412: Chapter 167 Smuggling 412: Chapter 167 Smuggling “Vida, go to my room and get the data on the missing residents of Baiyun Mountain.”
“Okay.” Vida nodded and quickly left.
After sending Vida off, Lu Hong turned to Torian and said, “I need you to find soone for —the current Clan Leader of the Gold family.
Have him co here to see .”
“This, uh…” Torian guessed Lu Hong’s intentions.
“Baron, I’d better stay with you.”
“This matter is of great importance, you must go now.
I’m not leaving the Baiyun Mountain Settlent.
Return as soon as you can.
If the current Clan Leader of the Gold family doesn’t co, have Lord Lu please him.” Lu Hong spoke decisively.
Torian understood that further refusal might arouse suspicion, so he nodded and turned to leave.
Free from their company, Lu Hong’s gaze flickered to the left alley as if noticing soone tailing him.
Based on last night’s investigation into the missing people, the first disappearance happened in Baiyun Mountain, and afterward, most were elderly.
All occurred within the Baiyun Mountain Settlent and radiated out to the mountainous settlents over a month, while the plain and townside settlents had no such issues with disappearing elderly.
This suggested a link between the disappearances and the mountains.
Since he couldn’t get any useful information, Lu Hong decided to go deep into Baiyun Mountain himself to find more clues.
The Baiyun Mountain range was vast and had many peaks.
Lu Hong decided to start with the nearest ones.
He had a suspicion based on the historical records from his own world, which seed likely to repeat itself here.
The empire provided minimal living safeguards for civilians.
They had food, but not always enough to be satisfied.
From what the woman initially said about having enough food, one could infer it was the last al prepared for an elder, extravagantly making extra rice porridge because she knew after this al, there would be one less mouth to feed.
But there was an inconsistency.
The welfare food distribution was decided based on the number of people in each household.
If an elder died, the next month’s welfare food would reduce.
What benefit could there possibly be from an elder’s death?
Unless…
Lu Hong suddenly thought about the ti Lu Kuan had reported to the authorities, nearly three months, aning during the initial disappearances, he hadn’t inford the empire.
If he could find the food distribution lists submitted by Lu Kuan, perhaps he could confirm sothing.
Lu Hong slipped into the forest, moving quickly to shake off his tail.
Unfortunately, after two hours of searching, aside from encountering an old man from the Snowy Region, he found nothing.
Estimating Vida’s return ti, Lu Hong headed back to the settlent to await their arrival.
Soon enough, Torian appeared, dragging the panting Clan Leader of the Gold family back to the settlent.
This overweight man was familiar; he had seen him before in the square of Gold City, Xia Lu’s father, Fakyu.
“Clan Leader of the Gold family, Fakyu, greets Baron Lu!” Fakyu was sweating from his forehead.
He recognized Lu Hong and was anxious about the summons, fearing it might be to settle scores.
“Don’t worry, let bygones be bygones.” Lu Hong understood Fakyu’s concerns.
“Thank you, Baron, for your generosity.” Fakyu relaxed, knowing that it wasn’t a settling of scores, and resolved just to cooperate.
“I ask you, how many private soldiers does the Gold family have now?”
“Reporting to the Baron, after surrendering, the Gold family followed the empire’s regulations, not maintaining more than ten thousand private soldiers.
After the war between the empire and the sea tribe, nine thousand were forcefully conscripted, leaving only a thousand in our guard squad to maintain order.”
“Good.” Lu Hong nodded.
“Have there been any cases of missing people near the Gold family?”
“There have been a few…
I have not reported them to Lord Lu Kuan,” Fakyu’s voice trailed off.
“Why didn’t you report to Lu Kuan?” Lu Hong frowned and demanded.
“Not many went missing, and we found the bodies.”
“The bodies were found?” Lu Hong pressed further.
“Where were they found?”
“In an old well.
All the missing people’s bodies were dumped there.” Fakyu replied.
“The disappearances started three months ago but didn’t last long, just over ten cases in total, spanning no more than three days.
After that, it never happened again, so I took the liberty to suppress this matter and didn’t report to Lord Lu Kuan.”
“Three days?
Just over ten cases?” Lu Hong grew more puzzled.
The Gold family, along with the original residents of Questasa, had relocated near Su He City.
The missing had to be local residents.
Did the perpetrator seem to be conducting experints, realizing Questasa’s natives weren’t suitable and thus ceased their activities?
Seeing Lu Hong remain silent for a long ti, Fakyu cautiously asked, “I wonder if the Baron has any other questions?”
