"What?!"
The scout's report was like a boulder crashing into the room, instantly unleashing massive waves. Even Wang Chong and Li Siye grimaced. Wang Chong had been sitting on a wooden armchair, waiting for news, but at this moment, he suddenly stood up.
"How could this be?"
"Weren't they going to the capital? Why would they turn back now? "
"Turning back means that we don't even need to investigate. They've already been eliminated. All five of them have been eliminated. What's going on? "
"Marquis, I suggest that we have Xu Keyi investigate right now!"
… …
Like a gale, this news completely disrupted everyone's expectations and rhythm. No one had expected that the last two suspects would turn back at a time like this. But this was not the only thing that left them dumbfounded and shocked.
"Reporting! … "
At this moment, another scout rushed into the room.
"Marquis, Lord Zhang Que has sent word from the front that the three suspects have suddenly sped up. Marquis, please tell us if we should continue to follow and pursue them!"
"Buzz!"
The raucous room instantly became deathly still. In the end, all eyes gathered on Wang Chong in the middle of the room. Everyone's astonishment was clear on their faces.
The situation had taken a 180-degree turn. Those who were suspicious were suddenly no longer suspicious, and those who weren't suspicious were suddenly suspicious. In a flash, everyone was at a loss as to what to do next. Things that were originally clear became confusing in an instant, as if they had sunk into a dense fog.
"How could this be?"
Wang Chong stood in the room, his mind in even more disarray than the others. The envoy sent by Fomonlința should have been the one with the black jade seal on his wrist. Those three didn't have it, so they could be eliminated as suspects. The other two had entered the plateau, and Zhang Que's eagle was still following them, so they could also be eliminated. All that was left were the two people who hadn't been cleared of suspicion.
As long as he could find the one with the black jade mark on his arm, he would be able to do so. The whole thing was simple and clear. Logically speaking, there shouldn't be any problems. What was the problem? Why did those two people suddenly turn back?
Could it be that … he had made a mistake …
At this moment, Wang Chong's mind was in turmoil, and his expression was incomparably solemn.
Things had gone wrong, at least not as he had expected. He had to find out what had gone wrong.
"Marquis, Xu Keyi is still waiting. Those two will probably return to Qixi soon. Should we continue the investigation?"
A voice whispered into Wang Chong's ear.
Wang Chong didn't say anything. He was deep in thought. However, the changes in the situation were far more complicated than expected. It only took a moment for another scout to rush in with a flustered expression.
"Report!"
"Marquis, bad news! Lord Zhang has sent word. Of the three targets, one of them has suddenly vanished. We've lost them!! "
It was as if a heavy bomb had been dropped on them. If the people in the room could still maintain their composure, then when they heard that the target had disappeared, they immediately panicked. This was not the first time that Fomonlința and Marquis had opposed each other, and he had even used Ouzan's men. He was truly unscrupulous.
If they could not use this chance to bring down Fomonlința, their future in the City of Steel could be easily imagined. Although they didn't know why this had happened, there was no doubt that the target who had suddenly vanished was the person carrying the important letter from Fomonlința.
"Marquis, there's no time. Why don't we appear now and conduct a full search? We'll definitely find that person!"
"That's right, Marquis! The person who vanished is definitely the true target. We've all been tricked by Fomonlința. "
"Marquis, let's give chase!"
"Marquis, let me go!"
"Let me!"
… …
Everyone felt an intense sense of urgency. Time was fleeting. If they did not find the missing person, they would suffer a crushing defeat, and their mission would be a complete failure.
"Wait!"
Just when everyone was getting excited and volunteering to go search for that person, a calm voice boomed through the room like a clap of thunder.
"Without my order, no one is allowed to move!"
Wang Chong's order was firm and unquestionable, immediately pulling everyone back from their excitement.
"Everyone, don't act on your own. Marquis will decide everything!"
Li Siye swept his gaze over the crowd and quickly turned around, striding over to Wang Chong's side.
"Marquis, if there is a need, I can act at any time. Although I don't know where he went, as long as I have the heart, I believe I can definitely find him. "
When saying this, Li Siye deliberately lowered his voice, almost only Wang Chong could hear him. Although he did not know what was going on, judging from the current results, it was very likely that there was something wrong with Wang Chong's judgment. It was just that no one mentioned it.
"No!"
Wang Chong shook his head, as if he did not hear Li Siye's words. His expression was solemn, completely different from his usual self.
