Chapter 598 - 379: All-Out Manhunt (Part 2)
Luo chuckled lightly, "You must be joking. We’re all civilized people here. Catching someone without an explanation? What would that become?"
She glanced at the clerk beside her and said, "Take people into Mo Xue Mansion, check their original funding accounts, contract procedures, and all documents related to operations."
The clerk quickly departed, leading a hundred or so people into Mo Xue Mansion, storming up to the office levels.
These were all professional financial personnel and legal workers. Being capable of courtroom work demonstrated their top-tier business capabilities, and many had civilian prosthetic implants, resulting in work efficiency far surpassing ordinary humans.
The check lasted about two hours. During this time, the entire Martial Arts Dojo was enveloped in an anxious silence.
After the examination, the clerk returned to the dojo and whispered something in Luo’s ear.
Luo looked at Shangguan Li with some surprise, "All procedures are complete, no tax evasion, no illegal contracts were found, even the fire safety inspections were entirely compliant."
She took a document from the clerk and said in a praising tone, "They even donated 10 million moon coins for the Frontier Reconstruction Foundation a few days ago."
"Captain Shangguan, honestly, I have a bit of admiration for you now."
Faced with Luo’s insincere "praise," Shangguan Li remained silent.
Mo Xue, as a mercenary corps, claiming to undertake purely legal business is impossible.
Mercenaries are inherently a gray industry. Trying to be law-abiding while being a mercenary? That’s a sure way to starve.
The shady contracts Mo Xue accepted were definitely numerous, but Shangguan Li was always very cautious.
Those unpresentable contracts were either left without paper trails, guaranteed by intermediaries, or immediately destroyed after completion. Various rewards were also laundered through energy enterprises where she invested.
She would rather earn less and spend more in many areas to leave no trace of future troubles.
Sometimes colleagues would mock her for being overly cautious, but it seemed being careful was right.
With many people around with sharp eyes, Shangguan Li didn’t want to argue with Luo in public, so she said, "Miss Special Agent, let’s talk upstairs. Let my disciples leave first."
With that, she signaled Dolan to lead people away.
The disciples were about to leave, but as they reached the door, a sudden change occurred.
Crimson light emerged from Luo’s fingertips, and blood controlled by the Crimson Rose Blood Code fell and spread wildly on the ground. Almost instantly, it climbed up the doors and windows of the dojo like a spider web, eventually solidifying into indestructible blood crystals, sealing the place completely like a cage.
The disciples looked at each other in dismay, and Shangguan Li frowned deeply.
First, she was amazed at the high level of this special agent’s Crimson Rose Blood Code, seemingly at least Tier Five’s Blood Burning Level, possibly even Tier Six’s Divine Protection Level.
Secondly, she couldn’t figure out what Luo meant or planned to do.
Luo’s face still held that mysterious smile, "Don’t rush to leave, isn’t it lively with more people?"
"I’ve heard Captain Shangguan is a famous martial arts grandmaster in New Moon City. Coincidentally, I have someone interested in martial arts under me. Why don’t you exchange a few moves and offer him some pointers?"
Before Shangguan Li could agree, Luo called out a name, "Chen Zhengde."
A stern-faced man stepped forward, arrogantly raising his chin and casually cupping his fists toward Shangguan Li.
Shangguan Li was a prosthetic implanter, and her bionic eye had a scanning function, quickly discovering the opponent also had prosthetics, with hardware level similar to hers.
As for martial skills, from the opponent’s walking posture and the coordination of subtle movements, it was apparent he was trained, but not exceptionally so—perhaps on par with Dolan, her head disciple.
Defeating him wouldn’t be hard, but Shangguan Li knew well that she absolutely couldn’t win.
This group clearly came looking for trouble.
A victory or even slightly injuring him could give Luo an excuse to exaggerate, accusing her of harming a court official.
This sparring could only end in defeat.
As for losing face when word got out, that wasn’t a concern. Those who understood would understand, and those who didn’t, didn’t need explanations.
Shangguan Li quickly decided to feign a fight briefly and then pretend to be defeated.
She reciprocated Chen Zhengde’s cupped fists, signaling her acceptance of the sparring invitation.
Chen Zhengde shouted and charged at her, alternating punches and kicks with a fierce momentum.
As Shangguan Li expected, Chen Zhengde indeed knew martial arts, but was of slightly above-average skill.
She pretended to struggle to defend a few moves, then deliberately showed a flaw to be struck in the side ribs, tumbling away.
After steadying herself, she nodded and cupped her fists toward Chen Zhengde, "You won, I concede."
"Swish—" with no warning, darkness suddenly covered her vision.
Chen Zhengde had thrown his suit jacket onto Shangguan Li’s face, blinding her.
In the next instant, a strong sense of danger emanated from in front of her.
Relying on her keen hearing, she discerned their attack path and relative distance through footstep sounds and wind noise, dodging backward.
But just then, the whooshing noise of fists slicing through the air was suddenly joined by a sharp whistle.
Despite her evasive efforts, Shangguan Li felt a chill on her arm.
She tumbled a few times, tossing off the coat from her face, revealing a bloody gash on her arm.
Looking at Chen Zhengde again, he had unexpectedly brandished a prosthetic battle blade, blood dripping from it.
"Master!" Dolan, seeing Shangguan Li injured, was agitated, shouting at Luo, "What’s the meaning of sparring if you bring out real weapons?!"