The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 402 The Speculation of the Clock Diagram

"There seem to be even more people at today's food festival than yesterday?"

On his way to the event, looking at the bustling crowds all around him, Cao Dongdong couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Although the association has done its best to notify everyone, it will inevitably take some time under such circumstances." Qin Lang was not surprised and said with a smile, "Some citizens only received the news today."

"Therefore, there will be more people today than yesterday."

“Then we need to hurry,” Zhao Qian couldn’t help but say, “otherwise we might miss the first performance of the day.”

"Luckily, there are only three of us here today, so buying three tickets should be easier than yesterday."

Di You and two legend scholars set off early in the morning at the same time as them, but their destination was the Museum of Heroes in Lanqiu City.

“Let’s quicken our pace.” Qin Lang nodded. “Hopefully, Zuo Ge and his team will make some progress.”

The three of them talked as they sped toward the event.

Soon, the crowd queuing to enter came into view.

"Qin Lang, look over there?" Cao Dongdong looked around and suddenly lowered his voice, "Doesn't that look like Captain Zhong?"

Captain Zhong?
Qin Lang looked in the direction of the sound and indeed saw Zhong Tu. Although he was wearing casual clothes instead of a uniform, he looked around with a serious expression, as if he were on patrol.

Sensing Qin Lang's gaze, Zhong Tu looked over. Their eyes met, and a slight smile appeared on his serious face.

"Qin Lang, you're here too." Zhong Tu smiled and walked towards Qin Lang. "Aren't there two other friends with you?"

"They didn't come together?"

“Yes, Captain Zhong.” Qin Lang nodded. “Zoge and Fatima were interested in the legend of the hero and went to the Hero Museum.”

"The Museum of Heroes?" Zhong Tu shook his head subconsciously upon hearing this, but quickly stopped and said with a smile, "It would be good to go and take a look."

“There are still quite a few exhibits from the past there.”

"Captain Zhong, what are you doing here?" Not noticing the change in Zhong Tu's expression, Qin Lang asked curiously, "The city has been under lockdown for a week. Shouldn't the security management team be searching for the wanted criminals from the hunting team?"

“Yes,” Zhong Tu sighed, “but the wanted criminal has already arrived at the food festival, so we naturally have to follow.”

"The two of them are here?" Qin Lang and the other two's expressions changed.

“In fact, we suspected yesterday that the treasure hunting team might try to sneak into the food festival to take advantage of the chaos,” Zhong Tu explained. “So our security team went undercover yesterday.”

"After some questioning and investigation, we were able to confirm that there were indeed figures resembling these two people at the event venue, but after checking the people who left the event yesterday, we did not find them."

"You mean..." Qin Lang's expression turned serious, "They came here yesterday, and didn't leave even after the event ended yesterday?"

“That’s right.” Zhong Tu nodded emphatically, then explained, “You came yesterday, so you must have seen the performance here.”

"Of course I watched them." Qin Lang nodded seriously. "All three performances were wonderful, and they used the power of the Food Spirits, which made them very effective."

“In fact, the performers at the event belong to the same troupe called the Bright Moon Troupe,” Zhong Tu explained. “This Bright Moon Troupe is famous throughout the Dongyun area and often tours various places to perform.”

“They were scheduled to perform in the String Fish Market in a while, and our lockdown measures have affected their schedule.”

"So, they agreed to bring forward the performance at the Magnolia Food Festival, but they also made a request of us." Zhong Tu paused for a moment, "That is, to let them leave early after the performance."

"I suspect that the wanted criminal somehow found out about this and is hiding somewhere at the event, hoping to slip away with the troupe after the event ends."

"So that's how it is." Qin Lang looked enlightened. After Zhong Tu's analysis, the hunting team's actions were completely traceable.

"Captain Zhong, do you need our help?"

"I appreciate your kindness, but it's not necessary." Zhong Tu smiled and shook his head. "The entire security management team is here; we have enough manpower."

"You are guests who have come from afar, so the most important thing is to enjoy this culinary extravaganza."

“If you do encounter them during your tour, please contact me immediately,” Zhong Tu said softly. “I know you are all quite strong and capable of fighting them.”

"But there are too many people here, and the battle between the Spirit Eaters would cause chaos."

Qin Lang and the other two immediately nodded in agreement.

After giving some instructions, Zhong Tu waved his hand and turned to leave, continuing to patrol the passing tourists, looking for any suspicious figures among them.

"Captain Zhong is really dedicated," Cao Dongdong couldn't help but exclaim. "I feel like those two guys are going to be caught this time."

“Yes.” Qin Lang nodded. “And this Captain Zhong must be someone who is very good at catching criminals.”

"He was able to deduce the hunting team's possible plans from the slightest clues and intercept them in advance, which is no easy feat."

"Pfft~" Listening to Cao Dongdong and Qin Lang's back-and-forth conversation, Zhao Qian couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

"What's wrong?" Qin Lang looked at Zhao Qian with some curiosity.

“My thoughts are different from yours.” Zhao Qian shook her head. “I think Captain Zhong’s disguise is rather poor.”

"He was wearing civilian clothes, which means it was an operation in plainclothes."

"But his eyes are so sharp, he doesn't look like an ordinary person at all."

“Uh…” Qin Lang’s lips twitched slightly.

After hearing what Zhao Qian said, it seems to be true.

"And what's more," Zhao Qian continued with a smile, "Captain Zhong seems to have forgotten to reclaim his Food Spirit from his Star Vein. He's been parading around with a four-star Food Spirit, and anyone can tell he's a master."

"Do you think his disguise was terrible?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Lang and Cao Dongdong exchanged a glance.

"Okay, you're right this time," Cao Dongdong muttered to himself. "But we need to get into the venue quickly."

"Otherwise, I would have missed the first performance."

"Tch, all you do is change the subject." Zhao Qian rolled her eyes at Cao Dongdong.

The three of them were at the back of the entrance line and quickly entered the venue of the food festival, heading straight to the theater where the first performance was to be held.

"By the way, what's the content of the first performance?"

On the way, Cao Dongdong suddenly asked out of curiosity.

"You don't even know what you're performing, yet you keep urging us on?" Qin Lang shook his head, both amused and exasperated. "This play is called 'Firelight in the Dark Night,' and it's an ensemble piece."

"It tells the story of how the citizens of Rancho unite to fight against the nightmare woven by the evil nightingale."

(End of this chapter)