Chapter 25: Underground

Ye Qi stood at the entrance of the classroom, took a deep breath, and firmly held the letter containing secrets that his mother had given him.

As the cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Alcohol truly is a wonderful thing! After sighing, Ye Qi called over a free waiter, wrote a note, and stuck it on the chest of the white-robed priest. He then gestured for the waiter to take the priest to a hotel on the next street to rest—during the day, the second floor was full of demon hunters, making it impossible to rest there. Among the demon hunters, there were certainly those who were bold and reckless, and he didn't want to see a headline the next day about the Grand Bishop of the Church being naked and hanging upside down in the city center.

After tidying his clothes, Ye Qi greeted the bartender. With a nod from the bartender, he stepped out of the bar—he was now going to meet the mayor he had "invited" in advance. After all, after being detained by the Blood Honor for over ten hours, the other party should have completely calmed down and could communicate properly...

Mark Bass sat in his chair, his originally stern and authoritative face now showing a hint of confusion—although he was in an underground room, unable to see the sun or have a watch, he could still tell through his military training that he had been "kidnapped" for nearly twenty-four hours.

However, during these twenty-four hours, the other party had only brought him food once and had not had any further contact with him. Even when delivering the food, they would politely knock on the door and ask what he wanted to eat. This was extremely strange for a kidnapping case. What puzzled him even more was that he was not restricted or abused in this relatively spacious underground room, and his hands and feet were not tied. Apart from the lack of any means to contact the outside world and the inability to leave the room, it was almost like staying in a hotel.

What is going on here?

Mark Bass lowered his head, pondering the current situation, but came to no conclusion. A day was enough for him to review anyone who had a grudge against him. Although there were many suspects, he eventually ruled them all out. He was certain that if he had fallen into their hands, he would not be as "comfortable" as he was now. Even if they didn't kill him immediately, at least a few beatings would be common.

"Knock, knock..."

The sound of knocking interrupted Mark Bass's thoughts. Having experienced the food delivery, he didn't look up but shouted, "Come in."

"Mayor, hello!"

A young but steady voice caught Mark Bass's attention. He looked up and sized up the young man in front of him—his solid build under the black coat indicated good skills, his black hair was neatly tied back, and his black eyes were full of confidence, making him stand out.

Clearly, such a young man with this aura was not a new "cook." Mark Bass immediately sat up straight, the mark of his military life still evident even after ten years in the Senate. Every time he spoke to someone, he would straighten his back.

"Are you the one who 'invited' me here?" Mark Bass sat straight in his chair, his face calm as he asked, "What is your purpose?"

"Protecting your safety!" Seeing Mark Bass's surprised face, Ye Qi smiled and introduced himself, "The highest government has issued a commission to the Demon Hunter Headquarters, and I am Ye Qi, the branch president of the Demon Hunter Union in the Harbor Bay, who accepted the task. It is an honor to meet you, sir!"

"The Demon Hunter Union?" Mark Bass's surprise quickly returned to normal, and he sized up Ye Qi again. In the military, he had learned about the existence of the Demon Hunter Union and other forces. Later, in the Senate, due to the power transition, he gained a deeper understanding of these hidden forces and their true significance. However, he clearly could not believe Ye Qi's words. After all, his experience in the Senate, besides giving him more power, also taught him a different way of survival compared to the military. After a moment of thought, Mark Bass said, "How can I trust you?"

"Very simple! Follow me to a place!"

Ye Qi walked out with a relaxed expression, and Mark Bass followed without hesitation. In a strange environment, with inexplicable doubts, even with his military psychological resilience, it was extremely difficult to endure. Especially when an opportunity to resolve his doubts appeared, he became even more eager.

Mark Bass followed Ye Qi through a long underground corridor. Looking at the unguarded figure in front of him, he habitually speculated about the chances of safely leaving if he could subdue the other party.

However, the danger and pressure emanating from the other party immediately made him abandon this idea. The feeling of being targeted by a sniper was all too familiar. He was certain that if he made a move, he would be instantly killed without hesitation.

Feeling the danger, Mark Bass immediately focused his mind and began to observe his surroundings. The first time he came in, he was blindfolded and drugged, making it impossible to determine the external environment. The corridor was long, but it was clear that people frequently passed through, with good ventilation, dryness, and electricity. Under the lighting, it was exceptionally bright.

"Is this the underground vault of a bank?" Mark Bass, who had been observing for a long time, suddenly asked. Ye Qi, without hiding, nodded, "Yes! But, Mayor, rest assured, no one here will leak the secret of your presence. Of course, if you can reimburse the fees afterward, I would be even more grateful!"

Hearing Ye Qi's words, a bitter smile appeared on Mark Bass's lips. Bank underground vaults were generally facilities for wealthy individuals to store valuable items, with excellent credit and high security. Without a certain status and corresponding credibility, it was impossible to rent one. Of course, the storage fees were also substantial. Based on the size of the place he was in, if he wanted to reimburse the fees, he would basically be living on the streets for a quarter. After all, bank underground vaults were charged monthly, even if you only used it for a day.

However, at this moment, Mark Bass believed most of Ye Qi's background. Someone who could rent a bank underground vault would not kidnap him. After all, someone qualified to rent a bank underground vault would not kidnap him for money. As for his political enemies? Although they had the qualifications to rent a vault, they would not go through such trouble. Moreover, the rental records at the bank would lead to investigations by the highest government, potentially ruining their careers.

After all, in Lorant, banks also belonged to the highest government...

Glancing at the thoughtful Mark Bass behind him, Ye Qi couldn't help but chuckle silently. As a demon hunter, he, of course, did not have the qualifications to rent a bank underground vault, even if he paid the corresponding money. This place was rented by a black market merchant on his behalf, using the merchant's public identity as a jeweler.

After all, the bank, after signing a confidentiality agreement, would bear responsibility for the contents of the vault. If someone used the vault for illegal activities, the bank would also face consequences. Therefore, the bank generally chose social celebrities of a certain status to recommend the vault. Even if these people had questionable backgrounds, their clean public image was enough, wasn't it?

The reason Ye Qi chose the bank's underground vault was after careful consideration. Initially, he considered the Blood Honor's manor and his bar, but quickly abandoned them. The former would easily expose the existence of Blood Honor, and the female leader would definitely not agree. The latter was too crowded and complicated. After all, no one could guarantee that among the demon hunters who gathered on the second floor to drink, there were no "true" spies from the Demon Hunter Headquarters.

As for the blonde girl and the white-robed priest? They were not even considered in his initial plan. Given their personalities and affiliations, if they knew his plan, it would likely fail before it even began.

Therefore, despite the additional benefits fee, Ye Qi still chose the black market merchant. From calling the merchant to completing the rental, it took Ye Qi less than a day. This not only made him marvel at the merchant's efficiency but also gave him a general idea of the merchant's public reputation. To accomplish this in a day, the merchant must have at least a VIP status in the highest government's bank...

Of course, Ye Qi would never believe the merchant's boast about having royal blood...