ARIG Chapter 10 CHAPTER 42-45.1

Chapter 42 – Luosa Tree (4)

Originally, Curly Hair, who was in the car, was still entangled with Xiao Li, who was trying to get into the car to settle the score. In the end, a fluorescent spore drifted in through the partially open window that was never completely closed. Curly Hair caught a glimpse of it from the corner of his eye and instantly let out a scream reminiscent of an ape.

Bystander Jiang, who was originally standing to the side, took a step forward and peered curiously. Xiao Li also looked on from the side. However, Curly Hair managed to survive. Hu Li swiftly broke the glass with gloved hands and crushed the spore directly. Aside from his hoarse screams, he didn't seem visibly injured.

The people on the side sighed in regret, sounding quite disappointed.

Hu Li forcefully pulled open the car door and gestured for Curly Hair inside to come out, saying, "I'm from the SIU. Let me get you out of here first."

Knowing Xiao Li would soon engage again, the moment Curly Hair got out of the car, he attempted to run away, only to be startled midway by almost colliding head-on with the spore, resulting in another cry.

Hu Li: "…"

Hu Li experienced a pulsating sensation on his forehead for the first time. He remained silent, crushed the spore again, and then turned to look at Curly Hair, who was hiding behind him, eyes devoid of any emotion.

Honestly, unless it was necessary for work, he didn't mind this person dying at all.

Curly Hair complied but continued a silent battle, refusing to stay close to Xiao Li. Every time she got close, he dodged away, creating a direct path amid the winding and twisting situation.

Surprisingly, the most composed among them was Jiang Yujin. He didn't move much, didn't cry out like Curly Hair, and simply trailed along, trying to express his sadness over his stolen helmet.

This person, after eating the fresh melon, finally remembered his still-missing helmet.

Due to the compression caused by the rising Luosa tree, the middle part of the parking lot, near the top, had already collapsed. It was teetering on the edge of collapse, but luckily, the tree roots were still providing support, preventing a complete collapse of the entire structure.

Navigating through the roots wasn't comfortable, often requiring bending, occasionally encountering sudden surges of spores, and primarily dealing with Curly Hair's screams that caused mental distress.

Finally, when Curly Hair cried out once more, Hu Li approached him, holding a spore near his eyes, and softly joked, "If you scream again, you won't be able to ever again."

Curly Hair suddenly trembled when he saw green in front of his eyes, and his whole body shuddered instantly, sending chills down his entire body. He dared not move, only managing to whisper, "You're not from the SIU…"

Hu Li informed him, "We are the SIU, not the police."

Curly Hair didn't dare speak again or make another sound.

The world fell silent.

Jiang Yujin nodded approvingly at Hu Li, "Impressive."

Accepting the compliment, Hu Li finally led the three people out of the parking lot.

Coming out of the parking lot didn't feel like a return to daylight as Xiao Li and her companion had hoped. The outside remained just as gloomy, all light obscured by the dense branches and leaves of trees that had sprouted from the ground, completely covering the sky. The square looked entirely different.

Hu Li led a few people through the almost ruined square, dodging debris continuously falling from the roots of the towering Luosa trees.

It wasn't until they reached the edge of the square, essentially crossing the danger zone, that they could see the SIU's vehicle parked not far away.

Hu Li stopped, pointing in the direction of the team's vehicle. "Follow this road straight and get into the car. You'll be safe."

Clearly not intending to accompany them further, without the protection of Hu Li, Xiao Li and Curly Hair's faces turned pale. Knowing they had no choice but to traverse this path, they struggled to move, their progress slow.

Jiang Yujin followed along, his gaze scanning continuously over the ruins.

Even in this situation, he hadn't given up searching for his helmet. Hu Li glanced at him, then turned away.

As they moved, Jiang Yujin watched downward, Xiao Li looked upward, and Curly Hair was more alert, alternating between watching Xiao Li and checking for any falling debris from above.

Looking up in this place allowed for a view of what was happening on the ground carrying the immense trees. The primary, thickest roots of the trees were continuously being severed, dropping down along with chunks of cement from the structures above, creating thunderous crashes upon hitting the ground. With the loss of roots, the tree's ability to absorb nutrients rapidly declined. The once dense foliage of the Luosa tree, blocking out any sunlight, gradually withered and fell off. New shoots stubbornly emerged but couldn't keep pace with the rate of decay.

The colossal tree made no sound, but its remaining roots and branches continued to writhe, entwining themselves tightly around the buildings, which emitted a frightening sound as they were crushed.

The sounds they heard in the parking lot came from this scene. What was happening above completely surpassed any understanding they had cultivated over decades. Xiao Li gazed upward, unable to fathom that such a colossal entity could actually be resolved by someone.

Leaves from the withered half of the giant tree began falling densely, filling the sky. Curly Hair stopped paying attention to Xiao Li, cautiously watching for any other potential objects mixed in with the falling leaves.

Then they saw the person standing on the massive tree root, wielding a short sword. Dressed in black, tall and imposing, he looked formidable and strangely familiar. The trunk in front of him gradually split in two, green liquid cascading down like a suspended waterfall.

Along the way, branches sprouted, only to wither again, and the buildings touched by the green liquid corroded away completely.

Xiao Li's eyes widened as she looked at Jiang Yujin. "Isn't that your boyfriend?"

Jiang Yujin withdrew his gaze from the ruins and glanced up before replying, "Ex-boyfriend."

"?"

Xiao Li's eyes widened even further.

He added, "Just broke up."

He referred to their last meal together as their farewell dinner.

This person's mouth is like a train station, trains coming and going every day, but from the outside, no one can tell that he's running a train.

Xiao Li clearly fell for his nonsense: "I didn't expect that after having a meal, we'd both…"

Midway through her sentence, she suddenly realized her thoughts had been completely derailed. She quickly pumped the brakes and urgently asked the question she originally intended to ask, saying, "Didn't you say your… your ex-boyfriend worked at the small animal shelter?"

The thing in front of them didn't resemble a small animal in any way.

The gigantic tree split apart completely, collapsing along the lifeless roots, and light returned to the rubble. The person standing above squatted down, picking up something resembling a small twig from the split trunk.

Jiang Yujin said, "This looks quite small."

Xiao Li: "…?"

With the Luosa tree resolved and after the experts confirmed that the buildings here wouldn't collapse suddenly, various vehicles rushed in for on-site investigation. Ambulances weren't necessary here originally, but the financial management personnel, upon seeing the vast ruins, felt dizzy, struggled to breathe, and their chests heaved violently. Concerned for their safety, someone called for an ambulance.

The people rescued from the underground parking lot were unharmed and capable of normal activity. Keeping them on-site would only add to the burden. After some brief questioning, the staff signaled for them to leave.

