Unwilling to Borrow Influence?

"Of course!"

Dales is now certain that the bookshelves in the study were separated because Hu Fangyuan realized that Zhou Qing, Tang San, and the others had taken the dead pregnant woman away, and that the secret room and passage had been discovered, so he fled immediately!

Now, he can only insist:

He had no connection with Hu Fangyuan and was unaware that there was a secret room and a secret passage leading to the outside of Falling Star City within the City Lord's Mansion.

In this way, at most he would be judged for dereliction of duty, and since he had previously hosted the Star Luo Royal Academy Team, he might not even need to be punished.

"Zhang San!"

However, before accompanying Sword Douluo, the head of the Spirit Hall Branch, and others to the City Lord's Mansion, Dales helped the "prisoner" up and personally removed his shackles, loudly proclaiming, "You have rendered meritorious service in thwarting the Fallen Ones' plans! I hadn't anticipated that there were Fallen Ones hiding in the city, and I almost wrongly accused you. I am ashamed..."

Then, Dales bowed to Zhou Qing again, his attitude extremely sincere, "It is also thanks to you, little brother, that I realized that I almost unintentionally committed an unforgivable foolish thing!"

"I hope you know that I do not know the Soul Ancestor you are hunting. In fact, yesterday I was helping to search the city with Romantina and You Hui, who are by your side."

This was clearly intentional!

This not only distanced himself from Hu Fangyuan, but also showed that he "knew his mistake and corrected it." Although he was usually arrogant and domineering, it was not a big deal.

Zhou Qing didn't answer, but just looked at the other person quietly.

The onlookers didn't speak up for Dales; many even cursed him silently, feeling that even if Dales had nothing to do with the matter, they could simply let it go.

It is obvious.

Dales was unpopular.

But he himself didn't care at all about the attitude of these common people—they were just insignificant commoners; what mattered was the attitude of Zhou Qing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Romantina, and others!

Dales wasn't stupid; he could see at this moment that Sword Douluo's willingness to help might be due to his appreciation of talent.

Therefore, he had to be respectful.

"I trust the city lord."

In the end, Zhou Qing smiled, as if she had changed her attitude.

But Tang San was certain that this was not to spare Dales, but rather that Zhou Qing wanted to give him hope first, and then finally produce evidence— Hu Fangyuan's "Death Diary"—to shatter all his illusions.

The meaning of dying again and again:

First, I'll break your spirit—

The people will laugh at your behavior of being arrogant at first and then obsequious at the last moment!

Then let your body die—

Your corpse will be despised and trampled upon by all!

This kid doesn't look like he's only six years old...

Dales, however, became suspicious of Zhou Qing's reaction, but he couldn't say anything more at this point. He could only go to the City Lord's Mansion with Sword Douluo and the Lord of the Spirit Hall Branch.

Zhou Qing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Romantina, You Hui followed.

Among the disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, there was one whose Martial Soul was a bat. He had excellent hearing and, by the echo produced after striking the ground, confirmed that there was indeed an underground secret room in the City Lord's Mansion. He then led the Sword Douluo and the Hall Master of the Spirit Hall Branch to that study.

Tang San "unintentionally" triggered the Soul Guiding Lamp, opening the bookshelf behind the desk and revealing a hole leading downwards.

Dales remained expressionless, but Zhou Qing noticed a slight twitch in the corner of his eye.

The master of the Spirit Hall Branch and the son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect went down to investigate together and indeed found a secret passage and a secret room, as well as a large amount of blood.

Half an hour later, the master of the Spirit Hall Branch and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Disciple brought up the four corpses of women that Zhou Qing and the others had placed outside the forest.

This proves that Zhou Qing's words were true. If he had direct evidence that Dales was involved in this matter, then Dales would surely be doomed.

To Tang San's surprise, Zhou Qing did not take out the "Death Diary" but instead went along with Dales's wishes!

Dales clenched his fist and said, "I never expected that a Fallen Ones would be hiding in my City Lord's Mansion. I will definitely write a letter to the Star Luo Empire and ask the higher-ups to come and thoroughly investigate the deeds of the past City Lords of Falling Star City, to prove that they colluded with the Fallen Ones!"

Without a doubt, Dales wanted to push everything onto the former lord of Falling Star City.

But Zhou Qing still asked, "But the people who brought these four pregnant women here seem to be guards from your residence?"

"Absolutely not!"

Dales was absolutely certain, because upon returning to the City Lord's Mansion, he had signaled to his servants with his eyes that the spies should leave through the back door. "They must be the Fallen Ones's informants in disguise, trying to frame me! The Fallen Ones's scheme is probably not the work of one person, but a family tradition! Although they have escaped, they certainly haven't gone far. They might be hiding in the nearby mountains and forests, waiting to return!"

Then, Dales clasped his hands in a fist and said to Sword Douluo, "Your Crown, there is no need to trouble you with such a trivial matter. I will certainly gather the soldiers in the city, summon the Soul Master of the Adventurer's Guild, and search the nearby mountains and forests together with the Soul Master of the Spirit Hall Branch to bring the Fallen Ones to justice!"

Sword Douluo frowned slightly, glanced at Zhou Qing, wondering what this kid was up to—most of the people present knew that Dales was hiding something.

To get him to confess, you don't need any evidence; a little intimidation will suffice.

The reason Jian Chen was willing to step forward earlier was because he Ning Fengzhi for a long time last night and felt that Zhou Qing might have a grudge against this Dales. So he planned to do a favor and make an initial investment.

But this kid's current situation—

Did they see through it and not appreciate it?

Zhou Qing simply said to the master of the Falling Star City Spirit Hall Branch, "Hall Master, would you allow us to send these four corpses back to their homeland for burial?"

"Of course, my Spirit Hall is willing to help escort them!" The head of the Falling Star City Spirit Hall Branch was very pragmatic and realized that Sword Douluo valued these children, so he naturally wanted to go with the flow and do a small favor.

"Thank you, Hall Master."

Zhou Qing expressed his gratitude and then said to Dales, "Lord City, after we send these four poor women back to their hometown for burial, we will immediately return to discuss with you the matter of eliminating the Fallen Ones. After all, this is also an adventurous mission for the four of us! I just don't know if Lord Dales would think highly of us Soul Master?"

"You are all talented young people who won the championship in the Nuoding City Friendly Tournament. Your unity and cooperation are such that even Soul Elder are no match for you. It is my good fortune that you are willing to help me capture the Fallen Ones!" Dales was already certain that Zhou Qing wanted to target him and did not want to use the Sword Douluo's influence. He was extremely vigilant, but he flattered and praised Zhou Qing and the others.

"I hope so..."

Zhou Qing nodded calmly, then took Tang San, Romantina, Xiao Wu, You Hui to bid farewell to Sword Douluo. He moved the four corpses out of the City Lord's Mansion, bought four coffins, and, together with the guards arranged by the Spirit Hall Branch, went to You Hui's house to pick up Wang Shi before leaving Falling Star City.

You Hui went along too, just in case.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, Romantina were extremely puzzled, not understanding why Zhou Qing didn't take out the "Death Diary" to prove that Dales had a direct connection with the Soul Ancestor.