Dual Worlds: I Have a Doomsday World

A smile spread across Xiao Gu’s face upon seeing the message.

Done!

Regardless of the outcome, the few larger companies in the Medical Small Business Alliance would owe him a favor.

With that favor in his pocket, no matter what the future held, Xiao Gu knew he could find a decent job even if Rotor Pharmaceutical went under.

...

Alliance Mansion, 213th floor. Lin Qi and Brother Green Hair had finished checking in.

It was a suite with a master bedroom, a guest bedroom, and a sitting room, with a layout well-suited for business.

Lin Qi and Brother Green Hair were sitting in the sitting room.

Brother Green Hair asked curiously, "Researcher Lin, why did you accept the invitation from those small businesses? They can’t be much help to United Pharmaceutical at the summit, can they?"

Lin Qi shook his head. "They may be small businesses, but in the Pharmacy industry, United Pharmaceutical doesn’t carry much weight either. We might have the behemoth Liu Clan behind us, but they can’t help United Pharmaceutical at this summit."

"That being the case, we might as well get familiar with the smaller companies. Every business has its own methods for survival, its own connections."

"At a gathering of over fifty small businesses, we might uncover intelligence that even we haven’t heard yet."

Lin Qi had his own unique perspective on companies in the Cyber World.

Any enterprise that managed to exist as a proper company was not to be underestimated. A business license wasn’t something you could get just by having money.

Hearing Lin Qi’s words, Brother Green Hair was a little surprised. "Researcher Lin, is this a mission the young miss gave you?"

Lin Qi’s way of thinking felt somewhat familiar to Brother Green Hair.

It was the kind of mindset he usually only saw in the Liu Clan members he protected.

An ordinary company employee would never have such insight.

Life in the Cyber World was rich, and the flow of information was convenient enough.

But thanks to the deliberate blockades set up by major corporations, ordinary people had absolutely no access to information from a corporate perspective.

The cyber network was like a giant information cocoon, enveloping every single person.

From the moment a person was born, the information they were allowed to receive was already sorted and arranged for them. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Take the low-level gang members of Red Fruit City, for example.

From birth, the only information they were fed concerned Prosthetic Bodies, loans, Potions, survival, gangs, and medical care.

From the very beginning, they were destined to become sacrifices for the development of the Cyber City.

Burdened by debt, they sustained the Cyber City’s development.

If they were lucky enough to come into contact with mid-to-high-ranking gang members, they might even gain knowledge about certain Extraordinary Professions.

This knowledge would then lure them down the so-called path to becoming a "Legend."

Little did they know, upon setting foot on this path, they would unwittingly become a blade in the hands of some corporation.

Even after going to great lengths to become stronger, paying an even higher price for better Prosthetic Bodies, they merely became sharper blades.

Furthermore, they contributed to the corporation’s sales of Prosthetic Bodies. After embarking on the Extraordinary path, even their own severed body parts would be processed into Extraordinary Materials, earning the corporation yet more profit.

Lin Qi was born as the son of a Prosthetic Doctor, but he carried memories from an era where technology was less advanced and the information cocoon had yet to fully form. Because of this, he had his own unique perspective on the true nature of the Cyber World.

His way of thinking was naturally different from others.

Lin Qi replied to Brother Green Hair’s question, "You could say that. I promised Liu Xuan I’d get some things done."

Hearing this, Brother Green Hair said no more.

He was afraid that if he pressed further, Lin Qi might reveal some secret about his relationship with Liu Xuan.

As a bodyguard, it was best not to know things he wasn’t supposed to know.

Brother Green Hair decisively excused himself, entered his room, and left Lin Qi to his own devices.

A few minutes later, Lin Qi received a message from Xiao Gu.

The networking event would be held on the 331st floor of the Alliance Mansion, in the Level 2 VIP-3 hall.

’These small businesses are surprisingly wealthy.’

’It’s just a meeting to exchange some intel, yet they’re willing to spend millions on it.’

What Lin Qi didn’t realize was that the venue had been upgraded entirely because of him.

Lin Qi was hoping to get intelligence from the small businesses.

And the small businesses were hoping that Lin Qi, this hidden "board member of a major corporation," would give them some guidance.

