Dual Worlds: I Have a Doomsday World

The patient’s vision went black, and he fainted.

Doctor Lin sighed. He turned around, and to the sound of the Divine Iron Bull whirring at full power behind him, he sat in the chair beside the operating table.

A flood of unpleasant memories surfaced.

But after so many years, Doctor Lin had mostly made his peace with it.

"You guessed right. Our family does have some connections to the Eastern Alliance, but it’s probably different from what you’re imagining."

"Since you’re all grown up now, and have come this far, it’s time I told you these things."

"Your grandfather was a... beast. His name is Lin Changshou. Back in the day, he came to Red Fruit City on business and met your grandmother..."

Doctor Lin began to recount that bitter tale.

The gist of the story was that Lin Qi’s grandfather, Lin Changshou, was an old scumbag. Though he was already eighty years old at the time, he still fell in "love" with an eighteen-year-old girl.

However, given his advanced age, he returned to the Eastern Alliance shortly thereafter.

He merely left Lin Qi’s grandmother a handsome sum of Credit Points.

The rest of the story was that his grandmother raised Doctor Lin in Red Fruit City. Doctor Lin wasn’t untalented; he spent Credit Points to learn the prosthetics trade and eventually founded the No. 1 Prosthetic Clinic.

In the story Doctor Lin told, the grandmother was an incredibly strong woman...

Although while Doctor Lin was growing up, she dated dozens of boyfriends and spent most of that handsome sum of Credit Points, her motherly love for him was genuine, and at least she never gave him any younger half-siblings.

After hearing the story Doctor Lin told, it was Lin Qi’s turn to fall silent.

’So that’s why Dad’s childhood was so... harsh. Because he’d been through the storm himself, he was determined to shield Lin Qi and Lin Xin with the umbrella of ’family’.’

This ultimately made the siblings, Lin Qi and Lin Xin, value "family" above all else.

"As far as I know, your grandfather might... still be alive. Before your grandmother died from her illness, she left an encrypted video file and told me to give it to him if I ever had the chance."

"If you get the chance to meet him, fulfill your grandmother’s last wish for her."

Doctor Lin sent an email to Lin Qi. The attachment was that very encrypted file.

As an A-Class Prosthetic Engineering researcher, Lin Qi had a basic understanding of cyber network technology.

By modern standards, the file’s encryption wasn’t complex.

But Lin Qi had no intention of decrypting it.

After all, it was a request from his elder, one that Lin Qi naturally intended to honor.

After ending his call with Doctor Lin, Lin Qi returned to Xu Zhengming and Xu Qinghe, a troubled expression on his face.

Xu Qinghe had a mischievous look on her face as she asked, "So? Get any answers? Which elder of the Lin Family is your grandpa? Maybe I know him! I could even take you to see him!"

Xu Zhengming also looked at Lin Qi, awaiting an answer.

A few of the older, third-generation Pharmaceutical Researchers from the Lin Family had also come to World City. Perhaps he could play host and arrange a meeting for Lin Qi.

It would be a way to help Lin Qi resolve things from the past.

’The Lin Family abandoned someone in Red Fruit City. They owe him an explanation!’

Lin Qi sighed and said, "Mr. Xu, you were right. I can indeed be considered a descendant of the Eastern Alliance’s Lin Family. My grandfather’s name is... Lin Changshou."

Hearing the first half of Lin Qi’s sentence, Xu Zhengming stroked his chin in satisfaction.

’Just as I thought!’

’My intuition really is sharp!’

’This is a good way to build a positive relationship with Lin Qi!’

But upon hearing the second half of the sentence, Xu Zhengming’s scalp tingled in shock!

’Who?’

’Lin what?’

’Lin Changshou?’

Xu Zhengming thought of that living fossil from the Lin Family.

That man had been lying in a Life Support Pod for a very long time; he was among the first to use the technology when it became available.

His age was now approaching one hundred and fifty!

If he remembered correctly, next month was supposed to be his one hundred and fiftieth birthday, and the Lin Family was reportedly planning a grand celebration.

Xu Zhengming had even heard a rumor that the man’s condition had recently improved, and he was preparing to leave his pod to concoct an S-Class Potion...

