The Forgotten and the Purpose of the Exchange

Upon hearing Lin Yu's analysis, Zhu Rong's expression was one of utter astonishment.

"Sherlock... you're a truly terrifying fellow."

Lin Yu looked at Zhu Rong, and then revealed another trump card.

He adopted a confident demeanor and began to speak.

"In fact, Zhu Rong, your identities are not as secretive as you imagine..."

"A red-haired woman with red eyes, about this tall," Lin Yu gestured, calmly stating, "That guy is also operating under the codename 'Zhu Rong'..."

He told everyone he knew.

However, because of Lin Yu's tone, expression, and words at this moment, Zhu Rong was clearly unaware that this was all the information Lin Yu possessed.

Anyone seeing Lin Yu's confident demeanor would assume he must have even more information!

Zhu Rong was even more surprised. "How did you know... She was clearly supposed to keep a clean record and only take on the most secret missions."

"I also have connections in the Outer City," Lin Yu said calmly. "So, do you think it would be difficult for a super-famous 'Detective' like me, with such extensive sources of information in the City That Never Sleeps, to find out who's behind you and trace the clues...?"

Lin Yu asked, Zhu Rong remained silent, her expression grave, as if she were pondering Lin Yu's words.

This is the truth. If Lin Yu wanted to investigate further, he was confident he could find out who was behind Zhu Rong.

However... Lin Yu is running out of time—there are less than 72 hours left until Nightless Sky Fire Apricot, which is also the time for Lin Yu to assassinate Arter Mercury. Lin Yu must quickly understand the complex situation in City That Never Sleeps to ensure that this intelligence will be useful during the assassination.

But...

Zhu Rong had no idea about any of this!

After a long silence, Zhu Rong finally spoke again.

"Then why are you asking me?"

"The biggest reason is because I'm lazy. Why not save my energy if I can ask?" Lin Yu said, using Sherlock's face as a pretext, giving a particularly convincing reason. "Of course... there are other reasons too, because I'm giving you and your master a chance."

"Chance?"

Zhu Rong was puzzled.

Lin Yu looked at him. "One of the things you just said to me was Error —that is, I did not choose my side."

"I am not loyal to the Nightless Sky Huo Le, nor am I bound to her, Zhu Rong," Lin Yu said calmly. "I am not the same as you."

"So, you Nightless Sky Huo Le knew their identities, it would be detrimental to them, but... just because I know about this doesn't mean Nightless Sky Huo Le knows—as I said at the beginning, I'm not here representing Nightless Sky Huo Le."

Lin Yu slowly unleashed the most important and final blow of the strategy he had devised for Zhu Rong in this negotiation.

"Zhu Rong, I want to cooperate with the person behind you."

As Lin Yu spoke, Lin Yu Zhu Rong looked at him, her expression one of utter shock.

Clearly, what Lin Yu said was completely beyond Zhu Rong's imagination.

Lin Yu stood up abruptly.

"If you can't make a decision yourself, call your Partner in the City That Never Sleeps," he adjusted his hat. "I can help him cover his identity... but only if I know who he is and what he's planning."

"I'll wait at the door—tell me when you have the results."

As Lin Yu spoke, he left the "cell" directly.

He closed the wooden door and stood in the corridor, silently counting in his mind.

Two hundred and thirty-six seconds later, a knocking sound came from inside the cell door.

"Knock knock!"

Lin Yu opened the door again and entered, a smile on his face.

"He seems to have a lot of guts!"

He spoke to Zhu Rong.

Zhu Rong did not answer, but simply raised the Communicator in her hand.

She wants to talk to you directly.

Zhu Rong spoke, she shoved the Communicator into Lin Yu's hand.

Lin Yu picked up the Communicator, and a female voice came through.

"Sherlock, is that so?"

Although the Communicator distorted the sound slightly, Lin Yu still recognized it instantly...

That was indeed the voice of the woman I had seen during the C-77 mission.

"It is I, Your Excellency—may I ask your name?"

Lin Yu asked, and the woman replied, "Zhu Rong."

"That won't do, it'll be considered heavy, and I already have Zhu Rong here."

Lin Yu retorted.

Zhu Rong muttered to herself, "Just how much do you like this name?"

The woman was silent for a moment, then spoke again, "Then please call me Your Excellency."

"Are you Royal Nobles?"

Lin Yu asked.

"I suppose so."

The woman answered softly.

Lin Yu immediately said, "You sound like the type who isn't valued at home."

"You are indeed very perceptive," the woman said softly.

Lin Yu pressed further, "So, why did you assassinate Saint Orchid Kui's butler... You're not from the Saint Orchid Family, are you?"

"I am indeed not," the woman said again. "As for why... is this a necessary condition for cooperating with you?"

"Of course, Your Excellency. If I want to cooperate, I may not know who you are, but I should at least know what you want, right?"

Lin Yu said it as a matter of course.

"Alright, then telling you is fine," the woman spoke again. "The reason I... or rather we chose to do this is naturally because of what you just said—that I am not valued within the family."

"No, it's not even fair to say I'm being disregarded. Although I have the status and Royal Nobles, I'm practically no different from Bloodline who doesn't belong to this family."

"So, there's no point in telling you my name; it's almost never mentioned."

"The Nightless Sky Huo Shu, the Nightless Sky Huo Le, Saint Orchid Kui, Saint Orchid Lai Lan Lai, Qiu Xinliu, Qiu Xinli, Sherf Solence, Eris Mercury..."

"It seems that only these people can be considered Royal Nobles —they are destined to inherit their families and companies, while I, and we, can only be sold like commodities."

"We have even fewer choices in life than Commoner."

The woman's tone grew increasingly cold as she spoke.

"Therefore, in order to climb up... in order to create even the faintest of possibilities for our lives, we must do whatever it takes."

"Even if it means hiring someone to commit murder, even if it means facing eternal damnation, I'm willing to do it!"

She spoke, then her tone calmed down.

"Alright... I've finished explaining my purpose—do you still want to cooperate with me now?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu smiled and said, "Don't you want to ask me what I want?"

Hearing Lin Yu's overly casual tone, the other person thought for a moment and asked in return, "Then... what do you want?"

"I want to kill the Royal Nobles."

Lin Yu said calmly.