Trafford’s Trading Club

The snow gradually became denser, first covering the earth with a thin veil.

In the fields of the suburbs, the snow sprites in the air danced around like fireflies, playfully frolicking with Pear… She and they traversed the fields and forests.

Finally, Pear luxuriated in a pool within a stream valley, naturally releasing a chill that enveloped the surroundings in a layer of white mist.

This was a release of demonic power, like pressure, something that needed to be done from time to time.

A small snow sprite now rested in Pear's palm.

They were the purest spirits of heaven and earth, and naturally understood the changes in nature… At this moment, Pear could clearly feel the snow sprite's unease.

Despite the abnormal climate, Pear learned from the snow sprites that [Kirin City] and its vicinity were mostly fine, perhaps just a slight drop in temperature and a few snowfalls.

"Alright, thank you for your hard work." Pear patted the white snow-like ball of light in her hand, "I'll come out and play with you again next time."

The strange phenomenon in the stream valley gradually dissipated. A chill flashed across Pear's body, instantly drying her clothes, and then with a gentle shake, the ice fragments fell off in an instant.

Looking at the time, it seemed she could get back to the company before lunch… Friday, the company cafeteria had thick-cut fried pork chops today, a cafeteria auntie delicacy that Pear tried not to miss every week.

"Hmm?"

Just as she was immersed in the delicious memories, Pear's super snow demon perception allowed her to sense a group of people quietly entering the mountain forest about a kilometer away.

Pear's perception wasn't usually this strong, but she couldn't help that it was snowing now—this was a complete terrain enhancement!

A snow demon in snowy weather was terrifyingly strong!

The perspective was transmitted through snowflakes and ice crystals, allowing Pear to easily "see" the situation a kilometer away.

This was a team that looked like peasants… But strangely, there was no farm work to do in the deep winter—could they be secretly going into the mountains to hunt?

Pear gradually saw some clues. Although these peasants were dressed plainly and had dark skin, their expressions and actions didn't seem like ordinary people… They seemed like people with some kind of special experience.

Pear frowned. She didn't really want to bother with this matter, but soon this team stopped.

She could only "see", but couldn't hear what these people were saying.

In fact, the group stopped and put down the things they were carrying… all long, rectangular travel bags. When these people opened the travel bags, Pear couldn't help but be stunned.

She thought these bags were filled with homemade cannons and guns… Unexpectedly, after the travel bags were opened, they contained iron cages.

At the same time, these people opened the cages, and a mass of black things quickly flew out of the cages.

—Bats!

After releasing all the bats in the cages, this group immediately packed up all their things and quickly retreated… A small yellow village bus, the kind that often travels in townships, was parked at the foot of the mountain. A driver stayed in the car. Seeing the people return, he immediately started the engine, and then everyone quickly got into the car and left.

Seeing this, Pear's eyes narrowed slightly. The snowflakes scattered in the air suddenly condensed into a sharp ice needle and shot out, directly bursting the tires of the small yellow bus.

"What's going on?"

"We have a flat tire!"

"Shit!"

"Get out of the car, change the tire first!"

Everyone quickly got out of the car and began to help replace the blown tire… Seeing this, Pear temporarily ignored these people—changing tires would take some time.

Taking advantage of this time, Pear controlled the snowflakes, turning them into ice needles… A snow demon in snowy weather was indeed very strong. Those released bats had all been locked onto by Pear, with nowhere to escape.

The ice needles easily shot down these bats. It didn't take long for all the bats to be shot down… Pear searched around, making sure there were no survivors, before coming to a bat that had been shot down.

It was the common kind of bat. Pear couldn't even feel a trace of demonic power from the bat's body—was it really just an ordinary bat?

But this group of people was acting suspiciously. It couldn't be for releasing them?

She frowned, casually freezing the bat on the ground into a ball of ice crystals. After thinking about it, she quickly rushed towards the small yellow bus that had been forced to break down.

…

"Isn't it done yet?"

"If you weren't smoking and came to help, it might be three to five minutes faster!"

"Bullshit!"

"Hachoo… Why is it so cold?"

"Who's there!"

A roar suddenly sounded. The men surrounding the bus were all alert, their eyes finally converging on the top of the bus.

On top of the bus, stood a figure dressed in pure white clothes, like a female ghost from a stage play… with gray-white long hair and a dark red demon mask!

At this time, the white-clothed demon raised her left hand, holding a piece of ice crystal in her palm… In that ice crystal, a bat was sealed.

"Why did you release this thing?" The white-clothed, gray-haired demon… Pear asked in a deep voice at this time.

Her voice was low, hoarse, making people shudder.

"We're exposed!"

"The other party is suspected to be [Non-human]!"

"Break through!!"

The peasants around the bus took out modern firearms from their bloated coats, and shot at the demon on the roof without thinking.

But an ice wall easily blocked all the bullets.

"Die, you demon!!"

A burly man among the peasants suddenly bit open the safety pin of a grenade and threw it out!

