Chapter 140: My Research on Numerical Values

“Xu Chuyao, you’re safely back. I wanted to come find you in the Guest Inquiry Room at noon, but neither of you were there.”

Mi Xiaolu saw that her roommate was unharmed and safe, and her mood finally relaxed.

Before, Shen Biao always occupied the Guest Inquiry Room; no matter how fierce the fights—earth-shattering and sky-burning—the end result was always that Lang Qiong could wake up safely.

When Tiān Lǐ went to Shen Biao’s Guest Inquiry Room, it was because something happened during the incident, which seemed to be related to the site itself.

As the person who benefited the most from changes at the location, Xiaolu would naturally be cautious.

Xu Chuyao casually responded and continued researching her own matters.

Mi Xiaolu noticed that her roommate’s behavior was a bit odd and quietly watched from the side. Xu Chuyao picked up a not-so-thick rectangular book, flipped it open to calligraphy in the style of Guo Liu, then held it up comparing it with a map of the White Du Nation River’s vast expanse.

“What are you doing?”

Xiao Ba couldn’t hold back; the scene was too strange and dealt a huge blow to her worldview.

“Don’t disturb me. I’m researching numerical value changes.”

Xu Chuyao spoke clearly and decisively. Since she had found a good method for increasing Friend Acquisition Feedback Value, naturally she wanted to study it carefully.

Yesterday, while using the Self-Service Martial Devourer, because it was already in use, Shen Ning’s exploded Counter Villain Value suddenly soared to 2000, which was terrifying.

Xu Chuyao felt that while using the Self-Service Martial Devourer, the Friend Acquisition Feedback Value given by a girlfriend would fluctuate along with the increasing or decreasing Counter Villain Value.

Yesterday, the value peaked when the Counter Villain Value was negative, but the exact cutoff point needed real experiments to figure out.

In any case, it was a good method. She would try again next time.

“Finished researching. Let’s sleep now—”

Tomorrow morning, we’ll head to Skill Dragon Peak to get the approval, then go on an official trip to search and, if possible, capture an Internal Affairs Inspector.

Xu Chuyao patted the pillow, covered herself with the little quilt, and laid down, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Her mood was much better than during the previous period, because since the Parking Lot Incident, she finally found a stable way to increase Friend Acquisition Feedback Value.

No need to worry about triggering the Thunder Zone’s massive explosions and being blown half to death. Nor did she have to worry about Shen Ning’s powerless words having no effect.

She closed her eyes, and the scene from before floated up in her mind. In a few words, her little girlfriend’s neck was tangled, her ears slightly red, and she stammered, unable to speak.

Pfft. What heroine? What’s the use of having cheat-like power? It’s still under the control of the protagonist’s grasp.

After being questioned repeatedly and thrown off balance, speechless and incoherent, she finally had to say she wouldn’t do it again… wait, what?

Suddenly, Xu Chuyao realized a problem.

“Xiao Ba, let me ask you something. What does ‘won’t stop’ mean?”

“It just means won’t stop.”

“I mean, if someone says they won’t stop doing something, does that mean they will really keep doing it?”

“Exactly, otherwise why say that?”

Xiao Ba clearly explained.

Hearing this, besides feeling reassured about her older friend, the young girl also felt happy for her girlfriend.

Such a dream—she said her friend was about to come into contact with Yingshi, and then said the girlfriend’s plan was very effective.

But the next sentence instantly wiped the smile off her face.

“Xiao Ba, you absolutely, absolutely, absolutely have to help.”

“What happened, Liu?”

Liu turned around anxiously, her mechanical body making clacking sounds.

“They’re… very afraid… because you again…”

“Me again?”

“What did I do?”

Shen Biao didn’t get an answer because this time the interaction was very brief. Liu didn’t finish speaking before this small world suddenly collapsed.

Ding ding ding—ding ding ding~ The academy’s clock tower started ringing the wake-up bell.

The young girl opened her eyes and watched the sunlight streaming through the window curtains, instantly dispelling the illusions of the dream.

“Slept well.” The shadow sitting at the head of the bed greeted her, “Another new day.”

Every day was the same early rising girl who loved exercise, full of vitality.

How could she be depressed?

Shen Ning leaned against the bedpost, sorting out the short dream from yesterday.

At the good moment, three silhouettes hung back doing their own things, silently observing, but no one spoke.

Couldn’t say it. Even top bug hunters wouldn’t dare.

“There’s always a way before the mountain,” the broken silhouette comforted, “Now you have so much ability, there’s no need to face things unprepared.”

At the academy’s office building, in the meeting room, Xu Chuyao successfully connected to Long Qi’s video feed.

“Twin Star Town is the first small town we traced the local gang’s origins to. I thought since this place has both gangs and terror organizations, maybe there’s a problem among the local high-ups.

“So, I checked on Wen Fang and found she’s suspicious.”

As before, she started by explaining her motivation and why, out of the countless people, she picked this person.

Then she presented the background map and the investigation process.

Long Feng puffed on Snow Grass during the entire presentation.

Just like last time with Professor Swina, it wasn’t exactly concrete evidence, but it wasn’t without clues either.

However, unlike Swina, this person didn’t have anything that could explode in the short term.

For now, it wasn’t dangerous to leave them be. Theoretically, no need to take risks, but… the last time with Swina was really a problem.

What if this big reveal woman in front of them made a wrong move again?

After some consideration, Long Feng made a decision: “You can go, but only with evidence to formally expose her.”

“No problem,” Xu Chuyao answered confidently.