But the three of them didn't leave. Jiang Yujin's electric scooter was intact, but without a helmet, he couldn't move an inch with the traffic police helping to restore traffic nearby.

Curly Hair was eventually caught by Xiao Li. Xiao Li looked delicate and pretty, but her slender arms were built from practicing martial arts, and Curly Hair couldn't defend against her. She landed several punches, swelling up half of his face. Eventually, others noticed the commotion and hurried over to pull Xiao Li away, preventing Curly Hair from getting further beaten.

On the sidelines, Jiang Yujin momentarily forgot about his lost helmet and enthusiastically ate the fresh melon with his electric scooter, also sending today's results to his employer. The employer promptly paid the commission and decided to confront the issue face-to-face tonight.

Jiang Yujin extended his wishes and, after ending the conversation, called the high schooler who had left early this morning, hoping he could bring him a helmet.

Chen Jing arrived swiftly, holding a brand-new helmet, much quicker than expected.

Glancing over the rubble, Chen Jing withdrew his gaze and handed the helmet to Jiang Yujin.

Equipped with Helmet 3.0, Jiang Yujin smoothly placed it on his head and asked while wearing it, "How did you get here so quickly?"

Chen Jing lowered his head, saying he happened to be nearby.

Jiang Yujin looked him over, "Why are you a bit dirty?"

Chen Jing replied, "Social work, gets messy sometimes."

Jiang Yujin put his arm around him, asking, "Do you get paid for helping people?"

"If they b*lly others, just let me know, I'll take care of them."

Silently, Jiang Yujin's hand on Chen Jing removed a green leaf tucked behind his collar.

Yawning, the helmeted Jiang Yujin said, "Let's go back and get some sleep."

While warmth and affection filled this father-son moment, the SIU's vehicle remained quiet.

Xu Tonggui looked down, attending to the minor wounds on his arm, while Hu Li listened to the investigators' report. The investigator said:

"We compared the bullet holes in the corridor's glass with all the bullets found at the scene from firearms. We discovered the holes were made by specialized bullets from a gun called M866. However, according to the detailed inventory found at the scene, these guns are not typically in use; they're kept in the armory and any usage should be logged."

There were a total of seventeen M866 guns in the armory, but in reality, there were only sixteen. One gun was found near the shattered glass, having been used without any record, indicating it might have been forcibly taken.

The body that had just died, the gun that had been forcibly taken, and various other signs distinctly indicated that someone had been there before they arrived and had left.

Xu Tonggui asked: "Is the person who left the branch still here?"

The person collecting the evidence nodded and said: "We found him, but he's already dead. Preliminary autopsy results indicate death due to a sharp object piercing the heart. Additionally, there are signs of str*ngulation around the neck and marks suggesting a sharp object passed through the eyeballs."

"His personal belongings are all missing. There's a USB casing nearby, but the USB itself is gone, likely taken by someone."

Pausing for a moment, the investigator continued, "I'm not sure if it's worth mentioning, but there are injuries on his body, some from one or two days ago and some from today."

Hu Li pondered briefly, then sat up slightly straighter, saying, "Pull up the surveillance footage."

Another person in the vehicle took over, operating the computer and accessing the surveillance footage.

They retrieved footage from before they entered the cave. He checked the time as they jumped into the cave; he remembered it vividly.

Multiple surveillance screens played simultaneously, showing various people coming and going. Hu Li spotted someone on an electric scooter appearing in the surveillance. He slowly stopped by the roadside, glanced around, then rode off again, appearing on another screen.

He parked near the square's parking lot, crossed the pedestrian crossing, arrived at the square, and then encountered the other two people from the underground parking lot.

Before their entry into the hole, the other two individuals from the parking lot appeared in different surveillance areas as well.

Both parties appeared conspicuously and without any suspicious activity.

With too many screens and a lot of information, Hu Li's eyes hurt. He looked away from the screens and said, "Have our team review the surveillance more thoroughly."

It was more of a formality; he couldn't expect much. If someone could infiltrate the hole, they could easily evade the cameras if they intended to hide.

Hu Li shook out his floral-patterned shirt, sighing deeply.

In the end, he took charge of the aftermath.

Jiang Yujin returned home but didn't sleep. He promptly lay on the sofa and started watching his favorite soap opera. Meanwhile, the high schooler took a shower and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Dinner was served on the coffee table in the living room. Since Jiang Yujin couldn't take his eyes off the TV, the high schooler dutifully moved the food closer to ensure he could eat a few more bites.

Today's show was the movie version of the soap opera, lasting a full three hours. After dinner, the high schooler went for a walk, and without turning his head, Jiang Yujin nodded and said, "Take care."

Chen Jing went to meet Zhang Xin and Xiao Pang.

They used to meet at the shaded walkway near the market and then go to their favorite café. However, because Chen Jing ended up buying too many groceries and the sellers recognized him, stopping for a chat every time he passed, they changed their meeting spot.

As soon as they met, Chen Jing straightforwardly pulled out a USB drive. It was stained with blood, but most of it had been wiped clean, except for some specks in the corners, not affecting its functionality.

Facing both of their gazes, he said, "This is the USB drive belonging to the Zero member we encountered in F City. There should be some useful information on it."

After hearing about the Zero member from Jiang Yujin the day before, he rushed to the amusement park mentioned, where he saw members of the SIU leaving with the branch.

Guessing the team would use the branch to locate the mother tree, and assuming Brand-faced man would also be there, he waited at the SIU's entrance. He observed Captain Xu and Vice Captain Hu getting into a car. Unable to track them directly, he had to gather information from passersby to trace the car's movements.

Finally, the car stopped near the Goose Square.

This was the place.

Chen Jing chose not to follow the two men and went on to search by himself. Dealing with the Zero members directly—a gunshot leveraging the Luosa tree took care of them all.

The challenge was Brand-faced man. It took a while to handle him, perhaps because of his existing injuries, making it easier than expected.

Surprised at the magnitude of this person's actions, Zhang Xin and Xiao Pang exclaimed in classic astonishment as they received the USB and plugged it into the computer.

Chen Jing explained, "Before he died, he confessed that he was the one who released the strange species into various schools, all to test if these schools had the strange species they were searching for."

He sought the strange species called "Liulíng" from the school urban legend dungeon. If the school's urban legend was destroyed, the strange species typically sought a similar environment in reality. Liulíng was exclusive; upon encountering other strange species within its territory, it would unhesitatingly eliminate the intruders.

The Luosa tree was a task assigned to him by the organization—simple testing, recording the results.

He probably hadn't anticipated losing his life over such a straightforward job.

Zhang Xin asked, "Could the organization suspect you?"

