Chapter 278: Chapter 208: Ding Yang Shows His True Colors Again
’If there’s one, there will be a second, or even more flaws. As long as I can find the Wizard among this permanent council member’s family, I’ll be one step closer to the evidence.’
There was no time to lose. Lin Qi planned to take action tonight, searching for traces of a Wizard Professional by examining the distribution of Spiritual Particles in Alliance City.
But before he acted, the cooldown for his [Door] was almost up.
’First, I’ll make a trip to the Doomsday World, have a good Meditation session, get myself in peak condition, and then I’ll make my move.’
...
At 12:31 AM on March 20, 2089, as the time ticked over, the cooldown for Lin Qi’s [Door] finished. With a single thought, Lin Qi descended into the Doomsday World.
Inside the familiar conference room, Lin Qi wasted no time and immediately began his Meditation.
For twelve straight hours, his Spiritual Power climbed rapidly.
By the time he felt resistance to his Spiritual Power’s growth, Lin Qi was very close to reaching the final stage of Tier Two.
’I probably need about two more Meditation sessions before I can analyze the last Tier Two Extraordinary Item. After that, I’ll have to start preparing to break through to Tier Three.’
His Spiritual Power at its peak, Lin Qi walked out of the conference room on the sixth floor of the Club Activity Building.
Wang Ziru was already waiting for him at the door.
Wang Ziru had completely mastered the timing of when Lin Qi would open the conference room door, with a margin of error no greater than five minutes.
Therefore, he would always wait there ten minutes before the estimated time.
"Boss, Ding Yang is here."
The first thing he did upon seeing Lin Qi was give his report.
"Here to deliver materials, I assume?"
Lin Qi considered the timing. Ding Yang hadn’t appeared at the Mo University Camp yesterday, so he must have been going to great lengths to gather important resources.
This trip today had to be for transporting materials, a delivery for Lin Qi.
Wang Ziru nodded. "He brought a lot of different materials this time. It’s enough to supply our production for at least a week, and almost enough to manufacture the Prosthetic Bodies needed by half of the squad members in the camp."
’It seems Ding Yang really put in the effort.’
After his report, Wang Ziru continued, "Ding Yang is still waiting downstairs. He told me he absolutely must see you today, Boss."
This struck Lin Qi as a bit odd.
’We’ve already discussed everything that needed to be discussed. Why does he still need to see me?’
"It seems like it must be something important," Wang Ziru added.
"Let’s go. I’ll go see Ding Yang."
Lin Qi was decisive, immediately heading for the camp’s elevator.
Soon, Lin Qi met Ding Yang on the first floor.
Ding Yang was currently standing at the building’s entrance, pacing back and forth, looking somewhat anxious.
Hearing the sound of the elevator doors opening, Ding Yang immediately turned and saw Lin Qi.
He hurried over in just a few strides. "Lin Qi, I finally get to see you. The Dragon Country Command Headquarters has new intelligence, and I felt it was imperative to share it with the Mo University Camp."
As he spoke, Ding Yang glanced at Wang Ziru, then added, "This isn’t the place to talk. For now, this matter isn’t suitable for others in the camp to hear. Lin Qi, could we move to the conference room?"
’He won’t even let Wang Ziru listen?’
’What on earth happened?’
Without any prompting from Lin Qi, Wang Ziru was already on it.
He jogged all the way to the conference room, turned on the lights for Lin Qi, and then stood waiting at the door.
Lin Qi and Ding Yang entered the conference room together.
As soon as they were inside, Ding Yang anxiously got straight to the point. "Lin Qi, this matter may be quite urgent. Do you remember the unknown energy wave mentioned by the Headquarters back when communications were still working?"
"After that wave, humanity suffered its second major loss since the apocalypse began. A large number of survivors mutated, and from then on, the rate at which monsters grew stronger accelerated."
These words reminded Lin Qi of what happened that day.
’That wasn’t some unknown energy wave. It was clearly a large-scale tide of Spiritual Particles.’
’And with the arrival of that tide, that damned moon in the sky performed its little party trick of opening its eye.’
