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    Humanity’s awe and imagination regarding ghosts and gods are far less powerful than those concerning futuristic science fiction. For humans, ghosts and gods are clearly defined, repeatedly described in detail for their might. In contrast, when faced with the unknown, they are often bewildered.

    In science fiction films, we frequently encounter light brains, which assist people in fulfilling the purpose of a second brain. They are powerful and filled with the convenience of technology.

    Li Feng had bound the system six months ago. At first, when this system appeared, he thought it was an illusion. He even consulted a psychiatrist to confirm that his brain was fine and that the voice in his head was real.

    Subsequently, he searched online and vaguely realized that this was the same kind of system often seen in online literature. They came from the future, or perhaps were created by gods, possessing abilities that countless people envied.

    There are many types of systems. The one binding him called itself the Wish System. It informed him that the system emphasized energy conservation; to fulfill a wish, one must collect energy. This world has abundant energy, with the strongest being Malice Value. By accumulating Malice Value, one could complete their desired wishes.

    He could first make a wish, then assess how much Malice Value was needed to fulfill it. Once he had collected the required Malice Value, the wish could be realized. Initially, Li Feng was skeptical. However, when the system sent him a virtual card, a blue-glowing screen, reminiscent of those in sci-fi movies, appeared before him.

    Not only that, but the system’s marketplace also featured countless fascinating sci-fi items. Among them was a gene serum that could reportedly increase one’s strength tenfold. Upon seeing these things, Li Feng was completely dazzled, especially when the system told him that absorbing Malice Value was a good deed; he suddenly felt a surge of motivation.

    He began attempting to connect with criminals, as the system indicated that interacting with such people would accelerate Malice Value accumulation. Ordinary people’s Malice Value was trivial; even jealousy barely counted as an increase.

    Li Feng desperately wanted to acquire Malice Value because he wished to heal his son. Years ago, due to an incident, he had injured his spine, leaving him confined to bed or a wheelchair.

    The system’s arrival undoubtedly brought him hope for life. He approached irritable potential criminals, as well as individuals who enjoyed retaliation. However, after accumulating for half a month, he had only gathered 19 Malice Value.

    The system was a gentle one, indicating that this was indeed too slow; it also had its own Malice Value targets. Thus, it selected several individuals for Li Feng, those whose interactions would result in increased Malice Value, including three notorious murderers and one psychopathic killer who had wiped out an entire family of six.

    Ultimately, only one was left: Xu Zhizhi. When Li Feng saw her, he momentarily thought the system had made a mistake—Xu Zhizhi had a stellar reputation in the entertainment circle. Not only did she capture criminals, but she also helped others in the industry and refused to accept the unspoken rules. Would such a person possess the Malice Value he needed?

    Li Feng expressed his doubts, and the system quickly provided an explanation.

    【Xu Zhizhi: A future interstellar time-traveling figure known for her bloody and psychopathic ways, adjudged the highest IQ criminal of the 21st century. Beginning December 2026, she leveraged her established network to torture and murder 12 women, 17 men, and 4 children. Infamous and cunning, she evaded capture several times and was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of Hua Country in 2039, with the execution carried out via lethal injection in June 2040.】

    Li Feng studied each word, his expression darkening. He slammed his fist onto the desk, his teeth grinding. “This person, this person is so excessive, committing such horrific crimes in the future.”

    【Host, this is the system’s ultimate fate. If necessary, the system shall perish together with Xu Zhizhi.】

    【However, if the host chooses her as the mission target and absorbs the Malice Value from her while promptly exposing her criminal acts, we will gain a substantial amount of Malice Value, allowing you to attain everything you desire.】

    In short, this was a shortcut. Li Feng agreed without hesitation; he could not only save others but also rescue his own child—it was a win-win for him. However, concerning how to complete the task, Li Feng found himself puzzled. “Approaching Xu Zhizhi is a bit difficult for me.”

    【Don’t forget, Host, you are a director!】

    Li Feng came to a realization: he was a director, and it was completely normal for him to interact with an actress. With the collaboration of the system, they connected with Chu Lu, and after exchanging a few casual words, Chu Lu displayed intense interest in their ideas. Together, they devised a vague script.

    The script was meticulously calculated by the system to maximize Malice Value acquisition and compel Xu Zhizhi to reveal her true nature. Everything proceeded very smoothly; aided by the system, Li Feng quickly brought Xu Zhizhi on board, officially integrating her into the cast.

    For Li Feng, Xu Zhizhi’s presence reeked of malevolence. He was kind-hearted; this was all he could do. And as the system had foretold, numerous Malice Values erupted from Xu Zhizhi. Almost every filming session resulted in a collection of dozens of Malice Values.

