Chapter 100

The police had investigated everyone connected to the waste processing plant and found no suspicious individuals. Even the truck driver, who was their prime suspect, had only been delivering garbage. He never got out of the cab or opened the rear of the dumpster, so he had no opportunity to commit the crime.

True to their word, the police informed Lu Gan Da of the latest developments.

When Lu Gan Da heard the news, he nearly gasped for breath.

All his hopes now rested on the police’s tracking efforts. Losing the money didn’t matter—as long as they could trace the kidnappers’ whereabouts, there was still a chance to rescue his mother.

But now the money was gone with no trace left behind. Every lead had been severed, leaving everything up to the whims of the kidnappers.

Lu Gan Da knew their mindset all too well. They wanted the research data from the secret base, and this five hundred thousand was pocket change to them—just a snack. There was no way they’d take the money and release the hostage.

Yet the facts proved otherwise. The kidnappers were even more unpredictable than he had imagined.

That same night, he received a call from his sister. Their elderly mother had suddenly reappeared at home, safe and sound. She had been confined for so long that her legs and back were numb and swollen, but with some time to recover, she would be able to walk normally again.

The police rushed to the scene, searched the house, and questioned the old woman.

There were no traces left behind at the site, and Lu Gan Da’s mother offered no useful leads. She only described being held in a pitch-black room where the light illuminated only the criminal’s face. The criminal wore a mask, hiding their features, and even their voice sounded mechanical, as if generated by a machine emanating from a human body.

Lu Gan Da had experienced a similar scene not long before.

He even wondered if he and his mother had been in the same house that previous night, separated only by a wall. They could see each other only on a screen, and even then, it was muted footage.

They had taken the ransom without a sound and returned the hostage just as silently.

The image of the criminal gang grew even more elusive in everyone’s minds.

With that, the transaction was complete—one hand money, one hand goods—though it had been forced upon them.

Before Mo Fei returned to Snake Mouth Bay, she stood in front of the Reyno vehicle and glanced back at the streets of North County City. “I once promised that I would find the kidnappers and tear them limb from limb.”

Of course Lu Gan Da remembered, but at that moment, it no longer mattered. The matter was over.

“It’s fine. As long as she’s back safe, that’s what counts. Losing the ransom is no big deal—I’ll repay that five hundred thousand as soon as possible. I really owe you for this!”

Mo Fei had been about to say something more, but upon hearing his words, she merely smiled.

No matter her expression, she carried an air of serene composure, like a company representative at a press conference, always maintaining the most polished and official image—even when her smile fully bloomed.

In the end, she patted Lu Gan Da’s arm and got into the return vehicle with him.

…

This operation could be called a success, but not a complete one. Wen Du wasn’t sure how to evaluate it, so she decided not to and simply analyzed the valuable insights it provided.

“It seems the secret base really is impenetrable. According to Lu Gan Da, forget drones—even a mosquito with a metal detector couldn’t pass security.”

Yue Mu sat down beside Wen Du. The room had good airflow and wasn’t too hot, but the air conditioning felt chilly, so she set up a tall standing fan instead. The cool breeze brushed her cheeks, bringing welcome relief.

“Exactly. The original plan was for Boss Yin to extract core information from him and then tuck him away for our use, but things didn’t go smoothly. We had to activate Plan B: treat it like a standard kidnapping, money for hostage.”

“So it looks like our best shot is still Sha Jiali. He’s the only one we can access right now who might enter Snake Mouth Bay.”

Wen Du didn’t respond. She wasn’t sure if pinning their hopes on Sha Jiali made their chances even slimmer.

“How’s Boss Yin’s investigation going?”

“We’ve checked everything. His background matches what we know: he studied at Shou’an University all the way through his doctorate, then did an exchange visit in Gailie and became a postdoc at Michell University. Back home, he took a teaching position at North County University. Thanks to his exceptional expertise, he became a leader in the field of electro-biology interdisciplinary research, frequently collaborating with companies to turn tech into patents and products.

“But after the Daisy Transformation, he grew lazier. Aside from teaching, he spends most of his time resting. As for his personal life, it aligns with our intel too: his wife died in childbirth along with the child years ago. He never remarried and remains single to this day, but he has a particular fondness for young women—just like now.

“No anomalies so far. No shady connections, no suspicious projects. Even the ten household staff at his home—we vetted them all. They’re just ordinary Sern civilians, nothing out of the ordinary.”

Wen Du nodded. The rich wooden furniture, usually dark and heavy with age, now gleamed under the sunlight, appearing almost light and airy. Even the butterfly orchids on the curio cabinet danced playfully in the breeze.

