Free Web NovelIt was common for the two factions of the Eclipse Society in Mountain City to backstab each other and vie for resources. After all, the gray and black resources that the Night Watch either couldn't or wouldn't touch were finite; if one faction didn't contend for them, the other would unceremoniously claim them.
Although Zhang Yu adhered to a similar moral code as his Old Dad, he wasn't as rigid as his Old Dad. He wouldn't fixate on the rewards for tasks dispatched by the Eclipse Society, but would instead appropriately blend in with the world.
Simply put, he sought wealth without harming lives. Relying on nightclubs, some indescribable, illicit industries, and the occasional tasks dispatched by the Eclipse Society, he could barely maintain the operations of the Chairman's faction of the Eclipse Society, which he led.
Sunrise Biotechnology Company, on the surface, sold biotechnology products. However, what truly made their products effective was the addition of low-quality Alchemy substances with a weak addictive property. Besides this, the trade of human and urban legend organs was also one of their main businesses.
In Zhang Yu's words, "They have no humanity at all!"
However, while he possessed a bit of humanity and wouldn't engage in such cruel acts, he didn't mind seizing opportunities to carve out some profit from Sunrise Biotechnology Company to enrich himself.
He saw the man in the photo over three months ago, when he received news that Sunrise Biotechnology Company was transporting a batch of source spirits into Mountain City.
He had long known that Sunrise Biotechnology Company regularly purchased large quantities of source spirits. These were raw materials used to make biological product additives. Although called source spirits, they were actually inferior goods containing a large amount of impurities. However, if the quantity was sufficient, it still represented a considerable fortune.
A movie called "A World Without Thieves" claimed that "robbers" lacked technical skill, a notion Zhang Yu completely disagreed with. To efficiently and successfully rob an organized group of Psychic, one absolutely could not act recklessly.
To successfully swallow this lucrative opportunity, he began preparations a week in advance: gathering manpower, investigating sources of information, probing transport routes, bribing Sunrise Biotechnology Company employees, studying the weather, and preparing targeted Alchemy potions...
Once all preparations were complete, he led three B Level Psychic and seven C-level Psychic, ambushing the transport team on their inevitable route and launching their operation under the cover of night.
Under the cover of night and heavy rain, with Spiritual Energy-suppressing Alchemy potions specifically made for the transporters leading the way, their operation initially went very smoothly. They took less than ten minutes to gain control of the transport personnel.
However, just as they opened the boxes and inspected the cargo on the transport vehicle, preparing to pack it up and leave, reinforcements from Sunrise Biotechnology Company miraculously appeared. The man in the photo was the one leading the reinforcements.
For the sake of secrecy, Zhang Yu hadn't brought too many people. Moreover, the man in the photo seemed to have only recently joined Sunrise Biotechnology Company, and there was no relevant intelligence on him. After the reinforcements arrived and a brief skirmish, they quickly found themselves at a disadvantage and were forced to retreat.
In fact, such failures were common during the long period of mutual scheming and struggle between the Elder faction and the Chairman's faction of the Eclipse Society in Mountain City.
If he was outmaneuvered, he just needed to find a way to get even next time.
The only thing that puzzled Zhang Yu was that the man, after suddenly arriving with reinforcements and catching them off guard, did not order a pursuit.
One must know that if given the chance, the Elder Council would want the members of the Chairman's faction dead even more than the Night Watch. The Night Watch would try to recruit, while the Elder Council would only seek to annihilate.
Appearing in the Sunrise Biotechnology Company team without warning, unusual behavior, and a remarkable Spiritual Energy fluctuation level... these three factors combined gave Zhang Yu reason to suspect that the man was sent by the Elder Council.
After suffering a major setback and retreating all the way back to Mountain City, Zhang Yu immediately began investigating the man. The results of his investigation further convinced him that the man was a powerful individual parachuted into Mountain City by the Elder Council.
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"You mean you investigated that guy? And found out he was sent by the Elder Council?" Lu Yibei scrutinized Zhang Yu with a suspicious gaze. "Do you have detailed investigation results? I'd like to see them."
"This..." A hint of embarrassment appeared on Zhang Yu's face.
"Inconvenient for me to see?" Lu Yibei tilted her head expressionlessly.
"No, you misunderstand," Zhang Yu explained. "Just to be safe, subordinates usually burn investigation results and similar documents after reading them, leaving no physical copy."
He paused, then raised a finger to his head. "However, I've memorized everything. If you need it, I can write it down for you."
Seeing Zhang Yu's carefulness, Lu Yibei silently praised him in her heart. If it weren't for the urgency of the situation and her concern for Jiang Li's safety, she would have even complimented him a few times.
"No need to write it down, just tell me."
When it came to memory, she had always been capable.
"Understood." Zhang Yu nodded, recalled briefly, then pointed to the photo on the table and began. "This man's name is Dai Lin, Spiritual Energy fluctuation level A-..."
"Zhang Shuisheng can actually command an A-level Spirit Ability User?" Lu Yibei interrupted, having found a suspicious point.
Although the old saying /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ goes that money makes the world go round, to command an A-level Spirit Ability User, even an A-level Spirit Ability User, Zhang Shuisheng probably didn't have that much money.
