Starting with the Decade Driver, Messing with School Beauty

Gu Yu looked at Qing Mu in disbelief and murmured, “It’s hard to imagine that humans can possess such tremendous potential. Could it be that humans are the truly powerful beings?”

This statement triggered memories in Qing Mu about the background of Kamen Rider Blade. In the Kamen Rider Blade lore, all humans were descendants of the Undead, the red-heart category of creatures. So, in a way, humans could be considered a race with unique genetic lineage akin to unusual beings. However, given the chaotic nature of this world with Agito, Undead, and various other elements, Qing Mu couldn’t be entirely sure of the human bloodline in this world.

But Qing Mu didn’t feel like explaining all of this to Gu Yu. It would be a lengthy discussion and somewhat troublesome.

“Well, since it’s settled, I’ll leave it at that. You can take the Blay Buckle and Rouse Cards, and you can transfer the money to my account another day. Is there anything else? If not, I’ll take my leave.”

“Qing Mu, wait a moment.” Just as Qing Mu was about to leave, Lin Qianqian called him back, saying, “There’s someone else who wants to meet you. I wonder if you could accompany me to see him.”

“Someone else wants to meet me? Is it your father?” Qing Mu quickly deduced that it should be Lin Qianqian’s father who wanted to meet him. After all, Lin Zhendong, her father, was the highest authority in the entire Yancheng Defense Base, responsible for the safety of the entire city. It was only natural for him to be curious about someone with such great power but unclear allegiances as Qing Mu. Wanting to meet him was quite normal. However, Qing Mu hadn’t expected Lin Zhendong to be so courageous as to meet him in person.

“That’s right, it’s my father who wants to meet you. He’s very curious about your past, so he’d like to have a chat with you during this opportunity. Don’t worry, he doesn’t harbor any ill intentions towards you. I hope you won’t refuse.”

“I don’t mind, but I find it a bit strange. Isn’t your father afraid that I might pose a threat to him? After all, with my abilities, if I wanted to do something, I doubt anyone here could stop me, right?” Qing Mu locked eyes with Lin Qianqian, trying to discern something from her expression.

Upon hearing Qing Mu’s words, Lin Qianqian’s heart skipped a beat, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. Just as Qing Mu had mentioned, given his capabilities, meeting Lin Zhendong in person could indeed pose a risk.

However, Qing Mu’s willingness to meet showed a certain level of trust, and Lin Qianqian hoped that it would be enough to alleviate any concerns Lin Zhendong might have.
Qing Mu had no malicious intentions. He knew that no one at Yancheng Defense Base could likely save Lin Zhendong if he had harmful intentions. However, after some consideration, Lin Qianqian relaxed her guard and smiled at Qing Mu.

“I don’t believe you’re that kind of person. I trust you on this. He simply wants to meet you out of curiosity. Of course, if you don’t want to meet him, it’s entirely up to you.”

“Why not? I should meet him. After all, I’m now considered a part of Yancheng Defense Base. He’s my superior, and if he wants to meet me, I should extend the courtesy. Lead the way.”

Qing Mu readily accepted the invitation. The other party had shown sincerity, and his attitude had been good. If someone extended an olive branch, it was only right to reciprocate.

“Thank you, Qing Mu. Follow me.”

Lin Qianqian led Qing Mu out of Gu Yu’s laboratory. As they departed, Gu Yu cast a glance at them, sporting a mischievous grin.

“Are they going to meet the parents? That escalated quickly! They’ve only known each other for a few days, and now they’re meeting the parents. I wonder when the wedding bells will ring.”

Even genius scientists had their moments of gossip.

…….

Qing Mu followed Lin Qianqian through a labyrinthine route, taking quite a while to reach their destination. Along the way, he couldn’t help but survey his surroundings, curiously examining the buildings and the environment. Everything here resembled the kind of secret base he had seen in many science fiction movies, but because it was late at night, there were few people around, and the atmosphere felt somewhat subdued. He imagined it would be more interesting during the daytime when it was bustling with activity.

Occasionally, Qing Mu would pose questions to Lin Qianqian. As Lin Zhendong’s daughter, she had an intimate knowledge of the place, and she readily provided Qing Mu with answers to the best of her ability. She also knew when not to delve into certain topics that couldn’t be shared with outsiders, and Qing Mu appreciated her discretion.

Before long, the two of them arrived at the entrance to Lin Zhendong’s office. Flanking the door were two middle-aged men with stern expressions, exuding an air of formality. Just by looking at their well-built physiques, it was evident that they were not to be trifled with. Around their waists, they each wore a Sengoku Driver, indicating that they were warriors capable of transforming into Kamen Riders.