Chen Jing shook his head. Brand-faced man, in his final moments, hadn't believed he'd meet his end at Chen Jing's hands and hadn't mentioned him to the organization. The Zero members had no knowledge of his existence.

Xiao Pang questioned, "So, he didn't say anything to the organization?"

"He mentioned 'Shi Bu.' It seemed like he believed Shi Bu was investigating him."

Jiang Yujin woke up feeling great after watching the soap opera and catching up on sleep. The next day, around noon, he received a call from Shi Bu, who mentioned making a little fortune recently and wanted to treat him to a big meal.

Despite grieving the loss of his Helmet 2.0 and feeling sad about spending money for 3.0, he instantly sprang out of bed.

As Shi Bu had to return to work after lunch, they decided to dine near the company. Jiang Yujin was completely fine with piggybacking on the meal.

Shi Bu's company was in the high-tech district, surrounded by impressive blue skyscrapers, each shining under the midday sun. It was just when the white-collar workers were leaving for lunch, dressed sharply, seemingly walking on air.

Jiang Yujin found a spot to park his electric scooter and messaged Shi Bu while wearing a loose, wrinkled shirt.

There was no response, but after a few minutes, Shi Bu arrived, clad in suit pants, a white shirt, and a suit jacket slung over his shoulder, almost unrecognizable at first glance.

Spotting Jiang Yujin on the roadside, Shi Bu broke into his usual silly smile and called out, "Brother!"

They entered the restaurant together.

Indeed, this person seemed to have made a little fortune—the restaurant looked posh and luxurious, and even the waitstaff seemed more formally dressed than him.

Glancing over the menu handed by Shi Bu, Jiang Yujin casually asked, "By the way, how did you make this little fortune?"

Shi Bu flashed his characteristic grin, saying, "Someone called me today, said I won a lottery. I came here for lunch, waiting for them to get in touch."

Jiang Yujin: "…"

He got up and walked out.

This idiot was beyond saving.

Chapter 43.1: A Windfall

As Jiang Yujin stood up, the door of the shop swung open, revealing a group of people at the entrance. They wore sun hats and masks, and sported tour guide vests. Once inside, they promptly closed the door behind them.

One person stood guard by the door while others went to draw the curtains over the windows, blocking potential onlookers and dimming the shop considerably.

"Customers…"

The staff watched their movements, intending to speak up but hesitated upon noticing that the newcomers had their backs to the door. In an instant, someone swiftly pulled out a gun concealed in their sleeve.

They appeared highly trained, freezing the staff in place, even the customers didn't dare to move even though they still had the cutlery in their hands.

Everyone from the kitchen was herded into the main hall. The customers sat while the staff crouched on the floor.

The person at the door sported gleaming golden earrings.

Golden Earrings looked around, and the person next to her approached and asked in a low voice: "Is Shi Bu really coming?"

It was such an obvious scam that anyone sharp-minded should have already called the police.

The impatience flickered across Golden Earrings' face. She assured, "He will definitely come."

Those who hadn't heard the other party's voice over the phone wouldn't understand this level of certainty. That earnestness, joy, and an inexplicable purity were impossible to feign.

After scanning the shop again, the person asked, "Who is Shi Bu?"

Instantly, someone raised their hand.

The person wore a wrinkled shirt and pointed at another individual, expressionless. "He is Shi Bu."

Unexpectedly, someone volunteered, and following the direction of the pointed finger, Golden Earrings saw a well-groomed, elite-looking person with impeccable features.

Golden Earrings was certain. "He isn't."

Jiang Yujin: "…?"

Having failed at selling out a teammate, the normally articulate Citizen Jiang was temporarily rendered speechless.

On the scene, not a single person appeared clueless.

There was a difference between the person's real voice and the voice on the phone. She couldn't identify the person by his voice.

Golden Earrings glanced at the time, realizing there wasn't enough time to sift through them one by one, she ordered, "Take everyone away."

The people in the shop were escorted outside one by one.

Outside the shop, the flow of pedestrians passed by. Two tour buses were parked by the roadside, and the armed individuals posing as guides ushered them onto the buses, everything seemingly normal.

Under watchful eyes, those taken onto the bus could only watch others pass by without daring to call for help. No one met their panicked gazes, and they settled into their seats after boarding.

All the bus windows were shut tight, and only faint, dim lights from the road's center illuminated the inside. The vehicle swayed, heading toward an unknown destination, its occupants uneasily looking around.

At intervals, people stood guard, monitoring their movements. Even though they had phones, none dared to attempt making a call.

Confiscating their phones had a reason.

Golden Earrings, positioned at the front of the bus, dialed a number on her own phone, listening intently for any sign of activity.

Not a single phone showed any activity.

The innocent bystander Jiang, caught up in this situation, turned to Shi Bu. "Where's your phone?"

Shi Bu scratched his head. "I left it in a rush at the office when we left."

After the check, a signal jammer was activated inside the vehicle.

Shi Bu asked the person beside him, "What now, brother? I have to work this afternoon."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was just loud enough for nearby individuals to hear, causing some to jolt in surprise. They hadn't expected someone to be thinking about work at a time like this.

Understanding that Shi Bu intended to resolve everything here to return to work, Jiang Yujin kicked the other party's leg directly and asked him to take back his hand that had been placed on the seat's armrest.

The weapons held by the people nearby looked familiar; Jiang Yujin had seen them before at Zero's branch. Their identities were becoming quite apparent.

Only a small number of people were used to capture the twelfth ranked person in the Game, and the method seemed too amateurish. It was evident they didn't believe the real Shi Bu would show up here.

It was straightforward to figure out what happened: Zero somehow obtained a list of individuals named "Shi Bu," screened them, ranked based on likelihood, and found those who could potentially be the Shi Bu in the Game. The probability level of the person next to him should be quite low.

After all, it was rare for a pure idiot to survive in the Game.

Since they were only mildly suspicious, this was the perfect opportunity to dispel any doubts by not taking action. Getting involved here would only confirm Shi Bu's identity.

Shi Bu didn't quite understand, but he trusted Jiang Yujin. He immediately withdrew his hand.

Jiang Yujin glanced at him, then at the few people standing firmly in the aisle, realizing that they might be on this bus for a while. He decided to close his eyes.

The bus drove away from the city into an unknown direction, leaving its passengers uneasy. Some worried about their afternoon work while others comfortably dozed off in their seats.

The person responsible for monitoring the situation only noticed someone sleeping as they were about to disembark. Their eyes widened slightly, preparing to wake the sleeper, but the person woke up on their own.

Their eyes were unfocused, still drowsy, clearly just waking up from a deep slumber.

As people began to stand up in the bus, the person in the tour guide vest stood to the side, watching them disembark. Jiang Yujin rubbed his hair, nodded slightly as he passed by, and said, "Thanks for your hard work."

