IRCDM Chapter 89

Chapter 89 Theme: You’re Playing My Wife?

Chapter 89 Theme: You’re Playing My Wife?

Eastern Third District Administrative Court Reception Room.

Jiang Mufeng was dressed in a black suit. He already had a cold and taciturn demeanor, making his presence feel more like attending a funeral than a meeting.

He pushed a paper document in front of Liang Huan and Li Yao: “I used You Zhao Chen’s shared account access to search through all account transactions from the past decade. Based on the source of funds for that bottle of water, I found a highly suspicious transaction account.”

Li Yao picked up the document and read the account name: “Lionheart Defense Company?”

The name sounded somewhat familiar. He turned to look at Liang Huan, who said, “The company that contracted for the Mercenary Base’s shield maintenance five years ago. It’s one of the Dawn Group’s subsidiaries.”

Previously, Liao Yuan had switched to an outsourced company for shield maintenance to save money, resulting in excessively high radiation levels in the training grounds and a significant increase in mercenary casualties. That’s how they followed the trail to the underground laboratory and the body trade, seizing the opportunity to control Liao Yuan.

Jiang Mufeng said, “The imposter Heteromorph pretending to be You Zhao Chen transferred those 50 billion, through Liao Yuan’s account, to the accounts of over a dozen mercenaries. A portion of this money flowed to the Ka’angsa Clubhouse through transactions, and another portion was transferred to various institutions such as Lionheart Defense Company, Dawn OEM Factory, and the Mecha Competition Base through corporate accounts. If investigated thoroughly, these would all be considered legal and compliant transactions, making recovery through legal means unlikely.”

Li Yao flicked the document: “Then how is this Lionheart Defense Company different from the clubhouse and factory you mentioned?”

“That’s the purpose of my visit.” Jiang Mufeng adjusted his glasses and looked at Liang Huan. “Mr. Liang, I found that one of Lionheart Defense Company’s major shareholders is named Liang Huan. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. To ensure the smooth progress of this case, please truthfully inform me of your relationship with Lionheart Defense Company.”

Li Yao quickly flipped through the document, noticing Liang Huan’s shareholding and raising an eyebrow in surprise.

Liang Huan smiled, “When I first arrived a few years ago, I had some extra funds and invested in a few companies. The specific operations of the company are handled by the Dawn Group. I don’t personally participate; I just occasionally receive some dividends. I was unaware of this matter.”

Jiang Mufeng nodded, “This Heteromorph imposter is very cautious, but he carelessly transferred 3.5 Condensed Coins from Lionheart Defense Company. May I ask, is Lionheart Defense Company connected to the Eastern Third District Administrative Court’s employee accounts?”

Liang Huan’s expression didn’t change as he said, “The Administrative Court’s financial situation wasn’t good before, so I temporarily used my personal dividends to pay employee salaries.”

‘You Zhao Chen’s’ salary as a mercenary was paid through the Administrative Court, and he used Liao Yuan’s account to transfer money to Lionheart Defense Company. He probably confused the order of the two in his haste, leading to this low-level oversight.

Li Yao crossed his legs, flipping through the information. “Ka’angsa Clubhouse, Lionheart Defense Company, Dawn OEM Factory, and the Mecha Competition hosting base are all subsidiaries of the Dawn Group… I heard the investigation team for the Chimera laboratory bar explosion is also from the Dawn Group. This damn group is practically pointing at our noses and saying we stole those 50 billion.”

“The only legal breakthrough is if the Heteromorph imposter of You Zhao Chen can identify his mastermind,” Jiang Mufeng said. “Or, if you simply want to recover the money, there’s hope if he reveals the transfer key.”

“That probably won’t work.” Li Yao put the document back on the table. “That Heteromorph escaped.”

Jiang Mufeng was stunned. “Escaped?”

“The Special Heteromorph Operations Unit was even mobilized, although the military’s goal wasn’t just this Heteromorph imposter,” Li Yao said, spreading his hands.

Liang Huan said, “It’s still impossible to determine whether the mastermind behind ‘You Zhao Chen’ is the Dawn Group or the military. The web of interests between the two is too tightly interwoven.”

However, the other party’s reaction was faster than Liang Huan had anticipated. As soon as You Zhao Chen was exposed, the Chimera laboratory on the top floor of the bar was blown up, leaving no trace.

Having received his answer, Jiang Mufeng quickly left with the information.

“The transfer key can be traced back through technical means. This is compliant in certain types of economic cases,” Li Yao said after seeing him off, returning to Liang Huan’s office. “Jiang Mufeng hinted at it before he left.”

Liang Huan said, “We can try.”

“More than that, I’m curious why you invested in Lionheart Defense Company five years ago.” Li Yao walked over and knocked on his desk. “Honestly, how long have you been eyeing the mine behind the shield?”

Before the words finished, the blackout film on the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him slowly dissipated, revealing the distant light-blue shield and the mountains even further away.

