Chapter 9

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Bai Qiu, have you betrayed my trust in you after all these years?” Butler Zhang asked.

His voice was as calm as the surface of the water, but anyone could tell that beneath the calm surface of the water was a volcano that was about to erupt.

“Butler Zhang, I’m really not a thief. You have to believe me.” Bai Qiu pleaded.

“Then why are you going to the logistics department at night?” Butler Zhang asked expressionlessly.

“I’m always worried about the things in the warehouse. I’m afraid that something might go wrong, so I’m used to checking them every night. I’m doing this for the Han family! To protect the Han family’s property!”

“You’re lying. Bai Qiu, I’ve known you for so many years. When you’re lying, I’ll know immediately. You should know that you were able to enter the Han Residence because I had made a guarantee to Old Master Han.”

“Tell me everything clearly. When the time comes, I can still plead with master. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Butler Zhang advised.

Bai Qiu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he thought of something else and decided not to speak.

Seeing his expression, Butler Zhang did not say anything more. He only said, “After the accounts are checked, I’ll settle my accounts with you.”

The logistics department was very lively now. Butler Zhang had specially transferred the accounts from the Han family’s shop in town to check the accounts and tally up the materials in the warehouse.

A few people were verifying the accounting records. A large group of people were counting the materials in the warehouse according to the contents of the accounting records.

The warehouse of the logistics department was not very important. It only stored some daily necessities for the courtyard guards and workers. Among the items, the most valuable ones were the pills that were usually given to the courtyard guards.

The truly valuable things were stored in the treasure vault of the Han Residence. Only a few people in the Han Residence knew where the treasure vault was located, and Butler Zhang was one of them.

After professional accounting, the results were soon out.

“There is no problem with the account, and nothing is missing?” After getting the results from the accountant, Butler Zhang was slightly surprised.

“Could it be that it’s really what Bai Qiu said? He’s just worried and goes to check the supplies every night?” Butler Zhang thought to himself.

However, when he noticed that Bai Qiu was hesitant to speak, he felt that the matter was not that simple.

“Who discovered that Steward Bai went to the logistic department at night?” Butler Zhang asked.

Wang Qiang quickly replied, “It was Lu Yu. After Lu Yu informed me that there was a thief in the logistic department, I brought the other courtyard guards and caught Steward Bai.”

“Lu Yu?” Butler Zhang looked at Lu Yu. He remembered that he was the very talented rookie.

“Tell me, how did you find out that Steward Bai was a thief?” Butler Zhang’s expression was a little friendlier, but he still looked very serious.

In Butler Zhang’s opinion, Lu Yu’s performance was quite good. He was also very talented. Not long after he became an official courtyard guard, he had already made a big contribution.

Butler Zhang had a very good impression of Lu Yu, but he was in a very bad mood and looked a little angry.

Lu Yu said, “I didn’t know that Steward Bai was the thief.”

Butler Zhang was a little surprised by Lu Yu’s words.

“When I was looking for Wang Qiang, I only said that I found a suspicious person entering and leaving the logistic department. When I was on patrol, I found that person came to the logistic department every night, but I was always one step slower and couldn’t catch the suspicious person.”

“It was probably because I was too weak, so I was always one step slower. So, I stayed in the logistic department and immediately contacted other courtyard guards to help catch the suspicious person.”

Lu Yu said that he saw a suspicious person, while Wang Qiang said that it was Lu Yu who asked them to catch the thief. The two of them had different words.

Butler Zhang looked at Wang Qiang, and Wang Qiang quivered, he hurriedly explained, “Butler Zhang, it was my fault. At that time, Lu Yu did say that a suspicious person appeared in the logistic department and asked us to help catch the person. I’m not sure if that suspicious person was a thief.”

Wang Qiang heard it. There was no problem with the account book, and nothing was lost in the warehouse. Moreover, Butler Zhang and Steward Bai knew each other for a long time. If he insisted that Steward Bai was a thief, wouldn’t that be looking for trouble?

Wang Qiang looked like a rough man, but he was clever in his heart. Otherwise, he would not have been able to get the position of the head of the outer court guards.

The head of the courtyard guards was only recognized by everyone, and it was not a position established by the Han Residence.

The reason why Lu Yu insisted that Steward Bai was a suspicious person was that after he had captured Steward Bai, he did not receive any notification from the game system that he had completed the mission. This meant that Steward Bai was not the thief.

Butler Zhang looked at Steward Bai again and said, “I know what you are hiding something. If you tell me now, there is still a chance. Otherwise, everything will be left to master to decide. I can’t save you then.”

Steward Bai thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and shook his head to show that he did not know anything. He did not want to implicate Butler Zhang.

Seeing this, Butler Zhang ordered, “Take him away. Pay attention. Do not torture him. He is only a suspect, not a criminal.”

“Yes.”

A few courtyard guards put Steward Bai down from the pillar and led him to the dungeon.

Although the law said that any family, organization, or power could not set up a dungeon without permission, which family did not have basements?

Maybe they just liked living in the basement and liked the decorations of the dungeon.

Moreover, the Han family was the largest family in Windmill Town. Under normal circumstances, the government of Windmill Town would not care about the internal affairs of the Han family as long as the Han family did not make it public.

“The rest of you can disperse! Wang Qiang, Lu Yu, the two of you follow me.” Butler Zhang walked towards the main hall of the martial arts practice field, which was the door from the outer court to the inner court.

Walking to the main hall’s door, Butler Zhang said, “This matter is not that simple. I’ll leave this matter to the two of you to investigate.”

