Chapter 271: Cliché Pick‑up Line

The Chen Family's residence is situated in a relatively quiet corner of Tianmian City, spanning a vast area; its architecture is simple yet imposing, and within the stone walls, various oddly shaped exotic plants silently speak of the family's heritage.

However, at this moment, the entire manor is shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere.

The main gate is tightly shut, with only a side door for passage left open; at its entrance stand several sharp‑eyed guards, clad in the Chen Family's emblematic uniform, bearing energy weapons at their waists, vigilantly scanning everything around.

Evidently, the family's recent raid last night has placed considerable pressure on these guards.

Min Tianyou, just as he approached with three people, was immediately stopped.

"Mr. Min."

The leading guard clearly recognized Min Tianyou; his tone was fairly courteous, likely because Chen Mo Zhi had given prior notice.

"Thank you for safely bringing Miss Meng back, but today the Chen Family is under martial law; the family head has ordered that no nonessential personnel may enter. The few who came back with you are.......?"

His gaze swept over Shen Zexi and Ying Duo, lingering a moment on the striking fluorescent‑green hair atop Ying Duo's head.

Min Tianyou had anticipated this.

"These two are Chen Mo Zhi's classmates at Mitra Academy and also members of his Mercenary Corps; having heard of the Chen Family's trouble, they came specifically to see if they could help, as for the paperwork......."

He cast a glance at Shen Zexi.

Shen Zexi promptly handed over several passage documents stamped with temporary seals from the Academy and the Supervision Bureau.

"The Academy has already granted leave, and the Supervision Bureau has filed a record; we won't linger long, we're just here as friends to check on classmate Chen."

The seals indeed came from the Academy and the Supervision Bureau, but those papers are really just for granting leave; the guards only verify the authenticity of the seals.

As the Supervision Bureau's captain, Min Tianyou still has some face.

Yet the guard hesitated a bit, speaking in a low voice.

"Mr. Min, it's not that we're unwilling to be flexible; the situation inside the manor is currently special, several elders and the acting family head are present......"

The guard fell silent as he spoke; they were all promoted by Miss Chen Xiaoshuang, and they know those elders are not to be trifled with, yet the young master had almost never taken part in family affairs before.

"....... Miss Meng and Mr. Min may go in first to see the acting family head; as for these two classmates......."

He looked at Shen Zexi and Ying Duo, and said, "Then you'll have to wait a moment in the side‑hall reception room; we need to consult."

This is already the utmost concession; Min Tianyou knew he could not press further and nodded.

"Very well."

He turned to Shen Zexi and Ying Duo, giving them a look, "You go to the reception room to rest first; Miss Meng and I will go in."

Shen Zexi smiled and nodded, "Much obliged."

Ying Duo gave no response, merely quietly following the guiding servant toward the side‑wing reception room of the manor.

Otherwise, how could one say it's a great family? They even have a dedicated guest reception area.

Min Tianyou and Meng Kexin headed straight toward Chen Mo Zhi's location, both appearing somewhat silent.

Min Tianyou had left this morning, and before his departure those people still called Chen Mo Zhi 'young master'; now he is referred to as the acting family head.......

It seems the Chen Family has been quite lively during his absence.

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The side‑hall reception room is arranged elegantly and comfortably, completely isolating the Chen Family's oppressive atmosphere outside the door.

The servant served tea, then bowed and stepped back, gently closing the door; only Shen Zexi and Ying Duo remained in the room.

Shen Zexi lifted his tea cup, gently rubbing the warm rim with his thumb, his gaze thoughtfully turning to the slightly bleak scenery of the courtyard outside the window.

"The Chen Family's trouble seems rather serious."

He whispered, as if to himself yet also to Ying Duo.

Ying Duo gave no reply; he wondered whether they could casually take a few items from the reception room as they left.

After all, aren't the decorations in a great family usually quite valuable? They could probably cover several of his guns, right?

Their waiting time was brief—perhaps only a few minutes—when the reception room door was pushed open again from outside.

But the one who entered was neither a Chen Family servant, nor Min Tianyou or Meng Kexin, nor Chen Mo Zhi.

A head of vivid red hair barreled straight in; his face wore a perpetually sleepy laziness, yet when his pure black eyes surveyed the reception room, they sharpened astonishingly in an instant.

Chi Jinan.

The Heresy Tribunal's notorious madman, who acts without any limits, following his whims to the extreme.

He seemed to have just returned from completing a mission, a lingering scent of blood clinging to him.

Chi Jinan stared at Ying Duo, his pupils narrowing slightly, brows furrowing; the lazy expression on his face was swiftly replaced by a rising interest.

"Have we met somewhere before?" Chi Jinan stepped closer, speaking as he looked at Ying Duo's very distinctive fluorescent‑green hair.

Ah, this familiar visual pollution.

"What a clichéd pick‑up line." Ying Duo replied calmly.

No, this really can't be retorted!

Shen Zexi moved to a half‑step in front of Ying Duo's side, his face still bearing a gentle smile, subtly shielding Ying Duo behind him.

Chi Jinan is famously indiscreet in his actions; how did the Heresy Tribunal let him out alone?

"No, consider carefully the people you deal with, okay?"

"And you, Ying Duo! This guy really can't be retorted; an ordinary person bitten by a dog won't bite back, but a madman not only bites back, he also drains the dog's blood completely."

"Lord Chi Jinan."

Shen Zexi spoke, his voice a bit tense, "Ying Duo and I are both students of Mitra Academy; we probably wouldn't have the chance to meet a busy person like you, would we?"

"Mitra?"

Chi Jinan sneered, his gaze passing over Shen Zexi's shoulder to stare fixedly at Ying Duo.

"I never said it was the Academy; I recall it being the Slum........ a particularly eye‑catching bar? Or....... even earlier, some underground lively 'Collapse' party?"

He tilted his head, the inquisitive look in his eyes growing stronger.

"Your hair color is so eye‑catching, it's hard to forget; or are you saying you've forgotten? Need me to help you recall?"

Shen Zexi immediately pulled Ying Duo to his back, but that couldn't stop Ying Duo from trying to drill outward.

The golden eyes calmly met Chi Jinan's gaze, exactly as they had that night when he kicked the door and stormed in.

Ying Duo merely tilted its head slightly, as if recalling, then nodded:

"Hmm, you hadn't paid the gate fee at that time."

He confessed it cleanly and decisively, since that mess almost had Cai Mao making him take the blame.

Do you know how huge a sum that would be for a pitiful undercover agent whose wages are being withheld by the Dome?

Shen Zexi's heart sank; had these two really met before?

The Slum's bar… Cai Mao's territory?

Ying Duo indeed got along well with those people, but how would Chi Jinan go to such a place?