"You need my help?" Chen Moxiang asked, probing.

"No kidding, how am I supposed to steal without you?" Lin Tian rolled his eyes at Chen Moxiang, retorting impatiently, "Why do you always say such nonsense?"

Chen Moxiang was the head of the detective team at the family Security Management Institute. People usually spoke to her with respect, and no one had ever talked to her like Lin Tian did. She was slightly taken aback and a bit uncomfortable, but because she needed his help, she said nothing.

"So what exactly do you want to do?" Chen Moxiang was becoming frustrated with Lin Tian's cryptic responses.

A man speaking hesitantly like this—just say what you need. It'd save us both time if you got straight to the point!

"I need you to do something for me, then I'll agree to help you. Additionally, you'll need to assist me in finishing it!" Lin Tian purposefully voiced his thoughts.

"Do something?" This phrase made Chen Moxiang furrow her brow, thinking, "What exactly is Lin Tian planning?"

"In exchange for my help, just meet two of my conditions!" Lin Tian started negotiating terms with Chen Moxiang.

Since Chen Moxiang needed him, and she represented the state, Lin Tian would definitely surrender any national treasures to the authorities, but he could ask for compensation from other sources...

Of course, if Chen Moxiang hadn't approached him, maybe Lin Tian wouldn't have bargained; he'd still figure out a way to steal the artifacts. But since she came forward, why not negotiate some conditions?

Chen Moxiang asked directly, "List all your conditions, and I'll request guidance from above. If possible, we'll agree to them!"

Chen Moxiang felt that Lin Tian's conditions were somewhat reasonable since in today's world, if you have a good friend build a house for you, even if you don't pay them, you'd at least treat them to a meal!

No way someone would work all day and then be sent home in the evening without any appreciation...

Such an exchange would only happen once, and the next time you need help, you might not have many friends willing to assist.

This is what people call social etiquette—even the closest friends and brothers need money to maintain relationships!

"Erase my criminal record, and I need a batch of medicinal herbs!"

Lin Tian stated his demands.

Facing Lin Tian's demands, Chen Moxiang was a bit surprised, "Herbs? What do you need herbs for?"

The first condition was something Chen Moxiang had already promised.

But the second condition, requesting herbs, left Chen Moxiang a bit puzzled.

"I have my reasons!"

Lin Tian's thinking was simple. Since he said he wanted to train seriously, he would start training today.

Because a portion of the 'Tyrant Emperor's Record' involved healing and saving lives, including the creation of pills.

Some pills within could enhance cultivation, but the herbs required were extremely rare.

Since Chen Moxiang had state backing, finding these herbs through national resources could be much easier.

"Are you sure it's just these two conditions?" These were the conditions being passed up for authorization, and Chen Moxiang felt she could make the call herself.

"Yes!"

Lin Tian nodded, then shifted the topic, "But the herbs I want are somewhat rare, like century-year-old ginseng, cordyceps, and millennium-old ganoderma... I'll give you a detailed list then."

"Hiss!"

Chen Moxiang took a deep breath as these items were extremely valuable herbs.

It was astonishing that Lin Tian would even ask for them!

But after considering it, compared to fifty pieces of artifacts, these herbs seemed less significant.

"Alright! I agree to your terms!" After deliberating, Chen Moxiang nodded in agreement.

"Good, then I'll help with this favor!" Lin Tian also nodded in agreement.

"Since you've agreed, let me tell you about the selection process!" Chen Moxiang shifted the conversation.

"Selection?"

Lin Tian's face darkened, looking puzzled, "Stealing something and there are so many competitors?"

Perhaps no one would believe Chen Moxiang's words, probably no one would doubt them!

But the idea that even a thief had so many competitors—who would believe that if you told them?

"What did you think? Remember, this isn't about stealing a bicycle or a phone; it's about national treasures now!" Chen Moxiang reiterated the preciousness of what was to be stolen!

"No matter what we're stealing, it's still stealing!" That's how Lin Tian felt!

"Alright, stealing then!" Chen Moxiang didn't try to change Lin Tian's view but continued, "There are a total of twenty competitors, all carefully selected experts. Are you confident you can pass the selection?"

"You mean I have to stand out among a group of formidable thieves?" Lin Tian had a unique way of understanding things.

Chen Moxiang facepalmed, her face dark with lines, wanting to split open Lin Tian's head with a kitchen knife to see what was inside.

"You could say that, but can you stop referring to it as stealing?" Chen Moxiang, with a stern face, spoke with annoyance.

"Can you tell me what the selection involves?" After a moment's thought, Lin Tian finally asked the crucial question.

"Even I don't know!" Chen Moxiang's brow furrowed. "The selection criteria are top secret!"

"That's a bit tricky!" Lin Tian scratched his head.

It was like taking a test—if you knew the exam questions beforehand, passing would be no issue. But now, passing was entirely up to luck.

It's like doing a multiple-choice question, with options A, B, C, D—you have to guess!

"That's why you need a team!" Chen Moxiang paused, then continued, "The reason I called you here is to tell you something!"

"This secret mission must succeed, no failures allowed. No matter how skilled an individual is, they can't match a team's capability!"

"So, building a team will increase the success rate of completing the mission!" Chen Moxiang confessed.

"Find people, form a team!" Lin Tian murmured to himself.

After careful consideration, he felt Chen Moxiang was right.

A single chopstick breaks easily, ten are hard to break. Similarly, with a good team, a secret mission could be accomplished with greater ease.

It's like buying a lottery ticket alone versus ten people buying tickets together; a single ticket has less chance of winning than ten.

"But who to find?" Lin Tian pressed his lips in thought.

This was the most challenging part for Lin Tian. If it was just him working hard, that was easy, but finding people?

He didn't have any friends in the theft business around him!

"I can be one, but we need to persuade another person first!" Chen Moxiang suddenly said.

"You?" Lin Tian was a bit surprised.

But recalling the female thief from that night, Chen Moxiang did have potential in this area.

As for who they needed to persuade, Lin Tian didn't know yet.

It seemed Chen Moxiang had already planned out this little team in her mind...

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.