Starting from Ainz Ooal Gown, simultaneously traveling through time

Chu Tianjiao looked at the "little bit" gesture that Lei Lin made.

"A little precocious? A little luckier?" Chu Tianjiao scoffed, putting the cigar back into his mouth.

"You started urging your parents to invest in real estate and stocks when you were five, you could spot industry trends when you were eight, and before you were ten, your family had gone from ordinary working class to financially independent..."

"I've watched your family grow from a small, dilapidated house to a large apartment, and then to a detached villa, step by step."

"Putting everything else aside, just look at your money-making skills and eye for it. I've done 'dirty work' for half my life, and the wealth I've accumulated is probably less than a fraction of what you have."

"If this is called 'good luck,' then there would be no unlucky people in the world."

"Just a bit of cleverness, plus the benefits of the times," Lei Lin said modestly. "Compared to Uncle Chu's real skills, his ability to operate in the shadows, it's nothing."

"Don't give me that." Chu Tianjiao waved his hand, his expression suddenly becoming serious, and his gaze behind his sunglasses seemed to sharpen a bit.

"Let's get down to business. How did you know me? I think I've been pretty good at hiding it. In front of Chu Zihang, I'm just a 'good-for-nothing father's driver.' I've almost never officially shown myself in front of you."

"The first time you called me here, you directly mentioned my name. Did Zihang tell you something? No, that's impossible. Even that kid himself is confused."

"So you found that out yourself... But how did you find it? More importantly," he took a step closer, an invisible pressure spreading out.

"How did you manage to develop the ability to detect me under my constant surveillance? I didn't even notice!"

A series of questions were thrown out, revealing his inner doubts and a hint of displeasure at being offended.

A fifteen-year-old boy actually pulled some tricks right under his nose and even found out his background.

For a seasoned elite like him, this was nothing short of a career "accident".

Despite his questioning, Leylin remained calm, even displaying a slightly sly smile typical of young people.

"Uncle Chu, there's an old Chinese saying: 'If you don't want others to know, don't do it in the first place.'"

"You've been monitoring me for so many years, do you really think I'm completely oblivious? As for how I managed to do it..."

He shrugged: "Maybe I'm just good at using the internet and information asymmetry to make some inconspicuous small investments and make some 'useful' friends? Of course, all of this is done within the scope that you 'wouldn't notice'."

Chu Tianjiao stared at him for a long time, as if trying to get to know this "freak" he had watched grow up.

Finally, he sighed, a sigh that was a mixture of frustration, surprise, and a hint of admiration: "I still underestimated you. The word 'prodigy' doesn't quite do you justice."

"Uncle Chu, you flatter me." Lei Lin nodded slightly, then changed the subject.

"So, you've made a special appearance today not just to see how 'smart' I am, right? Is there something you need to talk to me about?"

Chu Tianjiao was taken aback, then said irritably, "Didn't you call me out first? I should be asking you what you wanted to see me about."

"If you, Uncle Chu, are alright, or don't want to see me, I'm afraid even if I shout myself hoarse here, you'll just pretend you don't hear me, right?" Lei Lin asked rhetorically, his eyes clear, yet seemingly able to see through people's hearts.

Chu Tianjiao paused for a moment, then nodded, acknowledging this.

His expression turned serious, and his previous nonchalant and pretentious demeanor vanished completely, replaced by a solemnity truly befitting a warrior and guardian.

"Many of my old files were encrypted at Kassel College, so I'm already quite surprised that you were able to find them," he said slowly, enunciating each word clearly.

"But what I'm more curious about now, and more wary of, is—how did you know that I'm carrying something 'very important' right now?"

He turned slightly to the side, his hand seemingly casually resting on the lining of his trench coat, near the long sword at his waist.

Although he was wearing sunglasses, Leylin could clearly feel two cold and dangerous gazes fixed on him.

It was the look of a wild beast guarding its prey, as if the slightest misstep in the answer could lead to a thunderous attack.

The air seemed to freeze.

Leylin remained completely calm, facing the invisible pressure head-on, and explained:

"I 'felt' it."

"Feeling?" Chu Tianjiao's tone rose slightly, revealing obvious doubt and confusion.

"Hmm." Leylin nodded and pointed to his temple.

"That thing you're carrying... its 'presence' is too strong, so strong that even with the most stringent measures to contain it, it's like a lighthouse in the dark to me, or..."

He paused, as if searching for a more fitting metaphor, and then continued, "Like that female classmate in our school who thinks she's a good imposter."

"She may think she's flawless, like an ordinary pretty transfer student, but in my 'eyes,' some things can't be hidden."

"Her 'essence,' or rather, the 'field' she unintentionally exudes, is too special to ignore."

Lei Lin was referring to Xia Mi, of course.

Since his mental power grew rapidly due to multiple sharings, his perception of abnormalities in his surroundings has become extremely acute.

Xia Mi's exquisite "disguise" was enough to fool most hybrids and even some dragons.

His increasingly powerful mental perception and unique resistance from the depths of his soul (perhaps related to traversing and sharing space) had already revealed numerous flaws.

He remembered every time she smiled sweetly, and all the "coincidences" that led her to deliberately approach Chu Zihang.

Those memories that should have been blurred or altered by some force are as clear as yesterday to him.

He speculated that this might be related to his "outsider" soul nature, or the protection of his soul by the strange gray mist in the shared space.

After hearing this explanation, Chu Tianjiao fell into a long silence.

The night wind whistled through the cracks in the factory buildings.

After a long while, he slowly exhaled, his voice filled with disbelief and a hint of defeat:

"It seems... my assessment of your bloodline level was significantly flawed."

He removed his sunglasses, revealing eyes that were sharp as knives even in the dim moonlight, and stared intently at Leylin:

"That thing... I, with my S-rank bloodline, spent countless efforts and braved countless dangers to barely find and suppress it."

"And you, relying solely on 'feelings,' were able to sense its presence from such a distance, possibly even through multiple seals?"

He shook his head, his tone heavy: "Your bloodline purity... is probably comparable to that of a pure-blooded dragon of the next generation or higher, isn't it?"

"This can no longer be explained by simple 'genius' or 'atavism'."

Leylin met his gaze without flinching, nor did he show any fear or excitement at the compliment of being "comparable to a next-generation pureblood dragon."

He simply answered calmly, even with a hint of matter-of-factness:

"I don't really know or care about the purity of bloodlines or what standards are used to measure it."

He raised his hand, looking at his ordinary human palm, his tone firm:

"But I am very clear about one thing—I have always considered myself a 'human being,' I have been, I am, and I will always be."