Chapter 185: Dark Boundless Realm 40
Kui Xin had always been a doer. After reading Dmitri’s memories, she quickly organized an email, encrypting it and sending it to the public mailboxes of several media outlets, as well as the inboxes of companies affiliated with the Popov Clan’s adversaries. Even Augus had managed to obtain a few private contacts of influential tycoons to give to Kui Xin.
The email contained not only the dirty secrets of the Popov Clan but also a response letter signed by “Black Snake.”
In this age of advanced technology and high office efficiency, Kui Xin’s encrypted email was immediately scanned upon reaching the media inbox.
Typically, the work-assistant AIs of media companies scan and analyze incoming letters. Nowadays, news media operate like paparazzi, constantly on the lookout for sensational headlines to boost performance, hence they accept private submissions.
The email Kui Xin had sent included key buzzwords such as Popov, Dmitri, Shadowless, and Black Snake. As soon as the assistant AI scanned the letter, it marked it for urgent processing with a red label, forwarding it for manual review.
When the media staff opened the email, they were instantly captivated by its explosive content. After all, it concerned the Popov Clan, and whether or not the news would be published was not solely up to one person, so the email was passed up the chain of command, escalating through various layers…
An hour after the media company received the encrypted email, a decision was finally reached by the higher-ups.
At three o’clock that afternoon, all citizens subscribed to the media company’s electronic newsletter heard a “ding” as their communicators automatically delivered the news to their devices.
Upon opening the communicator, a projected screen appeared, presenting striking headlines that dominated the front page of the electronic newsletter.
“‘Shadowless’ organization spokesperson suddenly appears? Who is the leader behind the organization?!”
“Provocation from a mysterious underground organization! ‘Shadowless’ organization publicly responds to the Popov Clan!”
“Dmitri Popov has been killed? No! He has been treated this way by a mysterious organization!”
Kui Xin also received the electronic newsletter. She pondered and remarked, “The media style of any world is so exaggerated…”
“When people continuously live in an environment filled with stimulating factors, they become desensitized to further stimuli as their threshold increases. Therefore, news headlines intentionally add sensational elements, and other media outlets imitate those trends, leading to increasingly absurd headlines over time, fearing their titles can’t capture attention,” Augus stated. “What are the news headlines like in your world?”
“Probably… shocking! A village water buffalo suddenly learns to climb trees!” Kui Xin coughed lightly, “Something like that… the more it defies logic, the more it attracts readers.”
Augus replied, “Sorry? I can’t quite grasp what you mean…”
“Then don’t try to understand. I can’t comprehend why they craft their headlines like that,” Kui Xin stated.
She casually glanced at the electronic newsletter before closing it and began searching online for another media outlet’s publication.
This media’s news headlines were even more eye-catching.
“Brutal power struggle within the Popov Clan; was the grandson’s death more than it seems?”
“Eye-catching shocker: Polina Popov resorts to such actions against her siblings in her bid for power!”
“Imprisonment! Poisoning! Blood relatives turning against each other! Exposing the dark rot beneath the glamorous façade of an ancient family…”
Kui Xin’s eye twitched: “Damn, I only sent out the dirt about Polina doing underhanded things to seize the inheritance… and they’ve published all this!”
After giving it a moment’s thought, she figured it out and couldn’t help but chuckle: “They are also using my ‘Shadowless’ as a shield. They must have wanted to release these stories for a long time and had the relevant secrets for ages, just waiting for the right opportunity and pretext. Now that I’m here, they are seizing the moment to publish this news, and they can even pin part of the blame on me…”
The Popov Clan had always been at the top, managing public relations and corporate development well, until Dmitri Popov’s kidnapping significantly impacted their reputation.
The Popov Clan was effectively a drowning dog; even without the presence of “Shadowless” and the response letter from “Black Snake,” their adversaries wouldn’t miss the chance to attack a fallen opponent. However, since Kui Xin had intervened, it turned the one-sided beating into a mixed match.
Kui Xin could reach a tacit cooperation with the Popov Clan’s enemies in this regard.
Multiple media outlets published Kui Xin’s response letter, with some headlines being quite serious, such as this one: “New Developments in the Popov Clan’s Kidnapping Case! Key Members of the Shadowless Organization Exposed! ‘Black Snake’ Communicates with the Popov Clan.”
Kui Xin clicked on the article to read its content, focusing on the part that included the response letter.
Her written response appeared verbatim in the publication.
This letter was relatively brief, even without a necessary summary, as it contained only a few lines: “Dmitri Popov is still alive, but unfortunately, he is a coward without much courage, easily frightened, and he spilled everything he should not have. This news is my response to you and proof of Dmitri’s survival. We will not take his life, for he still holds value. If the Popov Clan wants to rescue Dmitri, they can. If they want us to stop leaking your family’s dirty laundry, they can also arrange it. But a payment of ten billion is required; otherwise, no negotiations.”
The letter ended with a simple signature — “Black Snake.”
Throughout the letter, there were no harsh words or deliberate threats, nor any intimidation about not receiving the payment resulting in repercussions, yet the intended message was effectively conveyed.
Threats and intimidation were merely low-level expressions; Kui Xin did not need to say them for the Popov Clan to deeply understand her threat.
Interestingly, under this news article, several media figures provided commentary: “Undoubtedly, if ‘Shadowless’ aims to attract public attention and strike the Popov Clan, they have certainly succeeded. Regardless of whether their methods are base or noble, they have achieved their goal — to expand their influence and demand money. However, whether ‘Shadowless’ can successfully collect that astronomical ransom of ten billion depends on the attitude of the Popov Clan. Personally, I believe it is difficult for the Popov Clan to refuse ‘Shadowless’’s conditions.”
