Chapter 69: Step Back and the Sky and Sea Become Vast

"Forced buying and forced selling?"

Zhang Zhiren smiled, tapped the chess pieces on the tea table, and said, "Can you play chess? Let's have a game?"

Lin Qing ignored him.

Zhang Zhiren was not annoyed; he simply picked up a 'Pawn' casually and said softly, "I was born in the early days of civilization reconstruction. Back then, perhaps it wasn't as chaotic as the apocalypse period, nor were there 'storms' that could kill anyone at any moment, but people eating people was not uncommon... Having the qualification to buy and sell is already something to be grateful for."

Lin Qing said nothing, merely placing his hand beside him as if by accident.

He was already prepared to erupt at any moment.

Although he did not know how strong the invisible woman beside him truly was, since Zhao Jiayi said this person's life field was on the same level as his, it meant the opponent was only at the level of the 77th Edition Practice Method.

The threat level of the suspected genetic ability remained uncertain.

"As long as Captain Lin agrees to provide some trivial intelligence information for our Wuyi Red Society, then Captain Lin will be a friend of our Wuyi Red Society."

Zhang Zhiren smiled and said, "As long as Captain Lin agrees, tomorrow I will inform the Public Security and the Patrol that the lost items have been recovered, that it was an error by our Yinghai, causing Captain Lin to suffer an undeserved injustice."

He paused, then said, "Additionally, I heard Captain Lin recently mastered the 77th Edition Practice Method. I can provide Captain Lin with a set of EPS Series High-Energy Sustained-Release Liquids, as well as one hundred sets of MY Series High-Energy Sustained-Release Liquids. How about that?"

The MY Series High-Energy Sustained-Release Liquids are equivalent to a weakened version of the EPS Series. Although they do not restore body potential, the value of one hundred sets exceeds twenty million! The EPS Series High-Energy Sustained-Release Liquids are worth eight figures per set on the black market.

Zhang Zhiren knew that these Patrol officers did not want their sources of funds to be traced, unless the currency was from an extraterrestrial civilization.

Therefore, the best choice was still these High-Energy Sustained-Release Liquids that aid cultivation.

In his view, these conditions were already extremely generous.

"Not a small gesture."

Lin Qing looked at Zhang Zhiren, "However, is that all?"

Zhang Zhiren laughed: "Doing business, of course, allows for bargaining, but... Captain Lin seems unfamiliar with this system?"

He immediately smiled and said, "In that case, let's make it a fixed price. Captain Lin, I will add a VIP card for the Black Market of the Dragon Lock, as well as extraterrestrial currency worth ten million annually. How about that?"

"Is there more?" Lin Qing asked.

Zhang Zhiren shook his head slightly and said, "I said it was a fixed price, so that is the upper limit. That is my rule; I would not offer even one more coin."

He looked at Lin Qing. "This is the upper limit of the value Captain Lin provides. It is only worth this much."

Lin Qing pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you know how many years one is sentenced for bribing a Patrol officer?"

"Of course I know."

Zhang Zhiren smiled, "But what does that have to do with me? Could it be that Captain Lin has recorded this? Should I bring out the recording equipment and place it on the table? Otherwise, the audio reception might not be clear enough."

"What you say makes sense." Lin Qing nodded slightly, took out his phone, opened the recording function, and politely asked, "May I record video as well?"

"That is also possible, but personally recorded videos also have a certain reference value, which would trouble my legal team." Zhang Zhiren shook his head and said, "Captain Lin should just record audio."

Everyone knew that recordings in this era could not serve as evidence, nor did they even hold any reference value.

Moreover, he was careful in his actions and would never leave evidence.

Even if the Patrol officer before him possessed considerable strength, without evidence, what could he do to him?

"Alright, recording has started."

Lin Qing spoke seriously: "Mr. Zhang Zhiren, as the Chairman of the Yinghai Group and the number two person in charge of the underground faction Wuyi Red Society, just now you attempted to bribe me with one set of EPS Series and one hundred sets of MY Series High-Energy Sustained-Release Liquids. What if I refuse?"

Zhang Zhiren reminded him, "Captain Lin, you forgot to mention the extraterrestrial currency worth ten million annually."

"Thank you for the reminder; I omitted one item." Lin Qing nodded slightly.

"It's fine, but... does Captain Lin intend to refuse?"

Zhang Zhiren laughed helplessly: "I didn't expect Captain Lin to be such an upright and incorruptible Patrol officer."