While the Sengoku Driver’s basic attributes might not be outstanding, it was more suitable for widespread use compared to most other Rider Drives due to its minimal usage restrictions, almost bordering on being unrestricted. Virtually anyone could use it, but the extent of combat prowess depended on the individual’s abilities.

Lin Qianqian, unfamiliar with these two men, maintained a businesslike demeanor, calmly saying, “Good evening, gentlemen. This is Qing Mu, and my father wishes to meet him, so I’ve brought him here.”

“The Minister informed us in advance. Please, come in,” one of the men responded.

Lin Zhendong had already greeted the two men, and without further inquiry, they allowed Lin Qianqian and Qing Mu to enter the office. Lin Zhendong’s office was spacious, divided into two areas: a reception area and an office area. A traditional folding screen served as a partition in the middle.

At that moment, Lin Zhendong was seated at his desk, reviewing documents. Qing Mu stood still, while Lin Qianqian hurried over to the desk and pulled her father to his feet.

“Dad, I’ve brought Qing Mu. You wanted to have a chat with him, didn’t you?”

This marked the first meeting between Qing Mu and Lin Zhendong. Lin Zhendong appeared slightly younger than Qing Mu had imagined, exuding a commanding presence. He also took a moment to assess Qing Mu with a discerning gaze.

Initially, one might have expected someone like Qing Mu, who possessed immense power, to be arrogant, domineering, and flashy. But that wasn’t the case. At first glance, Qing Mu appeared quite ordinary, except for his clean, good looks. He seemed like a regular college student.

Lin Zhendong’s initial impression of Qing Mu was favorable, and he complimented him, saying, “You must be Qing Mu, the young generation truly has its talents. I’ve heard about your achievements from Qianqian; you’re truly remarkable.”

Qing Mu smiled modestly and replied, “Uncle, you’re too kind. I’m not much different from anyone else. If there’s one thing that sets me apart, it’s just a slightly unique ability.”

Lin Qianqian couldn’t help but roll her eyes and quip, “Slightly unique ability? You really dare to say that. If others heard you, they’d probably feel utterly embarrassed.”

As the victim, Lin Qianqian had the most say in the matter. She had initially thought that Qing Mu was just an ordinary Kamen Rider, but now she realized how exceptional he truly was. He was like an endless abyss, unfathomable, with surprises (and sometimes shocks) lurking at every turn.

“Please, have a seat here, Qing Mu. Let’s sit down and talk.” Lin Zhendong invited Qing Mu to sit on the sofa in the reception area and then turned to Lin Qianqian, instructing her, “Qianqian, go make some tea. Bring out my finest tea leaves and treat Qing Mu well.”

“Alright, alright, I got it. I’ll go.” Lin Qianqian’s tone carried a hint of reluctance, but she didn’t dare to defy Lin Zhendong’s wishes. Over the years, apart from Lin Zhendong and a few other elders, no one had ever tasted tea she had personally brewed. Today, she had to make tea herself to serve Qing Mu, which irked her a little as Miss Lin.

During the interval while Lin Qianqian went to brew tea, Lin Zhendong took the opportunity to inquire about Qing Mu’s situation.

“Qing Mu, I heard your parents went missing. Have there been any recent developments?”

“Not yet. Currently, I only know that it might be related to the Underworld organization, but whether that’s true or not remains unclear.”

“Earlier, you mentioned to Qianqian that your father was a department head at Eternal Technology Inc. before his disappearance. Your conflict with Eternal Technology Inc. largely stems from your quest to find your parents, right? As for the other matters, they’re probably secondary. Am I right?”

“You’re absolutely right, Uncle. You’re a smart person, and I won’t play games with you. My conflict with Eternal Technology Inc. indeed originated from my parents. I suspect their disappearance is related to them. So, I covertly investigated, and I stumbled upon some shocking revelations. While my motives weren’t entirely noble, I don’t think exposing the dark side of Eternal Technology Inc. is a bad thing. At least, I’ve unveiled their ugly face.”

Throughout their conversation, Lin Zhendong maintained eye contact with Qing Mu. Words can be deceptive, but one’s eyes are usually more truthful. Whether someone’s words were trustworthy often depended on their gaze.

Lin Zhendong confirmed that Qing Mu’s words carried a high degree of credibility and nodded slightly in response.

“Indeed, regardless of how your conflict with Eternal Technology Inc. began, from the results, it doesn’t seem like a bad thing. But have you considered something else?”

