If he has really changed… Xia Na said in a deep voice, "What are you going to investigate next?"
"Since we already know the source might be the Demon Bar, we naturally have to take a look." Chen Che said, rubbing his hands with a smile, staring at Xia Na.
Seemingly knowing what Chen Che wanted to say, Xia Na said coldly, "It's none of my business. I'm only responsible for ensuring you don't die. If you want to investigate and catch people, figure it out yourself, I won't help you."
"Just having your word is enough. Without your protection, Nana, I wouldn't dare to roam around Ant Street."
Chen Che sighed inwardly, initially wanting Xia Na to lend a hand.
Anyone daring to sell prohibited items in Ant Street is a tough guy.
If, at that time, they really encountered a vendor selling Pandora's Kiss and wanted to arrest them, conflicts might arise.
With Xia Na's skills, if she helped, it should be easy to catch them.
If she's unwilling to help, the matter is indeed not that simple.
But Chen Che did glean some other information from her reaction.
Nana, oh Nana… you're still too young, being so decisive in your refusal has given me a lot of information.
As far as Chen Che knew, Xia Na had an almost crazy loyalty to An Nishang, being particularly concerned with matters related to An Nishang.
If An Nishang really cared so much about this Pandora's Kiss, after he expressed his wish to seek help, Xia Na would likely not refuse.
Xia Na's refusal indicates she knows some information he does not.
For example, An Nishang's true attitude towards Pandora's Kiss.
An Nishang's goal is definitely not just to have him investigate Pandora's Kiss… so what else?
Chen Che was a bit perplexed, shaking his head.
Forget it, since I can't figure it out, let's just proceed step by step.
Investigate by going step by step.
"Let's go, let's ask Chief Investigator Lei for some people."
…
Outside.
Several chief investigators looked at Chief Investigator Lei, who was deep in thought, exchanging glances.
One of the chief investigators cautiously asked, "Boss, what happened? What's troubling you so much?"
Lei Bao glanced over, speaking irritably, "You bunch of idiots! Don't you know we're already walking on the edge of a cliff? One wrong step and it could be your life."
Upon hearing this, several chief investigators gasped.
They were just focused on their little territory, not doing anything out of line, right?
Some more astute ones immediately responded, "Are you talking about… that young fellow… Master Chen? But he's just a chief investigator position, isn't he? If you talk about subordinates, he's still one of yours."
Lei Bao sighed, "Do you know who's behind him? It's fucking An Nishang! Someone who can stay in An Nishang's bed for so long without being kicked out, is he simple?
"You don't know how much Director An favors him. I heard that one of the four team captains under Director An, Captain Moore, was falsely accusing this young fellow… Master Chen, and Director An had him investigated all over, finally uncovering a betrayal."
"If it were anyone else, Director An would rather wrongfully kill a thousand than let one go, yet he still got justice…"
Hearing this gave a chill down the spine of the chief investigators, causing constant swallowing.
Someone asked, "Boss, then why did he come to us?"
"Isn't it obvious? Recently, the two Deputy Directors of our Judicial Bureau have been fiercely competing for the Director position, forcing us to choose a side!
This Master Chen coming over is clearly a test of our attitude towards Director An.
If we're disrespectful to him, wouldn't that mean we're not interested in Director An…"
"Boss, is it really that serious? Our Investigation Department is a place where even the dogs aren't interested… ahem, it's a department that works hard for little gain, with limited power, catching big cases needs to be reported to the Investigation Department, and arresting people requires applying through the Public Security Team.
Does it really matter here?"
Lei Bao tutted, "Have you forgotten the rumors from the Finance Bureau earlier?"
"Hiss… No way? Could it be true?"
"It's highly likely to be true, the higher-ups are more perceptive than us, Director An sending her man here is probably laying groundwork in advance, wanting to have a foot in the Finance Bureau."
"Is our little place really going to change?"
The group of chief investigators felt they heard big news, both excited and thrilled.
Speaking of this, Lei Bao sighed bitterly again, "You know why I am troubled now, don't you?"
Everyone looked at each other.
"Damn it, how did I end up with such a bunch of fools as subordinates!"
"Pandora's Kiss, man!"
"Boss, what's the connection?"
Lei Bao rolled his eyes, "Have you forgotten what he initially said? Director An gave him a chief investigator's position, sent him to investigate a Pandora's Kiss, a mere prohibited item, if this matter was truly significant to Director An, why would the Special Operations Department need him to do it?"
"Director An's own people could probably find out everything in no time."
His subordinates were even more puzzled.
"Then… Boss, what do you mean?"
"If you ask me…" Lei Bao rubbed his chin, shrewdly saying, "This must be an implied test, this Pandora's Kiss isn't just any Pandora's Kiss.
It must be implying something, depending on whether we want to grasp it.
Also testing whether we are a chance to become one of Director An's subordinates.
The group of chief investigators listened, bewildered.
"So get those pig brains of yours working and think what this Pandora's Kiss truly represents!"
Seeing the look on his subordinates' faces, Lei Bao got agitated.
The group of chief investigators were wide-eyed and perplexed, unable to figure out what else Pandora's Kiss could represent.
At this moment, a chief investigator suddenly had a light bulb moment and clapped his hands, saying, "Hey, boss! I might have figured it out!"
Lei Bao's eyes shone, "Speak!"
"Is it possible that what he wants isn't Pandora's Kiss but rather the Demon Scale?!"
"Demon Scale?" Everyone was taken aback by this, Lei Bao hurriedly asking, "What do you mean? What does this have to do with the Demon Scale? Isn't that stuff a banned drug? It's a component of [Demon Calamity]…"
"You forgot? Although Demon Scale is a component of [Demon Calamity], it has another effect! That's an unmatched aphrodisiac! For matters between men and women, it has top-notch effectiveness…" the chief investigator grinned widely.
"Hiss… what do you mean?"
Seeing everyone was still confused, the chief investigator clapped excitedly, "Don't you still get it? Our Director An has Demon Pattern on her body. Folks with Demon Pattern have extremely intense desires.
These desires have only three outlets.
Sex, eating, and killing.
Our Director An must be the first one, everyone knows Master Chen rose by his 'special skills.'"
The group's expressions turned awkward.
"Director An isn't an ordinary person. No matter what, Master Chen is just a normal person, how could he withstand Director An's continuous output? Probably can't, so he's indirectly asking us for Demon Scale! Didn't we have a piece of Demon Scale in storage?
Previously confiscated."
"Wait wait wait…" Lei Bao interrupted the chief investigator, rubbing his forehead, "I still don't get what Pandora's Kiss has to do with Demon Scale…"
"Boss, you don't get what Pandora represents? Isn't it the legendary demon? And a kiss… well, it's for matters between men and women. Once kissed, what's next follows naturally, right!
Isn't it connected to the effects of Demon Scale?
Surely Master Chen's not keeping up with Director An in that aspect, can't say it openly to us, and is beating around the bush."
Lei Bao suddenly realized, slapping his palm, "Ah Du, you genius!"