Chapter 128: Then Let You Compensate Me? - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

Chapter 128: Then Let You Compensate Me? There's an old saying that holds true. When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. That's exactly the case now. From Xu Shi's perspective, Shen Qin's actions completely aligned with his suspicions. If she wasn't hiding such a secret, her earlier reaction wouldn't have been so defensive. After all, showcasing an unusually fast healing ability is tantamount to direct exposure. And under his intense inquiry, she could only use the excuse of "taking medicine" to cover things up, to make the situation seem problem-free. The truth is, if he was utterly clueless about her, without harboring suspicions, she might have glossed over it entirely. As for why previous medical check-ups didn't reveal this fact, it's actually quite understandable. Because this ability is most likely passive and doesn't manifest unless she’s injured. Additionally, no one conceived of the idea of "dual abilities," so as long as she displayed the visible "Blood Ignition Liberation" ability, it was enough to get by. If others remain unaware, fabricating a narrative is easy, even when facing machines; "Sundial's" accuracy isn't a hundred percent. "But if she truly possesses such an ability, she shouldn't be as frail and sickly as she is, right?" Su Lin remained skeptical, as the situation was a bit too overwhelming for her. "Not necessarily," Xu Shi shook his head. At this point, a game came to mind. Indeed, it was that ever-popular card game from his previous life. Within it were two distinct concepts: stamina reduction and stamina drain. The former can be likened to getting hurt and losing blood, triggering her passive self-healing ability, while the latter does not trigger any effect. Though this analogy might not be perfect, it's roughly how Xu Shi perceived it. Of course, there's another possibility. Which is that the "Blood Ignition Liberation" drains vitality far more significantly than it appears, and it’s precisely because of her self-healing that she only seems frail and sickly. Without the latter's support, Shen Qin might end up just like Xia Ke'an. "……" Su Lin nodded silently. Although she wasn't entirely convinced, all pointers led to this conclusion. Thus, she could only view the situation from this perspective. Even if it seemed a bit far-fetched to her. Xu Shi understood completely. If faced with this unprecedented scenario suddenly, he would also find it hard to accept. But when viewed from a different angle, it made sense. After all, in the original story, Shen Qin is Shen He’s sister and emerged as a female lead in the mid-story. It's not unexpected for something unusual to happen. Perhaps with her help, the protagonist team could gain even stronger powers in future developments… It was a familiar trope. Xu Shi sighed softly. If that's the case, then Shen Qin's importance is no small matter. If she naturally developed this "dual ascender" status, then perhaps there would eventually be a second, a third, like version upgrades and patches, altering the dynamics of the City of Night Sins. But another more critical situation also looms: what if her abilities weren't innately awakened? What does that imply? It implies that the "Forgotten" possess technology for "ability implantation!" If this hypothesis holds true, it’s an extraordinary discovery—after all, even without considering the side effects, many people's ascension abilities have flaws and deficiencies. If such means could be used to rectify them, filling these gaps without burden, the advantages would be substantial. Take Xia Wuyou, whose vulnerability lies in her inability to effectively counter gas-form attacks. Without the aid of a tactical mask, deploying sleep gas or poison gas grenades would significantly diminish her combat efficacy. But if she could gain an ability to counteract gaseous threats, her deficiency would disappear, elevating her capabilities greatly. “... In any case, keep a close watch, but don't disclose this. Conduct a side investigation to confirm before proceeding.” Reflecting on this, Xu Shi remarked leisurely. He couldn't be entirely sure if his assumption was correct. He didn't have a complete understanding of Shen He’s sister—having full knowledge would have simplified things, sparing him the current mental gymnastics. Nevertheless, since this had unfolded, it demanded careful observation. Since he couldn't dissect and analyze her presently, he would have to bide his time and wait for a precise opportunity to act decisively. Fortunately, Shen Qin was now under his supervision, making her management convenient. He even envisioned which position to assign her—keeping her as Xia Wuyou’s adjutant, which would ensure her every move was under his watch. "I understand," Su Lin nodded knowingly. "And, young master, about what happened earlier… I apologize." After discussing business, Director Su seemed a bit embarrassed, "I acknowledge my mistake." She was referring to having accidentally walked in on Xu Shi and Xia Wuyou earlier. Honestly, she felt somewhat uneasy about it. After being out for only a few hours and returning to see such a situation, she couldn't exactly be glad about it. But she wasn't eager to just gloss over it, choosing instead to address the matter proactively. "Oh? A mistake?” Xu Shi blinked, “Explain where you went wrong?” “My mistake was… I didn’t knock before entering.” Su Lin understood the young master was purposefully not giving her an out, but since she had raised the topic, she could only continue, "Please punish me, young master." In truth, Xu Shi didn't mind too much; it was irritating to be interrupted mid-act, but it wasn’t something to genuinely fault Su Lin for, especially since she came with business and not out of malice. Thus, he had no intent to pursue it further, considering Su Lin was different from others. However, since she had brought it up voluntarily, it changed things. He decided to tease her a bit, pulling Su Lin closer, wrapping an arm around her waist with a mischievous grin, “Then… why don't you compensate me?” “I…” Su Lin never anticipated Xu Shi’s approach, suddenly feeling flustered and at a loss for words. What was the young master implying? Was he serious? Based on Xu Shi’s expression, she didn’t think he was entirely joking. Deep down, she didn’t instinctively reject the idea, but would it be too hasty to approach things this way…a sentiment that instantly flushed her cheeks, leaving her unsure about how to respond. But just then. A knock sounded on the office door from outside. ...Again?! Enough is enough, isn’t it! (End of Chapter)