Charles looked embarrassed, and Chen Gu became excited. He snatched the secret wand and was about to reply when Charles blurted out, "That's Dora's secret wand; you can't just use her account..."

Chen Gu stopped, not because of Charles's intervention but to double-check. He immediately called Marcus. "Boss, where is Wu Minzhe's secret wand? You need to go back at once and see if Wu Minzhe's secret wand has received a message."

It wasn't long before Marcus called back. "How did you know? There's a message on Wu Minzhe's secret wand from someone called 'Gravekeeper Under the Moon' wanting to purchase the 'Consphino Model II'!"

Marcus was thrilled, guessing that Chen Gu had found the key to solving the case. He continued, "Come on, share your thoughts with me. I feel like you've found the crux of the case! HAHA, you're really quite the talent. Of all the rookies I've trained, Charles used to be the sharpest, picking things up quickly after joining the Special Service Team..."

Charles beamed with pride. However, Marcus then added, "But compared to you, he's far behind. He's at best a smart kid, but you're a genius. How long have you been in the Bureau, and you've already cracked so many major cases..."

Before his old team leader could say anything more disheartening, Charles quietly interjected, "Boss, I'm still here."

Marcus abruptly stopped, then laughed to cover his embarrassment. "Good afternoon, Charles. I was just discussing the technical aspects of the case with Chen Gu. COUGH, COUGH. Chen Gu, please answer my question."

Chen Gu held back his laughter, shared his previous judgment, and then said, "This 'Slumbering Ancient Clan' did not buy the 'Consphino Model II.' If the perpetrator's target really is her, then he certainly wouldn't just wait around doing nothing. I suspect he will cause some commotion to compel the 'Slumbering Ancient Clan' to make a purchase. For example, he might make the 'Slumbering Ancient Clan' feel that their lives are threatened. As long as the perpetrator does that, he's bound to leave behind clues, and we can follow the trail to find him!"

Marcus praised loudly, "I'll come find you right away, and we'll plan something out."

「...」

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Zuo Qianyun stepped out of her "bedroom" to start her day's work.

She appeared to be a middle-aged beauty in her thirties or forties, fond of wearing the era's niche, modified ancient-style clothing. These clothes, made from expensive silks and linens, drew their styles from the Han and Tang dynasties of the mother planet's ancient past.

Her temperament exuded classical beauty. Consequently, the clothes she wore, even in a high-tech, futuristic building, seemed perfectly natural and only enhanced her mysterious allure.

This building was Zuo Qianyun's private property, a modern winery well-known throughout Empire River Star and even the Confederation. From red wine and whiskey to baijiu and huangjiu, it offered everything.

Zuo Qianyun's workday lasted only two hours. By six o'clock, it was dinner time, and by eight in the evening, her leisure time began, lasting until five in the morning when the sun rose, at which point she would retire to sleep.

Even though she worked just two hours a day, she considered herself very "hard-working," deeply moved by her own dedication.

However, Zuo Qianyun had been somewhat uneasy these past few days. After working for only half an hour, her assistant—a handsome young man—notified her through the video intercom, "Boss, people from the Police Department are looking for you."

Zuo Qianyun frowned. "What do they want?"

"They refused to say, but they were very aggressive," he reported. "They said if you don't see them, they can immediately apply for a search warrant."

Zuo Qianyun pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. If someone really barged in with a search warrant, it would be a severe blow to her "dignity."

"Let them come in." Zuo Qianyun temporarily compromised. However, she resolved to protest later to senior city government officials at some wine reception, pressuring them to lean on the Police Department so she could regain her standing.

In the building, the assistant gestured to Marcus and Chen Gu. "The boss invites you in."

Marcus entered with his head held high. Chen Gu followed, his gaze constantly sizing up the assistant, which made the young man uneasy.

Marcus asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Chen Gu brushed it off, but a thought nagged at him. This assistant's outfit... it's identical to what Qing Ruyan made me wear at the Moonship Hotel! That woman... damn her!

Upon seeing Marcus and Chen Gu, Zuo Qianyun's demeanor changed abruptly. Marcus and Chen Gu instinctively stepped back two paces as she slowly rose, her voice sharpening like a sword. "Bureau of Mystic Security?"

Marcus raised his hands. "Please don't misunderstand; we have no ill intentions. As you should know, the Confederation is quite lenient towards freelancers. If we harbored any schemes, we would have brought agents of a higher Energy Level."

Zuo Qianyun's aura gradually retracted, and she reverted to the classical beauty who owned the winery.

"Take a seat," she said flatly.

Marcus, facing a high-Energy-Level professional, showed some restraint as he sat. Chen Gu, however, unceremoniously plopped down. In his "The Past of Four Hundred," even the weakest individual, Milna Katerina, was of the Fourth Energy Level. A mere Third-Energy-Level professional was hardly worth his concern.

"You're very alert. Is it because you've been threatened recently?" Chen Gu said, getting straight to the point. Zuo Qianyun's elegant brows arched like twin swords.

Chen Gu waved his hand, ignoring her threatening posture, and pressed on directly, "You're busy, and our case is urgent, so let's not waste anyone's time."

Chen Gu said gravely, "What I'm about to say is confidential! You mustn't let it leak. Otherwise, a Third-Energy-Level 'Slumbering Ancient Clan' member isn't a threat the Bureau of Mystic Security would find difficult to handle."

Marcus secretly tugged at Chen Gu's sleeve, but Chen Gu completely ignored him, meeting Zuo Qianyun's gaze directly and fearlessly. Marcus inwardly broke out in a cold sweat for him...

Zuo Qianyun said coldly, "A Third-Energy-Level 'Slumbering Ancient Clan' member could kill an agent and escape, and the Bureau of Mystic Security wouldn't be able to track them."

Marcus tensed up; he could feel the genuine killing intent emanating from the Third-Energy-Level master!

Chen Gu waved his hand. "Why bother? You have all your favorite wines here, which I assume took you many years to collect, right? If you flee, you can't take any of them with you. They'd all go to the Bureau of Mystic Security for free. Those crude high officials—how many of them can truly appreciate these wines? They might even carelessly gift these fine vintages to their subordinate operational teams. Such a terrible waste. Why bother?"

Zuo Qianyun's killing intent did not diminish. Her slender hand gently pressed on the table. A force transmitted through it, making Chen Gu and Marcus, who sat opposite her, feel as if two great mountains were pressing down on them! She said mildly, "First, state your purpose for coming."

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