Chapter 267: Chapter 203: The Capitalist’s Identity, The Entity Linked by Lines of Interest
The name Jingang had recently spread far and wide among the various factions of Alliance City.
It was an audacious name, a codename taken from the title of an X-Class Prosthetic Implanter. It was so bold that no one even bothered to find out his real name.
All anyone knew was that he had become an elite member of the Council’s security team in an incredibly short amount of time.
No one knew how Jingang had managed it.
Despite being equipped with only low-level prosthetics and having no training in any Extraordinary Professions, he had somehow rapidly increased his degree of High-Level prosthetic implantation to 85%, a figure that included a significant number of S-Class Prosthetic Bodies.
Theoretically, it should be nearly impossible for a human nervous system to withstand such strain.
Anyone else who dared try would have met the same fate: becoming a cyber madman.
And yet, this "Jingang" was in perfect mental condition. He even wanted to complete a full-body S-Class implantation as soon as possible.
An absolute madman!
His outstanding physical Talent was only a small part of why the various factions were watching him. The real reason was that Jingang was Neutral Director Qiao Xi’s man.
The Neutral Director held far too much sway in Alliance City.
As a result, various parties were quick to try and win him over, but Jingang refused to accept a single gift from anyone.
It was as if he held a grudge against all the major corporations.
Only then did the factions begin to conduct a thorough investigation into Jingang.
The investigation yielded a shocking discovery: Jingang came from the lowest rungs of Alliance City, where he had made a living by participating in the live human experiments of various major corporations.
New drugs, new prosthetic bodies—no matter the product, Jingang dared to try it on himself.
Normally, someone like that wouldn’t survive for more than six months.
But according to the records, this Jingang had survived for over four years.
He was only discovered and recruited by the Council’s security team a short while ago.
As for his records before that four-year period, they were a complete blank. No faction could dig up anything.
"Miss, the Council’s security team has taken over. We’re being held in the Floating Vehicle."
The Liu Clan’s bodyguards were completely in the dark. All they knew was that they had been roughly shoved back into their aircraft, and it seemed they no longer needed to worry about any danger.
"Understood."
The purple light in Liu Xuan’s prosthetic left eye flickered erratically. She was surprised by the arrival of the Council’s security team.
’This Neutral Director, Qiao Xi, seems to value this meeting more than I expected.’
’Why?’
Liu Xuan didn’t think the current Liu’s Heavy Industries had that kind of clout.
In the eyes of Director Qiao Xi and the Intercontinental Stability Trauma Emergency Company behind her, the Liu Clan was no different from any ordinary corporation. And that was before considering that the Liu Clan was now on the brink of collapse, barely able to fend for itself.
’This favor isn’t for the Liu Clan, and it certainly isn’t for me.’
’So who is this favor for?’
’It can only be for Lin Qi.’
...
Jingang used his prosthetic legs to stand firm on the exterior of the Floating Vehicle.
He was on his comm. "Director, the threat to the Liu Clan’s aircraft has been neutralized."
An emotionless female voice came from the other end of the line. "Understood."
Jingang ended the call and fell into thought.
’Could Director Qiao Xi be the Capitalist from the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps?’
’She fits the profile, but I can’t be sure.’
Regardless, Jingang knew one thing for certain: he owed his life to the Capitalist. Even if Director Qiao Xi wasn’t the Capitalist herself, she was an agent acting on the Capitalist’s decisions.
All he had to do was obey. At least Director Qiao Xi paid far better than those bloodsucking corporations that would devour a man whole.
Jingang didn’t know it, but his guess was correct.
The Capitalist hadn’t hidden her identity all that well.
At the level of a permanent director of the Big Business Alliance, the returns from concealing her identity weren’t particularly high for the Capitalist.
Much of the time, even elaborate schemes and ploys were of little use.
At this level, only exchanges of interests—whether overt or covert—could yield significant returns.
Take this mission, for example, where the Capitalist had arranged for Jingang to act as protection.
In Qiao Xi’s private office in the Council Building.
She was dressed impeccably, sitting in a large, solid wood chair and holding a deep black fountain pen in her hand.
’Guessing the Wizard’s identity is meaningless. I just need to untangle all the lines of interest in the matter he wants my help with.’
’If my guess is correct, then the Wizard will owe me a favor. The longer his identity remains a secret, the more valuable that favor becomes.’
’On the other hand, if my guess is wrong and the Wizard’s actions are truly as simple as he claims, it’s no great loss. It’s just a matter of conveniently saving someone, and I’ll still gain the friendship of a promising corporate founder.’
’United Pharmaceutical? According to the Wizard’s plans, perhaps that’s the company that will launch the new Potion in the future.’
After a night of contemplation, the Capitalist—or rather, Director Qiao Xi—had figured out a few more things.
Although the information Lin Qi had shared with her contained plenty of misdirection—the Eastern Alliance, for example—it was just as she had thought.
By untangling the intertwined threads of interest, she could identify the principal players involved.
Qiao Xi might not be able to uncover the Wizard’s true identity anytime soon, but her actions were playing right into Lin Qi’s hands.
Once Lin Qi learned that Liu Xuan had been attacked and that Jingang had led the rescue, the favor would be set in stone.
...
About twenty minutes later, Liu Xuan’s Floating Vehicle arrived at the Council Building. Jingang was still leading the escort, and he entered the building with Liu Xuan, accompanying her all the way to Qiao Xi’s office.
