I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

Therefore, although there are a considerable number of security guards in the port, the supervision of cargo storage areas is still not very strong.

For these security guards, their main responsibility is to protect the goods in the containers from damage rather than closely monitoring others entering and leaving. If anything serious happens, they will usually call the police directly to have the guards come to maintain order and prevent the port from shutting down.

After all, they are just security guards earning meager wages; it's not worth risking their lives for that little bit of money.

People with this mindset often have their desires gradually inflated when they come across certain "opportunities." Who working here doesn't want to earn more money?

For example, the guy in the security guard uniform smoking that Pado just spotted in the corner.

The cat silently crouched on the towering container next to him, observing the security guard who was on the phone with great interest, listening quietly to him make the call.

After hearing something said on the other end of the phone, the security guard, who had been smoking with a weary expression, suddenly snapped to attention, tossed aside his cigarette, and hurriedly responded to the other end.

Perhaps because the information revealed by the other party was too explosive, the security guard's voice, which had been kept low, suddenly rose, and his basic vigilance had quietly disappeared.

It was precisely because of this that, with the help of the quiet environment in the corner, the security guard's words reached Pado's ears one by one.

"A transaction today? Really? And I'm supposed to be in charge of monitoring it?"

"This concerns my work. If I don't handle it well, I might end up in jail. This is a dangerous thing to do!"

"A rare opportunity? You said... how much? A million!?"

"*Longmen swear words*, I'll do it!"

After saying that, the man from Sami stomped his foot on the cigarette butt on the ground and solemnly assured the person on the other end of the phone, "Don't worry, nothing will happen tonight. I guarantee I will arrange everything reasonably and legally to facilitate your business."

After confirming a few more details with the other party, the security guard hung up the phone, humming a little tune with a happy expression, and prepared to leave the corner.

His expression, as if he'd won the lottery, left Pado, who had somehow slipped up behind him, speechless. She finally spoke up:

"Ahem, uncle, what's making you so happy?"

"!"

The sudden sound of a girl's voice startled the security guard, who instinctively turned around. However, before he could even see the person behind him clearly, a square object painted with colorful designs was slapped against his face.

In an instant, a soul-crushing blow came from his face, causing his eyes to roll back and him to fall into a deep sleep.

"You don't have any skills, yet you try to make dirty money like others? Dream on!" Looking at the person who had fainted on the ground, Pado tossed the Divine Key in her hand and complained.

After venting her frustrations, she took out a bundle of rope from her spatial storage and tied the person on the ground up, then quietly dragged them to a secluded corner.

This person still holds some value for the cat, and there are some things she plans to ask him about.

≌⒌≠5-≤起+琉/〇^玲℃?∷⑸∑(0)!@qqun／

After all, it can be

She knew without even thinking that the guy she was dragging along must have a lot of connections in the G4 area and know a lot of things, given how well those gangsters could offer such high prices.

Chapter 148 Torture

Around one or two in the afternoon, the sun was at its most scorching, its intense rays relentlessly drenching the earth and turning large, unshaded areas of the port scorching hot. In stark contrast to the outside world were the dark, shaded corners deep within the cargo storage area.

However, in this dark corner that no one would normally set foot in, there was now a person standing and a person lying down.

"..."

Pado looked at the security guard lying on the ground in front of her, bound hand and foot and still fast asleep. After thinking for a moment, she raised her hand and took out a strange blue cat mask from her space and put it on her face.

Then, she leisurely picked up the cold water that was placed on the ground and poured it mercilessly onto the security guard's face.

"!"

"Cough...cough...!"

Almost instantly, the security guard, who had been in a deep sleep, jolted awake and then suddenly woke up because he had choked on water in his nose.

However, because the ropes binding his body were very tight and a rag had been placed in his mouth, he could only wriggle on the ground like an insect and could not get up.

"You're awake? How can you sleep so soundly at your age?" Looking at the disheveled, tearful person in front of her, Pado deliberately lowered her voice and said sarcastically.

To be honest, Cat Cat really couldn't give a kind look to this group of scumbags. Even if the one in front of her was just an accomplice.

She's already being lenient by not chopping him up, and you expect a nice face? She can only say you're dreaming!

"Cough... Ugh!"

The person lying on the ground suddenly heard this familiar voice and instinctively looked towards the source of the sound, his face covered in water. He was then confronted with a bizarre cat-face mask and became even more frightened, struggling even harder.

"Oh dear, don't get so worked up..."

Without hesitation, Pado used the stun gun she had taken from the security guard on herself, accompanied by a soft electric shock. "How about that, calmed down a bit now?"

"Ouch!" The security guard couldn't help but whimper from the sudden poke, but he dared not move his body.

"It seems you've calmed down. You're not my target this time. I only brought you here to ask you some questions. I suggest you cooperate."

Pado lightly flicked the water-soaked stun gun off her hand, then switched it off. She used it to lift the man's chin, forcing him to look her in the eye, and coldly threatened:

"If I accidentally kill you, it'll be a huge hassle to deal with, understand?"

"!"

Hearing Pado's terrifying words and feeling her overwhelming aura, the man froze, then frantically nodded his head, as if afraid his head would fall off if he hesitated even a second longer.

"..."

Seeing the man lying on the ground nodding vigorously, Pado did not immediately remove the rag from his mouth.

Instead, amidst his terrified gaze, he took out his special weapon, twisted and spun around, and slashed at the container next to him. The huge container was instantly sliced ​​into two smooth sections as if it were a block of tofu.

"Think about the consequences before you do something. Uncle, do you think your voice travels faster, or you die faster?" After giving another warning, Pado gracefully and slowly picked out the rag from the man's mouth.