    Such amounts compared to others were utterly unprecedented. He grew increasingly convinced that Xu Zhizhi was indeed the individual from the system’s data. In conjunction, Xu Zhizhi’s state began deteriorating day by day, deeply immersed in her role.

    All he needed to do was subtly urge her further. To be honest, facing someone who appeared innocent and hadn’t harmed a fly, let alone a chicken, Li Feng felt a twinge of reluctance. Doubts crept in because Xu Zhizhi had gallantly rescued Li Wanwan.

    His niece had jumped into a lake without hesitation during the chilly spring season to save her. As Wanwan willingly recounted the tale, a peak of guilt surged within him. He interrupted the shooting, prompting Wanwan to storm off in frustration. He sat in solitude, pondering.

    Until the system appeared, showing him the probability of Xu Zhizhi encountering criminals in various productions. 【Could a normal person encounter criminals so frequently? Only high-IQ genius criminals attract such elements. If she were the main character of a book, those around her would inevitably suffer misfortune—Li Wanwan was merely unlucky; she probably shouldn’t have jumped, but was influenced by someone like Xu Zhizhi, resulting in her leap into the river.】

    【The individual is capable of hypnosis; Li Wanwan’s jumping might even be a way for her to foster a good impression.】

    Li Feng was persuaded; after all, the things Xu Zhizhi could do could indeed reach this level without raising any suspicions. Thinking of his niece, he sighed.

    She would continue to interact with Xu Zhizhi, his naive and lovely niece. But he couldn’t warn her; revealing the system or saying Xu Zhizhi would become a notorious criminal wouldn’t earn her trust.

    During the later filming, he continued to watch Xu Zhizhi getting deeper into her role, with not a shred of pity in his eyes. When Xu Zhizhi taunted him, he was actually oblivious, because it seemed she had exposed a few things.

    He even had a fleeting sensation that he had become transparent in Xu Zhizhi’s view. His every thought appeared laid bare before her. He thought she might run away. He was prepared for that. However, the next day, Xu Zhizhi arrived on set, looking as composed as ever.

    Listening to the sound of the Malice Value notifications by his ear and witnessing Xu Zhizhi’s performance in character, he finally confirmed that she was certainly not a benign individual. Once the system notifications concluded, Li Feng pulled back his gaze.

    【Be cautious; this Xu Zhizhi is the best at deceiving and hypnotizing others. Each person who interacts with her becomes bewildered, losing the ability to discern her goodness from her evil.】

    Li Feng’s expression shifted, and he could no longer bear to look at Xu Zhizhi, treating her as if she were a viper. Xu Zhizhi, seated nearby after finishing her scene, awaited the next shoot.

    She let herself remain in character, sitting in a chair with an arrogant gaze and a self-satisfied smile. Her inner thoughts flowed freely, as if Wen Yang had come to life within her.

    Malice values surged uncontrollably, and countless wicked thoughts circulated. Sitting there, Xu Zhizhi’s internal narrative was rich and vibrant. “Xu Zhizhi, you worthless being; despite having a system, you’ve only reached this level.”

    “I’ve never seen someone cling so tightly to their principles; you truly deserve to be called a moral paragon.”

    “Tsk tsk, the director is so critical of you; why not hypnotize him and let him embarrass himself?” Wen Yang’s voice brimmed with devilish temptation, whispering sweet poison into Xu Zhizhi’s ear.

    The Malice Value notifications persisted, each word assaulting Xu Zhizhi’s semi-closed self. “Not going to talk? How about sneaking off to steal an antique porcelain vase? It’s worth 50 million!” The hauntingly gentle voice reverberated in her ear, laden with malice.

    【Malice Value +17】.

    【Malice Value +11】.

    【Malice Value +14】.

    The Malice Value surged forth like a fountain, borne along by a sense of seduction and an inescapable chill infiltrating her bones. Xu Zhizhi’s self appeared as a white luminous body, but under such malice, its brilliance gradually dimmed.

    Simultaneously, Li Feng also received the news of this explosive Malice Value surge. His gaze shifted towards Xu Zhizhi, a cold glimmer flashing in his eyes. “Are you ready? Let’s expedite the next scene!” Li Feng called out to the assistant director beside him, preparing props and makeup to follow quickly.

    The next scene was a second verification, and the individuals were reluctant to accept payment with the antique porcelain vase’s value of 50 million. But unable to deal with this individual, and given the vase’s true worth, they decided to bring an authoritative expert the second time.

    After some simple position adjustments, Xu Zhizhi began shooting this scene. Perhaps the previous strokes of good fortune had been exhausted; the filming went poorly this time—a few actors either forgot their lines, broke into laughter suddenly, or were overly careful around the vase, hesitant to proceed.

