Not everyone likes a staff.

  But a staff is useful.

  A staff is also more pragmatic than a sword—when it strikes, it often considers what it′s aiming for first.

  If a sword is drawn, it will strike only at a person′s fatal weakness.

  Especially this sword.

  Drawing this sword comes at a price, and sheathing it comes at a price as well.

  The cost of drawing it is money. The cost of sheathing it is blood.

  --------

  More than an hour had passed. Jin Shi and the man in bck were still sitting there, and so were Guo Dalu and his companions. They couldn′t bear to leave, nor could they afford to.

  If Guo Dalu were to take out that gold ingot to pay the bill, wouldn′t that be the same as decring himself a thief?

  Gun Zi finally returned, and only then did Guo Dalu get a clear look at his face.

  His face was nothing more than skin stretched over bone—devoid of expression, devoid of flesh.

  Jin Shi asked, “Well?”

  Gun Zi replied, “That man′s surname isn′t Gao—it′s Song. He used to be the accountant for ‘Liaodong Cattle & Sheep Company’ in Zhangjiakou. He embezzled money from his boss and fled here. That′s why, even after losing the gold, he didn′t dare make a fuss.”

  (T/N: 张家口; zhāngjiākǒu; is a prefecture-level city in Hebei.)

  Jin Shi sneered. “So that′s his usual trick—getting a hold of someone′s weakness before making his move.”

  Gun Zi said, “His method of operation is always the same—clean and precise. The doors and windows remain untouched, yet the gold is gone.”

  Jin Shi asked, “When did it go missing?”

  Gun Zi replied, “Last night.”

  Jin Shi said, “Whenever he makes a move, it′s never just one job—at the very least, it′s thirteen major cases. That′s his usual pattern.”

  Gun Zi said, “Besides that Song fellow, I′ve uncovered five more cases.”

  Jin Shi asked, “Do those five people also have criminal records?”

  Gun Zi nodded. “Yes. One of them was even a former underling of the Lushang Longwang before he washed his hands of crime. Now he′s married and has children.”

  Jin Shi said, “Well, they were unfortunate enough to cross paths with him. Let′s cut them some sck.”

  Gun Zi didn′t say a word. He simply looked at his own hands and let out a cold ugh.

  Jin Shi chuckled and said, "Actually, I know you′d never loosen your grip. Anyone connected to Lushang Longwang is bound to have bad luck when they run into you. But you′d better be careful—if you ever come face-to-face with Lushang Longwang and that venomous snake, the one in trouble will be you."

  Gun Zi continued to sneer coldly without saying a word.

  Jin Shi went on, "Either way, it seems the information we received was accurate. He really has been hiding here all these years."

  Gun Zi replied, "The person who gave me this information is reliable. Otherwise, why would I have made you pay ten thousand taels for it?"

  Jin Shi said, "But if he′s been lying low here for seven or eight years, why would he suddenly make a move now?"

  Gun Zi smirked. "Itchy hands."

  They weren′t worried about being overheard, so of course, Guo Dalu caught every word.

  He had to admit—this Jia Gun was quite capable.

  But who exactly were they referring to?

  Suddenly, Gun Zi sneered again. "Since he committed a crime here st night, he must still be in the city. I saw everyone who left town this morning. Apart from a slightly conspicuous group of street performers, the rest were ordinary folks."

  Jin Shi asked, "Could he have smuggled the stolen goods out of the city with that group?"

  Gun Zi shook his head. "Judging by the dust on their feet, they couldn′t be carrying more than ten taels of silver."

  A sinister smile suddenly crept onto Jin Shi′s lips. "So that means he must still be in the city."

  Hearing this, Guo Dalu could barely resist asking them, How do you know he didn′t slip away using a side path? And how do you know he won′t escape now?

  Of course, he couldn′t actually ask.

  Luckily, he didn′t have to—Gun Zi answered on his own.

  "If he makes a move, it′s for at least ten thousand tons of gold. I′ve already set up covert checkpoints all around. No one is getting out of here with that much gold."

  Jin Shi nodded. "And he′d never willingly give up what he′s taken. That man values money more than life itself—he′s known for swallowing it whole, bones and all. Once it′s in his belly, he′d rather die than spit it back out."

  Gun Zi let out a cold ugh. “That′s his old habit. I′ve known for a long time that one day, this habit will cost him his reputation.”

  Jin Shi said, “But the man is too cunning. His disguise skills are exceptional—he can even alter his height and build.”

  Yet Guo Dalu still sat there grinning, completely unfazed, as if he couldn′t care less.

  In truth, he never cared about anything. And now, with his belly full of Yan Maoyuan′s aged Zhuye Qing wine, he cared even less.

  Gun Zi′s face remained expressionless as he fixed his gaze on Guo Dalu′s eyes. Slowly, he stood up. Slowly, he walked forward.

  His face had a bluish tint, and his eyes were chillingly sinister. If a timid person saw him at night, they wouldn′t just blurt out the truth—he might scare them so badly they′d let out more than just words.

  “This guy shouldn′t be called Gun Zi—he should be called a zombie instead.”