“Yes.” Lu Yu replied.

“I will definitely do my best.” Wang Qiang replied.

He looked at Lu Yu and said, “You discovered that Steward Bai had been entering the logistics department secretly in the middle of the night. Supposedly, you should be rewarded. However, the matter has not been resolved yet. The reward can only be postponed.”

Lu Yu nodded and said, “I understand.”

He then looked at Wang Qiang and said, “You have been in the outer court for ten years!”

“Ten years and three months.” Wang Qiang replied.

“If you handle this matter well, you’ll be qualified to enter the inner court.” Butler Zhang casually mentioned it and turned around to enter the main hall.

Wang Qiang was very excited when he heard this and said loudly, “I promise to give Butler Zhang a satisfactory explanation.”

“No, it’s to give the Han Residence a satisfactory explanation.” Butler Zhang’s voice came from the main hall.

Wang Qiang corrected him, “Yes, I promise to give the Han Residence and Butler Zhang a satisfactory explanation.”

Wang Qiang patted Lu Yu’s shoulder excitedly and said, “Let’s go! We are now specialized in investigating Steward Bai’s case. I’ll find someone else to replace you for the night patrol.”

Hearing that Wang Qiang was going to cancel the mission that allowed him to steadily gain experience points, Lu Yu hurriedly stopped him, “No! That won’t do. Patrolling is what I should do as a courtyard guard. I can’t stop.”

“Besides, we’re going to investigate the logistics department anyway. My patrolling mission won’t hinder the investigation.”

Seeing that he wanted to patrol so much, Wang Qiang was a little speechless. However, he was also persuaded by Lu Yu and didn’t continue to mention the shift change.

“This time, it’s really thanks to you. Otherwise, I’m afraid that I won’t have a chance to enter the inner court for the rest of my life.” Wang Qiang said sincerely.

Lu Yu was also a little curious when he heard him say that. He asked, “Is it that difficult to enter the inner court?”

“Difficult? Of course it’s difficult!” Wang Qiang and Lu Yu said as they walked.

“The first condition to enter the inner court is to be loyal to the Han family. This condition isn’t too difficult to meet. You can meet it after staying in the Han Residence for three to four years. The second condition is to have your cultivation reach the seventh level of the body refining realm.”

“I’m now at the sixth level of the body refining realm. I’m old and my body is not as strong as it used to be. It’s too difficult for me to advance further. I reckon I won’t have any hope of breaking through to the seventh level of the body refining realm in my entire life.”

“In the body refining realm, the seventh level is like the barrier to heaven. Many people are stuck at the sixth level and can’t break through.” Wang Qiang’s tone was a little regretful.

Lu Yu didn’t care about what Wang Qiang said about the barrier. Instead, he was more concerned about the “three to four years.”

The time flow in the game was the same as the time in real life. One day in the game was equivalent to one day in real life. How could he have the time to stay here for three to four years in exchange for the trust of the Han Residence.

Moreover, with the strength he would have in these three to four years, he would probably be able to flatten this novice village long ago.

However, if he wanted to become a free person by breaking through the body refining realm and becoming a squire, it would be too slow to rely on the resources of the outer court.

Lu Yu was determined to get into the inner court, but he definitely would not spend so much time to gain the trust of the Han family.

He suddenly remembered that a few days ago, when he passed the test, Wang Qiang had said that Yang Xiu had also passed the test last year.

This meant that Yang Xiu had only entered the Han Residence last year, but now he was already an inner court guard. This meant that there must be a way to quickly get into the inner court, but he did not know.

Of course, Lu Yu also knew the fastest way. It was to break through the body refining realm, and then the Han family would welcome him into the inner court and made him a squire.

Seeing the logistics department right before his eyes, Lu Yu tossed this unrealistic idea out of his mind. If he had the ability to directly break through the body refining realm, why would he enter the inner court? Wouldn’t it be better for him to just leave?

The logistics department was still running without Steward Bai. The deputy steward who usually worked under Steward Bai was temporarily in charge of the affairs of the logistics department. He was in charge of distributing, exchanging, and purchasing materials for others.

With the authorization of Butler Zhang, Wang Qiang and Lu Yu could freely enter and leave the logistics department. No one stopped them.

It was also Wang Qiang’s first time entering the logistics department. The scene inside was not quite what he had imagined.

It was Lu Yu’s second time entering the logistic department. The first time he came was when he sneaked in. However, it was night time and he couldn’t see anything clearly.

The workers of the logistic department came in and out. They wore gray coarse clothes. There were no pockets on their bodies and there were hemp ropes tied around their waists. There was no chance for them to carry anything.

Even if something was hidden in their clothes, the thin layer of coarse clothes couldn’t hide anything. It was so thin that one could see through the clothes. Therefore, basically no one would choose to play tricks.

Moreover, some of the more valuable things were directly taken by the person-in-charge into the warehouse and then recorded.

There were two insurances. One was the details of the collection, exchange, and purchase in the accounting room. The other was the details of what was taken out of the warehouse and recorded in the record books. If something happened, it would be easy to be discovered.

Lu Yu discovered one thing. All the pills were personally handled by the person-in-charge. The others would not have come into contact with the pills at all.

Steward Bai should be the one who in charge of managing the flow of the medicinal pills.

Thinking of this, he asked the temporary person-in-charge. The temporary person-in-charge said that all the medicinal pills in the logistics department had been managed by Steward Bai before. The others had not had the chance to come into contact with the pills..