Shahai City, Western Regions Province.

This is the westernmost province of Zhuxia, and further west, there is a deserted wasteland, except for a few towns that have expanded from the supply stations established by the [Orient Express] stops, there is no truly civilized city.

Unlike the southern cities in the southwest province with some ethnic characteristics, Shahai City is more of a desert landscape.

The whole city is built on a hill, and from the highest point of the city, you can see the whole of the West Sea, and you can see the scattered towers, these towers of different shapes, rising from the cluster of houses, like the castle of the Pan West Sea region in the old era.

The sun shone on the tower, leaving a deep shadow.

Seventy percent of the inhabitants here are Zhuxia people, and the remaining thirty percent are half of mixed race, and half are traveling merchants from the Pan-Western Sea.

Walking on the street, you can see a variety of faces, hair colors, skin tones, eye colors, and clothing people in an endless stream, including Zhuxia people wearing casual jackets, black hair and black eyes, as well as blond hair and blue eyes, suits and leather shoes, and some mixed race people wearing brocade robes, with some Pan-Western Sea characteristics and slightly curly black hair.

In the middle of the city, there is no traditional city square in Zhuxia, but a large market with tents selling spices, food, clothing, fruits, etc., which is so large that it seems that the whole city was built around it.

The shops along the road exude the smell of spices and barbecue, roast lamb shank, roast chicken, lamb skewers, roasted beef, fried rice noodles, hand-grasped mutton, carrot stewed rice, and a variety of fruits and vegetables, which make passers-by stop and salivate.

"Students, this is the most prosperous bazaar in Shahai City, legend has it that in the old times, the market here brought together businessmen and travelers from all walks of life in Eurasia, and the politics, economy, and culture of the East and the West blended here, so that a unique cultural style was formed here, our train departed in the evening, everyone should not go far......"

A young female teacher led a dozen teenagers and girls who looked like college students, walking through the bazaar as if they were sightseeing, the students opened their curious eyes, and sometimes stopped their eyes because of something that they could not see in the interior of Zhuxia, and their clothes were slightly strange, heavy coats on the outside, but short sleeves on the inside.

This is due to the huge temperature difference between day and night here, even in winter, the temperature during the day can reach more than 20 degrees, dry and warm, but at night, the temperature may suddenly drop to more than ten degrees below zero, therefore, most of the people who live here for a long time are wearing two clothes, the coat is quite heavy, and the clothes inside are relatively thin.

Ignoring the students, a man in an ordinary leather jacket bought a few cakes and a few skewers in the store, looked around, and walked a little rusty through the street, avoiding the police officers patrolling the road and so on, and came to a secluded street.

Knocking on the door in the deepest part of the alley, the man whispered.

"The sunflowers are blooming."

It's a code to open the door.

In a moment, the wooden door opened, and he was able to enter the house.

There were several men in the room.

They had the typical appearance of the Zhuxia people, and their clothes were closer to the inland than to the local.

Sitting at the innermost was a middle-aged man of medium stature with his hair combed on his back.

His nasolabial folds are slightly deep, his eyes are lying silkworms, his originally sharp gaze is exhausted at the moment, and he has been overwhelmed by the escape for several days, and it is only at this time that this man really realizes that the rule of law in Zhuxia is really not blown.

This is the general manager of the former Jingshang Group, Qin Kewei, who is also a fugitive who is currently wanted by Zhuxia.

He had already put on a certain amount of makeup, and when the time came, he would be able to take the bus by sticking his beard and messing up his hair, covering one eye, and then leaning on his subordinates to divert his gaze.

It's all to blame on Zhuyunfeng!

Qin Kewei was quite resentful in his heart at this time, and Zhu Yunfeng made everything mess up.

Originally, Qin Kewei could be the general manager of his Jingshang Group and obtain a huge amount of wealth, as for reselling a little cultural relics, it was a trivial matter, as long as there were no major problems, he could be bailed out with money, and if he couldn't go to prison for a few years, he would be a man after he came out.

