225: Movements in the Abyss

"Fine." Zhong Huai deflated, plopping back down onto the parts box, his whole demeanor drooping. "You're the boss, you call the shots."

He scratched his messy hair and changed the subject, attempting to ease the frozen atmosphere.

"Speaking of which, things haven't been peaceful over in the Abyss Domain lately."

"Regarding the incident in Linzhou, although we don't know if it's true or not, several other defense zones that connect to the Abyss Domain have reported traces of high-level personnel activity."

Qin Zhan kept the lollipop in his mouth and didn't say anything, but his tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

He didn't like talking about power struggles, but intelligence on the Abyss Domain was part of his duties.

Seeing this, Zhong Huai knew he had found the right direction and continued.

"It's not just the frequent activity of high-level personnel; according to reports from our informants planted in the Abyss Domain, their internal resource allocation and military deployments are much more intensive than usual."

"It feels like they are preparing for something big."

He pulled up several encrypted files and projected them into the air; they were all blurry satellite images and processed data streams.

"This time going to the Abyss Domain, aside from 'evaluating' that little ancestor, we also need to take the opportunity to investigate and see what the hell those bastards in the Abyss Domain are up to."

Qin Zhan's gaze swept over the data, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

He had seen this intelligence before, but never like this, linking it to the S-Rank incident in Linzhou.

Now that he looked at it, everything carried the scent of an impending storm.

"There's one more thing." Zhong Huai's expression became more serious. "Calculating the timing, the College Entrance Examination over in the Abyss Domain should be about half a month earlier than ours."

"In other words, by going over there this time, we'll be just in time for their new batch of 'finished products' to hit the market."

Finished products. A cold word, yet it accurately summarized the Abyss Domain's definition of their new generation of powerhouses.

"Every year at this time, it's a critical period for their technological breakthroughs and talent replacement." Zhong Huai sighed. "We have to go and see what new gadgets they've come up with, and which monsters we need to pay special attention to."

"Here on Blue Star, we are still complacent every day about profession fusion success rates and basic attribute improvements."

"Meanwhile, the Abyss Domain might already be researching how to install 'cheats' for Mythical-grade professions."

These words made the air in the entire workshop feel a bit heavier.

The fruity sweetness in Qin Zhan's mouth couldn't suppress the bitterness rising in his heart.

As the military's top combat power, they knew the gap between Blue Star and the Abyss Domain better than anyone.

That wasn't something that could be bridged overnight. It was a chasm that would require generations to fill with blood and sweat.

"We have to work hard." Qin Zhan finally spoke, his voice somewhat muffled. "There is no other way."

Zhong Huai shrugged. "Yeah, no other way."

Meanwhile. In the Linzhou black market, at 'Insect Dwelling', inside a quiet independent reading room.

Wang Qingxuan gently placed a neatly organized file on the table in front of Lin Yu.

She was wearing a proper professional skirt suit, her hair meticulously pinned up, completely lacking the liveliness of a girl her age; instead, she exuded a sense of capability and composure far beyond her years.

Ever since she had witnessed Lin Yu's superhuman strength and had been sternly lectured by her father, Wang Han, this eldest young lady of the Tianqing Group had completely adjusted her position.

An assistant. An assistant who could handle trivial matters for this unfathomable powerhouse. This was the identity she had fought for, and it was currently her greatest pride.

"Mr. Lin, this is some information that my father just uncovered through internal channels."

Because she heard Old Ghost and Old Seven calling him Boss, she insisted on calling Lin Yu Mr. Lin. Wang Qingxuan's voice was very low, tinged with a hint of awe.

Lin Yu shifted his gaze from an old Card Maker's notebook and landed on the file.

He didn't open it immediately, just looked at Wang Qingxuan calmly. "Thank you for your hard work."

Three simple words, yet they made Wang Qingxuan feel a sense of inexplicable relief. She bowed slightly, stepped aside, and waited quietly.

Lin Yu then picked up the file and turned to the first page. The title was eye-catching: "Preliminary Investigation Report on the Infiltration of the Tianqing Group by 'Abyss Domain' Forces."

Abyss Domain. These two words again.

Lin Yu's movements didn't pause at all as he flipped through page by page. The report was written in great detail, ranging from inconspicuous equity changes to bizarre personnel transfers in key technical positions, and even the inexplicable delays in some core projects.

The clues connected one by one, clearly pointing to one conclusion. The Abyss Domain was silently infiltrating the behemoth that was the Tianqing Group, like mercury seeping into the ground.

Their goal was not destruction, nor was it plunder. It was... assimilation.

They wanted to turn the Tianqing Group into their pawn on Blue Star, into their industry.

The methods were very clever and very covert. If it hadn't been for a director like Wang Han, who held a high position and knew the group like the back of his hand, taking the initiative to dig deep, I'm afraid that in a few more years, the surname of the entire group would have changed.

The Abyss Domain had too many methods; just the act of buying people off had countless variations, many of which involved schemes for Professionals that one couldn't even imagine.

Lin Yu closed the file, his expression remaining unchanged. But in his heart, alarm bells were already ringing.

He needed to speed up his pace. As for the Tianqing Group, Wang Han could still rely on his status and connections to investigate and resist.

But what about the three major pharmaceutical companies he had his eyes on? Fengxing Technology, Juli Group, Panshi Biology.

In terms of size and influence, these three companies were in no way inferior to the Tianqing Group. Since the Abyss Domain could make a move on Tianqing, there was no reason they would let these three bigger pieces of fat meat go.

It was hard to guarantee that their interiors weren't already riddled with holes from infiltration.

It wasn't that Lin Yu was afraid of those guys from the Abyss Domain. It was just... trouble. He hated trouble the most.

If he worked hard to lay out his plans, only to find a bunch of troublemakers from the Abyss Domain standing behind his opponents when he was ready to close the net, it would make his originally clear revenge plan incredibly complicated.

It might even drag him and his family into the deeper levels of the power struggle between the behemoths of Blue Star and the Abyss Domain.

This wasn't what he wanted. He just wanted to do his work quietly, accompany his family quietly, and get stronger quietly.

Anyone who tried to disrupt his rhythm was an enemy.

"Mr. Lin..." Wang Qingxuan watched Lin Yu remain silent for a long time and couldn't help but speak softly.

"Dad... My father means that this matter is very tricky, and the group might need a major purge. He hopes... to get some of your advice."

Advice? Lin Yu looked up and glanced at her.

"My dad is asking what you think he should do; he doesn't dare to act rashly."