Chapter 77

"Is it Cao the carpenter?" Doctor Han lowered his head and thought for a moment before saying, "He doesn't interact with many people, and there's no one he's particularly close to in the village, just ordinary acquaintances. However, his carpentry skills are especially good, and there are always people in Jiangning County who invite him to make furniture. He spends about four to five days in Jiangning County every one or two months."

"Is that so?" Su Peng listened and formed a rough picture of Cao the carpenter's life. If the murderer was indeed Cao the carpenter, then he likely had a place to stay in Jiangning County. Whether he knew the murdered wealthy individuals was unclear, as the four deceased rich men were among the top-tier wealthy in Jiangning County. Cao the carpenter's skills were average, and ordinary wealthy families might hire him, but truly wealthy families might not.

However, Su Peng had a clue. Based on his reasoning, since Cao the carpenter often went to Jiangning County and stayed for four to five days, it wasn't necessarily always for carpentry work. Perhaps he had a base in Jiangning County or was involved in some secret activities, making it convenient for him to operate there.

"He won't live in a large house, as that would be too conspicuous, but it must be an independent residence. This way, whether he practices martial arts or does other things, it's convenient. This residence won't be in a bustling area, as that would be inconvenient, nor will it be too complex, as the slums of Jiangning County, though chaotic, are not secretive, and the residents know each other well... So, the areas where Cao the carpenter can stay in Jiangning County are much smaller."

Su Peng thought and came to this conclusion, secretly noting it down. He planned to return to Jiangning County and gradually search for places that fit his reasoning, paying attention to any suspicious individuals.

"It seems I should return to Jiangning County soon." Su Peng thought, then stood up and said to Doctor Han, "Old Doctor Han, I came in a hurry and didn't bring much, and I have urgent matters to attend to, so I can't stay here."

"Go ahead, it's good for young people to be busy." Doctor Han smiled, not minding Su Peng's quick departure, but he still reminded him, "Remember to take your medicine. As long as you keep taking it, the injury from the poison palm won't worsen."

"I understand." Su Peng nodded and bid farewell to Doctor Han, mounted a fast horse, and hurriedly headed for Jiangning County.

By the time he reached Jiangning County, half the sun had already set below the horizon, leaving only a last ray of light. Su Peng rushed to the Black Water Army's Western Camp and went to Hei Lang Er's office, where he saw a few of his subordinates' spies.

"Find a way to contact the leaders of the Four Seas Gang and the Pai Gang within the next hour." Su Peng said to the few spies still at Hei Lang Er's headquarters. Although the spies didn't know what Su Peng meant, they had to follow his orders, so they dispersed into the city to gather information.

Su Peng knew he wouldn't get any news within an hour or two, and he was hungry, so he decided to get something to eat. At that moment, he suddenly heard a bell ring in the real world.

He logged out of the game, and the game pod opened. Lei Ming, Sun Shijia, and Ji Ming were all around him.

"Didn't forget, right? Today is the end-of-month evaluation and the day for new recruits to be assigned to groups." Ji Ming said to Su Peng, who had just gotten out of the game pod.

"Almost forgot... I've been too engrossed recently." Su Peng said, and Ji Ming couldn't help but shake his head.

"Alright, all three of you are here. The analysis of your data sheets should be complete. I'll take you to see Director Shi to hear your future group assignments." Lei Ming clapped his hands and said to Su Peng and the others.

They all nodded and left the new recruit room with Lei Ming, heading to Director Shi Qianjun's office.

The four of them arrived at the office, and Lei Ming knocked on the door. They entered, and Director Shi Qianjun was looking at a stack of documents on his desk. He nodded when he saw Su Peng and the others.

"You're just in time... Your data sheets have been processed by experts. First, congratulations to all three of you. Your game characters have developed well, and you have the potential to become full-time employees."

"Of course, this should have been easy for you. Now, the next step is to assign you to the right groups to maximize your abilities."

"Your data sheets have been analyzed and given numerical values. Based on your data sheets... Sun Shijia!"