His voice carried the huskiness of just waking up, his tone earnest and sincere. The guard was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond.

The guard's delayed reaction left others bewildered.

This person sure had a high level of composure.

The composed Citizen Jiang stepped off the bus and, as he set foot on solid ground, glanced at a building not far away.

It appeared to be a large warehouse, but it seemed abandoned for a considerable time, covered in rust stains.

Zero always managed to find these peculiar, abandoned buildings.

Outside the warehouse, there was an iron gate, relatively new compared to the warehouse itself, suggesting it was recently constructed. Someone stood at the gate, a bit surprised to see a group of people getting off the vehicle but didn't say much, just opened the gate and let them in.

The building indeed turned out to be a warehouse, but each room that used to store goods had its original door removed, replaced by iron bars, turning them into crude prison-like cells.

There was a faded factory layout map at the entrance, likely quite old, with parts of it peeling off and strangely stained with a yellowish grease.

Similar to other places, people here were dressed uniformly in dark red clothes, and there were guards on every floor.

Individuals who were initially heavily covered up took off their sun hats and masks, tossing aside the tour guide vests they somehow acquired from somewhere. As they walked halfway through the entrance, they noticed someone's gaze in the crowd. When they turned, they saw the person who had just averted their eyes, feeling a strange vibe from them.

Jiang Yujin didn't have any particular thoughts, just a pure sense of sympathy for the people in this organization.

Their working environment seemed generally unpleasant, either underground or in rundown buildings, which was quite distressing.

Then he was thrown into one of the rooms in this rundown building. They separated everyone from the vehicle in pairs, locking two individuals in each room. Before locking them in, all their personal belongings were confiscated.

This warehouse must have stored something messy previously. Even though it seemed unused for a long time, there were still oil stains and the heavy scent of diesel on the floor, a mix of odors that made Jiang Yujin simply crouch in a corner, facing the wall.

The person outside watched them enter the room, made sure the door was securely locked, and then left.

When someone returned outside, they were wearing uniform clothes, making it impossible to tell who they originally were.

Jiang Yujin remained crouched in the corner, and the considerate little brother Shi Bu came over and patted his back, trying to make him feel a bit better.

The person crouching in the corner with a distressed look raised their head and asked, "Did you memorize the map at the entrance?"

Chapter 43.2: A Windfall

The warehouse had already undergone renovations. Besides the original three above-ground floors used for storing goods, three new underground floors had been built, and Golden Earrings was on the third basement level.

She had changed into a uniform but hadn't fully zipped up, exposing her neck while puffing on a cigarette in the office. The person beside her was neatly dressed and inquired about when she would investigate Shi Bu upstairs.

Snuffing out the mostly burnt cigarette in the ashtray, she reapplied her lipstick and replied, "Not investigating."

Ever since the moment the person on the other end of the line believed her during the call, she knew that the person she was responsible for checking was not the person ranked twelfth.

Despite knowing the outcome, she still had to go through the motions and report to the higher-ups. Additionally, the task handed down earlier to find several experimental subjects hadn't been completed yet. The number of people brought from the shop was just right, with a few extras, perfect for the next round of assigned tasks.

She casually tapped the keyboard a couple of times, gesturing toward the wall-sized surveillance screens, and said, "Look here. There's nothing unusual with anyone inside."

The monitors displayed footage from the rooms where the people brought in today were held. Most of them were sitting on their beds looking outside, while someone in the corner seemed to be feeling sick, but no one exhibited any abnormal behavior.

"If the person we're looking for was in there, we wouldn't have been assigned this task."

If the organization's target was truly inside, they wouldn't have survived until now. But the fact that they were still alive was a significant point.

Her reasoning made sense, and the person beside her hesitantly nodded, finally understanding.

As it turned out, from the very beginning, this person had no intention of finding anyone. The preparation of the two buses was solely to bring back more people.

—She explained it clearly, and the two individuals outside the door understood it too.

Golden Earrings made a call to report the results. She said they hadn't found the person they were looking for, and the tasks assigned previously had been completed. Tomorrow, they could deliver dozens of specimens to the laboratory.

The moment she hung up the phone, there was a knock on the office door.

She switched the monitor back to the nearby area and saw two people standing at the door, dressed in dark red clothes. They were carrying two people, both of whom seemed to have passed out—one in a wrinkled shirt and the other in a suit.

She said to come in.

The door opened, and the two people entered, laying the unconscious individuals on the side. Golden Earrings waited for them to speak, only to realize one of the unconscious people was a familiar face. Before she could react, everything went black before her eyes.

They glanced down to see Golden Earrings collapsing softly onto the chair.

Citizen Jiang, lowering his eyes, placed the other unconscious person on a separate chair and then removed the dark red clothes, returning them to their original owner, saying, "Thank you."

He took back his wrinkled shirt from the other party. He didn't wear it and put it aside.

He found his phone in a box in one corner of the office, first landing on the dialing interface and then, after a brief pause, turned and asked, "Do you know the number for the SIU?"

Shi Bu knew it and recited it fluently.

Jiang Yujin dialed the number but didn't hit the call button. He temporarily set down the phone and asked, "How long will it take to alter the surveillance?"

It was common knowledge that videos were real and surveillance couldn't be altered.

But Shi Bu could, so he provided a timeframe.

Jiang Yujin nodded and made the call.

To go out, the only option was to destroy this warehouse, but it couldn't be him who did it, nor could it be Shi Bu. The only option left was the SIU.

The hotline of the SIU was available 24/7, and someone picked up within five seconds of dialing. Jiang Yujin leaned casually against the desk, glanced down, and smiled:

"Hello, we've been kidn*pped by unidentified individuals. There are many people here, armed, and we're very scared. The coordinates here are…"

Shi Bu provided a number, and Jiang Yujin repeated the number.

The voice that initially answered the call was a woman with a pleasant voice, but it later changed to that of a man, a voice he recognized.

It was the voice in the floral shirt.

As Jiang Yujin watched Shi Bu adjust the surveillance footage and spoke on the phone, the person in the floral shirt provided personal contact information. Jiang Yujin hung up and dialed the floral shirt person's personal number.

The other party asked about his current situation and an approximate estimate of the situation there. He selectively answered, emphasizing, "I'm only able to make this call due to various coincidences. I'm not sure if it's entirely safe here."

Finally, he added, "It's too terrifying here."

Shi Bu, who was still adjusting the surveillance footage, turned to glance at him, an expression laden with emotions.

Jiang Yujin automatically ignored the other's gaze, claiming his phone was low on battery to save power, and promptly ended the call.

As the call ended, the surveillance footage was also adjusted. Shi Bu slightly turned to let him see the screen.

