In this cyberpunk era, why are you still playing the traditional villain?

"Tenri" (天理), that's our name.

He Yuxia said calmly, "The truth is just as you think. What happened ten years ago was our doing."

"……go on."

Xu Shi blinked. "What is your purpose in doing all this?"

"For the purpose of deduction."

He Yuxia said, "I think everyone knows what the biggest problem is with Night City, right?"

"You mean 'rust fog'?"

Xie Qingyan was the first to react.

"Yes."

He Yuxia nodded. "Since its emergence, the 'Rust Fog' has become the greatest threat to the world, and the mission of 'Heavenly Principle' is to find the most suitable future for development among infinite possibilities."

"So you chose Shen He."

Xu Shi picked up where she left off, saying in a deep voice, "Try making him the protagonist, guiding him step by step to take control of the entire Night Sin City, and then leading everyone to face and even resolve the threat of the 'Rust Fog'?"

"Yes."

He Yuxia did not deny it, saying, "The situation is almost exactly as you described."

"Then you didn't need to do something like destroying 'Celestial River' and 'Refraction,' did you?"

Ye Shanshan, with her curly hair, chimed in, "Shen He is the heir to 'Tianhe,' born to stand at the pinnacle of this city... Since they've chosen him, why not just go and greet him directly?"

"Is it because there have been similar precedents before?"

Xu Shi answered He Yuxia's question for her, "If I'm not mistaken, this certainly isn't the first time your 'Heavenly Principles' has made such a so-called 'deduction,' right?"

"...Chairman Xu really has a keen eye."

He Yuxia smiled, whether genuinely admiring or sarcastic, "We have existed for far longer than you imagine, and we have already predicted countless times... To be honest, every change that has occurred on this land has our shadow behind it."

Everyone was stunned when they heard this.

Miss He's words were convoluted, but not difficult to understand.

Because everyone here is educated and familiar with the history of this city—the City of Nights of Sin wasn't born this way; it also went through agriculture, industry, and eventually became the technologically advanced place it is today.

This land has also had so-called emperors, and the situation of heroes vying for supremacy is countless... The "Rust Fog" has long been a threat and hidden danger. In the years since its appearance, the City of Night Sin has seen many changes of dynasties, with one dynasty rising and another falling.

“We have tried to allow the wealthy and powerful to consolidate power, and we have also arranged for people from poor families or even those who have nothing to climb to the top of this city step by step.”

He Yuxia continued, "But the outcome has never been as we imagined... To this day, no ruler has met our expectations, so we have to destroy them and then create a new one."

"Should we choose one that offers the best of both worlds?"

Xu Shi looked at her calmly and said, "Shen He was once a scion of a wealthy family, but after his family fell from grace, he plummeted from the heights to the depths of despair... Therefore, he has a more comprehensive view and is more likely to guide everyone toward the future you desire."

Destroying "Tianhe" is naturally part of the process; how can the gears be pushed to the next step if he doesn't lose everything?

This is also the best way to create a hero—give him a terrible life, and a little bit of love.

For example, Xia Wuyou probably plays such a role—a once high-and-mighty young lady who falls from grace with her childhood sweetheart, reunites after many years, and while supporting each other through thick and thin, they can also hate evil together.

"...So just to make him grow up according to your ideas, you're going to ruin countless lives?!"

Just as everyone was deep in thought, a near-hysterical roar shattered the silence.

The one who roared was Xia Ke'an.

After Su Lin's attempt to arrest the person failed, Xu Shi instructed her to bring the old lady over, partly to serve as a witness, and partly because she was one of the parties involved back then and had the right and should know about all of this.

Unfortunately, the timing of her appearance was rather delicate—she happened to hear the most bloody truth.

How could she possibly resist?

To be honest, although she seems carefree and calm in the face of anything, Xia Ke'an has suffered no less than anyone else over the years... not only physical pain, but also the mental torment of watching her niece suffer while being powerless to help.

Now she's being told that all of this is just the influence of "Heavenly Principle" in creating a "hero" like Shen He. How could she possibly tolerate that?

She lost everything too! A glamorous and wonderful life, a loving family... what did she end up with?

Xia Ke'an wasn't stupid. She knew that if everything proceeded according to that so-called bullshit deduction, she would probably be kept in the dark for the rest of her life, being led around like an idiot. At best, she would just be a mascot elder offering blessings or help to Shen He? Or perhaps she would be attracted by his "personal charm" and then compete with her niece for his affections?

"I'll kill you! Die!"

After a brief mental blank, all that remained in her heart was anger, which erupted with a power completely out of a patient's rage, and she lunged at He Yuxia.

"calm down."

Xu Shi grabbed her and said, "She's just an insignificant pawn; there's no point in killing her."

"Calm down? What do you expect me to do to calm down?!"

The old woman was so enraged that she wouldn't listen to anything he said, and even swore, "Xu Shi, you fucking let me go, or I'll never forgive you... Waaah..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Shi pulled her into a tight embrace.

