Infiltrating the Earl's Mansion

Zhang Lexuan said earnestly, "The rules of the Shrek Inspection Team exist to prevent those with impure motives from abusing their power. Aside from direct encounters with Evil Soul Masters, where we must kill rather than let a single one escape, matters involving old grievances between officials require team members to verify the facts themselves."

Lin Yun couldn't help but mutter to himself in a low voice, "No wonder our academy's efficiency is so low; they don't even tailor the procedure based on the credibility of the informant."

Zhang Lexuan smiled, not bothering to bicker with Lin Yun over this, and simply said seriously, "This is no trivial matter. After all, it involves an Earl who has only recently been promoted."

Lin Yun pursed his lips and then said, "Since that's the case, I'll go have a word with Dean Yan first. If I leave, the two teammates in my squad will be under significant pressure; I cannot delay their progress."

Zhang Lexuan nodded, affirming Lin Yun's conduct.

"This matter should indeed be reported."

Since the investigation and handling of that Heaven Spirit Empire noble was an arrangement by Dean Yan Shaozhe's teacher, the Dragon God Douluo Mu En, Yan Shaozhe did not hesitate in the slightest and agreed to Lin Yun's request almost immediately.

"Since that is the case, you may go with peace of mind. Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, right? I know those two young students as well. I will arrange for Du Weilun to look after them specially so they won't be taken advantage of."

After completing these arrangements, Lin Yun followed Zhang Lexuan once again to embark on the mission.

Heaven Spirit Empire, outskirts of Heaven Spirit City.

Zhang Lexuan and Lin Yun landed as soon as they crossed the border of the Heaven Spirit Empire, using a Soul Tool carried by Zhang Lexuan to mask their Soul Power, disguising themselves as ordinary people with no cultivation.

The two settled into a relatively simple inn on the outskirts of the city. According to Zhang Lexuan, this was a covert outpost for the Shrek Inner Court Inspection Team, where they could stay comfortably without being overly tense.

Lin Yun took such thorough care of Zhang Lexuan that it caused her to have brief moments of confusion regarding their respective ages.

At this moment, Lin Yun was actively pushing forward the matter regarding that family, saying, "Senior Sister, with my current strength, it is not difficult to protect myself within the Marquis's territory for a time, let alone against such a chaotic Earl who usurped another family's foundation."

"Let us split into two paths. You go to places like restaurants to scout out the reputation this so-called Earl has among the public, while I go inside to take a look."

Zhang Lexuan hesitated for a moment before saying to Lin Yun, "You shouldn't go. Although the academy hasn't completely cleared the suspicion that you are connected to Evil Soul Masters, I have come to trust you, and I don't want you to put yourself in danger."

Lin Yun smiled and said to Zhang Lexuan, "Senior Sister, you are overthinking it. I am disguised as someone without any Soul Power, and I will be entering as a servant of the mansion. No one will waste their energy on me. I grew up on the streets; I dealt with similar places quite often when I was with my father."

Zhang Lexuan hesitated, then tucked her distress signal into Lin Yun's robes, her jade fingers lightly tapping his chest as she said, "Since that is the case, I trust you. Take this with you. If the situation turns sour, trigger it, and I will arrive immediately. Do not be reckless."

Lin Yun smiled and joked slightly, "Don't worry, Senior Sister Lexuan. I'm very 'sensitive-skinned'—the kind that explodes at the slightest touch. Besides, I doubt he would dare to make things difficult for someone from Shrek Academy; at most, he'll scold me and kick me out."

Zhang Lexuan patted Lin Yun on the shoulder and warned him earnestly, "Do not be careless. Do not treat your opponent like a weakling; treat them as a true, formidable enemy. Regardless of their level, you must treat them with the caution you would reserve for the most terrifying Titled Douluo, so that you won't die."

Lin Yun nodded and said meaningfully, "If all the seniors in the Inner Court shared your mindset, the reputation of our Shrek Inspection Team would likely be even more renowned."

Zhang Lexuan smiled, then patted Lin Yun on the back and said, "Alright, since you have decided, let us act separately. You go see the situation inside, and I will provide support from the outside while also inquiring about how the common folk view this Earl."

Lin Yun nodded, put on the Soul Power masking Soul Tool given by Zhang Lexuan, and approached the main gate of the Earl's Mansion from another direction.

As soon as he reached the main entrance, Lin Yun was held at bay by two spears forged from refined iron.

"What are you doing? Don't you see what kind of place this is? Are you blind, you dog?"

Lin Yun quickly put on a smile, took out a small coin purse, and hung it on the tip of the guard's spear, grinning obsequiously at the two of them.

"Me? I'm a good person, a very good person! I'm here to apply for a job as a kitchen helper. Please, do me a favor."

After Lin Yun spoke, the expressions of the two guards softened. After weighing the coin purse, one of the guards kicked Lin Yun, sending him flying, and cursed, "You damn thing, after all that, you're just a poor wretch looking for a job? Do you think you're worthy of walking through the main gate? Get lost and go to the side door."

Lin Yun cursed in his heart, thinking, Just wait. For that kick alone, even if your master is truly innocent, I will slaughter you.

It was not that Lin Yun had a violent or cruel temper; one must realize that Lin Yun was currently playing the role of a scrawny, pathetic, and unreliable minor who looked like he hadn't eaten a proper meal in days.

This was only because Lin Yun had Soul Power protecting his body; if it had been a real person coming to seek employment at this Earl's Mansion, that kick could have been fatal.

The two guards, however, didn't care at all, even finding amusement in it while keeping the money and maintaining their foul tempers.

It was clear that they were never held accountable for their actions.

Thinking this, Lin Yun walked toward the side door.

The butler in charge of hiring personnel was a man who looked like a grinning old fool, if not for the necklace of various biological teeth around his neck.

Lin Yun applied to be a night-shift cook for the Earl's Mansion, a position with the least amount of work. It was essentially a role reserved for when a concubine, a young master, or the Earl himself got hungry in the middle of the night, or if guests arrived unexpectedly.

He would barely have to work a few times a year. If the previous cook hadn't been too sleepy while chopping meat and, in a moment of distraction, slipped and severed his own wrist—only to be defeated by the subsequent infection—it wouldn't have been Lin Yun's turn to take the job.

The butler tested Lin Yun's culinary skills. Since Lin Yun had known some home-style cooking in his past life and had integrated the memories of his original body, he had a good understanding of the culinary arts in the Douluo world, naturally conquering the butler with ease.

That night, Lin Yun carried a food box and walked swaggeringly through the Earl's Mansion.

This was why Lin Yun had chosen this position; the job provided a significant information gap. During the day, Lin Yun could show his face within a certain range, and since many young masters and misses didn't want others to know they were eating late-night snacks, they would often just send a note to the cook.

As Lin Yun walked, he heard the sound of faint sobbing...