AWB Chapter 47: Greedy
Chapter 47: Greedy
Lin Yue and Gong Yong lived a peaceful life. The renovation team introduced by Ouyang had already produced the blueprints. After reviewing them carefully, Lin Yue realized that the villa was originally intended for their own family. However, when finalizing the blueprints, they decided to include three side rooms on the left side of the window, one with a large window, and another with a gatehouse. The ground floor room could open onto the road outside.
Lin Yue decided to combine the three rooms. After the combination, a thick, floor-to-ceiling bulletproof glass panel was installed facing the road. The entire glass panel made the interior look elegantly decorated, like a relaxing tea room. The area near the window was turned into a tea room, which was very elegant. The wall without windows was turned into a small cabinet for traditional Chinese medicine.
The "reverse-facing room," or gatehouse, was traditionally the residence of the gatekeeper. Besides the main gate, there was a small door connecting the gatehouse and three other rooms to the east side of the building. The main entrance faced south. The three rooms on the east side, connected by the gatehouse, had a guardhouse next to the main gate on the south side, with a double door opening to the east. However, this door facing the main house in the inner courtyard was sealed off. From then on, this guardhouse only received guests entering and exiting the three rooms on the east side.
On the side of the gatehouse, there's a small door connecting to the outside. The wall of the three rooms facing the inner courtyard is entirely rammed earth. On the east side, near the kitchen, the three rooms have a small door leading to the kitchen and living room. This small door leading to the kitchen and living room is fitted with a security door inside. After all, this is the only door that allows the three east-facing rooms to receive guests and enter the inner courtyard.
Lin Yue and Gong Yong were very satisfied with the design. They understood the importance of this door; it not only had to ensure security but also maintain the overall aesthetics and layout. At that moment, they could almost see their cozy home, a perfect blend of practicality and beauty, after the renovation was complete.
Lin Yue and Gong Yong imagined what the place would look like after the renovation was completed, and looked forward to spending wonderful time there in the future.
Old Zhao has already tracked down Ms. Xiaoya, the wife of the high-ranking official's brother. Although at the beginning, because Ms. Xiaoya was not caught, there was not enough evidence to bring her to justice. The previous evidence was either destroyed or blocked in various ways.
Ms. Xiaoya had always wanted the spatial necklace, employing various methods, but to no avail. However, through observing Mr. Tang and Mrs. Yuan, she learned about the four people in their dormitory room. Among these four, Lao Xiao and Xiao Hui were a couple, Mr. Tang and Mrs. Yuan were a couple, Mr. Yang and Mrs. Shen were a couple, and Mr. Wang and Mrs. Li were a couple. Ms. Xiaoya hired a professional detective to follow them and discovered that they all seemed to be hoarding supplies. This discovery overjoyed Ms. Xiaoya; she knew that these three couples likely each possessed storage devices. The wealthiest couple was Mr. Yang and Mrs. Shen. Lao Xiao and Xiao Hui, the two couples with some assets, would be difficult to deal with, but the relatively poorer and weaker couple, Mr. Wang and Mrs. Li, might be easier to target.
This time, Ms. Xiaoya hired professionals and also consulted her younger brother. Her brother serves in the army, holding the position of a regular battalion commander. She told him about the matter, and his integrity as a soldier led him to say, "You can report this to the government and let them handle it, instead of doing it for your personal gain." Therefore, her brother refused. However, despite his refusal, he investigated the three couples through various means. Through continuous comparison, surveillance, and reviewing details from previous investigations by professional detectives, he discovered that all three couples were hoarding supplies, albeit in small quantities and done so quite discreetly. Finally, he contacted the head of the Southwest region and explained the implications.
While Mrs. Xiaoya was tracking the three couples, Lao Zhao, a professional from the National Security Bureau, led a special forces team that was also tracking Ms. Xiaoya, as well as the professional detective she had hired. The information eventually converged on Lao Zhao, revealing that all three couples showed signs of storing supplies. Upon learning this, Lao Zhao immediately reported it to his superiors, stating that the three couples definitely possessed such valuable items. This was because Mr. Tang and Mrs. Yuan were college roommates of the three couples they were tracking, and all had graduated with degrees in computer science.
