Lin Xiangdong had quietly followed Lin Zongzheng out. Externally, it was claimed he was conducting important research. Even Lin Shen only found out that Lin Xiangdong wasn't at the base after Ye came over and told him.
But Xiangdong's absence for over a month had already raised suspicion from the Qi and Wang Families. Now, Lin Shen showed up wearing a mask, which only deepened their doubt.
Standing behind Lin Shen, Ye's palms were already drenched in cold sweat by this point. This situation was something they had not anticipated at all.
*Faced with such an unexpected turn, Ye was at a loss. Even he had no clue how to respond perfectly in the moment, much less Lin Shen.*
However, if Ye stepped in to help Lin Shen now, it would only make them more suspicious. But if he didn't intervene, Lin Shen might not even be able to pass this test at all.
Just as Ye was struggling to suppress the urge to speak up, Lin Shen had already made his move.
Lin Shen suddenly closed the distance between himself and Wang Tian'er, his face almost pressing against Wang Tian'er's. The abrupt motion startled Wang Tian'er, whose instinctive distrust of Lin Xiangdong caused him to recoil reflexively and draw the handgun from his waist.
Firearms in this era were still extremely powerful weapons. Particularly against humans, the threat of a handgun was not to be underestimated.
After all, humans couldn't maintain their Steel Body state twenty-four hours a day. Moreover, most Mutators weren't 100% coated in their Steel Body form. Some didn't even achieve 50% coverage.
As such, many people carried handguns—not to deal with Base Mutation Creatures, but as protection against their own kind.
During last night's planning session with Ye, Lin Shen had already taken note of Wang Tian'er. His abilities were the same as Lin Xiangdong's—both were Alloy Mutators—but Wang Tian'er particularly loved using guns. It was rumored that many lives had ended at the muzzle of his weapon.
The instant Wang Tian'er drew his gun, Lin Shen's hand lashed out like a viper.
Wang Tian'er didn't even have time to react. Before he could grip the gun firmly, his fingers slackened, and the gun was snatched from his hand.
Lin Shen hadn't expected to actually take the gun so smoothly. After all, Wang Tian'er was an Alloy Mutator. At full power, his speed wasn't far off from a bullet's.
Initially, Lin Shen hadn't planned to fully disarm Wang Tian'er. He merely intended to use the speed granted by his Seven Steps of Conflict technique to deflect Wang Tian'er's hand, then launch into verbal sparring.
However, it turned out that the speed bestowed on him by Seven Steps of Conflict was even faster than he'd anticipated. The unwary Wang Tian'er couldn't react in time, allowing his gun to be taken directly.
A non-Mutated Lin Shen snatching a gun from an Alloy Mutator—it was nothing short of astonishing.
*Ecstatic beyond words, Lin Shen instinctively aimed the gun he had just seized at Wang Tian'er's head.*
Wang Tian'er's expression shifted dramatically. He darted diagonally backward at high speed as his skin rapidly transformed. A mysterious blue substance oozed out, forming an armor-like carapace that covered his body entirely, even enveloping his head and face. His clothes were stretched and torn by the metallic carapace, revealing patches of blue metallic luster underneath.
Qi Shuheng's gaze faltered, tinged with a hint of disappointment. *Someone with such skill and speed, capable of forcing Wang Tian'er into such a sorry state, could not be an ordinary Mutator.* The Lin Family only had so many members of this caliber. It seemed their intelligence was flawed—Lin Xiangdong had not left the base, and the masked person before them was highly likely Lin Xiangdong himself.
Meanwhile, Ye was both stunned and overjoyed. He couldn't fathom how Lin Shen had managed it. *How could someone who hadn't even completed his Base Mutation successfully disarm an Alloy Mutator?* Even if the opponent was caught off guard, it was still an extraordinary feat.
No matter how it happened, this maneuver should sow enough doubt in them to ease their suspicions. *For today, Lin Shen would likely make it through unscathed.*
Seeing Wang Tian'er's reaction, Lin Shen burst into a deliberately ostentatious laugh. Casually tossing the gun back to Wang Tian'er, he sneered, "Old Wang, weren't you dying to see the face beneath this mask? But when I lean in, you freak out like that. For someone your age to still fumble with a gun, how the hell have you survived this long?"
