"Old Task Force" returned to the hotel camp and found Lehman waiting outside room "05."

The smuggler, who looked like an honest farmer, greeted Jiang BaiMian, Shang JianYao, and the others as soon as they got out of the car, smiling obsequiously:

"I heard you went into the 'Underground Ark' and met DiMarco?"

His eyes were full of expectation.

This time, he didn't bring his bodyguards, leaving them in the distance, because he had figured out that this team was stronger than he imagined, and there was almost no difference between having bodyguards and not having them.

He felt that even if he moved the military exoskeleton device ordered by his client for his own use first, it wouldn't make much sense. After all, the other party also had one, and at close range, how could an exoskeleton device stop an Awakened?

So, it was better not to bring bodyguards.

In Ashlands slang, this was called "showing sincerity."

Hearing Lehman's question, Jiang BaiMian jokingly quipped:

"You really have a lot of friends.

"Do you even have friends in the Vigilance Church?"

Lehman didn't deny it, nodding slightly:

"How was it? What did DiMarco say?"

"He said Lars found true love in the 'Underground Ark' and won't be returning to the surface. If you don't believe it, you can go to the Vigilance Church, and he'll let Lars have a video call with you," Jiang BaiMian replied, noticing the undisguised change in Lehman's expression.

He seemed a little disbelieving, and perhaps a little angry, but ultimately settled on the fact that a video call was possible.

This meant DiMarco wasn't lying.

Few people would tell a lie that would be exposed so quickly.

After a long silence, Lehman twitched his lips, as if trying to force a smile:

"I'll go confirm it.

"Thank you for your help."

Although she understood the other party's emotions and had some sympathy, Jiang BaiMian still asked:

"Then, what about the promised reward?"

"Which kind do you want?" Lehman quickly regained his composure on the surface.

Before Jiang BaiMian could answer, he added:

"What I meant before was that I would do my best to help you get controlled items, including military exoskeleton devices and t1 mechanical arms. This would consume the favors I've accumulated and create cracks in the relationships I've worked so hard to build.

"In other words, the reward refers to intangible but very valuable things like channels and routes. You still need to give sufficient value for the items themselves.

"Of course, I'll give you a discount and offer you the best possible deal."

Before Jiang BaiMian could respond, Shang JianYao interjected:

"But that's your lover!"

Lehman gave a bitter smile:

"It seems very likely that he isn't anymore."

So, the value has decreased? Jiang BaiMian was amused by this statement.

She realized that Lehman was essentially a shrewd businessman.

However, she herself didn't think that a few casual questions would be enough to get a military exoskeleton device or a relatively new mechanical arm. In her imagination, it should have been that her team risked life and limb in a hail of bullets and the interference of several Awakened, forcefully broke into the "Underground Ark," brought Lars out, and then justifiably received the reward from Lehman.

So, she didn't feel angry, and smiled:

"Aren't you afraid you won't be able to leave Redstone Collection for misleading us like this?"

Lehman's body stiffened instantly.

Tsk, our image as villains is quite deeply rooted… Seeing this scene, Long YueHong jokingly remarked in his heart.

Seeing that things were developing into "extortion," Jiang BaiMian stopped Shang JianYao from attempting to put on a performance in time, and sighed:

"Since you've lost your lover, let's do it this way.

"After you get back, use your channels and relationships to help us get a military exoskeleton device and a mechanical arm. The models can't be too old.

"When you get them, notify us, and we'll gather the supplies to trade."

Even if her team didn't need these controlled items at the time, they could still make a lot of money by reselling them.

"You want both a military exoskeleton device and a mechanical arm?" Lehman was a little troubled.

"Yes," Jiang BaiMian said without hesitation.

Seeing that the "villain" had already made a concession, Lehman couldn't bargain any further, and could only force a smile:

"No problem, but it will take a long time.

"How do I notify you?"

Jiang BaiMian already had a mature plan when she made the request, and said directly at this time:

"I'll give you a telegraph frequency and the corresponding password. After you get those two items, send us a telegram every night at eight o'clock, for a month.

"If we don't reply, you can freely dispose of those two items after a month."

She was going to give a telegram password that was common in the Ashlands, as it wasn't a secret matter anyway.

Lehman thought for a moment and agreed.

After seeing off the arms dealer, Jiang BaiMian looked around and said:

"Another matter resolved.

"Next, let's go inside Redstone Collection, find Mrs. Teresa, and ask who Hervig had a falling out with in the past month."

She reduced "had a conflict" to "had a falling out" to avoid omissions.