HISS!

Xu Zhengming drew a sharp breath.

Looking at Lin Qi, his gaze complicated, he said, "No wonder... Little Brother Lin, your Talent is so high. It turns out you’re not a fifth-generation Pharmaceutical Researcher, but a fourth. A whole generation above Qinghe."

"If Little Brother Lin doesn’t mind, you can just call me Brother Xu from now on."

After speaking to Lin Qi, Xu Zhengming glanced at Xu Qinghe and said, "What are you standing there gaping for? Hurry up and call him Uncle Lin!"

Hearing Xu Zhengming’s words, Xu Qinghe was utterly mortified.

’Crap! I’m a generation below him now!’

The Eastern Alliance had always been particular about seniority. Even if someone had high seniority but was young, the forms of address could not be casually disregarded.

This was a custom rooted in ancient tradition.

Xu Qinghe forced an awkward smile and called out, "Uncle... Lin."

Hearing that form of address, it wasn’t just Xu Qinghe who was embarrassed; Lin Qi himself could barely take it.

Although the Red Fruit City region was influenced by the Eastern Alliance, it didn’t have such rules.

Lin Qi quickly said, "Brother Xu, there’s no need for that. Let’s just address each other as we see fit. Miss Xu is even a few years older than me."

Lin Qi clearly didn’t want to accept such a form of address; it made him sound as if he were very old.

’I’m in the prime of my life! Just a nineteen-year-old kid!’

"Okay!"

Before Xu Zhengming could even open his mouth, she piped up happily.

She agreed in a heartbeat, and happiness instantly returned to her face.

In that moment, Xu Qinghe decided Lin Qi was a great guy.

Xu Zhengming looked from Lin Qi’s face to Xu Qinghe’s, a little exasperated.

"In private, we can address each other as we please. But in public, according to the rules of the Eastern Alliance, we must still use the proper forms of address. It’s stipulated by Alliance law."

Xu Zhengming’s words surprised Lin Qi somewhat.

’There’s a law for that?’

This was something Lin Qi had not expected at all.

Xu Zhengming noticed Lin Qi’s surprise and explained, "Ever since the first corporate war completed the process of global decentralization, the Eastern Alliance has made great efforts to maintain its integrity."

"Preserving tradition is part of that effort. Establishing laws for even the smallest details is key to how the Eastern Alliance has stood firm in the eastern part of the Asian Administrative Region, without being absorbed by the Super Alliance into the Big Business Alliance."

As he said this, a hint of pride appeared on Xu Zhengming’s face.

It was a sense of belonging to the Eastern Alliance, a special honor that cities under the rule of the Big Business Alliance could not experience.

Lin Qi could only nod and say, "It’s fine as long as we can address each other informally in private."

When Xu Qinghe heard this, the expression on her face fell a little again.

Then, thinking of something, her smile returned once more.

Xu Qinghe suddenly spoke up, "Dad, Lin Qi just won a Gentleman’s Race. Shouldn’t we take him to meet the other researchers from the Asian Administrative Region? He’s boosted the prestige of our Asian Administrative Region, after all."

Xu Qinghe seemed eager to introduce Lin Qi to her colleagues from Nanyun Potion.

Although she mentioned the Asian Administrative Region, aside from Lin Qi, all the other invited attendees from the region’s Pharmacy Domain were from Nanyun Potion.

These people were either surnamed Xu, Lin, Nan, or Li...

On careful consideration, Nanyun Potion had sent quite a large contingent. Their one company had as many people as ten companies from other regions combined.

Xu Zhengming nodded and asked, "Little Brother Lin, what do you think? Would you like to come with me to meet our colleagues from the Asian Administrative Region, or would you rather rest for a bit first?"

Lin Qi glanced at the time, then made his decision. "In that case, it would be my pleasure. I’ll have to trouble Brother Xu to make the introductions!"

It wasn’t a bad idea to get acquainted with this group of S-Class Pharmaceutical Researchers. After all, Lin Qi still needed to participate in the sub-conference for the Pharmacy Domain later.

After replying to Xu Zhengming, Lin Qi glanced at Xu Qinghe, then called up his Intelligent Brain and began composing an email...