Chapter 576 Arriving at Akofler City (3k)
As Su Jiu listened to the other party’s words, she didn’t rush to reply. Instead, she looked at the other bread products, pointed to the counter, and said in a deep voice, “Hot dog buns, two, please.”
“Hot dog buns?”
Hearing Su Jiu’s words, the store clerk named Ryder showed surprise. He couldn’t help but glance at Su Jiu and the other person again, finding no other abnormalities besides their pupils.
Was he being too careful?
He chuckled at himself and then walked towards the counter. Just as his hand was about to touch the glass display case, Su Jiu’s faint voice reached his ears again, causing him to stiffen slightly.
“How is it prepared for those who need it?”
Ryder’s expression changed repeatedly. His eyes narrowed, and he finally slowly took out the hot dog buns and handed them to where Su Jiu and the other person were sitting. He then smiled and asked again,
“Would those two like milk or coffee?”
“Report, I’m in a hurry.”
After taking the buns, Su Jiu took a slight sensing of them and began to eat. She didn’t answer the question, leaving the other person standing there, displaying a calm and nonchalant demeanor of a powerful figure.
Don’t ask, if you ask, it’s because she doesn’t know that this is clearly a coded signal.
Seeing Su Jiu’s unconventional behavior, Ryder became even more convinced that she might be sent by higher-ups to inspect their work. After all, if they were police, they would typically probe step by step.
“This shop has sold a total of 74 baguettes, 63 cakes, and 176 candies.”
Thinking this, Ryder no longer concealed anything. He took out a white notebook from the pocket of his employee uniform and pressed his finger on it, occasionally sneaking glances at Su Jiu and the other person.
“Speak plain language.”
Still maintaining her composed state, Su Jiu glanced at him, finished the entire bun, and then calmly fumbled in her pocket for the prepared pocket watch and strapped it to her wrist.
Hearing this, Ryder’s eyes twitched slightly, but seeing the pocket watch in Su Jiu’s hand, he dared not think further. He quickly said:
“These are the numbers of men, women, and children. We have already transported them in batches to the transit station. Around today, the Snow Demon’s shipment will also be transported to the same location.”
“Tell me the location, I need to check if this batch of goods is qualified.”
Looking at the other person’s nervous expression, Su Jiu’s face remained cold. Coupled with her tone, the blood-red eyes on her scarf appeared exceptionally chilling.
“In the abandoned factory at number nine, Bard Road in Akofler City.”
Under this pressure, the store clerk named Ryder, who did not have a high level of strength to begin with, blurted it out almost subconsciously.
“Akofler City… Are you sure?”
Hearing this news, Su Jiu was taken aback. She did not show any signs of joy on her face. Although the destination was the same as hers, the coincidence was too great, making her instinctively disbelieve it.
“That’s a second-tier city, and its police resources are more than ten percent better than here. Wouldn’t trading in a place like that lead to being ambushed?”
“It was like that before, but it’s like this now…”
Hearing this overly worried counter-question, store clerk Ryder looked at Su Jiu as if she were an alien. However, upon remembering that she was a Dragon Country Person, he quickly explained:
“It is precisely because this city was once a major industrial city that we chose to trade here. There are many abandoned factories that can serve as cover, and there are not as many precautions in place as you might imagine.”
“Alright, I’ll trouble you to make a trip next.”
After receiving a definite answer, Su Jiu slowly stood up. She popped a Beginner Magic Crystal into her mouth and then, with a smile, led the Female Chief beside her out of the bread shop.
Watching Su Jiu’s actions, store clerk Ryder swallowed. A bad premonition surged in his heart, and he asked somewhat confusedly, “Make a trip? To where?”
“Boom!”
The moment he finished speaking, the door of the bread shop was blasted open. The Snow Guards rushed in like fish out of water, immediately surrounding him completely.
Ryder stood there dumbfounded, then looked at Su Jiu with some anger. At this moment, he finally realized the situation – he had been tricked!
Glancing at the Snow Guards around him, he knew that arguing was useless. The other party had clearly set up the trap and then sprung it. He then said in a low voice, “How did you know? We’ve been using this operational model for a long time. It’s impossible for the Snow Guards to bypass the informants and arrest directly.”
“It’s very simple logic. In a place like a train station, your bread prices are cheaper than other shops. This is illogical, and many missing persons have passed through here…”
As soon as he finished speaking, he found Su Jiu turning back and looking at him coldly, smiling slightly, “If you want to live, you’ll report the relevant information and then take me to arrest the related people.”
The most important thing now was to eliminate the biggest lead in the area, replace it, and then directly enter one of the thirteen controlled cities.
“Price…”
Ryder hadn’t expected that his deliberately created friendly image would cause problems. His expression turned ugly, but now that he was under someone else’s roof, he had to bow his head. He quickly nodded in acknowledgment.
“…That’s how it is. As for the transaction time, it’s this afternoon. Because the Ferryman above ordered the delivery to be made in two days, we will be meeting up with the Snow Demon’s group.”
