Chapter 344: Chapter 329: This Is Good, Too

It had to be said, Zhou Jinyu was a very clever man.

His words were clearly telling Gu Xi that the Abnormal Ability Research Institute had now extricated itself from the murky quagmire of the Central Base.

And an institute like that would clearly become a bargaining chip that everyone wanted to control and fight for.

This "everyone" naturally included Gu Xi.

So, he was all but telling Gu Xi that the Institute’s core had moved from the Central Base to City A, and that Ye Xin and Chen were now fighting for control.

...Whether for revenge or for power, he refused to believe that Gu Xi had no interest in the Institute’s current state.

And he, of course, was the one who could help her take control of it.

Zhou Jinyu actually missed the Abnormal Ability Research Institute of old—the one that had the Doomsday Squad and the Blood-colored Asura.

Back then, the Institute had gathered a large number of the top superpower users. It was at the peak of its power, and its influence in the Central Base was worlds apart from what it was now.

But ever since Gu Xi vanished and the Doomsday Squad disbanded, the Institute’s standing in the base had declined day by day... 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

If Ye Xin hadn’t made a strong move to join the Institute and seize control of the crop seeds, the Institute would have long been erased from the centers of power.

Zhou Jinyu, born in a chaotic era and ostracized since childhood for his lack of superpowers, had tasted the full spectrum of human indifference. He was singularly focused on climbing the ladder; the thirst for power was etched into his very bones.

It bordered on paranoia, on madness.

Zhou Jinyu longed for the Abnormal Ability Research Institute to reclaim its former glory.

More accurately, he longed for an Institute under his control to reclaim that glory.

And he, Zhou Jinyu, would one day stand at the pinnacle of this world, revered by all.

So, when Gu Xi reappeared after thirty years, and when Zhou Jinyu began to suspect her true identity, he started plotting.

He used the chaos at the Central Base to completely sever the Abnormal Ability Research Institute from its corrupt former leadership. Then... amid the ensuing power struggle, he would wait for the highest bidder and find himself a powerful new patron.

A patron... who would emerge victorious in the final conflict!

Zhou Jinyu had planned everything out, and he brazenly laid his scheme bare before Gu Xi.

He couldn’t believe she wouldn’t be tempted.

Even if only for revenge... After all, considering what Chen did to her all those years ago, followed by Ye Xin’s betrayal... With all that, even a saint would be furious, wouldn’t they?

"Mr. Zhou, you truly are a clever man." Gu Xi’s fingertips slowly traced the edge of Xidao. Her gaze swept over everyone present before finally settling on Zhou Jinyu, her expression serene. "But I believe you’ve forgotten something."

Zhou Jinyu froze for a second, quickly running through recent events in his mind... His brow twitched.

He looked at Gu Xi thoughtfully and said, "Rest assured, Miss Gu. I’ll have people look into that matter. I will be sure to give you a satisfactory answer."

Gu Xi was confused.

’What matter was he talking about?’

’Li Ming was right. These clever people love to overthink things...’

’Still, this works out well.’

Soon, the batch of Hibernation Chambers was registered and cataloged. Zhou Jinyu looked to Gu Xi.

Gu Xi waved her hand, about to store the Hibernation Chambers, but she suddenly frowned.

’Someone hid something inside these Hibernation Chambers!’

Gu Xi gave Zhou Jinyu an impassive glance and continued to store the Hibernation Chambers as if nothing was amiss.

Zhou Jinyu’s expression didn’t betray a thing.

But Gu Xi knew that even if he hadn’t done it himself, Zhou Jinyu was definitely aware of it.

’...If he didn’t have at least this much control over the Institute, he probably wouldn’t have reached the position he held today.’

But Zhou Jinyu clearly had no intention of telling her. Even after she’d found out, he remained silent, pretending he’d been completely oblivious the entire time.

"Let’s go," Gu Xi said suddenly, glancing at him.

Zhou Jinyu froze.

"Mr. Zhou, what are you standing there gaping for? Don’t you want to see the spot beneath the swamp where these Hibernation Chambers were discovered?" Qi Xiang, who had been enjoying the show from the sidelines, suddenly looked up and said to him with a grin.

Of course, Zhou Jinyu wanted to go.

He just hadn’t expected Gu Xi to let him.

After all, the matter of the Superpower Seed was involved.

Zhou Jinyu was not a superpower user, so compared to users like Tang You and Liu Bo, he was even more desperate for the Superpower Seed that could potentially make him one.

But the man was a man of deep cunning.

In front of Gu Xi, he hid his desire for the Superpower Seed perfectly, showing no hint of it whatsoever.

"Miss Gu?" Zhou Jinyu pushed up the cold frames of his glasses, his expression a perfect blend of apprehension, surprise, and disbelief.

Gu Xi nodded, telling Zhang Wen and the others from the Special Service Team to lead the Institute’s people over.

Seeing this, Tang You, Liu Bo, and the others exchanged a look and seized the opportunity to ask if they could go have a look as well.

Gu Xi glanced at them but didn’t object.

’...Since they were so sure the Superpower Seed was still in the swamp, she’d let them go look for it.’

Watching the group hurry into the depths of the swamp, terrified of falling a step behind, Qi Xiang couldn’t help but roll her eyes elegantly and let out a cold scoff.

’Are these people not even going to bother putting on an act anymore?’

Shen Yue, leading Li Xiao, emerged from the other side of the swamp just in time to hear her. He clicked his tongue. "Miss Qi, don’t you always say you’re the designated beauty of our Farming Team? You should mind your image."

So many people were watching, after all.

Qi Xiang shot him a look, as if to say... ’A beauty like me needs to worry about her image?’

Shen Yue: "..."

"Is everything taken care of?" Gu Xi asked, ignoring the other two and turning her head to Li Xiao.

Li Xiao instinctively glanced left and right.

’But then he remembered how many people were watching them. Why act like a thief with a guilty conscience?’

Deciding to just lean into it, he walked brazenly to Gu Xi’s side, a fawning smile on his face. "Rest assured, I’ve taken care of the matter you entrusted to me."

He acted as if he’d been Gu Xi’s man from the very beginning.

He certainly was... pragmatic.

"However..." Li Xiao trailed off, a troubled look on his face. He lowered his voice. "You know the situation over at Unit 176. It’s not easy for outsiders to interfere. Although I had someone deliver the item..."

He glanced at Gu Xi apprehensively before continuing, "But I’m worried that even if it gets there, it won’t necessarily..."

Li Xiao glanced around and swallowed the rest of his sentence.

As if oblivious to the prying eyes, both hidden and overt, Gu Xi looked up and gave Li Xiao a deep look. "As long as you got the item inside, that’s all that matters. You don’t need to trouble yourself with what happens next, Mr. Li."

’As long as the item reached the base, Yang Chi would find a way to get it into the hands of the person who truly needed it.’

’Li Xiao was taken aback. ’Did this Evil God have people inside Unit 176 in City A as well?’’

’But a place like Unit 176... even he couldn’t...’

With this in mind, Li Xiao asked tentatively, "Miss Gu, what exactly is inside Unit 176?"

What could be worth her going to all this trouble?