    After an entire morning, they hadn’t yet finalized this scene. Such occurrences were normal; movie shoots could take days to complete a single scene. By the end, Li Feng sighed in resignation and waved for them to take a break for lunch.

    When Xu Zhizhi stepped off the set, she felt a slight headache. It had been too noisy; she had been jolted out of her performance in this unexpectedly jarring way.

    Eating her takeout, she rested. Xu Zhizhi reclined in the catering vehicle when Feng Jie handed her a nice cup of milk tea, hoping the sugar would induce some joy for the tense Xu Zhizhi.

    After handing it over, Feng Jie sat beside her, saying, “Zhizhi, you won’t believe it, but I noticed that Li Feng’s expressions were so vivid after observing him!”

    “Huh? What do you mean?” Xu Zhizhi asked Feng Jie, her eyes curious. Feng Jie, being earnest in her duties, had even sneakily filmed several clips to prove her point.

    She opened one video, pointing to the gaze that Li Feng directed towards Xu Zhizhi. “Zhizhi, look at this expression; isn’t it strange?”

    In the footage, Li Feng’s eyes were rolled upwards as if deep in thought. However, it was clear that his attention remained on Xu Zhizhi. This indicated that the matters at hand were closely related to her.

    Xu Zhizhi took the phone and continued watching. Based on psychology and some profiling analyses, she thoroughly confirmed that the escape route was surely connected to him.

    Reflecting on his actions, Xu Zhizhi daringly speculated that he intended to set her up for a crime. Rather than merely waiting for an opportunity, he planned to take the initiative to design her downfall.

    Framing her for a crime, ultimately leading to her ruin through active measures. Xu Zhizhi kept pondering about his methods. Reflecting on the words spoken by that damned Wen Yang while in character, she recognized it as the manifestation of her deep-seated malice.

    Humans are capable of malice—jealousy, hatred, grievances, and anger can all generate immeasurable wickedness. When malice arises, individuals often resort to their most vicious tactics to achieve their objectives.

    This thought aligned with the system’s ruthless nature, indicating a shared mentality. Just moments prior, he conveyed a desire to tease Li Feng and suggested stealing that vase.

    This indeed resonated with Wen Yang’s thoughts, paralleling one’s most extreme instincts. Xu Zhizhi believed that the triggering conditions merely required bolstering.

    Turning to Feng Jie, she clasped her hand and fixed her gaze on her. “Jie Jie, you must stay close to me in this crew for 24 hours. If I exhibit any peculiar behaviors, just remove me from the situation. Do not stare into my eyes and avoid listening to my words!”

    “…Okay, I’ll find a headset to wear soon.” Feng Jie replied solemnly, her expression serious. She had already guessed! Xu Zhizhi had gone too far into the character and might act in ways that deviated from her usual self.

    Xu Zhizhi’s extensive talent could lead to certain repercussions. At that moment, Feng Jie’s role as a strong assistant became critical, enforcing boundaries against any indiscriminate actions Xu Zhizhi might take while in character!

    Xu Zhizhi withdrew her hand, seriously patting Feng Jie’s knuckles. “I trust you.”

    “I won’t let you down!” Feng Jie assured Xu Zhizhi, her eyes earnestly focused on her friend. They would continue filming; it was essential not to lose momentum just because of diving too deeply into character.

    If filming was Xu Zhizhi’s duty, safeguarding her welfare was Feng Jie’s responsibility as her assistant. After all, she was not only a dear friend; Xu Zhizhi’s projects also linked to Feng Jie’s career, compelling her to treat it with care!

    Thankful for the uneventful afternoon, Xu Zhizhi moved along with her tasks. Ultimately, the scene was finally wrapped and completed. Tomorrow’s shoot extended from the afternoon until eleven at night, focusing on Wen Yang’s perfect exchange.

    Some high-difficulty actions required performing tricks with long sleeves, alongside skills in deceit. After completing the trial shoot on the fake goods earlier, Xu Zhizhi indeed successfully fabricated a counterfeit; it had been crafted days prior, ready to be utilized.

    This production primarily showcased those skills. Xu Zhizhi felt the system was torturous. Sitting on the couch, she grumbled resentfully about it. Qin Su returned home after running all day, still carrying the external chill he brought inside.

    Not approaching her too closely, he shrugged off his jacket and changed into slippers, washing his hands and face before sitting beside Xu Zhizhi, fully aware of the warmth emanating from her soft perm.

    “I investigated Li Feng’s recent activities, as well as some surrounding family matters, including his immediate family members.” Qin Su extended a hand to gauge Xu Zhizhi’s temperature, checking if she needed additional clothing, before slowly relaying the day’s overall findings.

