Qian Wendao stared at Qin Siyang's face, speaking in a cold, menacing tone. "This face of yours might not even be real. So your Sequence lets you change your appearance? [Illusionist]? Or [Shapeshifter]?"
Qin Siyang let out a dismissive chuckle. In an instant, he activated [Brute Force], pushed off the ground with one foot, and moved so fast he was behind Qian Wendao in the blink of an eye—snatching the wide-brimmed hat right off his head before the older man could even react.
Qian Wendao froze where he stood, dumbfounded.
Qin Siyang leaned in close, his voice a low murmur in Qian Wendao's ear. "Sorry to disappoint you, but you're wrong. My Sequence is offensive—none of that fancy trickery. And this face? It's the real deal."
With that, Qin Siyang let out a soft laugh and placed the wide-brimmed hat on his own head.
Qian Wendao's slanted eyes reflected the faint glow of the distant streetlights, filled with unbridled shock.
"You… you're really a third-year senior at Ju'an School?"
"Of course I am. And that's the identity I need you to forge my Sequence ability under."
"How is that possible?! If you're just a high school student, then how… could it be?!"
Qian Wendao stared at him, his shock turning to wary astonishment. "Which faction are you with?"
Qin Siyang let out a quiet sigh of relief. Finally—Qian Wendao was doing exactly what he'd hoped, letting his imagination run wild.
"That's none of your business. I only want to strike a closer partnership with you, Chief Qian."
Qian Wendao's heart sank. He'd vastly underestimated Qin Siyang. He'd thought the boy was just a lone thief who'd drifted into the safe zone, but now it was clear—he was likely a front man for a powerful faction!
This was bad. Really bad.
Damn it! He never should have let his foolish nephew go retrieve the silver coin! No—he never should have taken on this shady deal in the first place!
From their very first conversation in the Echo Chatroom, Qin Siyang had been deliberately vague, and Qian Wendao had never learned who'd sent him to seek a fake Sequence registration. He'd felt a twinge of unease at the time, but he'd brushed it off, telling himself not to meddle in other people's business.
Now, looking back, every single detail reeked of something off.
Stupid! Utterly stupid!
Qian Wendao cursed his own greed repeatedly in his mind. He'd clearly gotten himself tangled up in something far bigger than he'd bargained for. He ground his teeth in frustration, but he didn't dare make a move against Qin Siyang. Instead, he forced himself to ask, "This 'closer partnership'—is it with you, or with the people behind you?"
"Just me," Qin Siyang said, his gaze growing deep and unfathomable. "I'm here to take back what's mine."
Qian Wendao's eyes widened. In an instant, he realized Qin Siyang might not just be a front man for a powerful faction—he could be a key figure in it.
"What kind of partnership are you proposing?"
"We'll talk about the future later. First, get this done for me."
Qin Siyang didn't elaborate. Qian Wendao was no fool; he wouldn't be easy to fool. The more he said, the more likely he was to slip up.
"I need the Sequence Ability user identity by next Monday. I'll send you my information from your nephew's phone."
"Once it's done, I'll let him go. From now on, we'll use his phone to stay in contact."
"…Fine."
Qin Siyang paused, thinking for a moment, then asked, "Is the phone number registered under a real name?"
Qian Wendao frowned, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face. "You've never used a phone before?"
How could a key figure in a powerful faction not know about phone number registration?
"Toys for the poor. I've never had any use for one."
Qin Siyang's reply was cold, dismissive, as if the question was beneath him.
Qian Wendao's eyes lit up with sudden understanding. This boy—he must have been a young master from a wealthy family. Someone else always made his calls for him; he'd never had to use a phone himself!
Just how high was Qin Siyang's status?
Even Qian Wendao, who wielded so much power on the edge of the safe zone, couldn't help but feel uncertain.
"None of the numbers here are registered under real names. Anyone can use them."
"Good."
Qin Siyang pulled out the phone at once, snapped a selfie, typed up his personal information, and sent both to the contact labeled "Uncle"—then deleted the message entirely.
"Let me know when it's done, and I'll go to the Bureau to pick up the certificate."
With that, Qin Siyang turned and left the department store without waiting for a reply.
Qian Wendao stared at Qin Siyang's information on the phone, his frown deepening by the second.
"This address… it's the absolute edge of the safe zone, isn't it? And he's an orphan? Anyone with half a brain would see red flags if a kid from a place like this awakened a Sequence Ability! It's far too conspicuous."
In the past, Qian Wendao would have ignored such details for a client. But Qin Siyang was clearly someone he couldn't afford to offend—someone with immense backing.
He immediately dialed the number. "Hey, nephew. It's me. You haven't gone far, have you? Come back. We need to talk more."
Qin Siyang hung up the phone. He knew Qian Wendao didn't dare discuss anything over the call, afraid of being monitored. So he turned around and walked back.
"Qin Siyang, this address of yours won't work. A Sequence Ability awakening from someone in this slum will draw way too much attention—it's a target on your back!" Qian Wendao said the second Qin Siyang reappeared. "A lot of people will start asking questions about your real identity."
Qin Siyang's expression turned serious, a flicker of worry crossing his face. He truly hadn't considered this.
"You're right to be cautious, Chief Qian. So what do you suggest? My cover is a poor orphan—if I list an address in a nice neighborhood, that'll raise just as many suspicions."
"You're not wrong. That's a problem too."
Qian Wendao paced back and forth, his slanted eyes darting about as he thought. Finally, he said, "If all else fails, list your status as homeless."
"Homeless?"
"Exactly. You're an orphan with no fixed home—you could be wandering anywhere. It's possible you're taken in by a kind family in a prosperous part of the safe zone, living a comfortable life with food and shelter."
"If I'm living with a kind family, can I still be called homeless?"
"Close enough. It's far more believable than your current address, at least. There have been cases of homeless people awakening Sequence Abilities in nice neighborhoods—though they're almost always bankrupt wealthy merchants or illegitimate children cast out by wealthy families."
Qin Siyang thought for a moment, then said, "But everyone around me knows I live on the edge of the safe zone. If they ever see my registration says homeless, won't that seem odd?"
"Everyone around you? Those ants at Ju'an School?" Qian Wendao scoffed. "They'll never awaken a Sequence Ability themselves—how could they possibly get access to your registration information?"
"Anything's possible. I need this to be airtight."
Qian Wendao mulled it over, then said, "If you're that worried, sell your house. Or burn it down. Make yourself a real homeless person."
Qin Siyang crossed his arms, thinking it over—and realized Qian Wendao was right. The word "homeless" could cover a multitude of sins, and save him a lot of trouble in the long run.
"Fine. It's settled, then."