Chen Nan holed up in the house he rented. It was on the sixth floor, with two bedrooms and a living room, and the kitchen was fully equipped. Right now, only instant noodles and his phone kept him company—a typical loser's setup.
But in secret, Chen Nan was even less qualified than a loser. At the very least, losers did not face threats to their lives.
Another difference was that, within this roughly sixty-square-meter apartment, Chen Nan could not allow himself to idle.
While keeping an eye on his phone, he did sit-ups, gripped the cabinet crossbeams for pull-ups, and ran obstacle courses around the room without stopping.
Because he did not have the right to lie in bed and scroll through his phone.
Even this place could not possibly remain safe forever. Should he need to relocate immediately or encounter some unforeseen danger, he had to ensure that his body retained sufficient mobility.
Though this short-term training could not produce any decisive results, at the very least, it would keep his body from stiffening up.
During the intervals while he waited for the surveillance setups to send back useful information, Chen Nan also conducted online investigations and adjusted the monitoring equipment.
One question among them left Chen Nan somewhat puzzled.
Remote surveillance equipment had to be connected to a network in order to function.
He had not seen any relevant explanation in the equipment manual when he bought it, yet it had operated normally while he was setting it up. What exactly was going on?
At the same time, this made Chen Nan think about the network here.
From the communication networks he had encountered, he had never seen a wired connection.
Could it be that network communications here could be achieved entirely through spatial signals?
But the problem was that this place's technological civilization looked no different from Earth's ancient era from over a thousand years ago. It could not possibly have reached such a level.
So what was the deal with this network?
Of course, this was only a small question. Chen Nan merely harbored a slight suspicion and did not investigate it further.
What concerned him more was other information he had found online.
Namely, records of missing persons throughout the Qingyang Kingdom over the past several years.
Though he had already investigated things to this extent, this preparation of Chen Nan's was of little use now. Still, he wanted to take a look.
Sure enough, the disappearance dates and ages of some missing people roughly matched the times when the Orphanage had taken in orphans.
Combined with what he had seen at the Orphanage that night, Chen Nan knew that, at the very least, the trafficking of children and their delivery to the Orphanage was basically confirmed.
After passing a day as agonizing as torture by browsing through this information, Chen Nan's surveillance software finally sent him a notification.
He immediately opened the surveillance software and switched on the camera as well. The screen showed many people inside a dimly lit room.
Facing the camera was a man who resembled Wang Yifu somewhat, though the crafty air on his face was far less pronounced.
To make up for that deficiency, the viciousness in his expression was all the more abundant.
With that face, plenty of people would believe he killed without batting an eye.
Chen Nan guessed that this man was Wang Yide. Clearly, he was seated in the middle.
A group of lackeys stood around him, and among them, Chen Nan could see Ghost Head and Water Duck.
"Second Brother, the brothers keeping watch in Peace Community haven't found any trace of that brat returning," Ghost Head said respectfully.
This Second Brother was Wang Yide. He smoked a cigar that looked like a dried turd, took a puff, blew out smoke, then flicked the ash. "So he vanished into thin air again?"
"This Chen Nan is slippery as an eel," Ghost Head said.
Wang Yide snorted coldly. "Why not say you're useless? He was right under your noses, and you still let him run away?
I don't need to repeat how important this person is to us, do I?
Every one of you has blood on your hands. If that brat reports us, none of us will be able to bear the consequences!"
Ghost Head smiled. "Second Brother, what can a little kid like that accomplish? We've greased palms in every department. If he reports us, not only will it achieve nothing, it'll expose himself instead."
Wang Yide cast him a cold glance, startling Ghost Head into shrinking back. Sadly, he did not have a hard shell behind him to complete the image.
"If he reported us, that would be easy enough to deal with. But there hasn't been a single movement." Wang Yide seemed to be talking to himself. "That proves he's no ordinary person. His way of thinking and his courage far surpass any of yours.
A child only ten years old, yet indeed... indeed possessing the talent of a Transcendent. He really is different.
We must get rid of him!"
Ghost Head immediately said, "Second Brother, don't worry. We'll send even more people.
Places like stations, parks, shady corners, beggars' dens, inns, and so on—we'll investigate all of them thoroughly."
Wang Yide snorted. "But it hasn't produced any results all this time. Don't you have any awareness at all?"
Ghost Head immediately replied, "Second Brother, how could we possibly have that kind of ability?"
"Useless!" Though Wang Yide cursed him, he was rather pleased inside. He said, "That is precisely where the child's exceptional nature and extraordinary courage lie.
