Chapter 111

The turmoil in Marseille has temporarily subsided. Under the strict protection and medical care of the Shield, Rose's injuries have gradually stabilized. She has also revealed everything she knew about Pandora's Box and the Key Fragments—though mysteries still abound, at least she has opened a door for Qin Feng to a more hidden world.

The leader codenamed Poison Scorpion, under the professional and inescapable interrogation methods of the Shield, also disclosed extensive information about the Shadow Trade Guild's bases, personnel, and some smuggling routes in Europe. The intelligence was immensely valuable, but how to handle it required careful consideration.

Should they directly use force to eliminate these bases? It would certainly deal a heavy blow to the Shadow Trade Guild, but it would also mean completely tearing off the mask, exposing the Qin Feng System directly to the firepower of the international underworld, potentially inviting endless trouble—especially during this critical period of cooperation with Longteng Group, where overt cross-border military actions could trigger unnecessary misunderstandings.

But to simply stand down and pretend nothing happened was utterly out of Qin Feng's nature. Anyone who touched his people (even though Rose was not a subordinate) must pay a price.

In the end, Qin Feng made his decision.

Some key intelligence was anonymously provided through covert channels to the law enforcement agencies of relevant nations. Using others' blades to kill, it would strike the Shadow Trade Guild while keeping himself hidden behind the scenes.

The other portion—pertaining to core interests and clues potentially leading to Pandora's Box—was secretly taken over by the Shield, archived, and pursued gradually.

After handling these loose ends, Qin Feng and his group quietly returned home.

Imperial Capital, Qin Family Estate.

This time, it was Qin Yuanwei who extended the invitation. The location was no longer a formal setting, but his private study, the atmosphere more intimate and… heavy.

On the rosewood desk lay not tea sets, but internal briefings and intelligence summaries—content unmistakably tied to Qin Feng's actions in Marseille, and to the Shadow Trade Guild and Pandora's Box!

Qin Feng's actions had ultimately failed to escape the state's eyes.

Qin Yuanwei sat in his high-backed chair, not glancing at the documents, but fixing Qin Feng with a piercing gaze, speaking slowly, his voice carrying a faint hint of reprimand and inquiry:

"Qin Feng, you made quite a stir in Marseille."

Qin Feng sat across from him, expression calm—he had expected this question. He made no attempt to deny or evade, but replied frankly:

"Elder Qin, it was a personal matter I had no choice but to handle. It involved some… past acquaintances."

"Personal matter?" Qin Yuanwei tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, his tone growing sharper, "The Shadow Trade Guild, Pandora's Box… these aren't simple personal grievances. Do you know how vast the stakes are? One misstep, and you plunge into an abyss!"

The atmosphere in the study instantly grew oppressive.

Qin Feng sensed the warning in Qin Yuanwei's words. The state apparatus did not wish to see uncontrolled forces—especially individuals like him, with immense potential and unknown background—touching sensitive domains that could trigger international disputes or worse.

He fell silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

He knew his explanation now was critical. He must not expose his system or his true cards, yet must dispel (or at least ease) Qin Yuanwei's—and the forces behind him—suspicion, while simultaneously securing some room for autonomous action.

"Elder Qin," Qin Feng raised his head, his gaze clear and sincere, "I understand your concerns. I swear to you, everything I've done is rooted first and foremost in the nation's interests—I will never harm Huaxia in the slightest."

He established his stance first.

"As for the Shadow Trade Guild and Pandora's Box," Qin Feng shifted tone, his voice carrying a precise edge of sharpness and confidence, "I believe certain domains cannot be avoided merely because they carry risk. The enemy is already acting—if we remain passive, we will inevitably fall into disadvantage."

"My Qin Feng System possesses top-tier scientific research capabilities and a certain… capacity for self-defense." He skillfully avoided mentioning the Shield's actual strength, "I believe we can, within the framework of national strategy, serve as a flexible, unofficial supplementary force—to engage, to understand, even to compete for these critical resources and technologies that may shape the future. We can crush potential risks and threats beyond our borders—or… turn them into our own opportunities!"

He met Qin Yuanwei's eyes, his voice steady and powerful: "We can pretend ignorance where we must. But where we must project strength and edge—we cannot abandon it! Especially when the enemy has already bared his fangs!"

"Where we must pretend, we cannot abandon!"

These words struck Qin Yuanwei like a hammer blow.

He stared deeply at Qin Feng—the impossibly young man, yet brimming with astonishing power and vast ambition. In Qin Feng's eyes, he saw a composure and wisdom beyond his years, and more—a relentless, forward-driving sharpness and sense of duty.

His words balanced both submission to the greater picture and a demand for initiative, perfectly calibrated.

Qin Yuanwei fell silent for a long time.

Only the steady tick-tock of the ancient wall clock filled the study.

Finally, he exhaled slowly, his stern expression softening considerably.

"You're right," Qin Yuanwei said, his voice tinged with reflection. "Sometimes, you do need some 'disruptive' force to break the stalemate. At my age, I'm inevitably too cautious."

He rose, walked to the window, gazing out at the pines and cypresses in the courtyard.

"I'll relay your ideas to the higher-ups. But, Qin Feng," he turned back, his gaze sharpening again, "you must remember your promise! All actions must remain within controllable limits! No unauthorized operations that could trigger unpredictable international disputes! Otherwise—"

He left the rest unsaid, but the invisible pressure made his meaning clear.

"I understand," Qin Feng also stood, solemnly pledging, "I will maintain proper boundaries."

This conversation was a clash, a test, and also a… tacit agreement.

Qin Feng had successfully secured for himself and the Qin Feng System a potential identity and limited authorization to operate in the gray zone, doing the state's dirty, grueling work.

Though constraints remained, the space had been opened.

Leaving the Qin Family Estate, stepping into the car, Qin Feng watched the scenery blur past the window, his eyes deep.

Where we must pretend, we cannot abandon.

It was more than words—it was his true inner conviction.

In this treacherous world, excessive modesty is weakness; kindness without edge is stupidity.

He must continue strengthening his power—both the visible commercial and Tech Empire, and the covert Shield and the impending Shadow Shuttle.

Only by wielding strength sufficient to make any person or force fear him could he truly protect all he wished to protect, and truly be free to explore the ultimate secrets hidden in history and the Deep Sea.

The Marseille mission was a turning point.

From now on, his stage would grow broader—and far more dangerous.

But he was unafraid.