the technique was bizarre.

If not for his Spiritual Vision, this needle would not have been so easily detected.

He gathered his Spiritual Power into a tentacle-like form and tentatively touched the long needle.

A gentle flick.

The long needle suddenly shattered.

Lin Qi felt like a Tentacle Monster that had just spotted a random maggot on the street; with a casual flick, he discovered it was pathetically fragile.

The needle condensed from Spiritual Power shattered, and the abnormality in the Spiritual Particles also completely disappeared.

It was as if nothing had happened at all.

’What the hell was that?’

Outwardly, Lin Qi showed no reaction, but his inner sense of alarm intensified.

An unknown Extraordinary Profession, an unknown method.

But the intent was obvious: it was clearly an assassination attempt aimed at him.

...

On the top floor of Si Mansion, a look of horror crossed Si Ranran’s face as she tried to pierce the straw doll’s heart with a Spiritual Needle.

’My technique... was neutralized?’

’And neutralized with extreme force, at that.’ 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

’My Spiritual Power attack was just casually swatted aside, like trash on the street.’

’So it really is you! To think there’s a Wizard protecting you... and one whose methods are a perfect counter to us Shaman Professionals.’

The killing intent in Si Ranran’s heart grew even stronger.

Even though the shattering of the Spiritual Needle had sent a jarring recoil through her own Spiritual Power, Si Ranran resolutely chose to strike again.

This time, Si Ranran did not continue to target Lin Qi for assassination.

Instead, she chose an ordinary-looking elderly researcher.

Si Ranran was testing him!

She had to see if that hidden Wizard was specifically protecting Lin Qi, or had just happened to save his life by chance.

If it was the former, then it would mean Si Ying’s death was definitely because of the conflict between him and Lin Qi.

...

By the Red and Green Train platform, Lin Qi once again felt the abnormality in the Spiritual Particles.

Opening his Spiritual Vision, he observed carefully.

Another Spiritual Needle condensed, but this time, the needle did not launch an attack against him.

Instead, it chose... Dong Wenlong!

This A-level Researcher in Pharmacy, whose only thought was of taking a vacation, had also been forced to the platform by the company’s upheaval.

Lin Qi could see that Dong Wenlong was in a foul mood; he was glaring daggers at Liu Weicai, as if they had just been arguing.

’Is that needle going to kill Elder Dong?’

’Why?’

’An indiscriminate attack?’

’Or... a test?’

Lin Qi guessed Si Ranran’s intention.

For that very reason, Lin Qi absolutely could not let Si Ranran succeed.

If Dong Wenlong died, it would make him incredibly conspicuous.

His Spiritual Tentacles coalesced once more.

The A-level Researchers were all assigned to Car 2, so Lin Qi wasn’t far from Dong Wenlong—only about four or five meters.

This made it convenient for Lin Qi to act.

A casual flick from his Spiritual Tentacle.

The Spiritual Needle instantly burst apart, shattering even more violently than the first one.

’This technique is bizarre, but it’s also incredibly weak. A Tier Two Wizard’s Spiritual Power would be enough to handle it easily.’

Lin Qi assessed the technique.

...

The top floor of Si Mansion.

Si Ranran’s horror grew even more severe.

As the Spiritual Needle burst, Si Ranran violently spat out a mouthful of blood.

’A Wizard... and a high-level one at that. A Tier Three Wizard?’