“We’re planning an interstellar military competition, with comprehensive assessments covering weapons, command strategy, and actual combat.”
Ji Shifeng patted Ji Shileng’s shoulder as he spoke casually.
Ji Shileng raised an eyebrow. While waiting for them to continue, he could not help thinking of Shang Jianli again.
He had almost managed to “forget” him lately, but today’s unexpected encounter had drawn his memories into a rainy season, setting them drizzling down once more.
Every year, during the interstellar military competitions, Shang Jianli was impossibly busy.
Ji Shileng had never understood the detailed rules. He had only tried, within his own capabilities, to ease Shang Jianli’s tension.
But Shang Jianli had not needed him.
Blinking, Ji Shileng returned to the present.
There was no need to dwell on it. Just as Shang Jianli had not needed him then, he did not need Shang Jianli now.
Besides, he was curious. What patented technology could someone who merely made games possess that would attract the military’s attention?
Before he could ask, Su Ke spoke first.
“Isn’t this the usual competition held every three years? Are you upgrading the technology this year?”
The various interstellar nations jointly organized a military competition every three years. There was nothing surprising about that.
Qin Si explained further.
“That’s right. But this year, we intend to change the format, from participant selection to the competition structure.”
Even Ji Shileng was taken aback.
Since its founding, the interstellar military competition had followed the same established system without alteration.
Qin Si’s announcement was nothing short of a bolt from the blue.
Ji Shifeng, by contrast, took it calmly. He must have known about Qin Si’s intentions already.
Ji Shifeng added:
“So we need technology capable of accurately reconstructing and recording everyone’s movements.”
At that, Ji Shileng understood.
Joker Studio held numerous technology patents, the best known being its 3D engine rendering technology.
His eldest sister, Ji Shiyun, had once remarked that using it for Path to Stardom was a waste of its potential.
Ji Shileng had nodded vigorously, not daring to contradict her.
Nor had he dared tell her that Path to Stardom did not actually use that 3D rendering technology at all.
Many people had approached him over the patent, hoping to acquire it at a high price.
Unfortunately, money held no temptation for Ji Shileng.
He had no shortage of it.
“You mean the 3D engine rendering technology?” he guessed.
“Yes.”
Qin Si nodded.
“Combining it with the BeiDou satellite navigation system would allow military command to observe people’s movements through three-dimensional representations.”
He spread his hands helplessly.
“As you probably know, we previously relied entirely on miniature surveillance cameras.”
“The problem is, no matter how thoroughly we cover the area, the participants always manage to create blind spots.”
However densely the cameras were arranged, they inevitably suffered damage during combat—or were deliberately destroyed—creating surveillance “blind spots.”
Joker Studio’s 3D engine technology could prevent that.
BeiDou satellite navigation would locate each participant. Combined with biological tracking devices, the 3D engine could render their likenesses and monitor their every movement.
It would greatly reduce the likelihood of blind spots while also opening up a new format for live broadcasting.
“So what would you need me to do? Send Joker Studio’s core team to the competition site?”
Ji Shileng rubbed his chin, looking unusually troubled.
“If you send your entire core team there, who’s going to keep the game running?”
Ji Shifeng laughed at his brother’s audacious suggestion.
Ji Shileng blinked at him, considered it, then replied:
“Maintaining basic operations shouldn’t be a problem. We just need to avoid scheduling major events during the competition.”
Su Ke agreed.
“Our studio is much bigger than when we started. There’s no need to worry too much about operations.”
Ji Shifeng raised an eyebrow slightly.
“That works too.”
Qin Si smiled and said jokingly:
“Come to think of it, if Engineer Ji hadn’t kept this connection so well hidden, we wouldn’t have had such a difficult time.”
Ji Shileng looked up, meeting his gaze.
For the first time, he studied Qin Si properly.
In all fairness, Qin Si was quite handsome.
Ji Shifeng took no offense at the remark.
“My little brother had a falling-out with the family for a while. We only brought him home recently.”
“And the moment he came back, I brought him here to meet everyone.”
He nudged Ji Shileng forward. His left hand reached out and found empty air—only then did he realize Su Ke had disappeared.
His assistant leaned toward his ear and whispered:
“Engineer Ji, Mr. Su slipped away just now. He said nature called and he had to excuse himself.”
Both Ji brothers fell silent.
Ji Shifeng’s expression remained unchanged.
“Including the one who just escaped, they’re both little brothers of mine. Please look out for them if you cross paths in the future.”
The others laughed and readily agreed. Naturally, they would help whenever they could.
Now that Ji Shifeng had asked, finding an opportunity to earn a favor from the Federation’s Ji family would be a windfall.
After a little more conversation, Ji Shileng found an excuse to leave.
Su Ke had fled long ago. He had no reason to stay, especially when he could not follow the discussion anyway.
Ji Shifeng did not stop him. Both the main quest and the side quest for the evening were complete. With a generous wave, he let Ji Shileng go.
Passing the rose garden again on his way out, Ji Shileng stopped.
He turned and saw Qin Si following him. Even after being noticed, the man merely offered him an unhurried smile.
“Mr. Ji.”
“Mr. Qin.”
Ji Shileng had no idea how things had turned out this way, but he now found himself walking beside Qin Si.
A faint smile lingered in Qin Si’s eyes.
“We actually contacted Joker Studio’s owner at the beginning. We didn’t expect our emails to go unanswered.”
Ji Shileng fell silent.
No wonder he had been wondering why Qin Si kept watching him from the moment they met.
Apparently, the reckoning had arrived.
“Something happened recently, and I didn’t get a chance to check my email. I’m sorry.”
Ji Shileng felt a headache coming on. He needed to sort out his email account.
His Yahoo account had been registered in the Empire. In the Federation, unless he used a tool to bypass the restrictions, he could receive messages but not send them.
Qin Si shrugged, appearing unconcerned.
Ultimately, whether Ji Shileng had answered the emails or not, he would have found a way to contact him.
He had only opened with the subject to take a more roundabout approach and lower Ji Shileng’s guard.
At last, Qin Si came to the real point.
“You don’t look much like your brother. Honestly, at first glance, I thought you were someone Engineer Ji had feelings for.”
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