Not all Psychic or urban legend were like Ju Meng, who only needed you to spend ten single-pulls for her to do something for you.
"At first, I also found it strange. But if he was sent by the Elder Council to help Zhang Shuisheng suppress me, or if the Elder Council discovered Zhang Shuisheng's rebellious actions and sent him to replace him, then it makes sense, doesn't it?" Zhang Yu said.
Lu Yibei nodded, acknowledging Zhang Yu, and gestured with her eyes for him to continue.
"Furthermore, the earliest information on this man named Dai Lin within the Eclipse Society only dates back to a year ago. In this past year, he was mostly active in the Pearl River Delta region, participating in several battles between the Eclipse Society and Spiritual Energy organizations in Southeast Asia.
My friends there, during their investigation, also provided me with a lot of information about his abilities. Although no definite Power was found, it's certain that his Power is related to the fear of human opponents.
Judging solely by his resume, he seems like a newcomer, but the resume of an A-level Spirit Ability User shouldn't be so clean. I suspect his identity is fabricated, and the reason for the fabrication..."
"To conceal his identity as an Elder Council member?" Lu Yibei interjected.
"That's what I think too," Zhang Yu said, glancing at Dorees beside Lu Yibei. "He's very likely a trusted confidant secretly cultivated by the Elder Council, just like Miss Dorees."
"I understand." Lu Yibei nodded, then after a brief thought, pressed on, "When you investigated, did you find out where he frequently appeared? Or rather, who did he have contact with?"
Some say a person can never escape their past, no matter how hard they try, it will eventually catch up to them.
Although the guy named Dai Lin likely left Mountain City after abducting Jiang Li, since he stayed in Mountain City for over three months, he must have left traces. Starting with these traces would make the pursuit twice as effective.
"Yes, he often appeared near a small church in Nanbei District and had close contact with the owner of a mahjong parlor named Shanxing Mahjong Hall there." Zhang Yu paused, then added, "I also briefly investigated that Mahjong Parlor Owner. He's secretly involved in the illegal trade of Spiritual Energy items."
"I suspect he was using the Mahjong Parlor Owner to relay messages to his accomplices, or perhaps to procure Spiritual Energy items, preparing for something."
Hearing Zhang Yu say that Dai Lin was suspected of procuring Spiritual Energy items for a certain matter, Lu Yibei's hands, resting on the chair, subtly tightened their grip on the armrests. She asked, her expression unchanged, "Anything else?"
"..." Zhang Yu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No, besides going to Shanxing Mahjong Hall, that guy rarely left the residence Zhang Shuisheng arranged for him."
"I see." Lu Yibei's face was expressionless, as if she was only somewhat interested in Dai Lin, but not particularly concerned. "If there's nothing else, you can stay here for now, right?"
After speaking, she stood up, exchanged glances with Dorees, and started to walk out.
Although the information Zhang Yu provided wasn't extensive, it was useful. With the information he provided, coupled with the photos taken by the surveillance at Sanxia Mental Hospital, and the intelligence networks of Lin Nian and Void, Dai Lin's whereabouts should be quickly discovered.
And then, it would be time to track him down...
Three days.
How far could he have run in three days? Lu Yibei wondered.
Seeing Lu Yibei about to leave, and with no intention of recalling him to her God Kingdom, Zhang Yu was stunned. After a few seconds of hesitation, he cautiously probed, "Stay here... to do what?"
"Do what you're supposed to do." Lu Yibei turned to Zhang Yu and said, "Aren't you responsible for arranging Dorees's internship? Then continue with her internship."
Although she really wanted to infiltrate the Eclipse Society to rescue her Old Dad's remnant soul, now was not the time.
Zhang Yu and Dorees could very well be key to her infiltrating the Eclipse Society and accessing its core secrets. Before she truly took action, they absolutely couldn't be exposed. So for now, it was better to let them act as if nothing had happened and carry on as usual. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
In the sudden silence, Zhang Yu watched, dumbfounded, as Lu Yibei left, until her figure disappeared behind the door.
The Disaster... just returned my freedom like that?
Only after I had worked intensely for her for twenty-eight hours?
Then why did she even sign a servitude contract with me? Zhang Yu wondered.
At this moment, he felt an unreality, as if he had casually bought a lottery ticket and won the grand prize.
After a long moment of stunned silence, he looked at Dorees beside him and quietly asked, "Miss Hatuoer, in your opinion, what kind of urban legend is your Teacher?"
"Does that even need asking?" Dorees answered without thinking. "Teacher is, of course, a urban legend who hates evil, is astute and capable, and possesses noble character!"
Zhang Yu, "..."
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Nine Street, Mountain City, the scorching sun blazed overhead, and the daytime streets were deserted.
Lu Yibei had just left CHARMCLUB and stepped onto the street. She pulled out her phone, preparing to send a message to Void, when she received a notification for an email on the Night Watch intranet.
She tapped to open the email and glanced at it; the content was simple and clear—application rejected.
The next moment, her phone rang.
The call was from Inspector Xing Yuan...
