Chapter 170 : Fate of the Ancient Castle
Chapter 170: Fate of the Ancient Castle
‘Is our fate, those of us who came out of the Ancient Castle, really like magnets pulling each other in?’
Han Su had already been thinking about how he could meet this fourth child he had saved. However, Haidi City belonged to another city, and as an investigator, going there was troublesome. On top of that, being unfamiliar with the people and places there made finding someone even harder.
But he hadn't expected to run into him under such circumstances.
Previously, he had only worried that the boy wasn’t someone from the mysterious circle, and finding him would be useless. But now it seemed this guy actually carried the title of a Doctor of Ruinology?
Originally, he wasn’t even in Han Su’s first tier of the rescue list. Han Su had placed more hope in the Bowl-Cut Boy. But now that they had met…
Just as he was thinking this, he saw the young Doctor of Ruinology get out of the vehicle and walk straight over.
He wasn’t accompanied by any guards or assistants, only a curvy female secretary with black-rimmed glasses, ear-length short hair, and dressed in an office suit. She stayed close to him, holding up a sun umbrella and stretching out her hand to keep others from approaching.
He walked forward expressionlessly. When he saw the Aries Investigator coming toward him, he only glanced at the case in his hand and let out a cold snort. He ignored the extended hand of goodwill and clasped his hands behind his back, arrogantly saying:
“Where’s the Rong family’s item?”
The Aries Investigator awkwardly withdrew his hand and forced a smile. “Once the contamination is resolved, Dr. Rong may dispose of it as he sees fit.”
Rong Qiyue gave a cold nod and kept walking forward. “In theory, I don’t need to help you resolve the contamination incident. I could just take the item and leave. I’m helping only for the sake of the Reality Defense Line.”
“This is my choice, not a transaction.”
“I just hope that once the issue is resolved, you won’t waste my time again.”
“……”
The Aries Investigator was irritated by the young man’s arrogance, but he knew about the Esotericism Faction and understood how significant this young doctor’s status was within it. He had no choice but to endure, offering only a polite smile without making any promises.
As they spoke, Rong Qiyue had already approached, but his steps suddenly paused.
His gaze fell upon Li Yiting, who stood pale in the field. He smiled slightly and said, “Mr. Li, you’re quite bold!”
“You came to us back then, and we agreed to cooperate, giving you a chance to elevate your status.”
“But you ruined that cooperation.”
“……”
“In the original agreement, I had a forty percent share, equal to your Rong family, with temporary rights to handle the ruin artifacts!”
Li Yiting faced the young man, gritting his teeth slightly and meeting his eyes. “I’ve already made my decision. I don’t want anything else. I’ll only take these—less than ten percent of the total. If anything, your Rong family is already getting the better deal…”
Rong Qiyue shook his head slightly. “That’s not how the numbers are calculated. What is yours, the Rong family won’t snatch. But all items should be assessed by us before distribution. You transporting them early violates the taboo.”
“Of course, I’m not responsible for that, nor will I argue with you here. The Rong family’s legal team will contact you.”
With that, he turned and walked into the tent.
Han Su looked at Li Yiting’s now very grim face, smiled, and comforted him: “Uncle Li, it should be fine.”
“I don’t care what he says!”
Li Yiting said in a low voice, “It’s just business rhetoric. Ultimately, it’s about leveraging for negotiation and swallowing our Magic Box Corporation’s interests over there. I’ve seen plenty of that.”
“But I must bring that data back to Qinggang. Xiao Han… if needed, I can find a crew myself!”
As he spoke, his expression darkened, and he said in a low voice: “This is outside the city!”
“There are plenty of security companies who’d dare use guns and knives. I also know a few bloodthirsty desperadoes. Even if we have to seize it by force, I’ll bring the item back to Qinggang!”
“……”
Han Su was startled by the fierce look in his eyes.
Damn. He had suspected Li Yiting was scheming something, and this was it…
He had been with the Disaster Management Bureau for a while now and seen all sorts of people.
But a father like Li, hardening his heart to hire someone to hack at a Disaster Management Bureau Investigator? That was a first…
He quickly smiled. “It’s not necessary just yet.”
“I’ll talk to the Rong family later!”
“……”
“This…”
Li Yiting shook his head slightly. “You think the Rong family is that easy to talk to?”
He had observed long enough to understand.
Han Su’s status wasn’t low—at least the Aries Investigator was clearly weaker in front of him.
But when it came to the Rong family and the others, Han Su had no influence.
In fact, he had a hunch—after leaving the city, quite a few people around seemed to have ill intent toward Han Su.
