Chapter 2773: Distinguished Guest

Nong Zheng couldn’t help but swallow hard, then said, "How could I possibly know the people around the Governor... But... But I heard from the boss of my previous agency that there are some people in the zone who specifically handle dirty work outsourced."

"Is that so?" Xu Huo casually placed the terminal on the coffee table, "Weren’t you just suspecting that people with power and influence are doing this kind of thing? Since even the Enforcement Department turns a blind eye, naturally internal players can handle it, why bother looking for outsiders?"

"It’s not like that!" Nong Zheng heard the dangerous tone and quickly said, "Actually, the government doesn’t maintain that many players. Many players who have been injured or forced to step down from their positions don’t want to completely cut ties with the government. Some directly serve as bodyguards for government officials, some do private jobs. Don’t think the Law Enforcement Team is pretending not to know the truth; actually, not many are willing to do these things. With proper prospects and a good life, why do this... Outsourcing is quite normal. Although they aren’t government players in name, their actions are very similar, and they’re easier to find."

"So, you know such people." Xu Huo said.

Nong Zheng immediately talked about a player he’d accidentally met while following his former boss, "I don’t know if the two things are related, but people in the same circle know a bit. Not long after those female celebrities from the company disappeared, the boss met this person, and was so scared he fainted on the spot. I reckon it’s them doing the work..."

Xu Huo received the player’s identity information, "I’ll investigate the connection, you all stay here and don’t wander off."

He stared into Nong Zheng’s eyes and emphasized, "Stay here, don’t wander off."

Nong Zheng paused, then nodded solemnly.

Xu Huo quickly tracked down the player’s residence based on the identity information, located in a residential area with decent privacy. Quite a few players lived there, and just by lingering a little longer in the vicinity, he attracted the interest of a few players.

He didn’t bother concealing his movements; once confirming that the person lived there, he went to the door access system and requested a visit.

Sure enough, after being rejected, he pressed the doorbell once more, and was rejected again, but he kept pressing the doorbell.

As expected, on the third attempt, the player appeared on the rooftop of his house, and Xu Huo smiled at him from afar.

The next moment, the man left the residential area, looking displeased, "I don’t know you."

"Knowing you is enough for me." Xu Huo mentioned a few names, "I’ve been entrusted with investigating the truth from back then."

He was referring to the celebrities who disappeared ten years ago from the company. The man showed no reaction after hearing this, "I don’t know the people you’re talking about either, you’ve got the wrong person."

"You should know the boss of the Golden Rain Star-making Company, right?" Xu Huo said, "I have a valid reason to come to you."

Their eyes met, and the man’s expression gradually darkened, "If I don’t say anything, you’re not going to leave, are you?"

Xu Huo didn’t answer, but his attitude was clear.

After a few seconds, the man finally said, "I don’t have anything you want to know here. If you’re serious about investigating, go to the underground area of Shuqing Street and find a broker named Black Snake; he has connections with the government."

"That’s all I know. Don’t come back."

The man finished speaking and hurried away.

Xu Huo chuckled and turned to head for Shuqing Street.

Black Snake was easy to find; just ask one of the players frequenting the area, and they’d know where he was. While gathering information, someone also kept an eye on him, and soon a player volunteered to lead him to Black Snake.

Black Snake was operating on the third underground level. Despite it being broad daylight, the people there were already so drunk that they were confused, shouting hysterically around the ring in the center to the beat of the exciting music. In the ring, two boys who looked only in their teens were fighting with weapons.

"This way." The guiding player prompted.

Xu Huo followed him to a nearby office. Before even entering, he knew the room had been specially modified, not only preventing spatial teleportation devices but also with walls filled with gas and Hidden Weapons.

Inside, there were quite a few idle looking players gathered in small groups, lazily playing cards, and a middle-aged man with a snake-shaped watch terminal sitting behind the desk smiling at Xu Huo, "My doors have been open for a long time, yet not many outer-zone players have visited me. What business do you have, distinguished guest?"

"I wouldn’t call it business," Xu Huo replied, "I’ve heard you have connections with the government, and I’d like to ask for your help in finding someone."

"As long as you can pay up and the person is still in Zone 022," Black Snake grinned.

Xu Huo handed over a printed photo from NS Biological, "I want to find the person who kidnapped this company."

Black Snake glanced at it, his expression unchanged, and said, "We don’t take private investigator jobs here..."

"If you activate the prop in your hand, I guarantee no one in this room will leave alive." Xu Huo interrupted him, and as he spoke, the other players in the room gradually froze in place; they were alive, but their gazes were vacant.

Black Snake didn’t move from his chair, nor did he dare to make any rash moves, "Friend, let’s talk this out. Becoming a wanted criminal won’t do you any good."

"I just need a clue, then you can all walk out alive." Xu Huo said.

Black Snake’s gaze shifted from his companions back to Xu Huo’s face, "Judging by how you’ve found this place, that company must have no survivors. It will take a considerable time to investigate, why not..."

Xu Huo’s eyes flickered. The Spatial Ray Blade pierced his chest, pressing against his heart, "Don’t waste my time, I don’t want to hear lies."

"Don’t even think about betting on hiding at the station. I know who your people are and what business you do. You may escape, but the others can’t."

"There are nine people in this room, four people near the ring outside, five on the upper level, three on the Shuqing Street above, and there are two groups approaching here from different locations, they just completed your assigned task..."

Black Snake’s expression turned extremely grim, "You’re so strong, why bother with someone like me?"

"It’s simple," Xu Huo said softly, "You just happened to appear."

Black Snake was filled with indignation. The people whose minds were blank in the room hadn’t woken up yet, a testament to Xu Huo’s powerful Psychic Power, and those Xu Huo mentioned were indeed his people. Given the lack of preparedness, they could really be rounded up in one sweep.

After struggling for a moment, he asked, "Can I know why you’re bothering with this?"

"It’s obstructing my clearance." Xu Huo raised his hand, white Spiritual Embodiment flowed, spreading along the table and onto Black Snake, covering him from his hand up to his head.