When Luo Xiu returned to Zuobu Town, everything seemed to have settled.

Seeing Luo Xiu come back alone, Wu Xin walked up to him and asked, "Where is she?"

Luo Xiu shrugged. "Couldn't catch up. She got away."

Wu Xin looked puzzled. "Even you lost her?"

Luo Xiu was just as puzzled. "What makes you think I couldn't possibly lose her? If you're so capable, why didn't you go after her yourself?"

"Forget it." Wu Xin didn't want to dwell on the topic. "Zhu Hongmo, Purple Mink, Skinny Monkey, and Xiong Zi all escaped during the chaos."

Luo Xiu thought for a moment and asked, "Did you let them go on purpose?"

Zhu Hongmo and the others were already seriously injured; if Wu Xin had truly wanted to capture them, she definitely could have. But then again, her name meant "Heartless."

"Actually, capturing them or not is meaningless to us. That's Tang Hong'e's job," Wu Xin said. "Our purpose is just to investigate and, as part of that, to capture the buyer."

Luo Xiu asked, "Any progress?"

"Yes. The buyer is a high-ranking military official from a small border country."

"Then who's the seller?" Luo Xiu asked.

"Still under investigation."

Luo Xiu stared into her eyes. "Actually, I didn't lose Third Miss Ye. I let her go."

"Why did you let her go?"

"She told me a lot of things. I can't judge if they're true or false, but from what I saw, that blockhead doesn't seem like the type to lie," Luo Xiu said. "However, in exchange, I want to know the details of the Henghai battle."

After a moment of thought, Wu Xin spoke slowly. "I heard that the Henghai battle wasn't fought primarily against people."

"I know that much," Luo Xiu said. "It was against the devils from Sakura Country."

Wu Xin shook her head. "They were some kind of mysterious creatures that crawled onto shore from the seabed. It seems Sakura Country was controlling them. As for what they were exactly, I don't have the clearance to know. I expect our Director knows, though."

"Then who is your Director?"

"Sorry, that's classified. I can't tell you."

Luo Xiu waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it. It's useless asking you. I'll look into it myself when I get the chance."

"Can you at least tell me what Third Miss Ye told you?" Wu Xin asked.

Luo Xiu shrugged and began to walk away. "Not much. She's from the Ye Family, and the Ye Family is close with a man named Yue Tianyang in the provincial capital."

Wu Xin continued, "Yue Tianyang is the underground Dragon Head of Henghai Provincial City. He's nothing like the small-time crooks in Sea City. He's the real deal. Furthermore, Boss Huang and Qian Laoyao don't work for him. Not only that, but Yue Tianyang and Boss Huang's backer are sworn enemies."

Luo Xiu laughed. "That makes sense. Since Yue Tianyang and Boss Huang's backer are sworn enemies, Yue Tianyang must have hired the highly skilled Third Miss Ye to track them here, steal the goods, and kill them."

"Did she tell you… who exactly Boss Huang's backer is?" Wu Xin asked.

Luo Xiu glanced at her. "You probably already have your suspicions."

Wu Xin said nothing.

"His surname is Chen," Luo Xiu added, "and he holds a very high status and position."

Hearing this, Wu Xin's expression turned grave, but she wasn't surprised. It was just as Luo Xiu said; the Audit Bureau had had its suspicions all along.

"It's the Henghai Admiral, Chen Xuanbao," Wu Xin said, her voice heavy.

Luo Xiu nodded. "Yes, that's him."

"Indeed," Wu Xin said. "Only he would have the power to smuggle so many weapons abroad."

"So, did this operation achieve your goals?" Luo Xiu asked.

Wu Xin nodded. "It did. We now have confirmation that Chen Xuanbao is the seller."

"I'm not familiar with him," Luo Xiu remarked, "but from what I know, with his status and position, it must be hard for anyone to touch him, right? To put it bluntly, in the entire Henghai Province, he's practically a local emperor."

"In Hua Country, there is only our great Her Majesty the Empress!" Wu Xin declared proudly. "Ordinary people can't touch him, but the Audit Bureau can. Next, we will gather more evidence."

