"Do you have any photos?" William interrupted the professor's praise. He knew whether he was a genius or not. Without his System, he would have been an ordinary person. Even though his memory and physical abilities had been enhanced by magic, his thinking and innovation abilities were average. Otherwise, he wouldn't have struggled to understand all the blueprints of the Sentinel robots. Of course, if he was willing to spend the time, he could still learn it.
"No," the professor shook his head. "We were afraid Qin Feng might be targeted by Ba Mian Fo for revenge, so we didn't dare carry his photo."
"Quite thoughtful." Taking out his phone, William said, "Tell me which city, school, and grade he's in."
Without hesitation, the professor provided Qin Feng's information. With this specific data, Sunday quickly found everything available online, including photos and videos captured by surveillance cameras.
Looking at the somewhat unclear picture of his cousin on the phone, William couldn't help but smile. This guy was chubby as a kid and a bit handsome when he smiled. But when he saw the photos taken over the past year, William suddenly felt like he was being played.
The more he looked, the more he resembled Liu Rouqiu, that character. Thinking about the name Qin Feng, could this be related to Detective Chinatown?
Recalling the plot of Detective Chinatown, William thought the movie was fine, but if this happened in reality, he would lose interest quickly. The entire movie didn't offer anything that could pique his interest.
Wait, if there was something interesting, it was that owner named A Xiang. She was really something. Maybe he should forget about Detective Chinatown altogether—there wasn't much to gain there anyway. Instead, he could plan a trip to Thailand, meet this A Xiang girl? Also, the land prices on Phuket Island weren't too high right now. Buying a stretch of beach to build a hotel catering to Chinese tourists could be quite profitable. Maybe after getting to know A Xiang, not only could he keep her as a hidden treasure, but he could also use her Chinese connections to manage the hotel and help him make money. Yes, that was a good idea—it wouldn't cost much anyway.
Once Chinese tourists started spending and vacationing more, the land prices on Phuket Island would surely skyrocket.
Snap out of it. But William wasn't too bothered by his drifting thoughts. There wasn't much to gain from this anyway, and now that he knew his cousin was doing fine and had no growth issues, his attention toward Qin Feng immediately decreased.
Though he thought this, William wouldn't act rashly. To avoid suspicion from the professor or any other Chinese officials interested in him, he knew that a sudden appearance of a relative required a necessary level of concern and understanding. It wouldn't cost much, and he could delegate it to his subordinates. After thinking for a moment, William smiled and said, "It looks like my cousin has been doing well these past couple of years. At least he doesn't look as skinny and miserable as I imagined."
"Of course not! He's a descendant of a hero. We would never let him suffer. His grandparents' combined pension is 8,000 yuan."
"Hmm?" William suddenly remembered that the person in front of him was a super-rich man. In this day and age, 8,000 yuan converted to pounds was less than 700. Quickly, the professor explained, "Mr. Devonshire, you might not be familiar with China's living expenses. In China, two elderly people with a combined pension of 8,000 yuan can more than comfortably support a child."
William waved his hand, cutting off the professor. "No need to explain. I'm aware that 8,000 yuan can easily support a child. But I also understand what kind of place Shanghai is. My cousin's food and clothing might not be an issue, but living well there is a different story. Not to mention, Qin Feng's grandparents have their own children, grandchildren."
"Can I send someone to check on him?"
"No problem. You and Qin Feng are cousins, so of course, you have the right to visit him," the professor replied.
"Thank you," William purposely said into his phone, "Sunday, connect me to Yin Yang."
"Yes, Sir. Dialing now."
"Beep... beep... beep." The phone automatically dialed, and the professor, who had been eyeing William's phone, grew envious. This was a completely buttonless, full-screen phone, and it seemed to have artificial intelligence. The mention of AI made William's importance in the professor's eyes rise significantly, and he began thinking about how to invite William to visit China and perhaps form some collaborations.
But these thoughts were in vain. It was late September, and someone like William, who wasn't just a businessman, would surely avoid going to China at this time, as it would be a hassle.
When the call connected, Yin Yang's voice came through, "Good morning, boss. What can I do for you?"
Since he couldn't go to China himself, why not draw people to London? The full-screen phone and AI display were meant to entice interested parties.
William, speaking in fluent Chinese, said, "I need a favor. Take the people I send to China's Shanghai and check on a 12-year-old kid. Sunday will send you the details. Check his living conditions, focusing on his relationship with his relatives and how much attention he's given. Also, scout for houses in Shanghai—if you find any with good community environments and security, send me pictures."
"Got it, boss."
"An hour from now, there will be a Bombardier Global Express waiting for you at London Airport. Before you go, pick up the necessary equipment from the secret base. Once you meet the kid in China, give me a call."
"Understood. Goodbye, boss."
"Goodbye."
After hanging up, William noticed the professor still eyeing his phone. With a grin, William explained, "This is a custom-made phone. Besides making calls, it's a mini-computer. It can access the internet, process documents, receive emails, and I've even developed a personal AI assistant.
"However, being too advanced isn't always a good thing. Everything about this device is top-notch, but the cost is too high. Even if I wanted to mass-produce it, the communication companies' current tech and infrastructure couldn't meet the phone's requirements."
"Can I have one?" The professor stammered.
"Haha, even if I gave you one, you wouldn't be able to crack it. It's a closed system, only for me and my team. If anyone tries to tamper with the exterior or internal programs, the AI will take emergency measures. If it can't connect to the main server or connects but detects tampering, it will either trigger a super battery to destroy itself or explode with the force of several grenades."
"When I develop a consumer version and the time is right, or if a certain Major God gives permission, we might have a limited collaboration."
Upon hearing the mention of a Major God, the professor understood and replied, "Yes, let's see. Safety first, there's no rush for now."
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