Chapter 90 – When the Roses Bloom (8)
◎ Let’s PK ◎
A single sentence from Tun Qin made Song Ke the center of attention in the entire venue.
Mu Qin, Miao Lun, Ruan Wenjun… all participants cast various appraising glances in her direction.
[Don’t panic, stay calm,] in a crucial moment, Zhuang Qingyan’s composed voice resonated.
In just a few seconds, Song Ke experienced an emotional rollercoaster, but thankfully, she managed to keep a straight face without revealing any clues.
“Hmph,” Ruan Wenjun’s eyes darkened slightly, showing a bit of interest in the spectacle. “What Hero Banquet. Even a stray rat managed to sneak in.”
The cunning Mu Qin, without immediately showing anger, contemplatively stroked his beard. “Tun Qin, come here.”
Tun Qin walked over to the main seat, completely restraining his arrogant attitude. He clasped his hands tightly against his thighs and respectfully addressed, “Uncle.”
Mu Qin glanced at him, and Tun Qin quickly corrected himself, “…My lord.”
Mu Qin gestured towards Song Ke who was standing in place. “What did you mean by your words just now? Explain yourself.”
Tun Qin lifted his head, locking eyes with Song Ke. Even after more than half a year without seeing each other, his gaze still harbored ill intentions towards her. Despite once practicing martial arts together day and night, Tun Qin’s malice towards her never waned. Back then, he could launch a sneak attack with a particle gun, and today, he could betray her without hesitation.
“Two years ago, I was undergoing ancient martial arts training in District E166. This person is my fellow disciple, having spent more time there than I did. She has been a student there since childhood, at least for over a decade. I am certain she’s not just from District F but is an illegal resident as well.”
Tun Qin succinctly revealed all there was to know about Song Ke.
Of course, Song Ke couldn’t just sit back and accept it. She tried to defend herself, “No, I’ve, I’ve obtained citizenship in Mu City.”
Immediately, some participants below sneered, “What a joke. Someone from District F obtaining citizenship in Mu City?”
District F, the most barren and backward digital area within the Alliance, a dilapidated place where even flies didn’t want to linger. Mu City (Dsictrict C55), not only ranked within the C category but also had a strict admission system.
Song Ke’s words lacked credibility. To put it simply, she was like the lowest-class commoner suddenly becoming a second-tier officer.
More than just absurd, such a thing was impossible in Mu City.
“It’s true, I am a freelance mercenary,” Song Ke persisted tenaciously.
“A freelance mercenary? Which faction do you belong to?” asked Wild Wolf, also a freelance mercenary, suspiciously.
Here we go again with this question. What’s with you mercenaries, always asking about factions so persistently?
“I, I belong to… Western Street, of Sly Fox,” Song Ke struggled and had to resort to using Irene’s name in a pinch.
Suddenly, the beautiful woman in Miao Lun’s arms raised her gaze and looked towards Song Ke in the middle of the crowd.
Mu Qin, with a deep and silent gaze, didn’t speak, but the private soldiers in the venue had already surrounded Song Ke.
Song Ke clenched her fists, standing still in her place.
Mu Qin tilted his head slightly. “Check when was the last time she entered the territory.”
Su Fengsa promptly confirmed, “Six days ago.”
A faint smirk appeared under Mu Qin’s beard.
To Mu Qin, this small fry like Song Ke, regardless of whether she came from District E or F, couldn’t stir much trouble. Her true identity was of no concern to him. What truly concerned Mu Qin was another matter, something he could exploit.
“Miao Lun, if I remember correctly, it was you who volunteered to General for the authority of admission checks, right?”
“With such a mistake, how will you explain it to the General?” Mu Qin insinuated significantly.
Miao Lun paused in his action of rolling a cigarette, his smile fading slightly.
Godanwei had already recognized Song Ke at the speed of light when Tun Qin called out. He immediately kneeled down and quietly reported near Miao Lun’s leg, “My lord, I personally verified… facial recognition… is accurate.”
Miao Lun’s hand, holding the rolled cigarette, pressed lightly on Godanwei’s shoulder. Though the force was light, Godanwei couldn’t help but tremble.
“Mu Qin, are you questioning me now?” Miao Lun, usually easygoing, suddenly turned serious, with dark currents swirling in his eyes.
However, he was serious for only a moment before bursting into a hearty laugh. “Who says it must be a mistake? Since everyone’s so curious, why don’t we verify it on the spot? If what she says is true, changing one’s class through hard work isn’t that inspirational?”
“If the identity information is falsified,” Miao Lun’s smile sent chills down people’s spines, “I will present her head to the General myself to beg for forgiveness.”
Miao Lun released his hold on the hand of the beautiful woman he was embracing and gestured backward. A plain-looking, short man stepped forward.
“He is… Hasa?!” The awakeners in the crowd recognized this person and couldn’t help but exclaim.
Hasa, an A-level awakener and Mu City’s most formidable white-hat hacker, possessed the ability to track data. It was said that as long as there was a network, no secrets could escape his watchful eye. Surprisingly, he had joined Miao Lun’s ranks.
