Early in the morning, several cars from White Violet City rumbled “vroom-vroom ” into the countryside.

Inside Red Spirit Village near the Stone Mill, a temporary negotiation point was set up beside a cleared-out large shed.

The room was noisy at the moment. After both sides stated their positions, “Property Inheritance Expert ” Ethan, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and dressed in decent but ordinary fabric, pushed up his glasses and said with a clear, mocking laugh:

“Resident representatives, regarding the act of ‘demolishing old village building materials and relocating them for centralized living at Stone Mill’—regardless of the motive, it legally constitutes illegal encroachment and demolition of formally registered ‘public and private’ real estate… “

A stream of indisputable legal jargon flowed from his smiling lips.

One villager was displeased. “But we were tearing down our own houses. “

“This kind of collective behavior is an act of disorder, ” Attorney Anderson solemnly warned. “Its nature is extremely serious. Please carefully consider the consequences. “

Just as the villager was about to speak, another slightly plump lawyer quickly stepped in to mediate:

“However, folks, we’re not here to criminalize you—please don’t misunderstand. We have no ill intentions; we’re just here to educate you on the law. The kind of negotiation we’re having right now? It’s actually illegal, you know? “

“This… ” They looked pleadingly toward the detective agency staff at the long table.

Anxi let out a sigh.

“We are here to seek a plan for ‘fair compensation’ and ‘resettlement.’ The division headquarters sympathizes with your circumstances and is willing to facilitate the best possible solution within the established framework—there’s nothing illegal here! You lawyers, I will record every word you say. “

Anxi raised his pen. A department head beside him craned his neck to look, then recoiled in shock—this kid was actually jotting down what both sides said! How could his memory be so sharp?

“Please proceed, ” Anxi gestured.

The experts steered clear of the ‘illegality’ topic but kept hammering on terms like ‘property rights,’ ‘illegal procedures,’ ‘compensation quotas,’ and the ‘relocation transition period,’ making Anxi’s temples throb.

• ｛Distributor February. Di’an is observing my life experience.｝
• ｛Distributor Di’an expresses comfort.｝

After a morning of tug-of-war, the village representatives’ hope turned to anger. Several times, they slammed the table and shot to their feet, only to be pulled back into their seats by their companions.

Both sides were struggling in the mire of regulatory clauses.

……

Seizing the lunch break, Anxi practically fled the stuffy, oppressive warehouse.

Hurst also ran out, “No good, boss—our company’s first gig isn’t gonna end up eating dirt, is it? “

“Nonsense. We’re just an investigation company, responsible for gathering evidence. Who wins or loses has nothing to do with us, got it? “

Hurst curled his lip in disdain, then obediently said, “Got it. Then I’ll just keep watching the show this afternoon. “

“Get lost, get lost. “

Anxi waved a hand, excused himself to use the restroom, and walked into a secluded area. A thread of silvery white light flickered into the air.

｛Boss, doesn’t look like it’s going to work. These bastards are too professional. Never mind the villagers, I couldn’t even understand the human language they were speaking.｝

{It’s fine. I think you should spend lunchtime sorting out their arguments. This afternoon, dig in and seize on every loophole. Don’t be afraid of them talking more. The more they talk, the bigger the flaws might become, because those regulations can’t possibly perfectly bind the actions of the villagers. }

｛It doesn’t matter how many flaws they have, because that decree—the one issued by His Highness the Grand Duke Heir, the “Ordinance on the Management Systems of All States in the Grand Duchy “—has already given them the power to justify their actions with finality.｝

On the other end, Yang Zicang let out a breath.

{Then, follow the material I gave you last night. Have the villagers, especially the aunties, retell their stories. Better if they start from decades ago. }

Anxi felt the president must have something up his sleeve.

｛President, are you trying to buy time?｝

{Exactly. }

In the sensory projection, Yang Zicang was carrying a shovel and walking toward a wooded wasteland.

Yang Zicang said: {In any case, don’t let a final decision be made today. Don’t worry, I’m close to figuring out how to solve this. I just need to go visit someone who might be able to fix the problem. }

｛So you’re…｝

{Bring some gifts for a first visit. }

With that, Yang Zicang stabbed his shovel into a patch of overgrown, wild soil.

……

Last night, after spending nearly nine thousand years of temporal principal.

He had finally gleaned, from ordinary people’s casual chatter, a few rumors about Huosang.

……

Afternoon.

Ahead lay the secluded hill, seldom visited because a high wall, like a small city’s fortification, encircled the dense forest that surrounded its body.

Yang Zicang followed a road wide enough for carriages into the woods. About a li in, the ancient wall—covered in vines, dotted with sporadic wildflowers and thorns—appeared before him.