“The Eastern Third District has always been in a good location, just a bit chaotic.” Liang Huan got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows. “If we take the mines in the Western Heteromorph Jungle, we’ll have plenty of core materials for Rhine mecha chassis. The Heteromorphs we raise can provide a constant supply of fuel. Then the Eastern Third District will have more than just these dozen mecha available.”

He vaguely drew a line on the window: “The shield crosses the long river over there, enclosing the mine, and it becomes the Eastern Third District’s back mountain and military base. The training ground is the entire Western Heteromorph Jungle. What do you think?”

The setting sun cast a blood-red reflection on the large panes of glass behind him, his eyes reflecting undisguised ambition: “The Eastern First and Second Districts are in average locations. The Eastern Fifth District has abundant technological resources and can be our next target.”

Li Yao frowned: “The military is already planning to deal with you.”

Liang Huan smiled, grabbing his hand and placing it on his chest: “The core signal receiver is here with me. If they kill me, humanity’s last hope of leaving this planet will be gone.”

Despite already knowing Liang Huan’s meticulousness, Li Yao still couldn’t help but feel a chill down his spine: “You wouldn’t have been planning a rebellion as soon as you left the underground laboratory, would you?”

Liang Huan held his hand, preventing him from pulling it away, and rubbed his cheek against his nose: “I’ve always been law-abiding; how could I rebel?”

Li Yao said with ill intent, “Do your subordinates know their boss is usually this clingy?”

Liang Huan hugged him and laughed: “You can run if you’re scared.”

“And then be caught and tortured, tormented to the point of wishing I were dead.” Li Yao thought about it, feeling it was something Liang Huan could do. “And then you’d kiss me to death and ask me if I ever loved you? Tsk tsk.”

Liang Huan: “…If you like, I can try.”

Li Yao immediately sounded the alarm, unleashing his D-grade physical strength. Before Liang Huan could forcibly establish a Mental Power Link with him, he successfully ran out of the office, leaving a trail of black footprints on the freshly mopped corridor thanks to Jinbao.

Liang Huan picked up Jinbao, who was hanging on the doorknob: “Running so fast, it seems your body has recovered well.”

Jinbao tilted his head: “?”

—

Military Sanatorium.

A chip machine was running on the table, projecting a blank document onto the screen. Xun Zan, wearing a coat, leaned against the head of the bed, his eyes sunken, cheeks gaunt, and lips with a grayish-white tinge of death. The black spots on the back of his hand extended to his wrist. He raised his hand and turned the chip machine to face the opposite side.

Sitting opposite him, Wei Luotong and Qi Mingjing’s expressions changed simultaneously. Wei Luotong immediately stood up: “This, Marshal, why is the list blank?”

Xun Zan said in a hoarse voice, “The Heteromorph list that Li Yao sent back.”

“Then the list you gave me before–” Qi Mingjing belatedly understood.

“It was just to warn those Heteromorph sleeper agents.” Xun Zan closed his eyes. “This list has never had any names on it from the beginning.”

Qi Mingjing pondered for a moment: “Could it be… that Lin Chen switched it?”

Xun Zan turned his head and coughed twice. The people in the ward didn’t dare to breathe loudly. After he regained his breath, he spoke again: “Regardless of whether Lin Chen switched this list of Heteromorph sleeper agents or not, it cannot erase his contribution to activating the New Earth Coordinate this time. If it weren’t for him, Li Yao wouldn’t have survived this time, and we would have lost a hero.”

He scanned the people in the room, his gaze landing on Qi Mingjing: “But some people have taken action against Lin Chen without authorization. I’m not senile yet, so why are you getting impatient now?”

Being stared at by him, Qi Mingjing’s expression was calm: “We have already found out that Lin Chen is not human. He privately altered his information at the Chuanwu Laboratory, Marshal, he is very likely a Heteromorph imposter.”

“Lin Chen was personally recommended by me to join the military. No one knows better than I do whether he is a Heteromorph,” Xun Zan said. “Don’t mention this matter again in the future.”

Qi Mingjing frowned. Yi Yuan, sitting next to Xun Zan, opened his mouth with a smile: “Marshal Xun, whether Lin Chen is a Heteromorph or not is not important. What’s important is that the core signal receiver is on Li Yao’s body, and Lin Chen brought Li Yao back to the Eastern Third District so openly – of course, we all know now that Liang Huan is a fake identity fabricated by Lin Chen to get close to Li Yao, but if we continue to let him develop in the Eastern Third District, it’s probably not going to look good in the future.”

As Lin Chen’s direct superior, Wei Luotong said upon hearing this, “Vice Marshal Yi, Lin Chen went to the Eastern Third District at the time to complete the mission of copying the Black Box. Bringing Li Yao back to the Eastern Third District was also for safety. Moreover, the main orbital link relies on the military’s mecha now. Li Yao has already given us the location of the seven signal stabilizers in the Eastern District base. If you want to replace them with your own people to take over the Eastern Third District, you have to do it with a little more grace.”

