806: Chapter 81 The Key to the Next Era

Shen Yan pushed open the door of the pawn shop, and the dazzling sunlight made him narrow his eyes slightly.

The alley was crowded with people. Leading them was a burly man in camouflage uniform, a ferocious scorpion tattooed on his face, holding an AK47.

Seeing Shen Yan emerge, the minor leader named Vela was momentarily stunned, then revealed a cruel smile.

"Originally, I was just coming to catch a little mouse, but I didn't expect to net a big fish."

Vela licked his lips, pointing his gun at Shen Yan.

"Asian? Hand over the kid behind you, and leave all the money you have, and maybe I'll consider leaving you a complete corpse."

Chen Guangke stood beside Shen Yan, chewing gum, his hand already reaching toward his lower back.

Shen Yan raised his hand to stop him.

"Guang Ke, don't get my clothes dirty."

This sentence made Vela burst out laughing.

"Dirty clothes? Kid, you'll soon be bathing in your own blood!"

Vela pulled the trigger.

However.

The expected gunshot never rang out.

Several red laser dots suddenly appeared on the foreheads of Vela and a few of his key men.

Those were the aiming dots of sniper rifles.

The roar of propellers tearing through the air came from the sky.

Two armed helicopters painted black swept past like giant beasts at low altitude, the massive airflow kicking up garbage and dust from the ground, making it impossible to open one's eyes.

Simultaneously, on the rooftops flanking the alley, a dozen figures wearing black tactical vests had appeared at some unknown time, all uniformly holding M4A1 carbines.

Those were the mercenaries Ning Ke had arranged.

As long as the money was right, in this country, mercenaries were even more useful than the regular army.

Vela's smile froze on his face, and cold sweat trickled down past the scorpion tattoo.

"This... this is a misunderstanding..."

Shen Yan didn't look at him, just glanced down at his wristwatch.

"Clean it up. I'm in a hurry."

As soon as the words fell.

It was like the Grim Reaper's scythe sweeping through a wheat field.

The dense, muffled gunfire sounded like a torrential rain hitting banana leaves, with continuous 'pfft pfft' sounds.

Vela didn't even have time to beg for mercy before a bloody hole appeared on his forehead, and he fell straight down.

The remaining armed elements instantly descended into chaos, but facing the intersecting net of firepower from above, their resistance seemed utterly ridiculous.

This wasn't a fight.

It was a one-sided massacre.

Lin Chi stood at the pawn shop entrance, holding the case, his mind blank as he watched the scene before him.

Blood stained the ground of the alley. Vela, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, was now just a corpse.

And the man named Shen Yan walked toward the armored off-road vehicle as if strolling in his own backyard, stepping over the still-wet bloodstains.

A single drop of blood even splattered near his leather shoe, causing him to frown slightly before pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe it off.

Lin Chi trembled all over.

He finally understood that this man was not just a businessman.

Or rather, this was the true capital behemoth, in whose eyes rules and lives were merely chips that could be traded or erased.

"What are you still standing there for? Get in the car."

Chen Guangke whistled at Lin Chi and tucked the hot Glock in his hand back into his waist.

Lin Chi snapped back to reality, clutching the case as he stumbled toward the off-road vehicle, afraid that if he were a moment slower, he would be abandoned in this hell.

The car door closed, sealing off the stench of blood and the heat outside.

The air conditioning inside the cabin was set quite cold. Shen Yan leaned back on the leather seat, holding a glass of ice water he had just taken from the car's refrigerator.

"Lin Chi."

Shen Yan took a sip of water and watched the ruins rapidly receding outside the window.

"I want that catalyst, not just for the chip. I want it to flow like blood inside that Artificial Intelligence's brain."

Lin Chi was still reeling from the shock of what had just happened. He stammered, asking:

"How... how do you know 'mesaichi-7' can do that? That's theoretically..."

"Theory is meant to be realized," Shen Yan interrupted him.

"I will give you the best laboratory, the top-tier equipment, and the most generous salary in the world."

Shen Yan turned his head, his deep eyes fixed on Lin Chi.

"But you must remember one thing."

"From today onward, your life, your mind, everything about you, belongs to Rock Technology."

Lin Chi looked at this man who was not much older than himself. The pressure emanating from his very bones made it almost impossible for him to breathe.

But he also felt an unprecedented thrill.

It was the excitement of finding a true master, or perhaps, finding a madman.

"As long as you can give me the resources... I can build it."

Lin Chi hugged the case tightly to his chest, his eyes gradually filling with brilliance.

"Once that thing comes out, the existing semiconductor industry structure will be completely overturned."

Shen Yan's lips curved slightly, but there was no warmth in the smile, only ambition for the future.

"Then overturn it."

The car left the chaotic street section and sped toward the private airport.

The system interface popped up again.

[Congratulations to the Host for completing the hidden mission: Subduing the genius chemist.]

[Reward obtained: One piece of advanced wealth intelligence.]

[Current asset evaluation: Rising.]

Shen Yan closed his eyes, his fingers tapping lightly on his knee.

The auction?

That was merely a game prepared for those ignorant merchants.

The real treasure was currently sitting in the back seat of his car, trembling while hugging a case of US dollars.

"Brother Yan, are we still going to that auction?" Chen Guangke, who was driving, asked.

"Go, of course, we have to go," Shen Yan opened his eyes and looked at the magnificent auction house building in the center of Bapeng City in the distance.

"Since we're here, we might as well put on a good show for those who want to see me make a fool of myself."

If he didn't go, others would suspect the purpose of his trip.

Moreover, since the so-called 'mesaichi-7' formula appeared at the auction, it meant that other forces were also eyeing this field.

He needed to see who was setting the stage and who intended to reach into the restricted zone of Artificial Intelligence.

"Also, Guang Ke."

"Yes, Brother Yan, what is it?"

"Call Ning Ke and tell him to clean up the mess. I don't want to see Rock Technology's name in tomorrow's news."

"Don't worry, Brother Yan. Old Ning handles things steadily. 'Poison Scorpion' will take the blame for this. Just say it was a gang fight."

Lin Chi shrank in the corner, listening to these two men discuss how to dispose of dozens of lives in such a casual tone, his awe deepened another level.

He suddenly realized that he might have boarded an extraordinary battleship.

This ship might truly be able to sail toward the future that only existed in science fiction novels.

When that Gulfstream G65 once again soared into the sky, everything on the ground turned into ants.

Shen Yan stood by the porthole, looking at the chaotic land beneath him.

Three days.

In less than half a day, he had obtained the key to the next era.