While Dongfang Jiang and Pandana were sleeping peacefully, in a basement of the Grey Tower in the Royal Capital where sunlight could not reach, a silver-haired youth sat on a chair, crossing his legs as he looked at several electronic screens in front of him.
He crushed the wine bottle in his hand, and the red wine flowed over the ring on the youth’s middle finger.
The ring had a sun emblem carved from a gemstone.
He spoke coldly to the crowd behind the screens.
“Gentlemen, our operation against the Jones Family this time has failed. Not only did we fail to control the Jones Family, we also lost a Thunderfall Ring.”
“More important than the ring is that our pawn in the south-central part of the Kingdom has been uprooted. Otherwise, it’s just a B-rank ring.”
“Heehee, I said long ago that we should secure the Grey Tower first before moving on other regions. You didn’t listen, so who’s to blame?”
“Hmm, that is indeed the case, so we need to be more careful with the next target.”
After a voice completely devoid of emotion spoke, everyone present fell silent.
The owner of the voice was quiet for a moment before saying the next sentence.
“Also, investigate the person who ruined our plans.”
“Yes, Lord.”
—
The next morning, after breakfast, Dongfang Jiang and Pandana wiped their mouths and looked at the several large empty bowls in front of them.
Dongfang Jiang scratched his head and looked at the satisfied Pandana.
“Are you full?”
“Mm. By the way, Mister Dongfang, what are we doing today?”
“Get plenty of rest. As for me, I have some business to take care of.”
“Oh?”
Pandana looked at Dongfang Jiang curiously.
Dongfang Jiang took out the Thunderfall Ring from his pocket and showed it to Pandana.
“I’m going to sell this thing.”
“Oh oh, that’s the bandit chief’s ring. A B-rank ring can sell for a lot.”
“I’ll be back soon. What do you want to eat? I’ll bring it back for you.”
“Anything is fine.”
“Okay.”
After saying goodbye to Pandana, Dongfang Jiang went to the town’s pawnshop.
He pawned the Thunderfall Ring he had gotten from Yue Ge.
“It’s actually worth this much money…”
Dongfang Jiang weighed the wallet in his hand.
The price of this ring was more than all of yesterday’s commissions combined.
“It is a ring, after all… it’s only natural that it’s in high demand.”
“Mm.”
Dongfang Jiang ignored the pawnshop owner and left the pawnshop directly.
Five minutes after Dongfang Jiang left, the pawnshop owner put the ring on his middle finger.
He injected energy into the ring and began contacting someone hiding in the shadows.
“We’ve confirmed it. The person who ruined our plans is a youth named Dongfang Jiang. He looks completely ordinary…”
“Eliminate him. No matter how ordinary he looks, he is still someone who disrupted our plans. Such a person cannot be left alive.”
“Yes.”
After getting the money, Dongfang Jiang went to the shop that Pandana had praised for its delicious food and bought some pastries.
On the way back after buying the pastries, Dongfang Jiang felt like someone was watching him from behind.
[System, is someone surveilling me?]
[Correct, Host.]
Dongfang Jiang saw that the System had answered him honestly.
Recalling that when they first met, the System had said it would be troubled if he died, Dongfang Jiang asked again.
[After my life?]
[Yes.]
[Hmm, as expected. Number of people?]
[1 person.]
[Good. Find me a suitable place to settle this.]
The System provided Dongfang Jiang with the location of an abandoned forest farm near the town.
Dongfang Jiang, without showing any sign, led the pawnshop owner who was following him to the abandoned forest farm.
After confirming there was no one else, Dongfang Jiang turned around.
His ring emitted a brown glow.
“You can come out now.”
“Hehe, young man, you’ve got guts, huh?”
The pawnshop owner came out from behind the tree where he was hiding and revealed a hideous grin at Dongfang Jiang.
Dongfang Jiang scratched his head.
“Oh… So I’ve run into someone who robs the robber?”
Dongfang Jiang said this, but he controlled the longsword at his waist and slashed it toward the pawnshop owner.
“Just a— Pfft…”
The pawnshop owner recognized that Dongfang Jiang was using the Sword Control Technique and tried to block, but Dongfang Jiang’s energy was abundant and the force of the strike was immense.
Before the pawnshop owner could finish his threat, he was heavily injured by Dongfang Jiang’s blow.
Dongfang Jiang pressed the advantage.
He held the longsword in his hand and placed it across the pawnshop owner’s neck.
“Don’t move.”
Quick-witted and fast-handed, Dongfang Jiang first pulled the ring off the owner’s finger.
He smiled at the owner and asked his first question.
“Who sent you?”
“Hmph.”
“What is your objective?”
“Hmph.”
Dongfang Jiang’s mouth twitched.
He complained to the pawnshop owner.
“Seriously? Other than ‘hmph,’ can you say anything else?”
“You won’t get anything out of me.”
“Then don’t say anything.”
Dongfang Jiang used the scabbard to knock the pawnshop owner unconscious.
He looked at the unconscious pawnshop owner and scratched his head.
“This is going to be a problem. This guy has a clean record. If I hand him over to Yue Ge, he’ll probably be out in a few days… Oh, right.”
Dongfang Jiang thought of the Jones Family.
This guy knew the bandit chief; he might be one of the culprits behind the Young Lady’s kidnapping.
“Hehe…”
The Jones Family’s business spanned the entire town.
Dongfang Jiang was the hero who saved the Young Lady, so he didn’t have much trouble contacting the Jones Family’s Contact Person.
Dongfang Jiang told the Jones Family’s Contact Person the whole story.
The Contact Person nodded; it seemed they had also investigated the relevant evidence.
“We just traced it back to this guy as well.”
The Contact Person recognized Dongfang Jiang and spoke directly to him.
“Mm, then I’ll leave him to you.”
“Good. This is the reward for your actions this time.”
The Contact Person said, taking out a money pouch from their pocket and handing it to Dongfang Jiang.
Dongfang Jiang did not stand on ceremony and took the pouch.
After the transaction was concluded, Dongfang Jiang prepared to turn and leave.
The Contact Person thought of something, turned around, and called out to Dongfang Jiang.
“By the way, Mister Dongfang, there’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“When do you have time to come to the headquarters? Our Young Lady sincerely invites you to the headquarters.”
When Dongfang Jiang heard the Contact Person’s words, he thought for a while.
“Leave me a contact information. Once my Guardian has recovered, I’ll bring her along.”
“Alright. This is our Young Lady’s Contact Code.”
The Contact Person left a Contact Code for Dongfang Jiang.
Apparently, through a special Contact Code, one could use a ring to contact the person they wanted.
Dongfang Jiang memorized the Contact Code, turned around, and left the abandoned forest farm.