As long as she got there, stood in front of the woman, and exposed her identity with absolute certainty, the other party would naturally be unsettled.

Long Feng was efficient; Xu Chuyao went in the morning and received what she needed in the afternoon.

A letter granting her authority as an Internal Affairs Inspector.

Because Twin Star Town belongs to the Center City jurisdiction, Shen Biao didn’t need permission and could go directly.

[ Xu Chuyao: Got the stuff, preparing to depart. ]

This message was sent in the Special Intelligence Team’s QQ group, but only Xiao Si Nuo, Flower, Shen Ning, and Xu Chuyao herself were online.

Even several members of the Crisis Response Team weren’t there.

Xu Chuyao didn’t plan to bring them.

On one hand, their strength wouldn’t be much help; on the other, she wanted to avoid dragging them into dangerous affairs.

[ Xu Chuyao (to Shen Ning, private): You come down first. We’ll meet in the cafeteria. ]

This was a private message to her girlfriend.

When Xu Chuyao met Shen Ning in the cafeteria, it wasn’t to treat her to a meal but because they had two important matters to discuss.

“I put it all on the map.”

It was still early; only two girls sat quietly in a corner of the cafeteria.

Shen Ning handed her phone to Xu Chuyao, displaying a map with nine marked red dots.

That night, using the nine big iron pieces from the gang’s bill, they were placed at nine different locations.

Abandoned, uninhabited small buildings; ruined miscellaneous shops; mountain paths; new graves on barren land…

Not particularly professional, but given their actual situation, these hiding spots were already quite good.

“Let’s go to the first place.” Xu Chuyao pointed at the phone screen.

The abandoned, uninhabited small building was located in a half-completed housing development area near Chen Jiaguan.

Construction had been halted for many years, and almost no one went there anymore.

The reason they chose this place was because around the country, there were many half-finished buildings.

The weak walls and structures could effectively block the light of Yingshi.

This time, Xu Chuyao brought Flower along.

If they caught the next few locations in the wild open spaces, and Flower’s father didn’t come out in time, Flower herself might get into trouble.

Alright, the first matter to investigate was set.

The second matter was…

“Shen Ning, after I return, I want to take good care of you,” Xu Chuyao said softly. “You can still rest a bit.”

Shen Ning was slightly stunned.

“I’m not used to it.”

“I know, but you can rest. Just a little.”

“No, it’s…”

“Because… sometimes a short rest is necessary to make a better comeback.”

Xu Chuyao’s cute smile remained gentle.

“But I really don’t want to.”

“You really can rest…”

Before she finished, Xiao Si Nuo and Flower both interrupted, their expressions excited.

“Yao, Commander Yao.” Flower’s delicate body trembled slightly. “I’m ready to go anytime.”

After being separated from her parents for three years, with life and death uncertain, now that there was finally hope to reunite, the excitement was beyond words.

Meanwhile, Xiao Si Nuo was trembling nervously.

The anxiety was due to Xiao Si Nuo’s leadership. Having done document work for so long, today was the first time going out on a mission.

“What level are you?”

Xu Chuyao asked.

“Ah, late First Rank.”

“That’s good.” Xu Chuyao patted the curly-haired girl’s shoulder, “Monsters like that are only strong around mid-First Rank; they’re not your real opponents.”

As for what happened afterward, that was none of your concern.

After hearing Xu Chuyao’s words, Xiao Si Nuo felt much better. Her hands were steady, her heart no longer panicked.

Taking a deep breath, she stood more firmly.

“Let’s go!”

Because this was a group official mission, the academy specially provided a support vehicle.

But at Xu Chuyao’s strong insistence, the driver was told to leave the car behind.

The reason given was that she preferred to drive herself.

Two long, fair hands lightly pressed the gas pedal, while two steady big white rabbits held the steering wheel.

With the girl’s singing accompanying, the van headed forward smoothly.

“This is a song by ‘Character 0’. Yao Yao, I’ve sung it on the road before, also while driving,” the shadow said with a suppressed voice.

Twin Star Town was a bit distant, but the half-finished building district where Shen Biao had hidden things wasn’t far, about seven or eight kilometers.

From the car, the four people saw those small, decayed buildings standing amidst the weeds.

Xu Chuyao stopped the car a hundred meters away from the outermost abandoned building.

“You stay outside, stand a bit farther. Xiao Si Nuo, you stick by her side and keep watch. Shen Ning and I will go in.”

Because the door wasn’t opened, Xu Chuyao didn’t know the condition of the hidden stones inside whether they were complete, large pieces placed inside, or scattered in various sizes.

If it was the latter, that would be easier just pick out a smaller piece to use.

If the former, she’d have to figure out a way to cut a piece without activating the base.

Following their plan, Xiao Si Nuo and Flower guarded the place near the building’s edge, while the car backed up a bit to avoid being accidentally discovered or destroyed.

Afterwards, Xu Chuyao and Shen Ning headed deep into the half-finished building.

“I put a round mark on the wall inside to show where the stones are.”

“That’s that building?”

They had already seen the mark on the map.

Shen Ning nodded and stepped forward, but at that moment, some chaotic and disordered voices suddenly surged into her mind—

“You came again.”

“You came so late.”

“Your surprise made us lose control ourselves.”

“Don’t come closer… don’t come closer!”

First came complaints, then a piercing, deep howl of despair.

Bang—!

A bright light burst like fireworks. Xu Chuyao saw a human figure cast on the foundation wall, opening a huge mouth made of cement and stone, shouting:

“Don’t come closer!!”