Seething with both anger and embarrassment, Wang Tian'er was about to retort when Ye interjected, "The recruitment ceremony's already overdue. Let's not waste time and delay the important matters. Besides, with so many people here, do we want outsiders laughing at our three families? Miss Bai rarely graces us with her presence. It wouldn't do to spoil Miss Bai's mood, now would it?"
Ye's comment served two purposes: first, to calm the humiliated Wang Tian'er and prevent him from escalating the situation, and second, to highlight Bai Shenfei's status. Now, no one should harbor further suspicions.
"Hmph, we'll settle this score another day. Business comes first. I'll let it slide for now," Wang Tian'er snorted coldly, turning to exit the stage. He needed to change his clothes—he couldn't possibly preside over the recruitment ceremony in this state.
Lin Shen ignored Wang Tian'er entirely. Instead, he shifted his focus to a woman and thought silently, *That woman really is Bai Shenfei. But why does she carry a Fire Seed belonging to Super-Base Evolution? Could a human even possess a Super-Base Fire Seed?*
Lin Shen couldn't puzzle it out. *Fire Seeds were incomparably enigmatic entities.* He had assumed that Seven Steps of Conflict merely granted him bullet-speed movement within its range. But now, it seemed there was more to it.
Through this encounter, Lin Shen gleaned a deeper understanding—perhaps the ability's true essence wasn't just speed. As long as an opponent was armed with a gun and within seven steps, no matter how fast they were, Lin Shen's reaction would always outpace theirs. *An incredible power, but one bound by significant limitations.*
"Just a misunderstanding—let's all take our seats," Qi Shuheng said as he gestured gallantly for Bai Shenfei to sit beside him.
Lin Shen remembered how Lin Xiangdong had mentioned that Bai Shenfei was one of his enthusiastic admirers. Lin Xiangdong had mentored her extensively, and their close bond could be described as both mentor and friend. Naturally, Lin Shen couldn't let her sit by Qi Shuheng.
"What does my Fourth Brother usually call her again? Oh, right." Lin Shen, thoughtfully recalling, beckoned to Bai Shenfei with a wave and said, "Little Feifei, come sit by your senior brother."
Previously, Bai Shenfei hadn't seemed the least offended by the way Lin Shen addressed her. This reinforced Lin Shen's confidence in Lin Xiangdong's previous claims.
To maintain her trust, Lin Shen needed to adapt to Lin Xiangdong's mannerisms when interacting with Bai Shenfei. Any misstep could raise suspicion; after all, Lin Shen had no way of knowing whether she had visited the Lin Family directly in the past or what her relationship with the Qi and Wang Families might be. Why had she approached them for help?
Hearing Lin Shen's words, Bai Shenfei didn't hesitate. She calmly walked over and took the seat beside him.
Qi Shuheng could only take his seat without complaint. Before long, a freshly changed Wang Tian'er returned and sat beside Qi Shuheng.
The recruitment ceremony officially began. Under the host's direction, numerous Mutators hoping to join the Dark Bird Base's three major families queued up to demonstrate their abilities, vying for the representatives' favor.
Lin Shen showed little interest in the proceedings. Turning to Bai Shenfei, he asked, "Little Feifei, what brought you to the Dark Bird Base?"
Bai Shenfei leaned in close to Lin Shen, her lips nearly brushing against his earlobe.
*Lin Shen couldn't help but marvel at his Fourth Brother's prowess. Their close relationship clearly wasn't an embellishment—it seemed he might have underestimated him in the past.*
"I don't care who you are. If you dare call me 'Little Feifei' one more time, I won't need the Qi or Wang Families to expose your identity—I'll cut your head off myself." Bai Shenfei's voice was soft but brimming with hostility.
*"I've been found out!"* Lin Shen's body stiffened, and his heart sank. *"Fourth Brother, damn you! Why did you have to exaggerate so much? You've really put me in a bind this time!"*