A few minutes earlier...
Outside the small villa, Cifera encountered the Pursuer guarding the entrance.
In addition to the seven main members of the Expert Team featured on the promotional posters, the Pursuit Team also included numerous Pursuers permanently stationed at the base, ready to act on command.
Seeing Cifera's attire, the Pursuer assumed she was either a fan or a livestreaming host trying to sneak onto the set and sternly refused her entry.
But Cifera had already prepared her response.
"Sir, you've misunderstood. I'm actually a member of the Pursuit Team's Expert Team. My flight was delayed, so I'm late. See? This is the location information the Production Team sent me."
She pulled out the Production Team-issued smartphone and showed him the location details the team had provided.
The Pursuer knew there was one Expert Team member still missing. Cifera not only had the Production Team's dedicated smartphone but also matched the three keywords on the poster. Without hesitation, he let her pass.
He didn't even consider verifying with the Production Team, reasoning that with cameras everywhere, they would have alerted him immediately if Cifera posed a threat.
To be fair, the Pursuer's logic was sound. He could never have imagined that Cifera was a contestant sent by the Production Team specifically to stir up trouble.
The Production Team had no intention of revealing Cifera's true identity unless she was caught stealing something and reported.
"Apologies, please come in. You can collect your anti-espionage wristband on the first floor. All members of the Pursuit Team are required to wear one; it prevents tracking and eavesdropping from external devices.
"The other members of the Expert Team are on the second floor."
"I understand. Thank you so much~"
[Cifera is truly a magician; she lies without batting an eye!]
[What choice does she have? Stealing under orders from the Emperor—isn't that essentially treason? How could she possibly defend against that?]
[Did you see that Pursuer's expression? Hilarious! He's probably thinking, "This adorable Catgirl is actually a member of the Expert Team?!"]
[Ha! Totally normal reaction. If I didn't know better, I'd be just as bewildered.]
[Now comes the real show!]
Just like before, the Pursuers Cifera encountered on the first floor were initially skeptical, but they immediately believed her after she revealed her identity.
It couldn't be helped—the keywords associated with the three mysterious members on the promotional posters had done all the work for her.
The anti-espionage wristband resembled an ordinary fitness tracker. After collecting hers, Cifera ascended the stairs to the second floor.
The profiles of the six members were public, and Cifera had already familiarized herself with their unique traits.
She had formulated her plan for the next phase during her journey here.
Initially, to maximize efficiency, she had planned to first acquire an inventor-like ability through deception, then create trackers and install one on each member of the Expert Team.
That would have allowed her to play freely.
But the existence of anti-espionage wristbands meant she had to abandon the tracker idea.
No problem though. While it might reduce efficiency, it would certainly make things more interesting.
Since she couldn't use trackers, she would show them what a true hacker could do.
She would monitor their every move through the network, watching them like puppets.
To seize control of the technical platform, she first needed to outcompete Nie Bing, the computer expert. With her Authority of Trickery, Cifera was virtually invincible in this challenge.
With a spring in her step, Cifera ascended to the second floor.
The Expert Team members finally got a clear look at the owner of those adorable cat ears, and their expressions ranged from mild surprise to outright shock.
"Hello everyone~! Let's play a game! Guess~ who~ I~ am~?"
The live stream viewers never expected Cifera's first words to be such a playful question.
Cifera, you're being way too casual!
You're about to deceive a group of true legends!
Even Teacher Wang Lei is a universally recognized old fox.
Can't you take this seriously?!
At that moment, the audience held their breath for her.
"Young lady, stop fooling around! We're filming a show here. How did you get in? Leave now, or I'll have the staff escort you out."
Having spent years in the entertainment industry, Wang Lei's first reaction upon seeing Cifera's outlandish attire was that she was trying to ride the show's coattails for attention.
"Wow, you're the legendary Teacher Wang Lei! I absolutely loved you in Evil Orange Blossom Project! Your villainous chef character was hilarious!"
"..." Wang Lei was completely taken aback by her direct, in-your-face compliment. He didn't know how to respond.
Most of the young people present were aware of the recent negative rumors surrounding Wang Lei. Seeing him flustered, they couldn't help but secretly chuckle to themselves.
Realizing Cifera was no pushover, Wang Lei immediately decided to back down and avoid becoming the first target.
With Wang Lei's "retreat," Lin Zhiyuan stepped up next. He studied Cifera intently, then suddenly exclaimed in realization:
"A genius, a beautiful girl, and a cat... I bet you're our final mysterious team member!"
"No way, you guessed right already? That's no fun at all!" Cifera looked genuinely disappointed.
Watching Lin Zhiyuan and Cifera's exchange, some of Lin Zhiyuan's fans were dumbfounded.
[Lord Lin, did you stay up all night reading novels again? She's a contestant trying to steal your team's secrets!]
[We're doomed. Did Lord Lin get tricked just because she's pretty? Already fallen for her act?]
[You fake fans! Lord Lin is clearly testing her. Just watch.]
Sure enough, as the last bullet comment predicted, Lin Zhiyuan suddenly shifted his tone:
"No, it seems I was wrong. That fleeting microexpression just now told me you're not disappointed at all. In fact, you seem quite pleased, aren't you? Thinking you've successfully infiltrated our team?"
[See? This is the real Lord Lin!]
[Wait, isn't Lao Yao Liu the microexpression expert? How does Lin Zhiyuan know so much about it too?]
[Our Lord Lin is a genius at learning. He probably consulted Lao Yao Liu beforehand.]
[Cifera's in deep trouble now. What's she going to do?]
"Wow, is this the legendary IQ monster? You saw right through my lie in an instant!
"Then guess what my true identity is? Get it right, and there's a prize~"
Lin Zhiyuan froze, completely taken aback by Cifera's enthusiastic reaction. He had been meticulously observing her microexpressions after exposing her lie, yet her first response was still one of delight?
In his view, if her goal was to impersonate a team member, her first reaction upon being exposed should absolutely not have been joy.
Yet the outcome was contradictory...
Could it be... I've been played? Her initial micro-expression was...
"Deliberately feigned."
The speaker was Liu Shanhe, addressing Lin Zhiyuan. From Lin's expression, he had clearly guessed what the younger man was thinking:
"Young Lin, while you're certainly clever, the study of micro-expressions is far more complex than you realize."
With that, he turned his gaze to Cifera, his face brimming with admiration:
"Little lady, you're quite the actress. Now, shall this old man try to guess your intentions?"
"Excellent! Old Liu's reputation precedes him—I've long wanted to learn from you!" Cifera's cat tail swished excitedly.
"Very well!" Liu Shanhe drained his cup of tea in one gulp, slamming the porcelain cup heavily onto the table.
"If we're guessing, let's guess boldly!
"I bet you're the Grandchild of the Phantom Thief, here to greet our Pursuit Team and 'borrow' something on your way out, am I right?"
As Liu Shanhe finished speaking, the other Expert Team members on the second floor tensed visibly.
Is the competitor challenging us directly?
No wonder she's the Grandchild of the Phantom Thief—how audacious!