A stream of cold instantly wrapped the grenade, and until the grenade exploded inside, the cold air frantically agitated a few times, and finally [ate] all the energy of the explosion!

Watching the flames gradually compress between the cold air, and finally freeze into a lump, and then fall down, the peasants were all terrified and desperate.

The power of [Non-humans] was indeed not something they could cope with—they had been careful enough, even waiting for this bad weather, but they didn't expect that this was not a pleasant surprise, but a scare!

"Go!"

Everyone made a decisive decision.

Pear waved her hand, and in an instant, hundreds of thousands of ice needles shot out. How could mortals resist the terrifyingly strong snow demon at this time—even if their bloated coats concealed advanced-style body armor, the ice needles were ubiquitous, and in an instant, everyone was shot to the ground.

The ice needles after entering the body directly began to freeze the blood of these peasants… The existence of demonic power could maintain these peasants from dying immediately.

There were no other responders nearby. This small yellow bus should be all their manpower?

Pear jumped down from the roof of the car, unbuttoned the clothes of one of the peasants, and didn't find anything… She thought about it, and directly took the man's phone, unlocked it in person, and dialed a number that everyone in Shenzhou knew at this time, and the classic degree was no less than 110.

"Hello, this is the Shenzhou Administration Reporting Center, I am number…"

"Report a case!"

…

Zi Ling Ma also returned to the company before lunch… the cafeteria.

Actually, the cafeteria was not part of the magazine, but contracted for the ten floors of this office building.

Zi Ling Ma, who had filled a plate with thick-cut fried pork chops, suddenly saw Pear, who was sitting in the corner and eating heartily, in the crowd… this Pear!

"Sis, over here, over here!" Pear obviously also saw Zi Ling Ma's figure and quickly waved.

"Is the matter settled?" Ren Zi Ling walked over and asked with concern, "Didn't I approve a day off for you?"

"It's settled." Pear said casually, "Anyway, I have nothing to do in the afternoon. Isn't it because I know you're busy, Sis! How could I bear to leave you alone!"

Zi Ling Ma rolled her eyes, but clipped a piece of fried pork chop and fed it to Pear's plate.

"Empress Dowager, please accept your subject's bow!!!"

"You rascal." Zi Ling's mom smiled, then added, "Eat faster, come with me later. I have an appointment to gather some information."

Pear blinked, then lowered her head, using the menu to shield her face, and whispered, "Sis, is this a personal gig or company business?"

Zi Ling's mom glared… Was this something you could discuss so openly?

—Of course it's a personal gig!

Pear immediately made an 'ojbk' gesture, understanding instantly.

… …

North Suburbs… Several black official SUVs drove in a swaying manner, quickly stopping next to a broken-down little yellow bus.

A group of agents and logistics support from the [Kirin City] Management Bureau branch got out of the cars.

Wei Zidao, the acting leader of the action team of the [Kirin City] Management Bureau branch, took a look and couldn't help but frown.

"Report, seven frozen men have been found, still showing signs of life. One of them has been stripped naked!"

"Report, some controlled weapons have been found in the bus!"

"There are obvious signs of a firefight on the scene!"

"A large number of… bats?"

Wei Zidao frowned even deeper. The report center had relayed information that a group of suspicious individuals were releasing suspicious creatures in the suburbs of [Kirin City].

Due to the special status of [Kirin City] within Shenzhou, the information was immediately dispatched to the [Kirin City] Management Bureau branch, directly alarming Wei Zidao, the leader of the action team, who led his people to take action.

Regarding matters in [Kirin City], even the smallest details require caution.

"Clean up the scene," Wei Zidao decisively ordered. "Take everyone and the bats away, and send people to continue surveying the surroundings… a three-kilometer radius!"

"Yes, sir!"

Wei Zidao sighed, looking at the gray sky with a serious face. Snowflakes were falling… In this kind of weather, there was no way the satellites could have captured anything.

… …

… …

… …

… …

[Kirin City], in a busy commercial district, inside a fried chicken fast food restaurant with plenty of customers.

Zi Ling's mom was looking out the window, while Pear brought over a bucket of fried chicken, fries, and two cups of Nine-Treasure Juice.

"…Seriously, didn't you just finish lunch?"

"I'm still growing!"

Zi Ling's mom suspiciously sized up Pear's areas that might still be developing… To be honest, she was genuinely envious of the fact that Pear never gained weight no matter how much she ate.

"Sis, I feel like you're insulting me!!"

Zi Ling's mom subconsciously puffed out her chest, tossed her hair, and feigned modesty, "Nu-uh!"

Pear sulked as she sipped her juice, looking around and asking, "Who are we meeting?"

"They're here." Zi Ling's mom's eyes suddenly lit up.

Pear followed her gaze and saw a couple with their daughter walking into the fried chicken restaurant… The husband was quite stout, bald, and wearing black-rimmed glasses.

The man said something to the mother and daughter, pointed towards the service counter, and then walked straight towards them.

"Sister Ling!"

"Ah, Bob!"

