"Can we not do this?" Teng Hualong's face showed a hint of bitterness.
The founder of Penguin posting on Gemini—it's simply too much information.
Not using his own product, but instead using a competitor's? And to admit defeat publicly?
How embarrassing!
Even though this was the agreed-upon bet with Liu Di, as a veteran of the internet industry with years of fame, Teng Hualong still had a certain stubborn pride.
He didn't want to lose face, and he couldn't convince himself to go through with it.
"Breaking a promise isn't good," Liu Di said with an amused smile. "Or would you rather I speak with actions and truly crush Penguin?"
"Sigh..." Teng Hualong frowned, pulling out a cigar from his pocket, along with a brass lighter engraved with dragons and phoenixes.
"I'm still not convinced." Teng Hualong lit the cigar slowly, "I tacitly approved of Li Daode's attempt to assassinate you."
Liu Di nodded calmly, "I know."
"Hm?" A flash of surprise crossed Teng Hualong's eyes. "Aren't you curious why?"
"Not really."
"Well, I'm going to tell you anyway!" Teng Hualong said with frustration, taking a puff of his cigar. "Because I had to find at least one area where you're inferior to me!"
As he spoke, his hand exerted a bit of force.
Bang!
A muffled sound came from his palm.
The brass lighter in his hand exploded with internal combustion, its outer copper shell twisted and deformed, almost crushed into a lump!
Liu Di was slightly startled, but then he understood.
This Penguin mogul was no ordinary person!
Teng Hualong spoke in a low voice, "You used to be just a poor boy, but now your career is skyrocketing, and you're on the brink of entering the top-tier circles."
"But what you don't know is that these top-tier circles aren't as simple as they appear!"
"Have you heard of enhanced humans?"
"The human body can now be optimized through drugs!"
"Now, the elites in these top-tier circles are throwing huge sums of money into finding ways to enhance themselves—they want to be stronger, healthier, and live longer!"
"Like ancient emperors, after mastering everything, they start seeking ways to break through the limits of the human body!"
Teng Hualong clenched the lighter tightly. "Once you enter the top-tier circles, you'll understand that for the big shots now, wealth is only part of the equation!"
"There's also your own strength!"
"In terms of your level, you're still far behind!"
"As for that assassination attempt, I'm deeply ashamed and disappointed."
"There's no denying that you have a sharp mind and successfully turned the situation around."
"But you lack any combat ability!"
"In the three years I spent abroad, I didn't just sit idle—I got a chance to enhance myself!"
Teng Hualong's eyes were filled with anger and frustration. "In business, I can't defeat you, but when it comes to physical strength, you're no match for me!"
"No matter how strange it may seem, at least I have the edge!"
Teng Hualong slowly opened his hand, revealing the lighter, which was now completely deformed, twisted into a metal rod.
"Heh." Teng Hualong chuckled bitterly. "If it weren't for the fact that you're a younger man, a rising star, I'd really want to fight you, beat you down, and vent my frustration!"
"Sigh..." Liu Di sighed softly, picking up the now-defunct lighter.
He held it in his hand, his expression calm as he casually played with it.
Liu Di spoke softly, "Indeed, humanity has become the rulers of all species because of our ability to evolve."
"The same goes for technology—nothing can stop its progress."
"But what's most unfair is, why do all the resources, all the benefits, either go to the rich or end up in the hands of the wicked?"
Liu Di continued, his hands gently applying pressure to the already crushed lighter.
To Teng Hualong's astonishment, Liu Di further compressed the lighter into a small ball with effortless ease!
Teng Hualong stared in disbelief as Liu Di continued, "I can understand that so-called elite circle. Once they have endless wealth, they naturally seek other things to compete over."
"But those are narrow-minded thoughts, utterly worthless in my eyes!"
"When will these big shots start thinking about using these technologies to truly benefit humanity? Only then will I begin to respect them!"
As he spoke, the ball of metal in Liu Di's hand became even more compact under the pressure, its surface smooth without a single wrinkle.
Teng Hualong was utterly dumbfounded!
This...
How much strength does that require?
This grip strength—it must be far greater than mine!
"Liu Di, you..."
Teng Hualong looked at Liu Di's hands, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Liu Di shrugged slightly. "I can already foresee that in the future, there will be many rising stars whose true identities are enhanced humans."
Liu Di continued to toy with the 'lighter,' then tilted his head with a smile.
"What do you think will happen when countless ordinary people find out that the entrepreneurs they once admired are actually enhanced humans?"
"Shock?"
"Disbelief?"
"A shattered worldview?"
"Or despair?"
"Sigh... I just hope people can accept it calmly because, well, that's just the way the world is now!"
Then, Liu Di shook his head slightly. "But everything has its rules, everything has its regulations!"
"Self-preservation is fine, but if you use these advantages to bully the weak, you will be punished!"
In the next moment, a sharp glint flashed in Liu Di's eyes. He suddenly turned, and with lightning speed, his arm swung out!
Whoosh!
The copper ball in his hand flew through the air, crossing a hundred-meter distance, heading straight for the top of another building!
Bang!
A muffled groan was heard, followed by a dark figure falling from the rooftop to the ground.
After a few twitches, the figure lay motionless.
Teng Hualong stared blankly in that direction, confused.
He strained his eyes and could just barely make out a figure in black clothing, lying beside a toppled sniper rifle!
"What...?"
Teng Hualong was filled with shock!
Liu Di smiled slightly. "Don't worry, that was an assassin sent to kill me—probably another one of the 'playing cards,' right?"
With that, Liu Di turned to the panicked Haidina. "Tina, could you please call the police?"
Haidina finally snapped out of her daze and rushed towards the office in a panic.