But Zhu Yunfeng actually got involved in the abyss relics, and he also had a holiday with the upgraders, you know, although the tainted witnesses of the Abyss Relic Affairs Division can be exempted from heavy punishment, but if he provokes those crazy upgraders, Zhu Yunfeng's fate is Qin Ke's terrible fate.

Fortunately, he planted a lot of eyeliner in the three major illegal organizations at that time, and learned about the police's movements at the first time, so he ran away decisively, taking care of his family like Zhu Yunfeng, hesitating, and the final outcome was only death!

Qin Kewei met some business friends in the Pan Xihai, and he also consciously purchased some assets over there a few years ago, and now in the past, if nothing else, at least he can live well, and when the time comes, he will change his face and become an ordinary rich man, wouldn't it be beautiful.

He had eaten briefly, but he didn't know what it tasted like, so he just waited for the evening when the [Orient Express] departed.

The train will depart in the evening, and in seven days it will arrive in the city of New Constein, a trans-Western commercial community, where it will spend tonight, and the night before the station, in the wilderness, of course, not far from the city, so that the danger is not high.

In addition to the ordinary police officers, there are also upgrader conductors on the train, and it is not a problem to deal with regular upgrader criminals or wasteland beasts.

And Qin Kewei will take this train and leave Zhuxia.

He knew that Zhuxia's police and the Abyss Relic Affairs Department should have investigated his family background a long time ago, so he changed his route, changed his appearance, and deliberately delayed for a few days before coming to Shahai City to avoid the peak of the inspection.

Thinking about what to do next, Qin Kewei suddenly heard a knock on the door.

Knock Knock Knock –

A knock on the door?

Qin Kewei shook his head, he looked at his subordinates, these were all his henchmen, all of them were standing here well, no one left?

"Is it ......?"

Qin Kewei remembered someone.

JOKER!!

He was able to transform into other people's forms and blend in with him, and ordinary people would not be able to detect his disguise.

And this Ascended Criminal, obviously because of Qin Kewei and Zhu Yunfeng's plan, something happened and disappeared after the natural disaster, and many people speculated that he was dead, dying in that natural disaster.

But Qin Kewei didn't think so.

HE THINKS THAT THE MONSTER THIEF JOKER IS STILL ALIVE AND IS PLOTTING REVENGE, AND THE TARGET IS HIMSELF!

Qin Kewei stood up and asked his subordinates to hand over the gun.

The rest of the people also took out their guns with silencers, and they looked at each other, and no one dared to go first.

Knock Knock Knock –

The knock on the door sounded again, and Qin Ke made a fearful look and asked the person closest to go over to check the situation.

"Who, who?"

The man hid behind the wall and asked with a slight humility.

"Open the door and deliver the courier."

The voice on the other side had a distinct Western Regions accent, and it seemed that it was really just a courier.

The subordinate glanced at Qin Kezhen, he motioned to open the door, and the subordinate put away the pistol and slowly opened the door.

On the other side of the door, three of Qin Ke's fearful men waited, ready to shoot at any moment.

Qin Kewei saw the other party's appearance.

Wearing a gray plain overalls, wearing a peaked cap, and holding a Panda Logistics express box in his hand.

Seems like a courier?

Qin Ke squinted his eyes, and he heard the other party speak.

"Qin is terrible, here is your courier."

“！！！”

The hairs on Qin Ke's back exploded, and the whole person was suddenly startled.

How did he know that I was Qin Kewei?

How did he find here?

What exactly is he going to do?

Who is he?

In surprise, the corners of the courier brother's mouth curled slightly, and he walked into the room generously.

He put down the express box in his hand very leisurely, and then walked towards Qin Ke.

"Still, what are you doing in a daze, shooting!"

Qin Kewei hurriedly shouted, but the other people in the room didn't seem to hear Qin Kewei's voice at all, and they didn't move, as if the courier brother didn't exist at all.

What kind of bird thing!?

Qin Kewei raised his pistol and pulled the trigger on the man.

Click, click, click

But after three consecutive blows, the bullets in the pistol seemed to be missing, and the pistol did not react at all.

At this time, the other party had already come to Qin Kewei's face, and he leisurely took out a monocle from his pocket and put it on his right eye.

"I, I can give you money, I can help you, I know people in the Pan Western Sea, I can give you whatever you want......"

