Chapter 266: Suddenly Developing a Fondness for Talent

"Nor are they bypassing the gate gods," Zhang Laoya said. "They can create a dream realm, making the guards retrieve the items for them within the dream."

Xu Yuan nodded.

Zhang Laoya knew nothing about the Canal Office, so his tone held a hint of schadenfreude: "Someone in the city was robbed?"

"Silver stored in the homes of several wealthy merchants was stolen," Xu Yuan said, looking at Zhang Laoya. "Besides that, a warehouse belonging to the Canal Office at the wharf outside the city was also robbed."

"Ah?!" Zhang Laoya was greatly startled and spoke urgently: "They wouldn't have such boldness..."

"You haven't seen them in a long time; what if their boldness has grown?"

Zhang Laoya had no words to say, but his expression clearly grew tense.

Xu Yuan said no more.

The key to this matter was: what exactly was stolen from the Canal Office warehouse!

The warehouse held only goods.

The Canal Office would never store gold or silver in its vaults.

If it truly was the work of those three sisters, the stolen items might be exactly what they truly needed.

After leaving the Purification Bureau, Behind Miao Yu left the city and headed straight for the wharf.

He inspected the crime scene at the warehouse and interrogated the guards from the previous night.

Yet he found nothing.

Moreover, during this process, he discovered that the men under his command were all incompetent.

They could not even handle a basic interrogation.

They would never set linguistic traps within their questions.

Behind Miao Yu had originally remained hidden in the background, listening secretly for a while before he could stand it no longer, so he personally interrogated several key figures.

One of his subordinates was a patrol inspector named Wu Qingzhao, a veteran of the Zhan Cheng Office who had been the first to defect and pledge loyalty after Behind Miao Yu's arrival.

Seeing Behind Miao Yu's displeased expression, he spoke sheepishly: "Actually, all the experienced veterans in the office followed Lady Fu Shuanghui and perished together at Yu Well Village."

Behind Miao Yu offered no comment.

But the losses at Yu Well Village were indeed very severe for the Shanhe Office's Zhan Cheng Office.

After a while, Behind Miao Yu suddenly asked: "How is that Xu Yuan from the Purification Bureau?"

The question came out of nowhere, and Wu Qingzhao did not know how to answer: "Which aspect does my lord refer to?"

Behind Miao Yu: "Ability."

Wu Qingzhao was very unwilling to admit it, but he dared not lie to my lord, so he held his nose and said: "Speaking purely of ability, he is naturally excellent; the Purification Bureau relies on him to hold it up. From He Youxing downward, they are a bunch of trash."

Having spoken those two sentences quickly, he immediately added: "But this person has always opposed our Shanhe Office; he is simply stubborn and unteachable..."

Behind Miao Yu suddenly cut him off: "How about recruiting him into our Shanhe Office?"

"Ah?" My lord's thinking was too erratic; Wu Qingzhao could not quite keep up.

"Since he is capable, leaving him in the Purification Bureau is a waste. Recruit him under my command; I will give him space to display his talents."

"Th-this, this this..." Wu Qingzhao stammered: "He has a great grudge against our Shanhe Office; he won't come."

Behind Miao Yu smiled proudly: "He has a grudge against Lady Fu Shuanghui, not against the Shanhe Office. I am eager for talent, and following me offers a bright future; I will surely win him over."

Behind Miao Yu's life had been smooth sailing; everything he planned succeeded and everything he sought was obtained, fostering immense confidence within him.

"But... I have heard that Xu Yuan is Ma Tianshou's confidant and is highly valued."

Behind Miao Yu looked down on Ma Tianshou: "Ma Tianshou is merely a dried bone in a grave! At his age, he is still holed up in this wretched place of Southern Jiaozhi; how does following him compare to following me?"

Although his current position was not as high as Ma Tianshou's, he was much younger.

Wu Qingzhao said no more.

This young my lord possessed a very firm will, or rather, was extremely stubborn; once he made up his mind, no one could dissuade him.

