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Chapter 499 Five-star review, there's a reason it's expensive.

"Yes."

Faced with the old man's question, the young man frowned slightly, his tone revealing undisguised annoyance:
"It's still about the Chen family case."

"This time they were very tough, specifically demanding detailed information on all those who accepted the mission in the 'Chen Family Curse Case in Tiannan Province,' especially the person who ultimately completed the mission."

The old man turned around, his slightly cloudy yet unfathomable eyes landing on the young man:

"It's just a wealthy family from a border province. Although they have some money, in the eyes of a behemoth like 'Utopia,' they are nothing more than a slightly fat piece of meat."

Why are they so concerned about this? Have they found out the reason?

"Checked."

The young man immediately replied, giving a clear and organized report:

"Our informants in Tiannan Province just sent back news that Ideal Village seems to be carrying out a secret plan in Cuicheng, attempting to achieve some goal by controlling the Chen family."

"But just a week ago, the two sides completely broke off relations and a high-intensity supernatural battle took place in a five-star hotel in the city center, which even caused a significant explosion that alarmed the local police and special search team."

He paused for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts, before making a conjecture:
"Based on the scattered intelligence gathered so far, the curse case commissioned by the Chen family is most likely the work of 'Utopia'."

"Moreover, this case and the conflict with the hotel should be related."

"That plan was most likely ruined by the last mission participant dispatched by our platform."

"Oh?"

The old man raised his white eyebrows slightly, a hint of interest appearing on his face:
"How could someone ruin the 'ideal world' and still escape unscathed?"

The young man nodded and continued:
“The missions we sent out before either suffered heavy casualties and were forced to abandon them, or they gave up and the missions were abandoned.”

"My grandson was just about to raise the difficulty of this mission to S level, but unexpectedly that person completed it successfully, and it even involved 'Utopia'."

He paused, then added deliberately:
“The Chen family just sent someone over yesterday to settle the commission. They not only confirmed that the task had been completed and paid the remaining amount as agreed, but also gave the tasker a five-star review.”

Upon hearing this, the old man's lips curled up slightly:
"Who is that person? Do you know anything about him?"

Specific details are currently unavailable.

The young man brought up a holographic projection panel in front of him and pointed to a blurry figure emitting a pale golden light:

"This person is codenamed 'Xiaobai,' male, about 1.85 meters tall. His blood energy and mental strength are extremely vigorous, and he can shield us from the deep probing of the Naihe Bridge core system."

"In my grandson's opinion, he must have undergone simultaneous physical and mental enhancement, making him a rare dual S-class ability user."

Upon hearing this, the old man nodded slightly, his interest growing even stronger.

The young man, observing the other's attentive expression, continued his report:
"This person first appeared in Night City in the early hours of April 19th. He was led to the Bridge of Helplessness by a broker named 'Yuan Datou' and accepted the mission at service window number 2. He was also the last person to accept the mission."

"Interestingly, before accepting the assignment, he specifically inquired whether anyone else had purchased information about the case, which suggests he is a very cautious and experienced person."

"Based on current intelligence, the person in charge of 'Ideal Land' in Tiannan Province has most likely been killed, and the entire plan has collapsed."

"So now they are furious and want to dig out the background of this 'newbie' from us to take revenge."

At this point, the young man hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked:

"Great-Grandpa, should we follow the registration clues and check this person's real-world identity?"

"Investigate what?"

The old man's face suddenly darkened, and he let out a cold snort:
"Do these people really think our 'Bridge of Helplessness' is their private backyard? That they can investigate whomever they want?"

"But……"

The young man said with some concern:
"The people in the Utopia are all lunatics, they act without any scruples."

"They've come twice already, and their words have been implying that if we don't cooperate, they might target our several real-world outposts. Is it possible to offend them for the sake of an unknown mission participant...?"

"Confused!"

The old man suddenly flicked his sleeve, and although he was a spirit, he brought with him a chilling gust of wind that made the pages of the books in the study rustle.

"Shuhuan, you must remember what we do?"

He pointed to the floor beneath his feet, his voice firm and resolute:
"We, 'Bridge of Helplessness,' are not only intermediary organizations and trading platforms, but also one of the maintainers of order in this City of Night!"

"Why are our commission fees so outrageously high, even including an additional 50% channel fee, yet our clients still grit their teeth and accept it?"

