TYMIMA Chapter 70

That day, Ghost Eye Guild and High Tower Guild coincidentally held internal classified meetings.

 

Evening winds were fierce, carrying cold air as they scraped harshly past the jagged wind-eroded ridges, sweeping away dried grass roots and yellowed gravel from the rocks, leaving ethereal, eerie low sobs in the vast landscape.

 

Even adventurers wouldn’t easily enter this place at night.

 

Yet in the center of this massive devil city stood a concealed steel door with facial recognition and dynamic password access systems—extremely secure.

 

At this moment, the LED lights on the door glowed red, indicating no one was permitted entry.

 

Outside the reinforced glass windows lay the magnificent Yardang landforms, while inside, warm air circulated and lights blazed brightly.

 

Zhan Qinghe leaned back in the sofa, brow deeply furrowed, raising his hand to rest a cigar beside the ashtray: “Share your thoughts.”

 

Ghost Eye Guild’s personnel director Adrian gazed deeply at one point, motionless for a long time.

 

His posture was extremely upright and straight, hands neatly placed above his knees. A black suit, ironed to crisp perfection, wrapped around him. Every muscle in his body served its proper function, maintaining his body’s consistent restraint and propriety.

 

He seemed carved according to an elite image from books, every movement displaying the bearing of noble birth.

 

Adrian said gravely: “The Black Lantern Society appeared out of nowhere eight years ago. To this day, no one knows where its headquarters is or what its members look like. We all understand that maintaining an organization’s normal operations requires massive financial support.”

 

Vice President Han Deli raised his glass and downed a large gulp of vodka, wiping his beard with his sleeve, his voice rough: “I know, like Chu’s hospital and Chuan.”

 

Chu Fu had opened hospitals throughout the Federation, providing Ghost Eye Guild with bases for talent recruitment and information gathering in various cities.

 

On the surface, she was devoted to medicine, but privately, she used Hechuan Hospital as cover, investing funds in cutting-edge equipment research.

 

When Hong Suo Research Institute recently developed equipment that could extract and identify pheromones within an hour, Hechuan Hospital soon mastered this technology as well.

 

Chu Fu glanced at the gradually extinguishing cigar beside the ashtray, calmly looking away: “Adrian means the Black Lantern Society didn’t appear from nothing but hides behind another organization. Current profitable projects in the Federation are almost all related to underground cities. To support such a non-profit organization requires controlling at least ten top-tier underground cities.”

 

Zhan Qinghe stole a glance at Chu Fu, then guiltily picked up his water glass to rinse his mouth.

 

Adrian: “The Black Lantern Society is just a front, convenient for their covert operations.”

 

Han Deli breathed out alcohol fumes, rubbing his forehead: “Wait, we haven’t confirmed it was the Black Lantern Society who took Oliver. Didn’t Pingchuan say he suspected it?”

 

Chu Fu slowly shook her head: “The Black Lantern Society killed Erdiff, shot Kluova, and isn’t afraid to openly challenge the Federation government. If I were He Jing’en wanting to rescue Oliver, I’d definitely choose them.”

 

Adrian: “Pingchuan has always suspected Black Lantern Society members are hiding among Star University freshmen. It would indeed be convenient for He Jing’en to contact the Black Lantern Society.”

 

Han Deli was simple-minded and impatient, asking urgently: “So even if the Black Lantern Society did it, then what? Not to mention the whole world—there are more than ten organizations within the Federation government alone that own ten top-tier underground cities.”

 

Adrian: “Indeed, besides the Federation government, there’s also Tasman Pirate Nation, Caribbean Chieftain State, Polar Glacier Organization, and Pacific Island Nation.”

 

Zhan Qinghe diluted the smoke taste in his mouth, playing with the water glass in his hands: “Most of these organizations have done business with Ghost Eye. Cargo trades all require sea transport—can’t be completed without ten days to half a month. Haven’t noticed anyone capable of long-distance transfer, but…”

 

Zhan Qinghe left the rest unsaid, passing it to Adrian.

 

Adrian sighed deeply, his brow furrowing tighter. His thin lips moved slightly as he spoke: “My younger brother Lucas—he can do it. Since he severed ties with father and ran away from home, he hasn’t used his ability even once. So besides me, no one knows his second-tier ability is [Shadow Anchoring].”

 

Chu Fu said meaningfully: “Lucas joined High Tower Guild eight years ago too, didn’t he?”

 

Adrian lowered his eyes, his fingers pressed against his knees with more force: “When we were children, every time Lucas was abused by father, he would cover his face with a clown mask, pretending to be smug and arrogant, pretending he hadn’t given up. But I saw him crying.”

 

Black Lantern Society executive number two: Mad Clown.

 

Han Deli was stunned: “You suspect High Tower Guild is the Black Lantern Society? What exactly do they want to do?”

 

Zhan Qinghe stopped playing with the water glass, his fingers easily cracking the glass cup. He snorted: “Who knows what that old bastard Lan Wendao wants to do.”

 

Chu Fu reached out, pulling the nearly shattered glass from Zhan Qinghe’s hand and tossing it into the nearby trash bin. Light mint pheromones drifted by, quietly healing Zhan Qinghe’s small cuts.