"Take my invitation card to invite Xu Yuan; tonight, let us share a drunken meeting at Xie Liu Lane, Bai Yue Hall."

Behind Miao Yu specifically added a reminder: "Remember—treat the worthy with humility!"

"This subordinate obeys."

Wu Qingzhao immediately went to deliver the invitation card to Xu Yuan.

Because my lord had demanded "treating the worthy with humility," otherwise he would have certainly dragged it out until mid-afternoon.

That timing would have made it appear that Behind Miao Yu had merely "acted on a sudden whim," giving Xu Yuan the feeling of "not being valued," and he would likely not have accepted the invitation.

But since it was still morning, it showed Behind Miao Yu's sincerity.

Wu Qingzhao, accompanied by two subordinates, arrived at the entrance of the Nancheng Patrol Station and was surrounded by Qin Ze and his men.

"Yo! Your Shanhe Office has truly grown powerful; not only do you block the main gate of our office, but you also dare to strut your power at our Nancheng Patrol Station?"

Qin Ze had indeed overestimated Wu Qingzhao.

Those dogs from the Shanhe Office rushed to the Zhan Cheng Office, but they generally dared not come to the Nancheng Patrol Station.

This Wu Qingzhao has courage!

Wu Qingzhao did not originally possess such high spirits, but since he was not here to cause trouble, and because Behind Miao Yu valued Xu Yuan highly, thereby disparaging everyone in the Shanhe Office, Wu Qingzhao was holding back a surge of energy.

"Please inform Lord Xu that Wu Qingzhao of the Shanhe Office, by order of the Master of Laws, has come to pay a visit."

"Very well, wait here."

Qin Ze dawdled, deliberately delaying for nearly a cup of tea's time before reporting to Lord Xu.

Xu Yuan was also surprised; what did Behind Miao Yu want by sending someone?

"Let him in."

Having been left hanging for a while, Wu Qingzhao felt even more resentment.

After entering, he bowed slightly: "My lord, the Head of Discipline, requests that Lord Xu attend the banquet tonight."

The invitation was delivered, a formal one.

It clearly stated the location and time of the banquet, with exceedingly polite wording.

Xu Yuan thought for a moment: "Very well. Please inform Lord Miao that I shall arrive punctually."

Wu Qingzhao left.

Qin Ze and the others surged forward: "My lord, don't go! That Miao family weasel is paying New Year's calls to the chicken—he has no good intentions!"

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "All of you, withdraw. I have my own judgment."

Of course he must go and see what kind of medicine Behind Miao Yu was selling.

On this side, Wu Qingzhao emerged from the Nancheng patrol office and secretly assembled the Shanhe Bureau's forces, gritting his teeth: "No more dragging your feet! If you don't show the Head of Discipline your true abilities this time, there won't be any room left for us old brothers in this bureau!"

The others were puzzled: "What's happened?"

Wu Qingzhao quickly explained, and the group erupted: "What is Xu Yuan, anyway? Does he think he can come to our Shanhe Bureau and steal our food?"

Wu Qingzhao's face darkened; he slammed the table and roared: "Shout all you want! You all look down your noses at everyone else, think nothing of this or that—but when it's time to prove yourselves, not one of you can produce anything real!"

One inspector objected: "Inspector Wu, why are you boosting the enemy's morale and crushing your own?"

Wu Qingzhao fixed him with a stare: "We've all seen what Xu Yuan can do. It's not enough to shout he's nothing—that won't make the Head of Discipline change his mind."

No one dared speak again.

Another inspector stood up: "We must solve this case quickly. Mobilize all our men—pressure the Canal Guild, the Fishing Guild, and all the criminal societies in the city."

"Before the Head of Discipline and Xu Yuan reach an agreement, we'll recover the stolen items—let the Head of Discipline see that we're just as capable, not inferior to Xu Yuan, even superior!"

(End of Chapter)