After a brief introduction, Pear learned that the man's name was Lin Shengbin, nicknamed [Ah Bob], the owner of a small Japanese restaurant and a decent cook—Pear quietly noted the name of Ah Bob's Japanese restaurant, then obediently sat beside her, sucking on a fried chicken leg.

"Pear, my assistant, one of us," Zi Ling's mom casually said, then took out a small box from her handbag. "The child's birthday is coming up, here!"

"Thank you, Sister Ling!" Ah Bob smiled, looking very simple and honest.

Zi Ling's mom glanced at the mother and daughter who were queuing up, and then directly said, "Ah Bob, what can you tell me?"

Lin Shengbin hesitated for a moment, adjusted his glasses, and said, "Sister Ling, if you're going to ask about Daidoji Yuga, I advise you not to get involved. This matter is full of weirdness. Those people in the underworld are all keeping their mouths shut."

Zi Ling's mom couldn't help but frown: "It's spread so quickly?"

Logically speaking, Ma SIR's side couldn't have publicized this, and [Song Dynasty] certainly wouldn't, as it would affect their reputation… The Daidoji Conglomerate would be even less likely to, because they need to ensure Daidoji Yuga's safety.

"There are no walls that don't leak," Lin Shengbin shrugged. "The Song family of [Song Dynasty] didn't have a good background to begin with. In fact, they are also secretly inquiring… We, will always know something."

Zi Ling's mom thought for a moment and said, "Then tell me, don't worry, I won't participate, I'm just asking for someone… Don't worry, it won't involve you either."

Lin Shengbin shook his head and said, "Years ago, I ran away from Hong Kong. If it weren't for Sister Ling helping me out, don't even mention bringing my wife and children out to play today, I'd probably be lying dead in the streets with no one to collect my body. If I was afraid, I wouldn't have come out to see you."

He hesitated slightly before lowering his voice and saying, "I also overheard two people who came to the restaurant to eat talking about it unintentionally. The two of them are from the Inagawa-kai from the island nation, disguised as businessmen to do business in Shenzhou while doing some shady things…"

Zi Ling's mom's expression became a little solemn, knowing that the other party was really willing to say some secret things, so she quietly turned off the recording pen in her pocket.

"I didn't hear much specifically, and they didn't say much either," Lin Shengbin recalled and said, "The Daidoji Group came this time with a special mission, which is related to the upper echelons of the island nation… And it seems that there is also a force that does not want the Daidoji Conglomerate to succeed. But whether it has anything to do with the disappearance of Daidoji Yuga this time, I can't say."

"Do you know what the mission is?"

"It should be related to cultural relics," Lin Shengbin pondered and said, "I really don't know anything else… In fact, starting last night, the entire underground world of [Kirin City] began searching frantically for clues about Daidoji Yuga, because I heard that the conglomerate secretly offered a reward. As long as they can find the person, there will be a reward of one hundred million, even if they only provide clues, they can get ten million… You can imagine how crazy it is! Not to mention anything else, even the old gangs contacted me in the middle of the night to ask about the situation… It's been so many years."

"One hundred million? That's really a big deal!" Zi Ling's mom nodded.

How many people are willing to take risks for a small goal?

So, the disappearance of Daidoji Yuga was actually leaked by the people of the Daidoji Conglomerate delegation this time?

Zi Ling's mom pondered and said, "Could there be… that kind of person involved?"

[That kind of person] refers to abnormal creatures such as [Transcendent] and [Non-human]—their explosive appearance completely subverts the original world structure.

And compared to ordinary people… those energetic organizations are more likely to come into contact with [That kind of person].

"As long as it's in [Kirin City], there's actually nothing to be afraid of," Lin Shengbin thought for a moment and said, "I heard that someone has experimented. If they can't use their power, even [That kind of person] will be easily blown away by a pistol."

Zi Ling's mom couldn't help but be suspicious… Experiment?

Besides [Kirin City], are there other places where [Transcendence is Forbidden]?

Or is it achieved through some means to achieve a similar effect?

Pear suddenly shrank her neck.

A scene suddenly flashed in her eyes, a crazy gunman suddenly shooting and blowing her head off… The ketchup squeezed out of her hand splashed onto the glass.

Hiss—!

… …

Lin Shengbin didn't sit for too long. Soon, he left to pick up his wife and daughter… Zi Ling's mom and Pear also left the fried chicken restaurant without showing any signs.

"Hey, Old Ma… Yes, I've inquired about some things." Ren Ziling said seriously: "The Daidoji Conglomerate has already offered a secret reward, privately looking for someone to find Daidoji Yuga. You should receive the news soon… Oh, you already know? And also…"

"Cough cough cough… cough cough cough…"

Suddenly, an old woman passing by with groceries coughed violently.

"Wait a moment." Zi Ling's mom covered the phone and quickly took out a pack of tissues from her handbag and handed it to the old woman.

"Thank you, young lady!" The old woman quickly thanked her.

Zi Ling's mom waved her hand, turned her head, and continued talking to Ma SIR on the phone… The old woman coughed a few more times, used a few tissues, and then lined up to get on the bus.