Circus Suspicions: A Wage Slave's Instinct for Breaking the Deadlock

Qiu Yuan turned and walked forward, his blue robe swaying twice in the crowd. Someone recognized him and stepped aside.

Zhou Yu stuffed half of the seal into the side pocket of the canvas bag, pressed his fingers against the bag opening, and held the lid of the milk tea cup with his other hand, so the cup didn't wobble.

Dania followed beside him, still holding the straw in her mouth. After taking three steps, she looked back at the sugar painting stall and slowed down.

Zhou Yu didn't turn around, took out two coins, and flicked them to Linnai with his backhand.

"Go buy it, the teddy bear one, don't let the stall owner sell it."

Linnai caught the coin and ran away.

"Boss! We need both the bear and the phoenix! Our team specifically requests these supplies!"

Sigelica looked at Zhou Yu, then at Qiu Yuan, and frowned.

"You really want to go with him? He used to be a wanted criminal."

Qiu Yuan paused for a moment, his shoulders twitched, but he didn't turn around.

Chisa pressed her fingers on the hilt of her sword, and the bell at her waist jingled. She positioned herself between Zhou Yu and Qiu Yuan, her toes pointing towards the nearest alleyway, checking every rooftop, window sill, and teahouse. Her meaning was clear: if Qiu Yuan made a move, she would draw her sword.

Zhou Yu shoved the taro milk tea back into Dania's hand and pressed the straw down slightly.

"The past is the past. Now, with the temporary waist badge issued by the Jinzhou, the unit stamps it, and if something happens, someone will carry the official documents."

Qiu Yuan the side.

You see very clearly.

"Basic qualities of working people".

Zhou Yu glanced at the waist token in his arms.

"Temporary workers face the most danger, have the most work, and are the biggest scapegoats. Someone like you is useful as you're on the front lines; if something goes wrong, it's easy to cut your losses. Government agencies love this kind of arrangement."

Linnai caught up with two sugar paintings in her arms, and burst out laughing when she heard the second half of what was said.

"How tragic. Sword Demon's first lesson in re-employment: Don't trust temporary positions."

Qiu Yuan didn't reply and continued walking forward.

Fifteen minutes later, at a corner table in a teahouse in the east of the city.

Qiu Yuan sat against the wall, with a view of the back door on his left and a spot to draw his sword on his right. Chisa sat on the other side, blocking the window, her chair only half an inch pulled out, her scabbard resting beside her knees, a bell ringing softly.

Sigelica muttered in a low voice.

"Do you martial arts practitioners always have to find an escape route before you even eat?"

Zhou Yu pulled Dania to sit next to him and picked out a piece of mung bean cake for her from the plate.

"You're in charge of eating, don't run around."

Dania nodded, holding the pastry, took a bite, and her cheeks puffed out.

Qiu Yuan took out several folded case files from his pocket and placed them next to the teapot. The edges of the pages were frayed, and the top of each page bore the vermilion seal of the Patrol Department.

"In the past half month, there have been seventeen nighttime thefts in the Jinzhou. The stolen items include antiques, resonant coils, medicinal herbs, bronze mirrors, theatrical costume buttons, and old wooden combs from three households."

Linnai sat down holding the sugar painting bear, and almost choked after taking a bite of the edge.

Stealing wooden combs? Is this thief desperate for money, or is he planning to open a general store?

Aimis handed the sugar phoenix to Dania, her voice softening.

"Could it be a deliberate act of random theft to confuse the real target?"

Qiu Yuan at her.

"Changli also holds this view."

Chisaki opened her tablet, pointed the camera at the case file, and swiped her finger across the screen.

"The value fluctuates too much, and there's no fixed model for target selection. After ruling out random theft, low-value items might be used for concealment, location tracking, information transmission, or testing patrol response speed."

She adjusted her glasses.

"They might not be poor; they're just testing the process."

Zhou Yu picked up the case file and turned to the third page. On the paper was a red and blue circular mark, with a tent on the outside and a smiling mask inside, its mouth wide open, drawn stiffly.

"Is this present at every location?"

Qiu Yuan pressed his fingertip next to the pattern.

"Sometimes it's in a corner, sometimes it's printed on a piece of paper, sometimes it's tucked in a door crack. Recently, a traveling circus came to Jinzhou. They've been in town for three days, and every show is sold out. This mark belongs to them."

Sigelica pulled the case file over, her brow furrowing more and more as she read it.

"Then investigate them."

"I've checked."

Qiu Yuan pushed the teacup aside.

"Each time an incident occurs, they have complete performance records, audience testimonies, and Patrol Department entry registration documents. The troupe leader can also produce diplomatic travel documents. A forced action would involve Huanglong and out-of-state merchant groups."

Chisa tapped the scabbard with her knuckles.

"Insufficient evidence; execution is not warranted."

