Chapter 3: Insight

Seeing Lin Yi remain silent, showing no sign of fear, both men were somewhat surprised. Ma Liu glanced at the metallic ball in his hand, confirming that it had locked onto Ah Yuan's system. He then looked at Lin Yi, who showed no reaction. Finally, he nodded at Chen Wu.

Chen Wu placed the dagger against Lin Yi's neck, lowering his voice, "Come with us."

Lin Yi looked at him and asked, "Where to?"

Chen Wu, with the dagger at Lin Yi's neck, lowered his voice, "Just take a trip with us."

Lin Yi questioned, "Where to?"

Chen Wu locked eyes with Lin Yi, feeling a strange and unexplainable sensation. A teenage girl suddenly encountering two men attempting to kidnap her at night – why wasn't she afraid? Even when her robot shut down, she showed no reaction. Was this a genuine expression, or was she playing dumb?

Ma Liu, less perceptive than Chen Wu, kept his eyes on Ah Yuan, feeling a sense of unease. He spoke harshly, "Stop the chatter and come with us."

Lin Yi turned to him, "Where did you get the system suppressor?"

Ma Liu was taken aback, feeling a sudden panic. He looked at Chen Wu, who was his boss. Chen Wu, however, was increasingly uneasy, sensing Lin Yi's unconventional demeanor. A teenage girl encountering two men attempting to kidnap her, and she didn't seem afraid at all. Even with her robot malfunctioning, she showed no reaction. Was this a genuine expression, or was she unusually clever, or were kids nowadays just that tough?

Though accustomed to street life, Chen Wu usually dealt with protection fees and intimidation, not kidnapping. If it weren't for his illness worsening and the need for money, he wouldn't have taken on this job. He had checked the background of the target – just an ordinary girl and a genetic disease patient. Her only reliance was an F-grade robot, now malfunctioning. What else could she depend on?

But if she was just an ordinary girl, why would someone pay a high price to kidnap her? Her parents were dead, no close relatives, who would pay a ransom for her?

Regardless, he had received a down payment, and he had to finish the job.

Chen Wu remained silent, the blade against Lin Yi's neck. He raised his left hand, planning to knock her out and take her away.

In that instant, Ah Yuan suddenly moved!

Chen Wu barely had time to be surprised; his dagger was taken away, his strike towards Lin Yi's left hand blocked. Simultaneously, an electric current surged through his body, not a playful shock. Chen Wu dropped to his knees. Ma Liu, less alert than Chen Wu, kept his eyes on Ah Yuan. Still, he too was shocked as the metallic ball was snatched from his hand, and he received an electric shock. After trembling like a dice for a while, he rolled over to Chen Wu's side, stammering, "B-boss, what's happening? H-how is she still moving?"

Chen Wu, biting his teeth, glared at Ma Liu. The intelligent system suppressor was in his hands, and he had nodded earlier, indicating everything was fine. Now he was asking why? If he knew what happened, he wouldn't have been beaten!

Lin Yi took the metallic ball from Ah Yuan and weighed it, "Where did you get this?"

"It was sent to us by the employer."

"Where was it sent from?"

"We don't know. We tried to trace it, but we couldn't find anything!"

Lin Yi gave them a glance, tapping the metallic ball impatiently, "This doesn't seem like a robbery. I don't have much money anyway."

Chen Wu remained speechless.

Now, you are the robbers. You attacked me, took away the dagger and suppressor.

Lin Yi scrutinized them, then bent down slightly, "Kidnapping?"

Chen Wu, glancing at Ah Yuan, whose blue electric glow lingered in her hands, hesitated. An intelligent robot would unquestionably follow its owner's commands. Even with the suppressor's control, why was she unaffected? He didn't dare to play tricks, so he kept quiet, an implicit acknowledgment.

"Who ordered you?"

Chen Wu and Ma Liu didn't respond. Despite being street thugs, they had professional ethics. They couldn't reveal their employer's information casually; otherwise, who would dare to hire them in the future?

Lin Yi stood up straight, leaned against the wall, and put the metallic ball into her coat pocket, then turned to leave, saying, "If your employer contacts you again, let me know."

"Okay..." Chen Wu agreed, lifting his head after a moment.

The dim streetlight cast a long shadow of the figure in the black trench coat. The silent robot followed her. In the quiet and mysterious alley, only the rhythmic sound of her leather boots echoed. Chen Wu listened to the footsteps, feeling a shiver down his spine.

Only when Lin Yi was far away did Ma Liu raise his head. He gingerly approached Chen Wu, rubbing the spot where he had been hit. Hesitantly, he asked, "Boss?"

Chen Wu, still in thought, lit a cigarette. Taking a few puffs, he exhaled and said, "Let's go."

Ma Liu questioned in a low voice, "Just like that? We might lose money, boss. We don't have much left."

Chen Wu gave Ma Liu another smack on the head, then held his head and pressed it down with his own. "Consider it a fart she let out. If she likes that thing, let her keep it."

Lin Yi stopped her actions, raising an eyebrow as she looked at them.

Damn it, what an idiot! Chen Wu cursed inwardly, smacking Ma Liu's head again and then holding his head down with his own, bowing slightly to Lin Yi, "Consider it as if he let out a fart. If you like that thing, please keep it."

Lin Yi withdrew her gaze, putting the metallic ball into her coat pocket. Turning away, she left a sentence behind, "If your employer contacts you again, tell me."

"Alright..." Chen Wu replied, lifting his head only after a moment.

The yellowish streetlight stretched the figure in the black trench coat. The silent robot followed her. In the quiet and mysterious alley, only the rhythmic sound of her leather boots echoed. Chen Wu listened to the footsteps, feeling a shiver down his spine.

Even if Lin Yi couldn't hear his words, she would undoubtedly agree with the sentiment.

Chen Wu was curious, but he knew how to control his curiosity. His intuition was usually accurate. The girl's eyes, though not fierce, even lazy, seemed to hold an indescribable terror when he made eye contact. It felt scarier than having an A-grade weapon aimed at him.

Ma Liu questioned in a low voice, "Boss?"

Chen Wu, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, wore a weathered expression as he said, "Don't ask why. Just remember, this is the experience I've gained from ten years on the streets—something that seemed foolproof unexpectedly went wrong. It's not bad luck; it's beyond your capabilities. Don't be reckless, quickly back off. If we need to kneel, we kneel; if we need to apologize, we apologize; if we need to run, we run."

For those living in the lower echelons and engaging in high-risk professions, without this kind of insight and judgment, they wouldn't survive for long. Out of the hundreds or maybe even a hundred and eighty people who entered the same profession with him back in the day, only five, including him, are still alive, with limbs intact and not behind bars.

Ma Liu remained confused, stuttering, "B-but, boss, we—we don't have much capability. If we go elsewhere, what if we can't make it?"

Chen Wu, still with the cigarette, walked ahead, "Sometimes, having the right perspective is more important than capability."

If Lin Yi could hear this statement at the moment, she would undoubtedly find it resonant.