On the Ark.

The researcher understood something: "You mean..."

“He’s definitely the strongest, so strong that he doesn’t even need to wear armor,” Kado said. “Make a note of him and tell those lunatics that this guy is the most dangerous among them. If they want Ifrit, they have to deal with him first.”

The researcher nodded solemnly.

……

"Ah!"

Lin Ye rubbed his nose.

I don't know why, but I always feel like someone is cursing him behind his back.

Chapter 160 Kado's Judgment

"You have a cold?" ACE, who was standing next to Lin Ye, turned to look at him.

"No, I don't think so." Lin Ye rubbed his nose. "It was just a sneeze."

“Maybe someone is missing you,” ACE said with a smile. “After all, you have a lot of friends.”

Lin Ye rolled his eyes at ACE, then looked at the factory in front of him and muttered, "I always feel like we're not doing legitimate business."

"Hmm?" ACE asked, "Why do you say that? What else could it be but a legitimate business?"

Lin Ye thought for a moment and said, "It feels like a gang meeting. They've even prepared weapons. I'm afraid they'll start fighting at the drop of a hat."

"Your imagination is truly remarkable."

Lin Ye shrugged and remained silent. At that moment, several people emerged from the factory, unarmed, and smiled upon seeing Hemer.

"It's been a long time, Hemer," the woman in the lead said with a smile. "About two years, hasn't it?"

"Yes," Hamer nodded slightly. "It's been two years. It's been a long time. Hannah, how have you been lately?"

“If I’m telling the truth, I’m definitely lying to you,” Hannah said. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been willing to sell those instruments and equipment… But it doesn’t matter what we say now, Rhine Life is gone.”

A hint of melancholy flashed in Himer's eyes: "Yes, Rhine Life is gone, but we need to look forward."

……

Lin Ye listened carefully to Himer and Hannah's conversation, because Saria had reminded him to be careful of Rhine Life the night before. However, he couldn't glean anything from Himer and Hannah's conversation alone; it seemed to be just ordinary old friends catching up. The people who came out to greet them all appeared to be Himer's former colleagues, and after catching up, they led Himer to his side.

At this moment, Lin Ye asked Ifrit, who was walking beside him, "Do you know those people?"

Ifrit seemed a little annoyed: "How could I possibly know him?"

“Those are all your mother’s colleagues,” Lin Ye said. “You don’t even recognize your mother’s colleagues?”

"Hemer has so many colleagues, why should I know them all? I only know Saria. Also, were you just insulting me? I felt like you were."

“How could that be?” Lin Ye said. “How could I dare to scold you in front of your mother?”

Ifrit thought about it and felt that Lin Ye's words seemed to make sense, but also seemed not to. This made her even more agitated. She didn't know why, but when she saw those people, it felt like something was blocking her heart, making her feel suffocated and uncomfortable, as if she couldn't breathe. However, she was very sure that her breathing was not obstructed, which puzzled her.

However, she found that the symptoms were relieved a lot when she stood next to Lin Ye. Although she couldn't find the reason, she still stood closer to Lin Ye.

Lin Ye did not notice the changes in the little fire dragon; his attention remained focused on the former Rhine Life employees.

“You don’t seem to like this place very much,” ACE’s voice sounded beside him.

"No, I think it's fine." Lin Ye began to observe the factory. "I originally thought it was an abandoned factory, but it turns out it isn't."

“Of course not. In a place like Lungmen where land is so valuable, how could there be an abandoned factory?” ACE said with a smile. “But this factory is indeed not very eye-catching.”

“We’re here to purchase equipment, so why are we trying to hide our identities?” Lin Ye said. “We’re not trafficking drugs.”

“Don’t underestimate those instruments,” ACE explained. “Those instruments are far more valuable than ordinary contraband. They basically represent the highest technology of Rhine Lab, things that money can’t buy. Not only Rhodes Island wants them, but Lungmen would definitely not let them go if they found out. If Lungmen were to bid against us, we would really have a hard time winning, after all, Rhodes Island’s financial resources are nothing compared to Lungmen’s.”

Lin Ye asked in confusion, "If that's the case, why don't they sell these instruments directly to Longmen, instead of reselling them to us?"

“There are many reasons,” ACE said. “First, these former Rhine Lab employees are quite sentimental and unwilling to hand over these valuable instruments to others, so Himer gives us an advantage. Also, Rhodes Island can offer more than just money; we have the urgently needed special drugs. And most importantly…”

"What is it?"

“Some parts of large instruments are indeed contraband in Lungmen,” ACE shrugged.

Well, after all that talk, we still can't get around contraband. No wonder they're all hiding in this place to make deals. It looks more and more like a gangster movie.

……

“We can’t bring those large instruments on the list into Lungmen City,” Hannah said to Hammer. “So today we’ve only brought some small parts. As for the large instruments, we’ll have to wait until you come out of Lungmen with us in a couple of days to deliver them to you. Please understand.”

Himer nodded: "I understand, so it's placed in the outskirts of Lungmen?"

Hannah shook her head: "No, it needs to be further away. The outskirts of Lungmen are still easy for the Guard Bureau to find. But the location we've chosen is right on your way back to Rhodes Island, so once the transaction is complete, you can take the people and equipment back to Rhodes Island together."

Hammer smiled and said, "Thank you, Hannah. Speaking of which, you could join us too."

