An information gap is a terrifying thing.
It can sculpt an image in people's minds—bizarre, exaggerated, even invincible. It's like how many authors only know the plot a few dozen minutes before their readers do, yet the advantage created by that information gap is still absolute.
When one person's information comprehensively crushes the other's, then the other party's actions—every move, every line of logic, even the sequence of their thoughts—cannot escape that framework. Li Lin was very certain that the Lin family—Lungmen's shadow—was exactly the kind of organization that could be leveraged, even drawn in, through an information gap.
Ironically, the one on Lungmen's surface—Wei Yenwu—was the truly ruthless type, the kind who would disregard everything for his ideals. He could regret, hesitate, waver, but he would never be threatened or controlled. Pressuring someone like Wei Yenwu was meaningless, because you couldn't threaten his beliefs.
But the Rat King was different.
Lungmen's shadow still clung to a city-state era morality and worldview, still restrained many behaviors with honor and righteousness.
That made Li Lin's maneuver possible. Once you realize your counterpart operates with a moral code—and you fully understand that code and the relevant information—then manipulation through words alone becomes feasible.
And once you had someone like that, someone righteous, helping you in the future became feasible too.
The price was simply a handful of ambiguous riddles, plus a few hints at critical junctions.
They could have walked their own path regardless. But giving a small prompt from the high ground, at the right time, could yield a surge of goodwill. That was the meaning of information.
Seated beneath the red umbrella, Li Lin blew on the steaming bowl and ate his fishball soup one bite at a time—Lungmen's local specialty. The tender, springy texture popped at the edge of lips and teeth, spreading a rich freshness through his mouth. Paired with the storm outside, it created an oddly comfortable mood.
After he finished the bowl, a pale-purple figure holding an umbrella appeared at the far end of the park road.
Dressed in light purple—Arknights-fashion as ever, entirely unbothered by bare thighs and exposed skin—the Rat King's daughter approached with a strange, tranquil aura. She held a black umbrella and came to a stop in front of Li Lin.
"So you're the person my old man told me to meet? Hello, my name is—"
"Miss Lin Yuxia. Please, sit."
"…"
Her confident posture stiffened for a moment. Lin Yuxia blinked at Li Lin, then sat opposite him.
The Rat King's daughter—Lin Yuxia. In a sense, she was the person most trusted and most valued in this city. Ch'en was known by all to harbor rebellious intent. Swire was an outsider—an outsider could be used, but never relied upon. The one truly expected to carry the future was only Lin Yuxia: legitimate, homegrown, and of the right bloodline.
Later, after a series of events, everyone would walk their own roads, each living a life completely different from the original plan. But that did not change what mattered here and now: words spoken in a moment like this would carve themselves into the heart, impossible to shake or rewrite.
Li Lin didn't intend to become anyone's pillar. He only wanted something simple.
So: keep it at arm's length, present a veil of mystery, set the tone, and then stop while ahead—that was his approach.
"You—"
"The matter between Ch'en and Swire is your own business. Whatever opinions you hold, whatever conflicts exist between you—you'll have to walk that road yourselves. Hoshiguma is a mediator you can trust, but I doubt your problem can be resolved entirely through a mediator."
Seeing Lin Yuxia about to speak, Li Lin opened his mouth first—sealing off every possible line of interference before it could form.
"I'll tell you everything I can—everything I'm allowed to say, or that won't cause harm by being said. But there are things that shouldn't come from my mouth. They should come from your family's. Your father likely doesn't fully trust me, but he can't bear to let go of some of the information I bring. So keep my number. When something happens—when there's something you need to know—I'll contact you."
"What does that mean?"
"Some things, once you know them, will change things. Your father understands part of it. Your Uncle Wei Yenwu understands as well. But I have no interest in their struggle, or in what happened in Bai Zao decades ago. So, Miss Lin Yuxia, I mean exactly what I said."
He ate the last plump fishball, savoring the rich broth, and looked naturally at Lin Yuxia—who now wore a tightly furrowed brow.
Lin Yuxia was unhappy. Strong-willed by nature, she didn't want to be pressed down by someone else at every turn.
She wasn't yet as mature as she would become. She hadn't yet shouldered the resolve to truly bear everything. Right now she was still a young woman—and after being choked off like that, her instinct was to take back the initiative. As long as she asserted herself, that was enough. There was no need to push anyone into a corner.
"You want to know something? You want to understand something? I actually know most of it."
Li Lin lifted the spoon and took a small sip of the flavorful broth. Then he said softly:
"I will help you, Miss Lin Yuxia. Don't resent my attitude—I have no choice but to do it this way. You're an exceptional girl. Your future will shine like the stars. I'm just a pawn who's destined to die quietly in an ordinary life here in Lungmen. There's no need to be angry at me. Because I'm here to help you."
"…Heh. Then if I want to fight my lousy old man? Or if I want to do something big—will you support that too?"
"Of course."
"…What?"
"If you truly demonstrate the toughness, strength, and firm will a qualified successor needs, I believe they'll understand. This is what they intended all along. Do you really think your father's constant talk about retiring is a joke? Of course I'll help you."
Li Lin rose slowly and looked down at the mouse-eared girl across from him.
"So I only need a small promise. In the future, if you see me facing some… unusual accusation, don't believe it. Seek the truth. That's all I need."
"…You said all that, and your request is that simple?"
"When the time comes, you may realize it isn't simple at all."
Being a riddler was great.
Being a riddler was always great.
How do you resolve the contradictions clogging up your heart?
You take it out on someone else.
Watching Lin Yuxia sit there with a head full of question marks, Li Lin felt refreshed. He opened his umbrella and stepped back into the rain, leaving her at the table, staring after him—her expression shifting again and again.
....
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