Jiang Baimian quickly smoothed things over for Shang Jianyao:
“Investigating this matter gave us an extra 50 Orei.”
Focas, whose nickname was “Lion,” nodded:
“Tell me in detail about your investigation process.”
He walked back to his desk step by step and sat down.
Throughout this process, he didn’t invite Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian to find seats themselves, as if they were just two subordinates reporting to him.
It's really not easy to make money… Jiang Baimian perked up and began to recount how they had “accidentally” encountered Zhao Yide and taken on this mission, all the way to waiting for Shen Kui, subduing him, and confirming that the "Anti-intellectualism Church" was indeed behind it.
As for how they managed to find out which people were “strangers” from Zhao Shouren, the Zhao family's steward, how they made Shen Kui confess the truth, and how they ensured that he wouldn't voluntarily reveal the fact that he had been captured, Jiang Baimian only vaguely mentioned “We have some little tricks,” confidently displaying the attitude that they had secrets in this area.
For many relic hunter teams, this wasn’t an uncommon situation—everyone had skills they couldn’t reveal to outsiders, their means of survival.
Focas raised his hand and touched his chin, abruptly asking a question:
“Why didn’t you monitor the area near Zhao Family Manor, but instead chose the road further away?”
As expected of someone who’s braved mountains of knives and seas of blood, his sense of smell is very sharp… Jiang Baimian replied with a smile:
“We were worried that the 'Anti-intellectualism Church' would pay special attention to the monitoring points around the manor.”
Focas pondered for a few seconds and chuckled:
“The hunter team that previously investigated and found strangers entering and exiting the manor was really lucky.”
“Yes, indeed.” Shang Jianyao deeply agreed.
Seeing that General Focas had easily noticed the problem she had deliberately presented, Jiang Baimian breathed a sigh of relief and said:
“The 'Anti-intellectualism Church' has precedents for this.”
She then roughly recounted the action planned by the real "Father" in Wild Grass City.
Focas listened quietly and revealed a slightly sarcastic smile:
“They want to plot against me?”
Without waiting for Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian to answer, he stood up with great momentum:
“I really want to see what they want to do.
“Do you recognize all the suspicious ‘strangers’?”
“Yes.” Shang Jianyao answered frankly.
Focas smiled:
“That’s good. Two days later, at nine in the morning, meet my guard here, and we’ll directly go and arrest people!”
He didn’t seem to worry about stepping into a trap at all.
“Don’t you want to pick an auspicious time?” Shang Jianyao asked in reply.
“Auspicious time” was a phrase in Ashtown language. Since Shang Jianyao was speaking in Red River language, he wasn't sure if there was a specific term for it, so he used “lucky time” to express his meaning.
“Lucky time?” Focas asked back in confusion.
“For example, two or three in the morning, when everyone is asleep.” Shang Jianyao gave an example.
Focas laughed heartily:
“No need. They don’t deserve me treating them like that.”
Saying things like that often doesn’t end well… General, don’t be a jinx… Jiang Baimian tried hard to change the topic:
“After participating in this action, we’ll receive the corresponding reward?”
As she spoke, her gaze swept over the two guards stationed in the study.
“This isn’t something I should answer. It’s determined by your employer,” Focas said confidently, “but I think there shouldn’t be any problems.”
Without waiting for Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao to ask further questions, he sat down, looking slightly tired:
“You can leave now. Remember the time.”
Shang Jianyao looked surprised and said:
“Aren’t you going to keep us for lunch?”
Focas sized him up and suddenly smiled:
“Is this the price you’re paying?
“After the action is successful, I’ll invite you to the celebration banquet.”
“It’s a deal!” Shang Jianyao responded with bright eyes.
Then, he and Jiang Baimian left Focas's general residence and returned to the gray off-road vehicle.
Jiang Baimian looked in the rearview mirror as she drove:
“I even suspect that you and him have a blood relationship. He actually chose to go in recklessly.”
Shang Jianyao raised his hand and touched his hair:
“Probably not. If it’s really needed, it could be.”
Jiang Baimian immediately chuckled:
“You want to inherit his family fortune?”
“I will use his property for more meaningful purposes,” Shang Jianyao replied sincerely.
Jiang Baimian scoffed:
“For example, to fill your stomach?”
Without waiting for Shang Jianyao to reply, she turned the steering wheel and said seriously:
“At that time, we definitely won’t be the main target. Even if something unexpected happens, we’ll only be in the range of the affected area. The degree of danger isn’t too high. Well, let Old Ge put on his cloak and follow us. He’s the bane of most Awakened.
