It was raining again in Xigu City.
Qin Xuezhong turned off all the lights, allowing the neon lights from outside to seep in, creating a somewhat dreamlike atmosphere. She sat by the window, watching the shapes of light refracted by the raindrops on the glass dance upon the key in her hand.
This was not an ordinary key.
The key had an ancient medieval design, made of brass, with a hollow floral pattern on the handle and intricate engravings on its surface. When Qin Xuezhong placed her hand on it, the entire pattern began to glow, activating the miniature laser module above her.
She had checked online, and the lasers emitted by this module contained a massive amount of constantly changing keys that were paired with the lock, ensuring maximum security. At least from this key, it was clear that Fifth Ningyi placed great importance on what was inside.
There was another detail—Fifth Ningyi had only given the key to the bartender after Yue Zhao was taken to the laboratory. This made Qin Xuezhong feel that although Fifth Ningyi was crazy enough to know about Yue Zhao's clone, her act of handing over the key still carried a sense of farewell to the past.
As a member of the Fifth family, she couldn't possibly be unaware of Tang Kede. Perhaps she had always understood that collaborating with him was a path of no return. So, she might have kept some treasured items in that room. There could be crucial clues inside.
But this time, she didn't want to go by herself.
Out of curiosity, she had agreed to Kays' commission yesterday, which led to such a huge mess that ended ambiguously. Today, she decided to flip the script, passing on tasks to others whenever possible. Why go looking for trouble herself?
Qin Xuezhong logged back onto the training device.
As soon as she connected, she received an apology from Kays:
[Boss, I'm really sorry. We were unprepared for tonight and caused you trouble; truly sorry! I've already transferred the payment for the task to you, so please make sure to accept it. Again, my apologies!]
As a businessman, Kays was indeed very sharp. The incident at the concert had been an accident, not anyone's fault. Yet he immediately took responsibility, offered full payment, and showed genuine sincerity.
This way, even if the collaboration didn't go smoothly this time, Qin Xuezhong wouldn't feel awkward if there were future opportunities.
However, Qin Xuezhong was an honest person. Since she hadn't done anything, she couldn't accept the money, even though Kays was offering a full hundred thousand credit points—more than all of Qin Xuezhong's assets combined.
Seeing Kays online, she selected a voice changer and called him: "Kays, you can keep the money. I didn't do anything, so I won't take it."
"Boss, this…"
"Alright, no need to say more." Qin Xuezhong confidently played the role of the boss. "You can help me with a small favor, and we'll be even, how about that?"
"Sure! Just tell me, boss." Kays sounded pleased, relieved that the boss wanted to ask him for help; this was a good start. Building connections was all about mutual give-and-take.
Qin Xuezhong thought for a moment and said, "I have a friend who needs a reliable detective to find clues in an old house."
Without a moment's hesitation, Kays sent Qin Xuezhong a key and a website link.
"Boss, this is the top mercenary club in Xigu City, which I manage myself. Just let your friend register using this key."
"Okay, thanks."
"Don't mention it, boss! Let's stay in touch~"
Qin Xuezhong quickly logged off and accessed the website Kays had provided.
She had no worries about Kays being a scammer—firstly, it was unnecessary, and secondly, she could trace others through the internet.
Kays was very sharp; the key he gave Qin Xuezhong represented a shareholder-client status that didn't require payment. This meant she could choose freely, and Kays would cover all costs.
Moreover, rejecting his offer now would seem pretentious.
She decided to go all out, selecting the best private detective in the detective section.
[Code Name: Shipfire]
[Skills: Crime scene investigation, tracking, evidence analysis, stalking, counter-stalking, real-time chip protection]
[Price: (Expenses covered by the club for shareholder clients; feel free to choose)]
[Key item transfer: Handled by club couriers (with video tracking throughout)]
He was the one.
Qin Xuezhong confirmed the selection, scheduling for tomorrow evening. At that time, a courier would come to collect the key and hand it to Shipfire, ensuring maximum privacy for both parties.
Unbeknownst to her, at the moment she logged into the club, the operator of the club immediately called Kays in a panic.
"Kays! Did you just give away a shareholder-client key?!"
Kays was bewildered. "Yeah, I got to know a big boss in the training device, and she said it was for her friend."
"It's Ghost! The subway ghost!"
Kays froze. "Are you sure?"
"Who else could log into our system without leaving a trace of data? Not a single clue!"
"Wow, no wonder she's a big boss… either she is a ghost, or her friend is a ghost…" Kays muttered in shock.
"Kays, do we need to do anything?"
"Do nothing, just act as if nothing happened!" Kays paused, then added, "No, since the ghost commissioned a detective to check the house, let's spread the word that it's a ghost's business so everyone knows to be discreet and not to trouble the detective!"
"Understood!"
---
Qin Xuezhong never imagined that the detective she had commissioned, "Shipfire," was actually her direct superior, Xue Zhishi, the head of the analysis department.
In fact, not many in the public security bureau knew Xue Zhishi well.
Everyone only knew that he had been a senior agent at headquarters before being transferred to the Bay Flow District to become a small department head. His defining characteristic was that he spent his days slacking off and dodging responsibilities.
Only Jin Anan had heard a bit of gossip during a business trip to headquarters.
It was said that long ago, Old Xue and his partner were both virtual dream agents at headquarters, responsible for clearing illegal virtual dreams and consciousness drugs from the market.
During an operation, Xue Zhishi built a consciousness firewall for protection while his partner was in charge of attacking and searching.
On one occasion, they fell into a consciousness trap, and his partner died in the dream. Overwhelmed with rage, he caused the deaths of numerous suspects.
