Chapter 38: Sister-in-law’s Husband 【gale Hunter】
His expression shifted slightly. He hadn’t interacted much with Old Zhao. After a brief pause, he asked, “What’s going on?”
Hu Xiang sighed and explained in detail, “This happened yesterday. His wife got up in the morning and found Old Zhao had hanged himself.”
“Hanged?” Su Chen asked in return.
“Definitely not suicide. Old Zhao had a happy life and was about to become a Professional soon. No reason for it.” Hu Xiang said in a low voice, “Our people dissected his cerebral cortex and found damage. We suspect he was interrogated before death.”
“But he’s just a small soldier in City Patrol Guard. He doesn’t know any secrets. Perhaps…”
Su Chen understood Hu Xiang’s implication and continued, frowning, “You suspect it’s because of me?”
Hu Xiang tried to cover it up, “Just a guess. Don’t feel pressured. After all, he only spent a moment with you and said a few words. Even if it’s because of you…”
“Possible.” Su Chen’s expression grew serious as he thought of the Space Crystal.
Some things from that day weren’t fully explained, like whether Su Chen found anything else besides the Holy Word Stone?
Hu Xiang was probably the only one who might know about this, but he’s a Second Order Professional, hard to deal with, so they targeted others.
Though guessing this in his mind, Su Chen said, “Some lunatics might target everyone related to me for revenge.”
“You mean Zhou…” Hu Xiang’s heart skipped a beat as he uttered one word.
“Don’t pretend. You think the same.” Su Chen exposed him.
“Is it worth it? Old Zhao was just a minor character…” Hu Xiang sighed.
Su Chen fell silent. In all the information he’d accessed, he hadn’t seen any Space Crystal yet. Its value must be considerable.
Revenge for a killed son plus recovering the Space Crystal—the motivation was strong.
Su Chen felt a chill in his heart. Zhou Xian was a Third Order Professional. If he acted personally, Su Chen couldn’t withstand it.
But then he thought, since they targeted Old Zhao first, they probably wouldn’t confront him openly. The suspicion on him hadn’t cleared yet, and Chief Inspector Yuan was watching closely.
Old Zhao’s death might just be for gathering intelligence.
“Does City Patrol Guard have any compensation for this?” he asked.
“Yes, treated as sacrifice. His family will be taken care of. Don’t worry.” Seeing Su Chen still asking about it, Hu Xiang’s expression eased. He couldn’t help reminding, “Be careful lately.”
This visit was mainly to remind Su Chen. Good.
The matter had been suppressed internally by City Patrol Guard. No news would leak.
Su Chen glanced at him, “You too.”
“Me?” Hu Xiang was surprised.
Su Chen grinned, making Hu Xiang shudder.
“You seem to have forgotten. Besides Old Zhao, there’s another in City Patrol Guard who seems to have a good relationship with me.”
Hu Xiang was momentarily stunned, his expression changing drastically.
Su Chen sighed, “Old Zhao had an incident, and you came to notify me first. This favor is touching.”
“Stop.” Hu Xiang’s face turned pig-liver red. As the person involved, he’d been blind, but Su Chen’s reminder made him react.
“Your wife…” Su Chen started, then saw Hu Xiang turn and leave. But he returned just after stepping out and exchanged contact info.
“Contact anytime…” He hurried away.
“Space Crystal…” Su Chen frowned, “It’s been swallowed. Impossible to spit out, and can’t explain it.”
The convenience of Storage Space was self-evident. “Right, and the Shadow-Evading Clothes at school.”
That thing was at least a First Order Item. Selling it for five thousand gold was no issue. Not safe under the bed either.
“While it’s daytime, go back to school and get it.”
Su Chen skillfully plucked a hair, stuck it in the door seam, greeted Old Sun, and headed to South Wind Academy.
………
Whoosh–
Gale howled, black lightning tangled overhead, thunder rumbling through the area.
