“Doesn't brother Bai harbor any doubts?”
“Why was the killer not found in such a small manor?”
This kind of manor was not large, merely used for daily invitations.
Duan Chen naturally wouldn't follow up on the topic, merely smiling gently and brushing past the conversation with a simple, neat deflection.
“What does old brother Jia mean…?”
Jia Rengui frowned, looking troubled and hesitant, then as if making up his mind, he gritted his teeth and sighed heavily.
“Alas…”
“It’s not that I wanted to keep it from you. After much thought, no matter when I say it, it will have to be said eventually. Brother Bai, I won’t hide it from you any longer.”
“Actually, beneath my Jia family’s manor, there is a basement!”
Here it comes.
Duan Chen’s heart suddenly grew serious.
He knew the crucial part of the matter had arrived.
But outwardly, Duan Chen’s eyes widened in surprise.
“A basement? What does that have to do with anything? Perhaps it’s a wine cellar or something similar, which wasn't searched?”
Jia Rengui shook his head with a pained expression.
“Of course it wasn't searched, because the basement stores things that are inconvenient for others to know… Has brother Bai ever heard of Talent Amplification Fluid?”
Talent Amplification Fluid?
Duan Chen furrowed his brow slightly.
Had something new appeared during his absence?
He shook his head, “Sorry, I haven’t heard of it.”
Jia Rengui’s expression stiffened. He clearly hadn’t expected Duan Chen to deviate from his script, but this was not enough to deter him. Instead, he patiently and meticulously began to explain to Duan Chen.
“As for Talent Amplification Fluid, it naturally enhances talent! If one is F-class, it can be raised to F+ or even E-!”
“And there’s no need for personal effort or training; it’s entirely an innate improvement.”
“When it comes to training talent, it's equivalent to starting from E-class talent.”
Duan Chen’s eyes narrowed in an instant.
As everyone knew, the starting point of talent often determined its peak.
If such a thing truly existed…
This was not enhancing talent, but fundamentally improving one’s foundation.
How could such a thing exist?
But he remained impassive.
“Does boss Jia mean that you possess such a potion?”
Jia Rengui nodded with a pained expression and sighed, “It’s a long story… but I do have it, and it’s in the basement, being researched.”
“I thought I could replicate it… but after spending so much time, not only did I fail to replicate it, but somehow word got out, which is probably why today’s events unfolded.”
“You must understand, Talent Amplification Potion is effective for both humans and sea monsters!”
First, regardless of whether Jia Rengui’s words were true or false,
Duan Chen deduced inwardly, his keen senses catching a piece of information.
If such a thing truly existed, then the stable situation outside would surely be thrown into turmoil again!
His finger subtly touched Jia Rengui’s body, as if asking with feigned innocence.
“Does old brother Jia mean…”
Jia Rengui stared into Duan Chen’s eyes.
“I hope… brother Bai and your companions can go to the basement and help me rescue the remaining Talent Amplification Fluid! But…”
He gritted his teeth.
“The final checkpoint, the safe, requires my daughter’s fingerprint!”
“But Mengmeng’s fingers…”
“They’ve all been cut off!”
What a clever scheme!
Duan Chen couldn’t help but want to applaud Jia Rengui. His face displayed an expression of anxiety, “This…”
Jia Rengui quickly soothed, “Don’t rush, don’t rush, brother Bai, don’t worry. The safe has five layers of security. It also requires my fingerprint and iris scan, plus two other security measures that only I know.”
“I will protect myself… you just need to retrieve the safe, brother Bai.”
Duan Chen showed a look of confusion.
“Why do you trust me so much?”
Jia Rengui shook his head, “It’s not that I trust you… I wonder if brother Bai has heard of the anomalous object, the Sacred Contract?”
Sacred Contract.
Duan Chen certainly knew about it; he not only knew but was very familiar with it.
This was an anomalous object once preserved in Su City!
His expression remained unchanged, but only those who knew him well would know that he was angry.
The Sacred Contract belonged to Su City, an anomalous object that could not be removed. It had always been guarded and stored in the basement of the Su City Spirit Hunter Guild. Unless there were three directives, it absolutely could not be taken out.
And the current three directives…
Were impossible to gather together.
“What is the Sacred Contract?”
Duan Chen inquired.
Jia Rengui smiled and said, “It’s an anomalous object that I acquired. I wonder if brother Bai is willing to make a contract with me? Any contract witnessed by the Sacred Contract possesses guaranteed security.”
Duan Chen’s expression remained unfazed.
His reaction was perfectly in line with his current persona: extremely cautious and probing.
“How would I know if your so-called Sacred Contract has any negative side effects?”
Jia Rengui’s smile didn't waver. He was enthusiastic and friendly, appearing very trustworthy.
“Brother Bai, don't take it too seriously. Rest assured, since I dare to mention it, it means I have full confidence. I have an officially certified appraisal document. With this, you should be at ease, right?”
Duan Chen reluctantly nodded and grudgingly agreed.
“In that case, I need to see the official appraisal first.”
Jia Rengui did not refuse.
He sighed and said, “Of course… I only hope brother Bai will catch the mastermind and avenge my poor daughter.”
“As for the appraisal certificate… please follow me.”
They walked through a long corridor, took an elevator to the top floor, and followed Jia Rengui into his study. 138 Reading Network
Jia Rengui rummaged through drawers and cabinets and produced an appraisal certificate.
Duan Chen took it and examined it.
Indeed, it was an appraisal document stamped by the capital.
It was real.
Real…
A cold smile flickered across his lips, then quickly vanished.
The Sacred Contract belonged to Su City because it was something old Zhang had desperately brought back.
Old Zhang…
Duan Chen’s heart ached.
He forcibly suppressed his emotions, his gaze growing even colder.
According to regulations, that item belonged to Su City. If Su City didn't lend it out, it would absolutely not fall into anyone else’s hands.
Yet now, the appraisal document issued in the capital clearly stated that the item now belonged to Bing City, and even the owner was Jia Rengui.
But.
The Sacred Contract had been appraised in the capital before; it would never have changed hands a second time.
If it had changed hands a second time, he wouldn’t have been unaware.
Then this matter became much more interesting…
He chuckled.
“In that case, I am relieved. Let’s sign the contract.”