Closing the Net and Playing the Game: The Mastermind Appears

Zhou Yu looked down at the note at the bottom of the box.

The note read: Cradle Recycling.

A cold, white fog seeped out from the seams of the box. Dania was still clutching Zhou Yu's clothes, and the popcorn bucket had been creased from her grip.

Sigelica slammed her riot shield into the ground, the metal edge wedging into the crack in the wooden planks, blocking the box. Chisa scabbard blocked the doorway, a bell rang, and the puppets in the passageway, just looking up, were stopped by her gripping the hilt of her sword.

Zhou Yu picked up the note with tweezers, held it up to the light, and looked at it for two seconds.

The lettering looks new, but the glue hasn't dried yet.

Linnai brought the terminal closer, pointing the camera at the note. "These people are really bold; they steal things and then leave a receipt."

"It's for me." Zhou Yu stuffed the note into the evidence bag and pressed the bag shut. "Who's it being recycled from? Did they fill out an application?"

Dania peeked half her face out from behind him. "Xiao Yu, can we recycle it if we apply?"

"Dream on." Zhou Yu pushed her back behind him. "For the transfer of my personal belongings, I need the person's signature, their family's consent, and the supervisor's stamp. Missing any one of these constitutes illegal robbery."

Sigelica's forehead twitched. "You're still writing up a procedure at a time like this?"

"Procedures can save lives." Zhou Yu raised her left wrist, her digital watch flashing green, projecting a floor plan of the Curiosity Hall onto Chisaki's tablet. "Where is Qiu Yuan?"

The sound of the brass whistle from the street corner outside the gate rang out for the second time, even closer than before. The sound of boots crushing wooden planks came from the end of the passage, and several Jinzhou guards wearing black straw hats climbed over the ticket checkpoint, their crossbows pointing simultaneously at the back wall.

Qiu Yuan at the front, his longsword still sheathed, his hand resting on the hilt.

"Seal off the front gate, block the back alley, and take over the stone tool shop as well."

His words landed on the intercom, and soon a door-banging sound came from outside. The owner of the Curiosity Hall rushed out of the monitoring room, his mask still on. He had only taken two steps when he was pinned down next to the popcorn machine by the guards, half his face pressed against the glass cover, his cheeks smeared with syrup.

"Misunderstanding! We're just doing business!"

Zhou Yu came out of the prop storeroom and waved the note in front of him. "Your escape room has a pretty comprehensive range of themes: old house, puppets, human recycling."

The boss's lips turned pale, and he glanced to the right.

Qiu Yuan raised his hand, and the guards pushed open the side door. Behind the side door was the backyard of the stone tool shop next door. A row of stone tablets that had not been moved were laid on the ground, and the same three-chain inverted eye runes were engraved on the surface of the tablets. Several lead-sealed boxes were hidden under the pile of stones, and the corner of the seal revealed the number of the Logistics Department of the Flamebearers' Academy.

Chisaki crouched down in front of the box and scanned the lead seal with a scanner. "The resonance material is present, the sealing has been compromised, and the quantity matches the stolen goods list."

Sigelica sheathed her shield and breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally, we've got something real."

Dania stared at the sugar painting stall hanging outside the stone tool shop. "Xiao Yu, can we eat that?"

"After they finish searching the scene, buy two more." Zhou Yu looked at Qiu Yuan, "Please hurry, the child is hungry."

Qiu Yuan at Dania, then turned to the bag of evidence, his brow relaxing slightly. "The reward is yours."

Half an hour later, all the streetlights in front of the stone tool shop were turned on. The onlookers were stopped at the alley entrance by the Patrol Department, and the signs of the Curiosity Hall and the stone tool shop were taken down one after the other.

Qiu Yuan walked over carrying a dark blue money bag, the opening of which was tied tightly. It made a dull thud when it landed in Zhou Yu's hand.

Zhou Yu weighed the purse in his hand, then stuffed it into the side pocket of his canvas bag. "This job's gone too smoothly."

Qiu Yuan's fingers rested on the hilt of his sword, but he didn't reply.

"A circus exterior, a stone shop code, the Patrol Department bureau is blocking entry due to lack of evidence, and you, the temporary worker, just happen to be able to pass me the clues." Zhou Yu patted his canvas bag. "Changli has paved the way in advance, just waiting for me to step on it, right?"

