"As for the business scope…"
Chen Mo paused for a moment, then decisively declared, "Everything related to technology! Register every possible category we can apply for. Don't worry about the cost."
"Understood, Master. But there's something I need to tell you. We must restart the T-virus research and start creating bio-organic weapons. In the field of biotechnology… we have to… so…"
"Stop!"
Chen Mo raised both hands in a T-shaped gesture to halt Red Queen's chatter. She truly lived up to being a product of Resident Evil—constantly talking about biotechnology and reviving the T-virus project. Was she obsessed with biotech research? Did she want to trigger a global zombie apocalypse?
Besides, biotech research required an enormous amount of funding. The Black Domain company was still in the registration phase and barely surviving—how would there be money to fund her virus obsession?
"First, help me harvest that 10 billion in cash. Once we've secured that, and Black Domain starts making money, I promise I'll restart the biotech project."
"…Fine."
Red Queen's projection dimmed slightly. She appeared visibly disappointed, her lips pouting in a cute, human-like expression. Truly a super AI—she could simulate emotions and expressions with ease.
"Master, since 10 billion is quite a large sum, and your requirements are rather strict—like not being discovered and staying mostly within legal bounds—I can't use many of my usual methods. Gathering it all will take about a week."
"That's already faster than I expected. Take your time, but remember—our top priority is staying undetected."
Chen Mo smiled. Once Red Queen harvested the illicit funds, he'd have his seed money. But he would have her stop afterward—laundering money was too risky long-term.
"Understood, Master. Don't worry. With this world's level of technology, no one could possibly detect my existence."
After speaking, the red-haired girl projection of Red Queen dissolved into a beam of light and vanished back into the host system.
Chen Mo stood there silently for a moment, then suddenly remembered—he had class! Today was a lecture by Dr. Tian Tian, the computer science professor. She was notoriously strict and called roll every time. Skipping would cause major trouble.
He quickly checked his phone.
It was 8:20 AM.
His class started at 9:00 sharp. If he left now, he could make it in time.
After connecting his wireless earbuds—successfully confirming he could communicate with Red Queen through them—he called a ride-share and headed back to campus. He even arrived more than ten minutes early.
With time to spare, he bought breakfast: two bread rolls with sausage and a cup of soy milk.
He sipped while walking, finishing the meal just as he reached the computer lab.
Professor Tian Tian hadn't arrived yet.
Chen Mo scanned the classroom and was a bit surprised to see one of his dorm mates, who had pulled an all-nighter, already seated properly.
Youth really is a blessing. Everyone's like a special ops soldier these days, he thought.
He took a seat next to one of his best friends, Zhang Dawei—a childhood buddy and now college classmate. They had both entered Aoki University and joined the computer science department, growing even closer as a result.
"Dawei, I thought you stayed up all night. I figured you'd skip class today."
"Don't even joke like that. Professor Tian Tian is cute but terrifying… Honestly, I only came today to see her."
Zhang Dawei adjusted his thick glasses. It was hard to imagine such a nerdy guy saying something so scandalous about a professor.
"So that's the truth? You're such a perv," Chen Mo teased.
"No. The real truth is that I had no choice—she always calls roll like a tiger," Dawei responded.
"…Right."
What kind of strange logic is that? I can't keep up anymore…
Chen Mo turned and reached out to press the power button on the lab computer.
This was a practical course in computer software, done entirely on lab desktops. The lab used high-speed cloud-based systems, meeting all the students' needs.
There were still three minutes before class began, but the classroom chatter only grew louder.
"Did you hear? The whole city had a blackout last night. The source was our school—someone drained all the electricity. Even the university officials were alerted."
"Who the hell is cultivating by devouring electricity?"
"Cops came to investigate. Wonder if they found anything."
"That's insane. Something that could drain the power from an entire city, even just for ten seconds—that's terrifying."
"I think it's a supernatural phenomenon. Totally unexplainable."
…
Listening to his classmates discuss the very event he had caused, Chen Mo felt secretly proud.
But they had no idea—this wasn't just a police matter. Even the government's Xuanwu Department had been mobilized.
Still, Chen Mo wasn't too worried about the Xuanwu Department. They were part of the official system and still had to follow the law. What concerned him more were the three men in black whose identities couldn't be found anywhere—not even on the internet. If they weren't government agents, they had no legal constraints and could do whatever they wanted.
"Class time."
A sweet yet sharp voice broke Chen Mo's thoughts.
Professor Tian Tian walked in.
Wearing a form-fitting pencil skirt—not too short, just enough to cover her knees—her high heels clicked confidently on the floor.
Tall and graceful, Tian Tian had an impressive figure. Despite her youth, her academic prowess was undeniable. She had once won an international computing research competition and was the youngest professor in the university—also serving as Chen Mo's advisor.
As she began class, there was no ceremonial "stand up, greet the teacher" like in high school.
In truth, many students showed up just to catch a glimpse of the fierce and charming Professor Tian Tian—not for the lesson. If they'd had a teacher like her back in high school, every guy would've turned into a simp.