Zhai Cai? As in a shut-in and a scrub? Zhang Yuanqing silently roasted him in his heart while sensing the man's emotions. He let out a soft mental "huh"—this sole heir of the Knight legacy held no hostility, greed, or killing intent in his emotional aura, which didn't fit the mindset of a spy plotting to seize the Pope's relic.
Arrogance, confidence, impatience, a foul mood, and a faint sliver of envy... Wait, he isn't actually envious of my Spirit Realm ID, is he? If you want it, I'll sell my account to you for 998 bucks! Zhang Yuanqing put aside his hostility for the moment and probed:
"The sole heir of the Knights? The Pope's relic was just stolen, and here you are. If my Insight hadn't told me you weren't lying, your actions would be truly suspicious."
He then turned to the Thunder Mage, Deng Jingguo, and said, "Alliance Leader, I suggest I stay and listen in. No one can fabricate a lie in front of me."
Deng Jingguo nodded slightly. "My thoughts exactly."
Clearly, he also couldn't trust this supposed sole heir of the Knights who had dropped in unannounced and brought up the Pope's relic.
Once Zhang Yuanqing took a seat, Deng Jingguo looked at the mink-coat-clad Knight and said:
"Mr. Zhai Cai, this is a member of our Anti-Black-and-White Alliance, a Swordsman I rely upon heavily. He will represent me throughout the conversation."
"A Swordsman?" Zhai Cai leaned lazily against the sofa, looking Zhang Yuanqing up and down with a chuckle. "There aren't many Swordsmen in the First District, and even fewer in nongovernmental organizations. Were you planted here by Heaven's Punishment, or are you from the Fu family, the Scout clan?"
His tone, posture, and expression all exuded the confidence of a big shot. Even in the presence of a Dominator, there wasn't the slightest trace of constraint.
With that attitude, could he be a Dominator? Zhang Yuanqing muttered inwardly.
However, even if the man was a Dominator, Zhang Yuanqing could still read his true thoughts through emotional fluctuations. The sole heir of the Knights would never imagine that the Swordsman before him was actually an Illusionist; any guard against Insight was utterly futile.
"Who I am isn't important. Who you are is," Zhang Yuanqing said. "Mr. Zhai Cai, how do you intend to prove your identity?"
"There are many ways to prevent lying. In my view, a Swordsman's Insight is too subjective and easily countered by experts—far less simple and effective than establishing a rule." Zhai Cai grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and slapped it against the coffee table with measured force. "I propose we play a game of truth or dare. Whoever lies dies."
Along with the dull thud of the apple hitting the coffee table, a bronze-colored halo expanded and swept across the living room.
Zhang Yuanqing and Deng Jingguo clearly felt an invisible force lock around their minds, altering their perception. Lying instantly became a heinous, unforgivable crime on par with murder.
Such powerful binding force. A simple rule formulation that felt completely superior to Chazo, the Level 6 Knight from Heaven's Punishment. This is a Dominator-level Knight—a giant panda among giant pandas... Zhang Yuanqing was shaken.
Deng Jingguo remained expressionless, giving a slight nod.
"I believe you are a Knight."
After demonstrating a simple display of his ability, Zhai Cai sighed:
"I am indeed an inheritor of the Holy See's Knights. You all know about the Holy See, right? If not, I can explain later. The Knights Order was the Holy See's mightiest force, formed of Knights who feared no death.
"They were formidable and fearless. Wherever they went, evil and enemies were ground to dust. As an army united, even the Pope had to yield. But over a century ago, the Holy See perished in a terrible upheaval. Only one powerful Knight managed to survive by sheer luck. That Knight concealed his name and identity for a time, and later got in touch with Huo Zhengkui.
"From Huo Zhengkui, he learned that the Pope had entrusted the relic to this Easterner. After discussing it, the two decided to split the Holy Plate into four pieces and seal them in two different ways. Two pieces were given simple seals so they could sense each other. The other two were sealed with more sophisticated methods and handled by Huo Zhengkui.
"The two pieces that could sense each other were kept separately—one by Huo Zhengkui and one by my grandmaster. The two agreed to look out for each other and jointly guard the Holy See's Holy Plate. Later, they parted ways, agreeing to contact each other once every five years.
"Huo Zhengkui continued to be his mob boss, while that Holy See Knight took an Asian as his disciple, teaching him Knight combat techniques and holy arts.
"This was probably done to obscure the sight of enemies, just as no one would suspect the Pope would entrust such an important Holy Plate to an Asian man.
"And then, somehow, the Knight lineage inexplicably became ours."
Zhang Yuanqing listened quietly to the end, then asked:
"What evidence do you have to prove any of this?"
Upon hearing this, the gentleman Knight in the black mink coat produced two items from a designer bag beside him and placed them on the coffee table.
