The death of Jia Rengui's family undoubtedly caused a huge stir in Ice City. Not to mention their prominent identities, Jia Rengui's brother-in-law was the son-in-law of Ice City's Lord.
"Thank you so much, You Jie."
If it weren't for You Jiawei, Ice City's Lord would have suspected Duan Chen's group of being involved in Jia Rengui's death. Now, with the explanation from the Ice City Spirit Hunter Guild, Ice City's Lord actually wanted to befriend Duan Chen and his companions.
You Jiawei's contribution in this matter was invaluable.
"You're too kind. Helping isn't always free," she said with a faint smile.
"Oh?" Duan Chen's eyes flickered.
"I've returned with a mission, and it's quite special. I might not be able to complete it alone. Your strengths are considerable, and I need your help."
Duan Chen became even more curious. What kind of mission would make a high-ranking agent feel unable to complete it?
It was probably not as simple as just a bizarre or heretical matter.
"The mission reward is five million. Since you have many people, if the mission is completed, I will only take one-third of the reward."
Five million... This reward was quite tempting.
Hill poked Duan Chen's waist and asked curiously, "Is it a lot?"
Duan Chen's lips twitched.
"Not as much as one of your surgeries earns."
"And who is this?"
"Oh, my friend, Hill, an excellent surgeon."
You Jiawei, being experienced and having been on missions abroad for many years, had inevitably heard of the world's most excellent surgeon. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but show some surprise.
"Could it be that one?"
"Precisely," Duan Chen nodded with a smile.
"Mr. Bai truly has extensive connections," You Jiawei gave him a deep look.
"I accept this mission. Please tell me the specifics."
Duan Chen summoned Yuan Qingqing and the others, and they sat around in a circle, their ears perked up, listening to You Jiawei's mission details.
"Ahem, due to the extreme confidentiality of this mission, so..." You Jiawei cautiously installed jammers in every corner of the room before daring to speak.
"We suspect that sea monsters have infiltrated the police force."
"What?!"
You Jiawei nodded vigorously.
"Our suspicion is not unfounded. It's like this: a while ago, a mid-level agent from our guild captured a sea monster alive. That sea monster was very adept with electronic devices. On its phone, we found a video..."
Saying this, You Jiawei took out her phone and played the video for them.
Rather than a video, Duan Chen felt it was more like surveillance footage. In the footage, several police officers were sitting together, eating and chatting. Each of them had a bottle of mineral water on their table. Everything seemed normal, until...
"Why is there a puddle of water under the sofa where this person is sitting?" Jun Ci, with his sharp eyes, pointed at the sofa of one of the police officers. Indeed, a puddle of water was flowing out from under the sofa.
But the mineral water on the table hadn't spilled. Where did the water come from?
A moment later, the water that had flowed in all directions seemed to gather at the police officer's feet as if it had a life of its own. In the puddle, a grotesque face was clearly reflected, and it was even smiling at the camera.
"Ah!" Yuan Qingqing shrieked.
Duan Chen's eyes narrowed.
Eye of Truth!
"It is indeed a sea monster."
You Jiawei shook her head. "We can't be sure yet, but the scene is very strange. The police department and our Spirit Hunter Guild have always been on good terms, so I have no reason not to agree. Sea monsters rarely attack the police department, and I'm worried they have a conspiracy. I can't handle it alone, so I invited you to help."
Duan Chen nodded. Essentially, the Spirit Hunter Guild and the police department were the same entity, just responsible for different types of criminals. They were all part of the same family. He had never heard of a city where the Spirit Hunter Guild had a bad relationship with the police.
"Who offered the five million reward?" Duan Chen suddenly wondered. Such a high reward was truly beyond expectation.
"It was Fu Ze, Jia Rengui's brother-in-law. The reward for this mission wasn't this high originally, but Fu Ze's sister, Jia Rengui's wife, Fu Sheng, works in the police department."
"Ah! Speaking of which, I forgot to mention it. Fu Sheng is actually much younger than Jia Rengui, only around thirty this year," Yuan Yuan added.
"That's right. To ensure his sister's safety, Fu Ze voluntarily increased the mission price."
You Jiawei took a deep breath and steered the conversation back.
"In short, in a few days, I will enter the police department under the guise of an exchange and learning program, arranged by Fu Ze. I've told him that you will also be coming."
Duan Chen agreed, and the others naturally had no objections.
"Jia Rengui, Fu Sheng, Fu Ze... the relationships between these people are quite interesting. And you said Jia Rengui is already dead, but why hasn't Fu Sheng made any moves?" Tuffi Yuan licked his paw and said after You Jiawei left.
Yuan Yuan rolled his eyes.
"Because after Jia Rengui got rich, he started keeping a mistress. If it were you, would you have a good relationship with your husband who keeps a mistress?"
Hill asked openly, "What does 'keeping a mistress' mean?"
...
Silence, that's tonight's tranquility.
Duan Chen coughed dryly. "I used my pupil technique earlier, and it is indeed a sea monster. There's no need to doubt it. Remember the faces of those four police officers. We'll focus on observing them once we enter the police department."
"Yes."
"Also, I always feel like the Jia family and the sea monsters have some unspeakable connection..."
Jun Ci agreed.
"Exactly, it's too strange. The Jia Rengui incident is clearly over, but this police department matter still involves the Jia family."
Duan Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I remember," Qin Nanyuan suddenly brought up. "Don't you remember Yuan Yuan saying that Jia Rengui's concubines never fought over him?"
"Could it be that Fu Sheng knew they were no longer human and had become sea monsters, which is why she rarely came home?" Jun Ci picked up the conversation.
Duan Chen shook his head.
"All our current speculations are groundless. Perhaps we'll know when we meet them."
"Let's go eat, my treat."
Perhaps due to the environment, there were very few roadside food stalls in Ice City. The group finally found an indoor barbecue restaurant.
Duan Chen only brought a few people from his team, along with Hill and Wilria. The others' appearances were not suitable for walking on the streets. He promised to bring food back for them.
"Twenty skewers of lamb, twenty skewers of lamb kidneys, twenty skewers of grilled chicken wings..."
The young waitress taking the order widened her eyes. Such a group of handsome men and beautiful women, could they really eat that much?
"Sir, can you finish all this?"
Duan Chen flashed a charming smile. The young waitress blushed and skipped off to instruct the kitchen.
Duan Chen: ???
He hadn't even had time to speak yet.
"This is the charm of looks," Qin Nanyuan said, tilting Jun Ci's chin and winking at him.
Jun Ci winked back.
Qin Nanyuan: ...
Just as Duan Chen was about to tease them, he saw two familiar figures walk past the entrance.
Jia Yunlian and Niya.
"Why... them again?"