The artificial sunlight in Pelat City was always abundant, refracting through the floor to ceiling windows onto the table in the living room, tranquil and serene.
With a “beep!”, the communicator sounded, and a pale, refined hand reached over. Lu Yunwen tapped the communicator twice, read the incoming message, and an unreadable emotion flickered in his eyes behind his transparent silver-wire glasses.
“There should be news by now,” a low voice spoke from behind him, seated in a corner untouched by the sunlight.
“Caberry has been arrested,” Lu Yunwen said, his pale hand gripping the black communicator so tightly it gave off an unsettling vibe. “His base was raided, and he was captured by the Interstellar Apprehension Department while attempting to flee with the ‘Forbidden Fruit’.”
“It must be Lu Lian’s doing,” the person behind him remarked. “His Mental Sea is unstable, so he had to use the Apprehension Department to capture Caberry first, then find a way to obtain the potion later.”
Lu Yunwen looked up excitedly. “So you also believe he isn’t dead?”
“If he could die so easily, he wouldn’t have risen to his current position.”
“He probably doesn’t know that we have people in the Apprehension Department,” Lu Yunwen said. “We just need to publicly claim that the ‘Forbidden Fruit’ is merely a red potion carried by Caberry, a Core Inhibitor dealer, have it confiscated, and then find an opportunity to swap it out.”
“With this ‘Forbidden Fruit’ in our possession, we can completely turn Lu Lian into our puppet,” Lu Yunwen’s eyes were filled with exhilaration, devoid of his usual refined demeanor. “I can’t wait to see him kneeling before me, begging for mercy. With his arrogant nature, it might be worse than killing him.”
“Don’t celebrate too soon. Do you think we’re the only ones eyeing this potion? All the major families are hoping to use it to make Lu Lian bow to them.”
“Someone spread rumors,” Lu Yunwen said. “By now, many within the major families must have investigated Caberry and are trying to get their hands on this red potion.”
The man behind him replied, “They all know a thing or two about what happened back then, which is why they fear Lu Lian so much and yet desire to control him so badly.”
Even someone like Lu Yunwen couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of the past events: “…”
The man behind him slowly added, “There are plenty who want to fish in troubled waters. Let’s see who comes out on top.”
“Lu Lian, the head of the Lu family, isn’t dead at all. He used his disappearance as a pretext to come to Gorgona Island, aiming to obtain a lost potion to stabilize his collapsing Mental Sea. This potion not only determines his life and death but can also manipulate and control him. Right now, many major families are searching for this potion.
And at this moment, the potion is in the hands of the Apprehension Department.” Dean quickly summarized the key points while pouring wine.
Qin Gou fell silent upon hearing this news, his thumb gently rubbing the bottom of his glass. His dark eyes stared at the cup but seemed unfocused, lost in thought. After a long while, he finally spoke slowly.
“What does this have to do with me?” Qin Gou tilted his head and grinned flippantly. “You know I’m just a spoiled young master. I have no interest in getting involved in these matters.”
Dean’s hand, which had been wiping a glass, paused slightly before he offered a faint smile. “I thought you’d be pleased to hear this news. Since that’s not the case, I won’t disturb you further.” With that, he turned to fetch his bartending tools.
Qin Gou watched Dean’s retreating figure and suddenly called out, “Wait.”
The streets near “Weeds” were also popular hunting grounds for many seeking romantic encounters. At this moment, numerous covert glances were directed toward a tall man with black hair. His dark eyes and sharp eyebrows carried an air of defiance and untamed pride. Normally, a casual smile at the corners of his lips would soften this aggressiveness, enticing many to approach him.
But today, his mood seemed off that familiar smile was absent, allowing the intensity in his features to radiate unchecked, keeping most people at a distance.
For the first twenty years of his life, Qin Gou had endured scorn because of his Core Inhibitor. Born into the Qin family as an illegitimate child, his existence was solely for the purpose of producing a high-level Core Inhibitor descendant. Yet, the character “Gou” (filth) in his name had always reminded him that he was an unspeakable stain.
After being kidnapped and losing his Core Inhibitor, Qin Gou spent years reflecting and investigating, meticulously unraveling clues only to discover it was inextricably linked to the main Qin family branch! Everything had been premeditated from the start.
Perhaps from birth, he was merely a sacrificial pawn.
He deeply despised this order built upon Core Inhibition Levels and was determined to change it. Over the years, he had secretly cultivated influence across various domains and even developed weapons capable of directly countering high-level Nuclear Inhibitor Possessors.
He soon uncovered crucial clues about illegal biological experiments on Gorgona Island.
In the eyes of many, Ye Wan’s departure was a blow to him, but only he knew it also presented an opportunity. Feigning complete downfall, he came to this small island, covertly investigating the illegal biological experiment leads while nurturing underground forces.
Everything was progressing steadily and methodically.
As Qin Gou walked home, he irritably ran a hand through his hair. Why had he felt the need to seek clarification earlier?
It was indeed a chance to delve deeper into the illegal experiments. But after pretending to be a wastrel for so many years, there was no need to invite risks now and ruin everything at the critical moment.