"I think it will be difficult to find out," Bai Chen expressed her opinion. "According to DiMarco, even a few jokes could trigger the killer's malice, and in daily life, jokes are played out every day. No one can remember clearly, just like Long YueHong can't say how many times Shang JianYao attacks him every day."

Long YueHong opened his mouth, only to realize that he really couldn't say.

"What if he could say it?" Shang JianYao asked, focusing on the wrong point.

Bai Chen pursed her lips and didn't answer. Jiang BaiMian laughed:

"That means his spirit has been damaged by you."

Before Long YueHong could react, she added:

"Fortunately, our Little Long has an optimistic, positive and sunny attitude."

"It's okay," Long YueHong said, feeling a little embarrassed.

Seeing this, Shang JianYao smiled and said:

"You still wet the bed when you were five."

"Get lost!" Long YueHong blurted out in anger.

…………

Inside Redstone Collection, in the "Gunfire" shop, the four members of the "Old Task Force" met Mrs. Teresa again.

She was still wearing that heavy black dress and a hat with a long black veil hanging down.

"Any progress?" Teresa asked in a calm tone.

Compared to the previous period, she seemed less panicked, agitated, and uneasy, and had a bit of confidence.

"That's right, we have initially screened Mr. Hervig's list of enemies, and no one is suspected," Jiang BaiMian said, lying through her teeth. "We want to obtain more information, such as who Mr. Hervig had a falling out with in the past few months? Or, who did he make bad jokes to?"

Teresa thought for a while and said:

"Too many.

"He really likes to mock others. If we use excessive jokes as the standard, then most people in Redstone Collection are suspects."

How annoying is this Mr. Hervig… Jiang BaiMian opened her mouth slightly, feeling amused and helpless.

Shang JianYao sighed:

"What a pity…"

"What a pity?" Long YueHong asked, playing along.

"It's a pity that I didn't get to meet the living Mr. Hervig," Shang JianYao raised his hand and touched his monkey mask. "Otherwise, we could have a competition to see who can irritate him first."

Teresa didn't pay attention to the conversation between Shang JianYao and Long YueHong, and said after a few seconds of silence:

"Let's end this mission here."

"You're not investigating anymore?" Jiang BaiMian asked back, sensing something.

Teresa nodded:

"I can see that the hope of finding out the truth is very small, and it will involve most of the people in Redstone Collection. I have to consider my own and my child's future life.

"Anyway, he offended enough people, and I had already prepared for his sudden death."

You weren't saying that before… Jiang BaiMian silently retorted.

Suddenly, she understood the reason for Teresa's change in attitude:

When Hervig died suddenly, Teresa was worried that the arms business would be taken away, and that her subordinates would change their allegiance, so she naturally showed importance to her husband and concern for this matter. But now, she seemed to have stabilized the internal situation of the small faction and established friendship with Lehman and others, no longer in a state of internal and external troubles.

Therefore, how Hervig died was no longer a matter worth paying too much attention to for her, after all, she and Hervig had long since had no feelings for each other.

Maybe she was one of the people who wanted Hervig to die.

Seeing that the four members of "Money White Squad" were silent, Teresa misunderstood their demands and quickly added:

"I won't ask you to return the corresponding reward.

"You really helped me a lot by finding that batch of arms in a short time."

Hervig really failed as a person… Jiang BaiMian sighed inwardly and nodded slightly:

"Then let's leave it at that. You can go to the guild and cancel the mission."

After leaving "Gunfire," Jiang BaiMian looked around, adjusted her emotions, and said with a smile:

"Let's go to the 'Non-Toxic Restaurant' to buy some ingredients. Tonight, we'll make our own barbecue to celebrate!"

Celebrating that most of her team's affairs in Redstone Collection had come to an end.

"Okay, okay!" Long YueHong responded with a glint in his eyes.

Jiang BaiMian chuckled:

"I'll get some spices and charcoal later. I'll let you see Jiang Chef's secret barbecue."

"Want to compete?" Shang JianYao asked excitedly.

"Compete!" Jiang BaiMian was confident in her cooking skills.

After speaking, she suddenly became alert and asked:

"Compete in what?"

"Compete in who can eat the most," Shang JianYao said very frankly.

Jiang BaiMian spat and ignored him.

…………

In the evening, inside the hotel camp, the "Old Task Force" placed the marinated meat on a temporary assembled grill.

At this time, "Pangu Biology" telegraphed back.

Jiang BaiMian quickly translated the code and summarized the company's reply into two points:

"First, there's no need to further explore the Lake Heart Island Temple;

"Second, observe Han WangHuo's performance for a period of time."

After reading the telegram, Jiang BaiMian scolded, amused and annoyed:

"Observe for a period of time? He's about to leave, how can we observe? Really!"