Deception Organization, Strength Pill

"Rest assured, everyone. The Martial Soul Hall will give you all a satisfactory answer!" Su Yuntao said, then turned and went back inside the Martial Soul Hall.

All the roads in front of the Martial Soul Hall were completely blocked off. Su Yan didn't know whether to go in or not.

If these people were holding banners too, it would really have that vibe.

"Yan-ge."

"Su Yan-gege."

"Pika."

Su Yan turned around and saw Zhu Zhuqing and the other two—one Electric Mouse—returning from outside as well.

"Zhuqing, Xue Ke." Su Yan smiled. "Pikachu, long time no see! Come here, let big brother hug you!"

The moment he stretched out his hands, a golden lightning bolt fell without hesitation.

Zzzzzt!

A soft, fragrant Pikachu was destined to be out of Su Yan's reach.

Su Yan followed Zhu Zhuqing in through the side door of the Martial Soul Hall. He heard a loud crash and looked up to see everyone from the Martial Soul Hall and the Enforcement Hall kneeling on the ground, trembling in fear.

Bibi Dong had smashed the Chrysanthemum Platform with one palm strike, like a raging beast: "What the hell are you people good for?!"

"How dare you let someone use the Martial Soul Hall's name to scam people outside and ruin our reputation!"

"A whole year, and you've made no progress at all!"

"Look outside! If they hadn't come, I wouldn't even know about this!"

"Tell me—can you do the job or not? If not, get lost!"

A bespectacled Enforcer said, "Holy Maiden, we investigated last year too. All the clues pointed to the City Lord's Mansion, but Lord Xiao... we couldn't get anything out of him."

"Where is he now?" Bibi Dong said coldly.

"He's already been sent to the Slaughter City for detention," the bespectacled Enforcer replied.

Bibi Dong rubbed her brow: "Let everyone outside in. Question them one by one about the whole story. Compensate where needed, treat where needed. We'll take all that back from the scam organization!"

"Yes!"

Everyone withdrew.

"Master."

"Go to the training ground first." Bibi Dong left that one sentence and walked ahead.

On the training ground, the sun was just right.

Bibi Dong took a deep breath, looking at the growing team before her. A rare hint of relief showed on her face.

Master or instructor—it was all just teaching and nurturing.

She didn't need empty fame.

But that yellow-skinned rat standing stiffly at the very edge...

"Is it a Soul Beast?" Bibi Dong pointed at Pikachu and asked.

Zhu Zhuqing said, "It's a Pokémon. Pikachu, show your soul ring."

"Pika~" A yellow soul ring slowly lit up on Pikachu's back.

"I'll count it for now. You're now a five-person team." Bibi Dong put on her glasses and opened her notebook. "New members, introduce yourselves."

"My name is Xue Ke. My martial soul is the Ugly Duckling. Level 3. It seems I can't fight." Xue Ke lowered her eyes, her mood far from bright.

Bibi Dong stepped forward, crouched down, and reached out to ruffle her head: "Fighting isn't everything a Soul Master does. Be my assistant, okay?"

"Okay." Xue Ke brightened up and replied.

"Next, you, Pikachu." Bibi Dong crouched in front of Pikachu.

"Pika, Pikachu, pika pika, pika, pika, pika!"

Bibi Dong scribbled furiously in her notebook.

"Master, you can understand it?" Su Yan asked.

"It says it's a Pokémon," Bibi Dong replied expressionlessly, the notebook filled with every word Pikachu said.

Pika, Pikachu, pika pika, pika, pika, pika.

Pikachu looked at Zhu Zhuqing in confusion: "Pikachu~"

Zhu Zhuqing rubbed its head: "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu's first soul ring lit up, and golden lightning seeped out from the electric pouches on its cheeks.

Su Yan felt a chill run down his spine. The next second, lightning struck from above—ten rings!

"Why does it only hit me?!" Su Yan lay on the ground, twitching nonstop.