"Is it because we have good service? Or because we look kind and gentle?"

The old man chuckled and shook a withered finger:
"Neither! It's simply because our endorsement is strong enough to provide sufficient security!"

"What we sell is not just intelligence and missions, but also absolute confidentiality of the client's identity and a complete laundering process for the source of funds."

"This is the very foundation upon which our 'Bridge of Helplessness' exists and thrives!"

He stared intently into the young man's eyes and earnestly instructed him:

“If we sell our clients’ data today out of fear of the ‘ideal world,’ it will be known throughout the entire underworld tomorrow.”

"At that point, who would dare to post quests on the Bridge of Helplessness? Who would dare to trade through our platform? That would be truly self-destruction!"

The young man called "Shuhuan" broke out in a cold sweat and quickly lowered his head:

"Grandpa's words are wise, I have learned my lesson."

Seeing his respectful attitude, the old man did not criticize him further, but glanced at him briefly before turning away.

"As for 'ideal land'..."

He paused, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes, then looked back out the window at the misty night sky with his hands behind his back.
"They're just a bunch of lunatics hiding in the gutter dreaming of becoming gods. If they dare to make a fuss again, let them come directly to Night City to find me, Shen Wanshan!"

"Although my spirit body can't last for many years, before these old bones fall apart, they can still knock out a few of their teeth."

At this point, the old man's tone softened slightly, revealing a sense of desolation in the twilight of a hero:

"Shuhuan, you'll be forty this year, you're not young anymore. My lineage is small, it wasn't easy to help you get to this position."

"Whether you take over the Shen family in the future or inherit the position of chief of the Naihe Bridge Elders Council, you need to be able to stand on your own two feet."

"The Bridge of Helplessness has been able to exist in this dimension of consciousness for thousands of years, standing firm through the changes of dynasties, not only because of its military strength, but also because of the reputation of its golden brand."

"We may be greedy, ruthless, and petty in private, but when it comes to matters of principle, we must absolutely stick to our bottom line and not give an inch."

"This is called 'a gentleman loves money, but he acquires it in a proper way.' As a businessman, one must follow the rules of business ethics even more."

Shen Shuhuan took a deep breath, nodded solemnly, and the confusion in his eyes disappeared, replaced by determination.

“I understand, Great-Grandpa. I will refuse them outright and strengthen security at our physical base.”

Having dealt with this thorny issue, Shen Shuhuan's thoughts returned to the mysterious mission taker, and he couldn't help but ask:

"Should we keep a special eye on that person from now on?"

"of course."

The old man stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming:
"The person who was able to single-handedly sabotage the plan for Utopia and make those lunatics suffer a setback is definitely a top-tier expert, and may even be a core figure of a major power."

"This is one of our favorite 'value customers'."

The old man pondered for a moment, then smiled and gave the instructions:
"When he comes online again and accepts or posts a task with us, you should arrange for someone to make appropriate contact with him and provide him with some convenience and care within the scope of their authority."

"By the way, we can upgrade his customer rating to S level and grant him premium membership. He can enjoy a 20% discount when doing missions or gathering intelligence at the Bridge of Helplessness in the future." Shen Shuhuan nodded repeatedly and secretly made a note of it.

Granting S-level privileges is an extremely high level of courting, enough to demonstrate the goodwill of the Bridge of Helplessness.

He thought for a moment and then asked:
"What about the reward for this mission? According to the rules, we will deduct a high amount of intermediary fees and handling fees."

"Since we're trying to curry favor, should we reduce the deduction percentage, or... just give him the full amount?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man, who had been maintaining a masterly demeanor, suddenly widened his eyes as if he had heard something outrageous.

"Why should we get a reduction or exemption?!"

The old man puffed out his beard and glared, his voice instantly rising eight octaves:

"Are you stupid? We shielded him from 'Utopia's' investigation, what a huge risk and pressure we faced!"

"Isn't this a service? Doesn't this require costs?"

He stretched out his withered finger again and tapped his great-grandson's forehead, looking at him with a disappointed expression:
"I didn't charge him any extra protection money, which is already a consideration because he's quite capable!"

"You want to reduce the deduction? Dream on! Not a penny less, deduct according to the rules!"

"..."

Shen Shuhuan broke out in a cold sweat once again.

Watching his ancestor change his expression faster than flipping through a book, he couldn't help but twitch his lips twice.

Sure enough, this is the familiar recipe, the familiar taste.