But in the face of Qin's fearful begging for mercy, the courier brother only tilted his head.

"Hehe, corpse, talking."

？

Qin Kewei had just heard this, and before he had time to think about it, he noticed something unusual.

Starting from the subordinate who opened the door at the beginning, along the distance from the door to the front of Qin Kejing, a blood mark appeared on the neck of each of them.

Flutter –

As if he had only reacted now, a large amount of blood gushed out from the wound, and his men covered their necks one by one, fell to the ground and convulsed, and there was no more movement.

And Qin Ke was afraid, and subconsciously raised his hand and touched his neck.

There, there was a wound!

When, and how did he do it?

Qin Kewei had countless questions in his mind, but with the scorching blood gushing, he no longer had the strength to think about such a question.

Plop –

Qin Kewei fell, died, and died by slitting his throat.

Looking at the mess in the room, Bai Ge, the courier brother who was not stained with a little blood, sighed.

In a sense, this is Bai Ge's first time killing people.

Although when facing Bi Zhenyan, Bai Ge did have the intention to kill and had the consciousness of killing, but in fact, Bi Zhenyan was not dead, and from the legal point of view, Bai Ge was at most an attempted murder.

As for the [Earthly Python], [Xuanyuan] is mainly Xuanyuan's hand.

And what really came out of Bai Ge's will, with Bai Ge's planning, and Bai Ge's hands, was implemented this time.

"It doesn't seem like there's anything special."

Bai Ge smiled and grabbed his right hand forward.

A stack of bills appeared in his hand, which was in the wallets of everyone present.

"Killing people and overselling goods is really a complete crime."

Bai Ge counted it, there were five thousand four hundred pounds of Pan-Western Sea Commercial Community banknotes, as well as five hundred and twenty-seven yuan of Zhuxia currency, plus five cents for change.

The currency unit of the Pan-Western Sea Business Community is the pound, and its exchange rate is basically 1:1 up and down with Zhuxia, and it seems to be 0.9:1 recently, although Bai Ge has complained before that since the exchange rates are about the same, why not just unify the calculation, but the political teacher can say a lot of theories such as purchasing power, monetary sovereignty, gold reserves, and trade deficit to shut up obediently, and Bai Ge will no longer be entangled.

"Five thousand yuan, it's too poor and sour."

It's a real estate tycoon, and he dares to take the [Orient Express] with only 5,000 yuan, and I feel that this money is not enough for so many people to eat on the road.

Bai Ge couldn't help but say.

He didn't take the money just because he wanted it.

One is because, unlike Zhuxia, the mobile payment means of the Pan-Xihai Business Community are not developed, unlike Zhuxia here, even beggars can scan the code to pay, and they prefer cash, or credit cards, checks, etc., and it is necessary to prepare a certain amount of cash.

The second is because, Bai Ge doesn't want to expose his whereabouts too much, so he has already sealed his electronic payment function, and he has not let his mobile phone connect to the local signal, for this reason, his mobile games have been broken for several days, and only when he arrives in the Pan Xihai can Bai Ge live a modern life again.

Therefore, Bai Ge just took the money for his own needs.

Putting away the cash, Bai Ge left the room, locked the door for him quite thoughtfully, and then changed his clothes and changed his appearance.

He was now wearing a cheap double-breasted dark coat with a cloak that was very popular with the Pan-Western Sea people of this season, a white shirt, a red tie, slightly messy hair under a half-height silk top hat, a face with a little Pan-Western Sea features, dark brown and almost black eyes, a monocle in his right eye, gold thread extending from the lens, buried deep in the neckline, holding a black cane, just like those gentlemen of the Pan-Western Sea.

In addition to the common impression of blonde hair and blue eyes, there are also black hair, brown eyes, silver hair, red hair, brown hair, etc., as well as a variety of different eye colors, so their low-level ascenders are slightly troublesome to manage.

"A ticket for the [Orient Express], first class, thank you."

Bai Ge handed out the banknote and bought the ticket from the conductor.

"Please register your name and show your ID."

The female conductor saw that it was a good-looking gentleman, and the corners of her mouth and voice softened a lot.