Besides, what kind of person was Lu Lian? He was undoubtedly connected to the illegal Core Inhibitor experiments likely even directly involved.
He and Lu Lian were completely severed now; what did it matter to him whether Lu Lian lived or died?
Qin Gou’s steps faltered. But Lu Lian’s Mental Sea hadn’t recovered yet like a clay idol crossing a river, he could hardly ensure his own safety. It was impossible for him to participate in any competition. If that serum fell into someone else’s hands, then Lu Lian.
“Young man, you’re stepping on my flowers.” A gentle, elderly voice came from beside him. Lost in thought, Qin Gou hadn’t been watching his path. He looked down and realized he had strayed onto a small, self-cultivated plot by the street, filled with vibrant flowers, and had just trampled a small white blossom at the edge.
“Sorry.” He quickly moved his foot and apologized to the short, plump grandmother beside him, whose smile was remarkably kind.
“It’s alright…” The grandmother chuckled, squatting down to gently stroke the trampled flower, carefully brushing off the dust. “Planting them by the street means people often don’t notice, so I have to keep a constant watch.”
Qin Gou couldn’t help but look down, noticing how the elderly woman had maintained this small patch of land so neatly amidst the crowded and noisy street. Every flower was blooming brilliantly, as if proclaiming how well they had been nurtured.
It was truly hard to imagine growing flowers in a place like Gorgona Island.
“Not many people grow flowers here, Grandma,” Qin Gou said. “They all say flowers don’t bloom well here, but that doesn’t seem to be the case your flowers are thriving beautifully.”
“Whether they can grow well or not don’t just listen to what others say. You have to try it yourself.” The grandmother smiled warmly and kindly. “As long as you take good care of them every day rain, sunshine, love and care, not missing a single thing, how could they not bloom well?”
Don’t listen to what others say?
Qin Gou recalled an encounter with Lu Lian, standing alone in the pouring rain, his gray star-like eyes gazing at him through the curtain of rain.
He remembered the bland noodles Lu Lian had cooked for him.
He remembered rushing together late at night to take a sick puppy to the hospital.
He remembered Lu Lian’s indulgence and protection toward him.
He remembered their life-and-death confrontation.
He remembered the moment when the fire beast attacked, how he had forcibly expanded his Mental Sea like a galaxy to shield everyone.
He remembered a kiss.
Qin Gou’s black eyes reflected the colorful flowers on the ground.
“Young man, you seem troubled,” the old woman said, looking at the somewhat bewildered youth and deciding to comfort him. “Young people, why always so downcast? What color of flower do you like? I’ll give you one.”
What color of flower do I like?
“Gray.”
“We don’t have gray flowers in our shop,” the grandmother said, puzzled. “Ah, young man!”
Gray, gray.
Thinking of this, Qin Gou quickly thanked her and turned back. His heart was beating wildly from running he had never run so fast before, so his heart had never beaten this fiercely, almost leaping out of his throat.
Everyone believed that Lu Lian was like a celestial being invincible and unbreakable.
But Qin Gou always felt that wasn’t the case.
His eyes were a gray sea of stars.
This celestial-like figure everyone wanted to control him.
Everyone wanted to control him, but Qin Gou seemed to want.
To protect him.
For no reason, he wanted to do this.
Lu Lian was sitting in a room, wearing a crisp shirt. He had also put on a pair of black gloves, concealing the scars on his hands.
This made him appear even colder.
An assistant reported: “All the families have received the rumors we spread and have already taken action. More people have come this time than I imagined.”
Lu Lian propped his head up, his expression cold and imposing. A slight smile touched the corners of his lips upon hearing this: “Stirring the waters makes things more interesting, doesn’t it?”
“Here is the complete list of everyone preparing to board the Freight Container this time.” The assistant handed over the documents.
Lu Lian took the list. Every person on it was an enemy who wanted to threaten him, control him, or see him dead. The list was terrifyingly long, spanning several pages, yet facing so many adversaries, Lu Lian’s expression didn’t change for even a moment.
At the very end of the list, written in neat small regular script, drowned among hundreds of names, extremely difficult to notice, was a name that didn’t sound very auspicious.
Qin Gou.
The hand clad in black gloves paused slightly.
“Sir, is there a problem?”
Lu Lian gently lowered his eyelids and handed the list to his assistant: “Proceed as planned.”
“Since they’re so eager to control me, let’s send them a grand gift.”
“They’ll reunite in hell.”
According to the regulations of the Interstellar Detention Agency, Caberry would be transported on schedule to the cruise ship for deportation, then brought to the courthouse in Pelat Main City for sentencing.
The contraband drugs carried by Caberry would be stored in the freight container at the dock. The transport cruise ship didn’t carry passengers. To infiltrate during this opportunity, one must book tickets for the “Stellar” passenger cruise ship departing at the same time.
They didn’t need to board the ship – they only needed to infiltrate and retrieve the “Forbidden Fruit” during the three hours the freight container remained at the dock.
During this timeframe, only those with genuine intentions would approach the freight container.
At 00:00 on July 21, 5094 in the interstellar calendar, the freight container arrived punctually at the dock.
Undercurrents were stirring.