“Sorry.”

Looking at Li Chen as he took off his sterile gown and put his clothes back on, a hint of guilt surfaced on Dr. Lisa’s face.

“I’ll try to think of another way and as for the Schufestan family’s side…”

“There’s no need to apologize, Dr. Lisa.”

After changing, Li Chen stretched lazily, with not the slightest trace of anger or grievance on his face.

More importantly—

There was no fear at all in his eyes.

Why?

Dr. Lisa increasingly felt that she couldn’t see through the man in front of her.

That was the Schufestan family.

A top-tier Upper Hive consortium!

They controlled the economic lifelines of Hive City, fully dominating every major sector—energy, livelihood, healthcare, military, finance, law… everything that made up human civilization was inseparable from their leadership.

Yet even when facing such a colossal entity, Li Chen could remain this relaxed?

Why exactly was that?

Dr. Lisa couldn’t figure it out at all.

“Anyway, I’ve already gotten what I wanted.”

Feeling the qi sensing slowly circulating within his body, Li Chen didn’t feel the slightest frustration at being dragged into trouble.

As for the Thunder Martial Arts Hall contribution points?

With this set of techniques in hand, his martial path was already wide open—why would he care about such things?

It was just a trivial matter.

‘Still, the Schufestan consortium really does need to be properly looked after.’

He didn’t like meddling, but since that young lady had already made her stance so clear, Li Chen couldn’t be bothered to wait for her to come knocking on his door before responding.

‘Taking hits passively? That’s not my style.’

His eyes flickered as numerous plans surfaced in his mind.

To others, consortia that sat high in the Upper Hive might seem utterly unassailable—once provoked, death would be the only outcome.

But Li Chen, who was well-versed in all kinds of information, knew clearly that so-called consortia weren’t as flawless as they appeared.

‘At the end of the day, they’re just organizations formed by mutual profit. Even if they’re wrapped in shells like family bloodlines, once it becomes a sinking ship, they’ll split from the inside first.’

Having personally been involved in the Solares Consortium’s succession struggle—and even serving as the bodyguard and confidant of the final winner, Daili—Li Chen was intimately familiar with how consortium families operated.

‘Titan Heavy Industries, War God Technology, Faust Investment…’

Names of enterprises under the Schufestan family flashed through his mind. Once everything was connected, the seemingly omnipotent family was really just gilded on the outside and rotten within.

Of course, the more important reason Li Chen was being so proactive was—

‘They actually dared to disrupt my peaceful daily life with Xiao Wei?’

Tsk.

‘I’m quite curious—compared to the enemies I faced back when competing with Daili for the Solares Consortium’s inheritance, just how strong are you?’

Li Chen thought lightly, genuinely curious.

Though all were Upper Hive consortia, the gap in strength among them was still worlds apart.

From giants like Solares and Montmorency—one of the top ten consortia directly involved in issuing Hive City credit points—to newer consortia like Schufestan that focused mainly on one or two fields, there were several entire tiers of difference.

Thinking of this, Li Chen calmly looked at Dr. Lisa, who still wore a worried expression.

“In short, Doctor, please don’t worry.”

Li Chen observed the woman who usually kept a stern face and cared only about experimental data, watching the subtle changes in her expression.

Hm… looking closely, she’s actually kind of cute too.

‘Her extra concern for me is probably just about the safety of a rare experimental subject—and about who’d help her continue deriving techniques if I died.’

Seen that way, that Kate from the Schufestan family was actually doing a bad thing with good intentions.

‘I was worried I’d be chased around every day by this crazy woman for experiments, but now that I think about it, doesn’t this save me a ton of trouble?’

As for the techniques being incomplete right now?

Simple—just grind monsters using the player template to level up proficiency.

‘Hehe, then we’ll see what the Schufestan family is really capable of.’

It had been a long time since he’d truly stretched his limbs.

The batch of lower-city gangs he wiped out yesterday didn’t count.