“No more for now, sorry to have you make the trip.” Lu Hong expressed slight apology.
“No need to apologize.
Baron, if you need anything, just summon , and I will co right away.”
“Thank you.” Lu Hong nodded.
“Torian, please see Fakyu out.”
“Got it.” Torian waved his hand.
“Mr.
Fakyu, this way, please!”
After seeing off Fakyou, Veda also hurried back, carrying a large box of materials.
Lu Hong stepped forward and began to look through the docunts one by one.
The two did not disturb Lu Hong, exchanged glances, and seed lost in thought.
After finishing the last docunt, the sky gradually darkened.
“Alright, let’s go to East Look Mountain,” Lu Hong said, dusting off his clothes and striding away.
His main priority now was to investigate the food distribution forms submitted by Lu Kuan to the empire.
Upon arriving at the foot of East Look Mountain, night had fallen.
Spots of light added a rare vitality to this wasteland.
“It’s been a day, you must be tired?
Go back and rest first, I’ll just wander around on my own,” Lu Hong said to the two, “Just wait here for in the morning.”
Torrian shook his head, “If Lord Lu Kuan finds out we’ve abandoned our posts, he’ll definitely hold us accountable.”
“Alright, I’m sorry to trouble you,” Lu Hong didn’t press further, letting the two follow him closely.
Under the night sky, Lu Hong wandered on the silent dirt roads, constantly observing the surroundings, hoping to catch the criminal red-handed.
There wasn’t much nocturnal activity in the settlent, so civilians went to bed early, and from so houses with poor soundproofing, snores could be heard.
As the three of them andered, a white figure suddenly flashed past in front of them.
Lu Hong was startled and shouted, “Stop!”
Torrian and Veda also looked surprised.
Was Baron Lu’s luck so good?
Just wandering around and encountering the real culprit?
“What are you waiting for?
Chase!” Lu Hong burst into motion, and Torrian and Veda also exerted their full strength to chase after the figure.
The white figure wasn’t very fast, and they gradually closed the distance.
Torrian was the first to catch up with the figure, his long knife slashing fiercely.
The white figure reacted swiftly, dodging Torrian’s attack and sohow producing an ice hamr, smashing it onto Torrian’s forehead.
Torrian scread in pain, then was kicked away and knocked unconscious.
Veda was shocked, and as he tried to retreat, a wall of frost blocked his path.
Left with no choice, Veda turned to face his opponent, but unsuspectingly stepped into a trap.
Ice crept up his legs, encasing him in a statue of ice.
Just then, Lu Hong also rushed over, “Where do you think you’re running to?
Take this!”
The white figure swung the large hamr, clashing fiercely with Lu Hong’s holy sword.
The impact made a loud noise, and it seed the white figure didn’t want to linger, exploding the magically condensed ice hamr into a fog of ice that engulfed East Look Mountain Settlent.
“Don’t even think about escaping!” The fog was thick, making it nearly impossible to see anything beyond three steps.
Lu Hong vaguely chased after the figure while loudly declaring, “I am Baron Yitian, currently capturing a criminal.
Everyone stay inside your hos, do not step outside!”
In the thick fog, those tailing Lu Hong were utterly confused, the person had disappeared!
Three minutes passed, and upon confirming no one was following, Lu Hong finally slowed down, and the white figure also stopped, whispering, “Should we continue acting?”
“No need, no need,” Lu Hong waved his hand, “You really went through a lot, I’ll treat you to a al next ti.”
The white figure chuckled bitterly, “Let’s skip it.
If others find out I’ve been dining with you, they’d kill .”
“Can’t you people from Snowy Region be more generous?
We’re cooperating now and you still can’t let go of past grievances?” Lu Hong smirked.
“If we couldn’t let go, we wouldn’t have co to help,” the white figure shook its head, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave now.
This fog will probably last half a day, so be prepared.”
“Thanks.” As Lu Hong saw off the powerhouse from Snowy Region, he felt his way to the nearby portal.
From the mont the fog had erupted, he had crushed the jade slip Questasa had given him, and sure enough, along with a twist in the portal, an interdinsional guard appeared.
“Shush!” Lu Hong pressed down on him, “Keep your voice down.
It wasn’t easy to get you here.
This area is a Civilian Settlent, the white fog will dissipate in half a day, but you only have a quarter of an hour.
Head back and inform Questasa, and ask him to bring over the grain distribution forms from the Yuanyuan Plane, hurry!”
He would intercept the garrison at the Civilian Settlent.
A quarter of an hour was Lu Hong’s estimated ti for Lu Kuan to arrive.
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