Luo Shaoheng put down his teacup, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. He said slowly, "I think, niece Ziran, you understand what I'm saying, right?"
Zhao Ziran nodded silently. Her security level was T1, only one level lower than the head of state. Her usual outings required a Lv4 escort, accompanied by a military-level superhuman. Her sister, Tang Lanyan, was the one who routinely performed this task.
However, protection also meant restrictions. While she could freely enter and exit most top-secret locations within China, she couldn't leave the country without the escort of at least three strategic-level officers. This was clearly impossible, as each strategic-level officer had their own assigned post and couldn't easily leave.
Therefore, over the years, Zhao Ziran had only left the country once.
That was several years ago, before her birthday. Only one person vouched for her, and she was taken out of the country—this person was nicknamed the God of War.
They spent a week exploring places rarely visited by ordinary people, such as the top of the pyramids, the Grand Canyon, and the ocean floor. Then, under a cluster of colorful cherry blossoms, he presented her with a birthday gift she still cherishes to this day.
A platinum necklace. The giver had no intention of giving it, but the receiver cherished it deeply. Now, it has become a treasure she never takes off, always carrying it with her.
"I can promise you two research projects," Zhi Ran said firmly, looking at Luo Shaoheng.
Luo Shaoheng pondered for a moment, then replied, "Three."
"Zhi Ran, you should understand that dealing with your grandfather isn't easy."
Zhao Zhi Ran didn't hesitate, saying, "Then it's a deal."
No one knew that in just a few words, the ownership of several industries worth hundreds of billions was decided.
Because these three research projects weren't ordinary research; they were "major breakthroughs." For example, breaking through the bottleneck of battery technology would be considered a major breakthrough.
Even a slight increase in energy storage density would bring massive and immeasurable economic benefits.
And these three major research achievements might require thousands of scholars dedicating ten years of their efforts to achieve.
But for Zhao Zhi Ran, with her absolute memory and extraordinary intelligence, if she wanted to… any problem that stumped countless elites would be a piece of cake in her hands.
However, the effort required to research these difficult problems is unimaginable for ordinary people. Don't assume that speed equates to ease; therefore, Zhao Ziran has always used this ability as leverage in negotiations with the government and her family.
This time, her efforts were also unimaginable for ordinary people.
But before Zhao Ziran could even breathe a sigh of relief, Luo Shaoheng made another request: "Niece Ziran, I have another request. Because going abroad is extremely dangerous, I plan to have Luo Ming go with you."
Upon hearing this request, Zhao Ziran's beautiful back stiffened, her pupils widened, and she stared at Luo Shaoheng expressionlessly. He, however, leisurely picked up his teacup, sipped his tea, seemingly without the slightest worry.
Luo Ming was indeed Luo Shaoheng's son. He was also a superhuman, but like Zhao Ziran, he could be categorized using simple levels. This wasn't because he possessed such monstrous intelligence, but rather—he was a puppeteer.
This refers to superhumans who have awakened their telekinetic abilities and can manipulate specific machines. Besides controlling them, they can also turn other superhumans into puppets. They not only turn captured enemy superhumans into puppets, but sometimes even their own severely wounded and beyond saving superhumans into puppets.
No one wants to be turned into a puppet after being injured, therefore puppeteers are notorious and feared among superhumans.
Luo Ming is one of the best among them. Relying on his family's research capabilities, he developed a puppetry technique combining telekinesis and mechanical modification. Through various methods, he can unleash the puppet's power to about 80% of its original strength, far exceeding the 50-60% of an ordinary puppeteer.
For puppeteers, their own strength is relatively unimportant; the most important thing is the quality of the "puppet." Obtaining a military-grade puppet is almost equivalent to being a military-grade puppeteer, and similarly, obtaining a strategic-grade puppet instantly elevates them to the strategic-grade level.
By extension, the allure of a "Martial God," practically at the strategic pinnacle, to a puppeteer is self-evident.