“Hasa, make all the information about this person from the day she was born available for everyone to see.”
A person, as long as they exist, will undoubtedly leave traces, and by delving deep into those clues, one might discover some surprises.
Hasa nodded silently and retrieved several light screens from his space, projecting them onto the bamboo curtains in the banquet hall for everyone to see. He also set up a dozen or so supercomputers on-site in a row.
Song Ke: “!!!”
‘Oh no, they’re going to investigate everything about me.’ She was feeling extremely anxious.
On the ceiling, the mechanical ladybug’s compound eyes slowly turned, transmitting all the happenings at the scene back to their apartment.
“Uh-oh, Miao Lun is going to check Song Ke’s files!” Lin Youyou exclaimed.
“Even if her identity information is fine, her record is easy to expose, as she hasn’t even submitted an application for citizenship,” Fang Zhixu said.
Several people wore worried expressions on their faces.
The wheelchair moved, and Lu Xiaoyu’s tablet-like voice sounded, “Please make way.”
He looked at Hasa’s every move in the projection, his ice-blue eyes gradually piqued with interest. “A white-hat hacker? Let him check.”
Zhuang Qingyan glanced at him, instantly understanding, and spoke softly into her earpiece, “Song Ke, Lu Xiaoyu will handle it. Don’t worry.”
In the banquet hall, Song Ke felt as if she were on pins and needles. After receiving Zhuang Qingyan’s instructions, she let out a sigh of relief.
Lu Xiaoyu held just one lonely terminal and an old, outdated light screen that was already cracked. In contrast, Hasa was fully equipped, using the latest suspended technology screens that could connect to six supercomputers simultaneously.
Hasa operated a sophisticated device, and a camera on the top extended to scan Song Ke from head to toe. When it retracted, a miniaturized mechanical ladybug fell neatly, wedging itself into a gap in the mechanical arm, planting a hidden Trojan horse.
Hasa collected Song Ke’s biometric information and swiftly traced the data.
“Song Ke, originally from District F177, her activity trajectory is as follows: E166, D99, C72, D150, C60…”
“Parents unknown, date of birth unknown, she attended Hua City No.1 High School in D99 but dropped out midway.”
Hasa’s eyes gleamed faintly as his supernatural ability kicked in, starting to trace even finer details of information.
At the same time, Lu Xiaoyu’s silvery hair fluttered as he simultaneously operated with both hands. One hand rapidly typed on the terminal, while the other hand composed complex attack programs on the screen.
In the digital realm, two forces collided head-on. One force surged forward courageously while the other collapsed and dissolved into specks, merging into the vast ocean. However, the dispersed starlight didn’t vanish but rather subtly altered the direction of the opponent’s data flow.
The clash between white-hat and black-hat hackers wasn’t about visible confrontation but about who could occupy the high ground first, enabling them to comprehensively overwhelm their opponent.
Hasa’s tracking briefly stalled as the chaotic stream of code rushed in, disrupting and diverting his course, leading him astray. He seemed lost and began murmuring.
“On October 2nd, New Calendar Year 46, granted special citizenship in Ferrara, District C72, due to a close relationship with the magistrate.”
“On November 15th, New Calendar Year 46, awarded the Outstanding Youth title in Tongwan, District C60, and obtained an entry green card.”
“…On February 6th, New Calendar Year 47, due to meritorious service in zombie eradication, submitted a household registration change request, which was approved, resulting in citizenship in Mu City, District C55.”
“Latest identity: Freelance Mercenary.”
Detailed files were disclosed, causing a commotion among the crowd.
It was the first time they had heard that someone from District F could successfully change their citizenship to Mu City. The scrutiny in the review department was known to be stringent to the point of being extreme! Could it be that faced with Song Ke’s “glamorous” resume, they were swayed, intentionally being lenient?
No, Godanwei suddenly raised his head. He remembered vividly the day Song Ke entered the city. There were seven of them, and the reason given was “locals, dispatched from Mu City before the apocalypse.” How could this suddenly change to a citizenship change? There were contradictions, something was definitely wrong.
‘Hasa, what are you doing?!’
Godanwei’s eyes reddened, about to shout in anger, but suddenly caught sight of Miao Lun’s face covered in smoke. That calm expression amidst the smog was not an ordinary calmness; it was the calm before a storm.
Like a sudden splash of cold water, Godanwei instantly became alert. No, he couldn’t say it. Song Ke’s identity had to be “real.” Otherwise, not only would he be ineffectual, but Sir Miao Lun would lose face in front of Mu Qin, Ruan Wenjun, and even the General. Then…
Trembling, Godanwei suddenly realized the intention behind Hasa’s actions.
He humbly, incredibly obediently, lowered his head, keeping silent.
Looking at her own gleaming “resume,” Song Ke couldn’t help but exclaim inwardly.
‘Lu Xiaoyu, I can’t believe you’re such a good storyteller!’ She almost believed she was the great hero saving the Alliance!
In the apartment…
Lu Xiaoyu was manipulating Hasa’s data while sarcastically commenting, “Your talent for spouting nonsense has improved over the years.”
Song Ke’s entire background was hastily created by Zhuang Qingyan in a short time through verbal storytelling.
