Chapter 18: Information Broker Dian Zhu: You really look like…

Looking at the bullet chat before him, Liu Ming’s expression shifted instantly.

The District Chief of the Third District, Izayoi Ame… is going to die?

Wasn’t this news a bit too shocking? Even as the heir to the Liu Family, only one thought occupied his mind at this moment: Was this really something he was allowed to know?

But the bullet chat had never been wrong. It was a power superior to this world, capable of seeing the future as it followed the Plot Strings. Liu Ming furrowed his brows tightly. He had to figure out right now why Izayoi Ame was going to die.

Regardless of whether that man truly supported Council Chairman Black Swan’s Salvation plan, he was Yun Zhou’s strongest ally in the Third District.

“What’s wrong with you, Liu Ming?”

A hand waved back and forth in front of Liu Ming’s face. Deep in thought, Liu Ming tried his best to ignore it, but the hand’s owner was someone who couldn’t read the room and continued to wave.

“What exactly do you want?”

Unable to bear it any longer, Liu Ming slapped Yun Zhou’s hand away.

“Hey, hey! I’m just looking out for you, okay? Your face suddenly went pale as a ghost. Anyone would’ve thought you were a patient suffering from major blood loss!”

Yun Zhou waved his arms with exaggerated movements. He even pulled Du Shui and Ying Huo over. “You guys saw it too, right?”

Du Shui and Ying Huo looked at Liu Ming with concern, which only seemed to make him more irritable.

Completely oblivious to the atmosphere and failing to notice Liu Ming’s murderous expression, Yun Zhou leaned in and asked annoyingly, “Did you and the District Chief have some kind of secret agreement? Or is there a sound in the air that only you two can hear? Why did both of your expressions change at the same time?”

Liu Ming stared at Yun Zhou’s face, which was now inches away. He took a deep breath and pushed the other man’s head aside. “…Just behave yourself. I have some Liu Family matters to handle. You guys go ahead without me.”

He left the viewing platform and headed straight for the shrine entrance.

“…He and the District Chief are both acting so strange.”

Yun Zhou stared fixedly at Liu Ming’s back, only speaking thoughtfully once the young master’s figure disappeared beyond the Torii¹ at the shrine’s entrance.

“It’s plain to see. They likely have sources of information and data that we don’t.”

Ying Huo shrugged. The Liu Family of the First District and the Izayoi Family of the Third District were both established, prestigious noble clans. It was normal for them to share commonalities unknown to outsiders. Besides, information concerning such families was usually strictly exclusive; there was no need for them to pry.

“But it’s too strange. The District Chief’s expression only changed after he saw that Anomaly fragment. The problem must lie with that fragment-“

Du Shui paused. Out of trust for her two friends, she chose not to hide anything and spoke with a serious expression. “And did you notice? The District Chief’s first reaction after seeing that fragment and having an emotional outburst was to look at me. And when I noticed his gaze… many memory fragments flashed through my mind…”

Du Shui rubbed her temples. Those memory fragments had brought a strong sense of unreality when they surfaced. Thinking back on it now, she still felt a lingering sense of dread.

“That’s it!”

To her surprise, Yun Zhou clapped his hands excitedly as if he had discovered some great truth. “That’s it! Du Shui, when I was being coiled by that tentacle earlier, I felt a very familiar aura too!”

Yun Zhou grabbed Du Shui’s hand and said emphatically, “That Anomaly’s aura is very, very similar to yours.”

Du Shui’s face instantly turned grim, matching the pale complexions of Izayoi Ame and Liu Ming.

Ying Huo’s expression wasn’t much better. He immediately thought of the parasite in Du Shui’s eye and looked at her with concern.

“Why are you guys making those faces?”

The atmosphere had become too heavy, and even Yun Zhou noticed something was wrong. Seeing his two friends wearing the same expression as Liu Ming, he asked blankly, “Isn’t this a good thing? We finally have a lead on the memories Du Shui has been searching for for so long!”

Du Shui and Ying Huo’s serious, tense expressions instantly shattered, replaced by countless cracks of disbelief.

Yun Zhou continued his output, already getting fired up. “Don’t worry, friends! I have a feeling we’re going to gain a lot in the Third District this time! At the very least, we’ll definitely get Du Shui’s memories back!”

Du Shui and Ying Huo exchanged a glance, able only to manage bitter smiles. “Then we’ll take your word for it, Captain.”

What do you do when your captain is too optimistic? Waiting for answers online, urgent²!

On the other side of the Third District, in a yakitori shop tucked away in a city alleyway.

A jellyfish-shaped wind chime, clearly purchased from Haiyue Shrine, tinkled at the door, producing a pleasant and crisp clinking sound.

The yakitori shop was currently at peak capacity. Many nearby office workers in suits, with their briefcases and open laptops on the tables, had rushed into this small shop to grab a quick lunch.

Liu Ming pushed open the door. He lowered his head to avoid the jellyfish wind chime hanging above the entrance and walked through the crowded aisle toward a special private room at the very back of the shop – the only private room in the establishment.

Without hesitation, Liu Ming pushed open the door.

He had many covert sources in the Third District, but if he wanted to know what was happening inside the now-wary Izayoi Family, there was only one reliable option available to him.

“Oh my, Boss! Welcome! Dear customer, what kind of ‘set meal’ would you like to order today-?”

The young girl sitting in the room had her legs propped up casually on the long sofa seat, seemingly taking a midday nap. Seeing someone enter, she woke up instantly, ripped off her panda sleep mask, and approached with a fawning smile.

She wore a short qipao-style jumpsuit with a black, white, and green bamboo motif, her hair tied in a free-spirited, handsome high ponytail. Her flattering eyes were a bamboo-green. This was Liu Ming’s elementary school classmate who had dropped out halfway through Tree Tower Academy – the information broker who traveled between the seven districts, Dian Zhu.

“You money-grubbing beast, open your eyes and see who I am first.”

Liu Ming pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation. She was still in a half-awake daze, trying to make a sale before she had even recognized who had walked in.

Dian Zhu strained to open her eyes at his words. When she saw the familiar silver-blue hair and those unmistakable blood-red eyes, the fawning smile on her face vanished instantly. It was replaced by a look of pure lethargy as she let out a long yawn.

“Oh, it’s just you, Xiao Ming³. You should’ve said something sooner. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have bothered waking up.”

Liu Ming arched an eyebrow. “What? You’re not planning on making money anymore?”

Dian Zhu jolted upright, springing from her lounge chair. In a single stride, she rushed to Liu Ming’s side and threw an arm around his shoulder. “You know how it is, Young Master. We’re the best of friends in the whole wide world!”

Liu Ming was speechless. Ever since this girl had run away from the Tree Tower Academy with that information broker master of hers—the one who looked like a literal tree—what on earth had she been learning?

Liu Ming sighed. Time was of the essence, and he didn’t have the luxury of reminiscing with his old classmate. “I need information on the Izayoi Family.”

Dian Zhu’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh? So you know the winds are changing⁴ in the Third District too?”

Liu Ming gave her a peculiar look. “It seems that tree-like master of yours actually taught you some real skills.”

Dian Zhu puffed out her chest and rested her hands on her hips with pride. “Of course! I took over this information house⁵ from my master. It’s a chain spanning all seven districts. So, tell me—how much do you need?”

Liu Ming took a deep breath and paused for a moment. “Everything.”

Translator’s Notes