"————"
In that single moment, the air in the entire office of the Operations Committee seemed to freeze, becoming incredibly cold.
The expression on Madiath's face changed, he was still carrying a hint of a gentle smile on his face, but the imposing manner emanating from him suddenly transformed, becoming truly terrifying.
Under this sudden terrifying imposing manner, not to mention Fang Li, even Sylvia's expression tightened further.
If it weren't for Fang Li having already revealed intelligence to Sylvia before this, preparing her mentally, perhaps even Sylvia would find it difficult to remain calm.
Only Madiath, as if completely oblivious to everything, feigned puzzlement and asked, "Fang-San, what do you mean by this?"
Watching Madiath act puzzled, Fang Li chuckled and said, "Since we've reached this point, there's no point in hiding anymore. You and Valda came to confirm my threat because you thought I knew too much, right? If that's the case, then you should have already anticipated that I knew your true identity, right?"
On the day Laminamors attacked Fang Li, Fang Li couldn't recall memories related to the opponent due to Valda's mind interference, causing cognitive impairment.
However, after Laminamors and Valda left, the cognitive impairment ability naturally dissipated.
If Fang Li didn't know Laminamors's true face, due to cognitive impairment, he wouldn't be able to smoothly recall the opponent's appearance and voice. Naturally, he wouldn't know any information related to Laminamors.
However, Fang Li had already learned about Laminamors's true face in the original work.
So, even if he couldn't remember Laminamors's appearance and voice, Fang Li still knew the person's true identity.
"Not to mention, originally, there were clues to lock onto Laminamors's identity. At least, that day, I indeed cut off Laminamors's hand."
With these words, Fang Li shifted his gaze and looked at Madiath's gloved hand, saying, "However, you seem to have found a way to conceal this."
On the side, Sylvia's gaze also immediately focused on Madiath's gloved hand.
In response to this, Madiath merely shrugged and said, "There's no way around it. As the chairman of the Festa Operations Committee, if I were to lose a hand for no apparent reason, not only would outsiders be suspicious, but even people from the Integrated Enterprise Foundation wouldn't overlook it. Therefore, restoring this hand became a necessary measure."
"Restore?" Fang Li squinted his eyes, smirked, and said, "Can that hand truly be restored?"
It can only be said that it is absolutely impossible.
Fang Li didn't just cut off Madiath's hand; he used the power of Mystic Eyes of Death Perception to follow the Death Line along the arm, unequivocally ending it.
In other words, that hand was already dead, forcibly directed towards termination, and no matter the method, it couldn't be restored.
Even if the regeneration ability was powerful, it would be the same.
"I believe you realized that the arm couldn't be reattached, and even after treatment was impossible. Hence, you chose to amputate the entire arm and replace it with a prosthetic."
Fang Li's tone was incredibly affirmative.
"So, your hand didn't truly recover, but you replaced it with a puppet-made arm, right?"
Madiath smiled slightly and remained silent after hearing Fang Li's words, only taking off his glove.
What appeared under the glove was a very ordinary hand.
However, with a single exertion of force, the skin on it ruptured, revealing a hint of metallic sheen beneath it.
At this point, there was no need for further confirmation.
Madiath is Laminamors.
"As you said, there's no way to restore this hand through any means. So, I could only amputate the arm and replace it with a prosthetic," Madiath said somewhat theatrically.
"Similarly, as you said, I was somewhat prepared for the fact that you knew my true identity, but I never expected you to choose to confront me directly."
With these words, Madiath sighed, offering such an evaluation.
"I have to admit, you're quite clever, Fang Li San."
The chairman of the Operations Committee turned out to be a member of some underground organization, engaged in illegal activities.
This kind of revelation, once exposed, would not only draw the attention of the security forces but also that of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation.
After all, the Operations Committee was established with the six major Integrated Enterprise Foundations at its core, and the chairman was equivalent to the leader of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation.
If such a person were a terrorist or a criminal, there would be plenty of material to incriminate the Integrated Enterprise Foundation.
Therefore, Madiath couldn't afford to let anyone know his true identity.
If, on another occasion, Fang Li's knowledge of the truth was confirmed, Madiath would likely spare no expense to harm Fang Li.
But not here.
"Once a winner of Festa encounters trouble with me, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation will immediately suspect that I'm up to something, right?"
Madiath praised, saying, "Even if you walk out of here safe and sound, the attention of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, and even the outside world, will remain on you until your wish is fulfilled, making it difficult for me to make a move against you."
Conversely, even if Madiath first fulfills Fang Li's wish, he won't be able to make a move against Fang Li.
Because, Fang Li chose to confront him before the wish was fulfilled, turning the tables into a kind of threat.
In other words, the initiative is entirely in Fang Li's hands.
As long as Fang Li retains the identity of the winner of the "Phoenix Festa."
"On the other hand, you choosing to confront me here means you intend to negotiate with me, right?" Madiath raised his hand, making a surrender gesture, and said, "I understand. I don't want to be your enemy, Fang-San."
This was a truthful statement.
After all, Fang Li was just a student, and it was too mysterious how he obtained so much classified information.
For this reason, Madiath had to be cautious.
"Let's negotiate then."
Madiath gazed at Fang Li and said, "I can have Valda return Ursula's body to you."
This statement made Sylvia's hand tremble slightly, and excitement couldn't help but surge in her eyes.
However, at this moment, Madiath poured a bucket of cold water.
"But, I can't guarantee that after returning the body, the original master's consciousness will awaken."
...
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