The Royal Manor Robbery

Just as Lin Xiao was about to take a closer look at the items in the system shop,

the Jinyiwei communication talisman at his waist suddenly began to ring.

He picked up the talisman with a puzzled expression.

There was a single character displayed on it.

"Gather."

This was a Jinyiwei summons.

As long as they were not out on a mission, every Jinyiwei under the Northern Garrison Office had to assemble if they were within the capital.

Although he had achieved a little success now, he still did not dare openly defy the Jinyiwei's orders.

After all, compared to the colossal Jinyiwei, he was no different from an ant.

Not to mention the five Commanders and Pacification Envoys at the Great Grandmaster Realm.

Even any one of those Grandmaster Realm Thousand-Household Officers could easily crush him to death.

Even the Hundred-Household Officers under them were all innate experts.

Having received the message, Lin Xiao rose, dressed himself neatly, and hurried toward the Northern Garrison Office.

The moment he arrived at the entrance to the Pacification Office,

he saw many Jinyiwei walking inside with solemn expressions.

Lin Xiao said nothing and followed the crowd forward.

At that moment, in the vast square within the Pacification Office,

a Thousand-Household Officer stood there with a cold expression.

After counting the people, a Hundred-Household Officer stepped forward and said, "Reporting to you, sir, aside from those out on missions who have yet to return, another fifty hold idle posts."

The Thousand-Household Officer nodded slightly.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiao was secretly observing the Thousand-Household Officer from below the platform.

The man's blood and vitality were abundant, radiating from all around him.

His hands in particular were enormous, each finger seeming to be forged from fine steel, capable of crushing stone tablets with ease.

One look was enough to tell that his hand techniques were formidable.

The Jinyiwei never wasted words. Once he learned that everyone had arrived, the Thousand-Household Officer said coldly, "News has just come down from above."

"The treasure vault of Qing Royal Manor has been robbed. The Jinyiwei and Six Doors will jointly investigate this case."

"Prince Qing is His Majesty's most beloved younger brother. Upon hearing that Qing Royal Manor's treasure vault had been robbed, His Majesty flew into a rage and ordered the case solved within three days."

"If the case remains unsolved, everyone investigating it will be implicated."

"Unfortunately, the case has fallen into my hands."

"And since you are my subordinates, you are even more unfortunate. Now we shall see who is the unlucky one."

"Lord Pacification Envoy has pressing duties and cannot spare the time to come, so we can only rely on ourselves."

"Prince Qing has given permission for us to inspect the manor and investigate the scene. That is the benefit we managed to secure for those handling the case. The old rules apply—lots will decide."

After the Thousand-Household Officer finished speaking,

Lin Xiao and the others lined up to draw lots and form groups.

When he looked at the mark on his lot, his expression changed. He had actually drawn the unlucky one.

Before long, a youth with chubby baby fat approached with an unpleasant look on his face.

"Ah, I drew it too. Why are the two of us so unlucky?"

Lin Xiao frowned slightly as he looked at Little Fatty.

He had not expected it to be this person.

According to the memories of the body's original owner,

this Little Fatty had gotten in through the back door.

He had no real abilities. No strength to speak of, no skills to speak of.

He merely relied on his family's connections to obtain a post in the Jinyiwei.

Originally, his family had disagreed with him joining the Jinyiwei.

After all, the Jinyiwei was known as the strictest department in the Wu Kingdom, and also the one with the highest death rate.

But Little Fatty insisted that being a Jinyiwei was cool. His family could not win against him and could only agree.

Although Lin Xiao had little hope of solving the case himself,

he still hoped his partner could at least make things easier for him.

But now, it seemed he could only rely on himself.

"Hehe, brother, I'll have to trouble you to look after me."

One did not strike a smiling face.

Seeing Little Fatty's politeness, Lin Xiao said nothing. He merely nodded slightly and turned to walk outside.

"Ding. Mission issued."

"Solve the Royal Manor robbery case. Reward: Shaolin Lesser Revitalizing Pill (consuming it can increase ten years of cultivation). Mission points: three."

"Mission failure: Punishment (none)."

Hmm?

Hearing the system prompt, Lin Xiao suddenly stopped.

"Ow!"

Little Fatty, who had been following behind Lin Xiao, was caught off guard and rammed straight into his back.

"Brother, what are you doing? Why did you suddenly stop?"

Without hesitation, Lin Xiao directly accepted the mission.

There was no penalty for failing it anyway.

At worst, he would simply lose the mission reward.

Sensing what had happened behind him, Lin Xiao said nothing and continued forward.

Seeing that Lin Xiao did not react, Little Fatty muttered something and continued after him.

Could this guy be a mute?

Hearing Little Fatty's mutter, Lin Xiao said calmly, "You'd better cut the nonsense. If we fail to solve this case, both our heads will roll."

"Ah, so you're not a mute."

Lin Xiao frowned at the fat man's words. "Shut up."

Little Fatty jumped in fright and did not dare say another word, obediently following behind him.

Qing Royal Manor was located on the most prosperous street in the capital.

Soldiers stood guard before its gates, and no one dared approach within a hundred meters of the entrance.

When they arrived before Qing Royal Manor, they had barely stepped forward when they saw a constable emerge from within.

He wore a red-and-white constable uniform, with a longsword hanging at his waist.

Yet this constable was different from ordinary constables. He seemed to hold considerable status.

After he came out, the two manor guards actually bowed respectfully to him.

Little Fatty was slightly surprised when he saw the constable.

"That's Soul-Chasing Sword Li Yue."

"Who?"

Lin Xiao could not help asking in confusion upon hearing Little Fatty's words.

"You don't know him?"

"He is Lord Divine Constable's disciple, and one of the most prominent young talents in Six Doors today."

"I heard that a month ago, he pursued a wanted criminal for over a thousand miles."

"And despite being weaker, he defeated and captured that wanted criminal, earning the recognition of the Chief Constable of Six Doors."

"Some say that within ten years, the next Divine Constable will definitely be him."

"His strength is at the peak of the Acquired Realm."

The highest commander of Six Doors was the Chief Constable.

Below him were honorary constables known as Divine Constables, followed by constables ranked from first to ninth class.

Divine Constable was an honorary title. Only those who solved the most cases and captured the most criminals could be granted this title. Naturally, they also needed sufficient strength. Only by fulfilling all these conditions could one receive the title.

Only those who obtained the title of Divine Constable were qualified to succeed as Chief Constable.

Lin Xiao and Little Fatty stood beside the manor gate. Li Yue did not even spare them a glance. He merely nodded at the manor guards who were fawning over him, then strode away.

They were merely ordinary Jinyiwei Strongmen, not worthy of his attention.

Watching Li Yue leave, Little Fatty muttered unhappily, "What are you acting so smug for? Let's see how you get slapped in the face when you fail to solve the case in three days."

Lin Xiao said nothing. This was simply how the world worked. Since the man had ability, it was normal for him to look down on ordinary people.

He stepped forward and presented his waist token. The two guards did not treat Lin Xiao and Little Fatty with nearly the same respect they had shown Li Yue.

"Go in. Time is limited. You only have the time it takes for one incense stick to burn."

Lin Xiao led Little Fatty through the manor gates, where someone was already waiting to guide them.

"Look at what you should look at. Do not look at what you should not."

The maid leading the way warned them.

Little Fatty was about to voice his displeasure again, but Lin Xiao silenced him with a glare.

Though he was not very confident that he could solve the case, Lin Xiao still wanted to give it a try.

After all, the system mission's reward was too tempting.

A medicinal pill that could increase one's cultivation.

If he obtained the reward, he could use the pill to leap straight into the Innate Realm.