At the very least, it’d have to be a fifth or sixth-tier martial artist to be a real challenge, right?

‘Ugh, but Xiao Wei did say I shouldn’t take risks…’

Li Chen scratched his head in distress, then clapped his hands.

‘Got it—then I just won’t take risks! As long as Little Luna and her master hurry up and finish the cybernetic core based on my design blueprints, then…’

Li Chen clearly remembered how, back in the game, the first guild to develop that next-generation cybernetic core had used that ultimate weapon to carve their way from the Lower City all the way to the Upper Hive, even daring to take on top-tier consortia.

‘And if I remember right, today’s daily intel said there’s an Eternal Gold auction in the Central Commercial District of the Upper Hive? That could be a good opportunity.’

Cybernetic cores…

For most martial artists, they were merely tools to condense qi sensing, boost output and enhance burst power—but the core Li Chen handed to Luna was naturally no ordinary product.

‘A true cybernetic core is a hub that can resonate in harmony with techniques and achieve genetic-level evolution.’

That was also why, in the game, the guild that accidentally invented this technology had dared to challenge elite heirs from major consortia who came from genetic optimization programs.

‘The limitations of a civilian martial artist’s aptitude can be compensated for through the right techniques and that cybernetic core!’

It was also a major boon for non–pay-to-win players back then.

Those pay to win players with excellent origins and special genes had taken a huge loss in that version update.

‘Still, before taking action, I should report in with Xiao Wei.’

Come to think of it, ever since entering the Thunder Martial Arts Hall, he hadn’t seen Xiao Wei for several hours.

He wondered how she’d handled that chip.

Beep beep.

The screen flickered as Li Chen’s call connected.

“Huh? What’s going on? Didn’t expect my husband to actually call me first for once?”

Holding a thick stack of documents while reviewing them, Bai Wei’s tense, busy expression immediately softened when she saw Li Chen’s face.

“What, Xiao Wei—can’t I look for you if nothing’s wrong~”

Seeing his fiancée’s face, clearly delighted inside yet trying to act calm, Li Chen smiled faintly and stepped up the pressure.

Heh, last night—who was it that got beaten back step by step and only managed to catch a breather after calling me ‘good husband’ several times?

“Mm.”

Faced with her fiancé’s “provocation,” Bai Wei was about to counterattack when she caught sight of Li Chen, who had just taken off his lab gown and was putting on his outer clothes, his disheveled state faintly revealing firm abdominal muscles beneath.

“Eek!!!”

Memories of last night’s intense “battle” flashed through Bai Wei’s mind with full impact, startling her into a flushed gasp.

‘Cheating. Foul play. That damn husband is too despicable! He definitely did it on purpose. Fine—if you’re heartless, don’t blame me for being unjust!’

A sharp light flashed in Bai Wei’s eyes as she stood up with a swish, twisted her waist and adjusted the angle of the communication screen.

Bzzz.

The image flickered.

When the call stabilized again, what greeted Li Chen was no longer his fiancée’s innocent face, but a pair of long, straight legs—so full and shapely that even through black stockings their curves were unmistakable.

Looking slightly upward, a slender waist entered the view at just the right angle, forming a seductive curve that clashed tantalizingly with Bai Wei’s normally cool demeanor…

“Xiao Wei?!”

Li Chen jolted.

But he quickly calmed down again.

“Looks great, Xiao Wei. Seems like when we get home, I’ll have to properly discipline you again.”

“Y-You pervert!”

Even after resorting to such a shameless move, seeing Li Chen remain completely unshaken made Bai Wei both embarrassed and furious.

‘Damn it—he usually loves my legs so much. How can he be this unmoved? Could it be that I've lost my charm? Or is some bad woman seducing Xiao Chen again…’

“Anyway, you guessed right—I really did call because there’s something I need to ask.”

Li Chen casually steered the conversation back.

“Um… that chip—no problems with it, right?”

