Chapter 1191: We Need to Talk Alone

Mentioning Lina, Yingzhou said slowly.

"Lina Saladin Weike, a member of the Saladin Family Intelligence Department, is clever, sharp, and holds sincere feelings for her brother. She is indeed a risk, but also an opportunity.

We need a martyr. A hero who 'unfortunately sacrifices' their life in the process of exposing some corruption.

The death of this hero will stir up public outrage and pave the way for her 'brother' to reach higher power."

Alan understood.

"You mean... let Lina die, but die in a way that has value."

"Design an 'accident' for her. She 'accidentally' discovers more evidence of the Pure Eye scam and attempts to report it to the Supreme Council, but is 'silenced' by the people of some councilors.

Her 'heroic sacrifice' will be packaged as a symbol of the fight against corruption, and you, as her grief-stricken brother, will inherit her legacy and gain more sympathy and support."

A living Lina is a potential risk.

A dead Lina, however, can become a perfect political tool.

"Your Majesty, when shall we execute this?"

"No rush," Yingzhou said. "Let her play her part first. Let her use family resources to pave the way for you. Wait until you have gained a firm foothold before the councilors... that will be the best time."

"Your Majesty, do you need me to execute it?"

Yingzhou stared at Alan.

"You will execute it. Because you are the one who knows her best, knowing her habits, weaknesses, and patterns of action. Moreover, by doing it yourself, you can ensure the process is 'perfect' and fits the narrative we need."

"Understood. I will formulate a detailed plan at the appropriate time, please grant your approval."

Yingzhou walked to Lost's side.

This former project lead was still curled up on the ground, his body twitching from time to time, his mouth emitting meaningless grunts.

Three eyes were open hollowly, tears, snot, and saliva mixing as they flowed down, staining his magnificent robe.

"Handle the matter at hand first."

Yingzhou said.

"Contact Lina and have her come to pick us up. The story must be consistent: an experimental accident, we rescued Lost, and now he needs medical attention."

"Yes."

Alan activated the Communication Device in his ear.

Yingzhou then squatted down to check Lost's condition one last time.

He then reached out, his fingers lightly touching Lost's forehead. A faint psionic energy flowed in.

Lost's body suddenly stopped twitching.

He sat up slowly, his eyes still dull, but with a hint of mechanical obedience.

"Master..."

"Remember, you are Lost, the project lead for Pure Eye. You had an accident during the experiment, and your brain was damaged.

Major Alan and Corporal Kelan saved your life. You must be grateful to them, trust them, and obey them."

"Grateful... trust... obey..."

Lost repeated.

"If anyone asks about tonight?"

"Experiment... accident... psionic overload... they saved me..."

"If anyone asks about the research on Pure Eye?"

"Still ongoing... needs more funding... major discoveries made..."

"If anyone orders you to do something detrimental to Major Alan?"

"Report... report first... then obey..."

Yingzhou withdrew his hand, satisfied.

The basic commands had been implanted; more complex responses would require subsequent reinforcement, but it was enough for tonight.

Alan ended the communication.

"Lina is already on her way with a family medical vehicle.

She has invoked the highest clearance and can enter this area directly. She will arrive in ten minutes."

"Good."

Yingzhou stood up and scanned the room one last time.

Everything was in place.

The medical vehicle sped through the night.

Inside the vehicle, the atmosphere was heavy.

Lina sat in the passenger seat, looking back at the rear cabin from time to time.

There, Lost lay on a stretcher, connected to various monitoring instruments.

The data showed: vital signs stable, but brain waves abnormal, fluctuating violently before settling into a near-flat line, a typical characteristic of severe brain damage.

Alan and Yingzhou sat on either side, bearing "minor injuries" that had been deliberately created.

Their clothes were torn, and there were slight abrasions and burn marks on their skin.

"What exactly happened?"

Lina asked this question for the third time.

"Psionic equipment explosion? How could Lost be stupid enough to overload it during a demonstration?"

"He was too eager to prove the project's value."

Alan answered according to the script.

"Lost wanted to show us some 'shocking' effects, so he modified the equipment without authorization and increased the output power."

He paused, then added.

"When we arrived, he was already prepared. Those fake relics were connected together, forming a temporary psionic circuit.

He said he wanted to 'open a microscopic window into the mirror rift.' But less than three seconds after activation, the circuit overloaded, and energy erupted."

"Why weren't you at a safe distance?"

Lina pressed.

"We were."

Yingzhou interjected.

"But Lost was standing next to the equipment, and the closest guard was only five meters away from him. When the explosion happened, the shockwave spread primarily in that direction, so we only suffered minor injuries. But Lost and the guards..."

He did not finish, but the meaning was clear.

Lina turned back around in Silence, looking at the road ahead.

Outside the car window, the lights of the estate drew closer.

"I don't believe him."

She said suddenly.

"Lost is a coward, a liar, but he isn't stupid. Risking his life just to prove something? That doesn't make sense."

Alan and Yingzhou exchanged a look.

"Perhaps he was under other pressures."

Alan tried to explain.

"Or, the equipment itself was flawed, and even he didn't know it."

"Perhaps."

Lina did not continue the argument, but her Third Eye narrowed slightly.

The medical vehicle drove into the estate, heading straight for the medical wing.

That was the Saladin Family's private medical facility.

Lost was wheeled into the emergency room.

The chief physician examined him personally and soon reached a conclusion.

"Severe psionic feedback-induced brain damage."

The doctor said to Lina and Alan outside the examination room, his expression grave.

"Multiple functional areas of the cerebral cortex are damaged, which affects memory, decision-making, and personality. He may never fully recover."

"Specific symptoms?"

Alan asked.

"Amnesia, cognitive regression to a child's level, impaired language ability, and emotional dysregulation."

The doctor flipped through the scan results.

"Simply put, Lost no longer exists. What remains is an empty shell, a disabled person who will require lifelong care."

Lina's expression was heavy.

The head of the Pure Eye project becoming a fool was a major political event.

How would those councilors react? How would other families exploit this? How should the Saladin Family respond?

Lina spoke up.

"Doctor, the diagnostic report needs... adjustment. Do not say 'brain damage caused by amnesia' directly; say 'accidental injury during a courageous experiment.' The wording must reflect his 'spirit of dedication'."

"I understand, Miss. The report will be worded carefully, consistent with both medical facts and... family interests."

"Thank you."

Lina turned to Alan.

"Brother, we need to talk. Alone."

She glanced at Yingzhou, meaning "not including him."

Alan nodded and said to Yingzhou.

"Kelan, go back to your room and rest first. Have a nurse take care of your wounds."

"Yes, Major."

Yingzhou saluted, then left.