This is the Third Force

"Wait for me a moment, I need to use the restroom."

Su Cheng suddenly stopped and called out to the burly man in front of him.

"Sure, please take your time," the burly man nodded and turned around to wait.

Seeing this, Su Cheng immediately led Li Guanqi to a blind spot in the surveillance cameras and then pulled out a ghost blade from the system, handing it to Li Guanqi, "Take this."

Li Guanqi tilted her head as she accepted the ghost blade, gripping it with one hand and glancing down at the gleaming blade with confusion, "How do I use it?"

"Just concentrate on wanting to become invisible," Su Cheng explained.

He felt it was necessary to enhance Guanqi's power.

With her natural invisibility combined with the ghost blade's stealth.

Even if their enemy were Yahweh, she could probably sneak up and strike them, right?

"Oh."

Hearing this, Li Guanqi tightened her grip on the ghost blade. Suddenly, a faintly perceptible light emitted from the tip of the blade.

Then, it began to gradually fade until it disappeared like the blade had been severed.

As Li Guanqi widened her eyes in contemplation, the blade, the hilt, and then her hand, even her entire right arm disappeared, followed by her entire body.

Su Cheng, witnessing the process of invisibility for the first time from an observer's perspective, couldn't help but marvel. By the time he snapped out of it, Li Guanqi's figure had vanished.

"Are you there?"

"I am."

The air carried Li Guanqi's faint response, though the tone held a hint of astonishment.

“Give her one of your earpieces too,” At that moment, Liu Qingyue’s slightly helpless voice came through the Bluetooth earpiece.

Su Cheng immediately handed the earpiece to Li Guanqi and instructed, "Now, directly put on the earpiece. The earpiece won't be invisible, so you'll need to come out of stealth mode first, then go back into it."

“Well.”

Li Guanqi nodded, then appeared, put on the earpiece, re-entered stealth mode, and finally vanished once more.

"Hmm, this blade's ability... is quite intriguing," Liu Qingyue's laughter came through the earpiece, though without any malice, only a sense of curiosity.

Meanwhile, Li Guanqi, wearing the earpiece and invisible, also heard Liu Qingyue's familiar voice.

“Senior, long time no see.”

Li Guanqi's tone remained calm as she first greeted her.

Liu Qingyue responded with a smile, "Yes, it has been quite a while. He has been under your care during this time."

"Not at all. Su Cheng has been taking care of me."

Li Guanqi humbly replied.

Listening to the interaction between the two on the sidelines, Su Cheng suddenly felt something amiss and quickly interrupted, "Alright, there's someone waiting outside."

Then, Su Cheng quickly explained the situation to Li Guanqi.

Hearing this while invisible, Li Guanqi understood that this task was to resolve a new trouble for Su Cheng.

“Hmm, I understand.”

Li Guanqi responded.

“This time, I also specifically asked you to help President Ji resolve it."

Liu Qingyue's tone carried a hint of pleading.

Su Cheng, however, was taken aback, "Asked me to do what?"

Isn't this about resolving his trouble?

How does Ji Qingyi factor into this?

"While resolving your issue, we also need to help Aino Marui find her true self. I know President Ji doesn't want her to always live in her shadow. She understands the sadness of being unable to change herself, so at least, she doesn't want Aino to follow her old path. She doesn't want Aino to admire such a self and even feels pain because of Aino's admiration."

Here, Liu Qingyue paused before continuing, "And she couldn't do anything about it before. So now, she hopes you can take her place to free her from the past, to redeem her."

Hearing Liu Qingyue's words, Su Cheng fell silent.

Ji Qingyi seemed to have a profound understanding of Aino Marui.

What happened between the two in the past?

He didn't know, but he did know that since it was helping the president, he would do his best.

Good.

After a moment, Su Cheng replied solemnly.

"You agreed?"

Liu Qingyue's surprised voice came through the earpiece.

“Well, I agreed,” Su Cheng nodded.

Then, Liu Qingyue laughed, her laughter like silver bells, melodious and pleasant, "Then, I'll take command from here. This is our first time collaborating, I wonder how our level of tacit understanding will be?"

Su Cheng and Li Guanqi nodded, then Liu Qingyue briefly explained the details of the mission to Su Cheng, while Li Guanqi listened attentively.

“Let's go."

Su Cheng said, taking a step forward.

But as soon as he finished speaking, a strange 'thud' sound echoed.

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

Both Su Cheng and Liu Qingyue voiced their confusion, but instantly, Su Cheng realized and quickly moved his steps, trying to help lift Li Guanqi, but he couldn't find her and could only fumble blindly in the air where he guessed she might be.

Getting used to the ghost blade would take time.

So the 'thud' sound earlier...

Probably... was Li Guanqi tripping.

He wondered if she was hurt.