The wall was quaint and elegant, and an iron gate of a manor-like heaviness stood visible at the path’s end.

-｛Distributor Loki. Tata Mingqi indicates “There. “｝

“This should be the place. ” The young man drew closer and inspected.

The silhouette of a brown-stone castle faintly appeared and disappeared amidst the deeper woods’ shadows.

“Hello. ” A somewhat aged voice abruptly rang from within the wall.

“Greetings, ” Yang Zicang responded immediately, pressing his face to the gap in the iron gate to peer inside, “I am Yang Buchen, here to call upon the master of the Huosang estate. Kindly announce my presence. “

“Hello, hello, is anyone there? ” The voice ignored his request, mindlessly repeating to itself with “Nothing there? “

-｛Loki. Tata Mingqi indicates “Heh heh. “｝

Yang Zicang gripped the cold iron bars, his eyes darting left and right. A sudden flutter of wings sounded, and a dark mass burst from behind the vines on the wall, landing on a withered branch. It tilted its head, its glossy black eyes curiously taking in the newcomer.

It was a sleek, glossy myna.

Yang Zicang let out a low “Sign… ” sigh.

“Hello, hello. ” The bird changed its tone, mimicking, “Anyone there? Anyone there? “

Yang Zicang glanced helplessly toward the castle, able to barely make out the shadows of walls through the layers.

Can’t exactly climb the wall either…

He decided to wait.

……

Beneath the dappled tree shadows, Yang Zicang, who had been sitting in the cool shade, stood up and tugged at the iron gate again. “Damn it. I could foil Fairheim’s snatch operation, but a single door’s got me stopped now… “

“Hello, hello, hello. “

“Shut up. “

Yang Zicang decided to ignore the stupid bird. He moved along the wall in one direction, but barely had he taken two steps when a light click sounded from the iron gate behind him, followed by the squeak of it being pulled open.

“Sir, please wait a moment. ” A steady voice rang out.

Yang Zicang turned to see a small door on the side swing open, and an elderly gentleman, neatly dressed with a gentle demeanor, stepped out.

“My apologies for the wait, Mr. Fog-born, ” the old butler gave a slight bow. “Our lady would like to see you. “

How does he know so quickly?

Pushing down his doubts, he followed the old butler inside the tall walls.

The elegant atmosphere inside the gate was utterly different from that outside. A path lined with yew hedges led to the castle, and the air was filled with a moist fragrance blending ancient soil and exotic flowers and plants, exceptionally tranquil.

The mynah preened its wings, called out the newly learned “Shut up ” from afar again, then flew deep into the shade of the trees.

“Madam, Mr. Yang Bucheng has arrived, ” the butler reported in a soft voice.

-｛Distributor February. Di’an is following my life’s journey amidst his busy schedule.｝

In the study, the light was soft and the furnishings were elegantly archaic.

The charcoal fire in the fireplace crackled faintly.

A lady in a dark green velvet gown, her back to them, was focused on trimming a lush blue-flowered plant on the windowsill. She was tall and slender, her silhouette calm, graceful, and composed.

Lady Huosang turned around. On her well-preserved face, a pair of deep green eyes radiated a sense of detachment.

“Mr. Fog, the Cheqing Island newspaper only arrived the other day. I was just thinking when I might get to see the person who, from mere clues, protected the major from the Steffen people. Little did I expect this wish to be fulfilled so soon. “

She set down her silver pruning shears, her gaze resting calmly on Yang Zicang, and a faint, subtle curve lifted the corners of her lips.

“Please, have a seat. Eliot, serve tea for our guest. “

The butler Eliot withdrew.

Yang Zicang sat down in the comfortable armchair as instructed.

“Madam, you actually know who I am?“

What kind of damn newspaper was this?

In an instant, he guessed—had those two reporters from the Chebin Archipelago in the banquet hall snapped a photo?

Seeing that the Fogfolk man opposite her was unsettled the moment he arrived, as if his plans had been thrown into disarray, Lady Huosang smiled faintly. She picked up a newspaper from beside her, sat down, and placed it on the coffee table, which was adorned with a pattern of blooming flowers.

Yang Zicang glanced at it and immediately spotted a blurry black-and-white dotted photograph on the front page.

It was indeed a photo of him from the banquet hall, but the main focus of the shot was Island Owner Ka. Yunni and Major General Ross, while he himself was tucked away in the background corner. Yet someone had deliberately circled him with a pale gray oval glow to highlight him. Only his vague silhouette was recognizable.

“̔Exclusive Analysis: Unraveling the Mystery of the Wuche Island Owner’s Escape̔…̔.” He read the headline aloud, “̔I see.“̔