"Okay."

Bai Ge handed over his forged documents for the Pan-Western Sea Business Community.

"Please take your ticket, this is the last first class seat on this train, you are very lucky, I wish you a pleasant ride."

The conductor gave a brief look of confirmation and handed it back to Bai Ge.

"Thank you."

Bai Ge took the ticket and glanced at it casually.

The name on it is, Arsin Hercule.

...

...

“...... Qin Ke is afraid to death? ”

Jingjiang, when Chen Chuchuan received the call, he had just coaxed his daughter to sleep, sitting on the sofa alone, looking at the relevant information.

In the past few days, Chen Chuchuan has been looking for the relevant criminal suspects who are now named "12.31 Jingjiang Natural Disaster Incident", of course, the matter about the upgrader is not Chen Chuchuan's domain, he is looking for members of illegal organizations like Qin Kewei.

However, less than half a month after the incident, this phone call suddenly woke him up.

Qin Kewei was found dead in a rented house near the Grand Bazaar in Shahai City, Western Regions Province, and at the same time he was found with the bodies of eight members of the illegal organization, their deaths were surprisingly consistent, they were all slashed through the throat with some kind of sharp weapon, and they lost too much blood and suffocated to death, this kind of death was quite painful.

Surveillance cameras in the vicinity did not capture any footage of the suspects, and in fact, if it weren't for the next-door neighbors complaining about the smell of Qin's rental house, it might have been a few more days before the police could have found their bodies.

Chen Chuchuan hung up the phone, confused in his heart.

In Shizue's series of events, he is like a three-year-old child, from beginning to end, without figuring out anything.

Even the call from the Abyss Relic Affairs Department didn't come after that day.

Chen Chuchuan couldn't help but miss the impolite female voice a little.

At that time, in the square, he clearly saw someone fighting with natural disasters and monsters, but Chen Chuchuan didn't remember the other party's appearance.

He was saved by someone he didn't know in this way, and until now, it was like a dream, which made Chen Chuchuan feel incredible.

Chen Chuchuan was ordered to rest at home because of the erosion of natural disasters, and he could not return to his post until at least half a year later, but during the time at home, Chen Chuchuan did not relax, but asked his colleagues to bring materials and analyze and study them by himself.

Therefore, when he heard that Qin Kewei had died, Chen Chuchuan was surprised, but he also suddenly had some kind of happiness that his profession should not exist.

At least this guy did not escape the sanction of death......

Chen Chuchuan let out a long sigh, and then, the mobile phone rang again.

No. 10,000, is the Abyss Relic Affairs Division!

Chen Chuchuan took the phone, and without waiting for the other party to speak, he said urgently.

"Are you alright?"

“...... In Jingjiang's case, your police work can be concluded, just hand over the information to us for processing, it's hard work. ”

However, after hesitating for a moment, what came from the other side was a voice that Chen Chuchuan had never heard.

Chen Chuchuan's heart suddenly became much heavier.

"The previous person in charge of Jingjiang ...... How are they? ”

He subconsciously asked, although this was beyond his authority, Chen Chuchuan still wanted to know.

"They protected the city."

The other party replied and added.

"Thank you so much for remembering them."

Then he hung up.

Chen Chuchuan looked at his mobile phone in a daze, and suddenly his eyes turned red, and his wife came out of the room with a blanket and draped it on Chen Chuchuan's shoulders.

"What's wrong?"

The wife asked with concern.

"Nothing...... It's just that something comes to mind that shouldn't be forgotten. ”

Chen Chuchuan sighed and was silent.

...

...

Jingjiang, inside the hospital.

Zhu Shuang looked quietly at the lead-gray clouds outside the window, as if expecting something, and seemed to just watch.

THE MONSTER THIEF JOKER DIDN'T COME AS PROMISED.

Bai Ge, since that day, has never been here.

Through the news, Bamboo Frost also knew what happened on Chinese New Year's Eve.

It's hard for her not to associate the two and have some bad thoughts.

BUT ZHU SHUANG PROMISED BAI GE, AND ALSO PROMISED THE STRANGE THIEF JOKER THAT HE WOULD LIVE WELL.

