Chapter 1250: Shen Yuan’s Sharp Deduction
Shen Yuan listened to Elder Qin’s report for some time before ending the communication. However, the information regarding the boy who had escaped from the high-security prison was the one thing that remained stuck in his mind.
He found that this matter was not as simple as someone helping the boy escape. His instincts told him that all of this might be connected.
’The boy was imprisoned for possessing an artifact connected to an evil god, yet he managed to escape without leaving any trace, just like those assassins.’
’The orphan boy had no backing and lived an ordinary life. There was no report of him having any interaction with any great figures. Even more so with figures who would dare challenge the authority of the entire domain by helping someone who possessed something connected to an evil god.’
After thinking for a moment, he continued walking while looking toward the street with a thoughtful expression.
’If I were the one helping the boy, what would I do after saving him?’
The answer could be found if he knew the true intent of the person who had saved the boy.
Why help an unknown orphan?
Unless the helper felt sympathetic toward the boy, he could not find any other reason to help him. If they felt sympathy because of the boy’s circumstances, then it meant the helper, at the very least, did not mind the boy’s belief.
They did not mind someone having a connection to an evil god. The helper did not view evil gods as a taboo. It was even possible that the helper was a sympathizer themselves.
’Sympathizers... assassins... Tarius’ followers... killing many higher-ups among the city officials and the temple... wait... don’t tell me...’
Shen Yuan stopped walking, his eyes widening. It was as if a sudden realization had struck him. He looked toward the crowd in front of him.
’If that is the case, then they must still be here. But where?’
After a few moments of thought, he decided to visit another street vendor.
After obtaining the information he needed, he headed toward one of the inns.
’It couldn’t be helped. I do not know their exact location, so I have to search one place after another. If those assassins are truly hiding in plain sight, then one possible place they could hide is somewhere the pursuers would never think to search. The assassins understand the pursuers’ psychology perfectly, which is why they might chose a place that would not normally be considered a hiding spot.’
Shen Yuan continued thinking.
’That place could be somewhere so luxurious that even the pursuers would hesitate to investigate it. A place commonly used by famous cultivators or those wealthy enough to afford such services. There are several places like that in the city, but only the inns provide enough freedom and privacy for their guests.’
’I’ll check the inns first. If I still find nothing, then I can search other possible locations.’
After that, he visited several famous inns throughout the city. This time, he had to use his real identity so the employees would be willing to provide information about their guests. His status as the Young Sect Master of the Purple Lotus Sect was more than enough to ensure he obtained the information he wanted.
What he searched for were not guests staying in ordinary rooms, but those occupying the finest accommodations. He also requested information regarding guests who had displayed unusual behavior.
He continued visiting every inn that he considered a possible hiding place until midnight passed.
Unfortunately, he did not discover any suspicious activity.
He finally arrived at the last inn on his list, the only one he had yet to investigate. It was located near the city plaza.
Looking around, he could see the City Lord Manor in the distance. The manor stood on higher ground than the rest of the city, making it visible even from this location.
The distance between the plaza, the inn, and the City Lord Manor was not particularly great. The inn itself had dozens of floors, and several of the upper levels provided an excellent view of any movement within the City Lord Manor.
Most importantly, the pursuers would not dare investigate the inn’s most luxurious rooms.
They were afraid that they might offend someone high and mighty, even with the City Lord Manor or even the Zhu Family backing them.
’I hope I hit the jackpot this time.’
Shen Yuan let out a sigh before entering the inn.
After entering, he walked toward the receptionist.
"Excuse me, miss," Shen Yuan said with a smile.
The female receptionist returned the smile.
"Yes, welcome to the Celestial Diamond Inn. How may I help you, sir?"
Shen Yuan leaned closer to the receptionist, causing her to freeze for a moment. Then her eyes widened in astonishment when she saw him take out a small token from his pocket and show it to her.
The token was engraved with a blooming lotus symbol that everyone in the domain recognized. It was the symbol of the behemoth that ruled over the entire domain.
The token in Shen Yuan’s hand was engraved in gold and purple, a sign that could only be granted by one person in the Purple Lotus Sect.
A token personally bestowed by the Sect Master of the Purple Lotus Sect himself.
That meant anyone carrying such a token was an important individual recognized by the sect master.
"I am investigating the recent incidents in the city on behalf of the Purple Lotus Sect. I hope Miss can assist me by answering a few questions."
The receptionist quickly nodded.
"Yes, Your Excellency. What would you like to know?"
She did not care whether the token was genuine or not.
The moment she saw it, she simply assumed it was real.
She did not want to risk offending someone carrying such a token merely because of her suspicions.
Moreover, the person standing before her claimed to be investigating the recent incidents in the city.
What else could that refer to other than the assassination case?
She certainly did not want to be accused of hindering the investigation by acting overly suspicious or rigidly adhering to the inn’s standard procedures.
"This inn has the best rooms that are sometimes reserved by many prominent figures, correct? The most luxurious ones?" Shen Yuan asked.
"Yes, Your Excellency. We have several room tiers in this inn, but our most luxurious suites are our pride. Many prominent figures stay there. There is never a time when those rooms remain vacant for long."
The receptionist’s tone carried a hint of pride.
Shen Yuan nodded.
"Are you here as the receptionist all the time?" he asked.
"No. We work in shifts, but as one of the senior receptionists, I am considered more reliable, so I am assigned longer shifts, Your Excellency."
"I see. Then during the past week, have any guests staying in the most luxurious rooms displayed any unusual behavior in your opinion? Or perhaps any guests who made you feel curious or suspicious. Maybe someone who was rarely seen after reserving a room, wore strange clothing, or was completely unfamiliar to you."
The receptionist thought for a moment before her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Well, there is one person I can think of, Your Excellency. I served an unfamiliar man whom I had never seen before. He reserved three of our finest rooms more than a week ago."
"Since then, I have rarely seen him leave. In fact, I only saw him once after that. It seems he prefers staying inside his room."
"As for the other two rooms he reserved, they were occupied later when two other men arrived separately. One of them was much younger than the other two. They also rarely show themselves. All three seem to prefer remaining in their rooms compared to our other guests."
A smile appeared on Shen Yuan’s face.
He could not help feeling a surge of excitement.
This was the clue he had been searching for.
It might even lead him directly to the assassins.
"What room numbers are they staying in? Just tell me and remain here. I will check them myself."
"They are staying in rooms 1242, 1243, and 1244 on the thirty-fifth floor. You can use the lifter to reach the floor, Your Excellency," the receptionist said.
Shen Yuan nodded with a smile.
"Thank you for the information."
He then walked toward the lifter located not far away.
A lifter was a small chamber roughly three square meters in size that could travel between the ground floor and the upper floors of the inn.
Inside the lifter, one only needed to press the number of the desired floor, and it would carry them to their destination.
Shen Yuan entered the lifter and pressed the button for the thirty-fifth floor.
Moments later, the lifter arrived at its destination. After stepping out, he began searching for the rooms mentioned by the receptionist.
A few minutes later, he finally arrived in front of the first room.
1242.