Once, I wanted to be a good person

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."

"As for the money, you keep it for development."

"Lord Devil isn't interested in the wealth of us humans; what he's interested in is your progress."

"Don't disappoint Lord Devil."

Having said that, he turned around and left without a second glance, taking One Two Three with him.

As Miaomiao held the money, gazing at the familiar back of the Messenger, she felt a pang of recognition... It really did look like Fang Ze...

...

Meanwhile, Pang, who had been following behind Miaomiao out of concern, saw Fang Ze depart and cautiously approached, gently touching her.

Miaomiao snapped back to reality and turned her head to look at Pang.

Pang looked at the money in Miaomiao's hands, then asked, "Nannan, the Messenger didn't want it?"

Miaomiao hummed gently in response, then said, "Mr. Messenger said, Lord Devil isn't interested in the possessions of us ordinary people."

"He told us to keep it for our own development."

Upon hearing this, Pang swallowed hard, then said, "500,000 Lini... Old Liu Family's meat buns, 3 Lini each, that's more than one hundred thousand buns..."

"How long would it take to eat them all!"

Hearing Pang's words, Miaomiao snapped back to her senses, then looked at Pang and said softly, "Pang. This money isn't ours."

"It belongs to Lord Devil."

"Without Lord Devil, none of us would have survived today. Without Lord Devil, the gang that bullied us would not have been eradicated."

"So, this money, we have to use it in the name of Lord Devil."

"Only those who respect and believe in Lord Devil are entitled to his bounty."

Upon hearing Miaomiao's words, Pang looked up at the girl before her.

The girl's dark pupils were filled with earnestness and faith.

Whether it was because faith had taken root in her heart, or after experiencing the extreme highs and lows of the day, witnessing killing and bloodshed, the frail expression on her face was gone. Instead, there was an air of sanctity brought about by faith at its utmost...

.......

While Miaomiao and Pang were conversing, Fang Ze and One Two Three had also found an inn in the city district.

The material development level of a low-level city was very low, even lower than the county towns Fang Ze knew from his previous life.

The inn didn't even have piped hot water, only thermos bottles and a bath tub.

Therefore, Fang Ze could only ask One Two Three to keep watch outside and used the hot water to wipe down his body and take a bath.

While bathing, Fang Ze also thought about the events of the evening.

He had several reasons for leaving the money with Miaomiao.

First, his identity was after all "Devil's Messenger," and taking away money from his subordinates did not match this role.

Second, he was not actually short of money now. Even though he used six crystals today, he still had fourteen crystals and 30,000 Lini in cash.

Plus, with the 300,000 Lini Bai Zhi had promised him, the money he had was more than enough for the short term.

If he ever urgently needed money in the future, he could find an excuse to get it from Miaomiao.

Third, even though tonight's events were not instigated by him, he had witnessed everything unfold.

Having lived at the bottom of society in both his lives, seeing the people from the lower strata band together ignited his passion as well.

He wanted to see what Miaomiao and the impoverished people from the slums would turn into and what tremendous power they could unleash.....

.....

After his bath and tidying up, Fang Ze lay in bed, communicated with Bai Ling using Windbreeze Flower, and indirectly inquired about Cui Xuemin's situation.

Bai Ling thought carefully and then uncertainly said with pursed lips,

"Cui Xuemin? Hmm... I'm not sure what's become of him."

"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.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

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....