That sounds a bit regrettable.

Zhou Yu glanced at her.

"Miss Chisa, this is a legal crime-solving channel, not Ashihara- slaying channel."

Chisa looked at him.

"If the evidence is sufficient, execution is permissible."

Zhou Yu waved his hand.

"This should be added as an alternative plan, not the default procedure."

Qiu Yuan turned to Zhou Yu.

That's why I came to find you.

Zhou Yu stroked his chin and chuckled. Sigelica tensed up when she heard this.

What wicked scheme are you plotting now?

"I'm very familiar with this technique."

Zhou Yu slammed the case file on the table.

"Using shell companies to divert attention is a typical workplace tactic of shifting blame. The people who actually do the work are hidden in a legal shell, and when something goes wrong, the outer shell is used to shield them with approvals, procedures, and alibis."

He pointed to the circus logo.

"A circus is such a large, interstate group that it needs to register its personnel, equipment, performance venue, and dangerous equipment before entering the city. The more complete the paperwork, the easier it is to smuggle in illicit activities. When inspectors see so many stamps and so many documents, their first reaction is that it's a hassle. Unless there's a knife to their throat, nobody wants to voluntarily work overtime."

Sigelica's lips twitched.

You speak of it quite fluently.

Zhou Yu took a sip of tea.

"Every year, the Logistics Department manages to identify a few brilliant individuals who can write purchase orders like academic papers."

Chisaki slid her finger across the tablet.

"Using legitimate staff reduces the probability of detection. If thieves infiltrate the ranks of laborers, prop handlers, or extras, the cost of tracing them will increase more than fourfold. If this is combined with the flow of performers, traces at the scene will be quickly contaminated."

Aimis spoke softly.

"Could the Star Torch materials have already been transferred?"

Zhou Yu looked at the seal, her tone turning cold.

"If it were just ordinary materials, they would have sold them long ago. But Grade A resonant materials aren't like candied hawthorns; you can't just stuff them in your pocket and run. They need a stable box, an isolation layer, and someone knowledgeable to handle them. Otherwise, if they explode halfway through, the whole street will hear the sound."

Qiu Yuan picked up his teacup but didn't drink it.

"I lack concrete evidence."

Zhou Yu looked at him.

"So you need someone outside your organization to wander around the circus, and preferably someone who can also take over the blame."

Qiu Yuan's cup stopped at his lips.

Zhou Yu leaned back, and the chair back made a creaking sound.

Did Changli send you?

A breeze stirred in the backyard of the teahouse, causing the bamboo curtain to brush against the edge of the table and a page of a scroll to turn.

Qiu Yuan put down his teacup, the bottom of which tapped against the wooden table.

"She only said that if you encounter a difficult problem, you can find someone who is very good at shirking responsibility."

Linnai burst out laughing.

This description is so precise it couldn't be more accurate.

Sigelica sighed.

"Changli truly has a good eye for people."

Zhou Yu stopped laughing.

"She does know how to play chess."

Qiu Yuan did not deny it.

You can refuse.

"Of course you can refuse."

Zhou Yu picked up the tea and blew on the surface of the tea.

"But the stolen goods included materials specially supplied to Star Torch Logistics, which were stolen and registered under the name of the warehouse I'm in charge of. We can't just ignore that."

Sigelica had just breathed a sigh of relief when Zhou Yu put down his teacup.

"Condition."

Qiu Yuan looked at him.

Zhou Yu held up one finger.

"The reward for solving the case is all mine."

He then erected a second one.

"Starting today, the Patrol Department will fully reimburse for tea, lost wages, transportation, circus tickets, and any losses to sugar paintings that may occur on Dania's journey."

The third finger is also raised.

"Also, don't expect me to be out there in the middle of the night. There's hot pot at 7 PM, and tripe is already on the menu."

Upon hearing "tripe," Dania immediately sat up straight.

Zhou Yu continued speaking.

"In case of unforeseen circumstances, all actions must proceed without affecting Dania's normal eating habits, the team's reasonable leave, or my refusal to work unnecessary overtime."

Sigelica couldn't hold back any longer.

"Is this evidence for solving a case or a travel contract?"

Zhou Yu spoke with righteous indignation.

"Confirming boundaries before project launch is a basic courtesy of mature professionals to avoid disputes later on."

Qiu Yuan took out a receipt stamped with the seal of the Patrol Department from his pocket and pushed it onto the table.

"Can."

Sigelica stared at the receipt, her lips twitching slightly.

"You agreed way too readily!"

Qiu Yuan withdrew his hand.

"Changli said he would bring these things up."

Linnai laughed so hard she lay face down on the table.

"It's over, Lord Changli has already predicted Zhou Yu's pricing template."

Zhou Yu picked up the receipt, held it up to the light to check the stamp, and then felt the paper and the serial number.

