Dual Worlds: I Have a Doomsday World

Lin Qi was curious about the specific details of the collaboration between Ninghang Technology and Liu’s Heavy Industries.

The brand-new Prosthetic Body, equipped with the so-called Ning Xin, certainly seemed to be a groundbreaking innovation.

But the state of that chip made Lin Qi uneasy.

A chip that seemed to be alive, serving as the core component of a human implantable Prosthetic Body—it was a dangerous prospect no matter how you looked at it.

’Should I talk to Liu Xuan?’

Lin Qi felt that if he asked, Liu Xuan might actually tell him.

But after thinking it over, he decided it wasn’t necessary—at least, not right now.

After obtaining intel from King Arthur and Guang Ling, Lin Qi could consolidate the information. If he determined then that this thing was genuinely dangerous, it wouldn’t be too late to approach Liu Xuan.

In any case, based on today’s experimental progress, it would take at least two more months for the chip to complete its planned data acquisition.

A chip that worked eight hours a day, six days a week was a rather difficult one to serve.

After passing by Liu Xuan, Lin Qi boarded a flying vehicle and returned to No. 8 Fortress Road.

Just like yesterday, Liu Xuan had deliberately increased the speed of her flying vehicle to return one step ahead of Lin Qi.

The number of their "coincidental" daily encounters was strictly controlled at two.

Lin Qi quickly entered his room and took out his wristband.

Earlier in the day, Lin Qi had noticed that King Arthur was sending him messages through the wristband.

He checked the contents.

King Arthur: "Wizard, how’s your operation going? Did you manage to infiltrate the project team? According to my sources, among the big corporations in the Asian Administrative Region cooperating with Ninghang Technology, only the Modi Group hasn’t finalized its personnel list. If you need it, I have a way to get you a spot with them. The Modi Group is notoriously leaky."

’The Modi Group?’

For a moment, Lin Qi couldn’t tell whether Ninghang Technology considered this project important or not.

Even the Modi Group was involved!

He recalled that his operation in Greenfield City wouldn’t have been so easy if not for the Modi Group’s shoddy workmanship.

Lin Qi responded: "I have successfully positioned personnel and have already obtained some intelligence."

In the European Administrative Region, King Arthur was taken aback by the message.

’So efficient?’

’It seems Wizard really does have some powerful backing.’

King Arthur replied: "I’ve also obtained some intel. I suggest we contact Guang Ling to call a temporary meeting. We can share what we know and also inform the other members of the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps that we’re both involved in this operation now."

Lin Qi naturally wouldn’t refuse. Relying on himself alone, the intel he could gather was quite limited.

After replying to King Arthur with his agreement, Lin Qi composed an email and sent it to the highest-level secure mailbox.

King Arthur did the same, sending an email to request a meeting.

Soon, they both received a reply from Guang Ling.

[Confirmation received from other members. Temporary meeting will be held at 00:00 on March 16, 2089.]

As usual, Guang Ling had set the meeting for midnight. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

There were less than two hours until the meeting.

Meanwhile, the cooldown for the [Door] had only a few dozen minutes left.

Lin Qi went to the washroom and, after some thought, decided to attend the meeting first.

He still had many vague ideas about the chip’s condition floating in his mind.

If he spent twenty-four hours in the Doomsday World, many of his trains of thought might be interrupted. Even after getting intel from Guang Ling and King Arthur, the long time gap might cause him to lose a fleeting moment of inspiration.

After splashing his face with cold water, Lin Qi lay on his bed, meditating while he waited for time to pass.

’The concentration of Spiritual Particles in the Cyber World is still rising. Although the daily increase is small, my observations through Spiritual Vision are never wrong.’

Lin Qi couldn’t be sure if the rising concentration of Spiritual Particles was a good or bad thing.

Only by identifying its source could he know for sure.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Qi acknowledged he didn’t have the ability to investigate it for now, nor did he want to get entangled in a higher level of danger.

He could only suppress the doubt in his heart.

He meditated for over an hour. While there was some effect, compared to meditating in the Doomsday World, the results were barely better than nothing.

At 00:00 on March 16, 2089, the email from Guang Ling arrived right on time.

[You have received an invitation to a "Highest Level Security Meeting." Connect?]

He immediately chose to accept. Electrodes behind his ear instantly connected to the signal, using electrical impulses to project an image onto his retina.

In a mysterious, dimly lit conference room located on the cyber network, six members appeared.

The moment they entered the conference room, Lin Qi, Master Ma, and King Arthur all looked toward member "VI," Jingang.

Then, they turned to look at Capitalist.

"Capitalist, have you met the new member?"

Only one person in the Mercenary Corps would ask such a blunt question.

King Arthur’s face was hidden in shadow, but her curiosity practically spilled out from it.

Since it concerned the new member, Capitalist didn’t equivocate. "I haven’t met him, but I arranged for someone from the Big Business Alliance to contact him."

The new member, Jingang, hadn’t interacted much with the others, his communication limited to his previous call for help.

Jingang spoke up, "Thanks to Capitalist’s help, I’m now safe and have secured a decent job within the Big Business Alliance."

It was a life-saving favor, and Jingang regarded Capitalist with goodwill.

Master Ma wasn’t surprised by this outcome. Given Capitalist’s personality, he would most likely handle everything perfectly and would never meet Jingang in person.

Judging from past interactions, Capitalist held a high position within the Big Business Alliance.

However, the current scene put King Arthur on alert.

She sensed that a clique was forming.

King Arthur quickly spoke up, "Wizard and I proposed this temporary meeting today. Regarding the Ninghang Technology mission, we have both obtained some new intelligence and are now directly involved in the operation."

Master Ma was still not surprised.

He had seen it coming back in Greenfield City. Wizard and King Arthur were clearly huddling together for warmth, thick as thieves.

Moreover, the two of them possessed a dual-channel secure communication device worth nearly ten million.

In the current Highest-Level Mercenary Corps, only Master Ma was like a lone wolf, not getting too close or familiar with any other member.

Guang Ling interjected at the right moment, "According to the intelligence I’ve gathered, Wizard and King Arthur are indeed directly involved in the mission, and they have the opportunity to obtain a sub-sample."

"Sub-sample?"

Both King Arthur and Lin Qi were confused. Why was it called a sub-sample?

According to the Mercenary Corps’ mission description, the most crucial criterion for success was obtaining a sample product of Ninghang Technology’s new tech.

Capitalist was the one to explain it to them. "Previously, you couldn’t directly participate in the operation, so according to the Mercenary Corps’ rules, Guang Ling didn’t send you the basic operational intel. You can check your mail; you should have a new email from Guang Ling now."

"Based on current intelligence, Ninghang Technology’s new tech, the Ning Xin, is still under heavy security. And according to intel obtained by Guang Ling, all the devices Ninghang Technology is bringing to its corporate partners are designated as sub-samples. Even if you manage to acquire one, it doesn’t technically fulfill the mission requirements."

"But since Guang Ling said you can now participate directly, the mission has likely changed."

At this, Capitalist looked at Guang Ling. His tone suggested he was somewhat dissatisfied with Guang Ling’s decision.

Guang Ling understood the reason for Capitalist’s dissatisfaction. Capitalist likely thought he was showing favoritism to Wizard and King Arthur.

He explained, "According to the information I’ve received, Ninghang Technology will only provide sub-samples during the first phase of the collaboration. But after the first phase ends, all cooperating corporations will receive a complete sample."

"Furthermore, based on the emails Wizard and King Arthur sent me, it appears they’ve obtained some significant intelligence."