Investigator?

The doorman led the way. Instead of entering the hotel lobby, he turned and headed around the back of the building.

"Sir, the fighting matches are indeed on the third basement level, but not beneath the hotel. They're under the parking lot behind it."

Li Qingshan nodded and led Cao Shaoyu after him.

Behind the hotel building was a wide-open surface parking lot. The lighting was dim, with only a few scattered streetlamps.

As soon as the three approached, a gaunt middle-aged man with a sharp face lit up and hurried over.

"Boss, what do you usually like to play? I can show you the way."

The gaunt man bowed and scraped. The doorman clearly knew him and introduced him to Li Qingshan.

"Sir, his name is Cheng An. He can take you there."

Li Qingshan nodded in understanding, waved the doorman away, then turned to Cheng An.

"There's a casino down there too?"

Cheng An's ingratiating manner reminded him of a profession he had heard about in his previous life: junket agents.

"Boss, you didn't know?" Cheng An asked in surprise.

Cao Shaoyu grew impatient and urged him on.

"We're here to watch the fights. Hurry up and lead the way!"

"Understood, understood."

Cheng An nodded repeatedly and led the two toward a small booth-like structure in the distance, his mouth never stopping as he spoke.

"Boss, there are three levels beneath this parking lot. The first two are casinos, and the fights are on the third level."

"Does Boss have any fighters in mind? I can help you place bets. If not, that's fine too. My information is the most complete around. I can definitely help Boss pick a 'good horse'!"

"Your information is that comprehensive?" Li Qingshan raised a brow and asked casually.

"Then tell me, how many people on the third level are above the fifth level of Body Tempering?"

"Boss, are you joking?" Cheng An grinned exaggeratedly and looked back at him.

"Luoying isn't a provincial capital like Wuyi. Other than third-year students in the Martial Arts Class, where would so many Body Tempering fifth-level experts come from?"

"Besides, which of those who can remain in the Martial Arts Class until their third year isn't arrogant as hell? Before they even graduate, they've already signed contracts with major companies. Why would they come to a place like ours?"

"Huh?" Cao Shaoyu disappointedly rubbed his hair and muttered.

"I thought the fights here would be exciting. Turns out it's just weaklings pecking at each other!"

"Kid, you can't say that!" Cheng An immediately grew anxious and hurriedly explained.

"Even if their Body Tempering level isn't high, their physical abilities far surpass ordinary people's. Fights where every punch lands solidly are the most exciting kind."

"If you switched to real experts, their attacks would be faster than your eyes. What do you think you'd even be able to see?"

Li Qingshan laughed when he heard that.

"You sure know quite a bit!"

"Just a little, just a little." Cheng An laughed obligingly and lowered his voice.

"Boss, Silver Glow Fighting Arena actually has a trump card. He's listed publicly as Body Tempering fourth level, but he's fought several other fourth-level fighters and has never lost."

"Also, even though he always looks like he barely won, he's never actually been hurt much! I'd guess he's very likely at the fifth level of Body Tempering. If Boss places a heavy bet on him, it'll definitely be a sure profit!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Li Qingshan smiled, but did not pursue the subject, instead asking.

"Tell me about the security down there. A place this big should have quite a few laser guns, right?"

Cheng An froze slightly. His gaze swept over the machete in Li Qingshan's hand as he cautiously asked.

"Boss, why are you asking that?"

"Nothing. Just asking."

Li Qingshan's smile was casual, and he did not press the matter further.

Underground bare-knuckle fighting existed outside the rules, like a lawless zone.

As a law-abiding citizen, from the moment he stepped into this place, everyone automatically became Li Qingshan's hypothetical enemy. Naturally, he needed to learn about the "enemy situation" in advance.

So far, it did not seem like much of a problem.

However, after being questioned like that, Cheng An was clearly wary. His expression turned uneasy, and he fell silent.

Li Qingshan's smile remained unchanged as he took the initiative to speak.

"Don't overthink it. We came mainly to watch a Beast Battle."

