Chapter 676: The Truth of Tan Mo’s Investigation

The atmosphere in the restaurant grew tense.

Tan Mo and Snow Bird Harbor City Lord sat at opposite ends of the long table, facing each other across the space.

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord shook his head slowly, his eyes fixed intently on Tan Mo. "Perhaps there were indeed some differences in perspective and actions between the Gold Hand and me. What I never anticipated was that he would prove such a petty villain, secretly slandering me behind my back."

"Embezzlement and corruption? Hah! Everything I've done has been for the Empire!"

After professing his loyalty, Snow Bird Harbor City Lord's lips curved slightly, revealing a trace of composure. “Lord Tan Mo, surely you wouldn't base your judgment on the accusatory letter from the Golden Hand alone and conclude I murdered him?”

Tan Mo also smiled faintly: “You mean to say this is merely conjecture, lacking evidence and witnesses?”

“In fact, I have them.”

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord's expression turned solemn: "Oh? I'd like to hear the details."

Tan Mo stated directly: “That witness is Mei Lan Du!”

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord's pupils contracted imperceptibly, his face becoming expressionless.

Mei Lan Du was a key figure under the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord, a human magic chef of silver level.

His background mirrored the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord's: both had been secretly recruited by [Usurper] to join the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord's covert intelligence network.

Mei Lan Du had always followed Snow Bird Harbor City Lord.

Not long ago, Ci Hai Shen arrived at Snow Bird Harbor and invited Mei Lan Du to serve as his deputy, assisting in preparing the Sea Feast.

Ci Hai Shen promised that upon completion, he would impart a gold level recipe to Mei Lan Du. This offer was exceptionally generous, yet Mei Lan Du's refusal at the time was resolute.

Tan Mo sipped his red wine leisurely: "Though Mei Lan Du is only silver level, he possesses unique talents."

"His specialty is crafting an enhanced version of the Deep Sigh of the Blue Sea."

"After consuming this magic dish, anyone who merely taps into their battle qi, or even engages in vigorous movement, will trigger its effect, causing their battle qi to dissipate instantly, leaving them paralyzed and incapacitated."

“Of course, the legendary Deep Sigh of the Blue Sea is a legend level magic delicacy. Mei Lan Du can only refine a silver level modified version. But with other cooking tools and gold level ingredients, he could create a gold level modified version.”

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord fell silent for a moment before saying, “So you believe I used this magic dish to secretly assassinate Golden Hand?”

Tan Mo nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Precisely!”

“I investigated the circumstances at the hidden location before Gold Hand's death. It appears he was recuperating and consuming delicacies before the ambush.”

“And those were magic dishes of exceptionally high level.”

"Magic dishes differ from potions. Their shelf life is far shorter. They often spoil within days, or even hours."

“Who prepared the magic dishes Gold Hand consumed?”

“Clearly, it was Mei Lan Du!”

"Though Gold Hand secretly reported you, he didn't believe his cover was blown. Or rather, in his mind, even if you knew about the report, it wouldn't make you want to kill him!"

"Moreover, unlike magic potions, magic dishes are difficult to identify. To be precise, dishes like [Deep Sigh of the Blue Sea] are extremely hard to distinguish!"

“And its modified versions share this same advantage.”

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord remained silent.

His expressionless face concealed immense pressure!

For Tan Mo's words held absolute truth.

The culinary masterpiece [Deep Sigh of the Blue Sea] was originally created and personally cooked by Ge Zi Bu.

Ge Zi Bu, a legend level explorer, was a connoisseur of fine cuisine with an exceptional ability to discern magic dishes.

Yet he detected no deception. After consuming [Deep Sigh of the Blue Sea], his fighting spirit vanished. He ordered the fleet to turn back, causing nearly a decade of exploration to collapse at the final hurdle.

Mei Lan Du refined the recipe according to his own understanding. The dish he created recently succeeded in ensnaring the trio of Da Dou, Hong Zhu, and the big guy.

At the time, even Da Dou, a formidable gold level magic chef, fell victim before belatedly realizing what had happened.

Mei Lan Du's innovations extended beyond magic cuisine into potions as well.

His modified version of Sighing Water proved remarkably effective too.

Long ago, Snow Bird Harbor City Lord had allocated it as supplies for Lady Sea Snake, enabling her to successfully subdue the Clapping Pirates.

Seeing the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord fall silent, Tan Mo continued, “Teng Dong Lang actually died by your hand, didn't he?”

“Don't be so quick to deny it.”

“Heh, I've watched the magic footage of Long Fu and Teng Dong Lang's battle at least fifty times!”

“Why did Long Fu's final throw of the short spear prove fatal to Teng Dong Lang?”

"The common belief is that Teng Dong Lang was weakened after prolonged combat, allowing Long Fu to seize the decisive moment. But in reality, he consumed the modified [Deep Sigh of the Blue Sea], and when its duration ended, the effect triggered, didn't it?"

“The more I watch that final strike, the more suspicious it seems.”

“It bears a striking resemblance to Teng Dong Lang's death. On the surface, Golden Hand's demise appeared to be a battle skill mishap, failing to dodge the mage tower's beam.”

