Those were the calmest eyes he had ever seen.
There was no curiosity, no fear, no scrutiny—just a serene gaze directed at him.
It was as if all his disguises, his strength, and his secret thoughts had nowhere to hide before those eyes.
What was even more terrifying was that Lei Lie could not perceive even the slightest energy fluctuation from her.
There were only two possibilities: either she was a complete ordinary human, or—
Her strength was far beyond his own, and she was capable of perfectly concealing her aura.
Combined with the Rule-Overlay shield outside, Lei Lie didn't need a second thought to know which one it was.
The moment Lei Lie stepped into the Terminal Station building, Su Wan’s Absolute Control authority had been fully activated.
What he didn't know was that the entire Terminal Station building was Su Wan’s domain.
Within this domain, all life, matter, and energy were under her perception.
Lei Lie’s prideful Level 3 strength, his rare Trace Resonance Perception ability, and every single thought hidden in his heart—
Under the system’s auxiliary scan and the domain’s suppression, they were all like an open book, laid bare for Su Wan to see clearly.
【System Notification: Target “Lei Lie” has entered the Absolute Control Domain. Deep consciousness scan complete.】
【Target’s Core Concern: Skeptical about the nature of the rental contract, worried about losing freedom or being controlled after signing.】
【Target’s Core Intent: Tracking the Level 3 Special Aberrant “Shadow-Stalker Beast”; ability perception shows the biological mark overlaps with the Terminal Station foundation.】
【Target’s Current Emotion: Shock, wariness, awe. No malice toward the host. Threat Level: Low.】
【Comprehensive Assessment: Target has a massive misconception regarding the host’s strength. Recruitment Success Rate: Approximately 85%-90%. Suggesting the host seize the opportunity.】
Su Wan felt confident.
“Have a seat,” Su Wan said calmly.
Lei Lie nodded and sat across from her, every muscle in his body tense.
Seeing his nervous state, a faint smile played on the corners of Su Wan’s lips.
She wasn't in a hurry to speak, merely watching him in silence.
That gaze made Lei Lie even more uneasy.
“Lei Lie,” Su Wan finally spoke, her voice neither fast nor slow.
“A Level 3 Ability User. Your ability type... should be some kind of rare perception type. If I’m not mistaken, your ability can track the energy or life signature of a specific target.”
Lei Lie’s pupils constricted violently.
“Earlier today, you blended into the crowd of vagrants and waited in line at the entrance of my Terminal Station for an hour.”
“When it was your turn, you refused to sign the rental contract and stepped aside.” Su Wan’s tone was flat, as if she were narrating a trivial matter.
“Afterward, you loitered near my building for nearly two hours, using your ability to pry into and perceive the Terminal Station, trying to find something.”
She paused, her gaze meeting Lei Lie’s directly. Her eyes were like a bottomless, frozen pool.
“What you’re looking for should be a Level 3 Special Aberrant called the ‘Shadow-Stalker Beast.’ Its mark is right near my Terminal Station, so you speculated it might be hiding here.”
Lei Lie’s back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat too dry to make a sound.
His every move, his ability, his purpose—this woman had seen through everything!
Even the secret about the Shadow-Stalker Beast, which he thought only he knew, was common knowledge to her!
Just who was she? Level 6? Or even higher?
Could the woman before him be one of those legendary existences?
But why would someone of such status appear here? Why in the ruins of a small city rated only C-rank?
One had to know that if she truly were a Level 6 Ability User, she would undoubtedly be one of those beings who served as the ultimate pillars of stability in the Inner Cities of S-class Cities!
Yet such a figure was now sitting in this meeting room, looking at him with a calm gaze.
Su Wan noticed his tension, and the smile on her face softened slightly, even carrying a hint of reassurance.
“Don’t be nervous,” her voice softened. “I don’t mean to blame you.”
“As a Level 3 Hunter, you took a mission and wanted to find that aberrant. That is your duty. However...”
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze still fixed on him.
“What I’m curious about is why you’re unwilling to sign that rental contract. Do you have some concerns?”
Lei Lie took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
Before these eyes, before such an unfathomable existence, lying, concealing, or testing was entirely meaningless.
If she had wanted to kill him, he would have been dead long ago. This meeting wouldn't be happening at all.
In that case, it was better to be honest.
“Please understand, Landlord.” Lei Lie lowered his head, his voice low but sincere.
“I do indeed have concerns.”
“In this wasteland, contracts are often bizarre. Once signed, one’s life is no longer their own. I am used to freedom and do not wish to be controlled by others. As for the Shadow-Stalker Beast...”
He paused. Since he had already started, he might as well lay it all out.
“I did indeed take a guild mission to track the Shadow-Stalker Beast’s mark all the way to Area A.”
“After the artillery fire, the mark became weak, but relying on my ability, I discovered it overlapped with your esteemed establishment.”
“I thought the beast was hiding in the building, so I wanted to sneak in to investigate. If I have offended you, I hope you can be magnanimous and forgive me this once.”
After speaking, he actually stood up from his chair and gave Su Wan a deep bow.
A Level 3 Hunter was considered a figure of some standing in the wasteland, yet at this moment, he was as respectful as a junior meeting an elder.
Su Wan looked at his bowed back, a flash of satisfaction in her eyes.
Though this man was cautious, he was not foolish.
He knew when to lower his head and when to be honest.
What was even more commendable was that in the face of absolute pressure, he didn't try to make excuses or flee. Instead, he chose the wisest path—
Admitting fault, showing weakness, and asking for forgiveness.
“Stand up,” Su Wan said in a gentle tone. “I appreciate your honesty. We’ll leave it at that; I won’t blame you.”
Lei Lie straightened up, a flash of surprise and gratitude in his eyes.
Su Wan nodded to him and then looked toward the door. “Black Rat, see Mr. Lei Lie out.”
Black Rat pushed the door open in response and made a “please” gesture to Lei Lie.
Lei Lie was stunned. That was it?
He had thought he would receive some punishment at the very least, or be warned and pressured. Yet this Landlord had let him go so easily?
He didn't dare ask more and could only follow Black Rat out.
The moment the two left the meeting room, the system’s prompt sounded in Su Wan’s mind.
【System: Why didn't the host take this opportunity to recruit Lei Lie directly? The current success rate exceeds 90%. As long as you speak, he won't dare to refuse.】
Su Wan replied, “This is a strategic retreat. If I spoke now, he would be accepting passively, and there would ultimately be a knot in his heart. What I want is for him to join willingly.”
【System: Is the host certain he will take the initiative to sign the contract?】
Su Wan said with certainty, “He will.”
Rate on N.U.