"Okay, the unit's budget is sufficient, the project can proceed."

Dania held up the sugar phoenix and spoke softly.

Are you still going to eat hot pot?

"Eat."

Zhou Yu stuffed the receipt into the canvas bag.

"Whoever interrupts your hotpot meal, I'll make them experience a performance review."

Qiu Yuan looked at him, probably wanting to ask what kind of punishment "performance talk" was, but in the end he didn't ask.

Half an hour later, at the entrance of the long street.

Linnai and Aimis each carried a bag of snacks, Chisaki held a tablet to track the route. Sigelica walked on the outside of the group, turning back every now and then to check if anyone was following them.

Chisa followed half a step behind Zhou Yu, no longer holding the bell at her waist. When someone got too close on the street, she looked over first, and the person moved away on their own.

Zhou Yu stood in front of a ticket shop, holding a stack of colorful tickets in her hand.

Sigelica almost crushed the candied fruit bag when she saw the words on the ticket.

"An immersive escape room? Weren't you investigating a circus?"

Across the street stood a Curiosity Hall with a red and blue arched canopy over its entrance. A giant smiling mask adorned its sign, and next to it hung an upside-down puppet, its joints suspended by thin strings, swaying in the wind. The queue stretched from the entrance to the street corner.

At the very top hangs a line of large characters. "The largest touring Curiosity Hall in Jinzhou, with a limited-time collaboration on a circus theme."

Linnai swallowed the fish ball, her eyes shining.

"Investigating cases involves escape rooms? Could I do this job long-term?"

Dania stared at the caramel popcorn being sold at the door.

"Xiao Yu, can we eat that?"

"Able."

Zhou Yu pulled out two tickets and gave them to her and Chisa.

"But once inside, you are not allowed to dismantle mechanisms, draw knives, or treat staff members like members of the Fractsidus."

Chisa looked at the smiling mask on the ticket.

What if there really are thieves inside?

"Then you absolutely cannot draw your sword."

Zhou Yu waved the ticket.

"We are tourists today. Tourists only need to complain if they see anything unreasonable."

Sigelica stared at him, her face full of disbelief.

What exactly are you trying to investigate?

Zhou Yu pointed to a small red and blue circle in the lower right corner of the ticket. That was the circus logo from the case file.

"They've made the shell so beautiful; there must be a ticket booth, a prop room, and an employee entrance. Escape rooms are perfect for hiding secret doors, mechanisms, and warehouses that can't be seen by outsiders."

He held the last ticket between his fingers, a broad smile on his face.

"The most skilled hunters usually buy tickets first."

Linnai immediately raised her hand.

"Then I'll be in charge of experiencing the attractions and observing the NPCs' acting skills while I'm at it."

Aimis also spoke softly.

"I can hear sounds. If there are mechanical sounds running backstage, I should be able to tell."

Chisaki looked down at her tablet.

"I'm responsible for recording the route and spatial structure. If the internal area doesn't match the external building volume, it indicates the presence of a hidden mezzanine."

Sigelica sighed and hugged the bag of candied fruit tightly.

"I'll keep an eye on you guys; don't let the investigation turn into a team-building activity."

Dania held up the sugar phoenix in her hand.

"I'll be in charge of eating the popcorn."

Zhou Yu nodded.

"Clear division of labor, mature team."

The puppet clock at the entrance of the Curiosity Hall struck three times.

Thump, thump, thump.

The sound of a bell came from inside the door. The upside-down wooden puppet at the door turned its head, and its red-painted mouth slowly opened.

The ticket inspector, wearing a smiling mask, pushed open the door. The sound of gears clicking and hushed gasps from the audience emanated from inside. The queue surged forward, and the sugar phoenix in Dania's hand wobbled slightly.

Zhou Yu reached out to protect her wrist and lifted the sugar painting up slightly.

"Slow down, don't break it."

The ticket inspector took Zhou Yu's ticket, and his fingertips paused on the ticket for a moment.

Zhou Yu saw it.

Chisa saw it too.

Qiu Yuan stood at the back of the crowd, his hand already close to the hilt of his sword.

The next second, the red and blue circular mark in the lower right corner of the ticket was smeared with ink, and tiny ink marks seeped out from the edge of the mark, forming a line of small characters.

Star Torch Materials has arrived on site.

The crowd around them was still laughing and talking, and the sweet smell of popcorn wafted out from inside the door, mixed with the smells of wood, paint, and metal.

Dania bit her straw and blinked.

Sigelica's face darkened.

Aimis hugged the sugar cake tightly.

On Chisaki's tablet screen, the spatial scan line jumped.

Chisa's bell rang once.

Zhou Yu looked down at the line of text, his smile fading. He pulled the ticket back from the ticket inspector's fingers.

"OK."

He looked up at the passageway deep within the Curiosity Hall.

"It seems I can't give this escape room game a bad review."