The bandage on her left hand had been removed, as had the bandage on her eye this morning.

There was nothing in the hollow right eye, only long flaxen hair.

The cuff of her right hand was empty, and the scar on her left hand was indelible, along with the shocking burn marks on her body, which were likely to accompany her for the rest of her life.

But the bamboo frost still decided to live.

More than 3,000 people died in the New Year's disaster, and there may be many people who died in this incident, and they didn't even have a chance to choose to live.

Zhu Shuangzhu thinks that he can't live up to it, and he can't live up to the fact that he still exists.

If one day, you will die, it is also the time when you really reach the end of your destiny and must use this as the end.

But that's not now.

As I thought, the door to the ward opened.

Zhu Shuang turned his face suddenly, and the expression of anticipation was fleeting when he saw the other party, turning into confusion.

In front of me, it is a woman about 20 years old, with a good appearance, wearing a white shirt decorated with green bamboo leaves and a wakasa-colored slip dress, but the design of the skirt is different from the dress, it is the right collar of the traditional style of Zhuxia, and there are fine and complex bird embroidery on the neckline, a white belt is simply tied to the waist, hanging down, and there are phoenix feathers and other patterns representing auspiciousness.

The woman's long black hair was draped in a soft batch and tied behind her head with a ribbon, and it could be seen that there were many fiery red colors in her black hair, like a flame burning quietly in the dark night, and a feather-like hair ornament was hidden in the middle, which was particularly conspicuous.

Her bright golden eyes watched the bamboo frost fall, which made the girl suddenly feel an inexplicable palpitation, as if she was overlooked by some high-ranking being.

"You are?"

Zhu Shuangchuan turned around, not choosing to cover her crippled body in front of strangers, in the past few days, she has gradually tried to accept her disability and accept her current self.

If you can't even accept yourself, then how can you stand in front of others?

How can he stand in front of Bai Ge again?

"Abyss Relic Affairs Division, Shi Wutong."

The woman said simply, not intending to explain more, and carefully looked at the bamboo frost fall.

"Do you know Bai Ge?"

“...... Well. ”

Zhu Shuang's heart suddenly tightened, she was afraid that the other party would bring the news that she didn't want to hear.

"DO YOU KNOW JOKER?"

“...... Well? ”

Bamboo Frost didn't wait for the news, but a series of questions, which made her feel very confused.

"DO YOU KNOW THAT BAI GE IS THE MONSTER THIEF JOKER?"

Woman, Shi Wutong asked again as if it was a routine matter.

“？”

At this time, the brain really stopped.

ALTHOUGH THE MONSTER THIEF JOKER GIVES THE BAMBOO FROST A SIMILAR FEELING TO BAI GE, SHE DOESN'T MIX THE TWO TOGETHER AT ALL, JUST BECAUSE OF THE SIMILARITY, SHE HAS A SLIGHT FAMILIARITY WITH THE MONSTER THIEF JOKER.

BUT NOW, THIS PERSON ACTUALLY SAID THAT BAI GE IS A MONSTER THIEF JOKER???

The bamboo frost is completely messy.

SHE REMEMBERED WHAT THE THIEF JOKER HAD SAID AND DONE TO HER, AND THE HONEST WORDS SHE HAD CONFIDED TO HIM......

Bamboo Frost's face turned red, and a sense of shame occupied her heart.

"Don't worry, Bai Ge is not dead, he left Jingjiang because of some things and will not come back for the time being."

Shi Wutong said simply, so that the bamboo frost finally put his mind at ease.

That's great.

It's really good.

Bamboo frost fell in the heart so thought.

If I had a tail, I would be shaking it all the time, and I wouldn't be able to suppress the joy in my heart.

Knowing this, she was more happy than hearing that her wound was hopefully healed.

"In addition, according to the report he submitted before, well, after the investigation of our Abyss Relic Affairs Division, it was decided to give you, Bamboo Frost Fall, take the Rainbow of Ascension, and absorb you as one of us, because you may not know, so I will briefly say that when you take the Rainbow of Ascension, you will become an Ascender, and your body will be reshaped, and your current injuries, whether it is your eyes, your right hand, or your body, can be completely healed."

