The storeroom was piled with animal feed and disused farm tools, all coated in a thick layer of dust. The air was heavy with it.
Overall, the environment wasn't great, but at least it provided a place to rest. Duan Chen wasn't picky and lay down on a pile of straw, falling asleep quickly after a long day.
In the middle of the night, Duan Chen stirred, feeling someone rummaging through his belongings. His waist felt lighter, and he jolted awake, but his eyelids were impossibly heavy. He couldn't open them.
He clearly heard voices in conversation.
"Old Yang, how much are these guys' things worth?"
"Young Hong is truly foolish. Fat meat delivered to his mouth, and he doesn't even take a bite?"
"Li San, put it back quickly! These masters are not people we can touch!"
It was an old man's voice, sounding anxious.
"Old Yang, I'm not saying this to offend you, but you've lived most of your life, and you're still so timid?"
"Tell me, how much are these things worth?"
"Don't worry, what are you hesitating for? Didn't we drug them?"
Duan Chen's nose twitched. He indeed smelled a peculiar fragrance.
"I don't know, but... it's definitely worth thousands, tens of thousands."
"That valuable?! Let's agree now, fifty-fifty split."
"Alright, alright, let's go quickly. They'll wake up soon!"
"Let's go, let's go..."
Buzz!
A flash of pink light flickered. Suddenly, Duan Chen's eyelids felt lighter. He didn't move rashly but quietly took out his phone, recording the two men's every move.
An old man and a younger man. The elder looked to be in his sixties or seventies, while the younger was only in his thirties. However, his back was hunched as if from injuries sustained from labor. The two men had their backs to him, fiddling with something in their hands.
"Where are you going?"
"Holy crap!!!"
The man yelped in shock and directly aimed the Thousand Illusions Pandora at Duan Chen.
"You, you, you... how did you...?"
"How did I what?"
Duan Chen felt a surge of relief. If not for Chu Yue, these two scoundrels would have successfully stolen his gun.
He got up and slowly advanced, his gaze sharp and cold.
"Do you believe I'll shoot?"
"Li San, are you f***ing crazy? Give the gun back quickly!"
"Kid, it's illegal to possess a firearm, you know that, right? Listen to your grandpa's advice, obediently let us sell your things, and we can help keep your possession of a gun a secret!"
Duan Chen shook his head and chuckled. He waved his hand, and pink light immediately surged out, sprinkling over Jun Ci and the others.
Old Yang's face turned to one of terror.
"Li San! I'll f*** your mother! Hurry up and return the stuff!"
"Shut the f*** up!"
A group of people slowly woke up, only to witness the farce before them.
"Isn't that my dagger?"
"My pendant!"
Qin Nanyuan had some jewelry stolen, and Jun Ci had a detector taken. Both were in Li San's arms.
"Damn it! You refuse the toast and insist on the punishment!"
Li San, holding the gun, fired a shot at Duan Chen.
"Click!"
Duan Chen shook his head helplessly. If it were a real gun, he might have pretended to be scared. This was the Thousand Illusions Pandora; without sufficient spiritual energy, how could it fire a bullet?
"Holy crap, it jammed?"
"There are thieves here."
"Return the things, and I won't hold your trespass against you."
"Damn it, Xiao Duan, I say we stop wasting words with them and just send them in!" Qi Qing cursed.
"You... don't come any closer!"
Li San remained stubborn and even drew a dagger.
"So, you're not going to return them?"
Duan Chen's eyes grew colder.
He reached out his right hand, and the stolen items instantly appeared in his grasp.
Li San's arms were suddenly empty.
"Damn it! Apologize quickly!" Old Yang hit Li San on the head and repeatedly apologized to Duan Chen.
"Sorry, sorry, esteemed sirs, we truly didn't know who you were. Please forgive us this time!"
"Damn it, Old Yang..."
Li San was completely bewildered.
His eyes hardened. "Kid, you just wait!"
With that, he turned and left.
Duan Chen leaned quietly against the wall, curious to see what this kid could stir up.
Before long, Li San returned, dragging a crowd of people.
Among this crowd were also the siblings Hong Yu and Hong Xiu. It seemed their parents hadn't returned yet.
"Hong Yu! You little brat, give me an explanation! These outsiders stole my things!"
Ah, so he was trying to shift the blame.
Duan Chen watched with leisurely amusement.
Li San, without a blush, clamored for Duan Chen to return his things.
Old Yang had already retreated to the side, not daring to utter a sound.
"Stolen things?"
An old man emerged from the crowd, coughed a couple of times, looked at Duan Chen and his group, and finally fixed his gaze on the gun and dagger in Duan Chen's hand.
"Li San, explain yourself properly."
"Village Chief, let me tell you..."
Li San lied without batting an eye, even elaborating his story coherently. However, he seemed to have forgotten to fabricate a story about the gun and dagger, and the old village chief's gaze was filled with suspicion.
Hong Yu yawned. "I say, why would these city folks want anything from you? Besides, that gun, is it even yours?"
Li San's expression changed.
Facing the gazes of everyone, he had no choice but to explain. Gritting his teeth, he roared, "I found it!"
"Found it? Found it in my arms?"
Duan Chen could no longer stand it. He picked at his ear and displayed the video.
Now, with the video as evidence, even Li San couldn't argue. But the village chief still seemed inclined to protect his own people. He coughed twice and said, "How about this: you don't pursue Li San and Old Yang for stealing your things, and we, in turn, won't report your possession of a firearm. What do you say? This way, everyone saves face."
Li San, who had been feeling apprehensive, puffed up his chest at this. His smug look seemed to ask: What can you do to me?
Duan Chen's eyes turned completely cold.
"Guess why I have a gun?"
"Who cares! Having a gun is wrong, no matter what!"
Li San sneered.
"But... isn't it very normal for a police officer to have a gun?"
Duan Chen displayed his advanced agent identification.
Seeing this, Old Yang's face turned even more despairing.
Li San was stunned.
Even the village chief froze on the spot.
"It's fake! It must be fake!" Li San suddenly went mad. He couldn't believe his luck was so bad that he would steal from a police officer.
The village chief took the ID from Li San and examined it. To his surprise, it wasn't just an ordinary identification but one issued by the Spirit Hunter Guild, which made him feel a bit awkward.
"It's indeed real..."
Duan Chen, too lazy to waste more words, directly called for police officers from the county town to come and escort Li San and Old Yang away.
Before leaving, Li San's eyes were vacant, still seemingly in disbelief.
"Agent Duan, I apologize. It took you having to deal with such a minor issue personally."
"Bad luck, stealing from us."
The police officer couldn't help but laugh at this.