Zhuang Qingyan smiled faintly, “Not as much as your deteriorating technical skills. You’re so slow that they might uncover everything on the other side.”
Lu Xiaoyu grumbled discontentedly, “Objection! You’re distorting the objective facts. What equipment does he have? What do I have? Just a bunch of junk!”
Although the words were as such, Lu Xiaoyu’s fingers swiftly operated, erasing the true records that Hasa was about to find about Song Ke.
In the banquet hall,
Miao Lun smiled at Mu Qin, “Mu Qin, my friend, this is talent. If you don’t want her, I certainly do.”
He then turned to Song Ke, “Mercenary, if you want to stand out, you don’t necessarily have to join the Guard Unit. Coming to my side offers the same opportunities.”
Mu Qin spoke coldly, “Miao Lun, it’s too early for these talks. Let her defeat my people first.”
Among all present, the most embarrassed at that moment was none other than Tun Qin.
Intentionally exposing Song Ke’s identity was an attempt to impress Mu Qin, to gain his attention. However, this little trash actually managed, through skill, to enter Mu City and acquire the identity of a freelance mercenary, even though she was a lowly creature from District F. How could this be possible?!
“My lord, please allow me to take action,” Tun Qin’s voice was hoarse as he voluntarily requested to deal with Song Ke.
Since the apocalypse, he had awakened his supernatural ability. The humiliation he had suffered at the hands of Song Ke, he wanted to reclaim it all, with interest.
“Father, I also want to have a go at her.” Another young man couldn’t sit still and stood up from behind.
He had three diamond studs on his eyebrow ridge, almost the same height as Tun Qin, with a rebellious expression, half a smirk on his lips as if he wouldn’t yield to anyone.
“Rong Qin!” Tun Qin stared at him angrily, paused, then lowered his voice, “You just awakened your ability, you’re not used to it yet, maybe…”
Rong Qin glanced at him nonchalantly, “Maybe what? You’re just a B-rank, but I’m an A-rank.”
Tun Qin’s back stiffened, his hand pierced by the thorn.
Rong Qin curiously asked, “Don’t you know her? Is she tough?”
Tun Qin lowered his head, his expression uncertain, “She… she’s average, no, she’s really weak, definitely not your match.”
Rong Qin’s confidence soared, “Father, let me try, I want to test my ability.”
Tun Qin called out to Mu Qin as “uncle,” but Mu Qin sternly stopped him with his eyes. This young man boldly called him “father,” yet Mu Qin remained composed, even a hint of indulgence, “Alright, come then.”
Song Ke and the young man named Rong Qin entered the isolation room.
“Hey, what level are you?” Rong Qin asked disdainfully.
“A-level,” Song Ke responded, as that was what her ability card stated.
“We’re the same,” Rong Qin smiled and without a word raised his arm, revealing a row of miniature gun barrels that went “swoosh” as they fired bullets continuously.
Wow, it’s the legendary hail of bullets.
Song Ke swiftly moved, her figure almost flashing in a zigzag pattern, seizing the opportunity to strike back with a swift spinning leg kick!
Rong Qin was kicked hard and sent flying, landing with a thud on the ground as his gun barrels fell silent.
Huh? Song Ke was stunned. Wasn’t he A-level? How did he get knocked down with just one kick?
Struggling to get up, Rong Qin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. A glint appeared in his hand, and suddenly numerous crystals materialized, mostly of level 2 and 3. He extracted their energy with his mental powers, dimming the crystals before casually tossing them away and fiercely attacking Song Ke.
Song Ke was bewildered. She had seen people on drugs, but never seen someone using crystals to fight!
Dodging the attack, she tentatively threw a punch.
“Bang!”
Rong Qin failed to evade it again, taking a direct hit on the bridge of his nose and falling backward.
Song Ke: ??? What’s going on?
[Song Ke, the opponent is a secondary awakener,] Zhuang Qingyan said.
Song Ke was puzzled. What did ‘secondary awakener’ mean?
Zhuang Qingyan quickly provided a detailed explanation, [Secondary awakeners are those unable to awaken their abilities naturally, relying on external stimuli like crystals to create a false magnetic field within their bodies.] [You can also understand it as… noobs.]
Struggling like a roly-poly toy, Rong Qin got up again, pulling out another crystal to draw energy.
Song Ke was confused and watched as Rong Qin charged towards her once more. She decided to respond with her awakened energy.
Her confrontational and forceful awakened energy struck Rong Qin unprepared, instantly disorienting him. He charged forward in a daze and, due to his aggressive momentum, crashed into the isolation room’s transparent glass, knocking himself unconscious!
Mu Qin swiftly stood up, “Rong Qin? Where’s the doctor?!”
“The match is stopped, everyone take a ten-minute break,” Su Fengsa shouted in a panic.
Song Ke maintained her punching stance, standing in confusion.
What was happening?
Amidst the chaos, the folding screen to Mu Qin’s right moved, revealing half of a misty and beautiful face, signaling towards Song Ke.
Huh? Song Ke blinked her eyes.
It seemed the beautiful sister had something to say to her.
