Harrison asked, "Mr. Qin, are you really not planning to support our lab's research?"
"I'll make a decision after discussing it with Li Tianming."
Harrison sighed, "If that's the case, then Mr. Qin, you might be in some trouble."
"What do you mean?"
"Since you cannot provide support for our lab's research, we have no position to help you regarding the matter of 'finding' the Vine Core."
"The United Government prohibits stealing the Vine Core because it causes great harm to many Sequence Ability Users. Anyone who violates the regulations will be severely punished."
"Before you woke up, investigators from the Sequence Ability User Management Bureau had already been waiting outside for a long time. I was the one who held them off. If Mr. Qin cannot cooperate with us, then we might not have any reason to continue blocking them."
"Mr. Qin, don't worry, I'm not threatening you. As long as you're willing to work with us, I promise to provide you with generous compensation."
Florence looked at Harrison, hesitating to speak.
He seemed unwilling to see his mentor using this matter to threaten Qin Siyang.
After dealing with Qin Siyang, he knew that Qin Siyang couldn't be simply defined as a "high school student." He should be described as a "scheming strategist with seasoned methods."
He had even told Harrison about this before, but Harrison clearly hadn't taken it seriously.
How cunning could a seventeen-year-old be?
But in front of Harrison, Florence was just a fledgling and had no way to make decisions for him.
Sure enough, Harrison's words did not intimidate Qin Siyang.
Qin Siyang smiled faintly, and Florence immediately felt that something was wrong.
"Then, Professor Harrison, please invite the Bureau's personnel inside."
"What?"
Harrison stared at Qin Siyang in shock.
He had thought this statement would absolutely put Qin Siyang in check, but he didn't expect him to be completely unfazed.
"Mr. Qin, have you thought this through? Once they come in, there will be no turning back. Should we discuss this again?"
"No need. Let them in."
Harrison immediately realized that Qin Siyang might not be the one who stole the Vine Core. He might have taken it from someone else partway.
If he wasn't the thief, then he truly had nothing to fear.
Trying to salvage the situation, Harrison quickly added, "Mr. Qin, I think I can still help you…"
"No need, Professor Harrison. Thank you. Let them in."
Qin Siyang was not someone who caved under threats.
His friendships were built through threats and counter-threats.
He had once threatened Qian Wenzhao and Li Tianming and had, in turn, been threatened by them as well.
Through this back-and-forth struggle, their relationships had developed into what they were today.
The reason he refused Harrison was that he didn't want to be too entangled with him in the first place.
When he obtained the Vine Core, he had already decided to let Li Tianming handle the research-related matters.
Li Tianming was someone he could trust, and his status was high enough—he alone was sufficient.
As for Harrison and Florence's affairs, he would let Li Tianming deal with them.
Since Harrison had just threatened him, he might as well use the opportunity to cut off any further ideas Harrison had.
Harrison sighed helplessly and gestured for the Bureau personnel to come in.
The investigators had been waiting outside for a long time and were already on edge.
However, due to Harrison's wide-ranging connections, they had been forced to remain patient.
Once they entered the room and saw Qin Siyang lying on the hospital bed, they wasted no time on pleasantries and directly stated their purpose.
"Qin Siyang, we received information that you stole the Vine Core from the Sacrificial Giant Vine. We are here to investigate and hope for your cooperation."
"You may proceed with your investigation."
"Good."
Two Bureau personnel each took out a polygraph device and pointed it at Qin Siyang while another began questioning him.
"Qin Siyang, did you steal the Vine Core from the Sacrificial Giant Vine?"
"No."
The Bureau personnel frowned and continued asking, "Then, did you have someone else steal the Vine Core and give it to you?"
"No."
"Do you know the person who stole the Vine Core?"
"No."
The polygraph showed no reaction.
Qin Siyang indeed had nothing to do with stealing the Vine Core.
"If you didn't steal the Vine Core, then how did you obtain it?"
Qin Siyang smiled, "I just checked the laws. It seems that only those who plan to steal the Vine Core are subject to punishment, correct?"
"Yes."
"Since I have already proven that I had no involvement in stealing the Vine Core, does it really matter how I obtained it?"
"We hope you can cooperate."
"Haven't I been cooperating the whole time? I have answered all your questions regarding the theft of the Vine Core. The question you just asked is unrelated to the theft, so I have the right not to answer, correct?"
The Bureau personnel narrowed their eyes.
Their superiors had sent them not only to confirm whether Qin Siyang had stolen the Vine Core but also to find out how he had obtained it.
Unexpectedly, Qin Siyang used the law to shield himself and refused to answer this question.
If he didn't answer, they wouldn't be able to report back properly.
"Qin Siyang, some questions may not concern you directly, but they help us identify the real thief. We heard that at the exit of the Safe Zone, another young man exposed that you had the Vine Core. However, when we followed up with eyewitness descriptions, we couldn't locate this young man. We suspect he may be connected to the theft of the Vine Core. We hope you can provide more help."
Qin Siyang shrugged, "What does that have to do with me?"
He knew that crazed young man must have been involved in the theft of the Vine Core.
But he didn't want to talk.
Because answering one question would lead to even more questions.
How had the crazed young man been so fast?
Could the [Phantom Assassin] ability achieve that speed?
If not, then what Sequence did he belong to?
With just the [Phantom Assassin] Sequence, how had he managed to hunt so many gods and accumulate thousands of points?
So—
Keeping his mouth shut was the safest option.
He believed that crazed young man wouldn't be foolish enough to turn himself in to the Bureau and spill everything.
"Qin Siyang, resisting cooperation with the Bureau won't do you any good. I'll give you one more chance—think carefully."
Qin Siyang chuckled, "The last person who threatened me like this was named Crawford."
Hearing Crawford's name, the Bureau personnel clearly hesitated.
Qin Siyang calmly met the investigator's gaze, "I hope that if you continue questioning, you will only ask about matters directly related to the theft of the Vine Core."
"Don't waste my time."
Perhaps Crawford's name had intimidated them—after running a brief continuity-of-memory test on Qin Siyang, the Bureau personnel quickly left.
Harrison and the others also departed in disappointment.
Meanwhile, near Nanrong University, dozens of eyes were watching the guesthouse where Qin Siyang was staying.
When they saw the Bureau personnel leaving empty-handed and Harrison's group also exiting, they immediately started making phone calls: "Professor, Qin Siyang's Vine Core is not illegal. Yes, confirmed. The Bureau has left without taking anything."
"I saw them leave with my own eyes. That's right! Hurry up and prepare to negotiate terms with Qin Siyang. Harrison looked utterly defeated—he must have failed!"
"Old Yang, we must win over Qin Siyang! Our future depends on that Vine Core!!"
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