Speaking of this, Jiang Baimian smiled:
“Focas is reckless, but his strength should be very strong.
“Zhao Zhengqi should have mentioned to him that you are an Awakened, but when he met us, he only arranged for two guards.
“Either the entire building is under the gaze of a powerful expert, or he is that expert.”
That level of expert shouldn't bother pretending to be a guard and staying in the study. They could completely sit next to Focas in a straightforward manner.
“He’s very arrogant,” Shang Jianyao said his opinion. “But he's not bad, he actually promised to treat us to a big meal afterward.”
Jiang Baimian "mm-hmm"ed twice and drove the gray off-road vehicle towards the inspection point ahead on the street.
…………
Green Olive District, Rabe Street, Ugo Inn.
Jiang Baimian brought Shang Jianyao back here and asked the boss for the latest information:
“Were there any cases of 'Heartless Disease' yesterday?”
Ugo shook his head:
“No.
“If there are no more cases in the next two or three days, you can move back.”
His expression was normal, without any abnormalities.
“Hopefully.” Shang Jianyao sincerely expressed his expectation.
After leaving the inn, the two followed their plan and went to the rented house on Iron Medal Street to meet Bai Chen, Long Yuehong, and Genaeva.
After exchanging the results of their actions, Jiang Baimian laughed self-deprecatingly:
“I was so stupid to treat them as Red River language beginners who had received systematic company education.
“We’ll organize a textbook on Ashtown language for beginners later, using the first-grade elementary school one as a template.
“No rush, let’s take a nap this afternoon.”
After lunch, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong slept on the upper bunk of the bunk bed.
Just as Long Yuehong was about to complain that the other party was taking up too much space, Shang Jianyao raised his right hand and pinched his temples.
…………
Inside the "Sea of Origins," on the island with the golden elevator.
Shang Jianyao looked at himself sitting cross-legged at the elevator door, wearing a gray camouflage uniform, shook his head with pity, and sat down as well.
He said earnestly:
“You are me, and I am you. We are originally an inseparable part.
“Everyone has times of contradiction, and everyone gets into a state of struggle, but you can’t split yourself because of this and go to extremes.”
Seeing that the Shang Jianyao at the elevator door listened quietly to his words, Shang Jianyao smiled and said the last two words:
“So…”
That Shang Jianyao raised his hand, picked his ears, and asked with a smile:
“What are you saying? I can’t hear you. I’ve blocked my ears, afraid of being affected by the 'Reasoning Clown'.”
Shang Jianyao frowned slightly and looked at him.
Then, he also raised his hand and picked his ears.
After a few seconds, Shang Jianyao sighed:
“We are so alike, we made the same choice.
“I was still thinking about accepting you and letting you receive the best treatment in the hospital we built ourselves.”
That Shang Jianyao said to himself:
“Overcoming the last fear is the only way for you to reach the 'Corridor of the Mind.'
“Since you are afraid of losing your companions, then create opportunities to lose your companions, and find the opportunity to overcome your fear in that process.”
Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said:
“The nine of us get along well, why are you the only one who doesn’t fit in?
“Do you have any problems? Tell us and we can discuss it. Maybe there’s a solution.”
That Shang Jianyao smiled:
“Once you enter the 'Corridor of the Mind,' you can gain qualitative change and have the ability to accomplish your ideals.
“Creating opportunities to lose companions yourself, you can still control it to a certain extent and have the opportunity to make up for it, but passively waiting for opportunities to come, it is likely to be hopeless.”
Shang Jianyao sighed again:
“I suddenly don’t know what to say, so I’ll wish you an early New Year.”
The two of them blocked their ears like this, communicating like ducks talking to chickens.
And secretly, they were both trying to use "Sentimental Person" to try to get the other party to take off their "earplugs" and listen to them.
As a result, the two jumped up at the same time, threw their "earplugs," and smashed them at each other.
Once again, Shang Jianyao and Shang Jianyao ended in a draw.
…………
After leaving the "Sea of Origins," Shang Jianyao took another nap until four in the afternoon.
“How was it? I saw that you seemed to have entered the 'Sea of Origins,'” Long Yuehong asked with concern and curiosity.
Shang Jianyao sighed:
“We know each other too well, there’s only one result.”
That was a draw.
Jiang Baimian on the lower bunk thought for a while and said:
“Why don’t you listen to me, and I’ll plan a scheme for you?”