Intelligence

Just as Gill was being taken to meet Toby, the emperor of this underground city, Chen Qiang and Lin also disembarked from the ship and headed toward the city.

The so-called underground city was truly magnificent. The port where they had disembarked was inside a huge cavern not far from the sea, so it was still brightly lit.

They followed the path from the docks deeper into the cavern. The light didn't grow dimmer; if anything, it became brighter. Embedded extravagantly in the cavern ceiling were gems that gave off a golden glow, illuminating the entire cave as brightly as day.

But Chen Qiang wasn't amazed by the gems overhead. The farther they went, the more deeply his brow furrowed.

Lin, walking beside him, looked much the same. If Chen Qiang hadn't kept hold of her hand to stop her from acting rashly, she might already have attacked someone.

The reason was that as they made their way toward the underground city, they encountered people heading inward from the port, just as they were, as well as others coming out. All of them had slaves in tow, led by iron chains. The slaves wore collars around their necks and had numb expressions. If they walked too slowly, their captors beat and kicked them mercilessly. It was a horrific sight.

Yet the passersby paid no attention at all. Instead, they chatted and pointed at the scene.

Chen Qiang was an ordinary young man who had grown up in a world where everyone was considered equal. He had never seen anything like this. If he hadn't understood that even if he acted now, he might not be able to save them—and could instead cause the collars around their necks to explode—he would have stepped in already.

Besides, he had promised Lin he would rescue her fellow villagers. If he acted now, he would expose himself too soon, making it much harder to find them later.

Still, Chen Qiang had already sworn to himself that once he found Lin's fellow villagers, he would destroy this utterly inhuman place and make everyone in the city disappear.

Lin, on the other hand, had lived on a small island and had never left it. She knew next to nothing about the outside world and had never seen anything like this.

If slave traders hadn't suddenly invaded the island and captured everyone, using the villagers' lives as leverage, she would never have been taken captive or learned how cruel the outside world was.

Kindhearted as she was, seeing people mistreating slaves made her want to act. If Chen Qiang hadn't held her back, she might already have stepped in. And if he hadn't rescued her, she might have become one of those slaves herself.

"Wait a little longer! Once we find the people you're looking for, I promise I'll make this place disappear completely!" Chen Qiang restrained Lin once more, bent down, and whispered in her ear.

His voice was soft, but Lin could clearly hear the resolve in it.

"Come on. Let's find the people you're looking for first!"

Taking Lin's hand again, Chen Qiang headed toward the underground city, his face dark.

The city was already close, and soon Chen Qiang and Lin had entered it. But they had no interest in admiring its bustle. As far as Chen Qiang was concerned, a city destined to disappear wasn't worth looking at, no matter how prosperous it was. So as soon as they entered, he led Lin into a dimly lit bar.

Chen Qiang didn't even bother to glance at the bar's name. He went straight inside and, without a word, led Lin to the counter. Then he placed the box of jewelry he was carrying on top of it.

The bartender had, of course, noticed their arrival. He walked over with a smile and asked, "What would you like to drink?"

"We're not here for a drink. We're looking for someone," Chen Qiang replied calmly with a shake of his head.

"I think you may have come to the wrong place, sir. This is a bar, not a place where we help people find others," the bartender said with a smile. As he spoke, he began sizing up Chen Qiang and Lin.

Chen Qiang paid no attention to the bartender's words. He opened the box on the counter, then stood up and addressed the other patrons in the bar.

"I'm looking for someone from the Defu Slave Ship. Whoever can lead us to him can have all of this."

His voice wasn't loud, but as soon as he opened the box, everyone in the bar had instinctively looked over. They stared at the jewelry and swallowed nervously. By the time Chen Qiang spoke, the whole bar had fallen silent. Even though his voice was quiet, everyone heard him clearly.

Though they had heard what Chen Qiang said and were clearly tempted by the jewelry in his hands, not one person came forward to speak. They simply watched him in silence.

"I told you that you'd come to the wrong place, sir! This is just a small bar. It's no place to look for people!" Seeing no one respond to Chen Qiang, the bartender nodded in satisfaction and spoke with another smile.

"I see. In that case, it seems I really did come to the wrong place."

Hearing the bartender say that, Chen Qiang didn't argue. He nodded, closed the box, and prepared to leave.

"Don't be in such a hurry to go, sir. A bar may not be the place to look for someone, but I do know someone who can help you!" Just as Chen Qiang was about to leave with Lin and the box, the bartender stopped him, leaned close, and whispered.

"Then I'll have to trouble you to show us the way," Chen Qiang said calmly. He wasn't surprised that the bartender had stopped him.

"Of course. Please follow me!" The bartender didn't look at Chen Qiang's expression. After stopping him, he hadn't taken his eyes off the box in Chen Qiang's hands.

Following the bartender, Chen Qiang and Lin were soon led out of the bar through a back door. They walked along a passage behind it for a while and came to a tightly shut door.

The bartender was clearly familiar with the place. After bringing Chen Qiang and Lin there, he didn't hesitate. He went to the door and knocked several times in a distinct rhythm. Soon, the door opened from the inside.

"This is the place, sir!"

Once the door opened, the bartender beckoned them inside and entered first. Chen Qiang followed, still holding Lin's hand, and went through the doorway.

After Chen Qiang and Lin entered, the door quickly shut by itself, as if it had never been opened at all.