After a period of interrogation, this store clerk named Ryder was actually a Shadow of the local Priest, responsible for the transfer of personnel in the entire train station area. He used various enticements to make the missing persons voluntarily form groups and leave.
Furthermore, because he had bribed the train attendants, his identity was not quickly investigated. This entire process also led to the event of people mysteriously disappearing.
After the interrogation was completed, the Commander looked at his peer, who was not very old, with admiration. His keen observation and rich experience were incomparable to theirs.
He then believed what the latter had said. Looking at Ryder, who was still being interrogated, he then asked Su Jiu, “Do we need to follow up on the subsequent investigation? The General Headquarters has also dispatched stronger individuals. We just need to wait half a day…”
“It’s too late. If they are going to deliver the goods today, and we don’t go, we might lose an important clue. Moreover, the Snow Demon is preparing to sign an alliance treaty with Bear Country. Nothing can go wrong now…”
Before he could finish speaking, Su Jiu waved her hand and refused. How could they be stronger than their trio?
She glanced again at the silent Female Chief. Upon hearing that the Snow Demon had also been arrested in the same manner, her face immediately showed a terrifyingly gloomy expression. Clearly, those members of the Ancient God Sect had touched this person’s inverse scale…
“Alright, I will contact the local Snow Guards for assistance in the investigation, but their strength is limited. The strongest is only a Commander whose strength is similar to mine. You few should be extra careful.”
The Commander looked at the three of Su Jiu. He couldn’t see through their cultivation levels, so he agreed to let them take this Shadow of the Ancient God Sect, Ryder, to Akofler City to rendezvous with other members of the Ancient God Sect.
“No problem.”
Su Jiu smiled, not believing there would be any major issues. As long as they didn’t encounter a seasoned Ferryman, their lineup could basically sweep away everything.
Time quickly passed until noon. Trains came and went, and the train heading to the industrialized city arrived. Su Jiu obtained a dog tag representing a legitimate demon from the Commander and had Aman wear it. The three of them, along with Ryder, boarded the train.
In the compartment where the four of them sat, the orange warm light cast down, and everyone was resting leisurely. The Female Chief seemed to be encountering such a place for the first time, looking around everywhere. Her state was one of unease mixed with a hint of curiosity.
Aman sat quietly beside Ryder like a loyal subordinate. Besides watching him, his furry large hand was playing with a “Little Genius” watch. Some voice communications were coming from it, and it seemed like he was playing a game:
“You monkey poet, you’ve died seven times and are super fed. Stop asking for buffs…”
Hearing this, Aman glanced at his own record – [21-7-4], and then at the other person’s – [3-4-7]. He wanted to open his microphone but glanced at Su Jiu and then silently typed:
[This King is really not human, I can’t provide buffs.]
It’s like this, you never know who your teammate is or what equipment they are using to play with you.
“I wonder if Bai Zhi has replied to me.”
After looking at the snowy scenery outside the window for a long time, Su Jiu started playing with her phone. She opened her QQ, and a “ding” pop-up notification of special attention appeared. Seeing the message from Bai Zhi, she felt an inexplicable surge of excitement.
[Little Bai Bai: I’m due to give birth in a couple of days. I’ll send you photos then. I’ve also got some leads on Lord Liu Yue, who you asked me to find.]
[Me: I’ve already prepared the milk money. After this half-month, I’ll return to Huainan.]
[Little Bai Bai: Pfft, who lacks your little milk money? But speaking of which, I roughly know where Lord Liu Yue is. Remember the place I told you that could restore E Huo to normal?]
[Me: I know. I’m planning to discuss it with you after finishing this matter.]
[Little Bai Bai: That’s actually a High Seas Black Market that opens only once every twenty years, led by six War God Level powerhouses, to sell some extremely rare items that cannot be brought into the open.]
[Me: I can understand about E Huo, but what does this have to do with Lord Liu Yue?]
[Little Bai Bai: According to some of your friends, he has been collecting rare items for trading, possibly hoping to obtain something to stabilize the injuries caused by his breakthrough.]
“Akofler City has been reached. Please check your personal belongings, passengers…”
Just as Su Jiu was about to reply, the train attendant’s voice suddenly sounded. She snapped back to attention and immediately looked out the window. They had arrived.
This place was different from the smaller city they had been to. It was obvious that the entire station was larger. However, the station signs were yellowed, and the railings were slightly rusty, giving off a sense of desolation.
“Ding!”
Sensing the movement from her phone, Su Jiu looked down again. Upon seeing it, she inexplicably smiled and pulled her scarf up to her lips again.
[Little Bai Bai: Be careful on your way. Call me if you can’t win.]
[Me: I’m stronger than someone now. Go back and protect your little butt.]
She then gave a light laugh, typed a reply, and under the gaze of the others, waved her hand. She glanced at the afternoon scenery outside the window and said,
“Let’s go. Those human traffickers must be getting impatient, right?”
