Chapter 220

Tianyun City, a second-tier city located in the southern part of the Ri Yue Di Guo, although not large, is quite prosperous.

The cities of the Ri Yue Di Guo differ greatly in style from those of the original three kingdoms; even as a second-tier city, its prevalence of soul tools far surpasses that of the Star Net Empire's capital, Star Net City, leaving Tang Wulin and the others dazzled.

They came here this time to investigate a missing persons case.

If it were merely an ordinary missing persons case, naturally there would be no need to trouble the Shi Lai Ke Surveillance Team, but according to the Star Net Empire's official investigation, behind it actually involves a human trafficking chain, making the problem serious.

After negotiations with the Tian Hun and Dou Ling kingdoms, the Star Net Empire discovered that they too had suffered many similar cases, and all clues pointed to their common enemy: the Ri Yue Di Guo.

In response, the three countries had no recourse and could only submit an application to the Shilake Academy, hoping they could help handle this incident.

Recently, friction between the Ri Yue Di Guo and the original three kingdoms of the Dou Luo continent has intensified, seeming ready to erupt into war at the slightest disagreement; if random personnel were sent into Ri Yue territory, it might instead become the spark of war, and only the Shi Lai Ke Surveillance Team is most useful at this time.

Recalling the information about this mission in his mind, Tang Wulin asked:

"Senior, have you been to the Ri Yue Di Guo before?"

Gongyang Mo shook his head.

"I haven't, Zhou Sichen, how about you?"

Zhou Sichen placed his hands behind his head and casually replied:

"I have been here."

Tang Wulin widened his eyes in surprise.

"What are you doing here? Isn't your family from the Tian Hun Empire?"

Zhou Sichen shrugged lightly.

"My family is a merchant clan; besides the Ri Yue Di Guo, I've visited all four empires of the Dou Luo continent, but this Tianyun City is indeed my first time coming here."

Upon hearing this, Tang Wulin revealed a friendly smile and patted his shoulder.

"Zhou Sichen, let's discuss something."

Zhou Sichen's heart instantly rose with vigilance.

"What?"

"This time, the intelligence-gathering work will be entirely up to you, okay?"

"Can I ask why?"

"Because you're the most familiar with this place; if it were me and the senior, we'd easily give ourselves away."

Tang Wulin and his two companions naturally did not come to the Ri Yue Di Guo under their original identities, but rather fabricated random identities to enter.

For Tang Wulin, who has undergone extreme solo special training, this small matter is a piece of cake.

Their current names are Tang Tong, Sun Mo, and Zhou Xiao Chen, young merchants coming to the Ri Yue Di Guo for trade.

Zhou Sichen twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Do I have the right to refuse?"

Tang Wulin's smile became radiant.

"No."

"I knew it."

Zhou Sichen felt like crying but had no tears.

"Alright, go on, go on."

Tang Wulin thus half-forcibly pushed Zhou Sichen out the door.

After he left, Tang Wulin looked toward Gongyang Mo.

"Senior, shall we also set out?"

Gongyang Mo sighed somewhat helplessly.

"You're being too kind to him, aren't you?"

"After all, he's the weakest." Tang Wulin said with a somewhat solemn expression: "I always feel this mission isn't simple; we must first test the waters ourselves." Tang Wulin actually didn't expect Zhou Sichen to gather any useful information; he pushed him out merely to find an excuse to let him leave the team first.

Before coming, Cai Mei'er actually gave him and Gongyang Mo some information; these hints carried a hint of danger, making him seriously suspect that behind this human trafficking case might involve a major power.

After all, this is the graduation task of Gongyang Mo, the vice-captain of the previous generation's Shilake Seven Monsters; it couldn't possibly be as simple as it appears on the surface.

After completing their disguises, Tang Wulin and Gongyang Mo walked out together from the stronghold provided by the academy and headed toward the target location.

Soon they arrived at an inconspicuous alley, at the end of which stood a dilapidated small shop.

Entering, the drunkard before the counter gave them a dazed look.

"What do you want?"

"Grilled lamb."

"Want side dishes?"

"Two portions of bamboo shoots."

"Where do the guests come from?"

"From Tianxian City."

"Come in, go left to the second room."

After a series of exchanges, the drunkard pointed to the left, yet Tang Wulin and Gongyang Mo did not follow his instruction but instead went to the right.

Only then did the drunkard fully relax and continue drinking.

This was a prearranged signal; if they didn't follow the protocol, the drunkard wouldn't let them in.

In fact, according to Tang Wulin's observation, this drunkard is likely at most a Soul King, at most a Soul Emperor, and could not defeat him and Gongyang Mo combined; even forcing entry would be possible.

But winning or not isn't important; what matters is that it might alert the mastermind behind the scenes.

By then, what level of expert would come is hard to say.

The two came to the third room on the right, pushed the door open and entered.

This room is not large, filled with dust, containing only a small bed, a table, a bookshelf, and two chairs.

Tang Wulin arrived at the bookshelf, gave it a hard pull, the bookshelf slid to one side, and behind it was a secret door.

Tang Wulin felt around on the wall for a moment, then pressed, and with a low sound the secret door opened.

Tang Wulin and Gongyang Mo exchanged a glance, both breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems the information obtained so far is fine.

Although the Three Great Empires cannot send people into the Ri Yue Di Guo to capture people, they are not completely useless; they managed to obtain some information.

For example, this small outpost was discovered by the Three Great Empires, including the later password and the location of the secret passage, all provided by the Three Great Empires.

Only what lies beyond this secret passage is unknown; Tang Wulin and Gongyang Mo can only hope it's not a trap.

The two entered the secret door; inside was a dim, narrow passage that inexplicably emitted a nauseating odd smell, which grew stronger forward, making one feel uncomfortable.

Soon, light appeared ahead, and the two reached the end of the passage.

Tang Wulin's expression suddenly changed, becoming very grim.

His eyesight is not bad to begin with, and he also cultivates the Purple Extreme Magic Pupil; although still some distance from the passage exit, he already saw clearly what lay outside.

This is a large market, everywhere are merchants shouting to attract customers, and shockingly, the "goods" they keep in cages for sale are actually living humans.

These people locked in cages are mostly skin and bone, with dull eyes, obviously having suffered harsh treatment.

This is clearly a large-scale human trafficking market.

Deep beneath the Ri Yue Di Guo, Tang Wulin and Gongyang Mo saw a dark corner of this nation.

Side note: originally wanted to add a bit of somewhat grotesque description when describing the victims, but thought better of it, so as not to disgust everyone.

(End of chapter)