Qiu Yuan paused for a moment. "You're harder to fool than the rumors say."

Linnai leaned in from the side. "What's the rumor? The logistics bully who wears floral shorts?"

Sigelica pulled her back. "Don't cause trouble."

Qiu Yuan took out an invitation from his pocket. The paper was dark red with gold patterns pressed along the edges.

"Changli has heard about the events at Lahai-Roi and has also read the military reports from the Desorock Highland. She is hosting a banquet at her residence tonight and has invited Manager Zhou to play a game of Go."

Dania tugged at Zhou Yu's sleeve, glancing first at the invitation, then at the sugar paintings on the street. "Xiao Yu, what if she doesn't give us any food?"

Zhou Yu ruffled her hair. "Don't worry, if she doesn't eat her fill, we'll just eat her chessboard."

Qiu Yuan pressed a mark on the edge of the invitation with his knuckles, but finally handed it over.

Dinner has been prepared at your residence.

"Alright then." Zhou Yu took the invitation. "Let's go eat sugar paintings first, then head to the treacherous dinner party."

As evening fell, the stone steps outside Changli's residence were washed by the rain. Bamboo shadows fell under the lantern light in the courtyard, and the corridors were filled with the aroma of tea and food.

Zhou Yu changed into a clean shirt, but kept his floral shorts, and his slippers pattered on the bluestone slabs. Dania followed beside him, carrying half a bag of sweet cakes, while Chisa walked behind him with her sword, the sound of her bells muffled by the dampness after the rain.

The servants led them inside. Dania's nose twitched, and her eyes lit up.

"It has meat."

Zhou Yu handed the invitation to the servant. "First, let's make one thing clear: food is food, and chess is chess. We can't deduct food for losing a game."

A soft laugh came from behind the screen.

Changli sat at the chessboard, her red robes trailing behind the chair, a steaming white porcelain teacup beside her. She did not rise, but merely gestured for the person opposite her to sit down.

"Don't worry, Supervisor Zhou, there will be plenty of food tonight."

Dania sat down at the small table next to her, holding the sugar cake. Chisa stood behind her, first looking at Changli's fingertips, then at the edge of the chessboard, and finally at the direction of the courtyard gate.

Zhou Yu sat down at the chessboard and glanced at it. "My chess skills are so-so. When I was a kid, I only knew how to play Gomoku."

Changli picked up a black piece and placed it on the star point. "I've heard that Manager Zhou is good at finding solutions within the rules; I can try that on the board too."

Zhou Yu picked up a white piece and placed it in an absurdly off-center position, nearly causing the maid next to him to tip the tea tray over.

Changli looked at the white piece and smiled. "Few people make this move."

"Follow the rules on your first day at work, or you'll likely be assigned overtime later." Zhou Yu made another move, directly blocking the attack line she had just set up. "I usually look for the fire exit first."

The game had progressed more than a dozen moves. Black had laid out its pieces tightly, while White had scattered its pieces here and there, moving along the edges, hitting the corners, and bypassing the main battlefield. Even a few useless pieces were connected to form a temporary retreat.

Changli's hand lingered by the chess box as he gazed at the chessboard for a while longer.

Dania, munching on a sweet cake, whispered to Chisa, "Did Xiao Yu win?"

Chisa stared at the chessboard. "He plays like he's dismantling a puzzle."

Zhou Yu heard this and casually placed another white stone into the heart of the black territory. "Thank you for the compliment."

Changli placed a piece, cutting off the white piece's retreat. "Was it like this when Manager Zhou rescued someone?"

"Saving lives is simpler than playing chess." Zhou Yu moved his teacup aside to avoid knocking it over with his sleeve. "People eat when they're hungry, sleep when they're tired, and if they want to die, they're dragged off to celebrate their birthday. Only those who treat living people as pawns complicate things."

Changli pressed down on the chess piece with his fingertip, and after a while, it landed on the board. With a snap, the game became even more chaotic.

She chuckled softly. "As rumored, Manager Zhou doesn't play by the rules."

Zhou Yu placed his last white stone at the corner of the board. The scattered white stones were connected in a line, leaving a breath in the encirclement of black stones.

"Workers who follow the rules have long been exploited by capital."

He withdrew his hand from the chessboard and looked at Changli.

"Changli, let's be frank. What do you want me to do?"