One was a fan-shaped bronze piece, and the other was a stack of yellowed letters.
! ! ! Zhang Yuanqing's pupils shrank slightly. He felt as though a pie had just dropped from the sky. Could there really be such good fortune?
Zhai Cai unfolded the yellowed letters and said:
"Everything is clearly stated in these letters. You'll understand once you read them.
"To tell you the truth, I have no sense of belonging to the Holy See, and I certainly don't want to get involved in this mess. I probably would have been like my master and grandmasters, quietly taking an apprentice and passing down the token. Who would have thought that last night, this bronze piece suddenly broke its seal?
"The seals on Huo Zhengkui's and the Knight's Holy Plate fragments form an integrated whole. If the seal on one piece is broken, the other is also alerted."
He let out a sigh. "So I was forced into action, saddled with this ancestral duty, and came knocking on your door."
Deng Jingguo picked up the letters and read them carefully.
After a long while, he put down the letters and nodded. "Everything checks out!"
Huo Zhengkui actually left a backup plan. Was he worried about unfilial descendants or being tracked down by the Covenant of Freedom, so he entrusted one piece of the Holy Plate to a Knight? Compared to just and honorable Knights, the chances of worthless descendants popping up are much higher. Still, Old Huo's descendants turned out decent enough and didn't let him down... Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brows.
"How did you know Alliance Leader Deng is Huo Zhengkui's grandson? Before the Pope's relic went missing, he didn't even know this secret himself."
"I told you, both sides agreed to check in every five years. After Huo Zhengkui returned to the Spirit Realm, his illegitimate son Deng Guoguang once sought help from us. My master's master even contributed to the founding of the Anti-Black-and-White Alliance," the Knight said.
"It was only after Deng Guoguang died that contact between the two sides was lost."
"In other words, you Knights were the insurance Huo Zhengkui left behind. Once the Huo family lost their piece of the Holy Plate, the Knights would step in to recover it," Deng Jingguo mused.
"The Pope's relic was indeed taken a few days ago. My father followed Huo Zhengkui's example and handed it to his illegitimate son. A few days ago, that son was subjected to Spirit Devouring by a Starlord and tragically died.
"However, there were further twists to this matter..."
He immediately recounted to Zhai Cai how the Starlord had killed Jia Feizhang, only to be ambushed and intercepted halfway by Tongtian Jiaozhu.
The mink-coat-clad Knight listened in a daze. "It was that convoluted...? Hmm, looks like that Tongtian Jiaozhu has already obtained the Holy Plate and successfully unsealed it. That works out fine too. The fragments can sense each other. I'll track him down and take the Holy Plate back."
I won't be taking it out anytime soon... Zhang Yuanqing thought silently.
Deng Jingguo looked at the Swordsman from the East and said to Zhai Cai:
"The Holy Plate was not passed down to me. Deep down, I'd rather not meddle in this affair. But since it is a family mission, as Huo Zhengkui's descendant, it is only right that I do my part."
Just as Zhang Yuanqing thought he was about to deliver some grand, righteous speech, Alliance Leader Deng changed his tune:
"I have already assigned Carefree Sword Immortal to track Tongtian Jiaozhu. Carefree, from now on you will assist Zhai Cai in recovering the Holy Plate. When necessary, I can step in."
Alliance Leader Deng looks like he doesn't want to get his hands dirty. That's fine too. I'll stay close to this Knight and look for a chance to snatch his Holy Plate... Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly. "I will do my best!"
He had originally planned to put on a show and say that if it was too dangerous, he'd need higher compensation. On second thought, there was no need to say that here; he could discuss it with Deng Jingguo in private.
Saying it out loud now would look too contrived.
Zhai Cai gave Zhang Yuanqing a sidelong glance, looking rather reluctant. "A Swordsman..."
He clicked his tongue in disappointment while shaking his head.
What's that supposed to mean?! Zhang Yuanqing felt an urge to hit him.
Leaving Deng Jingguo's villa, Zhang Yuanqing and Zhai Cai walked slowly down the long street, one following the other.
Did Lady Luck smile on me today? The third piece of the Holy Plate practically fell right into my lap... But this Knight is most likely a Dominator. Taking it by force would be difficult; I'd need the President to step in. The bronze piece on him will be my stepping stone into the Hunter Guild... Zhang Yuanqing watched the Knight walking ahead, feeling as though the man were a mouthwatering slab of pork belly.
Wait! On second thought, if this Knight didn't die, he would definitely raise hell in New York. If a Dominator went on a rampage in New York, the Hunter Guild had countless eyes and ears and could easily discover the reason behind Zhai Cai's ruckus.
When that time came, how could he explain taking the Holy Plate from a Dominator? As long as the Hunter Guild wasn't brain-dead, they would figure out someone was backing him.