Later, he voluntarily took a long leave of absence, eventually landing in the Bay Flow District's public security bureau's analysis department.
His slacking demeanor led everyone to believe he had given up and was there to retire.
However, in reality, he had been secretly investigating the mastermind behind his partner's death.
To this end, he even registered a mercenary club, occasionally taking on tasks that might be related in hopes of discovering clues.
Due to his exceptional skills and inherent high permissions, he navigated many commissions with ease, gradually becoming the club's top detective.
Today, he had taken leave under the pretext of personal business to fulfill a commissioned task he received at the club.
Those who commissioned him were all shareholders and clients of the club.
These people had considerable power, extensive connections, and abundant resources, making their matters often entangled with many others.
He also had the right to refuse.
However, even though it was dangerous, for him, understanding more about the underground world could potentially lead him to uncover the truth from back then.
Disguised and driving a rented anonymous car, he received the key delivered by the courier on the way and arrived at the target location.
It was an old apartment on the outskirts of Jincheng District, once quite expensive, but now, due to poor urban planning, the area had seen a significant decline in population. Coupled with its proximity to the western slums, the safety here was somewhat chaotic.
Xue Zhishi had long been prepared for this, bringing weapons, planning escape routes, and even preparing several backup vehicles.
However, upon arriving, he was taken aback.
The formerly dirty and chaotic street, where there were once small gangs lurking, had suddenly transformed—quiet and clean, with every shop front meticulously maintained, devoid of any clutter.
Even the clothes that used to hang haphazardly on balconies were nowhere to be seen.
Xue Zhishi momentarily felt disoriented, even wondering if he had come to the wrong place—was there some new development he hadn't heard about?
As he parked the car, a man in black who had been keeping watch at the street corner quickly jogged over.
With tattoos and modifications that spoke of a life spent on the streets, this imposing figure was impeccably dressed, hair neatly styled, and wore a flattering smile on his face.
Worried that Xue Zhishi might misunderstand, he even raised both hands to indicate he meant no harm.
"Are you the detective, sir? You don't need to be nervous; we've fully secured this area. No outsiders will disturb your work, and that room is heavily protected—no one has entered, nor is anyone lying in wait."
Xue Zhishi was bewildered. What kind of significant commission had he accepted that warranted such an operation?
Typically, investigations like this would either be conducted in secrecy or take place in a dirty, chaotic environment, keeping one's guard up at all times.
But today's scene left him utterly perplexed.
In fact, even Kays had underestimated the influence of the "Subway Ghost."
The intermediary who had died was a powerful figure in Xigu City, and just like that, someone had eliminated him without a trace, terrifying everyone.
When it became known that a ghost had sent someone to handle matters, everyone feared making a mistake and incurring the ghost's wrath.
Thus, today's extraordinary scene unfolded.
Amid the welcoming and guidance from local gang members, Xue Zhishi reached the door of the target room.
In the hallway, a variety of items had been neatly arranged. From exaggerated blast-proof armor and rocket launchers to practical scanners and door-breach tools, even snacks and face towels were provided.
Xue Zhishi felt that regardless of whether he was heading to battle or on a beach vacation, he could find suitable attire and equipment here.
What was going on?!
Suppressing his doubts, he focused on the door.
It was an ordinary apartment door, but the lock had been modified. The alteration was so clever that from the outside, it appeared to be an ordinary old lock, but a flashlight revealed a completely different internal structure.
Xue Zhishi's first impression was one of exquisite deception.
Once he successfully opened the door and stepped inside, he was greeted by a pair of identical rooms.
From the moment he entered, everything was in pairs.
At the entrance were two pairs of slippers, the bathroom held two toothbrushes, the sofa had two matching throw pillows, and the dining table was set with a pair of cute dinnerware.
On the walls hung countless photos, showcasing sweet smiles.
Xue Zhishi immediately recognized the two main characters from a recent major case in the Security Department—the deceased Fifth Ningyi and the suspect Yue Zhao.
It was clear that whoever had decorated this room had done so with genuine affection.
However, the sofa and furniture were all covered with transparent plastic sheets, thick with dust.
Xue Zhishi conducted a rough inspection, then cautiously searched for clues throughout the room.
The shoe cabinet held shoe boxes filled with receipts from every shopping trip, neatly organized in a booklet, including both men's and women's items.
The nightstand contained various movie tickets, admission tickets, transport tickets, and dining receipts.
In Xigu City, almost all industries had gone paperless.
To print these items on-site was impossible; one had to go to the government archives, slowly printing on an ancient printer, not to mention waiting in line.
Just organizing these items alone would have taken considerable time, not to mention the effort required to print the receipts.
After searching the house thoroughly, aside from countless tokens of love, Xue Zhishi found nothing else.
Suddenly, he recalled an earlier moment in the office when Jin Anan had shared how fans discovered that Yue Zhao might have a clone, having once shared a map showing the various places Yue Zhao had been caught seeking photos.
Jin Anan used that map to prove that Yue Zhao's appearances were quite peculiar.
With this in mind, Xue Zhishi scanned all the receipts in the room and created a map.
Overlaying the two maps, he identified a problem.
Typically, a person's frequent destinations and activity range would fall within a general area—like restaurants or malls near their home or office—forming a rough circle centered around those locations.
This was well-reflected on the map—many of Yue Zhao's trajectories emanated from this house; there were also quite a few near Yue Zhao's current residence.
However, there were many activity trails that were neither near this house nor Yue Zhao's home.
Previously unnoticed, now, after ruling out the two locations, he recognized a pattern.
These trajectories also formed a general circle.
Even to an outsider, it was now clear that near the center of this circle, there was a stronghold associated with Yue Zhao.