It could only be said that the alterations were indeed quite realistic.

They pretended to have an accident, attracting people on duty passing by outside into the room. They knocked them unconscious, changed their clothes, and then dragged them here. The actual events were manipulated to appear as if two people had barged into the room, knocked him and Shi Bu unconscious, and brought them to this office, leaving no trace of falsification.

Jiang Yujin praised Shi Bu, then casually picked up a few sheets of paper from the desk and handed them over, saying, "There are a total of six floors, and the floor plan is yours to handle."

Shi Bu followed his instructions well, finding a pen amidst the cluttered desk and began sketching the map after taking the paper.

He hadn't traversed the upper three floors, but he remembered the layout at the entrance. He had seen the lower three floors earlier when he descended; every corner was etched in his memory.

His drawing was rapid, almost mechanical, every line in its rightful place, straight and without deviation.

With nothing to do, Jiang Yujin grabbed a chair and sat down, casually opening Xiaoxiaole on his phone.

Just then, the person still sketching suddenly said, "I wonder what I should do if the person who's supposed to deliver my prize money couldn't find me in the store."

A vein popped on Jiang Yujin's hand as he made an error in the game. He looked up, expressionless, at the speaker and said, "Then guess if I want to kick you now."

Shi Bu dared not say anything.

After playing a couple of rounds of Xiaoxiaole and failing to advance, his phone truly on the brink of dying, Jiang Yujin put it away and closed his eyes to rest.

After a while, or perhaps not long at all, he received another call from the person in the floral shirt.

After racking his brain for a while, Jiang Yujin finally remembered that the person was named Hu Li.

Hu Li and his group had reached the vicinity of the warehouse. Several vehicles were temporarily concealed in the nearby woods as they brainstormed a plan for the rescue.

According to the information revealed by the person on the other end of the phone, there are a total of six floors in the warehouse, three floors above ground with people detained, and guards on the sixth floor as well. If they forcibly intrude, it would be impossible to rescue all the captives simultaneously, resulting in at least half of them dying.

Hu Li didn't mind sacrificing half, but it would be hard to explain this to higher authorities.

Negotiation was also ruled out as a priority. The effectiveness of negotiation depended on the counterparts, and for those at Zero, negotiation would only lead to greater losses.

Infiltration was the best option, but they had no knowledge of the place, increasing the probability of being discovered if they entered without proper planning.

"There's a small door behind the warehouse used for garbage disposal. There's a person guarding the door outside, and there's another one in the half-meter tall grass outside the door with an infrared device."

Through the earpiece came the voice, and Hu Li quickly gestured for the others, still trying to figure out a solution, to remain silent for the moment.

Jiang Yujin glanced at the surveillance footage, then lowered his head to look at the floor plan drawn by Shi Bu, saying, "Once inside the small door, there are boxes for cover, and there are patrols nearby."

Light-colored pupils met the blue-tinged screen, moving slowly as he said, "Patrols seem to pass by every three minutes, two people per team, armed with guns and alarms. They'll be back at the small door in about a minute and a half."

He hadn't been drinking excessively recently, his throat felt better, not as hoarse as before, revealing a bit of his original voice, surprisingly clear.

Listening to the communication in the earpiece, Hu Li glanced at the others in the car, silently signaling readiness with their gear, preparing to exit the vehicle soon.

In the office, Jiang Yujin quietly watched the surveillance, noticing someone in a SIU uniform appearing near the grass by the small door, then said, "Fifteen meters to the right."

Someone walked through the grass in an instant, and the person immediately tw*sted the neck of the guard before he noticed the noise and turned his head. The person standing guard at the door was stunned for a moment when he saw the scene in the grass. Then he realized what was happening. Before he even raised the gun in his hand, his vision suddenly spun around and he lost consciousness.

Two individuals quickly changed into the guards' clothes, picked up their weapons, and stood in the guards' original positions as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, the others infiltrated through the small door.

Hu Li was among them, still listening to the voice through the earpiece: "About two minutes until the next patrol."

If he hadn't misheard, he seemed to hear a yawn coming from the other end.

Chapter 44.1 – Dating Agency Back Online

Citizen Jiang felt utterly exhausted, his eyelids drooping as he watched people move on the electronic screen. They dealt with two individuals who patrolled past the small door, swapping clothes with them.

He said, "The situation on the second floor can be observed from the third floor. I suggest heading up to the third floor first."

The person who changed clothes then ascended the stairs quietly, reaching the third floor.

At intervals on the third floor, there were people on guard. They swiftly dealt with the corners, gradually converging towards the center. They restrained the individuals stationed downstairs, seizing them by the neck in the blind spots of those below.

Hu Li, through his earpiece, heard someone praising them, "Really impressive."

The tone was genuine, heartfelt, but he inexplicably sensed a hint of perfunctoriness.

The people on the third floor finished their tasks. Following the instructions, they refrained from making any moves within the sightline of the individuals locked in rooms. The guards had lost the chance to make any sound, and the captives inside the rooms didn't make a fuss despite realizing someone had come to rescue them.

Using the same method, the SIU members gradually descended from the third floor to the first, clearing all three levels and changing clothes to replace the original personnel.

The warehouse seemed unchanged, with individuals still on guard and patrolling. Those dressed in dark red attire produced keys, unlocking the doors to the rooms, allowing the occupants to step out.

The captives in the rooms thought the local personnel were relocating them. Trembling, they followed instructions, not daring to speak or run, quietly exiting through the main door.

Unexpectedly, things progressed smoothly. Hu Li stood on the upper floor, observing, when a voice came through his earpiece again, "Two people are coming up."

The footsteps echoed loudly in the silent space. Even those escorting civilians out noticed. Bodies tensed up instantly, bullets were loaded.

The distance from the underground entrance was too far to approach quietly. They had no choice but to fire.

Sliding down a bit in his chair, Citizen Jiang glanced at the screen, saying, "No need to act. There are more people on the lower three levels. Any commotion, and… none of these h*stages will make it out."

"You just need to say, 'The transfer to the lab has been moved up.'"

The individuals who had readied their guns put them down once more.

The footsteps drew closer. Two people emerged from underground, immediately spotting the line of people moving out. They paused, asking, "What's going on here?"

One person replied, "The transfer to the lab has been moved up."

The inquirer seemed surprised but didn't say much. They grabbed a cup of water from the nearby water dispenser and left.

The captured individuals continued slowly walking out.

They boarded the same tourist bus as before, perhaps for convenience, as the keys were hanging on the door for easy access.

Except for the two individuals still on the underground third floor, almost everyone was about to board the bus. The person in dark red clothing took out a walkie-talkie and reported to Hu Li, who was still in the warehouse.