Luo Xiu shrugged. "Anyway, it has nothing to do with me."

As he spoke, he suddenly recalled something. "By the way, do you know about the Holy Boi Religion?"

At the mention of this, Wu Xin's expression shifted slightly. "I do. It's a terrifying heretic cult with followers all over the world."

Luo Xiu asked with a grin, "Then did you know that the Boss Huang you were protecting is a Holy Boi Religion Cultist?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Xin fell silent. Before Luo Xiu had said anything, she truly hadn't known that Boss Huang was also a Holy Boi Religion Cultist.

"So it's very likely," Luo Xiu mused, "that Chen Xuanbao is also a member of the Holy Boi Religion, and he holds a high position within it."

"How did you learn about the Holy Boi Religion?" Wu Xin asked.

"Zhu Hongmo took me to a chapel and asked me to join the Holy Boi Religion, but I refused," Luo Xiu replied truthfully. "I'm guessing it was actually Boss Huang's idea. He probably has a real appreciation for talent like mine."

"You… How could you have refused?" Wu Xin suddenly seemed agitated, looking like she wanted to hit someone.

Luo Xiu stared at her, puzzled. "I'm not interested in some heretic cult. Why wouldn't I refuse?"

Wu Xin took a deep breath and spoke slowly, her tone heavy. "That was an incredible opportunity! You should have seized it and joined the Holy Boi Religion to go undercover! You have to understand, our Audit Bureau has been trying for years to get even a foot in the door with the Holy Boi Religion. And you… you turn down an opportunity that falls right into your lap. You're a fool."

"Damn it…" Luo Xiu suddenly had the urge to curse. "You call me a fool? Do you really think I'm some damn lackey your Audit Bureau can just order around?

"You people sit in the back, talking a big game without any real skills, and you expect me to be the one up front doing all your dirty work?

"I remember telling you before, I only wanted to help Su Shenyun. That's it.

"Whether you're protecting the world or saving humanity is your business. I'm not interested in being a part of it."

Wu Xin sighed. "You're right. My apologies."

Luo Xiu waved it off. "Forget it."

Wu Xin changed the subject. "Tang Hong'e is over there. Don't you want to go say hello?"

Luo Xiu stopped in his tracks. "No need."

I was so rough with her before… I'd feel too embarrassed to face her now.

"She's a real beauty, you know," Wu Xin said meaningfully. "And her sisters are there too, all of them gorgeous."

Luo Xiu decisively turned and walked away. "See you in Sea City."

"She's waiting specifically for you. Are you really not going to greet her?"

"No. Oh, and tell Guan Changyun to head back to Sea City soon."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to travel for a bit, clear my head, and get away from you spies. If you can get in touch with Su Shenyun, please tell her I did what I promised."

…

After that, Luo Xiu adopted the mindset of a tourist and began to travel, happily wandering through the mountains and by the water. He didn't cross Qiliang Mountain to return to Hua Country, however, instead choosing to tour the desolate little countries beyond the border.

About half a month later, he finally returned to Hua Country. It then took him another ten days or so to get back to Henghai Province.

…

「That evening.」

Luo Xiu finally emerged from the desolate mountains and forests, arriving at a small town.

"Damn it… My phone finally has a signal."

Luo Xiu turned on his phone to check the map, confirming he was in a small town on the border of Henghai Province that also seemed to be a tourist spot. He decided to find a hotel to stay in first, then take a bus straight back to Sea City tomorrow.

Carrying a large bundle made of animal hide, he used his phone's navigation to look for a hotel. However, the hotels in this tourist area were generally full, and after checking several, he found they had no vacancies.

Finally, he found a rundown little hotel with just one room left. But just as he was about to pay, a slender, fair hand reached out and covered the QR code.

Luo Xiu looked at the owner of the hand and frowned. "Miss, what's the meaning of this?"

"Where did this beggar come from, smelling so foul? Can't you find a spot to sleep on the street?

"Get lost!

"This room is mine!"

…

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