“Machinery side…” Zhang Hongbo’s collar fluttered wildly. In his sight was a dilapidated steel fortress, its exposed part above the wasteland nearly a thousand meters high.
Surface welded from rusty metal plates, etched with pits and tears of varying depths, dark red rust like congealed blood.
Metal door long gone, leaving a bottomless pitch-black entrance emitting a heart-palpitating aura of decay.
“Collect information first…” Zhang Hongbo gave the order. Exploration Guards filed out behind him, carrying various instruments, cautiously approaching the fortress.
………
Out of the Dormitory Building, Su Chen looked back. Shadow-Evading Clothes was in his Storage Space. Nothing worth lingering here.
“Brother Su, it’s really you…”
A surprised shout came from nearby. Su Chen turned to see a few excited faces.
“You… you… you’re… Liu Liang?”
Amid the leader’s expectant and tense gaze, Su Chen finally recalled his name.
Liu Liang breathed a sigh of relief. His underlings stood nearby. If Su Chen really forgot, it’d be awkward.
“Something?” Su Chen was puzzled.
Liu Liang stepped forward quickly, not trying to cozy up, but said lowly, “Brother Su, someone has been asking about you lately.”
“Oh?” Hearing this, Su Chen narrowed his eyes, “Who?”
“Uh, Sister-in-law’s husband…” Liu Liang said awkwardly.
“Who?” Su Chen was baffled.
“Teacher Jiang’s husband…” Liu Liang explained.
Su Chen’s face darkened, “Qi Chuan, right.”
“So he’s called Qi Chuan…” Liu Liang scratched his head, “Anyway, him. Sneakily asking us about you.”
“From when we met, every detail, even what you ate.”
“But Brother Su, don’t worry. I kept my mouth shut.” Liu Liang puffed his chest.
Su Chen sized him up and shook his head, “No need. Nothing to hide. If he asks again, name your price. This senior is generous.”
“Ah?” Liu Liang watched Su Chen leave blankly.
“Brother Liang?” His underlings crowded over, “What did Brother Su say? He seemed unhappy.”
Liu Liang raised his head and sneered, “What do you know? It shows how close he is to Brother Liang. Would you show attitude to a stranger?”
Inspection Guards in the academy had mostly withdrawn. Su Chen pondered as he walked, “Why is the Victim still hung up on that? My strength is exposed. Doesn’t he get it?”
“Wait, is Zhou Xian behind him…” Su Chen stopped abruptly, face darkening, “Not impossible.”
“Victim, oh Victim, you and I really are fated…”
Back at Inspection Department, it was mid-afternoon. Sun Fatty was waiting at the door.
“Little Brother, you’re finally back.” Sun Fatty greeted warmly.
“Brother Sun, something?” Su Chen asked politely.
“Chief Inspector Yuan sent me to deliver something…” Sun Fatty’s small eyes glanced around, pointing to the Room.
“Okay.” Su Chen opened the door, then stopped abruptly, looking down at his feet, expression turning grim.
“What’s wrong, Little Brother?” Sun Fatty asked from behind.
“Nothing…” Su Chen entered calmly. After Sun Fatty came in and closed the door familiarly, he grinned, “First Order Inspector Guard Su Chen, on behalf of Inspection Department, congratulations.”
“Congratulations?” Su Chen was puzzled.
“Yes, your Seventeenth Patrol Team caught an underground Black Market in South District this morning. Collective Third Class Merit.”
“Ah?” Su Chen was even more confused, then heard Sun Fatty continue, “For your outstanding performance, specially granting 【Gale Hunter】 Profession Information.”
Su Chen suddenly understood. After this roundabout, it was to give him 【Gale Hunter】.
“This, I wasn’t there. No issue?” Su Chen couldn’t help asking.
“Key intel was yours. You weren’t there because you needed rest.” Sun Fatty frowned, displeased, “This is collective honor. You deserve it.”
Su Chen fell silent. Just for his bit of jealousy, he made the dumplings.