Yet Wen Du’s gaze was always veiled in thought. Even the pure white tablecloth, reflected in her eyes, failed to lighten the weight in them.

“The investigation results may check out, but that doesn’t mean he’s clean. If his issues can evade our scrutiny, then they’re even more dangerous than I imagined.”

Yue Mu propped her elbow on the table and leaned toward her. “Ah Du, which faction do you think he belongs to?”

Wen Du lounged half-reclined in her wooden chair, maintaining her relaxed posture even amid such perilous topics. It was the mark of years of professional training etched into her.

“He doesn’t seem like any faction, but I can clearly sense his impure intentions. That’s what’s truly terrifying.”

Yue Mu fell silent for a moment, processing that sense of “terror.” In her mind, Sha Jiali was still just a middle-aged man with goggle eyes, a big belly, and a bow-legged gait—his mobility alone raised questions, let alone any threat.

But she empathized with Wen Du most of all. Paid by Wen Du, she shared her worries. Still, she couldn’t help but offer comfort.

“Since we can’t find anything wrong, maybe it’s just a personal issue. Like wanting some benefit from you. Hard to guess, but low risk.”

A breeze tousled her hair across her face. Wen Du brushed it aside, letting her arm rest against her cheek as she looped it over her head.

“Possibly. But it could still hinder our operations greatly. Take the secret base plan—if we try to use him, he might pick up on it keenly and turn the tables on us. Someone with impure motives is a major wild card.”

Wen Du let out a long breath, half sigh, half relief—like defeat mingled with release. Yue Mu looked at her and saw her expression soften. She closed her eyes, finally merging with the lazy summer afternoon.

“Ah well, aren’t all our operations full of variables? Finding stability amid the chaos—that’s our job.”

Yue Mu still propped her chin, eyelids half-closed. On the chaise, Wen Du’s nose tip pointed skyward as sunlight glided across her forehead, then danced on her nose, full of life. Yue Mu couldn’t help but smile, seizing this rare moment of peace.

“Yeah. Forget that old guy for now. Take a nap—it’s a rare carefree weekend.”

…

That weekend, Wen Du and Ji Tingxi met again.

They were both relieved they hadn’t let their relationship fall apart completely back then. Otherwise, with their current level of “mutual understanding,” it would definitely raise suspicions.

“The police have halted the investigation, and the base supervisor has returned. It looks like they’re dropping the kidnapping case, but I still feel… something’s off.”

Ji Tingxi leaned against the railing, gazing down at the green expanse below. “It did wrap up a bit too easily. But you didn’t leave any loose ends, right?”

Wen Du reviewed it once more in her mind and was almost certain. “No.”

“With no leads, it’s normal for them to back off. Digging further wouldn’t yield anything. But do you think Lu Gan Da told Mo Fei about his own kidnapping?”

“It doesn’t seem like it. He may not know the specifics of the research, but he did leak security details about the base—that’s already a breach. Unless he wants trouble, he won’t report it.”

Even if he did leak it, it wouldn’t matter much.

The team member posing as the kidnapper had used a Gailie accent. Lu Gan Da had worked at the Guard Institute, so he was surely familiar with it. Subconsciously, he would peg the kidnappers as Gailie Forces, even without seeing their face.

This operation had involved a clear deal and division of labor between Wen Du and Ji Tingxi. Ji Tingxi handled confirming the target, while Wen Du executed the kidnapping and gathered base intel.

Afterward, they would share the information.

But now, things hadn’t fully succeeded—or rather, only halfway.

That half-success only made them more convinced that the secret base was worth investigating and deserved top priority.

Their goals differed: Ji Tingxi sought political leverage against the Rui’er Faction, while Wen Du aimed to save more Sern compatriots. Different paths, but converging ends.

On this point, they could be frank with each other.

“According to Lu Gan Da, external vehicles and personnel can’t enter the base without registration. That includes equipment or other creatures.”

Ji Tingxi nodded. “In that case, to get internal info, we’ll have to target personnel officially invited by the base—like certain specialist scholars and experts.”

Wen Du turned around and leaned against the railing too, gazing into the distance.

“Miss Ji, look—we’ve circled around and ended up back at him. It seems we have to climb that mountain called Sha Jiali no matter what.”

Together, they turned their gazes toward Snake Mouth Bay in the west. At the same time, they both looked once more toward the Sha family mansion—the sole current gateway to the secrets inside Snake Mouth Bay.