The second commentary said: “From the various performances since the emergence of the Shadowless organization, they will undoubtedly become a ticking time bomb impacting the stability of the Federation. They want money, they want to expand their influence; what else do they want afterward?”
Kui Xin also glanced at the largest news website in the Federation, where the top news article displayed prominently in the upper right corner read: “Dmitri Popov Kidnapped, Kidnappers Demand an Astronomical Ransom of Ten Billion.”
The next two news articles were “Top Federal Officials Caught Embezzling Billions in Public Funds” and “156 Workers Die in Deep-Sea Mining Accident; Mining Company Unable to Compensate Due to Broken Financial Chain.”
Further down, there was a headline: “The ‘Shadowless’ Organization Responds to the Popov Clan, Spokesperson Code-Named ‘Black Snake.’”
Excellent, public opinion continued to ferment, and the influence of Shadowless grew, with more people becoming aware of the codename “Black Snake.” As long as players were not living in remote areas disconnected from the internet, they should all be able to see the big news that Kui Xin had created.
On the First World player forum, the personal section for “Black Snake” was prominently displayed in the navigation bar; players seeing this familiar codename would make connections. Additionally, organizations like the Federation and Mechanized Dawn that had already gathered a lot of information from the forums would also draw associations with this codename.
All insiders would suspect that the Black Snake from Shadowless was the same person as the Black Snake from the First World.
Kui Xin could use this organization to fish for information and recruit talented individuals.
“Come on… come on…” she said to herself, “Let me see who the first fish to be attracted over will be?”
…
In a retro-decorated office, Polina stared at the electronic folder that had been sent over, her expression darkening to the extreme. Since she took power, she had always been steady and calm, rarely showing such expressions… to the extent that her assistant was somewhat at a loss, stealing cautious glances at her face.
Suddenly, a communication notification chimed.
Polina glanced at the caller ID and frowned, directly hanging up the call.
However, only two or three seconds later, another communication came in from the same person.
Polina answered the call, saying, “Hello?”
“You seem quite angry,” the man on the other end replied meaningfully. “Are you upset because your son was kidnapped, or because the family’s reputation has been affected?”
“That is my son. I might be disappointed in him, feel he is unworthy, and even abandon his upbringing, letting him become a good-for-nothing playboy, but others have no right to harm my son or judge him,” Polina coldly replied. “If you called to discuss the share transfer, there is no need; there is nothing to talk about as Dmitri is not dead.”
“Dear sister, your tone when mentioning Dmitri sounds like you’re speaking of something you once cherished but no longer care for. You need to face the reality; Dmitri is hopeless. He has spoken things he should not have. Even if he’s saved, he can only remain on the fringe of the family,” the man stated. “Regarding that family business, I…”
Polina didn’t listen to what her brother had to say; she hung up the call.
She sat in her office chair, thinking for a moment before dialing a communication. For families of their stature, there are always various contacts; issues that cannot be resolved personally can often be addressed using those connections.
“Sorry to bother you. Has there been a response from your Special Affairs Department?” Polina spoke slowly when the call connected, suppressing her anger, using her usual tone.
“Yes, I was just about to inform you. The higher-ups believe the Special Affairs Department can intervene in this matter; however, they have been quite busy lately. The person you want to reach may need to wait a few days before heading to White Whale City…”
Polina replied, “Okay, I understand. As long as they can come, that’s fine.”
She ended the communication and gazed at the dark gray sky over White Whale City outside her office, lighting a lady’s cigarette and taking a deep drag, suppressing her inner agitation.
…
“Why was I suddenly sent to White Whale City?” Ambereye asked in confusion.
“To rendezvous with the companions there… and to investigate certain matters,” Ghost slowly replied. “I’ll be going with you.”
“Can’t you divulge what it’s about?” Ambereye pressed.
Ghost contemplated for a moment: “It’s related to your old teammate. Blue Jay… no, her codename has changed to ‘Lady Fortune’… actually, she was once a member of the Resistance Army.”
“Her?!” Ambereye exclaimed in shock.
Ghost continued, “She used to be. She has defected now, but everyone thinks she’s dead. We need to capture her; if we can’t get her alive, we kill her, understand?”
Ambereye’s expression was complicated, and for a moment he had no words.
…
“White Whale City… White Whale City…” Silverface said with boredom. “I’ve been there before; it was winter then. I turned to water to avoid an enemy’s attack and ended up frozen, stuck to the ground… I hate that place.”
“If Thorn Rose is with you, you won’t be frozen. She’s going on this mission too. She can use her abilities to help melt the ice… By the way, it’s not winter now, it’s summer; it’s not cold,” Night Cicada pointed behind Silverface. “Now you need to gather your gear and meet up with your teammates.”
“Oh… fine,” Silverface reluctantly turned around and asked, “Why are we suddenly going to White Whale City for a mission?”
“Ah, I almost forgot to mention. The organization just confirmed that Lady Fortune might not be dead,” Night Cicada shrugged. “We need to find her alive.”
Silverface’s body froze like an ice sculpture.
Night Cicada, noticing he hadn’t moved, turned around with impatience, only to see a look of… joy? on Silverface’s face.
“…Silverface,” Night Cicada’s tone shifted away from its earlier lightness, instead carrying an air of scrutiny and suspicion. “What are you thinking?”
Silverface stared blankly at Night Cicada: “You said she’s not dead.”
“She defected; she faked her death,” Night Cicada assessed him. “You’d better get your head straight, Silverface. We’re finding her to kill her, not to play house.”