’If I hadn’t heard the broadcast and taken precautions, I might have fallen victim to it as well.’
The reason Lin Qi could "see" the Blood Moon open its eye and still be alive was almost entirely due to his Spiritual Vision.
Without Spiritual Vision, Lin Qi wouldn’t have been able to "see" that scene at all, unable to glimpse even a hint of the Blood Moon’s true form.
"Does the Headquarters have news about this?"
Seeing Ding Yang’s anxious expression, Lin Qi guessed that the Headquarters had probably learned something new, and it likely corresponded to a coming crisis.
Ding Yang nodded gravely. "According to a notice from the Headquarters, a similar event might happen again within a week—it could even be as soon as today. At the same time, the monsters will enter a new phase of strengthening."
Hearing this, Lin Qi had no choice but to take it seriously.
’Another tide of Spiritual Particles?’
’Could it be that the Blood Moon in the sky is about to make another move?’
The thought of that day’s events sent a chill down Lin Qi’s spine.
’This Doomsday World really is getting more dangerous by the day.’
’Plans can never keep up with changes. The people of the Doomsday World are truly living in dire straits.’
As Lin Qi was pondering, something suddenly occurred to him.
’Something’s not right!’
’A thousand things aren’t right!’
’Even if the Blood Moon is about to make a move, why would Ding Yang come looking for me in such a panic?’
’This isn’t something that can be opposed by human power. Both the Hongshan Camp and the Mo University Camp can only do their best to prepare.’
’Theoretically, as long as you don’t look directly at the Blood Moon, you can avoid a major crisis.’
’At least, you won’t suffer a devastating blow from it.’
’The real crisis is the accelerating rate at which monsters are strengthening after the mutation event.’
’So what’s the reason for Ding Yang’s anxiety?’
"Director Ding, just speak plainly. Are you here to ask for another favor?"
Evidently, Lin Qi had guessed correctly. As soon as he asked the question, an awkward expression appeared on Ding Yang’s face, mixed with his anxiety.
’Sure enough, Ding Yang is still Ding Yang, always so smooth when it’s time to reveal his true intentions.’
Ding Yang composed himself and chose his words carefully before saying to Lin Qi, "This time, it’s not actually my personal request. It’s a mission assigned to me by the Headquarters. They wanted me to ask if you, Lin Qi, could spare some effort to help with a research and development project."
"According to the Headquarters, the true mutation event could happen at any time within the week, but it’s not impossible to stop it."
"If the Headquarters’ plan succeeds, it could delay the mutation by at least a month. After that month, there might be a way to delay it even further."
’The Headquarters is seeking help, and they came to me?’
’And another thing!’
’The Headquarters has the ability to delay the mutation?’
’The Headquarters can influence the state of the Blood Moon!’
’As expected, the Dragon Country Command Headquarters is no simple organization. They possess power beyond the imagination of ordinary people.’
For Lin Qi, the Doomsday World was a massive repository of resources.
If possible, he didn’t want this repository to collapse too quickly.
If a major mutation were to occur with the Blood Moon, making it impossible for humans to survive in the Doomsday World...
For his own safety, Lin Qi would have no choice but to abandon the Doomsday World—unless there was a major breakthrough in the technology of the Cyber World.
’Then, I could return, decked out in a terrifying Prosthetic Body.’
"Director Ding, please speak plainly. If it’s within my ability, I’m willing to help."
Although Lin Qi said this, he had no idea what the Headquarters actually wanted him to do.
’Don’t tell me the Headquarters thinks I can help influence the Blood Moon?’
’Get real. The Wizard Profession may have some connection to the Blood Moon, but not to that extent.’
Ding Yang nodded and continued, "The Headquarters’ request isn’t on the Extraordinary level, but on the technological level, which is your specialty, Lin Qi. That’s why they had me come to you."
"The Headquarters needs a spaceship, or a rocket would also work. The specific requirements are on this USB drive."
Lin Qi raised an eyebrow.
’What the hell?’
’A spaceship?’
’A rocket?’
’Are you kidding me?!’
