Chapter 266: Chapter 202: Capitalist, Liu Xuan, Director Qiao Xi, Jingang (2)
Taking a deep breath, Liu Xuan composed herself and carefully considered what she would say when she met with Council Member Qiao Xi.
’Make the Liu Clan bleed profits to gain Council Member Qiao Xi’s support?’
’That’s ridiculous. She’s fiercely neutral; personal gain would never sway her.’
That meant Liu Xuan didn’t have many bargaining chips. The only things of real value were the intelligence reports she and Lin Qi had analyzed together.
Her focus couldn’t be limited to Liu’s Heavy Industries. She had to frame it in terms of the entire Asian Big Business Alliance’s interests. She needed to clearly lay out the web of collusion between Si Pharmaceutical, Ninghang Technology, and the European Political Zone Big Business Alliance, and explain how the Asian Big Business Alliance was entangled in it all. Only then could she hope to secure a chance at survival.
Of course, Liu Xuan had no idea that Lin Qi had already used the very same arguments she was preparing.
Without that information, Lin Qi wouldn’t have been confident he could persuade the Capitalist to use his influence to get Liu Xuan an audience with a permanent council member.
Of course, even if Liu Xuan was struck speechless during the meeting, it likely wouldn’t affect the Capitalist’s next move.
The Capitalist had already agreed to help Lin Qi save the Liu Clan and protect the interests of most pharmaceutical companies.
Giving Liu Xuan an opportunity to meet a permanent council member was just a formality.
...
While Liu Xuan was lost in deep thought, Lin Qi hadn’t been idle.
March 19, 2089, 12:31 AM.
Lin Qi had already made a round trip to the Doomsday World, completed a full twelve hours of Meditation, and then spent a long time at the Mo University Camp, overseeing production in the workshop and guiding Prosthetic Body implantations in the infirmary.
He even paid a visit to Wei Yue to inspect the Blood Moon Descent Object he had commissioned.
In a little over a day, the Blood Moon Descent Object would be complete, and Lin Qi would be able to harvest a new batch of Extraordinary Materials.
By the time he finished all this, nearly twenty-four hours had passed, and Lin Qi returned to the Cyber World.
’I didn’t see Ding Yang on this trip to the Doomsday World, and nothing else major happened.’
’But that’s normal. The Doomsday World’s apocalyptic process is advancing steadily. As long as the Moon Worshippers don’t stir up trouble, there won’t be so much chaos.’
’I guess I was just too busy for the past few weeks. I’m actually a little unused to the quiet.’
He shook his head and lay back on the bed.
Steady progress was a good thing.
Lin Qi desperately hoped that both the Doomsday World and the Cyber World could have a period of stable development.
Before long, in two or three months at most, Lin Qi might even become a Tier Four Extraordinary.
Once he possessed Tier Four power, many of his problems would become much simpler to solve.
’Three more days, and I’ll obtain the final power of Tier Two. After that, it’s the push for Tier Three.’
’Once I reach Tier Three, I’ll have barely enough power to protect myself.’
Closing his eyes, Lin Qi resumed his Meditation.
There was no way he could actually sleep in the Alliance Mansion.
He could only use Meditation as a substitute for sleep, lest a certain crazy woman decided to send a Spiritual Needle stabbing his way again.
By Lin Qi’s estimation, the problem of Si Ranran wouldn’t last much longer.
Once the dust settled on the Asia Political Zone Advanced Pharmaceutical Enterprise Summit, and once the Eastern Alliance dealt with the European Big Business Alliance’s interference in the Asian Administrative Region...
The Si Clan would lose all its backing.
At that point, the Si Clan would still want to drag other large corporations into a corporate war?
Dream on!
Lin Qi had already made up his mind. Before leaving Alliance City, he would take care of Si Ranran once and for all.
That twisted affection between brother and sister?
They could talk it over in the afterlife!
The night passed quietly. Si Ranran didn’t make a move, and Lin Qi encountered no trouble.
The plan was proceeding smoothly. Lin Qi received an email from Liu Xuan.
[I’m on my way to the Council Building.]
Lin Qi was the one who had arranged this opportunity for her, so it was only natural for Liu Xuan to give him an update when she set out.
