Free Web NovelChapter 125: Chapter 125: Preventing Problems Before They Happen
After parting with the Dwarf’s Wife, Bai Wu headed to the Investigation Corps division and contacted Liu Chengzi, ready to work overtime to find clues about the missing girl case.
The configuration of the interrogation team had significantly improved. Since Bai Wu had solved over a hundred cases and cracked the case of Yan Jiu’s disappearance, the interrogation team had received quite a bit of funding from the higher-ups.
Yun Shu had even changed into a set of nice clothes, and Xue Ci had switched to a hairstyle his best friend preferred more.
Together with Liu Chengzi, the two men and two women started to go through all the reports of missing cases in the new interrogation team office.
As for the files on the missing girl case, they had actually existed for several years, but back then, the case was handled by the sixth squad. At Bai Wu’s request, both new and old files were all dug out.
After Bai Wu solved two cases, the chief of the interrogation team, Tian Xun, had an air of pride that was no less than that of the Vanguard Group.
Now everyone was willing to give Tian Xun some respect, so accessing the archives was not a difficult task for the seventh squad’s interrogation team.
Bai Wu worked until late at night. The culprits in these cases mostly had clean and decisive methods, and there was practically no pattern to when they would target and strike.
In the northeastern, southeastern, southwestern, and northwestern districts, although the number of missing girls differed, the gap was not significant.
Though the criminals were brazen in their actions, they displayed a certain randomness without any clear tendencies.
This gave Bai Wu the feeling that as long as it was a beautiful woman, she could potentially be taken by them.
Moreover, the Dwarf’s Wife was different this time; she had realized she was being watched several days ago and had been safe up to now.
"It seems that previously it indeed wasn’t the work of the Tower God Society, but other high-ranking individuals. This is strange, why would the Tower God Society suddenly target the Dwarf?"
Ruan Qingyun was a top figure at the base level, but in the eyes of the nobility, she was nothing more than a big ant, so the purpose of taking Ruan Qingyun was to intimidate the Dwarf.
But Bai Wu always felt there was something wrong.
"The missing girl case needs bait. However, even if we have the bait, attracting the fish will take some time. Right now, the most critical issue is the Dwarf’s Wife. What is the Tower God Society planning? Why haven’t they taken the Dwarf’s Wife?"
"Speaking of which, I wanted to join them once, and they said there was a trial for me, why haven’t they contacted me? They don’t want someone with high potential like me?"
Bai Wu felt quite frustrated that, unlike the sought-after experts of the Garrison Corps and the Investigation Corps, he was being snubbed.
"I have to go first." He stood up.
Yun Shu asked,
"Are you leaving just like that? Did you find any clues?"
"No clues. I’ve simply summarized some commonalities, which I’ve noted on paper. It lists out many characteristics and the backgrounds of missing girls; starting tomorrow, based on these entries, you should look for a similar girl, but remember, be discreet."
Liu Chengzi understood—Bai Wu was planning to fish:
"What about you? Where are you going?"
"I remembered some things I need to discuss with the captain."
Bai Wu left cleanly and decisively.
Exiting the interrogation team’s office, he went straight to Wu Jiu’s office.
"Captain, it’s me, Bai Wu."
"Come in."
Although it was late at night, Bai Wu knew the captain would surely be dealing with various Legion affairs. Wu Jiu was slightly surprised, as Bai Wu rarely stayed on the second layer so late:
"Sit down, what’s the matter?"
Bai Wu nodded and, not wanting any mishaps to befall the Dwarf’s Wife, spoke straightforwardly about everything that had happened that day.
"I’ve been paying attention to this case, I had no idea she would get involved too."
Wu Jiu furrowed his brows and, due to some fatigue, closed his eyes and rubbed his Bright Hall acupoint with his fingers, saying in a low voice:
"Are you sure it’s the Tower God Society?"
"Yes."
"I’ve never known who the leader of the Tower God Society is, but I only know that they are active on the third and fourth layers."
"Isn’t the fourth floor all managers?"
"Yes, those black, pyramidal buildings also house many responsible for weapon production. These weapons are ineffective outside of the tower but effective within it. I had speculated that one source of the Tower God Society’s revenue might be as a weapons manufacturer."
"Are these weapons... very strong?"
"I was fortunate to witness their power alongside the captain, and their might is said to rival some of the heavy firearms from the Pre-Tower Era. Moreover, the ammunition is quite special, related to crystal mines. Even if your Innate Force is at the fourth or fifth tier, a direct hit can be fatal."
This was an area of knowledge Bai Wu wasn’t familiar with, and he said:
"For now, we should find someone to protect Sister Ruan. I’ve clashed with them before; they must be aware of Sister Ruan and your relationship, captain."
"What’s your opinion on this matter?" Wu Jiu asked sternly.
