Dual Worlds: I Have a Doomsday World

Hearing Lin Qi’s words, Lin Xin sighed.

She went on, her voice filled with concern, "United Pharmaceutical’s business in Alliance City is over. You should leave as soon as you can. Honestly, Alliance City... it isn’t safe right now."

As a member of the Assassin Alliance, Lin Xin knew a great deal.

It wasn’t just Baili Xueyuan, a single Tier Four Extraordinary, who had gone to Alliance City. The Assassin Alliance itself had deployed no fewer than three of its own Tier Four Extraordinary Professionals there!

This meant that something big was probably about to happen in Alliance City.

But communications over the cyber network weren’t secure, and she was bound by the Assassin Alliance’s internal rules. Lin Xin couldn’t speak plainly, so she could only urge Lin Qi to leave as soon as possible.

Lin Qi replied, "I’ll be leaving in a day or two. Once the Liu Clan’s security team arrives to handle the handover of the S-Class Pharmacy Literature, I’ll depart with my company’s people."

’This wasn’t exactly a lie,’ Lin Qi thought. ’If I calculate the timing, the Mercenary Corps’ operation should happen before that.’

Lin Qi estimated the Mercenary Corps would make their move either today or tomorrow.

Hearing this, Lin Xin breathed a sigh of relief. "You... just be safe."

They didn’t chat for much longer. After the siblings exchanged a few more words of caution, they ended the call.

Lin Qi stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Alliance Mansion, gazing outside as he pondered.

’Lin Xin was clearly implying that things are starting to stir in Alliance City, but there’s no way I can stay out of it.’

’Ninghang Technology, the Round Table Conference, the Witch Hunt, the secrets hidden on the Moon... As a Wizard Professional, I can’t break free from any of this.’

Even without the Mercenary Corps’ operation, Lin Qi couldn’t stay out of it.

...

By the time afternoon arrived, Lin Qi had already spent the whole morning replying to messages.

The Cyber Media reports had turned Lin Qi, who had always kept a low profile, into an object of intense interest for many.

People he had only met once in the past were now all trying to contact him.

But Lin Qi’s attention wasn’t on socializing at all.

A new message popped up in the temporary chat window for the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps.

Guang Ling: "Ninghang Technology has started to move. According to intel I’ve intercepted, they’re preparing to transfer the sample. The destination is Fei City in the southeastern part of the Asian Administrative Region, a Cyber City located on an island."

King Arthur: "Finally, we can move! I’m itching to get started!"

Master Ma: "The Assassin Alliance is also making a move. It seems they’ve discovered a Tier Four Extraordinary from an Intercontinental Influence. I’ve detected traces of an Assassin Alliance Tier Four Death Warrior."

Capitalist: "Aishwarya passed some information to the Eastern Alliance through the Big Business Alliance’s channels. She’s likely the one who lured the Tier Four Death Warrior here. Following the Assassin Alliance’s usual methods, Death Warrior Professionals and Life-taking Professionals typically operate together. That means there are at least three Tier Four Extraordinary Professionals from the Assassin Alliance in Alliance City right now."

Looking at the messages in the chat window, Lin Qi finally understood what Lin Xin had been so worried about.

The Assassin Alliance alone had sent three Tier Four Extraordinary Professionals. Add to that the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps, the Round Table Conference...

Lin Qi suspected that the number of Tier Four Powerhouses poised and ready to make a move in Alliance City might exceed ten.

’That’s Tier Four!’

Any one of them was a major figure capable of commanding an entire region, yet now a free-for-all of this magnitude was about to erupt.

At this moment, Lin Qi felt incredibly fortunate. It was a good thing he had advanced to Tier Three and that his Abilities were sufficiently unorthodox; otherwise, the pressure of just staying alive would have been immense.

On top of that, Lin Qi also noted a detail in the intelligence Capitalist had mentioned.

’Aishwarya didn’t report this move to me through our chat window. This means my guess from last night was correct.’

’She’s already found her breakthrough, but she isn’t being careless. This is her playing it safe with a backup plan.’

Guang Ling continued in the highest-level temporary chat window.

