Chapter 19 Combine persuasion with coercion

In a small conference room within the student council office, Liam silently observed the individuals around him. Lillian, standing beside him, promptly introduced him, "This is Liam, a new student at our academy. He has yet to be assigned a mentor."

"Hello, Liam," greeted a young man seated at the head of the table. He immediately stood up and extended his hand. "I'm Ethan from the student council."

Ethan appeared to be around twenty years old, with a fair complexion and strikingly refined features. His phoenix eyes, in particular, gave him an air of captivating intensity, and when he smiled, there was a roguish charm to his expression.

Despite his delicate facial features, Ethan was far from the slender, fragile type. On the contrary, he had broad shoulders and a well-built physique, exuding the energy of a seasoned athlete. His buzz-cut hairstyle, reminiscent of a certain iconic basketball character, coupled with his naturally confident demeanor, made him stand out as someone undeniably charismatic by modern aesthetic standards.

"Ethan is our student council president," Lillian added with a warm smile.

"Nice to meet you, President Ethan."

"No need for formalities, relax," Ethan replied with an easygoing grin, gesturing toward a chair. "Take a seat."

Liam nodded slightly, then bent down to sit in the first chair to Ethan's left. Across from him sat a male and a female student—both rather unremarkable in appearance, but judging by their attire and the advanced communication devices they carried, it was clear they came from well-off backgrounds.

After settling into his seat, Ethan gestured toward the two students on his right and introduced them. "This is Samuel, Secretary-General of the Student Council Secretariat, and Amelia, Head of the Disciplinary Committee."

Maintaining his politeness, Liam stood up once more and extended his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Senior Samuel, Senior Amelia."

"No need for formalities, please sit."

"Relax, take a seat."

Both returned his handshake with courteous smiles.

With a perpetual, almost practiced smile on his face, Ethan leaned slightly forward, his gaze warm and engaging as he addressed Liam. "I'll get straight to the point. Earlier today, the academy leadership had a discussion with us regarding the incidents surrounding you. After a preliminary review, both the administration and the student council agree that we should do everything in our power to ensure your personal safety and the protection of your memory data."

"Thank you, to both the academy and the student council," Liam replied in a diplomatic yet somewhat detached manner.

Ethan smoothly transitioned into the main topic after a brief preamble, his tone calm and persuasive. "To be frank, there are numerous ambiguities surrounding the crimes involving you. At present, neither the academy nor the authorities at the Velmora Police Bureau have been able to determine the motives behind the perpetrators' actions. That's why your cooperation in the ongoing investigation is crucial. Only through collective effort can we uncover key clues and apprehend the mastermind behind all of this."

So far, the sudden death of Dr. William, the two consecutive attacks on Liam, and the recent case of the headless corpse had already resulted in two fatalities, stirring significant public discourse.

It was rather unsettling—almost absurd—to see a group of individuals, barely out of their teens, gathered around to discuss and analyze a case of this magnitude. It defied conventional logic.

Despite his young age and lack of extensive social experience, Liam had grown up as an orphan, adopted into the Zhang family. This upbringing had honed his instincts, making him keenly observant and acutely perceptive. He had an uncanny ability to sense the underlying intentions of those around him.

That was precisely why he suspected that the police had deliberately refrained from approaching him first. There must have been certain details they were hesitant to disclose, something inconvenient or sensitive—hence, the student council had been sent to initiate contact instead.

Maintaining a composed expression, Liam met Ethan's gaze and nodded slowly. "Since this case directly involves me, I am, of course, willing to cooperate with both the academy and law enforcement in their investigation."

"Exactly." Ethan reached for the water pitcher and poured Liam a cup of warm water, his gestures polite yet deliberate. "If we want to swiftly identify the suspect and unravel the truth, we must first understand their motive. Every incident thus far has revolved around your memories. The academy and the police have concluded that the fastest way to get answers is for you to release your memory permissions—allowing the investigation team to comb through your recollections within Infinity Haven and locate the crucial fragments that these perpetrators have been relentlessly trying to steal."

As expected, the concern Liam had anticipated had now materialized. His expression betrayed a flicker of unease as he looked at Ethan. "Are you saying that I should grant the police access to my secondary memory permissions within Infinity Haven, allowing them to sift through my memories for clues?"

"Yes," Ethan confirmed with a nod. "Liam, I understand that this request is intrusive and unprecedented, but at this moment, it is also the most effective means of solving the case. To catch these criminals, we must first determine why they are after you—what exactly they seek within your memories. That is why the academy sincerely hopes you will cooperate."

Liam finally understood why the police and the academy had not approached him directly. The request they were about to make was difficult for any individual to accept. By having students speak to him first, they were likely hoping for a softer approach—one that allowed room for negotiation should things take an unfavorable turn.

"Liam, you don't need to worry too much about privacy," said Samuel, the secretary of the student council. He was a broad-shouldered man with a deep, gravelly voice, giving his words a rough yet steady tone. "The academy has already discussed this with the leadership at the Velmora Police Bureau. They have assured us that only three or four authorized individuals will access your memory, and the information will be kept strictly confidential."

"Absolutely not." Liam rejected the idea outright, not even pausing to consider its feasibility. "I will never allow strangers to access my memories."