However, as she sent the message, the purple light from her left prosthetic eye glowed much brighter, though it was impossible to say what she was thinking.
Lin Qi wasn’t surprised when he saw the message.
Lin Qi trusted in the Capitalist’s abilities; after all, he was a formidable figure capable of providing effective aid to Guang Ling.
Across the entire Highest-Level Mercenary Corps, the Capitalist was the only one who could help Guang Ling.
...
Liu Xuan sat in the Floating Vehicle as the autopilot guided it smoothly toward the Council Building.
Liu Xuan felt a little nervous. After all, she was on her way to meet a permanent council member she’d never met before—and one with even more influence than the council member who had originally supported the Liu Clan: Council Member Qiao Xi.
But suddenly, her nervousness vanished, instantly replaced by a deep frown.
One hand gripped a handle inside the Floating Vehicle as she braced herself.
Outside the vehicle, a high-speed missile, trailing flames, streaked toward them.
An attack!
An attack in the core of Alliance City!
This was a blatant provocation against the Big Business Alliance!
In the past, while Alliance City had its share of chaos, it was always confined to the outer districts.
Those areas were a chaotic mix of factions—gangs, corporations, and even off-continent powers all had their own footholds, and mercenaries were everywhere.
But the interior of Alliance City housed the branch offices of nearly every major corporation in the Asian Administrative Region, and massive armed forces maintained law and order.
Launching an attack here, under the noses of so many, would require paying an exorbitant price.
Clearly, someone had targeted Liu Xuan.
Her destination was obvious: the Council Building.
Someone didn’t want the Liu Clan to find any way out of their predicament.
The instant Liu Xuan braced for impact, alarms blared inside the Floating Vehicle.
The bodyguards responsible for her safety immediately sprang into action, exiting the Floating Vehicle to attempt an interception.
A barrage of countermeasures was deployed.
But the flame-trailed missile seemed to be intelligent, evading all of the countermeasures with unbelievable agility.
"It’s an S-Class smart weapon! Don’t hesitate! Split up and use your bodies to block it!"
"If anything happens to Miss Liu, we’re all dead! Protect her! Even if we die, our families will get substantial death benefits!"
"First squad, move!"
The Liu Clan’s bodyguards were highly professional and had well-rehearsed contingency plans.
No one had time to wonder who would have the audacity to use an S-Class smart weapon in the core of Alliance City.
Their only objective now was to protect Liu Xuan!
The bodyguards moved with incredible speed, but the expected explosion never came.
Instead, another Floating Vehicle appeared above the Liu Clan’s vehicle.
A young man with a massive frame but a surprisingly small, thin face emerged from it.
A keen observer would have noticed that this young man’s body was 85% cybernetically enhanced, with 50% of that being A-Class Prosthetic Body parts and the other 35% being S-Class.
According to standard classifications, this still put him in the category of an A-Class Implanter, but his combat effectiveness was likely not much weaker than that of an S-Class.
’Why configure his Prosthetic Body parts this way?’
’Not enough funds to go full S-Class?’
’Or... was it deliberate?’
’Toeing the S-Class red line, just enough to avoid violating the rules set by the Eastern Alliance?’
"Council’s First Security Team at work. Unrelated personnel, do not spectate."
"What kind of trash S-Class weapon is this? Did they really think it could get past my S-Class EMP jammer?"
"This is a protection detail assigned by a council member. Everyone, look sharp!"
After the young man appeared, a squad of A-Class Implanters emerged from the Floating Vehicle. Without exception, all of them had some S-Class components, though not nearly as high a percentage as the young man.
"Understood, Captain Jingang."
"Liu Clan bodyguards, return to your vehicle. From now until you leave the Council Building, we are taking over security."
"Don’t get in the way out here. Return to your Floating Vehicle immediately."
The young man—or rather, Jingang—after neutralizing the S-Class smart missile, positioned himself at the front of Liu Xuan’s Floating Vehicle, letting the harsh wind whip against his thin face.
It was a good thing Lin Qi wasn’t there, or his mouth would surely have twitched.
Jingang, member number six of the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps.
’This guy clearly doesn’t mind his identity being exposed!’
’Does he really go around handling business using his real name?’