    Knowing oneself and one’s adversary leads to assured victory; understanding was crucial. Investigating these matters posed no burden for Qin Su; being a detective meant walking the razor-thin line of legality.

    Finding impeccably principled individuals was rare after a year of criminal investigation because such figures cannot solve cases—in contrast, seasoned criminals would take advantage of naïve officers who merely stick to elementary inquiries.

    Moreover, Xu Zhizhi’s situation was exceptional. Special circumstances demanded a touch of unconventionality. As he spoke, he placed the gathered and organized files into Xu Zhizhi’s hands.

    Facing Qin Su, who walked in from the chilly night, Xu Zhizhi felt warmth radiating like a stove. Seeing his comforting presence, she looked up with admiration and then lowered her head to review the documents.

    At first, there was information on Li Feng—mostly results from interviews and investigations—and some footage retrieved from public surveillance.

    There were also family details and descriptions of behaviors. From the documents, unusual occurrences traced back six months. He was initially a cultured individual, self-identified as high-minded, interacting predominantly with a more refined group in Hu City.

    Social gatherings, banquets, and outings occurred in sophisticated settings, with golf, chess games, and traditional Chinese painting being the most common scenes. The abrupt association with a person of dubious background, coupled with darker methods, stood out disturbingly.

    Additionally, Li Feng seemed to engage with certain individuals with criminal histories, and they called each other “brother,” establishing connections alongside those who had been incarcerated for violent behaviors shortly prior.

    This conduct starkly contrasted his previous demeanor. Xu Zhizhi pondered, tilting her head toward Qin Su. “Captain Qin, what do you think is going on with him?”

    Qin Su glanced back at her, affectionately pinching her cheek, responding, “Address me as ‘Ah Qin’ during casual matters, but ‘Captain Qin’ in serious ones.”

    Xu Zhizhi lowered her gaze; she was unwilling to reveal that calling him Captain Qin was far more entertaining than using Ah Qin. Noticing her blink, he understood her thoughts.

    Recalling the sweetness of how Xu Zhizhi called him Captain Qin made his ears warm, and he coughed softly, saying: “Is he trying to gather something by contacting these individuals? Your system collects Malice Value; if he wants to deceive, he wouldn’t stray far from basic logic—like the act of collection itself.”

    If Xu Zhizhi hadn’t possessed a system or disclosed its details to him, Qin Su wouldn’t have connected those dots. Typically, people wouldn’t conceive ties to a legendary system; they’d merely assume that someone had drastically changed their character.

    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhizhi dipped her gaze and extended her hand to sift through the materials. “Could he be a victim of fraud?” After all, the intelligence attributing to a criminal system had resorted to deceiving the host more than once.

    Fraud, PUA (Pick-Up Artist), and fabricating facts had become second nature. Xu Zhizhi even contemplated that if he were the host of the criminal system, he wouldn’t need to make much effort; the system’s objectives could be met astonishingly.

    He’d probably not even wait for the first task to commence before the host could already rack up notoriety. Lost in thought, Xu Zhizhi collected her scattered thoughts and turned towards Qin Su to seek his insight.

    While Feng Jie went off to strengthen her own skills, only the two remained in the living room. After a period of contemplation, Qin Su said, “If you were to defraud him, what would convince him?”

    “His son!”

    “Li Jiahang!”

    The two exchanged glances, articulating a possibility while mutually suppressing their shared excitement, refocusing on the situation in hand. The name Li Jiahang had come from Qin Su; he had discovered Li Feng’s son’s name through his investigations.

    Xu Zhizhi recalled Li Wanwan mentioning that Li Feng’s son suffered from a severe illness, one that would be challenging to treat with modern medicine. Why was it fraud rather than the system luring him in? Xu Zhizhi believed she held the authority to speak on this matter.

    The system had been stingy since its inception, never generous. If it possessed good items, it would’ve surely used them to tempt Xu Zhizhi long ago.

    Too many elements lay in the system’s hands for it to be useless; to be unable to produce anything meant it simply didn’t have it. Xu Zhizhi continued scrutinizing the documents until they reached a consensus.

    Everything was orchestrated by Li Feng, with the system acting behind the scenes. Li Feng had been duped by the system, gathering resources from Xu Zhizhi and compelling her entrance into this role.

    The system had painted a tantalizing picture for him, likely claiming it could heal Li Jiahang. “This person is arrogant, conceited, hypocritical, narrow-minded, and filled with biases. Based on his gaze and behavior, it’s likely he views me as some irremediable individual.”

    After attempting psychological profiling, Xu Zhizhi voiced her analysis.

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