The core personnel standing watch on the cargo ship were not the black-clad guards from the Security Bureau.
By the light of the pier, Lu Yun could see the scene on the ship’s deck. Two middle-aged men with an exceptional presence were standing there.
They wore matching gray Zhongshan suits, the style plain and austere.
These two were, without a doubt, personnel from the Yun Port City Cultural Relics Department of the Daxia New Country.
More precisely, its full name was the "Special Investigation Department of the Daxia Ancient Dynasty’s Mysterious Artifacts."
This department was nominally part of the Daxia New Country’s Ministry of Cultural Relics, but it was actually responsible for investigating and recovering "special artifacts" from the Zulong Dynasty and even older dynasties.
As a result, it held significant authority and operated with a high degree of independence. Staffed with numerous experts, even the Security Bureau was required to cooperate unconditionally with its operations.
Back when he had no hope of breaking through to Huajin, Lu Yun had secretly tried to probe the organization’s secrets. But he couldn’t infiltrate it at all, so he eventually gave up.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged man with a short beard and a refined face stood by the deck rail, gazing toward the pier.
He was the leader of this operation. Beside him was a slightly chubby companion.
Just then, the chubby man lowered his voice. "Old Fang, look! A black sedan drove right onto the pier, and those guys from the Security Bureau didn’t stop it!"
Captain Fang’s gaze sharpened. He had also noticed the black sedan that had stopped not far from the cargo ship, from which an elderly man with a walking stick was now emerging.
He frowned slightly and replied in a low voice, "Yes, I see it."
Something was wrong. According to procedure, the area had been sealed off by their department in coordination with the Security Bureau. Unauthorized personnel should not have been allowed through under any circumstances.
Just then, a crisp, capable female voice with a hint of curiosity sounded from behind them. "Captain Fang, Captain Ren, what are you two looking at?"
The words had barely faded when someone walked up beside them. The newcomer was a young woman of twenty-four or twenty-five, with a neat, ear-length bob of glossy black hair.
She wore a well-tailored, high-quality, dark woolen military-style top, paired with a matching high-waisted, knee-length skirt.
A leather belt was cinched at her waist, and she wore tall leather boots polished to a mirror shine, her head topped with a formal peaked cap.
She cut a heroic and efficient figure, every bit the officer ready for action at a moment’s notice.
Captain Fang and Captain Ren turned simultaneously. A gentle smile touched Captain Fang’s lips. "Ah, it’s you, Xiaogu. It’s nothing. We just thought it was strange to see a car pull onto the pier."
The young woman, Xiaogu, followed their gaze and also saw the black sedan, along with Lu Yun, who was leaning on a walking stick and making his way unhurriedly toward the cargo ship.
Her bright eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sweeping rapidly over Lu Yun’s figure, gait, and attire...
"Oh?"
A half-smile played on Miss Gu’s lips. "Well, look what we have here... It seems the man himself has arrived."
"I’d like to see for myself what makes this Lord Lu so special that those incompetent fools at the Security Bureau would give him a free pass."
"Xiaogu, stop causing trouble!"
Captain Fang’s brow furrowed, and he chided her in a low voice. "Get back to your post. Continue the search with Xiaochen and Little Fatty!"
"We’ve been turning this place upside down and still haven’t found the hidden compartment. That means their methods are sophisticated, and we need to be even more thorough!"
He paused, then suddenly thought of the other two team members. "By the way, where are Xiaochen and Little Fatty? Weren’t the three of you supposed to stick together?"
Gu Sican pursed her lips and muttered dismissively, "Tch! So boring... Who knows where those two went."
"If it weren’t for the direct order from up top saying this shipment might contain relics from the Zulong Dynasty that must be recovered intact..."
"In my opinion, we should just set this junker on fire and be done with it. Solves the problem once and for all, who cares where they hid it!"
She even stuck her tongue out playfully, as if she’d just made a harmless joke.
She seemed completely oblivious to the fact that the "junker" she spoke of was a massive wooden sailing vessel with an enormous carrying capacity, loaded with cargo worth well over one hundred thousand Oceans!
Hearing the young woman’s outrageously impertinent words, Captain Fang’s brow tightened, his expression darkened. He berated her in a harsh, low voice, "Gu Sican! Watch your mouth! This is a Lu Family ship! This is not the place for you to be running wild!"
"That man down there is the Lu Family Patriarch, Lu Yun! And he’s a Grandmaster of Huajin!"
"Even I, and even our director, would have to treat him with deference! So you get those reckless ideas out of your head and get back to your duty, now!"
"A Grandmaster of Huajin?"
A flicker of surprise flashed in Gu Sican’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an even deeper interest.
This time, however, she didn’t talk back. She just shrugged and drew out her words.
"Fiiiiine, I knoooow! I’m off! That old geezer is almost on board. You two had better go deal with him. Hehe."
With that, Gu Sican didn’t wait for any further orders from Captain Fang. She turned and, with her long legs striding purposefully in their tall boots, walked away toward the ship’s interior—CLICK, CLACK, CLICK—quickly vanishing into a dim corridor.
Captain Fang and Captain Ren watched her retreating figure, then exchanged a helpless glance and sighed in unison.
This Miss Gu had a special background and was certainly capable, but her personality was a real headache.
The two men looked away from where she had disappeared, straightened their Zhongshan suits, and their expressions returned to their previous solemn and composed state.
They watched the elderly man with the Rosewood Walking Stick as he slowly ascended the gangway toward the deck.
The Patriarch of the Lu Family, Lu Yun.
The inevitable had arrived. It was time for a direct confrontation.
Lu Yun stepped onto the deck, leaning on his walking stick. His expression was placid, his gaze falling directly on the two special investigators, Fang and Ren.
"Gentlemen. You’ve been causing quite the stir at my Longyuan Bay Pier and on my ship for the better part of the day. I’m just an old man running a humble business to support my family; I can’t afford this prolonged ’special attention’ from you."
"The Lu Family’s import-export business has operated in Yun Port City for decades. We have always been law-abiding and conducted our business with integrity. All our partnerships are open and aboveboard. We would never engage in any underhanded or shady dealings."
As he spoke, Lu Yun’s gaze slowly swept over the faces of Captain Fang and Captain Ren before finally settling back on Captain Fang.
"I believe there must be some misunderstanding. Or perhaps, someone is maliciously slandering the Lu Family."
"So how about this? As a courtesy to an old man, let’s let the matter drop."
"You have been searching for a long time and must be exhausted. If you can’t find anything, dragging this out further seems unreasonable, both for your department and for me."
Hearing this, Captain Fang composed himself and forced a professional smile. He gave a slight bow with cupped hands. "Lord Lu, you are too kind. We are merely acting on orders after receiving a credible tip. It is our duty. I hope you can understand."
"Since you have come in person, Lord Lu, you must be concerned about this matter as well. Perhaps you could grant us a little more time to conduct a more thorough search?"
"If you are indeed in the clear, we can report as much to our superiors and formally clear the Lu Family’s name."

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