"Here!" Sun Shijia stepped forward. Director Shi Qianjun said, "Your character's martial arts skills are well-balanced, but there's nothing particularly outstanding. During the new recruit period, you completed three important tasks, but two of them were assisted by others... Based on your character's growth and your performance this month, you are assigned to the Hu Ben Group."

"Indeed, the Hu Ben Group!" Sun Shijia sighed in relief, which was within his expectations. He said, "Understood."

"Ji Ming, during this month, you completed two important tasks, both of which were assisted. Your character's growth is excellent, with balanced skills in all areas, and you have a specialty in ranged attacks. Your archery has been upgraded to intermediate level and has room for further growth, making you a good ranged support DPS. Based on your character's growth, you are assigned to the Long Ya Group."

Ji Ming nodded, saying nothing. Su Peng looked at him, and this was also within expectations.

"Finally, Su Peng..."

Director Shi Qianjun held a sheet of paper and looked at it for a moment before saying, "Your performance this month has been the most outstanding. Your character has grown well, with three light blue skills. You discovered a hidden task in Green Mountain Town and later found a continuous task on your own. During the new recruit period, you obtained a silver skill and an unknown level skill without any help from others... Your ability to develop tasks is very strong, but it's a bit of a pity. If your silver skill was an attack skill, joining the Long Ya Group would be no problem, but your silver skill is lightness..."

"Director Shi, you mean..."

"Yes, considering your ability to discover hidden tasks, you are temporarily assigned to the An Xiao Group." Director Shi Qianjun put down the paper and said to Su Peng.

Su Peng nodded. From a purely game perspective, joining the Long Ya Group or the An Xiao Group was acceptable. However, from the perspective of gathering information and his purpose in the company, joining the An Xiao Group might be more advantageous.

"Your group assignments are temporarily set... Tomorrow is a rest day, so unless it's something extremely important, don't go online. Rest for a day, and on Monday morning, Lei Ming will take you to your respective groups to meet your group leaders, who will then assign you specific tasks."

Director Shi Qianjun said to the group, and they all responded that they understood. He nodded and said, "That's all. You can go now."

Su Peng and the others left Director Shi Qianjun's office. Sun Shijia and Ji Ming, having completed their tasks in the game, planned to go to the relaxation room to play some billiards and invited Su Peng to join them.

"You go ahead, I'll eat first." Su Peng said. Seeing them leave, he turned to Lei Ming and said, "Team Leader Lei, I still have some unfinished business. Can I use the new recruit room tonight?"

"It's possible... but don't stay up all night. On rest days, there are dedicated personnel to maintain and clean the game pods. Also, strictly speaking, after today, you are no longer part of the new recruit group, and you are not allowed to use the new recruit room according to the rules."

"I'll definitely finish by midnight." Su Peng said to Lei Ming, who pondered for a moment and nodded. "Alright, but you must log out by midnight, or your access card won't open the door to the new recruit room, and you'll be locked inside."

"Understood." Su Peng nodded, then said goodbye to Lei Ming, ate a quick meal in the dining hall, and logged back into the game.

After logging in, Su Peng estimated that the spies should have some information. He rode a horse without the Black Water Army's emblem to Jiangning County.

Su Peng rode to a shop in the eastern part of Jiangning County, dismounted, and stood for a moment. A plain-looking man in ordinary clothes entered the shop, brushing shoulders with Su Peng before going in.

Su Peng led the horse forward a bit, then opened the paper ball the man had slipped into his hand. It read, "Four Seas Gang's Tang Kun, currently in a private room on the second floor of Zui Xian Lou. Pai Gang's Sun Haichao, at Chun Xiang Yuan in three hours."

Holding the paper, Su Peng couldn't help but shake his head and smile, thinking, "These spies have been doing their job for too long, making everything so mysterious. They misunderstood my intentions, but no matter, I'll go myself."

With that, Su Peng mounted his horse and headed for Zui Xian Lou.

Arriving at Zui Xian Lou, Su Peng went straight upstairs to the second floor.

On the second floor of Zui Xian Lou, a private room was separated by a screen, with four armed men standing in a line outside.

Without needing to recognize them, Su Peng knew he had found the right place. He headed straight for the private room behind the screen...