Considering the loss of deterrent power due to the Martial God's absence, the higher-ups were initially quite tempted. In today's chaotic supernatural era, the allure of a perfectly strategic "Martial God" is immense.
Some have estimated his deterrent power to be equivalent to 100 nuclear bombs or four to five carrier battle groups, enough to deter any strategic entity from approaching the Chinese coast. His injury and disappearance would be akin to the collapse of the Great Wall of defense, the supernatural border…
That is, the border that even supernatural beings could only halt and abide by would shrink back from overseas to the inland coast!
However, this matter ultimately failed thanks to Zhao Ziran's efforts and, most importantly, the opposition of the top leader. For Zhao Ziran, if there was one man in the world she loathed to the point of not even wanting to hear his name, it was Luo Ming.
Even so, Luo Ming was incredibly shameless. He later pursued her as if nothing had happened, disgusting Zhi Ran. Now, he wanted to go overseas with her?
Zhi Ran bit her red lips. Although she was extremely unwilling, with her sister Tang Lan Yan still trapped in the Golden Triangle and unreachable, she seemed to have no choice but to accept his condition.
Even so, Zhao Zhi Ran didn't want to be alone with this man. She stated her condition: she wanted to bring along a Level 4 who had once protected her, Tang Lan Yan's aunt, Tang Shu Yi.
"Zhi Ran, if you can win over Tang Shu Yi, I naturally won't object," Luo Shao Heng's eyes gleamed with a strange light, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he readily agreed.
After Zhao Zhi Ran's graceful figure left the reception room, Luo Shao Heng gently lifted his slightly chilled cup of red tea, a smile on his lips, and whispered, "You don't understand. What I want... is you."
Shen City, Black Street.
As its name suggests, the Black Street is a place dedicated to underground smuggling and even bounty hunting. The entrance to the Black Street is never fixed; it might be in a wide, hidden sewer, at the entrance of a chaotic old residential alley, or even on a boat…
In my memories of wandering the underworld, the Black Street holds a prominent place. If an undocumented person wants to obtain legal status, this is undoubtedly the best choice.
Therefore, before setting off to find Xue Tang, I need to come here first to obtain an identity that allows me to approach her.
Although the location of the Black Street is changeable, my experience is sufficient. After searching two or three locations and finding nothing, I finally discovered the entrance to the Black Street in a dark alley.
At first glance, it's just a dark, narrow alley. At the entrance, there's only a middle-aged man with his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall, seemingly dozing off.
But as I approached, the middle-aged man suddenly raised his head and asked me, "Newcomer?"
"And you have a number?"
The Black Street is a very strange place. It's operated behind the scenes by an organization that doesn't participate in any fighting. It only provides guarantees and collects fees for transactions within the Black Market's boundaries. Rumor has it that this organization is extremely cunning, so all those who come to trade abide by the Black Street's rules.
Therefore, the Black Street is not a place you can just come and go as you please. Every newcomer has a chance to be given a number representing their identity, which is required to conduct transactions within the Black Street.
And if any behavior is problematic, that number will be immediately invalidated, and the newcomer will be permanently banned from entering the Black Street.
Even worse, those who deliberately provoke and disrupt the order of the Black Street may even die silently after leaving…
Yes, while fighting is forbidden within the Black Street, once you take that first step, your life or death is no longer anyone's concern.
And I, of course, wasn't a newcomer, so I calmly gave him a number.
"10097."
The middle-aged man suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise on his face, but it quickly turned into a somewhat amused expression. He sighed, "I don't know where you heard this number, but I must warn you, don't use it recklessly."
As he spoke, he pulled a metal card from his pocket and tossed it to me: "This is your number. Don't lose it, otherwise..."
Is there something wrong with my number?
I frowned, not intending to say anything more. It seemed that, if possible, I couldn't use this number or the resources on the corresponding Black Market account.