If the security guard had any ulterior motives before, after being intimidated by Pado, he immediately abandoned all such thoughts.

After all, he wasn't stupid. The woman in front of him wearing a strange mask was clearly someone not to be trifled with. Trying to pull any tricks at this moment would be like lighting a toilet in the dark—it would be suicide!

After the rag was taken away, the man had a strange taste in his mouth, but he dared not make any unnecessary movements. He could only swallow hard, suppressing his nausea, and cautiously flattered:

"If...if you have any questions, please tell me. If I know the answer, I will tell you everything!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Pado's eyes, and then she asked unhurriedly, "Who are those people? Where did they come from, and what are they planning to trade at the dock?"

"This……"

Hearing a series of sharp questions from the person in front of him, the man who had just been so confident while lying on the ground suddenly stopped speaking, and his expression became somewhat hesitant.

However, upon touching Patona's gleaming weapon, he seemed to have made up his mind, saying, "They're a gang from Sicily, but I really don't know what kind of deal they're making... but I suspect it's not good news..."

"Heh, so you knew they weren't up to any good, huh? You've got some nerve!" After hearing the man's words, Pado couldn't help but sneer. "So what kind of help did you provide them? They actually gave you so much money."

"Smuggling... They want me to help them smuggle raw materials into other warehouses and smooth things over with them. I want to get it done tonight..."

"Tsk, alright, let's stop the questioning for now. Now eat this." With that, Pado mercilessly tossed a dumpling-like object into the man's mouth.

Don't let

I noticed you vomited. Which is more important, your job, your life, or that gang? You should think about it carefully.

Fearing the strength of the person before him, the man could only reluctantly swallow the spicy meatball in his mouth, and at that moment he felt a burning sensation in his throat and stomach.

"I'll be going in later when the gangsters make their deal, so I'll leave it to you then, Uncle~" Pado didn't explain to the person lying on the ground what he had eaten, but instead spoke casually about what would happen next.

"Alright, you can go back to your workstation now." As Pado said this, she waved her arm lightly, and a sword light carrying a chilling aura slid past the man on the ground, cutting the ropes binding him.

"Oh, by the way, I think you probably don't want to know what will happen to you if my information gets leaked out, right?"

"...Yes...yes, I will definitely protect this matter to the death." The man, who was wet, was startled by the sudden chill and said, his teeth chattering.

After being thoroughly swayed by Pado's smooth combo, the man, who had no idea what he had just been fed and whose stomach was still burning, completely surrendered and had no other thoughts.

"Then get out of here!"

"Yes Yes!"

At Pado's prompting, the man dared not linger there for even a moment longer, dragging his body, which was stiff from the cold, as he scrambled and crawled outside.

Chapter 149 The Trio's Investigation Reveals

After Pado chased the security guard away, she didn't stay in the same spot, but quietly followed him.

Although she had already threatened him, and even pretended to feed him poison by giving him the super spicy candy that Gretchen had bought for Frostnova, just to be on the safe side, the cat decided to keep a closer eye on him to make sure he really didn't have any ulterior motives.

Although having some ulterior motives isn't necessarily a bad thing, these are special times, so Patto decided to be more cautious.

Finally, Pado kept a close watch on the man from the shadows for a while, and only after confirming that he wasn't making any suspicious moves did she quietly leave. She then went to investigate other areas and prepare for the night.

……

While Patto was busy running around for the "Trial", Swire was also busy in the Guard Bureau.

Taking advantage of the large number of files in the Guard Bureau and her extensive network of contacts, Swire did not choose to conduct on-site investigations like Patto did. Instead, she plunged headfirst into piles of documents and archives to collect relevant clues.

"Hey Swire, what have you been investigating since noon? Has some big case happened?" Hoshiguma, who had just returned after submitting her documents, couldn't help but ask Swire, who was still buried in her work at her desk.

As Hoshiguma asked this question, Chen, who was also handling official business in her office, couldn't help but look up at Swire. Clearly, although she hadn't asked, she was also quite curious about the matter.

"It's a big case... the kind that concerns dignity." Upon hearing this, Swire paused in flipping through the documents, then said seriously without looking up.

“?”×2

Not answering only made things worse; the other two people present became even more curious. The word "dignity," something so often spoken in such a serious tone by their bickering best friend, was unbelievable. Something was wrong, definitely wrong!

Then, Chen raised an eyebrow and said, "What big case? I don't know about it. Tell me about it, Swire."

"Yes, tell us what's wrong, and we might be able to help you."

“…Alright, but keep it a secret, understand?” Faced with the questions from her two friends, Swire pondered for a moment before looking up and saying.

"I understand, go ahead and say it." Upon hearing this, Chen and Xingxiong, as colleagues, nodded in perfect unison and then waited quietly for what was to come.

"Okay, let me think about how to bring this up..."

After organizing his thoughts briefly, Swire began to describe the "test" in simple and clear language.

If it were any other secret, Swire might have chosen to keep it from her two friends, but in her view, there was absolutely no need to hide it from Padofelis.

As for why you asked her, the reason is simple: Little Tiger doesn't think Pado's commotion tonight will be quiet. Since the commotion won't be quiet, it means their Guard Bureau is very likely to be on the scene. In that case, is there any need to keep it a secret?

Since my friend asked, I might as well just tell them directly, so that they can be mentally prepared and also make some practical preparations in advance.

"..."

"Char Siu Cat, you really kept a big secret!" After listening to Swire's account, Chen, sitting at his workstation, couldn't help but twitch his lips and said irritably.

"Ha, what do you mean I kept a big secret? I only just found out the details myself, okay? And who are you calling a char siu cat?! You damn dragon!" Upon hearing this, Swire didn't hold back and retorted without hesitation.