Chapter 2773: Honored Guest
Nong Zheng couldn't help but swallow before saying, "How could I possibly know anyone close to the Archon... but... I did hear from my former talent agency boss that there are people in the district who specialize in outsourcing dirty work for others."
"Is that so?" Xu Huo casually placed the terminal on the coffee table. "Weren't you just suspecting that someone with power and influence was behind this? Since even the Enforcement Department turns a blind eye, it stands to reason that internal players could handle it themselves. Why go looking for outsiders?"
"That's not it!" Nong Zheng, sensing the dangerous tone in his voice, quickly said, "The truth is, the government doesn't actually keep that many players on payroll. There are plenty of players who've been injured or forced to step down from their positions. They don't want to completely sever ties with the government either. Some work directly as bodyguards for government officials, others take on private jobs. Don't think the Enforcement Team members are clueless about the truth—actually, ask them to do these things and few would be willing. Why would someone with a promising future and good life get involved in this... Outsourcing is normal. Even though they're not officially government players in name, their methods and tactics are pretty much the same, and they're easier to find."
"So you're saying you know someone like that." Xu Huo said.
Nong Zheng immediately mentioned a player he had encountered by chance while working under his former boss. "I don't know if these two things are connected, but people in the same circle tend to know a bit about each other. Not long after the female stars from the company went missing, the boss ran into this person and fainted on the spot from fright. I figure he was the one doing the job..."
Xu Huo obtained this player's identity information. "I'll investigate whether there's a connection. You stay here and don't wander off."
He fixed his gaze on Nong Zheng's eyes and emphasized, "Stay here. Don't wander off."
Nong Zheng paused for a moment, then nodded seriously.
Xu Huo quickly tracked down the player's residence based on the identity information. It was a residential area with relatively good privacy, and quite a few players lived there. Just lingering in the vicinity for a bit too long drew the attention of a few players.
He didn't deliberately conceal his movements. After confirming the person lived there, he went to the access control system and requested a visit.
The other party naturally didn't agree to see him. After being refused, he rang the doorbell again. Refused once more, he rang it yet again.
Sure enough, after the third time, the player appeared on the rooftop of his own building. Xu Huo smiled and nodded in greeting from a distance.
The next second, the man came out of the residential complex, his expression unpleasant. "I don't know you."
"It's enough that I know you." Xu Huo recited a few names. "I've been entrusted by someone to investigate the truth of what happened back then."
He was referring to the missing stars from that company ten years ago. The man showed no reaction after hearing this. "I don't know the people you mentioned either. You've got the wrong person."
"You should know the boss of Jinyu Star-Making Company, shouldn't you?" Xu Huo said. "I wouldn't come looking for you without a solid reason."
Their eyes met, and the man's expression gradually darkened. "If I don't talk, you won't leave, will you?"
Xu Huo didn't answer, but his attitude was clear enough.
After a few seconds, the man finally spoke. "I don't have anything here that you'd want to know. If you really want to investigate something, go to the underground district on Shuqing Street and find a middleman called Black Snake. He has connections on the government side."
"That's all I know. Don't come back."
With that, the man hurried away.
Xu Huo smiled slightly, then headed to Shuqing Street.
Black Snake wasn't hard to find. Just ask any player hanging around the area where to find him. While gathering information, he also caught someone's attention. Before long, a player came out and took the initiative to lead him to Black Snake.
Black Snake operated on the third underground level. Even in broad daylight, the people there were already drunk and delirious, screaming hoarsely around the central arena to the pounding music. On the stage, two teenagers who looked no older than fifteen or sixteen were fighting with weapons.
"This way." The guiding player reminded him.
Xu Huo followed to a nearby office. Before even entering, he could tell the room had been specially modified—not only could it restrict space teleportation items, but the wall cavities were filled with poison gas and hidden weapons.
There were quite a few players in the room, apparently bored out of their minds. They were gathered in small groups, half-heartedly playing cards. A middle-aged man wearing a snake-shaped watch terminal sat behind the desk, smiling as he looked at Xu Huo. "In all the time I've been open, I've rarely had any outer zone players come by. What business does this honored guest have?"
"Business is hardly the word," Xu Huo said. "I heard you have channels on the government side. I'd like to hire you to help find someone."
"Easy enough, as long as you can pay the price and the person is still in District 022." Black Snake grinned.
Xu Huo handed over a printed photo of an NS creature. "I want to find the people who kidnapped the staff of this company."
Black Snake glanced at it, his expression unchanged. "We don't take private detective jobs here..."
"If you activate the prop in your hand, I guarantee no one in this room will leave alive." Xu Huo cut him off. As he spoke, the other players in the room gradually froze in place. They were still alive, but their eyes had gone blank.
Black Snake remained seated, not daring to make a rash move. "Friend, let's talk this out. Becoming a wanted criminal won't do you any good."
"I just need one clue, and you can all live." Xu Huo said.
Black Snake's gaze swept over his companions before returning to Xu Huo's face. "Since you've found your way here, I assume there are no survivors left from that company. Investigating this will take considerable time. How about..."
Xu Huo's eyes shifted slightly. A space ray blade pierced through Black Snake's chest, stopping right at his heart. "Don't waste my time. I don't want to hear lies."
"And don't think you can gamble on escaping to the station. I know exactly who you have and what business you're running. You can run, but the others can't."
"There are nine people in this room, four by the arena outside, five on the floor above, three on the street level of Shuqing Street. Hmm, and two more groups coming from different directions heading this way right now—they've just finished the tasks you assigned them..."
Black Snake's expression turned extremely grim. "With strength like yours, why bother with someone like me?"
"Simple," Xu Huo said flatly. "You just happened to be in the way."
Black Snake was filled with resentment. The few people in the room whose minds had gone blank still hadn't snapped out of it, which showed just how powerful the other party's spiritual strength was. And the people Xu Huo had listed were indeed all his men. Caught completely off guard, they really could be wiped out in one fell swoop.
After struggling for a moment, he asked, "Can I ask why you're getting involved in this?"
"It's interfering with my clearance." Xu Huo raised his hand. White spiritual materialization flowed out, spreading across the desk onto Black Snake, then covering his head along his arm.