Samuel hesitated for a moment before stating, "But yesterday, you already allowed the perpetrator to read your memory."

"That was different," Liam said grimly. "At the start, I was deceived—I was forced into a state of subconscious submission. That was not a choice."

Ethan remained silent, observing Liam's reaction.

"I'm willing to cooperate," Liam continued, his voice unwavering. "But I refuse to let anyone, even the authorities, enter my mind."

Ethan folded his arms and spoke with patient persuasion. "Liam, if this case is resolved quickly and the criminals are apprehended, it will ensure not just your safety but also that of every other student on campus. No one will have to live in fear—"

"This is not negotiable, Ethan," Liam interrupted firmly.

Why was Liam so adamant in refusing to let law enforcement access his memories? Because this was not just about his privacy—it concerned the privacy of his loved ones, his friends, and everyone who had ever interacted with him.

His neural implant chip recorded every aspect of his life, capturing not only his experiences but also those of the people around him. If he opened his memories, it would mean exposing their lives as well.

There could be recordings of moments shared with his classmates—taking showers together, watching certain late-night films, or even the occasional scene of a friend strolling unclothed around the dormitory.

Was he supposed to hand over such private, mundane, and even embarrassing details to outsiders?

Moreover, his childhood memories were deeply intertwined with his late parents and sister. From the simplest details of their daily lives—their morning routines, their casual conversations, even their most intimate moments—they were all preserved in his subconscious.

His family was gone. He would never betray their privacy just to solve a case.

And most importantly, yesterday, within Infinity Haven, Liam had experienced firsthand the horror of having his mind invaded. The sensation of being exposed, stripped bare before unseen eyes, had left him deeply shaken. He had felt like a helpless, unguarded creature in the wild, utterly vulnerable before an unknown predator.

It was a violation of the deepest kind—a breach of personal sanctity that Liam could not and would not accept.

…

Liam's repeated and unwavering refusals gradually wore down Ethan and the others' patience.

Ethan crossed his arms, the smile on his face vanishing as his tone became more measured. "Liam, if you refuse to grant access to your memory, the investigation will inevitably slow to a crawl. During that time, you will remain a potential target. Of course, the academy and the police will provide protection, but even the most experienced officers cannot fully prevent an assailant determined to harm you. The reality is, the initiative is not in our hands. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Ethan's words, on the surface, seemed logical—reasonable, even. Yet to Liam, they carried an undercurrent of pressure, a chilling detachment that unsettled him.

To him, Ethan and the others felt far too polished, too composed—nothing like students, but more akin to seasoned corporate operatives maneuvering through high-stakes negotiations.

Somewhere along the way, student councils had lost their original purpose. What was once a platform for unity, independence, and mutual support had gradually morphed into something bureaucratic, transactional—infused with ambition, power struggles, and a thirst for control.

Students no longer felt like students. They were neither fully immersed in academia nor wholly part of society. It was as if today's youth had been forced into the rat race from the moment they left the womb, locked in an endless cycle of competition before they had even learned to live.

"I'm sorry, President Ethan, but I will not agree to having my memories extracted," Liam stated firmly. "I understand the challenges the police face, and I acknowledge the difficulty of this case. But as a law-abiding citizen, I have reason to believe that law enforcement is fully capable of solving this crime without violating my right to personal privacy."

At those words, Ethan's smile returned, though now laced with something unreadable. "I respect your decision."

"That's settled then. I'll be leaving now." Liam turned to go.

Just as he stepped away, Lillian, who had remained silent until now, rose to her feet. "I'll walk him out," she said to Ethan.

The moment they left, Amelia, the head of the disciplinary committee, scoffed and muttered, "That freshman is unbelievably stubborn. Completely brainless. Someone is clearly out to get him, and instead of clinging to the academy and law enforcement for protection, he insists on talking about privacy? What a joke. Does he not realize the next severed head could be his?"

"I agree," Samuel added with a dismissive shrug. "Typical bookworm. No sense of self-preservation."

Ethan remained quiet for a few moments, lost in thought, before finally standing up. "Meeting adjourned. I'll go report to the leadership."

…

About twenty minutes later.

In the small conference room of the academy's administrative building, Chief Inspector Blaze asked in a measured tone, "So, he refused?"

"Yes, he did."

Blaze frowned slightly, his expression contemplative. "If we can't determine the motive, this will be a serious complication."

"Sir, even if he refuses, we still have other means," Ethan ventured cautiously.

"What alternative?" one of the academy's administrators inquired.

"The suspect has previously accessed Liam's memories, which means the device he used must have recorded a copy of Liam's memory data," Ethan replied with a subtle smile. "If Liam himself won't grant access, we can simply retrieve the suspect's memory data instead. That way, we can sidestep the issue of privacy concerns in a legally justifiable manner."

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Ethan.

"Our priority, after all, is to ensure the safety of our students," Ethan added smoothly, his tone filled with an air of reasoned persuasion.

…

At the entrance of Dormitory 107.

Lillian looked at Liam and said, "I support your decision. What makes us human is that we don't run naked through the world."

"Thank you," Liam responded.

"They're still negotiating Eric's situation. We should have an answer by tonight. When the time comes, I'll bring Grace over so we can discuss it together," Lillian said with a reassuring smile.