Faced with Li Yiting’s helplessness, Han Su didn’t explain, only smiled and said: “You never know.”
“I’ll go check the infected.”
Rong Qiyue and the Aries Investigator entered together and began examining the state of the Red-Eye Disease infection.
His assistant helped with various instruments, scanning and recording, performing a range of seemingly advanced procedures.
Rong Qiyue, on the other hand, only examined the eyes, inspected the body, gently tapped the temples, and so on.
Han Su watched with interest. The doctor beside him also came over, observing from afar and sighing: “We still knew too little back then—only that this world had a shadow, but not how to approach it.”
“Had I known, I wouldn’t have joined the Disaster Management Bureau. I’d have chosen another major and studied hard. Maybe I’d have drawn the attention of one of these Esotericism Factions.”
“……”
Han Su was surprised. “You know about the Esotericism Faction too?”
The doctor also gave Han Su a surprised look. “Such an obvious group—don’t tell me you only just noticed them?”
Han Su turned his head nonchalantly, thinking: I didn’t even notice—they told me directly…
“But those Esotericism Faction members are tough to deal with.”
The doctor shook his head lightly and said, “They’re highly hierarchical. Some even treat knowledge as personal property, only passing it down internally, creating layer upon layer of barriers.”
“Also, ruinology research requires massive funding, clearance, even test subjects. A single city can’t support a faction. So they’re often cross-regional organizations—on some level, even more prestigious than the Disaster Management Bureau.”
“……”
Han Su listened, nodding silently.
Instead of digging further into the faction’s power, he asked something he was curious about:
“Do Ruinology experts all undergo Mysterious Power training?”
The doctor paused slightly, then shook his head. “There are many branches in the Esotericism Faction. Some, like us, do undergo secret Mysterious Power training. Others focus only on academia and don’t deal with those powers.”
“But one thing is certain—anyone with a foundation in the faction will have high Mental Activity.”
“Many fields of study aren’t suited for ordinary people.”
“……”
“This problem isn’t simple!”
At that moment, Rong Qiyue had finished his assessment. His expression darkened slightly as he stood up and said, “I need someone to voluntarily accept contamination—to see what these infected individuals saw.”
The Aries Investigator immediately responded: “The D7 I applied for has arrived.”
Everyone turned to see a tall prison vehicle, escorted by four armed cars, pulling in. The armed personnel didn’t block it this time—it drove directly to the empty space before the temporary containment center. The prison vehicle opened as guns pointed in.
Han Su watched the people stepping out of the vehicle and frowned: ‘Bit different from what I imagined…’
Judging by appearance, these D7 individuals looked much worse than the three D7 Personnel who had previously attacked him.
Each looked pale, walked unsteadily, and some even bore fresh wounds.
Even without guns pointed at them, they looked like they might collapse at any moment.
But Han Su also noticed—as soon as they stepped off, they moved quickly, as if something terrifying was still inside the vehicle and they wanted to get away.
It seemed there was someone else still inside?
Han Su frowned thoughtfully. The Aries Investigator beside him was also thinking: “Crap. I’ve reminded that guy several times the D7 are coming. Why hasn’t he left yet?”
“If he dies on my mission, won’t Zhang Chiguo be pointing a gun at me next?”
“……”
With all sorts of emotions entangled, he was now the one most worried.
Han Su had seen enough and didn’t care much about the D7 absorbing contamination. He only overheard Rong Qiyue giving directions, after which the Aries Investigator led the D7 toward the infected individuals, hooking them up to various instruments.
Rong Qiyue walked to the side. His curvy secretary brought over a folding chair for him, even held the sun umbrella, and poured red tea.
Han Su found it ridiculous—this guy really thought he was some big shot?
Seeing that no one was paying attention and the timing was right, he walked over and extended his hand to Rong Qiyue, smiling:
“Dr. Rong, hello.”
Rong Qiyue’s gaze swept past the case in Han Su’s hand, then he lowered his eyes indifferently, not sparing even a single glance.
“?”
Han Su didn’t expect this guy to be such a poser.
Still, he kept his manners and said with a smile: “I’d like to talk to you alone for five minutes. Is that okay?”
Rong Qiyue sipped his red tea without replying, but his secretary suddenly looked up and said coldly: “Sir, if you have business, you may first speak to me when I’m available. I’ll decide whether it’s worth passing on to the Doctor.”
“Not just barge in and interrupt his rest without the slightest courtesy.”
“……”
Han Su’s expression twitched. What the hell…
You’re forcing me to use my trump card…
He slowly withdrew his hand, then suddenly leaned closer and whispered in the arrogant Doctor of Ruinology’s ear:
“You have a tail on your butt…”