Hu Li responded while walking upstairs, eventually stopping in front of a room. Previously, this was the only empty room on the entire floor, likely where Jiang Yujin and his friend were being held together.

He stepped inside, glanced around, took in the sparse belongings, then left.

Everyone outside had already boarded the vehicle, which had started moving away. He lowered his gaze, took out the walkie-talkie, and said, "Head to the underground."

Without needing to manage the numerous hostages, things swiftly escalated.

Watching the individuals on the screen now on the second underground level, Jiang Yujin stood up, covering the microphone and throwing the paper with Shi Bu's drawing into the shredder. He patted Shi Bu and gestured towards Golden Earrings and the person beside her, saying, "Find a way to wake them up."

Shi Bu used physical methods to awaken the two individuals.

Jiang Yujin watched as Golden Earrings opened her eyes, steadying her phone in her hand, clearing her throat lightly, and began, "She's awake, hurry and come to resc—"

He cut himself off mid-sentence, ending the call and carefully placing the phone to avoid damage.

Golden Earrings and her colleague woke up, staggering to their feet. Seeing two figures in front of them, they finally realized what had happened earlier. Their eyes widened in an instant, and both moved at once.

Jiang Yujin and Shi Bu intervened, blocking the actions of the other two unfortunate individuals, then swiftly returning them to their original positions. They did it so fast that the other two fell to the ground immediately.

"…"

After a brief burst of sound through the earpiece, silence fell. Hu Li hurriedly made his way towards the third underground floor.

As soon as he descended to the third floor, a noise of tables and chairs crashing to the ground emanated from a room. He approached and then kicked the door open.

The scene in the room was chaotic and confusing, making it difficult to untangle the relationships at first glance. In short, there were four individuals strewn across the floor – two in dark red clothing, one with golden earrings, and another in a dirty shirt.

The only person left standing in the room was the colleague of the one with the golden earring, who had a tight grip on someone.

Jiang Yujin was the one being gripped. He was forcefully pressed against the office desk, disheveled with wrinkled clothes.

There was no need for caution anymore. Hu Li directly drew his gun, aiming at the colleague of Golden Earrings.

After a gunshot, blood splattered, and the person fell. The one who had been partly on the desk quickly pushed away the fallen individual to avoid staining their own clothes.

This reflex action was quicker than a physical reaction. Only after pushing the person away did they begin to cough and rub their throat repeatedly.

It was evident that the person who had gripped Jiang Yujin had been ruthless – there were bruises on his neck, adding to the paleness of his skin, making it even more horrific.

It took Jiang Yujin a while to regain his voice, as if testing a microphone several times before finally being able to speak again. He attempted to explain the current situation to Hu Li.

He explained that the two people who brought him and his less familiar friend came in and suddenly had a quarrel with Golden Earrings and her colleague. All four ended up unconscious, giving him the chance to contact the outside world.

Unexpectedly, just now, the colleague of Golden Earrings woke up, knocked out his less familiar friend, and then attempted to harm him. Fortunately, Hu Li, the righteous vice-captain, arrived in time.

As Jiang Yujin spoke, he glanced at Shi Bu lying on the ground.

He never intended for that person to lose consciousness. However, after waking up Golden Earrings and her colleague, this silly individual tried to render them unconscious again. When he wasn't paying attention, he directly knocked out Golden Earrings and intended to harm the remaining colleague.

So, Jiang Yujin took matters into his own hands and knocked out the silly individual.

That led to the current situation.

Hu Li surveyed the room, but before he noticed, Jiang Yujin discreetly slipped his safely stashed phone into his pocket.

The third floor hadn't been cleared yet. Upon hearing the commotion, the individuals in dark red clothing quickly arrived but were swiftly brought down by another group dressed in similar attire.

Jiang Yujin raised his thumb, saying, "I feel really safe."

Hu Li zipped up his jacket and raised his brows, "That's really great."

Priority was given to taking away Shi Bu, the unconscious victim, while the others protected Citizen Jiang, who claimed to be frightened, and left.

Hu Li and the remaining team stayed behind to handle things and look for any useful information.

The third underground level was used for resting and storing weapons and other items, similar to the previously raided hideouts. One valuable find was a list retrieved from the office computer.

The list contained a series of contacts, some with addresses and additional information, while others lacked details. At the top was only one name: "Shi Bu," without any contact information or address. Near the bottom, one name was highlighted in red – most likely the friend Jiang Yujin mentioned, also named Shi Bu, who got involved due to sharing the same name.

Zero was looking for Shi Bu, which was the only good news they got today. They originally thought that Shi Bu was probably a high-ranking member of Zero, but they didn't expect that the other party had not cooperated with Zero, at least not yet. Judging from the current situation, he might be against Zero.

The list was recorded and sent to headquarters. Hu Li changed out of his heavy attire and back into his colorful shirt.

In short, it was time to call it a day.

Chapter 44.2 – Dating Agency Back Online

With everyone settled, the operational members of the task force left, leaving the non-combatants who were supposed to finish their shifts.

The two tourist buses used to transport individuals had been found. They were recently acquired by a travel agency, mysteriously disappearing one day with no clues until they turned up here.

The other detained individuals had no external injuries but were severely shocked. Some were afraid to return home and sat nervously in the SIU lobby, reluctant to move. A few people surrounded them, patiently coaxing them.

The civilian named Shi Bu, who had fainted, was taken to the hospital. He woke up in the middle of the night, alone and desolate in the hospital bed. There were people outside, members of the SIU. When they learned he wanted to see his friend and had no phone, they kindly lent him one.

He dialed a series of numbers, holding the phone quietly.

After what seemed like an eternity, just before the automatic disconnection, the call connected. Shi Bu called out "brother," and an unintelligible voice responded from the other end.

It sounded like someone speaking but more likely was sleep-talking. In any case, the person seemed to be sleeping deeply.

Shi Bu said, "Brother, have a good rest", and hung up tearfully.

"…"

The member of the SIU took the phone back in silence.

There were warnings about this person being potentially highly dangerous. Despite the low probability, they remained cautious.

As expected, sometimes a low probability had its reasons.

After Jiang Yujin returned home, he took a shower and went straight to bed. It wasn't until the next morning, when he reached for his phone to play Xiaoxiaole, that he noticed the call log on the screen and realized he had answered a phone call the previous night.

It was 11:30 now, an hour earlier than usual for him to wake up. Quietly impressed by his early rising, Jiang Yujin, clad in loose pajamas, got up. He rubbed his messy hair as he headed towards the bathroom, but halfway there, he abruptly stopped.

Quite unexpectedly, there were people in the living room, not just one but two – the high schooler and someone in a floral shirt. Both of them looked up as he paused.