"This matter is definitely not that simple!"
At this moment, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. The scenes that had happened in the past kept appearing before his eyes. Fomonlința did not know of his existence. To be more precise, Fomonlința did not know that his secret collusion with the prince in the court had been exposed. He also did not know that he was secretly dealing with him in this matter.
This was also the precondition for Wang Chong to take him away.
"… Moreover, the matter of the Xueyang Palace is of great importance. Fomonlința would never use the ordinary method of sending pigeons. That would be too much of a trifle. Fomonlința would definitely send one of his trusted aides for such an important matter. Thus, no matter what, the most crucial letter that can prove that Fomonlința is colluding with the prince must be in the hands of one of Fomonlința's trusted aides. "
Wang Chong remained silent, his mind rapidly turning over the matter.
"In other words, there is no need for Fomonlința to be so deliberately mystifying, unless he sensed something!"
This final thought was like an axe cleaving through the darkness. Wang Chong's body trembled, and he suddenly called out.
"Cheng Sanyuan, ask Zhang Que again. Is there anything else strange besides this? I want to know everything from start to finish. I want to know every single detail. If there is anything suspicious, don't let me off the hook! "
Wang Chong's shout was abrupt, and his grave expression made everyone sense something.
"Yes!"
Cheng Sanyuan immediately turned and left. Zhang Que's reply quickly arrived.
"Milord, Zhang Que says that nothing has happened."
"Ask again!"
"Milord, there truly is nothing strange."
"Ask again!"
"Milord, Zhang Que says that not long after scouting the three targets, other than finding a few carrier pigeons, there really is nothing else. Because the matter was not very important, Zhang Que felt that it was nothing, so he did not report it. "
… …
"Buzz!"
Before anyone else could react to Zhang Que's final report, Wang Chong's pupils constricted as if he had been stabbed by a needle.
"Order Zhang Que to have all the birds withdraw. Do not move recklessly, and do not pursue.
"Inform Xu Keyi to have all his men withdraw. As for the two targets that are currently returning, do not let them continue probing or pursue. Without my order, no one is allowed to move recklessly!!! "
With these final words, Wang Chong clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles creaked.
He had underestimated Fomonlința far too much!
This bastard was even more cautious than he had imagined. This was the most crucial moment. If he gave Fomonlința the slightest bit of doubt, Wang Chong's previous efforts would be for naught, and all his previous efforts would be for naught.
"Marquis, what happened?"
Li Siye walked over and asked in a low voice.
Wang Chong's two orders had been inexplicable. One of the three targets had disappeared while the other two were picking up speed. Not only had Wang Chong not ordered his men to pursue, he had even ordered them to retreat. Everyone was left scratching their heads in confusion. Wang Chong's authority in the City of Steel was growing by the day, and no one dared to question Wang Chong's decisions. At this time, only Li Siye could go and ask.
"… Marquis, has Fomonlința sensed us?"
"Mm!"
Wang Chong nodded.
"We were so focused on finding out if those five targets were real or fake that we neglected Fomonlința's caution in this matter. It's no longer important if we can find that person with the black jade mark on his right wrist. The most important thing is that we can't arouse Fomonlința's vigilance. "
"But how could Fomonlința sense us? We've already been very careful. There shouldn't be any problems. "
Li Siye said with a frown.
All the methods of probing were carefully considered and discussed by everyone beforehand. It was precisely because they were certain that it was natural and would not arouse any suspicion that they had taken these actions. Li Siye did not understand why Fomonlința would be so vigilant.
"You don't understand."
Wang Chong gave a deep sigh. Not even Li Siye could understand what was going on, much less the others. If they had not run into him, Fomonlința's plan would have most likely succeeded.
"So far, we've used three methods: the beggar, the carriage collision, and the cavalry. Among them, the easiest to attract attention is the carriage collision. However, we first collided with the other carriages before 'accidentally' colliding with the target's carriage. In this way, even if the target was suspicious, they wouldn't think too much. From a single target's perspective, our methods would indeed not arouse suspicion. However, when these things are linked together and a few consecutive problems occur, if you were Fomonlința, would you be suspicious? "
"This …"
Li Siye was stunned. In fact, not only him, but the others in the room were also stunned when they heard Wang Chong's words. Indeed, everyone did everything extremely well and tried their best to be as perfect as possible. However, when everything was linked together, it was far from the case.
"However, these five targets are very far away. How did Fomonlința find out so quickly …"
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