Guang Ling: "I’ve intercepted the Assassin Alliance’s intelligence. The target of the two newly arrived Tier Fours is not Ninghang Technology. The information Aishwarya submitted was about Standing Director Jin Yuanxi. She’s disguised her own operation as infighting among the standing directors."

"Still, it drew in two Tier Four Extraordinary Professionals from the Assassin Alliance, which put considerable pressure on Ninghang Technology. That’s what forced them to make a quick decision and prepare to execute their evacuation plan."

After explaining the cause and effect, Guang Ling began to lay out the Mercenary Corps’ plan.

Guang Ling: "The newly arrived Tier Four Extraordinary Professionals won’t affect our operation for now. We’ll proceed according to the original plan."

Guang Ling: "A few days ago, King Arthur finished scouting Ninghang Technology’s hidden passage. He confirmed its path and also detected the auras of more than one Round Table Knight inside. This, combined with the intelligence from Wizard, corroborates their presence. We can be certain there are Round Table Knights."

’Round Table Knights,’ Lin Qi recalled. ’Aishwarya mentioned them in her last message. They’re the top fighting force of the European Administrative Region.’

King Arthur: "I can hold my own against one Round Table Knight, but only if he doesn’t use the Sword in the Stone. And its aura is here in Alliance City."

’Sword in the Stone?’

This was the first time Lin Qi had heard of its existence.

’Isn’t that thing from European mythology?’

Lin Qi didn’t join the discussion and continued watching their exchange.

Capitalist: "The Europeans were actually willing to bring out a Tier Five Extraordinary Item? Aren’t they afraid of running into a Wizard who’s on the verge of a breakthrough?"

It felt like Capitalist’s words were aimed at someone. Lin Qi felt like he had just been called out.

’A Tier Five Extraordinary Item?’

’I may want it, but at my current stage, I really can’t use it.’

Lin Qi was still a full seven minor stages away from being able to use a Tier Five Extraordinary Item.

’Capitalist is really overestimating me.’

Master Ma: "A Round Table Knight with the Sword in the Stone is incredibly powerful. Even I’m not confident I could win."

’Not confident he could win?’ Lin Qi raised an eyebrow.

’Does that mean he can hold his own against one?’

’I might have underestimated Master Ma’s combat strength,’ Lin Qi thought.

As the others discussed, Guang Ling chimed in, not formulating the plan alone.

Guang Ling: "The existence of the Sword in the Stone is indeed tricky. The European Big Business Alliance places great importance on Ninghang Technology’s research. But the good news is, I can confirm that among the Round Table Knights in Alliance City, the Grand Knight Commander is definitely not one of them."

After Guang Ling’s message appeared, Master Ma responded.

Master Ma: "I can try to stall that Round Table Knight, but I can’t guarantee for how long."

King Arthur: "Ten minutes. I only need ten minutes. I want to clash with the other Round Table Knight."

Seeing King Arthur’s message, Lin Qi got the feeling that King Arthur was more interested in fighting a Round Table Knight than in completing the mission.

’Looks like there’s some bad blood there.’

Only after Master Ma and King Arthur had stated their positions did Guang Ling send the next message.

Guang Ling: "You don’t need to fight the Round Table Knights to a definitive end. You can use the Assassin Alliance’s Tier Four Extraordinaries. The moment a Round Table Knight’s combat aura erupts, they’ll rush to the scene."

Guang Ling: "The Round Table’s operation constitutes a serious case of illegal entry by High-tier Extraordinaries. The Eastern Alliance will not tolerate it. You just need to make the commotion from your fight as big as possible. When I send the signal, disengage from combat at top speed."

Looking at Guang Ling’s plan, Lin Qi realized, ’It seems the most critical part isn’t in their hands.’

The Mercenary Corps’ objective was the "mother sample" from Ninghang Technology. Every fight was just a means to that end—capturing the sample.

Guang Ling: "Later I will send you two a detailed operational plan. If you have better suggestions, you can discuss them with me in the chat."

Guang Ling: "That’s all for Plan A. The next focus is on Plan B."

Guang Ling: "I don’t think there’s any possibility of seizing the sample in Plan A. There are too many Tier Four Extraordinaries in Alliance City right now. Ninghang Technology will probably lean towards a sleight-of-hand tactic. The real sample will most likely remain in Alliance City. I need Wizard and Jingang to carry out Plan B..."