Feeling ashamed, he wanted to give himself a big slap, but with Liu Qingyue here, how could he let Li Guanqi lose face?

So he didn't shout out, afraid Liu Qingyue would guess what happened.

What happened?

Nothing.

Suddenly, Li Guanqi's voice sounded, followed by a gentle cough, "Let's go."

"You just tripped?"

Liu Qingyue asked a soul-piercing question.

“Well.”

Li Guanqi let out a light grunt, followed by the sound of brushing off dust from his clothes.

“Does it hurt?”

Su Cheng, full of worry, asked in the direction of the sound.

"Puchi~"

Liu Qingyue couldn't help but chuckle.

“Well... maybe let's not use this ability anymore?”

Su Cheng directly ignored and voiced his concern instead.

“It's okay, I'll just hold your hand and get used to it.”

Li Guanqi replied.

Good.

Su Cheng had just finished replying when he suddenly felt his hand being firmly grasped by Li Guanqi. The warmth and softness of her hand made him instinctively squeeze it. The soft feeling was indeed pleasant.

Liu Qingyue's laughter through the earpiece abruptly stopped, then she resumed speaking, "Put on the glasses you used in the last competition and keep your hands in your pockets when you meet her."

“Oh, alright. By the way, why put your hands in your pockets?”

Su Cheng responded, then put on a pair of glasses, still holding Li Guanqi's hand, and asked in confusion.

"She has a strong sense of pride, so you need to assume a higher posture. A nonchalant attitude can provoke her."

Liu Qingyue explained through the earpiece.

So that's how it is.

Su Cheng mentally dismissed this explanation. This was clearly just trying to stop him from holding Li Guanqi's hand, he wasn't falling for it. So instead, he held her hand even tighter.

After all, she had just tripped; he needed to comfort and care for her.

Beside him, Li Guanqi noticed Su Cheng's gesture and responded, tightening their hands together a bit more. Then she said seriously, "A few more steps, I'll be fine."

Although Su Cheng couldn't see Li Guanqi, he could feel the change in their hands and her tone. So he knew Li Guanqi was quite satisfied with his gesture.

“Hey, are you two listening to me?”

Liu Qingyue called out again, her tone threatening.

“I've heard it, and I'm ready.”

"Alright then, let's go. I'll tell you what to say next."

“Um.”

…………………………………………

Lower Grade Area

A pavilion, a girl with a icy demeanor sat on a stone bench, waiting quietly.

On the stone table in front of her were tea sets.

She wore the lower grade uniform, her black stockings accentuating her long, straight legs, her glossy black hair spread over her shoulders. Her eyes were calm and indifferent, giving off an aura of being aloof from the world.

Even Su Cheng from a distance would have mistaken her for President Ji, but unfortunately, she wasn't, but a second-year middle school student—Aino Marui.

She seemed like an individual isolated from the world, sitting alone in the pavilion. Her stunningly beautiful face showed no expression, as if devoid of any human emotion, and it was impossible to discern her inner thoughts.

Until footsteps sounded outside the pavilion.

She raised her eyes to scan the surroundings and saw Su Cheng, wearing glasses and with a blank expression, walking into the pavilion with his hands in his pockets. Her gaze fell on Su Cheng, and in a cool voice, she said, "Please have a seat. I am Aino Marui from Class 2."

"Mmm."

Su Cheng calmly responded, then sat straight and looked at Aino Marui, inquiring, "May I ask what the daughter of the Rokuro Group wants with me?"

Aino Marui's gaze remained placid, but inwardly she was impressed by Su Cheng's composure.

However, she believed this calmness was just an act.

From the investigation, Su Cheng was in dire need of money.

So...

"The purpose of today's meeting is..."

As she spoke, she took out a check from the table and slid it toward Su Cheng, saying indifferently, "A small token, please accept it."

But Su Cheng merely glanced at it and lost interest, his face as calm as ever, and his tone equally neutral, "What do you want me to do?"

"Just publicly claim that you are under my command," Aino Marui replied coldly.

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

Su Cheng remained indifferent and expressionless, then shook his head, "But I refuse!"

Aino Marui slightly frowned but showed no emotion, "It benefits you without any harm. Don't you like money?"

Su Cheng stood up, looking down at Aino Marui, enunciating each word seriously, "No. One of the things I enjoy the most is saying no to someone who thinks too much of themselves!"

Hearing this, a hint of surprise flickered in Aino Marui's eyes. Then, she slowly stood up, her cold eyes fixed on Su Cheng.

Su Cheng's gaze made her feel disdain. This contempt, even tinged with mockery, made her a bit angry. After all, few people in this academy dared to speak to her like this.

"Are you provoking me?"

"I wouldn't dare."

"Do you think having some special ability gives you the right to flaunt in front of me? You overestimate yourself."