With this collective honor, his unacquainted Seventeenth Patrol Team colleagues shouldn’t object.
Saying this, Sun Fatty opened the Silver Bracelet, pulled up the Virtual Screen, lines of text appearing.
【Discovered Second Order Upper Tier Profession–Gale Hunter. Promote after meeting conditions.】
【Promotion Condition One: Hunt one Second Order Professional without being detected by others.】
【Promotion Condition Two: Three F-grade Body Tempering Methods reach Master Level.】
Hunt a Second Order Professional?
Su Chen was surprised. Even Second Order Lower Tier was Second Order.
Second Order Profession promotion difficulty spiked. F-grade Body Tempering Methods to Master Level, three of them. But not hard for him.
These were overt requirements. Hidden ones like Profession Progress to 100%, best First Order Profession 【Swift Walker】.
At least First Order Middle Tier speed-oriented Profession, and Job Appointment might have surprises.
But related Top Tier Professions easier to compatible.
“Hunt Second Order…” Su Chen pondered, and without others noticing.
“After all, Second Order Upper Tier Profession. Not low difficulty.” Sun Fatty agreed.
“Yeah…” Su Chen chuckled, “Right, Brother Sun, don’t let anyone clean my Room in the future.”
“Clean Room?” Sun Fatty was stunned, troubled, “We don’t have that service. Not a Hotel after all.”
He’d thought Su Chen wanted it.
“No is better.” Su Chen politely saw Sun Fatty off, then his face darkened.
Someone had sneaked into his Room. The hair in the door seam was gone. He’d confirmed position with 【Spiritual Perspective】 before leaving. No mistake.
“Inspection Department has their people too.” Su Chen felt a big net enveloping him, face ugly, “Someone who can sneak in quietly must have high authority.”
“Almost forgot!” Su Chen stood abruptly, eyes brightening, “I’m not alone now!”
“I’m tm second generation!”
“This is my Teacher’s turf. Why should I cower?”
Not yet adapted to his identity. Realizing this, Su Chen rushed out and stopped Sun Fatty at the Elevator.
“Brother Sun, I want to check surveillance. Someone entered my Room!” Su Chen said directly.
Sun Fatty, who was smiling, changed expression, surprised, “Entered your Room? How? This Floor has access lockdown…”
“I can confirm. Want to check this Floor’s surveillance. Should be no issue.” Su Chen emphasized.
“Hmm…” Sun Fatty’s expression shifted, “No problem. Follow me.”
They went to surveillance. Sun Fatty had them pull footage of his Room door. From his leaving to Sun Fatty knocking, only a few passed by. No one entered.
Sun Fatty pulled him to an empty adjacent Room, said lowly, “This surveillance is basic. Many Professions can bypass it. If someone entered, hard to detect.”
“I want to deal with someone.” Su Chen wasn’t surprised. If they dared enter, hard to trace easily.
But realizing identity shift gave him new ideas.
“Who?” Sun Fatty jumped, thinking this guy seemed steady in morning, wild by afternoon?
“Qi Chuan.” Su Chen named him.
Victim Brother, roles reversed. Time to collect on old and new grudges.
“Qi Chuan… wait…” Sun Fatty fiddled with Virtual Screen, soon pulling up info, “Qi Chuan, Ruins Research Department First Order Researcher… became Second Order Professional four months ago…”
Really Second Order, faster than Jiang He… Su Chen mused.
“Married, wife is… Jiang He?” Sun Fatty didn’t care at first seeing Second Order Professional, but face changed, “This Jiang He is Ruins Research Department Minister Jiang Rong’s daughter, right? Touch her husband…”
“No feelings between them anymore…” Su Chen explained, then briefly recounted provoking Jiang He to enter South Wind Academy.
Omitted key details, just said Qi Chuan kept troubling him over it.
“Gulp… Little Brother, you’re fierce.” Sun Fatty swallowed, “jealousy” nearly bursting from his eyes.