 

He said calmly: “Perhaps you’re not the only one who remembers the original promise and founding purpose of Ghost Eye and High Tower.”

 

Zhan Qinghe suddenly looked up to meet Chu Fu’s gaze.

 

Han Deli sighed: “Damn, I thought that old guy only knew how to steal people’s toilet paper and remove car wheels.”

 

Achoo!

 

In High Tower Guild’s bright, clean fireplace room, Lan Wendao sneezed heavily.

 

Dream Witch quickly pulled out a tissue and handed it over.

 

Lan Wendao took the tissue, pinched his nose hard, muttering: “Is someone cursing me?”

 

“Who would curse you late at night? It’s not like you do guilty things every day.” Dream Witch was speechless.

 

“What are you saying?” Lan Wendao said righteously. “Dad has lived uprightly and done right his whole life—never done anything guilty.”

 

Abaddon hung his big head, secretly looking up, saying in a muffled voice: “Boss, saying this in front of the children isn’t good.”

 

Mad Clown hung carelessly on the elliptical machine, couldn’t help interjecting: “What’s to fear? I hate you paranoid parents most. We have excellent children here—could one sentence ruin them?”

 

Saying this, Mad Clown cupped Lily’s tender little face: “Lily, children should be united and friendly, help classmates, lay down weapons, cherish life. Do you agree?”

 

Lily swished her blue braids, proudly shaking her head: “No way, I’ll take down little bastards one by one.”

 

Mad Clown raised his head and spread his hands, showing everyone: “See? Children aren’t that easily corrupted.”

 

Abaddon: “…”

 

Oliver shamefully lowered his head, the little bear ear hood of his onesie pajamas covering his head: “I thought it meant… you can’t lie in front of children. I misunderstood.”

 

But if it was like Mad Clown said, he seemed to be getting quite ‘corrupted.’

 

Dream Witch, Fata, and Lan Wendao all looked speechless, saying in unison: “Don’t doubt it, that’s exactly what he meant.”

 

Abaddon said in a muffled voice: “That’s what I meant.”

 

Oliver: “…”

 

Mad Clown immediately bristled: “You’re isolating me! I’m running away from home!”

 

Though Duma didn’t understand what all the meaning back and forth meant, he timely reached out his finger to hook Mad Clown’s shirt, seriously maintaining his stern little face: “Lucas, don’t go.”

 

Lan Wendao called a timely stop, saying seriously: “Stop fooling around, everyone look at the map.”

 

On the map, all places with one to three hour time differences from the capital city were circled with ink pen.

 

This area involved three guilds total: Desert City’s Ghost Eye Guild, Yata City’s United Guild, and Frankie Grassland Guild.

 

Among them, Yata City’s former hegemon Chu Guild had already fallen. Now that place was divided among several small guilds who constrained each other yet had to cooperate for mutual benefit, thus forming the current United Guild.

 

Expecting these small guilds with their own agendas to oppose the Federation government wasn’t realistic, leaving only Desert City’s Ghost Eye Guild and Frankie Grassland Guild.

 

Frankie Grassland did have fierce folk customs—they could fight and struggle—but they’d never been seen having any connection with Star University, making the possibility of them taking Yan Qili unlikely.

 

Lan Wendao took a deep breath: “Perhaps I’m biased, but I only suspect one target.”

 

Dream Witch propped her chin: “We did receive little golden retriever’s application, but why would Ghost Eye Guild get involved in this matter?”

 

Lan Wendao’s expression grew increasingly ugly: “Though Zhan Qinghe isn’t anything good, his luck isn’t bad. Instead of properly staying home with his wife and child, what’s he messing around with?”

 

“Perhaps like you, wanting to play at being a rebel army?” Dream Witch joked.

 

Flames leaped in the fireplace, burning the dry wood with crackling sounds.

 

In Star University’s student dormitory, Zhan Pingchuan took off his clothes and slipped into bed, getting goosebumps from the cold.

 

Melting snow was particularly cold, and the thin window couldn’t block the cold wind. Due to the school’s energy conservation advocacy, air conditioning was also prohibited.

 

Zhan Pingchuan had to use his body heat to warm the bedding.

 

He patted the bed, shouting toward the bathroom: “Baby, it’s not cold anymore, come get hugged.”

 

“Mm!” Lance shook off his hair-drying cap, damp reddish-brown long hair falling down over his just-dried back.

 

As someone from Harbor Tan, he really disliked the capital city’s dryness and cold, so he had to take a hot shower every day and slip into the not-actually-cold bedding to sleep peacefully.

 

Just as he was about to leave the bathroom, he noticed his phone on the sink counter lighting up.

 

Caller ID: Lan Wendao.

 

Lance’s gaze sharpened as he quickly locked the bathroom door behind him.

 

“Dad.” He answered the call.

 

“What’s sweetheart doing?” Lan Wendao asked good-naturedly.

 

Lance listened to the sounds outside the bathroom before answering: “Taking a shower.”

 

“Oh… your dormitory bathroom isn’t glass, is it?” Having an Omega child, Lan Wendao was especially worried.