“What is it?”

“What role did your father, Qin Yu, play as a department head at Eternal Technology Inc. in all of this?”

“Well… I don’t know.”

Qing Mu hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose not to disclose the actions of his father, Qin Yu. After all, based on the information he had acquired from Eternal Technology Inc., before Lì huā’s emergence, his biological father, Qin Yu, had been the ultimate antagonist behind the scenes—the kind of villain Kamen Riders would face off against. If following the typical storyline, he and his father, Qin Yu, would probably be engaged in fierce battles right now, demonstrating filial piety and martial prowess.

However, Qin Yu’s disappearance had temporarily prevented this traditional display of fatherly affection and martial skills.

Lin Zhendong sensed a hint of evasion in Qing Mu’s eyes. He knew there was something Qing Mu was keeping hidden, most likely concerning Qin Yu’s less than honorable role within Eternal Technology Inc., which was why Qing Mu was reluctant to share it.

Lin Zhendong, being in a high-ranking position, had seen all sorts of people and situations. He didn’t push the issue any further but chose to turn a blind eye to it. Since Qing Mu was in direct conflict with Eternal Technology Inc., it was evident that he couldn’t be their accomplice. There was no need to delve into the minutiae of every detail; it would only create awkwardness.

“Your father was a department head at Eternal Technology Inc. What about your mother? Was she also employed by Eternal Technology Inc.?”

“No,” Qing Mu shook his head. “My mother was a regular homemaker and didn’t have a job. Since I could take care of myself, she spent her days by my father’s side, providing him with company and care.”

“Is that so? Do you truly believe that, or do you have reservations about telling me?” Lin Zhendong’s face bore a faint smile, but his eyes held a hint of severity.

Qing Mu was unsure of the meaning behind Lin Zhendong’s expression. “Uncle, what do you mean? Is there an issue with my mother’s identity?”

Qing Mu had always believed that his father, Qin Yu, was the problematic one, while his mother, Su He, was an ordinary, gentle woman. However, it now appeared that his assumptions were inaccurate, and there was something hidden beneath the surface.

Seeing that Qing Mu wasn’t feigning ignorance, Lin Zhendong’s smile faded, replaced by a serious demeanor.

“According to our investigation, there are significant discrepancies in your mother Su He’s background.”

“What? Issues with my mother’s identity? What kind of issues?”

Qing Mu was taken aback.

“Before your birth, your mother Su He’s past was a complete blank, as if there was no record of her existence. All of her data and activity records in her file only began after your birth. So, before you were born, do you have any idea who your mother was and what she did?”

“Um…” Qing Mu was at a loss. In this day and age, who really cared about their parents’ past? If parents were willing to share, they’d listen politely, but otherwise, most people didn’t bother asking. Qing Mu was no different. He hadn’t paid much attention to his parents’ past. All he knew was that his mother, Su He, had lost her parents at a young age and had later met his father, Qin Yu. They fell in love, got married, and had him. As for Su He’s side of the family, he had never met any of them.

During the holidays, we visit relatives, but only on my father’s side.

Qing Mu had doubts about this.

Su He explained that our hometown is quite remote, and it’s not easy to travel there. Besides, we don’t have any close relatives worth visiting, so she didn’t want to go back.

Qing Mu didn’t think much of it and didn’t ask again.

Skipping two rounds of relatives means more time for playing games, which is a good thing for him.

“I don’t really know much about my parents’ past. I don’t like to ask, and they don’t like to talk about it. Anyway, from their occasional remarks, I can vaguely feel that my mother used to live in a pretty remote place, with few relatives, and life was quite tough.”

After listening to Qing Mu’s description, Lin Zhendong’s expression showed a hint of helplessness and sympathy.

He realized that Qing Mu might have been living in his parents’ lies all along.

“The upcoming truth might be a bit shocking to you, but I hope you can trust what I’m about to say. We sent people to investigate your mother’s registered birthplace, and there is no person named Su He there. To be extra sure, we also checked the records at your mother’s alma mater, but we found no relevant information. There’s only one possibility: your mother’s identity as Su He was completely fabricated, and even her name might be fake.”

“???”

The truth that Lin Zhendong revealed was too shocking.

So much so that three almost tangible question marks appeared above Qing Mu’s head.

“Are you saying that my mother’s identity was completely fabricated? For nearly twenty years, I didn’t even know my mother’s true identity, and the mother I remember is fake, is that right?”

This sudden revelation left Qing Mu struggling to accept it.

The worldview and beliefs he had built over the past twenty years had collapsed in an instant.