His hand, which was tousling his hair, halted for a moment before resuming its motion. Jiang Yujin stifled a yawn, and his light-colored pupils, half-covered by drooping eyelids, met the gaze of the person in the floral shirt.

With a smirk, Hu Li said, "I have some more questions about yesterday's matter. I happened to be around here, so I came straight away."

Though Jiang Yujin had no objections to answering questions, he continued towards the bathroom.

When he emerged after brushing his teeth and washing his face, the high schooler who had been sitting on the couch stood up.

Chen Jing had intended to leave, but someone unexpectedly arrived before his departure, looking for someone who was still sound asleep in the room. Thus, he had to stay temporarily.

Now that the sleeper had woken up, he could finally leave.

Jiang Yujin sat down on the couch, and the high schooler placed breakfast in front of him before leaving and closing the door behind him.

Watching the high schooler leave, Hu Li turned to the person already eating breakfast beside him and remarked, "Your son is quite nice."

The high schooler had even prepared tea and, despite saying little, showed great initiative. Compared to the person in front of him who showed no inclination to prepare water.

Father Jiang glanced up. "You think so?"

Then he added, "Well, that's right."

There was absolutely no modesty in his agreement.

Hu Li, in a seemingly formal manner, took out a small black notebook and began asking the questions that hadn't been addressed from the previous night.

His eyes lifted slightly at the corners, naturally carrying a smile, saying, "These are just for record-keeping, don't overthink it. Just give truthful answers."

He chuckled, and Jiang Yujin also smiled, answering everything asked without changing his expression throughout, enjoying his meal. How much of his responses held truth or nonsense was known only to himself.

Click.

The information gathering concluded, Hu Li closed the notebook, neatly capped the pen with a faint sound. With nothing more to ask, he stood up. After a couple of steps, he turned back, smiling, "You're quite good at arranging things. Ever thought of trying out for the SIU?"

Jiang Yujin nodded, completely ignoring the last statement, accepting the compliment without a hint of guilt, "Indeed, I did a few months of security work before."

Outside the area he was responsible for lay a crossroad, bustling with traffic during rush hours. He often directed traffic there, quite experienced in managing these situations.

Surprised by the response he received, Hu Li's expression twitched slightly before bidding farewell and leaving.

Jiang Yujin chewed his mantou (steamed bun) and bid farewell as well. Once the door closed, he leisurely switched on the TV.

It wasn't time yet for the soap opera marathon today, but there was a midday rerun of the morning news, which would do for now.

Watching adjustments in the current social policies regarding elderly care, Citizen Jiang was already envisioning his own retirement life. Just as the news was about to transition to the next segment, his phone, placed aside, rang.

It was a call from the barber shop owner. Brief and concise as usual, "The person who went upstairs today stood down there for a long time."

Putting the call on speaker, Jiang Yujin continued eating and watching the news, "I know."

One could probably guess that not everyone in the SIU was as easily fooled as Xu Gao. He had anticipated some trouble while making the call yesterday.

Between Shi Bu being suspected by Zero and being doubted by the SIU, calling the latter seemed more worthwhile.

An issue based on subjective assumptions, lacking evidence and follow-up, would likely pass in a few days.

As a token of appreciation for the friendly heads-up from the dear barber shop owner, Jiang Yujin suggested a good opportunity, "Why don't you join the SIU? Great benefits and high pay. Your shop can be mine, and I'll take care of it for you."

The call ended, the other person declined his offer.

Despite the rejection, Jiang Yujin wasn't disheartened, putting his phone aside and continuing to watch the news.

The television aired recent societal news, emphasizing the ongoing reconstruction after the incident at Goose Square. The focus was on the commendable progress in post-disaster reconstruction, ensuring the square's owner and affiliated businesses would receive due subsidies and compensations.

After several segments of societal news, the financial news section began. Just as the screen changed, a familiar face, sporting a billion-dollar expression, appeared.

"…"

Jiang Yujin promptly switched to a children's channel where the storyline involved elementary school protagonists venturing out to save the world late at night. The main character had their own small team: Little Red, Little Blue, and Little Pink, comprising a professional trio.

It felt oddly familiar.

After watching an episode of children saving the world, Citizen Jiang finished breakfast, turned off the TV, and headed downstairs for a walk.

He had been absent from the recent important discussions about street events, which is called gossip. The elderly folks were quite concerned about him. Finally seeing him back among the crowd, they happily pulled him into the chatter.

Amidst the gossip and cracking sunflower seeds, Citizen Jiang was engrossed in conversation when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He wiped his hands and answered, finding an unknown number on the screen.

Upon answering the call, a voice instantly spoke from the other end, beginning with, "Hello, this is the F City Dating Agency."

The surrounding gossip suddenly quieted down.

He had no recollection of any dating agency and was about to hang up. But just before pressing the disconnect button, the person on the line added, "Remember the lady who helped you fill out the application form?"

Jiang Yujin recalled vaguely, asking, "What's the matter?"

The caller clarified their identity, "I'm not that lady. She went in and hasn't come out. I'm her successor."

After the previous incident, the dating agency's reputation took a nosedive, yet their matchmaking abilities remained intact. They had a substantial pool of quality singles from both local and out-of-town sources. Despite the auntie's arrest due to involvement with an anti-social organization, her main concern before going in was her last client. She entrusted her successor to find a match for that specific client.

Listening in silence, Jiang Yujin felt an unexpected sense of respect for this auntie's dedication.

The caller continued, "Someone just contacted us today, located in the same city as you, wanting to meet you. You can choose the venue. Shall I send you the details?"

The gossip around him faded away completely as if awaiting his response.

Jiang Yujin seemed to notice something. When he lifted his gaze, he met many pairs of bright eyes.

Chapter 45.1 – No.6 Middle School (1)

With the enthusiastic help of a group of elderly men and women, Jiang Yujin successfully embarked on his first blind date in life.

The elderly folks also offered some advice on how to dress better, but when he left, he still wore the T-shirt he had repeatedly worn and washed.

Not wanting to be seen by people nearby but also not willing to go too far, Jiang Yujin chose a dining place in the adjacent district, neither close nor far away.

He found a small stir-fry restaurant that wasn't busy at mealtime. Only the owner was there, playing a familiar game on his phone – it was Xiaoxiaole.

The other male guest was quite far away and would take some time to arrive. Jiang Yujin took out his phone and started discussing game strategies with the owner while waiting.

Surprisingly, the owner, being the owner, had progressed several hundred levels beyond him.

When the pitch-black car outside stopped, two people inside were engrossed in the same phone. Upon hearing the noise outside, Jiang Yujin reluctantly lifted his distinguished head and saw the person approaching the door.

It was Lu Dongcheng, dressed impeccably, turning the entrance of the humble eatery into the approach of a grand estate.

