Chapter 194: Verification

The Boss? Lu Mian was shocked in his heart.

He had completely not expected that this matter would be connected to the Boss, Gardner Martin, but this seemed to explain some problems:

Why would that smuggling caravan "evaporate" out of thin air on a hidden route that had been used many times?

Why was "Rat" Christo so anxious to seek help from them? If it were just a simple loss of a batch of goods, he would definitely confirm it repeatedly and wait for a period of time before being willing to expose his weakness and the mistakes he made to "colleagues" who might be eyeing his position.

In an instant, Lu Mian thought of more:

"The Boss, Gardner Martin, is suspected to be a Sequence 6 or Sequence 5 of the 'Hunter' pathway...

"Franca and I, who also entered that special mirror world, one is a 'Hunter' and one is a 'Witch', in the same and adjacent pathways...

"Mr. K asked me to approach Gardner Martin and gain his trust...

"Franca, as a member of the secret organization 'Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society', has a not-low sequence herself, yet she is willing to be the mistress of a gang leader like Gardner Martin...

"That Sawa Party Boss really has quite a secret, or is involved in some major event..."

Was the thing the Boss asked Christo to bring into Trier related to the "Hunter" or "Witch" pathway? Why risk going underground and being discovered by tax officials? Why didn't the Boss go outside the city to get it himself, and just let Christo send a smuggler to lead the way? That would be safer and more hidden... Did he know that thing could bring accidents and didn't want to risk it? Lu Mian's gaze moved from "Rat" Christo to Franca's face.

This "Witch" also seemed not to have expected to get such an answer, also somewhat stunned and surprised, and then a little excitement and joy appeared.

She stared at "Rat" Christo and sneered:

"Are you trying to lie to me? How come I don't know Gardner asked you to get something into Trier?

"Where is that thing?"

Excitement... joy... Lu Mian was increasingly certain that Franca's purpose in joining the Sawa Party and approaching Gardner Martin was not simple.

Christo forced a smile:

"It was packed in an iron box. I have already sent it to Spring Street.

"The Boss probably hasn't had time to tell you yet."

As a senior member of the Sawa Party, he knew that "Red Boots" Franca was powerful and that killing him, who was unprepared and didn't bring helpers, would be an easy task. Moreover, she was also proficient in divination and could distinguish lies.

"You better not be lying to me!" Franca retracted her body, took out her makeup mirror, and began to perform divination in front of "Rat" Christo.

Lu Mian cooperated very well, stood up, walked to Christo's side, and reached out to press his shoulder.

After Franca confirmed that everything Christo said was true, Lu Mian smiled and patted this "Rat":

"Next time there is a similar matter, remember to remind me that the goods have problems and that we need to guard against possible accidents.

"Otherwise, I will cut you into pieces of meat and feed them to your dear little guys."

He had heard Louis mention that "Rat" Christo raised many animals, and his favorite was dogs.

Christo, being threatened, felt a burst of anger in his heart:

Franca is the Boss's mistress, and her strength is stronger than mine, so I can accept her treating me like this, but why should you, a newcomer, do it?

Thinking of "Evil Wolf" Margot and "Hammer" Aite, who were not weaker than him, Christo wilted again, piled up a smile and said:

"This time, the Boss asked me to keep it secret."

"You son of a bitch, you should have at least hinted to us!" Franca put away her makeup kit and cursed viciously.

Christo smiled sheepishly:

"Okay, okay."

He was not angry at all because of being insulted. In his view, dogs were family, were close relatives, so how could that be considered cursing?

He often warned the lecherous guys among his subordinates: whoever touches my wife is equivalent to touching my dog!

Seeing that Franca and Xia Er had both softened their attitudes, Christo asked curiously:

"Is that weird world really the same as Elken described?"

Before Franca could answer, Lu Mian smiled and patted Christo's shoulder again:

"Haven't you figured it out yet? Was your brain eaten by a dog? We were just bluffing you!

"We didn't enter any weird world at all. We just felt that it was impossible for all the previous smuggling trips to be fine, and this time suddenly get involved in a supernatural event. Your batch of goods must have had a problem, so we decided to bluff you!"

"..." "Rat" Christo could not restrain the expression of annoyance.

That's right, if Franca and Xia Er had really entered that weird world, it would be impossible for them to come out so quickly!

Elken and the others had been missing for several hours!

Why was I so stupid?

Why was I so easily fooled?

Christo restrained his emotions, looked at Franca, and smiled flatteringly:

"Don't tell the Boss that I told you about the existence of that thing. He will be very dissatisfied with me."

Franca looked at Lu Mian with a slightly strange expression and said to "Rat" Christo:

"Okay, from now on, you owe me a favor."

"Okay!" Christo agreed hurriedly.

Bidding farewell to this smuggling boss, Lu Mian and Franca left the warehouse area all the way and turned into a narrow street leading to Market Avenue.

"I only discovered today that Christo guy is stupid; he was so easy to fool." After a long silence, Franca looked at Lu Mian beside her and sighed as if she were laughing and as if she were not. "You are very good at deceiving others."