Yi Yuan sneered, “Are you going to react after he takes all of Mecha Unit I away?”

“You–” Wei Luotong stood up in anger.

“Alright.” Xun Zan raised his hand to signal them to be quiet. “Now that Lin Chen’s mission has been completed, I have no objection whether he wants to stay in the Eastern Third District or return to the military, but Li Yao’s been wrongly accused for so long, it’s time for him to come back.”

As soon as he said this, everyone understood what the old Marshal meant – the matter of the Heteromorph sleeper agents can be put aside, but the core signal receiver must return to the military’s hands, and since the receiver is on Li Yao, Li Yao must return.

Qi Mingjing felt a sense of relief in his heart. Xun Zan should have dealt with him lightly for letting Lu Lian take action against Lin Chen without authorization this time.

“Go, Li Yao likes excitement. When he comes back, hold a celebration party for him.” Xun Zan waved his hand.

Several people left the ward in order.

After the ward door closed, someone walked out from inside and helped Xun Zan lie down. The black military gloves were still stained with a bit of blood.

“Marshal Xun, rest.”

Xun Zan shook his head: “Wei Luotong lacks assertiveness and can’t control Mecha Unit I at all. Qi Mingjing has too many ulterior motives and may not be on the same page with us. And Yi Yuan… he’s still obsessed with the truth about the failed Dawn Project. I shouldn’t have let Chen An go back then. If she were still here, the military wouldn’t be like this now.”

“Teacher’s ambitions are not in the military,” the person said.

Xun Zan raised his eyes to look at him: “Xu Hong of Mecha Unit II is an old subordinate of Chen An. Now Yan Wei has entered Mecha Unit III. Lin Chen is too ambitious. Mecha Unit I must not be given to him. If necessary–”

“I understand,” the other person said.

Xun Zan closed his eyes: “Everyone has their own agenda. It’s impossible to expect them to bring Li Yao back. You go and bring him back.”

“Okay,” the person covered him with the quilt. “He will definitely come back.”

—

Eastern Third District Administrative Court.

Deng Meng hung the custom-made black suit in Li Yao’s room, instructing him: “Brother Li, this is the formal wear for the banquet, I’ll put it here for you.”

Li Yao was sitting on the carpet by the bed, repairing a mecha chassis, without even raising his head: “Okay.”

Deng Meng was a little worried: “Is it dangerous for only you and Brother Liang to go in?”

“No, what danger can I be in?” Li Yao finally deigned to look up, looking at the hesitant Deng Meng. “Mengmeng, is there something wrong?”

Deng Meng quickly squatted in front of him, handing him a screwdriver he needed: “Brother Li, when are you and Brother Liang planning to remarry?”

Li Yao took the tool and glanced at him, teasingly: “Did Liang Huan tell you to ask?”

“No, no, definitely not.” Deng Meng quickly cleared his boss of suspicion. “Actually, it’s Teacher Mu Bo, sending me messages every day asking about you two, so I’m asking on his behalf.”

“Oh.” Li Yao continued repairing the mecha chassis. “There’s no rush, we’re blacklisted by the Matching Center and can’t get a marriage certificate for three years.”

“Getting a certificate isn’t urgent. I heard mecha weddings are very popular in the Eastern Third District now, they’re so cool.” Deng Meng said with a grin.

“Mecha wedding?” Li Yao raised his eyebrows, finally willing to put down the mecha chassis. “Come on, tell me about it in detail.”

Deng Meng immediately began to describe it fluently.

…

Liang Huan was driving the hovercar, waiting for the traffic light at the intersection, without changing his expression: “Why are you looking at me?”

“Tsk, this white suit of yours, and this gold thread, tsk.” Li Yao pinched Liang Huan’s firm forearm under his suit. “There are so many random people at the reception, be careful not to be noticed by others.”

Liang Huan smiled: “This time, the Dawn Group’s celebration is to celebrate the successful conclusion of the Mecha Competition. I heard there will also be a mecha-themed dance in the middle, so you have to dress more formally.”

Li Yao touched his waist through his shirt: “It’s enough for you to wear it for me.”

“I’m not that feudal.” Liang Huan glanced at the suit he was wearing. “You must look very handsome in military uniform.”

“That’s called cool.” Li Yao immodestly touched his thigh. “I heard people from the military and the Administrative Court will be attending the celebration. Will we be recognized?”

Liang Huan handed him a realistic bionic skin mask: “It doesn’t matter if we’re recognized, as long as we can get back those 50 billion.”

As soon as he mentioned 50 billion, Li Yao was immediately motivated. He put the mask on his face, looking forward to it: “Are you going to play my wife later?”

Liang Huan stepped on the accelerator, his voice laced with teasing: “No, I am now the vicious illegitimate younger brother coveting your family’s wealth.”

Li Yao: “???”