“But in truth, it was you who deliberately triggered the effect of the magic dish, causing his battle qi to spiral out of control in an instant!”

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord couldn't help but chuckle softly, interrupting, “Enough, enough, esteemed Investigator. Your analysis is thorough and convincing, quite the performance.”

“I'm almost about to clap for your entertaining story.”

“Unfortunately, after listening this long, I haven't heard a shred of concrete evidence or a single witness.”

“All of this remains mere conjecture.”

Tan Mo chuckled again. “Don't worry, I was just about to get to the evidence.”

“I've discovered that after Long Fu slew Teng Dong Lang, you secretly mobilized personnel and actively stirred up public opinion. You extolled Long Fu's unyielding fighting spirit, proclaiming his ‘excellence in never giving up, which allowed him to seize victory in a desperate battle.’”

"You had absolutely no need to do this. Unless your goal was to use this to conceal Teng Dong Lang’s true cause of death!"

“And the best evidence, of course, would be the bodies of Teng Dong Lang and Gold Hand.”

“In this regard, Lord City, your execution was remarkably clean and efficient.”

“Teng Dong Lang’s body remained in your possession for some time, ensuring no incriminating evidence was left behind.”

"Even more ingeniously, you orchestrated Tranquil Hill's reconnaissance mission, providing a plausible reason for the Bayonet Gang remnants to ‘seize’ Teng Dong Lang's body. This way, you had a perfectly acceptable explanation to the organization."

"As for Gold Hand's body, you undoubtedly planned this long ago. Thus, Gold Hand perished under the mage tower's assault, disintegrating instantly without leaving a single trace."

“These two pieces of crucial evidence are gone.”

“But I still have a way.”

"For instance, I could continue investigating matters related to Mei Lan Du or the Deep Sigh of the Blue Sea. I believe there must be other leads in these areas."

“In fact, within my authority, I could directly detain Mei Lan Du for personal interrogation.”

“The question is, will his loyalty to you, City Lord, withstand the test?”

After speaking, Tan Mo paused and resumed sipping his wine.

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord stared intently at Tan Mo, his brow furrowed. Then, a realization dawned on him, and his expression softened considerably.

He understood.

If Tan Mo truly intended to investigate him or target him, wouldn't it be simpler to just arrest Mei Lan Du outright? Why bring up the plan deliberately at the dinner table?

Wasn't that practically inviting the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord to sabotage it?

Tan Mo wouldn't be that foolish.

Therefore, his motive for voicing this plan clearly went beyond mere investigative duties.

What else could it be?

A word flashed through Snow Bird Harbor's Lord's mind: extortion!

Yes, Tan Mo was extorting him.

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord weighed his words carefully before replying slowly, “Mei Lan Du is loyal to me, and even more loyal to the Empire.”

“There's no need to imprison and interrogate him. It simply isn't worth it.”

Tan Mo set down his wine cup. "Oh? Why do you say that, City Lord?"

"Upon further reflection, perhaps you are innocent. You were merely deceived by Mei Lan Du. In truth, the modified [Deep Sigh of the Blue Sea] is the crucial element. Therefore, it's highly likely Mei Lan Du acted alone, and you knew nothing of his actions."

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord shook his head immediately: “I can guarantee his innocence.”

Tan Mo sneered coldly: “What guarantee do you offer?”

Snow Bird Harbor City Lord held up five fingers: “A fifty-thousand gold coin bond. How about that?”

Tan Mo threw his head back and laughed heartily several times before lowering his gaze, his eyes burning as he fixed them on the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord.

He said nothing, only his face twisted with profound contempt!

The Snow Bird Harbor City Lord instantly grasped Tan Mo's unspoken message: You think 50,000 gold coins will buy me off? Do you take me for a beggar?

“This greedy pig!” cursed the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord inwardly, yet he had no choice but to raise his bid.

Fifty thousand gold coins became one hundred fifty thousand gold coins.

Tan Mo shook his head.

Then came the time ice cube, earth elemental essence, and various other materials.

Tan Mo shook his head again.

The Snow Bird Harbor City Lord's offers grew ever higher, so steep they made his heart bleed.

Yet Tan Mo remained unyielding.

This filled the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord with fury and resentment, yet also profound helplessness. What could he do? Tan Mo held his weakness in his hands.

“I underestimated this fellow!”

"Though greedy to the extreme, he truly possesses skill. In just a few days, he uncovered the truth."

“No wonder the Empire assigned him as the investigator for this case!”

The Snow Bird Harbor City Lord found himself in a highly passive position. He longed to strangle the fat man before him on the spot.

But he couldn't.

Tan Mo was an investigator from the Imperial Secret Spy Agency. Snow Bird Harbor City Lord could plot Golden Hand's death, but he absolutely couldn't lay a finger on Tan Mo. Was the Imperial Secret Spy Agency so easy to fool?

Only when Snow Bird Harbor City Lord had raised the price to its absolute limit, his face contorted with frustration, did Tan Mo finally speak, calmly stating his demand: “I want the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps!”