I chose the safe house, and the Human Alliance regretted it.

Inside the room, Wang Wei lay on the bed, fast asleep, completely unaware that he had been seen naked.

This is a consequence of insufficient understanding of technological advancements.

Bai Lu and the young law enforcement officer rode in a hover patrol car, passing through the bustling night view of Dixing City, and stopped in front of that high-end residential building.

"Sister Lu, you two really don't know each other?" the young law enforcement officer asked.

In the video, Wang Wei's movements were so natural that he didn't look like he was sneaking into someone's house at all.

"I don't know him." Bai Lu pushed open the car door and got out. "Who knows what this expert is up to?"

The young law enforcement officer swallowed hard and got out of the car.

The young master of the Yang family was slapped, and the young masters and ladies of the Bai and Xin families were also beaten. In the end, the three families obediently handed over the energy liquid.

This person is not someone they can confront head-on.

The two entered the residential complex, took the elevator up, and arrived at the 101st floor.

Bai Lu took a deep breath and raised her hand to press on the door lock sensor area.

The smart lock recognizes the homeowner's iris and fingerprint, makes a soft sound, and the door slides open silently.

The living room lights were still on, and several empty packaging bags were on the countertop in the open kitchen.

The bathroom door was ajar, and the air was still filled with steam and the scent of shower gel.

The two walked into the living room, then hesitated as they looked at the bedroom.

Wang Wei also woke up in the bedroom.

Now things are a bit awkward—he didn't expect the homeowner to come back and he'd be caught red-handed.

Should we just leave? If we leave, we'll have to find another place.

He's currently portrayed as an unfathomable shop owner; wouldn't it damage his image if he got caught?

Wang Wei made up his mind and decided to continue sleeping.

We'll talk about it when it's light.

Bai Lu and her colleague hesitated outside the bedroom.

"Sister Lu, go ahead, this is your home, what are you afraid of?" the young law enforcement officer encouraged.

Bai Lu thought this made sense and stepped forward to knock on the door.

A soft snoring sound could be heard coming from the bedroom.

"How about we wait until he wakes up?" Bai Lu suggested.

"Huh?" The young law enforcement officer was taken aback.

"Then call him out," Bai Lu suggested.

"Let's wait a bit," the young law enforcement officer said, shrinking back.

But the two didn't expect that they would wait all night.

The two of them sat on the sofa, staring at each other, all night long.

The next morning, there was finally some movement in the bedroom.

The door opened, and Wang Wei walked out looking refreshed.

"Bai Lu is back?" Wang Wei's tone was as calm as if he were greeting an old friend.

Bai Lu was taken aback.

That tone... makes it sound like he's the owner of this house?

Wait, how does he know her name?

"You—" Bai Lu composed herself and said in a deep voice, "This is my home. You have illegally entered a private residence, which violates Article 17 of the Imperial Star City Management Regulations."

"Huh?" Wang Wei asked in surprise, "Didn't you invite me here?"

Bai Lu choked.

She invited me? When did that happen?

Nearby, a young law enforcement officer looked back and forth between Bai Lu and Wang Wei, his eyes gleaming with gossip.

He seemed to have discovered some big secret—could Sister Lu and this shop owner really know each other?

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Bai Lu's face flushed red. "When did I invite you?"

"You didn't invite me?" Wang Wei asked, looking surprised. "Then how could I have come in?"

Bai Lu was stunned.

"This neighborhood, and your house," Wang Wei said matter-of-factly, "would I be allowed in without your permission? Have you forgotten?"

Bai Lu opened her mouth wide, unable to speak.

Fortunately, she wasn't fooled by Wang Wei.

This situation can only mean one thing—this person has higher authority than her.

Either he hacked into the community's security system, or he didn't need any permissions at all.

"That's because you hacked into the system!" Bai Lu gritted her teeth.

But as soon as she finished speaking, Wang Wei leaned down, pinched her chin, and kissed her.

"Take your time to think it over," Wang Wei said calmly. "Call me again when you remember."

Without waiting for Bai Lu's reaction, he left.

He opened the door without triggering any alarms and walked out smoothly.

Bai Lu was stunned.

Her mind was filled with thoughts of how she had been kissed and why she hadn't resisted.

The young law enforcement officer was dumbfounded.

Did I stay up all night only to be bombarded with displays of affection from couples?

The living room was quiet for a little while.

"Sister Lu, think about it, I'm going back too." The young law enforcement officer hurriedly slipped away.

"I really don't know him!" Bai Lu quickly explained, snapping out of her daze.