Saying this, she pushed the check toward Su Cheng, saying coldly, "Or is it President Ji who has given you the confidence?"

As soon as she finished, her pupils dilated in disbelief as she looked at the check on the table.

Just now, she had clearly pushed it to Su Cheng's side, but now it had returned to hers?

"This is impossible."

Though her face remained composed, Aino Marui's mind was in chaos. She glanced at the table, then at Su Cheng.

He hadn't moved, and there was no wind, only the two of them in the pavilion.

"Could it be a memory lapse?"

Aino Marui thought, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

Su Cheng, seeing Aino Marui's reaction, still maintained his expressionless demeanor, his tone as calm as ever, "Please don't misunderstand. I am not provoking you. Don't you think your clichéd behavior is a bit childish?"

"Childish?"

Aino Marui retorted with heavy sarcasm, "I don't think using my advantages to gain benefits is foolish."

"It's not foolish."

Su Cheng's tone remained flat, "But I find it rather jarring."

"Jarring?"

"Yes. Just looking at you reminds me of our President Ji. It seems she's imitating you but not very well, because she would never use money to measure others' worth. She knows she isn't qualified to. Instead, she uses action to prove that her character and her strength matter more than money."

Hearing this, Aino Marui's composed facade broke. If before it was just disdain, now it was outright humiliation. And it was true—she was mimicking President Ji, and being exposed with such sarcasm only fueled her anger.

This was the first time anyone dared to speak to her like this.

Aino Marui stared at Su Cheng's expressionless face, her anger reaching its peak.

But thanks to her facial expression management training, she didn't let it show. From Su Cheng's words, she understood two things: character and strength.

To have Su Cheng work under her, she needed both.

Aino Marui took a deep breath to suppress her anger, then pushed the check forward again, saying coldly, "You're right. I shouldn't use money to measure your ability. I admit my methods were childish. But now, the arrow is already on the bowstring."

"May I step aside? President Ji asked me to deliver a message."

"President Ji... what message?"

Aino Marui's face showed a hint of surprise, then she quickly composed herself, looking coldly at Su Cheng.

Her tone was faster than usual, revealing her subconscious eagerness to know.

But Su Cheng remained silent, watching her.

"Follow me," she finally said, walking gracefully toward a sports storage room and sending everyone else away.

"Speak."

Inside the sports equipment room, as soon as she finished, she suddenly turned, her eyes widening in disbelief at the check in her hand. Then her pupils contracted again.

She had just felt the check being snatched away and falling to the ground right before her eyes.

"How is that possible?"

Aino Marui exclaimed, taking a step back, forgetting to hide her shock. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

She looked at the check on the ground, then back at Su Cheng, still expressionless.

Her shock was beyond measure.

"What did you do?"

Aino Marui asked.

Su Cheng replied evenly, "I didn't do anything."

As soon as he finished, the check on the ground suddenly caught fire and instantly turned to ash, scattering in the air.

"What exactly did you do!"

Aino Marui exclaimed, her eyes filled with shock and panic.

She knew there were people in the world with a special sense, akin to a sixth sense called "mind perception."

But it was within reasonable limits, as she had encountered such people before. It was a form of ability exceeding human limits, but it was gradual and developed over time.

However, what Su Cheng just did—conjuring fire to burn the check—was beyond special abilities. It was legendary "superpower"!

"Relax, sit down and let's talk slowly," Su Cheng said, pointing to a chair, his tone flat, leaving no clue to his thoughts.

Aino Marui, however, remained unmoved.

She stared at Su Cheng, her voice icy, "I don't care what tricks you used. But remember your place—the gap between us isn't something these little tricks can bridge."

Hearing this, Su Cheng couldn't help but shake his head.

Because Aino Marui still hadn't lowered her posture.

"What does shaking your head mean?"

Aino Marui asked coldly.

Then, Su Cheng snapped his fingers. What happened next left Aino Marui in unprecedented shock.

A chair behind her suddenly floated into the air and flew toward her, stopping right behind her.

Aino Marui watched the chair's flight in utter astonishment.

Her pupils contracted sharply, and her face paled as she turned to look at the chair.

"Sit down first," Su Cheng nodded.

But Aino Marui didn't sit. Instead, she stared firmly at Su Cheng, "Tell me, what exactly is going on?"

"Sit down!"

Su Cheng spoke again.

Aino Marui, startled by Su Cheng's sharp tone, bit her lip but still didn't sit, her mind racing for a way out of the situation.

But within seconds, her mind went blank, her face dazed, her eyes revealing an unknown fear of Su Cheng. She felt as if everything she had learned before was as fragile as paper.

Because—

She felt something suddenly push her down from behind, forcing her to sit.

The problem was… there was no one behind her.