While Bai Wei was still tangled in her thoughts, Li Chen had already asked smoothly.

“Damn husband.”

Though feeling wronged inside, Bai Wei still answered obediently.

“It’s all done. Completely handled. Upper Hive honorary citizen status—this time it’s set in stone. And I think I’ll probably get promoted too.”

‘Upper Hive honorary citizen! A promotion? Oh my—looks like I really need to properly thank Sister Liu Yu sometime.’

Li Chen’s smile bloomed.

He wasn’t a vain person, but Upper Hive honorary status was never just about wealth.

More precisely, Upper Hive citizen status was a pass into the Uppermost Hive—the only pure land in Hive City’s lawless, survival-of-the-fittest arena.

With that status, he could even stand on equal footing with consortium heads. After all, by their rules, “everyone is equal”—provided you’re considered human.

And for Li Chen, the greatest benefit of that status was—

‘I remember a lot of forum discussions about what level you need to reach in Hive City to live without fear of violation, with dignity and humanity.’

Li Chen stroked his chin.

‘In the end, it seemed the conclusion was… Upper Hive honorary citizen.’

In other words, in Hive City, only by obtaining Upper Hive honorary citizenship could one truly be regarded as a person.

‘How unpleasant.’

Li Chen felt a slight stir in his heart.

But that feeling came and went just as quickly. He’d once boasted about changing everything, but after years of turbulence since transmigrating, he’d already abandoned that unrealistic dream, choosing instead to pursue small, plain, yet real happiness.

“Alright, Xiao Wei.”

Li Chen shook out his sleeves.

“My training at the Thunder Martial Arts Hall is finished. I’ll make a trip to the Central Commercial District to buy a few things, then head home.”

“Central Commercial District?”

Whenever Li Chen’s itinerary was involved, Bai Wei immediately became serious again.

“Mm… that place is a real mixed bag. Xiao Chen, be careful.”

“Of course.”

Li Chen reassured her.

“Hehe, but I trust my wife’s law enforcement efficiency.”

“Idiot—if you’re going to thank someone, go thank your Sister Liu Yu instead. Didn’t I see your forum post saying she’s the world’s best big sister or something?”

Bai Wei snorted, then suddenly thought of something and pressed the attack again.

“She really is the best big sister in the world.”

Li Chen replied smoothly.

“But a big sister is just a barrier—and you, Xiao Wei, are the best wife in the world.”

“Eek!”

Hearing the word “wife,” Bai Wei let out a sharp squeak, turning her head away like she was fleeing.

“F-Fine! I still have work to do—I won’t argue with you this time!”

Beep beep.

[Your call has ended.]

Li Chen chuckled as he tidied his appearance.

‘We’re already like an old married couple, yet she still gets that shy.’

Thud thud.

He took a single bound down from the high platform.

“Wait, Mr. Li Chen.”

Still worried about Li Chen having attracted such a “powerful enemy,” Lisa couldn’t help speaking up again.

“But once you leave the Thunder Martial Arts Hall, I can’t guarantee your safety. How about you stay with us first—”

‘This old witch—she’s not thinking of making me her 24/7 research subject, is she? No chance!’

Li Chen waved his hand firmly.

“No need, Dr. Lisa. Maybe to you, those people seem powerful and not to be trifled with, but to me…”

Before leaving the laboratory, Li Chen said this, “They’re actually very weak.”

Bang.

The door closed behind him.

“Actually… very weak?”

Watching Li Chen’s departing back, Lisa couldn’t help feeling that his figure overlapped somewhat with the image of the master admired by Xiao Mengya in her memories.

“Must be my imagination.”

Lisa shook her head hard.

After all, when Xiao Mengya said her master was weak, that “weakness” was measured by the standards of the world’s most wanted criminal—someone who could easily defeat even ninth-tier superpowerhouses.

No matter how you looked at it, that couldn’t possibly be someone who’d just broken into the second tier as a quasi–martial artist, right?