Blending in among the students—who among you could have thought of something like that? What an incredibly brilliant method!
And from this, you should learn something.
He definitely won't hide in dark places, nor will he stay in public locations."
Ghost Head asked, "Then where would he be?"
Wang Yide cursed, "Idiot! We can investigate places like inns, and that child must have anticipated that.
Besides, he has already done such a thing: finding a rented house to hide in.
Such places can avoid the patrol officers' surveillance, and naturally can also evade ours.
Blend into the common people without showing yourself at all, like dropping a single drop of water into a river—you'll find it hard to locate it again.
Great wisdom!
You need to focus your investigation on rental advertisements in every residential area, understand?"
Ghost Head put on a confused expression, then said as if suddenly enlightened, "So that's how it is! No matter how great that brat's wisdom may be, won't he still be unable to escape your calculations, Second Brother?
Then we'll get to it right away!"
With a wave of Wang Yide's hand, those people withdrew.
Only Wang Yide remained in the room, and cigar smoke nearly shrouded his head.
Where would I get such a ghostly idea? he thought. My crafty eldest brother said all this.
But now, it counts as my wisdom.
A knock sounded at the door. Wang Yide stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray and lazily said, "Come in."
Four or five more people entered at once. Every one of them looked exceptionally honest—at the very least, they would not attract anyone's attention in a crowd.
The moment they entered, they all stood there obediently.
Wang Yide pointed at the sofas. "Sit down and talk. What sort of ghosts are you people, pretending to be honest in my place?"
After they sat down, a man known in the underworld by the nickname Big Grey Wolf smiled and said, "Boss Wang, we've got another batch of top-quality goods. You know us—if they weren't good goods, we wouldn't come knocking at your door."
Wang Yide lit another cigarette, took a drag, and after slowly exhaling, said, "You don't know this, but things have been a little tense lately. We don't really want to do this kind of business."
"Oh, Boss Wang, who in Wu City doesn't know that the three Wang siblings can cover the sky with one hand?" Big Grey Wolf said with a smile. "No matter how tight things get, could the wind possibly blow down a tree as big as yours?"
Wang Yide suddenly felt somewhat irritated, especially upon hearing the word "tree."
But this fellow was not as cautious as his elder brother, so he impatiently said, "Bring them in and let me see!"
At a look from Big Grey Wolf, one of his men went out.
Before long, a line of children—around six or seven of them—entered the room with blank, vacant eyes.
That underling held a bell in his hand. Whenever he shook it, the children moved, as though a Taoist priest were driving zombies.
Big Grey Wolf smiled. "Boss Wang, how is the quality of this batch?"
Every one of those children had delicate features and well-proportioned bodies.
Wang Yide was extremely satisfied, and his earlier irritability vanished. "Same old rules. Go collect your money."
Yet Big Grey Wolf remained as steady as a fisherman on his platform. "Boss Wang, this is a one-shot deal for us, and we're taking enormous risks. But once these children reach your hands, they become money trees..."
Wang Yide slammed the table with a bang and said icily, "We're all people of the underworld, so don't play tricks with me.
We have other channels for getting children. Don't cut off your own route to business.
And if you want to haggle with me, you'd better weigh your own worth first.
Your brothers are here, so I'm giving you some face."
Big Grey Wolf's face truly turned somewhat gray, but in an instant, he beamed again. "I was presumptuous, Boss Wang. Then I won't delay your time any longer."
With a wave of Wang Yide's hand, these "honest people" also left.
He pressed the summons bell. Some people entered, put bags over the children, and left with them.
Of the three matters to be handled today, two had now been completed.
Not long afterward, the third group arrived as well.
These people looked like extremely respectable businessmen and carried an intimidating bearing.
And now, Wang Yide could finally speak with them in a respectful tone.
What they discussed was the drug trade. This transaction also involved an enormous amount of money.
That was why there would absolutely be no surveillance in this room. The business conducted and matters discussed here were all things that could not see the light of day.
Since they were all regular customers, this deal was completed quickly as well. Wang Yide personally stood up and saw them out, then returned.
After sitting down again, he had someone bring wine and food, then began eating and drinking. For no reason, he felt agitated and restless, and needed alcohol to calm himself down.
And at its root, this agitation had everything to do with that "tree." Damn Big Grey Wolf—he had mentioned "tree" twice!
"Could our Wang family's great tree ever have a day when it falls?" Wang Yide took a drink, then smashed the wineglass onto the floor with a bang.
"No, tomorrow I need to pay Third Sister a visit!" Wang Yide muttered to himself.
Then, naturally, some people came in to clean up. They were all girls.
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