Once, I wanted to be a good person

Chapter 77 68. The Harvest after Annihilation (Please Vote for Recommendation!)

At this moment, Fang Ze still didn't know that something unusual was happening within the Late-Night Investigation Room.

Seeing that the worshipping was gradually ending, he estimated the time and felt that the Investigation Bureau and the Security Bureau, even if slow-footed, should be coming to check soon.

Thus, he decisively sent orders to One Two Three and Nv Dao.

He instructed them to communicate with Miaomiao, stop all activities, and prepare for the official inspection.

After giving the instructions, One Two Three extended its vines to the rooftop while Nv Dao once again entered Miaomiao's shadow to ensure her safety.

Sure enough, the Investigators arrived belatedly after a short while.

At first, seeing so many corpses on the ground, they were a bit shocked and furious, thinking about questioning these poor people about what exactly had happened.

But when they saw that all the slum dwellers had banded together, clutching the gang's weapons and watching them with a menacing gaze, they swallowed their words and left the slum area, slinking away with awkward smiles.

Half an hour later, a Commissioner from the Security Bureau came to understand the situation. After confirming that only the slum dwellers and unidentified gang members were dead or injured, he too left.

The official attitude towards the slums in the lower-level cities really was one of neglect.

Fang Ze did not know why, and could only guess that this might have been intentionally left as a buffer zone for social conflicts, or perhaps... the authorities actually lacked the energy to manage it anymore.

After the matter was completely resolved, Fang Ze didn't plan to stay any longer.

He whistled toward One Two Three, which immediately emerged from the rooftop and approached him.

The two of them descended from the rooftop, preparing to leave the slums, find an inn in the city to stay for the night, and then leave Qingshan City tomorrow to return to the Special Case Team.

However, just as they were about to exit the slum area, suddenly, a woman's voice called out from behind them, "Mr. Messenger, please wait a moment."

Hearing that familiar female voice behind him, Fang Ze involuntarily stopped in his tracks.

He touched his face, which he had been covering ever since he arrived in Qingshan City from the jungle, with two black robes and a mask.

Assuring himself that he wouldn't be exposed, he turned around and looked toward Miaomiao, who had somehow found him...

...

Looking at the man in front of her, his identity concealed by a mask and a black robe, Miaomiao always felt a trace of familiarity.

But she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.

His build was somewhat like... Fang Ze, whom she had known before, only a bit thinner.

Yet his movements, whether walking or standing, were completely different from Fang Ze's.

So, after watching him intently for a short while, she withdrew her gaze, then lifted the package in her hand and began to open it while speaking, "Mr. Messenger. This is what we found from the gang."

"There are some crystals, and some Lini."

She paused, then said, "We've done a rough calculation. All together, there should be more than 500,000 Lini. There's some we haven't counted, but it should not be much more."

Hearing Miaomiao's words, Fang Ze silently did some mental calculations.

500,000 Lini...

Miaomiao had been working a "high-paying" job in the slums, earning roughly 2,000 Lini a month.

Other slum dwellers made about 400 to 800 Lini per month.

This meant, just here, there was almost the equivalent of five or six hundred slum dwellers' monthly income.

It seemed substantial, but the gang controlling such an area of the slums, having saved up over such a long time, should possess more than this meager fortune. Most likely, much of it was squandered in pleasures or tribute to their superiors.

And when Fang Ze recalled the gang members' robust physiques, he wondered: maybe... the money was used to feed their own?

While Fang Ze was considering this, Miaomiao took out a plant that resembled a cactus from her bundle and said to Fang Ze, "Additionally, Lord Messenger, this was another item we found in the safe."

"We don't know what it is. We've brought it to you as well."

Fang Ze took the potted plant and examined it.

The whole plant was only the size of a palm; the bottom was soil, while the top was a fleshy plant that looked like an anemone.

Unsure if there was something odd about this plant, or if the plants in this world were just peculiar, Fang Ze gently touched it and felt that it was plump and had the texture of raw meat, not like a typical plant.

After some thought, he tossed it to One Two Three, instructing it to hold onto it for now, and then said to Miaomiao somewhat coldly, "I'll keep this plant for now. I'll look up what it is tonight."

"At first, Bai was personally looking after him, placing great importance on him."

"But by noon today, Bai suddenly lost interest in him, tossing him into the cellar, only arranging for two commissioners to keep watch."

"However... Bai hit him rather hard, and he was also shackled with Anti-Magic Handcuffs and injected with Muscle Relaxant Needle, so he should have been unconscious all this time."

Fang Ze settled down after getting the answer he wanted, knowing that tonight's interrogation would likely not be a problem.

Then he made an excuse to want to end the communication.

However, just as he was about to cut off the communication, Bai Ling stopped him.

She said, "Fang Ze. I want to talk to you heart-to-heart."

"Even though I don't know why you became so capable after losing your memory, and your temperament has changed greatly."

"But... staying in a low-level city really belittles your talents."

"I think you should consider developing in Emerald City."

"You need to understand that the reason low-level cities are called low-level is because the government has almost given up on them. All the talent is concentrated in the higher-level cities."

"The high-level cities, even the directly governed cities, are truly the core of the Eastern District."

"Whether it's technology, research on Awakening Abilities, or Martial Skills, it's all beyond what low-level cities can offer."

"Only there can you receive systematic training and planning for your abilities."

"I also told you before, the Extraordinary Path is full of traps."

"You may feel that the path you're walking now is without issues, but years later, you might be shocked to discover you've chosen a dead-end."

"In the higher-level cities, there are generations of people, multiple Awakeners, geniuses who have trodden those paths."

"With their guidance, you'd really save yourself a lot of detours."

Upon saying this, she paused, and then continued, "And to go to a high-level city, you can't simply go directly."

"You need a legitimate identity."

"People from low-level cities without a legal way may never be able to go to higher-level cities in their lifetime."

"I'm not trying to lobby for Bai."

"But she really does value you a lot."

"Perhaps, you can give each other a chance."

"Now that the case is over, we'll rest for two days before heading back to Emerald City."

"If you want to join us, you must come to find us."

Fang Ze took everything Bai Ling said to heart.

He was actually aware of the matters Bai Ling had mentioned.

Although he already had the Late-Night Investigation Room, the Credit World, and One Two Three,

He had the means for immediate combat, potential, and cards to play,

But what he truly lacked was a comprehensive understanding of the power structure of this world.

He needed a process to fully supplement this understanding.

And... since he had been reborn in this world, not to enjoy the scenery of this world would surely be a waste of this life.

So, following Bai Zhi, following Bai Ling to Emerald City, might indeed be the best choice for him.

The prerequisite was... that his "Late-Night Investigation Room" truly wasn't something sought after by the organization.

And this required him to verify tonight with Cui Xuemin.

Thinking this, Fang Ze promised Bai Ling he would give her, and Bai Zhi, a response as soon as possible, then ended the communication.

Now, with everything in place, all that was left was to verify with Cui Xuemin!

With that thought, Fang Ze lay on the bed, holding the flesh-like plant, and slowly fell asleep....