As customers arrived, the owner looked up and, seeing the man in a shirt and suit, turned on the electric fan in the shop. The fan whirred loudly, drowning out even the sound of Xiaoxiaole.

Initially wanting to ask the customer which table to sit at, the owner noticed the other person looking directly at the person squatting on the side, realizing they were here together.

As the menu was handed over, Jiang Yujin restrained himself and ordered only two dishes. Lu Dongcheng put his phone aside and said, "This meal is on me."

Jiang Yujin was in a frenzy of ordering.

The owner took the menu to the kitchen to cook, leaving only the two sitting at the table. As soon as the owner left, the slightly alert eyes instantly drooped, showing no expression while looking at the person opposite.

Knowing he was waiting for an explanation, Lu Dongcheng said, "You blocked my number, so I had to resort to this method."

The first part of the sentence was true; but Jiang Yujin didn't believe the latter half at all. This person had many other ways to communicate if he wanted to, but he chose this one, clearly out of some indescribable mischievousness.

Whether it was mischievousness, only Lu Dongcheng knew. He smiled, "I just didn't expect you to come to a dating agency."

He also incidentally learned that people from the Special Investigation Unit collected the forms from the dating agency. That person from the SIU must have seen it. He said, "Your ex-boyfriend is truly pitiful."

While saying this, there was no trace of sympathy in his eyes.

Skipping this topic with a gesture, he straightforwardly asked, "So, what brings you to me?"

This person wasn't that idle, and wouldn't have bothered with this inexplicable arranged blind date if there wasn't anything going on, in principle, just for the sake of eating.

But Lu Dongcheng truly had that much free time. He casually tossed his coat aside, steered the conversation elsewhere, and brought up something else: "It was you who had Shi Bu come work for me."

It was a statement; there was no need for Jiang Yujin to admit or deny. He simply nodded and said, "I heard before that wherever he worked, things took off. His previous bosses all handed him a secure job. I think he should be a good fit for you."

As he spoke, he slowly lowered his eyes, veiling the regret within them.

It was unexpected that Shi Bu's talent for shutting down businesses would fail.

The person's mouth was running like a train, but Lu Dongcheng just laughed without confirming or denying.

The boss from the kitchen brought out the dishes. After serving the food, he returned to his own kitchen. Jiang Yujin objectively felt that the other party felt that the sound of the fan here was too noisy, which affected the experience of playing Xiaoxiaole.

Jiang Yujin picked up the bowl of rice, pulled out his chopsticks, and said, "If you have something to say, say it quickly. I'll leave after I finish eating."

This was his final reminder; he had no patience to listen to the other person continue beating around the bush.

Lu Dongcheng said, "Shi Bu has made the company a lot of money, and currently, no one can replace him. I've arranged his work history, so at least for now, no one will suspect him."

Jiang Yujin didn't even raise his head. "That's good, thank you."

"But you might not be able to hide anymore."

Jiang Yujin raised his eyes while chewing, his cheeks bulging.

"Zero has started looking for you," Lu Dongcheng met his gaze as Jiang Yujin puffed out his cheeks. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked, "Do you want to know who's controlling Zero?"

He said that if they went out for a walk later, he could tell him directly.

A simple condition to go out for a walk. Jiang Yujin replied, "Not interested."

Having anticipated this response, Lu Dongcheng wasn't surprised or affected at all. He continued his previous conversation, "No one disclosed the reason for seeking you."

The reason wasn't difficult to guess; after much thought, it boiled down to a few possibilities. And clearly, Jiang Yujin wasn't interested in those reasons either.

Or rather, Jiang Yujin never really took Zero seriously, mostly observing and occasionally feeling annoyed when his life was disturbed.

Lu Dongcheng said, "They are looking for Liuling."

Zero doesn't pose much of a threat to Jiang Yujin, but what they're searching for might.

Strange Species 'Liuling' possessed unique intelligence and was once part of the same dungeon as the Luosa Tree. Apart from its ability to create illusions, its eyes also had the power to record.

Everyone entering its environment and all actions taken within the illusion were faithfully captured by its eyes. If there's anything similar, it might be those occasional glass blocks in games specifically designed for recording images.

Though untested, a rumor persisted in the game that watering Liuling's eyes with branches from the Luosa Tree's seedling would reveal all the scenes it had recorded.

Zero had already figured out a way to cultivate the Luosa Tree. If Jiang Yujin remembered correctly, the last time the Luosa Tree fell, Xu Tonggui had taken a sapling.

He vaguely recalled a previous instance of entering a dungeon with Liuling, seemingly searching for something and leaving upon not finding it. The exact process had become hazy, but he remembered entering the illusion.

If memory served right, it was with Xu Tonggui.

"…"

Citizen Jiang wiped his mouth and then looked up, saying, "You seem quite knowledgeable about the affairs within Zero."

Lu Dongcheng replied calmly, "We've cooperated before."

Jiang Yujin remembered the first encounter in the mall, where the other person had taken something from the h*stage taker who had captured him, which didn't seem related to legitimate business activities.

After a brief consideration, he took out his phone, activated the recording function, and asked, "Could you repeat what you just said?"

Handing over the recording to the police would not only secure a position like the previous bosses of Shi Bu but also earn a considerable informant's fee. Everyone would have a brighter future.

However, Lu Dongcheng evidently had no desire to secure such a position.

Regretfully, Citizen Jiang stopped the recording, said what needed to be said, felt moderately full, stood up, and left, concluding this blind date.

Lu Dongcheng ate a bit more than usual, nearly finishing the food on the table. As he stood up, he took out his car keys and asked, "Shall I give you a ride?"

The other person had already put on their helmet and mounted the electric scooter, turning their head to say goodbye, despite not being keen on conversing.

Lu Dongcheng smiled, the expression reaching his eyes, waved, and said, "Thought this time might have been a success."

Chen Jing returned home in the evening. As he walked down the street, it wasn't his imagination; quite a few people seemed to be looking at him.

Facing an elderly woman with a hesitant expression, he asked, "Is something wrong?"

That night, the high schooler was informed by the elderly woman that he might soon have a stepfather.

"…"

The high schooler chose to remain silent.

Later, when Jiang Yujin returned, he found the high schooler already at home, seeming to have experienced something, his expression somewhat indescribable.

Taking off his cherished helmet and placing it on the shelf, Citizen Jiang casually smoothed down his messy hair and asked, "What happened?"

The high schooler repeated the elderly woman's words without any emotional inflection.

Jiang Yujin felt a pang of discomfort, consciously went to get a glass of water and drank it, saying, "No way, the other person wasn't interested in me."

He did go on a blind date.

Citizen Jiang glanced at the high schooler sideways. "Do you still remember your social practice in F City?"

Chen Jing understood and didn't say anything more.