"In the past hour, all eighteen taverns across the city received bounty notices concerning Senior Student Zhou—a total of... seventy-three?!"
In the quiet office, the elderly man in a suit with a cross bound by chains pinned to his chest was left speechless as he looked over the report in his hands.
His hair was entirely white, yet he remained vigorous and sharp. Before him, the hot coffee on the desk gave off a curling aroma of nuts, cream, and caramel.
"Tinghai really is too small..."
He set down the paper report in his hand and chuckled in an aged voice. "So small that the moment there's the slightest stir, every faction and every demon and monster in Tinghai City catches the scent and swarms over in a single rush."
"This is no small matter."
The middle-aged secretary in a white shirt replied softly, "The last time something this serious happened in Tinghai was when the Black Calamity nearly spread out of control."
"Right now, the prices for Senior Student Zhou's identity and ability information are soaring on bounty boards in taverns everywhere, yet not a single person dares to take the bounty."
Hearing this, the old man in the suit scratched his white hair. "Rather than counting on them to get anything done, I'd sooner count on the rooster I keep at home to lay an egg. A few days ago, it nearly stole a drink of the Magic Potion I left on the table!"
"But—"
The old man paused briefly, then blinked twice at the secretary. "Snakes have snake paths, rats have rat paths. Who knows? Maybe these people really can bring us a surprise."
"Send some people over. Keep an eye on the bounty notices at several of the larger taverns these next few days. If anyone