The Favored Heiress
Chapter 618: The Penalty Fee Should Be Multiplied by Several Times

Chapter 618: Chapter 618: The Penalty Fee Should Be Multiplied by Several Times

"Then you pay the penalty for breach of contract," Bai Yan proclaimed shamelessly, "you’ve got the money anyway."

Li Qiao, holding the phone, remained silent for a while.

Bai Yan seemed to sense something, cleared his throat, and started backpedaling, "I was just kidding. You can play with any of the Flame Alliance’s industries. Even if you lose them all, we don’t care. Worst case scenario, we just start over. If something happens, just tell me, and I’ll clean up the mess."

Li Qiao grunted, "No need to clean up, just send me the information on Z."

"Him?" Bai Yan raised an eyebrow in surprise, his voice lowering, "Did he offend you? Just tell me what’s going and I’ll teach him a lesson for you. You don’t want to meet others, do you?"

"He didn’t offend me," Li Qiao paused, "I’m going to provoke him."

Bai Yan let out a sigh of relief, "Alright, I’ll send it to you in a bit. But be careful, the guy’s doing well in Aida State, and he’s got a good relationship with the Sixth Bureau. You know about them, right? They’ve monopolized the underground black market network.

If you really want to deal with him and it’s too much, I can figure out a way to send him to the South Sea. It’s more convenient for you to take action on your own turf."

Meanwhile, in Aida State, Flame Alliance Z: "Achoo—"

These past few days, for some reason, he’d been sneezing continuously, and his ears felt persistently hot. Could it be rhinitis?

Li Qiao, hearing Bai Yan’s matter-of-course tone, couldn’t help but smile, "No trouble, just remember to send me the information."

After ending the call, Li Qiao received Flame Alliance Z’s information quite quickly.

She stared at the photograph, immersed in deep thought for a long time.

...

The next day, Li Qiao began to prepare for her trip to Aida State.

At half-past nine in the morning, she was printing visa documents when the phone on her desk rang; it was Jin Rong.

"I’m returning to Wenxi Island this afternoon, come and send me off at noon."

This was a definitive statement.

Li Qiao glanced at the time. Before she could respond, Jin Rong spoke again, "I’ve sent you the location, you better show up or we’re not done."

Beep beep beep—

Li Qiao, staring at the hung-up phone, was utterly baffled.

Who had annoyed him again? A man in his thirties, acting like a resentful woman every day.

Li Qiao didn’t give it much thought, finished printing the documents, then returned to her computer to visit the Qianmu Group’s website.

The seminar being held in Aida State was focused on the latest developments in prosthetic limbs and autonomous simulation robots—two types of smart products.

Li Qiao glanced over the simulation robot’s introduction page and immediately thought of the Yan Emperor’s AI engineer team, which was primarily responsible for robot development.

The AI engineers submitting their resignations so suddenly, just in time for the Aida State seminar, was too much of a coincidence.

The core technology is the most crucial part of AI intelligence. Regardless of whether Shang Yu valued it or not, she would not allow Qianmu Group to share these technologies with Charlman under the guise of cooperation.

Yeah, it might be better to multiply the penalty several times over.

...

At noon, Li Qiao arrived at the West City Portuguese Silver Underground Casino.

Having the farewell party at the casino was quite an original idea.

In the office on the third floor of the casino, Li Qiao entered to the sound of Jin Rong’s complaints: "Do you think she’s heartless?"

"Wait a moment," He Chen looked at Jin Rong with a look of exasperation, sarcastically saying, "So, Li Qiao agreed to be your goddaughter?"

Jin Rong hadn’t answered when a faint three words drifted through the air, "She didn’t agree."

An expectant father’s enthusiasm dashed: "..."

Jin Rong snorted, glanced at the suitcase at his feet, and with a kick, slid it towards Li Qiao’s feet, "This is for you."

"What’s this?" Li Qiao stopped the suitcase with the tip of her shoe, turned her head toward Shang Yu, raised her eyebrow, and asked with her gaze.

The man laughed without speaking, while Jin Rong raised his head mysteriously and said, "Wait till I leave before you look."

This practice banquet featured hot pot.

Li Qiao barely said a word throughout, sitting beside Shang Yu and focusing on the meat in her bowl.

After three rounds of drinks, He Chen bit on his cigarette, squinting at Jin Rong, "Did you find that batch of goods?"

"Not yet," Jin Rong replied while adding vegetables to the copper pot, "It disappeared without a trace."

He Chen scoffed at him, "The area near Wenxi Island is supposedly under your control, yet your own goods can be swallowed up. You’re quite incompetent."

Li Qiao looked up, "What goods?"

Jin Rong frowned, "Just eat your food, kid, and don’t ask too many questions."

At that moment, Shang Yu picked a slice of lamb for Li Qiao and informed her in a low voice, "A batch of Tang Sancai."

Jin Rong: "..."

"Oh," Li Qiao bit her chopsticks and didn’t say much more.

Jin Rong was an antique dealer with countless antique stores all over the world.

It was normal for goods to occasionally go missing during transportation.

Then, she heard Jin Rong cursing, "I think I know who did it, but that bastard is elusive, always holed up in Scarlet City and never comes out."

Scarlet City...

As soon as Jin Rong finished speaking, He Chen subconsciously glanced at Li Qiao.

Shang Yu then poured her another glass of juice and patted her head, saying, "Eat more."

He Chen’s eyes flashed with a meaningful smile, "You can’t get into Scarlet City?"

Jin Rong shook his head, full of resentment, "The whole border is like Scarlet City is its own independent country. Without that bastard’s say-so, you can get in, but can’t get out."

Li Qiao thought to herself, she might know who ’that bastard’ was.

...

After the meal, He Chen arranged for He Ao to take Jin Rong to the airport.

The three of them stood in the yard watching him get into the car and leave. Perhaps because he was reluctant to leave his goddaughter, Jin Rong didn’t forget to remind her before departing, "Remember to check the suitcase."

Li Qiao, hands in her pockets, looked at Jin Rong and asked indifferently, "When was that batch of goods lost?"

Jin Rong glared at her and demanded sternly, "Don’t get any crazy ideas; you can’t handle those people."

He Chen looked on, his smile tinged with mockery, "Has the sea breeze addled your brain with waves?!"

Didn’t he hear that Li Qiao wanted to help him find the goods?!

Jin Rong leaned against the car door, giving He Chen a cold glance, "What do you know, I’m off."

Seeing this, Li Qiao looked up at the man beside her, her expression rather helpless.

Shang Yu’s thin lips curved in a smile, and he met her gaze, whispering indulgently, "If you want to help, go ahead. If it’s too much trouble, just drop it. He’s not short of that money."

Li Qiao touched her nose, "Okay."

With that, He Chen could finally be sure that the infamous underground organization Flame Alliance certainly had something to do with Li Qiao.

And the current head of the Flame Alliance, Bai Yan, was in Scarlet City.

...

That evening, Li Qiao sat in the Mansion’s living room, looking at a check and a bag of diamonds in the suitcase, pondering her life.

The check was for thirty million, and the diamonds... They looked somewhat familiar.

Jin Rong had given her many strange and unusual gifts, but diamonds were new.

Li Qiao picked up a five-carat diamond, examined it closely, and with a sudden inspiration, she took the black bag and headed to Shang Yu’s study.