2: Chapter 2 explains the science behind such outrageous things.

...

A middle-aged male police officer with a square face looked at the young man with a serious expression. "Name?"

"Lin Fang."

"Age?"

"Seventeen."

"At this age? Are you a student at Binhai University?"

"I skipped grades."

"Were you the one who called the police?"

"Yes."

"Is the man next door, the one who was almost tricked into going abroad, your father?" As he asked this, the middle-aged officer looked at the information in the file with a teasing expression.

Lin Fang gave a shy smile. "He is, Officer."

He had already called the police while on the road. The surveillance cameras along the way weren't just for show, and after the incident with the boat, they would have eventually traced it back to him. It was a backup plan; regardless, it was impossible for him to board that smuggling ship again.

12 hours later, at the entrance of the Binhai Police Station.

"From today on, stay honestly in Binhai. You aren't allowed to leave the city, do you understand?" a male police officer admonished sternly.

The latter bowed slightly with a fawning air. "I know, I know."

Walking to the entrance and seeing his son waiting nearby, Lin Tianxiong straightened his back again and forced a smile. "Son, it's fine now. Let's go home and get some sleep. Tonight, I'll take you for a foot massage to wash away this bad luck."

—

"Captain, are they really not suspects?"

A female police officer rubbed her head. "That Lin Fang is a top student at Binhai University, a computer science major. Could he be the one behind this?"

Two people were turned into mincemeat by propellers, and two were burned to cinders. Last night's Pujiang explosion case had shaken the entire municipal bureau. They had investigated for half a day without a single lead, so these two eyewitnesses were the focus of the investigation!

"What's the motive?" the middle-aged officer said calmly. "Besides, what kind of technology could achieve that level? We have to follow science when handling cases."

"Maybe some kind of smart intrusion or something."

The female officer's imagination was running wild.

"What did I say? Investigations must be rigorous and based on facts!" The middle-aged male officer glared at her, then sighed as he watched the father and son walk away.

From prosperity to decline,

He had seen this situation too many times. Although Binhai was prosperous, it was also a place that devoured people.

...

"Dad, how much longer until the company's bankruptcy liquidation?"

While eating beef offal noodles in a small restaurant, Lin Fang asked, "Or rather, when are you going to jail?"

"You heartless brat."

Lin Tianxiong scolded him with a laugh from across the table, but his brow furrowed in the next instant. "The company won't last more than two days."

From problems arising in engine development to the disappearance of a large number of forged account books and unidentified capital outflows... in just one week, this New Life game engine company, which had nearly 2 billion invested in it, could no longer hold on.

The more Lin Tianxiong thought about it, the angrier he got. "What kind of crappy emerging industry is this? They said I'd just sit back and collect money, but it's even darker than my old coal mining days!"

He reached out and placed a thick slice of beef brisket into Lin Fang's bowl. "Son, I'll find a way to hide some money for you. I'll be out in a few years. Take care of yourself out there."

The rising steam from the beef offal noodles fogged up his glasses. Lin Fang took them off and wiped them. "Dad, let's not go back yet. Take me to the company."

Lin Tianxiong was stunned to hear this. "What are you going there for?"

"To see if I can help you solve the engine problem."

"Did the explosion rattle your brain?" Lin Tianxiong was amused by his words. "Problems that so many engineers and programmers couldn't solve—how could a student like you solve them?"

"I want to try." Lin Fang looked at the Black Watch on his wrist. He hadn't fully figured out this Black Star yet, but one thing was very clear: it was extremely powerful.

If it was a creation of a technological civilization, it was hard to imagine what level of civilization it came from.

"Then let's go."

Lin Tianxiong didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm, but then he asked suspiciously, "Why do you keep staring at your hand?"

"Dad, you can't see it?"

Lin Fang was startled.

"See what? Were you hit by the explosion?" Lin Tianxiong became nervous and grabbed his hand to inspect it. Lin Fang, intentionally wanting to verify something, did not pull away.

Hiss—

Lin Fang's expression changed slightly as he saw his father's palm pass directly through the Black Watch to touch his skin. At this moment, the Black Watch was like an illusion, as if the two were not in the same dimension!

Then why could he touch it himself?

"..."

On the way to the company, Lin Fang sat in the back of the car and continued to study this Black Watch.

[Black Star is at your service]

An electronic voice suddenly appeared in his mind, cold and devoid of any emotion. Lin Fang wasn't surprised; last night's explosion had been orchestrated by it, consuming 1,000 plunder points.

"Are you a system or an intelligent life form?" Lin Fang was curious. "Or rather, what are you?"

...There was no response.

After testing for a long time, Lin Fang's brow furrowed. This Black Star seemed unable to answer any questions.

"Give me a piece of candy."

[Please confirm the transaction. 1,000 plunder points required]

"Cancel. Within three seconds, give me a piece of candy that weighs 2 million tons and tastes like a mix of watermelon and durian."

[Please confirm the transaction. 2,000 plunder points required]

"Cancel."

Lin Fang's heart stirred. Before he knew how to obtain energy points and how difficult it was, he wouldn't consume them lightly again. However, he felt a deep sense of curiosity about how it would provide him with such an absurdly requested piece of candy.

Recalling his transaction with it last night: killing the 4 people on the boat ahead had cost 1,000 plunder points. Then how much would it cost to have those 4 people die from an asteroid impact?

Could it really do anything?

Lin Fang took out his phone and played an anime video where the male lead was radiating dominance: —Who claims to be invincible? Who dares to say they are undefeated? Even the Era of Emperor's Fall is nowhere to be seen!

"Black Star, make me as powerful as him."

[Basic conditions error. Transaction error]

Tsk, even something this outrageous follows science? Lin Fang adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and put down his phone with a slight sense of regret.

...

The Radiant Galaxy Building

was a massive office building located in the center of Binhai City. When Lin Tianxiong first founded the company, he had grandly rented the 29th and 30th floors as office space and a rest area.

—Xiongba Technology Co., Ltd.

Looking at this sign, Lin Fang felt moved. Boss Xiong had stopped mining coal and instead came to the city where his son was studying to work hard, clearly wanting to build a foundation for him.

As for why he wanted to make a game engine, was it because someone said the major he was studying was related to it... At this thought, Lin Fang sneered. That influential figure's investigation had been truly thorough.

Not only did they take the money, but they wouldn't let the person go either.

"Sigh, almost everyone is gone."

Lin Tianxiong looked at the empty reception desk, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"Don't panic, you still have me," Lin Fang patted his shoulder to comfort him. Before his father could react, he strode inside. The vast office area was also a scene of desolation.