Chapter 209: Chapter 208: Transaction_1
Of course, there was also the possibility that in this world, nobody really cared about him.
Enjoying the peace in his mind, Fu Qian got off the bed and leisurely went downstairs.
The bookshop downstairs was still as it had been when he left.
In fact, with the synchronization of time between the two worlds, only a day had passed by.
Sitting down by the counter, Fu Qian casually looked around and the next moment, noticed something unusual at the entrance.
There was a letter on the floor, apparently slipped in through the crack under the door.
Utility bill?
This was Fu Qian’s first thought.
As someone who grew up in the information age, paper correspondence had almost lost its function in communication and had become simply a tool for notification.
Walking to the entrance, Fu Qian picked up the letter and opened it.
The quality of the paper was excellent, clearly no ordinary item, and on it was a line of exquisite handwriting.
“Mr. Fang,
I have discovered something special that you might find interesting, and I hope for your guidance when convenient. Do stop by my place.”
The signature was startlingly that of Wen Li.
It seems that the previous assumption didn’t quite hold up; he did have a certain social circle in this world.
An interesting matter? Uncertain what Wen Li had specifically found.
She must have come to visit him before and then, considering his sporadic presence, decided to leave a letter instead.
Deliberately slipping it through the door, she was quite meticulous, eh!
After all, having overseen the maintenance works before, she surely had the keys to this place.
The salutation was also very cautiously using “Mr.”
Fu Qian placed the letter on the counter.
Since she chose to write a letter, it indicated that the matter was not urgent.
He could check it out when he had time; currently, he had other things to do.
If the little girl was truly Su Gao, then it meant that this mission had taken place quite a long time ago.
The little girl looked to be about ten years old, while Su Gao… was not entirely certain but seemed to be older than himself.
Although the idea of not immediately drinking the Abyssal Mist reward just yet, this mission actually held another huge, hidden benefit.
That was what Mr. Luo had said—a phrase he’d come across some special record that knew of the place where the Abyssal Mist was buried.
With a bit of association, if there were records, doesn’t that suggest that someone had once researched and sought after something similar?
Like those people who dug out that underground tunnel.
This was definitely a lead in his search for other unique traits.
And to learn this information, there was one person who was most suitable.
…
Half an hour later, Fu Qian arrived at the long-missed Night Watchmen Base.
Out of a sliver of trust in Yuan Shan’s professional ethics, he did not choose to look for her at the shopping mall.
Looking at the familiar black Spire in front of him, Fu Qian snorted coldly, the corners of his mouth raising, as he stepped inside.
The three-year term had ended!
“Hey! Over there, you, please register upon entering.”
The elderly doorkeeper who had been there on his last visit was finally not bleary-eyed and summoned him with an authoritative air.
“Are you looking for Chief Yuan?”
After asking about Fu Qian’s intention, the old man’s eyes immediately bulged wide.
“Yes.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No.”
“…I can’t let you in then.”
“It’s okay, just tell her the bookshop owner is here to see her.”
…
Clearly bewildered by Fu Qian, but the latter’s tone was too naturally composed, and he didn’t seem to have any obvious mental issues.
In the end, the old man didn’t turn him away directly but instead contacted someone inside to report.
About five minutes later, a woman who looked like a secretary came out.
“Mr. Fang? Please follow me.”
It seemed Yuan Shan was quite dedicated to her job today!
Fu Qian silently admired her professionalism, and under the mute gaze of the old man, followed the female secretary through the door.
It was the same route he remembered, and the two of them quickly arrived at Yuan Shan’s luxuriously spacious office.
The female secretary opened the door and then left directly.
Yuan Shan, dressed in a gray suit skirt, was sitting behind the office desk, her serious expression quite convincing.
And upon seeing Fu Qian enter, a smile appeared on her face.
She put down what she was holding and gestured for Fu Qian to have a seat wherever he liked.
“Sorry I didn’t come out to greet you myself, but I considered your usual preference for keeping a low profile. My direct appearance might have created a poor impression.”
Yuan Shan’s face was all smiles.
“No problem. People of our world don’t sweat the small stuff!”
Fu Qian took a seat without ceremony, making careless chitchat.
In his view, she might have had a point, but it was more likely she just couldn’t be bothered to move.
“So, what brings you here today? Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind?”
“I haven’t.”
Fu Qian’s refusal was as direct as ever.
“But don’t worry, I haven’t come today because I’m in any trouble.”
“Oh? Then what do you want to do?”
Yuan Shan couldn’t hide her curiosity.
“I need to look up some information, and after thinking it over, your place seemed most suitable.”
Fu Qian got straight to the point.
“Looking up information? You’re certainly right about that. Finding a place with more comprehensive archives than the Night Watchmen Base wouldn’t be easy.
However, these are confidential documents and are not to be disclosed to the public. Even as Chief, I cannot violate the rules—”
“How about I pay in advance for the next time you assist me?”
“Deal!”
Yuan Shan agreed lightning-fast, a triumphant smile on her face as though she’d been waiting for Fu Qian to say just that.
“But allowing you unrestricted access still won’t do. How about this: within my authority, you can freely consult three documents, and we’ll offset this with one opportunity for assistance.”
“That’s fine.”
Fu Qian agreed readily, unaffected by Yuan Shan’s conditions.
Mutually beneficial exchanges are a human virtue, whether it’s knowledge or bodily fluids.
Although Yuan Shan might have seemed offbeat, anyone who thought she was easy to fool was being naïve.
Fu Qian had never underestimated the Chief of the Night Watchmen.
Fu Qian accepted her terms without further ado, and Yuan Shan’s expression showed her appreciation.
She immediately led Fu Qian out and took him all the way to the archives.
Having only three chances, Fu Qian did not attempt to search using the names of Miyamoto or Mr. Luo.
In his opinion, the credibility of these two names was highly dubious, not worth wasting an opportunity.
As for Delin and his group, being a secret commission, Fu Qian did not believe there would be any relevant records.
The first thing Fu Qian requested was the file on Su Gao.
Given that she was an internal member, the archivists retrieved the files for Fu Qian only after special permission from Yuan Shan.
Su Gao’s file was very simple, especially after certain content had been redacted.
Fu Qian glanced through it and immediately spotted the information that interested him.
Just as he suspected, Su Gao had joined the Night Watchmen more than a decade ago, with almost no information available from before then, only mentioning she came from a Forbidden Area called the Rotten Forest.
It really was this girl!
The mission actually led back to more than a decade ago!
With his guess confirmed, Fu Qian couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion.
Seeing Su Gao’s condition at the end, she likely suffered some loss of mental faculty under the influence of the Fool’s Tree Sap, which could also explain why she did not recognize him later.
“The Rotten Forest, I need the archives on this area.”
Fu Qian said directly to the archivist.