"I understand." The young law enforcement officer gave him a look and quickly left.

As soon as he stepped out of the residential area, he took out his communicator and tapped a few times rapidly.

"Breaking news! The shop owner was invited by Sister Lu!"

"They know each other!"

"They kissed!"

The news spread like wildfire, instantly reaching every member of the Enforcement Division's internal group chat.

The store, which does not cheat the poor, was already packed with people.

People from major cities arrived one after another, and the core commercial street of Dixing City had never been so lively.

The shop doors were tightly shut, and no one was the first to go in.

Inside the store, Wang Wei looked at the grand scene outside and put the little incident that had just happened behind him.

He had discerned information about these people outside.

Most of them are from large families in other major cities, and they are all wealthy lords!

The Lu family of Xingyu City, the Wang family of Feixing City, the Liu family of Cangxing City... almost all the forces from the eleven main cities sent people.

The people at the very front had a calm demeanor and were dressed elegantly; they were clearly people who could make decisions.

Wang Wei's lips curled up. After a moment's thought, he came up with a good idea.

Just as everyone hesitated, the store door slowly opened.

A steady voice rang out from inside the store, not loud, but clearly heard by everyone:

"Unravel the secrets of the world, resolve human affairs. Those with money, please enter; those without, need not speak."

"Gentlemen—who shall proceed?"

There was a moment of silence outside the store.

The member of the Lu family from Xingyu City spoke first: "Thank you, shopkeeper. I am Lu Ming from the Lu family of Xingyu City. I have long admired your name and have come to pay you a visit today."

As he spoke, he lifted his foot to walk inside.

But then, a hand stopped him.

"Wait!" one of them said arrogantly. "We've come all this way, what makes you think you can go first?"

"Shopkeeper, Wang Zhe from the Wang family of Feixing City requests an audience." Another middle-aged man stepped out from the crowd, exuding an extraordinary air.

"Liu Fei from the Liu family of Cangxing City requests an audience with the shopkeeper!"

"Mirror Star City—"

wow——

All the prominent families in the main city introduced themselves, eager to be the first to enter and claim the title of "advanced".

Inside the store, Wang Wei's lips curled into a smile.

This is the effect he wanted.

Who comes in first? The subtext is that the first person to arrive must be the one with the highest status.

This is also a customary rule.

"Hmm," Wang Wei said, his voice unhurried, "Since everyone is so enthusiastic, why don't we name a price?"

"The first customer to enter the store will be charged starting price: one bottle of energy drink."

Everyone outside the store was stunned.

What is a store entry quota?

Do I have to pay before even entering the store?

The starting bid is just one bottle of energy liquid, that's outrageous!

Those watching instinctively took a few steps back.

However, the members of those powerful families remained as calm as Mount Tai, their faces showing no emotion whatsoever.

This scene instantly highlighted the extraordinary nature of these people from a prominent family.

Lu Ming's lips curled up—people like them deserve this kind of treatment.

He was the first to ask for an audience, and even knowing Wang Wei's intentions, he couldn't back down now.

Otherwise, it would be a disgrace to the Lu family.

"Since the shop owner has such a refined taste, I should certainly show my support," Lu Ming said calmly. "I'll offer five bottles of energy liquid."

"hiss--"

Countless people on the commercial street gasped in shock.

Five vials of energy liquid equal 150 billion Imperial Coins!

This was just getting through the door; there wasn't even a chance to ask any questions.

"As expected of the Lu family of Xingyu City!"

In the crowd, someone spoke up in support.

"I'll bid eight!" Wang Zhe calmly raised the price.

"Ten," Liu Fei followed up, his tone casual.

"The twelve branches."

"Fifteen branches."

Prices have been rising steadily.

Inside the store, Wang Wei leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and listened with a smile to the calls for prices outside.

That's what rich people are like—they don't care how much they spend, but they can't stand being outdone by others.

The bidding continues.

Twenty, twenty-five, thirty.

It has already reached 900 billion Imperial Coins, and it's still rising.

Just then, a voice that had never spoken before came from the back of the crowd. It wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority:

"One hundred."

The entire room fell silent.

One hundred vials of energy liquid—three trillion imperial coins—just to buy a single spot to enter the store.

The crowd automatically parted to make way. An elderly man dressed in a dark purple robe slowly walked out, his steps unhurried, his expression as calm as an ancient well.

Embroidered on his chest was a purple-gold badge—Imperial Star City, City Lord's Mansion.

"The City Lord's Mansion," the old man introduced himself, bowing slightly, "Zihe."