"Yes, I understand."

Shen Shuhuan dared not refute and could only nod in agreement.

But in his heart he secretly grumbled:

No wonder my great-grandfather was able to stand out from the candidates of major families all over the world and become the helmsman of the Bridge of Helplessness.

Given his stingy and inflexible nature, he is indeed a natural-born individual suited for this kind of unconventional business.

"Alright, go and get on with your business."

The old man waved his hand, his figure becoming increasingly transparent, as if the emotional fluctuations just now had consumed a lot of his soul power.

"I will take my leave now, so as not to disturb your meditation."

Shen Shuhuan bowed respectfully and turned to leave quietly.

As the heavy wooden door slowly closed, the soft "click" separated the two worlds inside and outside the study.

Shen Shuhuan stood in the corridor, looking out through the carved window lattice.

The neon lights of Night City still shone brightly, and countless bizarre shadows moved through the mist.

This city that never sleeps is like a greedy beast, devouring countless secrets and exuding surging desires, running ceaselessly.

Perhaps it will continue to operate like this until the end of the world, becoming the only haven for souls in the wasteland.

Shen Shuhuan shook his head slightly, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

No matter how strong the Ideal Land is, it is nothing more than a slightly stronger dragon crossing the river when faced with the rules of the entire Night City.

He straightened his collar and walked down to the trading hall with steady steps.

....................................

Four o'clock in the morning.

The entire city was still immersed in the deepest stillness before dawn.

Fang Cheng quietly sat up from the bed, stepping barefoot onto the cool wooden floor.

He walked to the window and gently pushed it open.

"Squeak-"

A very faint sound of a pivot turning rang out in the silence.

The crisp air instantly filled the room, and the scent of soil, fruits, and vegetables from the vegetable garden downstairs drifted up on the breeze, dispelling any lingering sleepiness.

The town of Wanghu outside the window is at its darkest and most peaceful moment of the day.

In the dim yellow light of the streetlights, you can see the white walls and gray tiles stretching out in a staggered pattern.

Beyond the rooftops and highways, the vast and boundless Yulong Lake comes into view.

A thin veil of mist rises from the water, enveloping the distant mountains and nearby waters in a hazy, poetic atmosphere.

Unlike the emerald lake in Tiannan Province, this place clearly has a more ordinary and simple feel.

Fang Cheng took a deep breath, then stretched his arms and yawned contentedly.

A series of crisp cracking sounds emanated from his entire body.

The tranquility at this moment is a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle when I first entered the house yesterday afternoon.

Recalling that scene, Fang Cheng couldn't help but smile slightly.

When he and his uncle pushed open the courtyard gate, weary from their journey, tears streamed down his mother's face like beads from a broken string.

While she held Fang Cheng tightly, scrutinizing him from head to toe as if afraid of losing a single hair, she turned to Li Dingjian and began to berate him.

Although Grandpa didn't say anything, the thud of his cane on the ground and the disappointed look in his eyes when he looked at Uncle said it all.

Fortunately, Fang Cheng intervened and steered the conversation towards dinner, thus rescuing his uncle from the awkward situation of being interrogated by three people.

To appease his family and celebrate their safe return from this harrowing trip, Fang Cheng personally prepared a welcome-back feast last night.

A table full of delicious and visually appealing dishes made Mom and Grandpa rave about them.

The tense atmosphere melted away completely amidst the clinking of glasses and the warm embrace of family.

That night, Fang Cheng did not return to the old factory street in the city, nor did he go to his new house in Haitian Garden. Instead, he stayed overnight there.

During my time in Tiannan Province, I was constantly worried about my uncle's safety and had to be wary of unknown enemies lurking in the shadows. My nerves were always on edge.

It wasn't until last night, lying on this familiar bed and smelling the sun-dried scent on the bedding, that Fang Cheng truly let down his guard.

I slept exceptionally soundly and deeply that night.

He originally planned to indulge himself and continue sleeping in, but his long-established biological clock still woke him up promptly at four in the morning.

Fang Cheng leaned against the window frame, his gaze passing over the layers of eaves and landing on the distant running track that meandered along the lake shore.

A few scattered streetlights flickered in the night, as if silently extending an invitation.

"It's been a long time since I've had a proper training session, so I'm really enjoying it..."

He muttered to himself, his thoughts stirring slightly.

(End of this chapter)