Free Web NovelChapter 244: Chapter 191: Si Ranran Appears, Lin Qi’s Killing Intent
Guang Ling didn’t beat around the bush and continued, "Therefore, the Si Clan joined forces with several major corporations that suffered severe losses in interests due to the Big Business Alliance Successor Bill, and together they submitted a letter of protest to the Big Business Alliance."
"Furthermore, due to the breakdown in relations between the Liu Clan and the Si Clan, and the relentless pressure from the newly formed United Pharmaceutical, the Si Clan has initiated a plan to consolidate its capital. They are using the threat of corporate war to continuously pressure the Big Business Alliance."
"Although the current situation seems to be the Si Clan ceding some interests in exchange for the opportunity to convene the Asia Political Zone Advanced Pharmaceutical Enterprise Summit, their preparations for war have never ceased."
"Si Ranran’s arrival in Alliance City is, in fact, a statement of the Si Clan’s position."
"Making threats and concessions simultaneously, the Si Clan wants to push for more—specifically, the complete abolishment of the Big Business Alliance Successor Bill. That’s why Si Ranran has become the flag planted by the Si Clan in Alliance City."
"If that flag falls, then all the concessions made by the Si Clan will be rescinded, and a corporate war that will engulf at least a third of the Asian Administrative Region will erupt. Southeast Asia will become the main battlefield."
Guang Ling laid out the inside story for Lin Qi in one breath. Although the explanation was brief, Lin Qi could grasp the details of the intricate power plays between the various factions.
It was simply a matter of threatening mutually assured destruction to force the Big Business Alliance to change the rules.
At the same time, they were using benefits as bait to create internal dissent within the Big Business Alliance.
For the Big Business Alliance, the outbreak of a corporate war would inevitably lead to losses for multiple parties. The Big Business Alliance would not want to see such a situation unfold.
After saying all this, Guang Ling continued to Lin Qi, "Of course, advising you against killing Si Ranran now is just my suggestion. The final choice is yours."
"If you insist on killing her, out of consideration for a fellow member of the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps, I will provide you with technical assistance to help you leave Alliance City safely. However, the probability of your identity as a Wizard being exposed will be very high."
"On top of that, you’ve previously withstood a test from a Holy Light Weapon. The Round Table Conference might make a big move."
For Guang Ling to have said so much was already going above and beyond.
Lin Qi had already made his decision.
’So, I really can’t kill this Si Ranran right now.’
Neither having his identity exposed nor a corporate war breaking out were outcomes Lin Qi wanted to see.
The former would render all his years of effort in hiding his identity useless and would also bring danger to his dad back in Red Fruit City.
The latter would make Liu Xuan’s efforts on this trip to Alliance City all for naught, throw the Asian Administrative Region into chaos, and bring unnecessary danger to his family.
Lin Qi nodded, silently conveying his decision to Guang Ling.
On the other end of the line, Guang Ling also seemed to let out a sigh of relief, though the change in tone was extremely subtle. "I’m very glad you’ve made this decision. From a personal standpoint, I also don’t wish for a corporate war to break out."
Guang Ling rarely stated a personal opinion, which made Lin Qi curious.
’Why?’
For a Mercenary Corps, theoretically, the more chaotic the times, the higher the profits.
But Guang Ling seemed intent on preventing a corporate war.
This gave Lin Qi a bit more insight into Guang Ling, but he still couldn’t form a complete profile. Guang Ling remained a mystery.
Having achieved the purpose of this call, Guang Ling added one last thing. "Also, I have a piece of information for you. If you need help in any sense of the word while in Alliance City, you can contact the Capitalist through me. However, there’s a risk that the Capitalist might uncover your identity." freewebnoveℓ.com
This was the final piece of information Guang Ling gave to Lin Qi.
This wasn’t to reveal the Capitalist’s identity, but to give Lin Qi another option.
This proved that the Capitalist, member number three of the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps, carried significant weight in Alliance City.
After saying this, Guang Ling ended the communication with Lin Qi.
In the communication logs displayed on Lin Qi’s Intelligent Brain, this call didn’t exist.
And Lin Qi had no way to call back.
The only way to contact Guang Ling was still through email.