"The missing girls’ cases should have nothing to do with the Tower God Society, at least for now. The Tower God Society targeting Sister Ruan is most likely a ploy to shift the blame and confuse the investigation by imitating crimes."
"Go on."
"We’ve had dealings with the Tower God Society. This group is insane, and I’m not sure what they’re planning, but it’s definitely aimed at you, captain. Their methods are nothing more than kidnapping Sister Ruan. They probably haven’t realized that we’re onto them, so keeping Sister Ruan in a state of absolute safety will allow us to counter their every move without changing our own."
As Bai Wu was speaking, he opened his backpack and said:
"Oh right, captain, give this to the mistress. Have her keep it close to her body."
In Bai Wu’s hand was the conch shell that could communicate with Yan Jiu.
As soon as Bai Wu took it out, Yan Jiu began a stream of greetings.
Bai Wu paid it no mind.
It all roughly meant: "Are you there, are you there, are you there, are there? I miss you, what are you doing, I learned some new things from Sister Chengzi recently, I miss you so much, do you like my drawing?"
Wu Jiu took the conch shell, realizing Bai Wu’s intention. As long as it was kept close, Yan Jiu could inform Ruan Qingyun of her whereabouts.
During times of crisis, this was also a method of protection. And Bai Wu’s move was something even Cain hadn’t anticipated.
However, Wu Jiu still keenly noticed something amiss in Bai Wu’s words:
"You’re calling her mistress? Did you join Ghost Grinding too?"
"No, you’re my boss, so wouldn’t that make her my mistress?" Bai Wu teased with a smile. ƒrēewebnovel.com
Wu Jiu coughed, then seriously said:
"I’m mostly out of the tower, and even when I return, I’m swamped with work, so I haven’t thought about these matters."
Bai Wu laughed; the captain was serious, but his tone carried a hint of regret.
It seems this calling of ’mistress’ wasn’t in vain.
It was late at night, and he didn’t plan to continue teasing the Dwarf. He said:
"Make sure the conch shell gets to the mistress. She’s smart, and she’ll understand its importance."
Wu Jiu said:
"Aren’t you afraid Miss Yan will get upset?"
"I introduced the mistress to her. She should be happy about it."
With good reason, Wu Jiu nodded:
"The two armies are having a military exercise, are you really not going to join? It’s just us two here, tell me the reason."
"Captain, I don’t have any quarrels with those other guys... wouldn’t it be a bit awkward if I were to go?"
Bai Wu left his sentence incomplete.
But miraculously, Wu Jiu got the message.
The first time he and Bai Wu went to a white area, they encountered a creature of Elijah’s level.
The second time they left the tower, they were enveloped in a purple glow and then arrived at the death flight.
The third time was even worse; once you entered the white stele, red level dangers could emerge.
The fourth time at the manor, although it was blue, virtually no normal person who went in came out.
Wu Jiu thought about it; maybe this was just saying that his group and Bai Wu were clashing?
But this time, the military exercises of both Legions were outside the tower, a matter of great importance. Regardless of the area, if Bai Wu were to enter and perform a traditional talent again, it’s likely the Garrison Corps and Investigation Corps would suffer a once-in-ninety-years calamity.
"Then I won’t force you. Before the end of the military exercises, you might as well stay inside the tower."
...
...
Late at night.
Wu Jiu stayed busy with various documents until eleven o’clock after Bai Wu left.
After eleven, he headed to the residential area on the second floor.
The second floor was much cleaner than the first, and the residences in the residential area were much more luxurious, although they couldn’t compare to the third floor.
But relatively speaking, the procedures to permanently reside on the second floor were much easier, and Ruan Qingyun actually lived on the second floor.
At this moment, Wu Jiu was outside the Lily Community where Ruan Qingyun resided.
Although he had always thought the name of the community was not very good, the house layouts here were still quite decent.
He knocked on the door and soon heard Ruan Qingyun’s voice:
"Who is it?"
"It’s me, Gu Qingyu."
"Oh, it’s Brother Jiu."
The door quickly opened; Ruan Qingyun was wearing a purple robe, revealing a stretch of collarbone.
Wu Jiu was somewhat puzzled; many people in the Investigation Corps didn’t know his name was Gu Qingyu, only recognizing him as Wu Jiu was fine, so why did even Ruan Qingyun change the nickname from Qingyu to Brother Jiu.
"What brings you here so late?"
"Hmm, Bai Wu talked to me about your matter today."
"Come in and talk."
There was a faint fragrance in the air, obviously Ruan Qingyun had just taken a bath; Wu Jiu didn’t enter.
He stood at the door with a serious expression:
"The people I can arrange are all asleep now; I will stay outside tonight. Tomorrow you come with me to the Investigation Corps headquarters, and after I appoint someone to protect you, you may return."