"A Beast Battle?" Cheng An blanked for a moment, then hesitantly asked.

"Boss, the 'beast' you mean is..."

"A Feral Beast!" Li Qingshan spat out the two words, his brow gradually furrowing.

As an outside junket agent, Cheng An had no reason not to know about the Beast Battle, much less any reason to hide it from customers.

Unless...

"How could Silver Radiance Hotel possibly have a Feral Beast?" Cheng An's face was full of astonishment.

"Boss, where did you hear that? No, no..."

Cheng An's expression became increasingly uneasy as he paced back and forth.

Cheng An really didn't know about the Beast Battle.

The thought flashed through Li Qingshan's mind, and his brow furrowed even deeper.

Had Silver Radiance kept the news too tightly concealed, or was the little fatty's "inside information" unreliable?

"What's wrong with it?"

Cao Shaoyu grew impatient and argued confidently.

"I went through a lot of trouble to find out! There's definitely a Beast Battle tonight!"

"What the hell do you know!" Cheng An cursed, no longer caring about their status as customers.

"Silver Radiance is only a small venue. There's no way it has the channels to get a Feral Beast, and Feral Beasts would attract the Patrol Bureau..."

Cheng An looked deeply worried. He turned to Li Qingshan and said seriously.

"Boss, I'm not taking this job. Take my advice: whether the information is true or not, don't get involved tonight."

"If there really is a Feral Beast and it brings the Patrol Bureau here, none of us will get away."

As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng An turned and tried to run.

Clang!

A cold blade rested on his shoulder, and Cheng An froze in place.

"Not bad. You're quick-witted."

A soft laugh sounded behind him. Cheng An's legs trembled as cold sweat seeped down his back.

"Boss, wh... what does this mean?"

"Just helping you calm down."

Li Qingshan sheathed his machete and said meaningfully.

"You know a Feral Beast would bring the Patrol Bureau here, but have you considered why I came to this place?"

Cheng An's eyes lit up, and his legs stopped shaking. He turned to look at the machete in Li Qingshan's hand and asked in a trembling voice.

"Could Boss be..."

"Don't ask what you shouldn't!"

The question had been interrupted, but Cheng An's eyes only shone brighter.

It all fit. Every piece fit.

No wonder Li Qingshan had asked right away whether Silver Radiance had any experts and what its security was like.

The young man before him had not come to gamble at all. He was an investigator sent by the Patrol Bureau.

"Rest assured, Boss. I'll do everything I can to cooperate with the investigation!"

Cheng An straightened his back and thumped his chest with loud smacks.

The Patrol Bureau stood over Old Continent with an exceptional status. Even the lowest-ranking investigator was not someone Silver Radiance Hotel could afford to provoke.

"Enough nonsense. Lead the way."

Li Qingshan lifted his chin slightly, his tone somewhat impatient.

Cheng An did not dare delay. He hurried to the booth ahead and opened its door.

There was no furniture inside the small structure. A stairwell roughly two meters square filled the entire floor.

The stairway extended downward, brightly lit all the way.

"Boss, this is the entrance."

Cheng An explained over his shoulder, then walked ahead and descended the stairs.

"Coach, what did you mean just now? Why did he suddenly want to cooperate with the investigation?"

Cao Shaoyu rubbed his hair, unable to make sense of their earlier conversation.

"Unconscious assumptions are the deadliest!"

Li Qingshan curled his lips into a smile and lightly patted the little fatty's shoulder.

"When you truly understand that sentence, you'll get it."

The Patrol Bureau and any investigation had nothing to do with him. In any case, he had never admitted to anything.

Li Qingshan had only one purpose in coming here: the Feral Beast!

There was no longer any need to investigate Cao Shaoyu's source of information.

Whether Silver Radiance had a Feral Beast or not, they would know once they went down.

If there was none, then it was simply a misunderstanding.

If there really was a Feral Beast, he would find a way to kill it first, then report it afterward and collect a reward while he was at it.

Perfect!