"Great power, excellent control effect!" Bibi Dong excitedly wrote it down.

Just then, at the entrance to the training ground, Su Yuntao rushed in hurriedly, knelt, and said, "Holy Maiden, we've finished questioning everyone. We also have some leads. I'd like to borrow Su Yan from you."

"Master Yuntao, what are we doing here?" Su Yan asked, looking at the slightly dim alley before him.

"This is Notting City's Black Market Street. Of all those who were scammed, they all had soul masters come to their doors. Only one, whose home is in Notting City, came into the black market himself to be tricked." Su Yuntao explained patiently, lifting his hem as he walked inside.

"I see." Su Yan then asked, "But why are you wearing women's clothes?"

"The people in the black market recognize me. I need to disguise myself, or they'll all run off."

"There's no need to cross-dress, though."

"Alright, do you remember the key points?"

"I remember." Su Yan nodded.

"Let's go."

Su Yuntao didn't reply further, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Su Yan followed closely behind, holding Su Yuntao's hand, his face written with panic and helplessness.

Inside Black Market Street, it was surprisingly clean. On both sides were many vendors selling trinkets, and by the roadside stood a few people here and there, both men and women.

Suddenly, a man with yellow teeth pounced in front of Su Yuntao: "Little lady, five hundred Copper Soul Coins, you game?"

Su Yuntao showed a panicked expression, casually shielding Su Yan as he said, "I'm a respectable married woman. I came here only to find some way out for my child."

"Child?" The yellow-toothed man leaned sideways to look. "A kid? Even simpler. I've got Strength Pills here. One pill sharpens the mind, two banish fatigue, and three guarantee a hundred percent awakening of soul power. Interested?"

Su Yuntao's eyes lit up slightly: "Really?"

"Ask around. I, Bule, never lie." The yellow-toothed man said. "These three Strength Pills are usually pricey—normally three hundred Gold Soul Coins. Ordinary folks can't afford them. But if the little lady is willing to show some favor, heh, I could knock the price down a bit."

"Well, I..." Su Yuntao hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering.

Su Yan, however, curled his lips behind him. So it was Bule, that old lecher.

Bule wasn't in a hurry either.

A woman like this, dressed well, with a good figure and decent looks, daring to walk into Black Market Street like this—she must have her own scales in mind.

Someone like this was either after favor or after a future.

He'd just met one not long ago, and she tasted excellent.

"Alright, let's not beat around the bush. I'll give you a wave deal, how about it?" Bule grinned.

Su Yuntao was taken aback, murmuring, "A wave?"

"Three twists in a wave!" Bule reached out directly and flicked the water balloon tied to Su Yuntao's chest, chuckling. "Just ninety Gold Soul Coins."

"Ninety, that's..." Su Yuntao feigned reluctance, making Bule swallow hard.

"I'll go all out. Rock-bottom price: one Gold Soul Coin."

Su Yuntao asked one last time: "Does it work?"

"The effect? Let me tell you, it's top-notch." Bule patted his chest. "You know Xiao Chenyu, right? Son of former Lord Xiao. He took the Strength Pills, and in just a few months, he's already at level twelve. If Lord Xiao hadn't been foolish, he'd be at Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy by now."

Su Yan instinctively covered his nose.

"Silencer" might be weak, but the power of his silence still lingered in the nose.

Su Yuntao agreed, offering his precious hand and placing it on Bule's shoulder.

For this case, he had sacrificed far too much.

Su Yan couldn't help but sympathize with this newly promoted Deacon of Notting City Martial Soul Hall.

Halfway through, Bule suddenly asked, "Little lady, where are you from? What's the kid's name?"

"I..." Su Yuntao turned his head away, deliberately looking troubled.

Bule laughed heartily: "Don't worry, just routine. We do this business, we still need to verify your identities, lest those people from the Martial Soul Hall's Enforcement Hall slip in and ruin a good thing."

Su Yuntao's heart tightened, and he said slowly, "I see."