Everyone had their own agenda, which had led to the current situation.

Checking the time, he saw he still had plenty. He could spend a little more time reading the A-Class Pharmacy literature.

Not one to waste time, Lin Qi threw himself into his studies.

At 8:50, the alarm Lin Qi had set for the event went off right on time, reminding him that he should be heading out.

As soon as he stood up, Brother Green Hair walked out of the guest bedroom, positioning himself at Lin Qi’s side to protect him.

Seeing Brother Green Hair’s diligent attitude, Lin Qi said, "The Alliance Mansion is perfectly safe. You can get some rest."

Green Hair shook his head. "The young miss ordered me to be your close-protection detail. The company’s situation is precarious. It’s possible someone might make a move in the shadows."

Brother Green Hair was resolute, refusing to let his guard down in the slightest.

According to the Liu Clan’s bodyguard code, if anything happened to Lin Qi, he would be finished too.

To say nothing of the fact that Lin Qi was someone Liu Xuan had specifically entrusted to his care.

Lin Qi nodded. It didn’t matter to him either way.

Besides, this wasn’t like back in Greenfield City. For now, Lin Qi had no need to slip away from Brother Green Hair to act alone.

He might need to in a few days, but when the time came, he could ask Guang Ling for help, just as he had in Greenfield City.

With Brother Green Hair in tow, Lin Qi arrived at the 331st floor of Alliance Mansion. Led by the building’s reception staff, they headed toward the Level 2 VIP-3 hall.

Just then, Lin Qi suddenly felt a malicious gaze land on him.

As if by reflex, his Spiritual Vision activated, locking onto the source of the stare.

It was an A-Class Implanter with a full Prosthetic Body. Lin Qi didn’t recognize them.

’I’m being targeted again? Who sent them? What did I even do?’

Lin Qi quickly replayed the day’s events in his mind.

After arriving at Alliance Mansion today, he’d only spoken with one stranger: Xiao Gu.

And Lin Qi hadn’t sensed any malice from him.

’Someone from one of the other small businesses at tonight’s event? No, that doesn’t make sense.’

’Or could it be an enemy of United Pharmaceutical or Liu’s Heavy Industries?’

’If so, their target probably isn’t me, but United Pharmaceutical or Liu’s Heavy Industries.’

This was the only conclusion Lin Qi could draw; after all, he hadn’t offended anyone in Alliance City.

Targeting him could only mean they were targeting the powers behind him. It had nothing to do with him personally.

’I’ll just have to play it by ear. Good thing Brother Green Hair is here. As long as nothing unexpected happens, I won’t have to reveal my powers from the Wizard Profession of the Extraordinary Side.’

’That, plus the combat power of my A-Class Prosthetic Body, should be enough to handle whatever comes.’

For now, he pulled back his focus. The A-Class Implanter hadn’t made a move yet, so Lin Qi could only wait and react.

Following the receptionist, Lin Qi arrived at the entrance to the Level 2 VIP-3 hall.

The Door to the hall was propped open, revealing drinks and desserts arranged inside. This was clearly a networking social, not a formal meeting.

Lin Qi was just about to step through.

But in the next instant, his Spiritual Vision flared with a sudden warning!

Malice!

Pure, direct malice.

And besides the malice, Lin Qi sensed something familiar.

Within the scope of his Spiritual Vision, just a short distance away from him, several long needles condensed from Spiritual Power suddenly appeared.

Lin Qi was very familiar with this move. He had been attacked in the same way when he was leaving Greenfield City.

’The Si Clan?’

Lin Qi understood now. The malice from that A-Class Implanter wasn’t aimed at United Pharmaceutical or Liu’s Heavy Industries at all—the bastards were coming for him!

Moreover, Lin Qi already had a guess as to who was controlling these Spiritual Needles.

’Si Ranran?’

’Si Ranran? That woman who’s at the center of the storm in Asia right now? She left the protection of that metal monstrosity, the Greenfield City Iron Curtain, and came to Alliance City?’

Before he shattered the Spiritual Needle in the same way as before, Lin Qi cast out his Spiritual Vision, searching the entire Alliance Mansion.