Chapter 223: Wanting to Strangle Her Son and Grandson

Mu Bai's information was too shocking—whether it was Mu Zhaoxue's research materials or the Watchers' token, both meant Qin Feng must immediately adjust his next plans. The remaining agenda of the Suicheng Forum had become irrelevant.

In a room of absolute security, Su Wenqian employed the highest-level decryption protocol to attempt reading the black storage device. Meanwhile, Qin Feng, via encrypted lines, directly contacted the Science Council and Intelligence Analysis Center of the New Era headquarters, demanding they suspend non-core projects, mobilize top experts in astrophysics, information security, and historical semiotics, and prepare for full-scale analysis and research of the incoming data and the Honor and Responsibility Badge.

Simultaneously, he ordered Lei Dong to spare no cost in ensuring Mu Bai's safety and to immediately arrange a covert channel to escort Mu Bai back to the New Era. This boy himself was a vital link between past and future—no slip could be allowed.

Lei Dong accepted the order and immediately began deployment. Though Suicheng was not the New Era's stronghold, its formidable operational capabilities and tacit understanding with certain Dragon Country security agencies made the silent transfer of a single person no difficult task.

Yet even as Qin Feng's side moved with urgent precision, the atmosphere in a luxury suite on another floor of the hotel had plunged to freezing.

Lilith, clad in a silk robe, lounged lazily on the sofa, but her violet eyes held no ease—only cold, smoldering fury. Before her, a virtual screen displayed the latest intelligence: Qin Feng had met a mysterious boy inside the corridor, then brought him into the VIP lounge.

Her meticulously planned forum debut, the academic provocations she'd arranged, the media assaults she'd orchestrated, even the "collaboration proposal" she'd prepared to unveil later—something she believed would pique Qin Feng's interest—all of it, to him, had become irrelevant background noise.

He hadn't even given her a single glance.

Instead, some unknown brat had somehow gotten close to him—and been received with such solemn seriousness!

This utter disregard, this stripping away even of the status of opponent, was more unbearable than any direct confrontation.

"Have you identified that boy's identity?" Lilith's voice fell like ice beads on a tray, sharp with frost.

A subordinate standing before her trembled slightly, then forced out a reply: "N-not yet. His security is extremely tight—we couldn't get close, only captured a blurry side profile from afar. He looks young, like he appeared out of nowhere…"

"Useless!" Lilith hurled the crystal wine glass onto the carpet. Crimson wine spread like blood. "You can't even uncover the background of some brat! What good are you!"

The subordinate fell silent, not daring to breathe.

At that moment, the suite's internal comm chimed. Lilith irritably answered it. On the screen appeared a young man in an elegant suit, his face resembling hers in some ways, but his eyes betraying a haughty frivolity.

"Auntie!" The young man's tone carried smug triumph. "I just got word—Qin Feng's got a little trouble! He brought some unknown kid into his room! Looks like our plan worked—he's overwhelmed by those protests and needs to handle it privately…"

This young man was Lilith's nephew, a core member of the Pandora family, accompanying her to Suicheng to handle peripheral matters. He had clearly mistaken Qin Feng's meeting with Mu Bai as part of the aftermath of the "protests."

Seeing her nephew's foolish, self-satisfied expression, Lilith's fury surged like oil poured on fire—igniting instantly!

It was this fool who had confidently assured her that the "protest" would humble Qin Feng! And what happened? Qin Feng emerged unscathed—perhaps even oblivious! Now this completely uncontrolled incident had erupted!

And yet here this fool stood, basking in self-congratulation!

An uncontrollable, violent impulse surged through Lilith's heart. Gazing at the screen at her nephew's young, stupid face, a bizarre, horrifying thought flashed through her mind—

What if… what if, back when my brother (this boy's father) was born, I had simply strangled him then? Would there have been later fools like this to plague me? What if, when this fool was born, I had strangled him too… would today's idiot be standing here, challenging my sanity with such stupidity?

The thought was so clear, so intense, carrying a dark, annihilating pleasure that even she felt a shudder of dread.

She slammed her eyes shut, took several deep breaths, and forcibly suppressed the mad impulse to strangle her nephew—and, by extension, the dead brother who had fathered him.

When she opened her eyes again, her gaze had returned to icy calm—but the faintest trace of violence remained, unextinguished.

"Shut up," she said coldly to the screen. Her voice was quiet, but it froze her nephew instantly—his smugness hardened into terror.

"Toss out those ridiculous notions. From now on, without my order, you will take no action whatsoever. Get out."

She severed the connection without even bothering to glance at the fool again.

The room sank back into silence, broken only by Lilith's heavy breathing.

She walked to the window, gazing down at the city, toward the direction where Qin Feng was, her violet eyes churning with bitter resentment and venom.

Qin Feng… you'd rather meet some meaningless brat than even glance at me?

Fine. Very fine.

You will regret this.

I will make you pay—for your arrogance today!

She pressed another comm button. Her voice regained calmness, but carried a chilling, unyielding resolve:

"Initiate Catch the Wind plan. Target: Qin Feng, and the boy he met today. I want to know everything about that kid."

If I cannot draw your attention head-on, then I'll drag you into my game with what you care about most!

This game is far from over.