Chapter 474: A Terrifying Truth
"There is a restaurant in Shrek City called Han Shi. It appears ordinary, yet it is located between the Tang Sect, the Shrek City Great Spirit Arena, Shrek Academy, and the Shrek City Grand Auction House. It is reported that several branch hall masters of the Tang Sect's Shrek division, as well as certain elders of the Sea God Pavilion, are frequent patrons of this establishment. These individuals are all Title Douluo-level powerhouses, whose strength is equivalent to that of Ninth-Level Spirit Engineers. Therefore, this subordinate dared not rashly investigate further. However, a restaurant capable of hosting such figures likely possesses an extremely powerful background and warrants caution."
"During the Continental Elite Young Spirit Master Tournament held in Star Luo City, a restaurant called Han Shi appeared there. Though seemingly ordinary, it attracted thousands of customers queuing daily. The former Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Tonghua, the newly enthroned Emperor Xu Changling, the Tang Sect Master Tang Qianqiu, and other prominent figures of the Star Luo Empire visited this restaurant multiple times, seemingly engaging in exchanges. This restaurant is highly likely to have been closely connected to the imperial coup within the Star Luo Empire and warrants caution."
After reading over and over again the records about Han Shi written personally by two subordinates who had since perished, Xu Jiyun pressed his fingers against his temples, forcing himself to calm down.
In documents that recorded intelligence across the entire Douluo Continent, it was unimaginable for a mere restaurant to occupy several hundred words. Yet at this moment, Xu Jiyun only wished those two subordinates had written several thousand more, preferably detailing every table and chair inside that restaurant.
Before today, Xu Jiyun had never paid much attention to this obscure establishment. Only because its mention in the intelligence reports had once been used by the Second Prince to attack him politically did he remember it slightly more clearly.
He had never truly believed that the restaurant described in the intelligence possessed the mysterious and powerful background it implied. He had always assumed it was simply the cautious thoroughness of his subordinates, recording potentially suspicious details out of prudence.
But now, no further evidence was needed.
If the Han Shi on Mingke Street was the same Han Shi recorded in the intelligence, then all the speculation in those reports must be true.
Perhaps the truth was even more horrifying than they had imagined.
The Sun Moon Empire had long placed its entire coastline under martial lockdown—an indiscriminate, gapless scan targeting all living beings and Spirit Power fluctuations. No one could possibly land on the Sun Moon Continent undetected. Absolutely impossible.
Under such circumstances, how could a restaurant that should have remained on the Douluo Continent have arrived on the Sun Moon Continent?
Could it have come before the empire enforced the maritime lockdown?
No… Xu Jiyun would rather believe it had infiltrated recently than accept that possibility.
Three years ago, upon discovering the existence of the Douluo Continent, the Sun Moon Empire had swiftly implemented the coastal lockdown. If forces from Douluo had already infiltrated the empire before that…
Then it would mean that Douluo had discovered the Sun Moon Empire first.
And if that were the case, then the thick stack of intelligence reports in his hands—were they genuine findings?
Or carefully planted misinformation deliberately fed to them by Douluo?
At that thought, Xu Jiyun shuddered violently.
No. Impossible. Douluo Continent does not possess the World Command—how could they have discovered the Sun Moon Continent?
Xu Jiyun, calm down!
He forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart and gradually steadied himself, though his expression remained extremely grave.
"Your Highness, we have gathered the information."
A figure in black suddenly appeared within the hall and handed over freshly obtained intelligence. Yet there was no joy on Xu Jiyun's face.
How was this so fast?
It hadn't even been five minutes!
Was a restaurant with such a terrifying background something whose detailed information could be uncovered in five minutes?
What a joke!
Even so, Xu Jiyun snatched the report and began reading it carefully.
Gradually, his expression became somewhat strange.
"It only opened yesterday?"
The intelligence clearly recorded the date the storefront had been sold and the agency that handled the transaction. Every procedure and document was complete. All the information pointed to the same conclusion: the restaurant had acquired the premises yesterday and opened today.
Could it be… that the restaurant's name was merely a coincidence?
The report did state that the owner's name was Qi Han, but the intelligence from the Douluo Continent had never mentioned the owner of Han Shi. On that basis alone, nothing could truly be confirmed.
"And this Han Shi owner named Qi Han—have you investigated him?" Xu Jiyun's gaze locked tightly onto Qi Han's name in the report as he spoke in a low voice. "Why is there not a single word about him here?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, after investigating everything related to the storefront, I returned immediately. Information regarding this Han Shi owner is still under investigation—" The voice was about to continue when it suddenly stopped. Another figure had already appeared beside him.
"—Your Highness, according to the Household Registry Office, this person is not a native of Mingdu City. According to the City Defense Department, he arrived in Mingdu City yesterday. His Spirit Power has been measured at level fifty-three, a Fifth-Level Spirit Engineer." The newcomer quickly presented another report. "As for information prior to his arrival in Mingdu City, we would need to coordinate personnel across various regions. It is impossible to gather that within half an hour. Please forgive us, Your Highness."
Taking the report and scanning it, Xu Jiyun's expression fluctuated uncertainly.
"A Fifth-Level Spirit Engineer?" He let out a mocking laugh. "Would a Fifth-Level Spirit Engineer open a restaurant and willingly serve as a mere cook?"
The suspicion that had lessened due to the restaurant's recent opening now surged back to its peak upon reading the City Defense Department's Spirit Power assessment. Why would a powerhouse at the level of a Fifth-Level Spirit Engineer keep such a low profile by opening a restaurant?
Wait…
His eyes quickly shifted back to the statement given by the intermediary agency. Gradually, his gaze fixed on a particular line.
"Deliberately chose the most remote storefront?"
What kind of normal restaurant would intentionally choose the most remote location?
So… running a restaurant was just a cover, wasn't it?
The reason for selecting such an out-of-the-way location was merely to deceive the public, to exploit the darkness beneath the lamp and blind everyone on the Sun Moon Continent?
Then what was Han Shi's real purpose in appearing here?
Was it to gather intelligence on the Sun Moon Empire, just as he himself had once gathered intelligence on the Douluo Continent?
Or… was it seeking an opportunity to obtain the methods of spirit tool manufacturing?
After all, the techniques for crafting spirit tools had completely vanished on the Douluo Continent. On the Sun Moon Continent, they were commonplace—but on the Douluo Continent, each one was priceless!
Or perhaps… both?
No matter which possibility it was, none were acceptable to the current Sun Moon Empire.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Jiyun was now ninety-nine percent certain that this restaurant was indeed the same Han Shi located on the Douluo Continent as recorded in the intelligence!
If that were so… then the fact that it had been discovered at its very first lunch service today by his naïve, scheming-ignorant younger sister—was that coincidence, or deliberate manipulation?
The report in his hand slowly crumpled into a ball before disintegrating into powder. A strange gleam flickered in Xu Jiyun's eyes.
"Three days. I want every trace of Qi Han's movements investigated."
"Yes, Your Highness!" The subordinates vanished once more, and Xu Jiyun turned toward his sleeping chambers.
Change clothes. Go to Han Shi for a meal.
No matter what scheme you harbor by appearing here, I will confront it head-on.
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Latest Chapter: Chapter 505: Qi Han's Choice[1]
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