Email was an indispensable part of the cyber network.
It was a more secure and more highly encrypted method than direct calls.
Behind Lin Qi, his loyal bodyguard, Brother Green Hair, saw that Lin Qi had been standing motionless for a long time. Relying on his excellent professionalism, he didn’t inquire about his protectee’s private affairs, but instead remained fully alert, surveying their surroundings.
Unfortunately, Brother Green Hair had no idea that Lin Qi had just single-handedly dealt with an assassination attempt.
Seeing that Lin Qi had been standing still for three minutes, Brother Green Hair felt the need to check on his status. "Researcher Lin, what’s wrong? Why are you standing still?"
Lin Qi finally turned to look at Brother Green Hair and sighed internally. ’Brother Green Hair, what exactly are you protecting me from!’
But he couldn’t blame Brother Green Hair. He was just an ordinary A-Class Implanter.
He couldn’t effectively counter the methods of an Extraordinary Professional.
Normally, an A-Class Implanter like Brother Green Hair was already considered the pinnacle of the bodyguard world.
But in a battle between Extraordinary Professionals, an A-Class Implanter was just slightly tougher, more expensive cannon fodder.
Shaking his head, Lin Qi said, "It’s nothing. Just felt like I was assassinated."
Brother Green Hair quickly replied, "How could that be? Don’t worry, Researcher Lin. With me here, I can definitely protect you!"
Brother Green Hair had unwavering faith in his professionalism.
But then he remembered how Lin Qi had repeatedly spotted him back when he was trying to shadow him, and he hesitated.
’Don’t tell me Researcher Lin was actually attacked just now?’
’Impossible!’
’Absolutely impossible!’
Lin Qi shook his head, strode into the VIP-3 conference hall, and Brother Green Hair hurried to follow.
At that moment, the time was exactly nine o’clock, the starting time for the exchange meeting that Xiao Gu had mentioned to Lin Qi.
Everyone from the Medical Small Business Alliance had been waiting in the hall for a long time—a crowd of at least a hundred people.
Among them were the researchers representing their companies at the summit, as well as the managers from the companies backing them.
Everyone was eagerly awaiting Lin Qi’s arrival.
At this moment, most eyes in the room fell on Lin Qi.
They didn’t recognize Lin Qi, nor could they be sure of his identity.
Until Xiao Gu, a researcher from Rotor Pharmaceutical, enthusiastically stepped forward to greet him.
’Xiao Gu was clearly doing this on purpose!’
He had noticed Lin Qi standing motionless at the entrance much earlier.
But he had waited until now, holding off until everyone’s attention was focused.
"Researcher Lin, you’re finally here!"
Xiao Gu extended his hand, and Lin Qi, out of courtesy, shook it.
The handshake was not a mainstream custom in all the Cyber Cities of the Asian Administrative Region, but most people in the region were familiar with the gesture.
As long as you were from the Asian Administrative Region, using this gesture was a safe bet that wouldn’t cause offense.
To the onlookers, this scene meant that what Xiao Gu had said in the Medical Small Business Alliance group chat was true.
He really did know Lin Qi, the researcher representing United Pharmaceutical, the man at the center of the storm.
"Researcher Xiao Gu, I’m new here and haven’t had a chance to understand the rules for tonight’s exchange meeting. Could you explain them to me in detail?"
Lin Qi scanned the room and noticed most people were looking at him. He instantly understood that these representatives from the smaller businesses had, to some extent, caught wind of the power plays behind the summit.
Xiao Gu’s face immediately beamed with pride. He said to Lin Qi, "Tonight’s exchange meeting is, naturally, mainly for exchanging information."
"First, from a corporate perspective, we need to discuss the potential procedures and details of the upcoming summit. We’ll band together for mutual support and share intelligence."
"Second, it’s not easy for us small businesses to grow. Cultivating a single A-level Researcher can cost a company one or two years’ worth of profit. We even have to beg and plead just to get a spot in the internship training programs offered by the big corporations."
"It’s a rare opportunity to have over fifty A-Level Pharmaceutical Researchers gathered in one place. Tonight, we’ll also engage in some academic exchanges to encourage one another."