At this moment, the situation is becoming increasingly complicated, and the truth is gradually coming to light.
Finally, with the approval of his superiors, Lao Zhao sent someone to secretly invite the three couples to an office of the Security Bureau during their free time to learn the truth. The three couples were quietly invited to the office without affecting their lives or families.
Inside the office, the three couples looked at each other, with Lao Xiao and Xiao Hui feeling particularly uneasy. They didn't know what awaited them, nor why they had been invited here. The other two couples were equally puzzled, and the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
Seeing their tense expressions, Old Zhao slowly said, "Please don't be nervous. I've invited you here today because there are some important things I need to ask you."
Old Zhao had his subordinates bring over the computer and projector, and then showed them details of the professional detective they had hired to follow Ms. Xiaoya, as well as the details of their surveillance of the three couples. Next, Old Zhao told them that Ms. Xiaoya had hired some professionals who planned to first illegally detain Mr. Wang and Mrs. Li, targeting their family members, possibly starting with their beloved son, and then using despicable means to obtain the necklaces they were wearing.
Officer Zhao explained very clearly, and then showed the three couples footage of Ms. Xiaoya hiring professionals to follow Mr. Xiao, Ms. Xiaowei, and their children and elderly relatives, as well as Mr. Yang and Mrs. Shen's children, family members, and nanny.
After reading it, Old Zhao didn't rush to ask questions. Instead, he explained to them that their situation was extremely dangerous. The source of the danger was this Ms. Xiaoya, and that Ms. Xiaoya was the reason Mr. Tang and Mrs. Yuan's accident occurred in the first place. Old Zhao explained in detail the cause and outcome of Mr. Tang and Mrs. Yuan's deaths, as well as the reasons why Ms. Xiaoya couldn't be executed immediately. After finishing, Old Zhao quietly observed the reactions of the three couples.
After hearing this, all three couples showed expressions of anger and fear. Old Xiao and Xiao Hui exchanged a glance; Xiao Hui gripped Old Xiao's hand tightly, her body trembling slightly. Mr. Wang and Mrs. Li were filled with rage; Mrs. Li gritted her teeth and said, "This vicious woman, how could she be so heartless!" Mr. Yang and Mrs. Shen, on the other hand, seemed somewhat worried, concerned for the safety of their family.
The atmosphere in the room grew increasingly heavy. Old Zhao knew that the next step would require everyone's joint efforts to resolve this crisis.
Old Xiao spoke first, saying, "Old Zhao, Officer Zhao, hello. It's not that we're unwilling to tell you the origin of our magical artifacts. I know you've been monitoring Ms. Xiaoya and the detectives she sent to monitor us for so long, you must know something about us. This spatial artifact was a gift from a fellow cultivator—truly a gift. We are four couples, four men in a dormitory, all studying computer science. We each married our beloved wives, and our four families have a very good relationship. We met a highly accomplished person together. This person exists in this world, he is still alive, and he is a highly accomplished cultivator. He gave it to us. As for why he gave it to us, it's only because we..." In a moment of crisis, I lent a helping hand, helping him resolve this survival crisis. Actually, he deduced some celestial secrets—the tense and unstable international and domestic situation, the unstable magnetic field, and the potential food shortage on Earth. He revealed some of these secrets, telling us to stockpile some food and survival supplies. However, our stockpiles are very small and won't affect the current world order. Several families of ours have each stockpiled some; I'm telling you the truth to avoid any speculation. Secondly, it seems that Ms. Xiaoya has made our situation public; we are facing a survival crisis, and many people are probably eyeing us. See if the government has any questions about this; feel free to ask, and we will answer everything we know.”
As Old Zhao listened to Old Xiao's account, his expression was serious, but his eyes revealed understanding. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Thank you for your honesty. Did this expert mention any other important information to you? Also, what exactly are the supplies you've stockpiled?"
Old Xiao glanced at the other two couples and then replied, "The expert didn't say anything more specific, just told us to be prepared. The supplies we stockpiled mainly consisted of some food, common medicines, and some daily necessities."
Old Zhao nodded slightly and continued, "Are there any special restrictions or precautions regarding the use of this spatial artifact?"