He shook his head slightly and said, "If Captain Lin refuses, then it is truly a pity... this business deal can be considered a failure."

【Current Order Level decreased by 0.7 levels】

At this moment, a line of blood-red text suddenly appeared before Lin Qing's eyes.

"Business?"

Lin Qing glanced at the prompt, then said seriously, "Mr. Zhang Zhiren, it is I who refused your bribe; this is not business." Zhang Zhiren looked at Lin Qing and said slowly, "Even if the deal fails, friendship remains. I believe we will have opportunities to cooperate in the future."

"Thank you for your cooperation."

Lin Qing glanced at him, put away his phone, stood up, and walked out of the living room.

After Lin Qing left, Zhang Zhiren spoke: "7489."

The light on the sofa distorted and shifted, slowly revealing a tall woman with short red hair; the piercings on her lips and nose gleamed under the light.

"You were too slow."

The tall red-haired woman said coldly, "For such a young man who knows neither heaven nor earth, I only need to teach him a lesson. Pluck out one of his eyes and tear off his ears; that should make him obedient, right?"

Zhang Zhiren frowned slightly and said, "Do not kill. The death of a Patrol officer is a major matter."

"I know." The tall red-haired woman said indifferently, "If you are truly afraid, let Chu Tianyao handle it. After all, there is only one last chance to command him. It would be perfect to have Chu Tianyao kill him, and then have Chu Tianyao die under the gaze of everyone; that way, there is no need to worry about implicating the Wuyi Red Society."

"He is not worth it."

Zhang Zhiren shook his head slightly. "A mere newly promoted Patrol officer, just lucky enough to encounter Class A Evolution Radiation? There are plenty of methods to deal with him; why waste a good piece like Chu Tianyao?"

"Then let me handle it." The tall red-haired woman mocked, "Just a Patrol officer who has mastered two or three combat techniques; does he really think he is that powerful?"

She had absolute confidence.

Although her strength in direct combat was merely passable for a general team captain level, her genetic ability could distort light to achieve invisibility!

Moreover, one combat technique she cultivated had the effect of eliminating sound, and combined with another combat technique specializing in assassination, under a momentary stealth attack, even if the opponent mastered defensive combat techniques, what then? In that instant, there would be no time to activate the combat technique! She believed that within the entire Lin'an City, no more than three people could survive her assassination!

This was also the reason she could obtain a 'Number'.

"Your strength is naturally sufficient."

Zhang Zhiren pondered for a moment and said, "However, it is still somewhat strange. I offered such good conditions, yet he refused. Why did he still come? Did he insist on refusing me in person?"

"Perhaps he mistook your place for a street stall, pretending to disagree to deliberately drive up the price?" The tall red-haired woman sneered.

Zhang Zhiren shook his head slightly and said, "Then you will appear on my behalf to help me drive down the price."

He added, "Besides, you should go keep an eye on that shipment; the handover is tomorrow, and there must be absolutely no mishaps."

"Understood."

The tall woman with red hair stood up; the light began to distort, causing her to gradually vanish.

Only her voice remained, echoing within the reception hall:

"Is there anything you would like me to convey to him?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhiren shook his head and said, "Then tell Captain Lin this... take a step back, and the sea and sky open up."

Lin Qing stepped back a pace, his expressionless face unmoving.

His hands, shimmering with a metallic sheen, instantly blurred into afterimages; one hand blocked before him, while the other palm plunged into the air, then slowly drew out a gory, blood-soaked heart from the void.

The light swirled chaotically, blood gushed forth violently, revealing a tall woman with red hair and a deathly pale complexion.

"Impossible... how could you possibly know..."

She stared fixedly at Lin Qing, her eyes filled with disbelief and terror, as blood continued to pour endlessly from the massive wound.

This inspector, who had only been officially appointed less than three months ago, mastering so many combat techniques was one thing, but how could he possibly detect her sneak attack??

"Foolish, and arrogant."

Sensing the intuition that was gradually fading, Lin Qing spoke softly, "You came to deal with me just because I refused? I heard there is a shipment to be handed over tomorrow... thank you for the merit points you've gifted me."

"You..." A look of incredulity surfaced in the red-haired woman's eyes, which were gradually dimming.

"Farewell."

Lin Qing watched as the red-haired woman stumbled and crashed face-first onto the ground; his five fingers loosened slightly—

The still-warm heart immediately fell to the floor with a thud.

(End of this chapter)