The company will continue to require substantial funds to maintain the plan. Although Elder Tie's task is complex, it is also lucrative. If he can secure the funds in the hundreds of millions sooner, the plan might even accelerate.
Besides this, it was thanks to Elder Tie that I was able to infiltrate the Emissary organization. Since I was summoned, I naturally have to show up.
If it were before, Li Chonglou might not have felt much. At worst, he could just quit and sever ties, returning to being his own company's boss.
But things were different now. Of the three lost lands that Wutong mentioned, two were located within the Emissary organization's bases. Li Chonglou had to go through the Emissary organization to enter them.
In just over an hour, Li Chonglou met with Elder Tie at the Wanderer's Guild.
"What's the clue? Have you found the person?"
"It's not that simple, but I have discovered a secret."
Elder Tie said solemnly, glancing outside. Seeing no one approaching to hand in a task, he picked up a file from under a nearby table.
Elder Tie handed the file to Li Chonglou and said in a deep voice, "Take a look first."
The file was quite thick, nearly a finger's length, and heavy. When Li Chonglou opened it, he found it filled with documents. Picking one at random, he saw a personal profile.
Looking at others, they were all personal profiles as well.
"What is this?"
After just one glance, Li Chonglou gave up on figuring it out himself. What a joke. If he were to read all these files, when would that end?
Elder Tie explained, "This is information on the Emissary organization's peripheral members. The general bureau has spared no expense this time, taking only a week to find these people."
Li Chonglou asked doubtfully, "What does that have to do with your friend's granddaughter's matter?"
"I've analyzed them all. Nearly ninety percent of them share a common characteristic."
Elder Tie said this, his expression grave, and walked over to the sofa to sit down, crossing his arms.
"They are all left-handed! My friend's granddaughter is left-handed."
Li Chonglou's expression changed.
"You mean?"
Elder Tie nodded. "Yes, I suspect they are all related to my friend's granddaughter. She should be within the Emissary organization now."
Li Chonglou frowned and said, "Since you have this information, there's no need to search anymore, right? If she joined the Emissary organization willingly and garnered so many followers, isn't this precisely what she wanted?"
Elder Tie sighed. "I told my friend the same thing, but no matter how much he persuades her, he wants to see his granddaughter one more time. So..."
Li Chonglou remained silent.
Actually, this was a good thing for him. If Elder Tie's friend truly stopped searching, then the reward he was promised would be gone.
However, despite this, Li Chonglou cautiously asked, "What about the money situation?"
Elder Tie rolled his eyes, seemingly annoyed by Li Chonglou's focus on money. But he still assured him, "Don't worry, as long as you can genuinely bring the person to my friend, every bit of the agreed-upon amount will be given to you. And I believe only you can accomplish this."
Li Chonglou immediately understood his meaning. "We're starting the action so soon?"
Elder Tie nodded. "It's not that soon. The people on this list have all been to the same place: the Nanu tribes. This is one of the Emissary organization's bases and also one of our intelligence points."
"Uh, so I'll be going abroad?"
Li Chonglou felt a bit reluctant. If it were in Shangjing or within the country, he could immediately head to the location Wutong mentioned after finishing.
But going abroad was different. Who knew how long it would take? Also, where exactly were these Nanu tribes located?
Elder Tie said indifferently, "Kid, this is a decisive move. If successful, the money will be securely in your pocket. Are you still hesitating?"
Well, it seemed to make sense.
Li Chonglou rubbed his chin, looking contemplative.
Unexpectedly, Elder Tie was not one to dawdle and directly produced a piece of ironstone.
"Could this be?"
Li Chonglou was curious. Elder Tie nodded. "That's right, this is the weapon I used in my younger days, the Star Stone. It's actually forged from an extraterrestrial meteorite. Apart from its hardness, it has no other special characteristics."
Li Chonglou took Elder Tie's Star Stone. Although it was only palm-sized, it was heavy, much heavier than the files from before.
Moreover, it was irregularly shaped and entirely black, truly having no distinguishing features beyond its weight.
Li Chonglou examined it from various angles, asking doubtfully, "Senior, how did you use it in your younger days? Did you smash people with it?"
Elder Tie chuckled. "What, you look down on its power? Back in the day, when I had just entered the realm, I killed quite a few second and third-layer masters with it!"
As he spoke, a sense of pride surged uncontrollably. However, Li Chonglou never imagined that his casual remark would actually be true.
"Uh, you really used it to smash people? How did you hit them?"
Li Chonglou tossed the black stone in his hand. Besides being heavy, it truly had no special features.
But masters who had entered the realm could dodge bullets. Could this thing actually hit someone?
Li Chonglou looked at Elder Tie with doubt. The latter leisurely took a sip of tea and said calmly, "You're still young; you don't understand what 'caught off guard' means."
Upon hearing these four words, Li Chonglou instantly understood, realizing with a jolt, "So that's how it is. No wonder it was your weapon in your younger days. No one fell for it later on, right?"
Elder Tie immediately choked on his tea, his old face flushing red, and he sputtered, "Why are you bothering with that? Just take it back to them! Also, remember to return it to me in three days. Although I don't use it anymore, it's still my famous weapon."
In fact, Dagong giving Li Chonglou this task was also a test.
Although the Star Stone was not a secret item, it was considered Elder Tie's sentimental possession. Most people would not be able to borrow it if they asked.
However, if Li Chonglou's relationship with him was truly as he claimed, it would be no trouble to obtain it.
As for Dagong's intention, Li Chonglou was perfectly clear.
It was just that no matter how much they planned, they could never have anticipated the complexity of their relationship.
Li Chonglou nodded. "Then I'll depart if there's nothing else."
Saying this, he put the Star Stone back into his bag. Although it was heavy, there was still Xiaobai, the free labor, in his pocket. Within Li Chonglou's pocket, Xiaobai's slightly plump, petite figure was laboriously lifting the Star Stone.
There was nothing that could be done. Since he couldn't borrow any strength from within, Xiaobai at this moment could only use its own strength to lift the Star Stone.
Just as Li Chonglou was about to turn away, Elder Tie suddenly spoke again, "Wait a moment. You might as well take on another task. You're the number one card, after all. Aren't you worried about being overtaken by others?"
Li Chonglou was startled. "What number one card?"
Elder Tie pointed to his waist, where the Wanderer's Guild's badge was hanging!