 

Lance answered honestly: “No, there are walls.” But I’ll sleep hugging him and have my clothes taken off.

 

“That’s good then.” Lan Wendao was relieved.

 

Lance looked at his face covered in water droplets in the mirror—it hadn’t reddened from his inner thoughts just now.

 

He discovered that as long as he wasn’t around Zhan Pingchuan, he wouldn’t feel shy about intimate contact.

 

Lance quickly refocused: “What is it, have a target?”

 

Otherwise Lan Wendao wouldn’t call him at this time.

 

Lan Wendao became serious: “Sweetheart, there’s something I need you to handle.”

 

Lance sensed the change in Lan Wendao’s tone: “What?”

 

“This holiday, you’ll go undercover at Ghost Eye Guild as an intern to investigate Yan Qili’s whereabouts.”

 

“You suspect Yan Qili was taken by Zhan Qinghe.” Lance realized.

 

 

“Not certain, but we still have to compete with Ghost Eye for the big Tasman Pirate Nation contract anyway. As they say, know yourself and know your enemy to win every battle. Let’s try to give that guy another mouthful of canker sores.” Lan Wendao snorted.

 

Lance ignored Lan Wendao’s latter joke, already analyzing possibilities.

 

“Last time Chu Fu visited Star University, she deliberately invited me to work at Ghost Eye Guild. Going there for a holiday internship would be quite reasonable.”

 

After assigning the mission, Lan Wendao began caring for his son: “Is the capital city cold? Should Dad send you an electric heater? Or just buy you a house near the school? If Chu Fu can visit Star University, so can I.”

 

Lance firmly refused: “Don’t come.” You broke both legs falling off the tractor and haven’t recovered yet.

 

Lan Wendao felt dejected: “Sigh, children grow up.”

 

Lance hung up, deleted the call record, felt the phone’s temperature with his finger, then opened the bathroom door.

 

Hearing the sound, Zhan Pingchuan immediately cut off his call with Ghost Eye Guild.

 

Just now, his parents suspected the Black Lantern Society was connected to High Tower Guild.

 

Zhan Pingchuan was incredulous: “You’re saying that High Tower Guild—which steals our toilet paper, removes our clients’ car wheels, has no bottom line and knows no shame—is connected to the Black Lantern Society?”

 

“Not certain, we might be wrong.” Chu Fu said calmly.

 

Being wrong was normal. The Black Lantern Society hid too deeply with too little exposed information. Their only certainty was the eight-year coincidence and Lucas’s ability.

 

For someone to join a top guild, become the guild master’s personal assistant, clearly have very convenient abilities, yet never use them in High Tower Guild’s cargo trades—this itself was abnormal.

 

Unless he used his abilities elsewhere and didn’t want people to know.

 

Zhan Qinghe said: “Don’t bring your wife home yet. You need to keep studying.”

 

“But—”

 

“Hide your identity and intern at the opposition during the holiday. Keep a close eye on Lucas and figure out their background.”

 

“You want me to intern at the rival company!”

 

“I’ll approve your hundred-square-meter bathroom.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan’s tone changed: “Dad, if you’re going to chat like this… alright then.”

 

He was someone without bottom lines when it came to pleasing his wife.

 

Zhan Pingchuan wanted to learn more about Lucas from the supervisor, but Lance came out of the bathroom.

 

He quickly adjusted his posture and expression, pretending he’d been waiting long, boredly tapping the bedside with his finger: “Why so slow, baby?”

 

“I was drying my hair.” Lance didn’t even blink when lying.

 

He placed his slightly warm phone where Zhan Pingchuan absolutely couldn’t reach it, then grabbed a strand of red hair to show him.

 

Zhan Pingchuan pinched the hair tip and kissed it. The red hair carried shampoo fragrance, but not as pleasant as little fox’s star magnolia pheromones.

 

Zhan Pingchuan lifted the blanket: “Come up.”

 

Lance immediately crawled onto the bed, then tilted sideways and rolled into Zhan Pingchuan’s arms. Instantly, he was wrapped in Alpha’s burning body temperature, and the slight chill from evaporating moisture vanished completely.

 

Lance poked his head out from under the blanket, blinking at Zhan Pingchuan: “I have good news to tell you.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan raised an eyebrow slightly, hugging the little fox ball in his arms tighter: “What a coincidence, I also have good news to tell you.”

 

Lance was thoughtful, his eyes rolling: “You go first.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan snapped his fingers, extremely fine silver threads extending from his fingertips straight to the door switch, clicking the lights off with a snap.

 

The dormitory instantly plunged into darkness, perfect for sweet talk.

 

“Isn’t your hometown in Harbor Tan?” Zhan Pingchuan retracted his hand under the blanket, stroking Lance’s thin spine. “I’ve decided—this holiday I’ll intern at High Tower Guild. Since your dad broke his leg and has no one to care for him, you can look after him, and I can help him drive the tractor after work.”

 

“…”

 

In the darkness, Zhan Pingchuan couldn’t see Lance’s expression, only feeling the little fox freeze motionless, adorably stunned.

 

“How about it, baby? Surprised? Happy?”

 

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)