Cyber ​​Ghost Record

Chapter 89, Part 88: Li

Socrates was somewhat caught off guard.

The security agency told him that his target this time was just a drug dealer.

He sensed something was amiss. In this era, there were countless ways to conduct anonymous transactions. Why would a wanted criminal reveal his true form and contact strangers? But he had no time to think further. His heart raced slightly, but fortunately, the Extraordinary Abilities Team had administered a neuropeptide receptor blocker beforehand, so he didn't experience any other signs of anxiety.

He hesitated for only half a second before walking into the room.

"Mr. Li."

The man turned his head; he wore tortoiseshell glasses and looked like a scholar. Through the semi-transparent holographic image of Mount Sumeru, he seemed to be standing on the other side of the world.

“You’ve arrived.” He greeted him, and after Suger walked around the edge of the holographic well, he looked Suger up and down. “Many people want to work with me, but you tell me you understand my work better than anyone else.” He smiled slightly. “They all treat it as a commodity, but you are the only one who calls it a ‘work of art’.”

“Of course, all a businessman sees are goods,” Suger said.

"You mean, you're not a businessman, you're an artist?" the man asked.

“I’m not an artist,” Soger smiled, “but I have a better eye than other businessmen.”

The man chuckled.

He picked up a chip. "It's only been circulating on the black market for a short time, and it already has many names. But I still prefer to call it 'Hearing the Way.' 'If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening.' You say it's not a commodity, then what do you think it is?"

“Death,” Socrates said. “Real death.”

"Many people enjoy experiencing near-death, but very few can actually accept dying."

“I must refute that, Mr. Li,” Socrates said. “On the contrary, people are drawn to death. It’s just that many people don’t understand it yet.”

"Oh?" The man put away the disposable chip with interest. "Tell me, why do they want to die?"

"Everyone has their own reasons. Some people feel that it is a new beginning, while others are seeking liberation."

"And you?" the man asked meaningfully, "and why?"

“Me?” Soger shook his head. “I’m not at that point yet.”

"Then what do you think death is?" the man scrutinized Suger.

“Death is death. What matters isn’t what I think it is, but how people perceive it.” Sog looked at the table behind the man, where a human skull lay—whether a model or a real one, it was unclear—with a band of owl feathers around its forehead. “People consider skulls ominous, but in Aztec mythology, they symbolize abundance and health. They can be good or bad; as long as people perceive them as good, they will spread widely…”

……

“‘Li’s’ reactions are 99% consistent with Fan Wujiu’s personality model.”

Inside the vehicle, a holographic image of Fan Wujiu floated in front of the investigator; this was a model created by the Security Bureau based on the files on demons and monsters. The conversation between Su Ge and Li was also simulated within the model.

"He is very likely the reincarnation of Fan Wujiu," the investigator said.

“Very good.” Lu Shixi was invigorated. She leaned forward, her hands on the table, carefully observing the details of Su Ge’s conversation with Li. This was not a simple case of an unusual affair. If they could catch Li Wujiu, it would mean they had found a breakthrough in the prison break case.

……

"How much exactly do you want?" Mr. Li sat in his chair, elegantly crossing his legs, his hands clasped over his lower abdomen. "Before we came, you said you had a big appetite."

"Two hundred pieces, disposable chip type."

"This is no small amount. Even unregistered individuals have a monthly death quota. Yingchuan City can't handle this much stock. Where are you going to sell it?"

“I’m a businessman. I sell wherever there is demand. Before I came here, there were already quite a few customers who needed it, but there was never any stock on the market.” Suger paused and sighed, “Actually, you could still find this kind of product on the market before, but it disappeared last year.”

Suger's nerves were on edge. The words the negotiation expert had instructed him to utter were a direct test. He observed Mr. Li's reaction. At this moment, the mental indicator remained quietly in his mind, offering no warning.

"Want to know why?"

Mr. Li smiled slightly, a smile that seemed to hide a mocking undertone, making Su Ge uneasy. "Why?"

"It's simple, I was arrested at that time."

……

"The target has been exposed."

Mr. Li's words were like a bomb dropped inside the car.

"Request the support of the Feathered Robe Envoy."

"Twelve private signal base stations set up by the gang have been detected."

In the center of the vehicle, the screen displayed the results of radar detection. Twelve red dots flashed among the buildings, unfolding into partial images. These were twelve locations hidden throughout the Crude Garden, guarded by robots and cyborgs.

"Control all base stations and block all channels."

Lu Shixi quickly gave the order, and the three investigators pulled down their masks and filed out.

……

Suger was taken aback.

He already knew Li's true identity, but he never expected that Li would not make any attempt to conceal it.

"Then I must congratulate Mr. Li on regaining his freedom." He smiled insincerely, repeating the fake brain's words like a parrot. Clearly, the "negotiation expert" was deliberately avoiding the topic of the prison break; his current task was to stall for time as much as possible.

"Freedom? I'm just a stray dog, what freedom do I have to speak of? If you want to cooperate with me, aren't you afraid of the security bureau?"

"Even if I don't cooperate with you, the security agency won't let me off the hook."

"Is that so?" Li Zhui asked. "The Security Bureau turns a blind eye to many things. There are plenty of lucrative business opportunities, so why come to me of all people?"

“Because I have a good eye,” Suger said. “Your work is rare…”

The sudden turn of events interrupted Suger's words.

Within the holographic well, the image of Mount Sumeru abruptly vanished, replaced by a projection of the Heavenly Tree King. A signal base station atop the treetop issued a malfunction report.

Li frowned.

The security bureau made its move, and Su Ge's heart tightened.

A data stream flashes below the hologram.

Soon, the error message box changed from red to green.

[Attack source unknown]

The bug has been fixed.

The clumsy cover-up, Su Ge thought, meant that the Third Group of Extraordinary Abilities must have already taken control of some nearby facilities. He secretly prepared for a counterattack. If the other party made any unusual moves, he would first rely on the Gu Diao to ensure his own safety. Only as a last resort would he consider using his own abilities or Fan Wujiu's status.

“That’s just how this place is, gangs everywhere.” Li relaxed his brows and remained seated. “There are always petty thieves bothering us.” He waved his hand, and the holographic image of the Heavenly Tree King disappeared. “But I’m only staying here temporarily.”

Suger remained vigilant; his unease intensified. Something was amiss in this transaction. From beginning to end, Li had shown no sign of wariness, even bordering on recklessness. But how could such recklessness be attributed to Digital Life? He preferred to believe that the other party was simply taking advantage of the situation.

Why is he so fearless?
Suger's unease grew stronger.

At the same time, a warning came from Fan Wujiu's rank:
This is a trap; you've been set up.

(End of this chapter)