Rhodes Island?

"Yes, coming to Rhodes Island will give me some help."

Hannah smiled and shook her head: "No, Himer."

"why?"

"We already have our own plans."

Hannah spoke softly, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Ifrit, who was standing on the far side.

Hammer didn't notice Hannah's change and simply said, "That's a pity, but I wish you all the best."

“We’ll be fine.” Hannah smiled again. “We definitely will. Okay, come with me to check the equipment.”

……

While Himer went with Hannah to test the equipment, Lin Ye and Ifrit did not follow. Lin Ye noticed that Ifrit looked unwell, so he took Ifrit outside the factory to get some fresh air.

This scene was witnessed by Kado, who was observing from the second floor.

“See that?” Kado said to the researcher beside him.

“I see, that’s Ifrit.”

“I’m referring to the young man standing next to Ifrit,” Kado said softly. “He’s certainly not simple.”

The researcher asked, somewhat puzzled, "Director, why do you say that?"

“Think about it. Rhodes Island sent a total of nine armed personnel to protect Himer and Ifrit. Eight of them were with Himer, and only this young man was with Ifrit. In Himer's eyes, Ifrit should be more important than herself.”

"Director, you mean..."

"Write it down," Kado said emphatically. "That man is definitely stronger than the other eight combined!"

Chapter 161 Hey, you bastard (3K5)

"Ah! Ahh!"

Lin Ye sneezed three or four times in a row.

Ifrit glanced at him sideways: "What are you doing?"

"What do you think I'm doing?" Lin Ye rubbed his nose, somewhat annoyed, and said with some puzzlement, "That's strange, could it really be a cold? I feel weirdly cold."

"Cold?" Ifrit raised an eyebrow slightly, then reached out her hand to Lin Ye, and a tiny flame shot out from her palm. "Let me warm you up. I promise you'll never feel cold again."

"...Can you get lost?"

Ifrit's eyes widened, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "I was trying to help you, and you're telling me to get lost? Do you want me to burn you alive?!"

The flames grew larger as Ifrit's emotions changed.

However, Lin Ye remained unmoved by Ifrit's threats, as he was already used to it. Ifrit threatened him about three or four times a day, always all talk and no action (and thankfully, always all talk and no action). At first, he tried to use Himeru's power to counter Ifrit's threats, but now he was too lazy to even speak. In any case, Ifrit would eventually put away the flames, either walking away angrily or coming closer. This time, she just came closer.

"Hey, Lin Ye."

"Don't be so disrespectful, just call me Doctor Lin."

"Why should I? I won't call."

"Then I'll tell your mom." Lin Ye used his sure-fire trump card on Ifrit again.

“…Dr. Lin.” Ifrit could only give in again, but she felt somewhat unwilling, so she asked, “I don’t think this is fair.”

"How is it unfair?"

“That’s not fair. How about this, from now on I’ll call you Dr. Lin, and you can call me Lady Ifrit?” Ifrit raised her eyebrows, seemingly having found the best solution, and was somewhat pleased. “That’s much better.”

"I don't think so."

"Why?!"

Lin Ye glanced at Ifrit and said, "Try talking to your mother and say, 'Mom, I've called you Mom for so many years, and I feel it's not fair. How about you call me Mom too?' If your mother agrees, then I'll agree too."

Ifrit was stunned by Lin Ye's words, and it took her a few seconds to react. She became even angrier: "Damn it, Lin Ye! If I don't burn you today, I'm not Lady Ifrit..."

Before the chuunibyou demon could finish speaking, a deep male voice rang out beside them: "Ifrit."

Ifrit paused, then instinctively turned her head and saw a middle-aged man wearing glasses standing beside them, smiling at them.

"Long time no see," the middle-aged man said. "Do you remember me?"

The moment Ifrit saw the middle-aged man, her expression changed immediately. She subconsciously took two steps back and stood behind Lin Ye.

Lin Ye frowned, looked at the middle-aged man, and asked, "Who are you?"

"Don't be nervous, young man." The middle-aged man raised his hand. "I mean no harm. I just came over to say hello to Ifrit. I want to see if Ifrit remembers me. After all, I've watched her grow up."

"Are you from Rhine Life?"

“The former head of Rhine Lab’s office, Kado,” Kado said with a smile. “Hemer knows me, and I think Ifrit should know me too.”

Lin Ye turned to look at Ifrit. Ifrit's expression had softened considerably and wasn't as exaggerated as before, but she still had a stern face and looked very unhappy: "I don't know you."

“Yes, I understand.” Kado nodded. “I heard that your memory has been slightly damaged.”

“I’m not that unlucky demon,” Ifrit retorted without hesitation. “I’m not crazy.”

"That unlucky demon?" Kado asked, somewhat puzzled.

Lin Ye quickly coughed twice to change the subject, then asked Kado again, "Why don't you go find Himer? Himer and the others are inside, aren't they?"

“It’s just testing a few small instruments, we don’t need that many people. Of course, I’ll definitely go and say hello to Himer; she was one of my most capable subordinates back then,” Kado said with a smile. “But compared to Himer, I’d rather see Ifrit. We all have a deep affection for Ifrit. When Rhine Lab disbanded, we were always worried about whether Ifrit’s condition could be effectively controlled. Now it seems that Himer has done a good job, which makes me very gratified.”