After the public audit, Heaven Dou Outer City was quiet for two days.
It was not because there were fewer matters to deal with.
It was because too many people did not dare make a move.
Several noble chambers closed overnight. Some accountants vanished, while some shopkeepers pretended to be ill.
Black Crow Hall, an outer organization of the Black Market Soul Hunting Group, also began burrowing underground like rats that had smelled blood.
Yet the quieter it became, the more Hu Liena felt that something was wrong.
When she entered the temporary stronghold carrying a stack of newly delivered account ledgers, Di Yao was sitting behind the desk reading confessions.
His injuries had not healed.
Although Yue Guan had suppressed the trauma in his chest, his complexion grew paler than usual whenever he sat for too long.
Hu Liena set the ledgers on the desk and frowned. "Three chambers in the outer city have begun moving their accounting departments. Our people detained two of them, but one has disappeared."
Di Yao did not look up.
"Who disappeared?"
"The Wang Chamber of Commerce's deputy accountant, Wang Qi."
Hu Liena spread out a portrait, her voice turning colder. "He should know quite a bit about where the Black Market cargo manifests went."
Di Yao glanced at the portrait.
"Let him go."
Hu Liena froze. "Let him go?"
Di Yao picked up a fragment of a Hidden Weapon from beside him and lightly flicked its crossbow mechanism with his fingertips.
"If he runs now, he'll go find the person who can truly protect him."
Hu Liena fell silent for a moment, then understood.
"You sent someone to follow him long ago?"
Di Yao said, "Mm."
Looking at his utterly matter-of-fact expression, Hu Liena could not help saying quietly, "It's fortunate someone like