Lu Mian put on a frank posture:

"In Cordu Village, you should know Cordu Village, right? I have a nickname called 'King of Pranks'."

Franca, who had seen the wanted poster, was naturally no stranger to Cordu Village. She looked at Lu Mian with a smile:

"Was there any part of what you said before that was deceiving me?

"Hehe, Jenna's evaluation of you is not entirely wrong either: cunning, treacherous."

"You are my sister's companion; everything I say to you is the truth." Lu Mian looked frank.

He just didn't tell the whole truth; even if Franca used divination to confirm it, she wouldn't find any signs of him lying.

Franca observed his expression and nodded with satisfaction:

"I am also willing to believe 'Muggle's' brother.

"Hmm... regarding the existence of Gardner's thing, just pretend you don't know. For some things, clarifying the truth will instead bring harm. I won't ask him either."

"Okay." Lu Mian behaved just as obediently as he did in front of Aurora.

The two separated in the middle of Market Avenue, one went to the Breeze Dance Hall, and one turned into White Coat Street.

It was already past eight o'clock in the evening, and it had long been dark. The dance hall had lit the gas wall lamps embedded in the edge walls, making the entire first floor fall into a yellowish light, and the closer to the dance floor, the dimmer the environment.

Amidst the greetings of "Boss," Lu Mian sat at the bar and ordered a glass of "Parrot," an absinthe with mint.

This thing was quite stimulating; just taking a sip made him feel his mind clear, as if he had been slapped by someone.

Lu Mian sat for a while, enjoyed Jenna's lewd songs for a while, and then saw Charlie walking toward the bar with a tray.

"Xia Er, Boss!" Charlie found the bartender looking at him and decisively changed his form of address.

Lu Mian sipped the psychedelic green liquid and asked with a smile:

"Do you prefer the dance hall, or the underground bar of the hotel?"

Charlie glanced at the bartender and other waiters and suppressed his voice:

"I still prefer the hotel bar.

"There, I am the focus of everyone!"

I can feel it... Lu Mian laughed and pointed with his chin at the young female singer who was rotating with Jenna:

"Is she the daughter of that friend of yours?"

Charlie had once mentioned that he had a friend who owed usury and committed suicide by jumping off a building because of Baron Brignier's pressure, and his daughter was brought to the Breeze Dance Hall to sing.

"Yes." Charlie replied with a somewhat despondent expression.

That female singer was also dressed very gorgeously, wearing a rather revealing short jacket and skirt. Her age should be about the same as Jenna's, but her appearance was not as good.

And according to Lu Mian's observation, the biggest difference between the two was:

Jenna's eyes always had brilliance, while this one, although she was fake-smiling, had no brightness in her eyes.

Charlie opened his mouth, hesitating to ask for something, but finally closed it again.

Lu Mian drank the "Parrot," listened to the singing, and didn't know what he was thinking.

When it was almost 10:30, he stood up, returned upstairs, changed into a linen shirt, an old jacket, and brown trousers, and put on a dark blue flat cap.

This made him look like a homeless person.

Immediately after, Lu Mian pushed open the window and jumped into the alley behind the dance hall.

He was preparing to go to the Old Pigeon Cage Theater for a round.

His "Prophecy Art" told him that the landlord of the Golden Chicken Hotel, Mr. Eve, would be at the Old Pigeon Cage Theater this Friday, which was tonight from 11:00 to 12:00.

Lu Mian didn't think he could solve the matter involving the evil god "Mother Tree of Desire" by himself, nor did he intend to go head-to-head with that group of people. He hoped to discover more problems through observation and collect useful intelligence.

For him, the most important thing was to use Mr. Eve and the others to find the place where Susanna Mattis lived before she died, get an item she had carried for a long time, and lay a foundation for "Ghost-Driving Art" when encountering the evil spirit's attack later.

Although he might not be able to complete that ritual magic in time, having preparation was better than not having it.

Circling half a circle, Lu Mian arrived outside the Old Pigeon Cage Theater.

Because it was not yet 11:00, he didn't rush in, but huddled in a corner outside, looking at the beige six-story apartment where Mr. Eve lived like a real homeless person.

Not long after, Lu Mian saw that landlord.

Mr. Eve was wearing a dark formal suit washed to white and chestnut trousers, wearing an old-fashioned top hat, holding a black cane, returning from the direction of the Honest Market, and entered the apartment.

A few minutes later, the window corresponding to the room he lived in lit up, quite dimly.

Lu Mian began to wait patiently.

Waiting and waiting, he gradually frowned.

It was past 11:00, why hadn't Mr. Eve arrived at the Old Pigeon Cage yet?

That window still emitted a yellowish light, and figures passed by from time to time.

Another quarter of an hour passed, and Mr. Eve still hadn't left the apartment, crossed Market Avenue, and entered the Old Pigeon Cage Theater.

Lu Mian couldn't help but mutter silently:

"Could it be that my 'Prophecy Art' went wrong?"

PS: Sweat, because I remembered the time of Mr. K's gathering as Monday, so the arrangements from the gathering to Saturday were relatively full, leading to more days passing, but in fact, only a week has passed, which means the psychological treatment is on Sunday of this week.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 195 =====