Shi Wutong rarely said a long paragraph, but the cold voice shocked Zhu Shuangxue again.

SHE THOUGHT OF THE "TEASER LETTER" THAT THE MONSTER THIEF JOKER HAD GIVEN HER.

It turns out that when he said "impossible" to steal himself, he meant that.

“...... Swindler. ”

Bamboo Frost muttered in a lowered voice.

"Why don't you come by yourself......"

She was stunned, like a cloud outside the window.

"I'm here today to confirm what you mean, if you don't want to become an elevated or join the Abyss Relic Affairs Division, then we won't force you, after all, this line of work is quite dangerous, and most of the people's names and existence records will be erased, which means that even if you die, your family or friends will not know why you died."

The corners of Shi Wutong's mouth moved slightly, but he still said in an indifferent tone.

“...... If you join the Abyss Relic Affairs Division, will you be able to help more people? ”

Bamboo Frost thought for a moment and asked.

"Of course, that's what we're here for."

Shi Wutong bowed slightly.

"Can I, will I be able to see Bai Ge again?"

Zhu Shuang asked again.

"I can't guarantee that, but as long as you live well, you will always see you again."

Shi Wutong seemed to remember something, and paused for a moment before continuing.

"So, according to the regulations of the Abyss Relic Affairs Division, I want to ask you, are you willing to stay incognito for the rest of your life just to protect this world?"

Hearing the other party's inquiry, Zhu Shuang was silent for a long time, and then nodded solemnly.

"I do."

...

...

At night, Jingjiang Cemetery.

The two men were walking slowly along the path of the cemetery, and their goal was the wordless stone monument located in the corner of the cemetery.

This is the tombstone of the deceased of the Abyss Relic Affairs Division.

There will be no name, birth, death, place of origin on the tombstone, and there will be no writing.

There are only numbers, telling the latecomers how many Inspectors of the Abyss Relic Affairs Division have paid with their lives to protect the city.

Standing in front of the five brand-new tombs, one of them spoke.

"Damn, won't this group of people be a little cowardly?"

"We lost our lives like this, we still have to write investigation reports, and we have to draw new people from people who are not enough in the first place, it is really just trouble or trouble."

"There is also the abnormal movement of [Xuanyuan], the old man has not been in the right state recently, he always wants to run out, I guess it has something to do with that kid, hey, what a group of guys who are dead and uneasy."

"If it hadn't been for the fact that the Order had made some noise in Sichuan and Shu yesterday, I should have been able to come over faster, maybe I wouldn't have ......."

He chattered and talked a lot, and finally bent down and placed the bouquet in front of the tomb.

"Li Siye, what would you do if you encountered them in this situation?"

Beside him, Shi Wutong, who was a head shorter and had a fire shining in his black hair, asked.

"Probably, it will be the same as them."

Li Siye sighed.

"The newcomers from Jingjiang's side will arrive tomorrow, and we can go back to Ningjiang, eldest sister."

"Well, I know, I found a good seedling this time, and I should be able to take it back to exercise well."

"Nice seedlings? It's rare to let the eldest sister say such things to you. ”

"Who knows, if the phoenix is not bathed in fire, who knows if it can be reborn?"

"I'm looking forward to it more and more."

"Use the secret message to contact our colleagues in the Pan Xihai and ask them to help Bai Ge more, but I think he may not need help at all."

"Okay."

"Let's go."

Shi Wutong bowed deeply to the tombstone of the unknown person, and at this time, she noticed that in front of the brand-new five tombstones, in addition to them, there was a bouquet of flowers offered by other people.

Daisies, sunflowers, and carnations are all flowers with beautiful meanings.

Shi Wutong looked at the flowers and found that there was a line of small words on the tombstone.

The words are like knife carvings, light and profound, even with time.

With his fingers caressing, Shi Wutong read out the epitaph-like text.

"Their names are unknown, and their deeds live on."

...

...

(Volume I. Strange thief, end)

**

Tomorrow, I will take time off to write a summary, and by the way, I will sort out the outline of the second volume and ask for various votes~