"If you don't behave, I'll really spank you."

Despite his words, Xu Shi still let her struggle wildly in his arms, completely unlike his usual playful banter.

"You...you bastard!"

Held in his arms, Xia Ke'an gradually calmed down, "Let me go... Waaah..."

The other person's embrace made her feel safe and secure. After calming down, she snuggled closer to him, but she still couldn't help but cry out loud.

Seeing this, no one else said anything—the truth is that everyone knows that He Yuxia is indeed an insignificant character in the eyes of "Heavenly Justice".

At least she lacked the ability to do all of this, and the fact that no one has rescued her until now further confirms this point.

"But I still want to know, Miss He, what role you are playing."

While coaxing the white-haired loli, Xu Shi asked coldly without looking up, "Besides monitoring Shen He's situation, you should have other responsibilities, right?"

"For example... offering some help when the time is right?"

"You already know, so why are you asking me?"

He Yuxia chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Yes, I am the 'observer' of 'Heavenly Principles.' If the situation deviates significantly from the predictions, I must find a way to bring it back on track."

“If Shen He hadn’t been suffocated by you, I would at most have just been a decorative vase by his side… But unfortunately, he’s been manipulated by you all this time, so I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.”

"Giving him the convenience of entering the city is one of the 'helps' you mentioned. Of course, I actually have follow-up plans."

"for example?"

"There are many examples, but unfortunately he lost too quickly, so it's pointless to say anything now."

Miss He sighed regretfully. There was really nothing more to say about someone who was already dead.

"Moreover, the current situation has long deviated from the predicted path and has become a complete mess."

"Then I'm really honored."

Xu Shi smirked. "Why should it be right for him to win and me to lose? There's no such rule in the world. The winner takes all."

"I'm sorry, I can't answer that question."

He Yuxia paused for a moment, then shook her head.

"Then let's find someone who can answer me."

Xu Shi handed Xia Ke'an to Su Lin, walked up to her, and grabbed her hair. "You yourself said that ten years ago you were only sixteen and couldn't do anything... That proves you weren't some born 'Observer,' right?"

"There must be someone pulling the strings behind the scenes, instructing and manipulating you... Come on, tell me, who is he? And how did you get in touch with him?"

This chapter was rushed out; I'll polish it a bit more later. This marks the beginning of a new phase...

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 193 You can cry in my arms.

What Xu Shi wanted to ask was also what everyone else present wanted to ask.

"Tianli" is an organization, so it's impossible for He Yuxia to be the only one. In fact, her position within it is insignificant, and the fact that she was immediately abandoned when something happened is the best proof of that.

That makes the matter even more terrifying to think about—there are likely many people like her hiding in the City of Night Sin, each with their own role in the organization "Heavenly Principle"... The key is that they also possess the ability to destroy two major conglomerates overnight, no, or even change the dynasty here. How can this not be alarming?

The saying goes, "You can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days." It's still very necessary to do a thorough screening. Even if you can't catch them all, it's good to find some by following the clues. Especially as seen from He Yuxia, "heavenly justice" is not invincible. It's just that the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light, so it's not so easy to defeat them.

just.

Upon hearing Xu Shi's question, He Yuxia simply shook her head with a wry smile, "...I don't know."

"Are you talking back?"

Ye Shanshan, with her fiery temper, rushed over and punched her upon hearing this. "Have you really never seen 'Prism's' methods? Keep being stubborn and I'll send you flying!"

No wonder she couldn't control herself; everyone present was quite agitated—anyone who knew they were being manipulated like pawns would find it difficult to remain absolutely calm.

"Of course I know. Let alone all of you together, I'm afraid I couldn't withstand any of you interrogating me."

He Yuxia took a punch, but she didn't change her story. "But I don't know, and that's that. Even if you beat me to death or turn me into a sex doll, it won't change the fact."

"...Forget it, let's stop. I guess she really doesn't know."

Xu Shi was adept at understanding people's hearts and could sense that she was not putting up a last-ditch resistance, so he spoke up to stop the curly-haired girl.

Upon closer reflection, it becomes clear that these individuals are likely acting independently, unaware of each other's existence, all to prevent a situation like this one, where pulling up one radish brings up the rest of the mud.

but.

"Shouldn't you at least know the person you're supposed to be working with?"

He looked at Miss He meaningfully, "Don't tell me you were born a person of 'natural law'."

"...You're right, I really was born a person of 'natural law'."

He Yuxia's answer surprised everyone: "Or perhaps, I'm not really He Yuxia; I just need to become her to conceal my identity as the 'Observer.'"

“From birth, we live in sealed capsules, being groomed as backup ‘watchdogs.’ When needed, we’ll be dispatched; the blink of an eye, it’s a new world, a new life.”

"The original He Yuxia..."

Xu Shi frowned upon hearing this.