Seeing how agitated he was, Hardy looked puzzled. "Come on, Bert, what's going on? Your shipment wasn't supposed to arrive for another two days, but since it was our biggest order, and you're a regular customer, the boss had me rush it over first. Why are you acting like this? Look, I even have your written order."
With that, Hardy took a sheet of yellow paper from his pocket. Cobert snatched it from him and saw the following words:
"Hardy, my friend, I need the following forty-three medicinal ingredients. Please deliver them as soon as possible. Payment will be made in full upon arrival-Cobert."
The brief, forceful note, without a single unnecessary word, did sound like Cobert ordering medicinal ingredients. At the bottom of the paper was his distinctive business seal, shaped like a bear's paw overlapping a fox's.
"That's my seal? No, how could it be?" The agitation and loss of control on Cobert's face gave way to confusion and bewilderment. He tossed the paper back to Hardy, turned, and rushed into the house.
Awakened by their earlier conversation, Zeng Mu had straightened his clothes and just put on his shoes when Cobert darted inside like the rat from the night before. Without the slightest restraint, he began rummaging through chests and cupboards, his arms moving so frantically that he looked ready to tear up the floorboards.
"Damn it..."
"Damn it."
"Damn it!"
"Where did my seal go?!"
He shouted as he searched, soon waking his three apprentices. For the next ten minutes, all four of them, along with Hardy from outside, joined in the hunt for the seal.
"Oh, what the hell..."
After a fruitless search, Cobert finally gave up. They had turned the entire house upside down, including the corners and under the beds, yet the seal