Chapter 59: Meeting

Chen Ling walked about forty to fifty meters, then suddenly turned and entered a nearby public restroom.

He had naturally seen the contact information provided by the grocery kiosk. However, Winter Harbor was small, and with three law enforcers and Number 8 watching, he couldn't just walk up and talk to the kiosk owner.

To connect with that mysterious Twilight Society member, he needed a more discreet method.

Chen Ling followed a lucky boy. Just as the boy was about to enter a cubicle, Chen Ling delivered a swift hand chop, knocking him unconscious. He then quickly dragged the boy inside and shut the door.

When the door reopened, he had taken on the boy's appearance.

Chen Ling adjusted his slightly disheveled collar, stepped out of the restroom, and headed straight for the grocery kiosk.

“Newspapers, magazines, toys, playing cards… Anything you need? No? Then I’m off work~”

“Hello, I want to write a letter to my mom…”

Just as the woman was yawning, a young voice suddenly spoke up.

She looked down to see a pair of large, innocent eyes staring pitifully at her.

“Little one, we don’t…”

“My mom has a heart condition, and I want to give her some hope.” Before the woman could speak, the boy continued, “I only have six yuan left. Can I still send it?”

Upon hearing this, a flicker of imperceptible surprise crossed the woman’s eyes. She immediately smiled and pushed some paper and a pen towards him.

“Of course, you can write it here.”

“Thank you.”

The boy picked up the pen and quickly began writing on the paper:

An Incendiary has infiltrated the team, and the Thief Sage Bai Ye is hidden in the shadows. Requesting backup!

After writing the last character, he immediately folded the paper and handed it to the woman. At the same time, several law enforcers hurried past him, heading towards the port's assembly point.

The law enforcers from District Four had arrived.

Seeing this, the boy gave the woman a deep look and immediately walked towards the restroom.

This woman was not a member of the Twilight Society, but like Little Fang's grocery store in District Three, she merely served as a go-between for information. Although he hadn't seen the arriving society member himself, he knew the woman would certainly pass on his message.

This way, the Twilight Society could prepare. Even if they didn't send a member capable of suppressing the Thief Sage Bai Ye, at least it would ensure his safe retreat, right?

Thinking of this, Chen Ling's heart felt much calmer.

He returned to the restroom, changed back to his original appearance, and then unhurriedly walked towards the assembly point.

Meanwhile.

The woman at the kiosk scanned her surroundings cautiously.

She carefully took the paper under the counter and slowly unfolded it… then froze.

On the large sheet of paper, there were only two blood-red characters:

—Go to hell.

Woman: ???

Audience anticipation value: 5

The moment he saw those words, Chen Ling’s heart sank.

An unexplained surge in audience anticipation never bodes well… This was an experience Chen Ling had accumulated over a long time.

Chen Ling tried to find clues nearby but found nothing. There were no assassins, no apparent danger. He even walked around the ship for a while, fearing someone might have secretly drilled a large hole in its bottom.

As the District Four law enforcers arrived, the three enforcement officers called everyone to assemble, and they boarded the ship by district, one group at a time.

“There are so many people from Aurora City… almost half of them,” Zhong Yaoguang remarked, seeing a large group of law enforcers gathered together.

“That’s normal,” another Incendiary calmly replied. “Aurora City is the core of the Aurora Domain. One city monopolizes eighty percent of the domain’s resources. In the original design, the seven major districts were meant to serve as peripheral factories for Aurora City.

“In fact, it’s quite generous of them to give the seven districts so many slots…”

Chen Ling followed their gaze and saw a large group of law enforcers waiting by the ship, preparing to board. At a glance, there were at least thirty people.

They conversed amongst themselves, not even glancing at the law enforcers from the surrounding seven districts. Conversely, law enforcers from other districts looked at them with admiration and longing.

In fact, just by their demeanor, one could discern the difference between Aurora City law enforcers and others. There was an air of confidence in their every movement. Compared to them, law enforcers from other districts seemed like bumpkins who had coincidentally dressed similarly.

Among the many Aurora City law enforcers, three individuals stood out particularly.

They were conspicuous because none of the three wore the black and red law enforcer uniform. One was dressed in black clothes and trousers, another was adorned with jewels, and the third leisurely fanned himself with a folding fan in the cold wind.

These three stood at the very front; no one dared to overstep half a step near them. Even the three enforcement officers from Aurora City deliberately positioned themselves so as not to stand in front of them.

“Who are those three?” an Incendiary asked curiously.

“The one in black clothes and trousers is likely Lu Xuanming; his father is one of Aurora City’s five great Seven-Patterned Enforcement Officers, holding a high and powerful position. The one with the fan is Pu Wen; it’s said his family is a ‘Book God Way’ lineage that moved from another domain…”

“A Book God Way lineage? Then why are they entering the Ancient Military Path Treasury?”

“I don’t know…

“What about the one covered in jewels?”

“He…” Zhong Yaoguang hesitated for a moment, as if he had discovered something. He picked up the newspaper he had just bought and his eyes widened. “No wonder he looks so familiar, he’s Yan Xicai, the third young master of the Starfall Merchant Guild.”

Everyone gaped in surprise.

Chen Ling narrowed his eyes, deliberately raised his voice, and feigned shock, asking, “Is he the ‘Sleeping Auntie’?”

“Quiet,” Number 8, the team leader, frowned. “Don’t cause trouble.”

Meanwhile, Lu Xuanming, dressed in black and standing at the front of the queue, glanced at District Three and calmly spoke:

“Yan Xicai, your glorious deeds have spread beyond Aurora City… In terms of fame, we truly can’t compare to you.”

Yan Xicai’s face turned extremely ugly, and he glared fiercely at the group from District Three.

“Damn it! When I get back, I’m going to bankrupt the *Aurora Daily*. Those backstabbing bastards!”

“Then you’d better genuinely step onto the Military God Path first, otherwise, even if you go back, you’ll be expelled from the family.”

“What’s there to fear? With Brother Pu here this time, I refuse to believe I still won’t be able to achieve godhood…”

“Alright, let’s get on the ship.”

As the Aurora City law enforcers boarded first, others followed suit. Compared to the numbers from other major districts, the eight individuals from Districts Three, Five, and Six combined seemed rather meager.

After confirming the numbers, an enforcement officer nodded slightly, signaling the ship to depart. With a roaring blast of the ship’s horn, the vessel slowly began to move towards the center of the frozen sea.

The moment Chen Ling stepped onto the ship, an unmistakable voice came from the center of the deck.

“Hey, you!”

Chen Ling turned to see Yan Xicai standing there with a gloomy expression, gesturing to him.

“Yes, you… come here.”

Upon seeing Chen Ling being called out by Yan Xicai, it wasn't Chen Ling who was most nervous, but rather the many Incendiaries nearby. Their hearts jumped, suddenly struck by an ominous premonition.

A flicker of almost imperceptible amusement crossed Chen Ling’s eyes as he witnessed this scene.

The fish had taken the bait.