Lin Xinghai mulled over the future development of his Superpower as he opened a game on his wrist computer.
There was no denying itâhigh-tech was great. The wrist computerâs holographic projection made games a completely immersive experience.
In addition to games, Lin Xinghai also found a dozen or so movies on the wrist computer, which must have been left behind by Huai Feifu.
He casually picked out two and started watching. Of course, he wasnât interested in the plot, but rather the filming locations in the movies.
Through these movies and their settings, he could get a general idea of the extent of technological advancement in the 23rd Century.
The reality was about what he had expected. Even watching regular movies felt like watching sci-fi blockbusters. All sorts of maglev cars formed a multi-layered transportation network, service robots were a common sight, and he even saw a few Sky Cities.
They were cities floating in the sky, truly magnificent and beautiful, like a paradise.
"Are they using some kind of reaction force system?" Lin Xinghai couldnât help but wonder.
Time flew by, and soon, it was the end of the workday. Just then, a young man of about twenty-three, carrying a bouquet of blue roses, walked in through the door.
Lin Xinghai glanced over, raising an eyebrow. The manâs Combat Suit was clearly custom-made; not only was it perfectly tailored, but it also made him look more distinguished.
And the blue roses he held were real flowers.
Although a small number of pre-apocalypse plants were grown in the Shelter, you needed not only wealth but also connections to buy them.
Of course, what surprised Lin Xinghai the most was the manâs auraâit was the kind exuded by someone who had broken Three Genetic Locks.
âPowerful and loaded!â
That was the label Lin Xinghai pinned on him after a single glance.
He then saw the young man walk over to Liu Miaomiao and say with a warm smile, "Miss Liu, we meet again. I brought blue roses today. I hope you like them."
"Iâm sorry, I donât," Liu Miaomiao said, her voice frosty.
"Alright! Then what kind of flowers do you like, Miss Liu? Iâll be sure to get them for you tomorrow," the young man continued, the smile on his face never faltering.
"Iâm sorry, I donât like any flowers. Mr. Ning, would you please not disturb me while Iâm working?" Liu Miaomiaoâs voice grew even colder.
"But youâre about to get off work, arenât you? Iâve booked a table at the Cloud Restaurant in the Middle Level District. I hope you wonât refuse me again, Miss Liu. Alright?" Ning Kaiâs smile didnât change, but his tone now carried a hint of forcefulness.
Liu Miaomiaoâs expression soured. She bit her lip, about to refuse again, when a reassuring voice spoke up from the side.
"Sorry, I already have dinner plans with Miaomiao," Lin Xinghai said, reaching out to wrap his arm around her slender waist.
When his palm touched her waist, he could clearly feel Liu Miaomiaoâs body stiffen for a moment, but she didnât pull away.
Seeing this, Lin Xinghai knew he was on the right track. He stroked her waist gently. âEven through her clothes, I can feel how supple and toned she is. I wonder what the rest of her body feels like.â
A cold glint flashed in Ning Kaiâs eyes as he witnessed this. After sizing Lin Xinghai up, the corner of his mouth curled into a disdainful smirk.
Because according to his Perception, the man had only broken the first Genetic Lock.
Furthermore, since he had broken Three Genetic Locks, his Perception Power was far beyond that of an ordinary person. He could tell immediately that Lin Xinghai had only recently broken the first Genetic Lock.
One of the newly Optimized like him, even if he managed to become a Mercenary, would be a complete rookie.
âSomeone like this could be my rival?â Ning Kai found it laughable.
Amused, he said in a mocking tone, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ning Kai. Iâm the Mercenary Corps Leader of the Celestial Fire Mercenary Corps, with a Genetic Optimization Level of 93%. My Superpower is Celestial Fire."
Any one of those credentials would be enough to intimidate an ordinary Mercenary, let alone a rookie.
To his disappointment, however, the man before him seemed completely clueless, his expression not changing in the slightest.
The man just stared at him placidly, then said a single word. "Oh."
Lin Xinghai had already more or less memorized the details of the various Mercenary Corps. The Celestial Fire Mercenary Corps was just a First Level Mercenary Corps, nothing to worry about.
âAs for his 93% Genetic Optimization Level, I couldnât care less. With my abundant Blood Qi Power, breaking the third Genetic Lock will only take a few days.â
But Ning Kai had no idea what Lin Xinghai was thinking. All he felt was the manâs contempt.
A vein throbbed on his forehead. Ever since he broke the third Genetic Lock and established his Mercenary Corps, not even the leaders of Second Level Mercenary Corps had dared to be so dismissive of him.
The smile vanished from Ning Kaiâs face, replaced by a dark expression. He demanded in a grim voice, "Which Mercenary Corps are you from?"
"The Heaven-Sundering Mercenary Corps," Lin Xinghai replied.
Ning Kaiâs brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. In his mind, someone who had just become one of the Optimized like Lin Xinghai should only be able to join some small-time Mercenary Corps.
The Heaven-Sundering Mercenary Corps had just been promoted to a Second Level Mercenary Corps and was currently all the rage. They werenât an organization his Celestial Fire Mercenary Corps could compare to.
Still, having come this far, he could only proceed with his plan. He activated his wrist computerâs holographic projection and pulled up his contact list.
The names of most leaders from First and Second Level Mercenary Corps could be found on it.
He stopped his finger on Fang Tianheâs name, then looked at Lin Xinghai and said maliciously, "Your Corps Leader and I go way back. Believe it or not, all it takes is one message from me, and youâll be kicked out of the Heaven-Sundering Mercenary Corps."
"I donât believe you." Lin Xinghaiâs reply was, as always, direct and uncompromising.
After saying his piece, he couldnât be bothered to waste any more words on the man. He looked at Liu Miaomiao and Wang Yao, who had gathered around with the others, and said, "Letâs go! Itâs quitting time. I got lucky on my mission today and made a huge haul, so Iâll treat you all to a nice meal. That Cloud Restaurant he mentioned sounds pretty good."
"Yeah! Yeah!" Wang Yao cried out before Liu Miaomiao even had a chance to speak.
The other women all nodded in agreement. After a long day of work, who wouldnât want to eat something nice?
Besides, Lin Xinghai had extorted over 7,000 Points from Huai Feifu just yesterday. In their eyes, he was completely loaded now, so they had no qualms about letting him pay for a meal.
And so, the group of women left the Government Hall with Lin Xinghai, chatting and laughing as they went.
Ning Kai stood frozen on the spot, watching Lin Xinghaiâs departing back. To his left was Liu Miaomiao, and to his right was Wang Yaoâhis number one and number two targets, the women he most wanted to win over. And this guy was making a move on both of them at the same time.
And trailing behind them were Qin Zixue, Yang Yi, and Shen Yimei.
He was so envious of the manâthe center of attention for a bevy of beautiesâthat his eyes practically turned red.
He tapped his contact list and opened a chat window with Fang Tianhe.