Weird Rules Rumor: At The Beginning, He Insisted That He Was Not Dead
Chapter 176: Landen Detective Agency (4)

Bai Liang he's unstoppable, and it's best not to antagonize him. Yet, he's still just a rookie. According to my information, he's currently a Level 1 Professional. But I'm already a Level 3 Professional, on the verge of advancing to Level 4. Once I reach that, I can leave this trading hub, which feels like a novice village.

Li Xin's situation is similar. She's been stuck here for over a year, and she's probably progressing faster than me. Once Li Xin and I leave this place, if Bai Liang isn't around, won't I be able to handle Li Xin?

“I need to speed up my progress! Effort can overcome all disparities!” Xu Yaowen declared, clenching his fist, a flicker in his eyes.

As for progression speed, I don't consider myself inferior to Bai Liang, though I wouldn't say I'm fast, especially with the support of top players from the Strange World.

All the cards I hold are certainly enough to quickly advance to Level 4. Bai Liang won't be able to catch up to me in such a short time!

“Hey, kid, drinking coffee by yourself? Why didn't you make a cup for me?” At that moment, a slender young man named Kuran entered the cafe. He sat down opposite Xu Yaowen.

He was Xu Yaowen's superior, and this young man was the rookie assigned to him.

......

Meanwhile, Bai Liang continued to search for potential materials in the attic. However, apart from that notebook, he found nothing else of use.

About ten minutes later, his phone suddenly rang. Bai Liang had just opened a book and, with a puzzled expression, picked up the phone, looking at the incoming number.

It was Toni calling, and Bai Liang answered immediately.

“Kid, have you read the notebook yet?” Toni's voice echoed from the receiver, with background chatter audible.

“Yes, Mr. Toni. Did you call about something?” Bai Liang replied.

“Since you've read the notebook, you now have a better grasp of what it means to be a detective.”

“And if that's the case, I have a very difficult case, and I need your help.”

These words sounded a little too familiar... It seemed to Bai Liang that he had heard this somewhere before. He calmly asked:

“Mr. Toni, so the notebook is essentially your rookie tutorial? And now that I’ve finished my training, I’m immediately being sent on an especially difficult case?”

How is this any different from games where the first level is too easy, but the second is immediately hardcore?

“Don't think like that,” Toni hastily replied. “I would’ve liked to give you something simpler, but I genuinely need your help.”

A hint of embarrassment laced Toni’s voice, but as a seasoned schemer, he knew how to find the right words. The next second, he was already encouraging Bai Liang:

“Besides, you’re a student of Mantis College! I have complete faith in your abilities. Even with such a difficult case, you’ll handle it without a hitch, won’t you?”

“Ah, right, right...” Bai Liang mumbled without emotion. “Mr. Toni, where are you right now?”

“At Landen Library on East Street. Leave the agency, turn left, and walk straight until you see a huge billboard. I’ll be waiting for you at the entrance.”

“All right, wait for me, I’ll be there soon.”

With that, Bai Liang hung up, pressed a button on his chronometer, and headed for the exit.

It seemed the main storyline was about to begin. This would be his first task.

Descending to the first floor, Bai Liang noticed that the other employees had already left. It seemed everyone had their own assignments.

Before leaving, he glanced at the wall clock.

10:30 AM.

“So, it was already past ten when I entered the dungeon?”

Bai Liang chuckled:

“It seems Mr. Toni’s words can’t be trusted. He himself showed up late.”

---

On the roadside, beneath a streetlamp, by the entrance to Landen Library, Toni finished his call and pulled a cigarette from his pocket.

The Landen Detective Agency and the library were on the same street, barely a couple of hundred meters apart.

Even at a brisk pace, the walk took at least five minutesjust enough time for a quick smoke break.

But just as he took his first puff, a hand settled on his shoulder.

Toni raised an eyebrow and slowly turned around.

Standing beside him was Bai Liang, with his perpetually friendly smile.

“Cough, cough, cough... W-what?!”

Toni nearly choked on his smoke, coughing, and stared at Bai Liang in astonishment:

“You just finished talking on the phone?! How are you here so fast?”

“Are you sure you called from the agency, and not the clothing store next door?”

His utterly bewildered expression spoke for itselfBai Liang had appeared too quickly, and it was awfully strange.

“Mr. Toni, does that really matter?” Bai Liang calmly smiled.

“Instead of dwelling on that, I’m much more interested in knowing...”

“What kind of case is this, that even the ‘lead detective of the agency’ can’t handle?”

“Since I’ve been brought in as an assistant, does that mean it’s truly that difficult?”

Hearing this, Toni no longer focused on how quickly Bai Liang had appeared.

Reluctantly flicking his half-smoked cigarette onto the ground, he looked around and said:

“This isn’t the best place to talk. Follow me.”

Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he quickly headed for the stairs and, as he ascended, continued:

“Everything turned out to be even more complex than I thought. I’ve never encountered such an absurd case in my life.”

These words further piqued Bai Liang’s curiosity.

Landen Library was on the second floor. When they opened the door and stepped inside, they saw several people in black suits.

They were standing around a corpse, discussing something.

Bai Liang lowered his gaze.

A bullet had struck directly in the head.

Blood had already spread across the floor, staining it a deep crimson. A sharp smell of blood hung in the air.

“Toni, where have you been?” one of the men in black, wearing dark glasses, noticed him and asked.

Then his gaze fell upon Bai Liang, and he frowned:

“Toni, unauthorized individuals aren’t allowed at a crime scene. It’s a rule...”

Without letting him finish, Toni waved his hand and interrupted:

“Alright, alright, Blainey. This is my assistant and a detective from the agency. I personally called him to help with the investigation.”

Hearing this, Blainey no longer argued and simply shifted his gaze back to the body.

Toni walked up to him and, frowning, asked:

“Has the bullet been extracted yet?”

“Yes, we’re currently checking for fingerprints.” Blainey nodded.

“As soon as you have the results, inform me immediately.”

Toni, having finished speaking, looked at Bai Liang, who was meticulously examining the body, and asked:

“Noticed anything?”

Bai Liang gave him a strange look:

“Perhaps you should tell me the general overview first? Then I’d at least know what to look for.”

Toni slapped his forehead:

“What a scatterbrain I am! Looks like I’ve spent too long with this gangmy brain’s already rusted.”

“Those guys either drink or get up to all sorts of mischief in the evenings. Because of them, I nearly ruined my health with alcohol. I guess I’m quitting drinking starting today.”