Kill the Knight? Knights belong to the orthodox faction and are even more upright than Scouts. Striking down a good guy goes against my principles. Besides, a giant panda among giant pandas like him would be a terrible waste to kill. Keeping him alive is much more useful... For a moment, Zhang Yuanqing was caught in a dilemma.
Right then, Zhai Cai, walking ahead, suddenly turned his head, the corners of his mouth curling up.
"I sense hostility coming from you."
Zhang Yuanqing's heart jolted, but he replied calmly, "I sense hostility coming from you, too."
He quickly realized that Knights didn't have Insight or the ability to read emotions. On top of that, he habitually restrained his emotions while thinking, so there was no way the man could have sensed anything.
He was bluffing.
"Well, we're going to be partners from now on. I'm used to being a lone wolf and never trust partners," Zhai Cai said with a shrug. Then he added:
"That Tongtian Jiaozhu's movements are erratic, and New York is massive. Finding him is like looking for a needle in a haystack. What a pain, what a total pain. I have a mountain of business to handle at my company and don't want to be tied down by this nonsense.
"Carefree Sword Immortal, why don't I just give the Holy Plate to you, and you can look for him in my place?"
I can't tell if you're bluffing me or not. Why does this guy have such an attitude toward me? Zhang Yuanqing kept a cold face and ignored him.
After walking a bit further, Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the mink-clad Knight's back and struck up a conversation:
"Do you have a plan?"
The mink-clad Knight scoffed. "What kind of plan do you expect me to have? Alliance Leader Deng said you were investigating Tongtian Jiaozhu. Any leads? Don't tell me you've come up empty."
This guy's tone is so punchable... Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Are you a Dominator?"
Zhai Cai glanced at him and grinned. "I'm a demigod!"
If you were a demigod, I'd bow down to you right here on the spot... Zhang Yuanqing said evenly:
"Tongtian Jiaozhu is a bounty hunter. The task he took was the Chinatown serial killer case, which means his hunter rank isn't high. I spent some money investigating his past mission log and found that he possesses a strong hatred for evil, killing only criminals and gang members.
"Since we know his rough level and personality, a sting operation is the most efficient method. Yesterday, I posted a bounty at the Hunter Guild—a mission to hunt myself down. I described myself as a depraved thug guilty of rape, looting, and every imaginable evil."
Zhai Cai's eyes lit up. "If Tongtian Jiaozhu sees that bounty, there's a high probability he'll take it. Then all we have to do is wait for him to walk right into our trap."
Zhang Yuanqing smiled as well and took the opportunity to say, "So, if you are a Dominator, you'd best stay with me. Don't get your hopes too high, though—another hunter might take the job instead."
Zhai Cai tilted his head, pondered for a moment, and that irritating smile crept back onto his handsome face. "Not a bad idea. I'll be your bodyguard for three days. If there are no leads within three days, we part ways, and I'll look on my own."
And so, chatting as they walked, they crossed six blocks and arrived at the red-brick walk-up.
Zhai Cai looked up, examining the six-story building, and clicked his tongue. "You live in a common tenement like this? Doesn't really fit the status of a Saint. I booked a presidential suite at an international hotel in Manhattan. You should just crash with me."
"You run a company?" Zhang Yuanqing asked curiously.
"I am, after all, a big boss worth tens of billions in federal dollars. Call me Boss Cai from now on." The sole heir of the Knights raised his chin.
Zhang Yuanqing had no desire to waste words on him. "My room is 403. Stay or don't stay, your choice."
He headed straight upstairs, took the elevator up to his apartment, poured a glass of water, and sat by the dining table to think.
He already had a general plan: lure the sixth-generation sole heir of the Knights into his home, then have Tongtian Jiaozhu launch an attack. Once the attack failed, he would immediately contact the Hunter Guild and tell them the bronze piece's whereabouts.
Then he would let the Hunter Guild and the Dominator Knight clash against each other while he fished in troubled waters.
That way, he could provide an explanation to the Hunter Guild while keeping the bronze piece safe. Hopefully, this sole heir of the Knights was competent. Of course, if he wasn't and the Hunter Guild managed to take the bronze piece, then Zhang Yuanqing, in his Carefree Swordsman persona, could join forces with the Dominator Knight.
Thinking up to this point, Zhang Yuanqing noticed the sole heir hadn't come upstairs yet. He didn't actually leave, did he?
He hurried to the window, pushed it open, and looked down at the street. He saw Zhai Cai in his black mink coat, standing before a roadside food stall, holding a box of fried stinky tofu and eating with relish.
"I'll come up after I finish eating!" Zhai Cai waved a hand.
Where did your international hotel elegance go? Your tens-of-billions aura amounts to squatting by the roadside eating stinky tofu? The corner of Zhang Yuanqing's mouth twitched, and he slammed the window shut.
Chapter 673