"So you’re going to stand outside all night?" Ruan Qingyun stared at Wu Jiu.
Wu Jiu didn’t see anything improper about it; he instead looked at Ruan Qingyun with an expression that seemed to ask, "What’s the problem?"
Then Wu Jiu took out a conch.
"This is something Bai Wu wanted to give you; you should keep it close to you. I hope you don’t have to use it, but if something unexpected happens, I can find you immediately with it."
Ruan Qingyun took the conch and instantly saw Yan Jiu.
Yan Jiu, who was currently at the Asylum on the third floor, hurriedly waved her hands and said:
"I’m just the messenger, don’t worry. Wu Jiu and I are just ordinary friends; I like Bai Wu!"
This was Ruan Qingyun’s first impression of Yan Jiu, the girl seemed worried about causing any misunderstanding and was earnestly clarifying something.
Ruan Qingyun smiled; in an instant, she understood the purpose of the conch and took quite a liking to the young girl.
Then she looked at Wu Jiu and said:
"Come in. How are you going to protect me if you’re outside and I’m inside?"
"I don’t need to, I can protect you even from the outside," Wu Jiu declined again.
"It’s cold outside, warm inside."
"I’m not afraid of the cold. Besides, the cold keeps one alert," Wu Jiu rebutted flawlessly.
Ruan Qingyun snapped:
"Just come in when I tell you to, stop being so wishy-washy! Am I gonna eat you up or something?"
Without caring that her movements were too forceful or that her loose robe might reveal something, she directly dragged Wu Jiu inside.
Then with a bang, Ruan Qingyun kicked the door shut with her calf.
...
...
Ruan Qingyun’s vigilance, coupled with Bai Wu’s prudence and Wu Jiu’s seriousness, resulted in the Tower God Society’s kidnapping plan being exposed early on.
In the days that followed, Ruan Qingyun reduced her movements significantly, spending most of her time on the second level, near the Investigation Corps.
This made it exceedingly difficult for the Tower God Society’s members to even approach her surveillance range, let alone monitor her.
The premature countering of their moves surprised the chairman of the Tower God Society.
On the third level of the High Tower, Lilith Restaurant.
The name of this restaurant came from the codename of its owner, Lilith, even though Western names had been gradually decreasing after The Era of the High Tower.
It has been roughly forty years since humanity entered the High Tower... As no foreign languages were used, even language itself had been completely forgotten.
To many of the new citizens of the High Tower, the name of Lilith Restaurant seemed odd, but it was also unique.
Although it’s called a restaurant, after nutritious meals had replaced all other food, there were very few customers, and what the place offered were some strange beverages.
Sipping a kind of green liquid, a beautiful woman wearing half a bronze mask was talking to her superior.
"The goods have been delivered, but the Garrison Corps will sooner or later find out there’s a problem. Both the Investigation Corps and the Garrison Corps keep records when they leave the Tower, as do the devices. More than two hundred sedatives have been taken, and if nothing happens it’s fine, but if your partner creates some trouble, we might face some difficulties," she said.
The tall and thin man furrowed his eyebrows, asking: freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"Are you saying he might have deceived me?"
The beautiful woman in the red dress shook her head:
"The fact that he managed to make you agree to this deal shows he’s quite special. But the sedatives are contraband for both armies, over two hundred may not seem much, but at this moment, that could be problematic."
This woman, who had always been responsible for arranging various gambling and congregational affairs, was the brains of the entire Tower God Society.
The tall, thin man said:
"He is indeed very special and, in a sense, closer to a god than I am. I’ve heard what you said, and I’ll be more careful."
"Give up on kidnapping that woman, we shouldn’t provoke a too powerful enemy head-on right now," the half-masked beauty emphasized.
"A deal is a deal; we can’t back out halfway," the tall and thin man seemed to still be hung up on a favor from someone.
"With the situation as it is, obviously we can’t get our hands on her. The Little Dwarf’s response was very timely, and I even feel he has discovered it’s us."
"Discovered us? How can you be sure? Is his observational skill that sharp?"
The beautiful woman said:
"I’ve personally confirmed with my abilities that the bodyguards arranged by the Investigation Corps all possess Sequences, and their Sequences happen to counter you. The Sequences shared by your Legion are useless against them, so the chances of success with a forceful approach are very low."
After a slight pause, the beautiful woman continued seriously:
"There are also very smart people on their side. The more people we send, the more likely we are to expose ourselves."
(In the upcoming story, there will be an explosive moment, essentially a dual burst from the main character and Wu Jiu. I’ll try to present it in the next couple of days. Also, let’s set a rule for an additional week-long Chapter update: currently at 261 monthly tickets, for every additional two hundred tickets, I’ll add an extra Chapter of four thousand words. Yep, I can’t maintain it for too long, given my hand injury.)