Old Xiao shook his head and said, "So far, we haven't found any particular limitations in using it; it's just very convenient to store and retrieve things."
A brief silence fell over the room as Old Zhao quickly considered his next move.
Old Zhao told them to rest for a while and then went out to make a phone call. Old Zhao sent the audio and video recording of what Old Xiao had said to a leader in the central government, who then instructed the highly skilled spiritual practitioners trained by the state to review it.
The cultivator in the center stated that some patriarchs of major sects and reclusive sects on Earth possess spatial storage rings, but in limited numbers; the most powerful patriarchs might only have one or two. Now, these rings have appeared among ordinary mortals, and in four couples no less, meaning they possess eight spatial treasures.
The cultivator asked Lao Zhao to inquire with Lao Xiao and the others whether the storage device could be transferred to someone else, and whether the restrictions on it could be removed so that the device could be given to someone else to open. Lao Zhao agreed, hung up the phone, and returned to his office.
Old Zhao asked Old Xiao, "How big are your spatial storage devices?" After Old Xiao answered, Mr. Yang said that his and Mrs. Shen's was the largest, 195 cubic meters, followed by Old Xiao and Xiao Hui's at 160 cubic meters, and then Mr. Wang and Mrs. Li's at 135 cubic meters. Old Xiao also mentioned that Old Tang's two were each 30 cubic meters, randomly assigned by that cultivator. Furthermore, there were restrictions inside; firearms, ammunition, drugs, and hazardous materials explicitly prohibited by the state could not be placed inside. Only daily necessities, food, and essential survival items could be stored.
After listening, Old Zhao nodded thoughtfully, already having a plan for the next step.
I learned from Lao Xiao that Mr. Tang and Mrs. Yuan's spatial storage chains had the smallest cubic capacity; Mrs. Yuan's was only 30 cubic meters, and Mr. Tang's was also only 30 cubic meters. However, their family was the first to be harmed by a villain. Those 30 cubic meters certainly couldn't store much, yet they lost their lives because of it.
At this moment, the three couples sitting in this office felt a sense of crisis thinking about their families, fearing that something might happen to their loved ones. Old Xiao and Xiao Hui exchanged a glance, then told Old Zhao that they could contact their friend who practiced Buddhism, who said there were some areas where they could cooperate with the government.
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Old Zhao's eyes, and he quickly asked, "That's great! You should contact them as soon as possible to see how to cooperate. The country will definitely guarantee the safety of you and your families."
Old Xiao and Xiao Hui nodded and immediately said they would contact their friend who was practicing Buddhism as soon as possible. The atmosphere in the office eased a little, but the worries in everyone's hearts had not completely dissipated.
Xiao Hui suddenly spoke up, saying, "Officer Zhao, to be honest, our friend of ours has actually been practicing a method related to space, and he has finally achieved some success. But it seems that if this were to become known to the secular world, it would be a huge problem, and his life could be in danger at any time. However, this friend doesn't want to get involved in any aspect of national politics, nor does he want to be involved in worldly fame and fortune. He is simply a practitioner who lives far away from the secular world."
Xiao Hui continued, "Officer Zhao, if the government finds out about his existence, how can you guarantee his safety? He doesn't want to be treated specially, and he doesn't want anyone to know he exists. Besides, if you need this thing, what can you offer him in exchange?" Old Zhao replied solemnly, "Don't worry about that. The government will absolutely guarantee his safety and privacy. As for the conditions for the exchange, we can discuss them further. We will definitely provide fair, reasonable, and satisfactory terms."
Mr. Yang suddenly spoke up, "Officer Zhao, look at the deaths of Old Tang's family of five. It's the result of these high-ranking officials' relatives showing no respect for the law. In fact, businessmen are driven by profit, and they all want this magic weapon. If these parasites who are harmful to the country find out about this magic weapon, the consequences will be unimaginable. Actually, let me tell you something else: the storage space around our necks was placed there by a cultivator who struck us with lightning. If we perish, it means that this necklace will explode, and everything inside will disappear into the world without a trace."
Upon hearing this, Old Zhao's heart tightened, and his expression became even more solemn: "Mr. Yang, rest assured, we will do our best to protect your safety and will absolutely not let this magic weapon fall into the hands of criminals."