"Actually, the most particular thing is the coarseness of the ground beans."
Liu Ziming was still talking nonstop: "For a coffee shop of this level, they should at least use a thirty-thousand-yuan grinder..."
He was just too noisy.
Many customers around them were showing displeased expressions toward him.
"Alright, Young Master Liu."
Xu Hao immediately said: "Keep your voice down, this isn't your home."
Liu Ziming looked around and, noticing these disapproving glances, tactfully stopped talking.
Though his expression still seemed like he had more to say.
Su Zhan's ears were finally clear.
The barista behind the counter moved with practiced skill, the servers wore professional smiles—everything seemed perfectly normal.
After all, you couldn't tell Aberrants apart just by appearance.
Su Zhan raised his hand and snapped his fingers: "Server."
A young waitress quickly approached: "Sir, how may I help you?"
"What's wrong with this coffee?"
Su Zhan pushed the cup forward with an unfriendly expression: "Call your manager over."
His purpose for doing this wasn't because the coffee tasted bad, of course.
But because he hadn't seen the manager here and needed to observe the manager.
The waitress repeatedly bowed in apology before turning and hurrying toward the kitchen.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem with the coffee?"
Liu Ziming leaned over, looking curious.
Su Zhan didn't answer, just tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
Liu Ziming tactfully didn't press further.
Footsteps approached from behind.
A woman in a beige professional suit walked over slowly.
She appeared to be around thirty, with chestnut hair neatly pinned back to reveal a smooth forehead.
"I'm manager Li Ya. May I ask what's wrong with the coffee?"
Everyone carefully examined this approaching female manager.
She felt both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
Her face seemed recognizable, but when they tried to think harder, they couldn't place her.
Wang Mingyuan asked: "What's your relation to Li Tinghuai?"
Li Tinghuai was naturally the name of Starlight Academy's Dean Li.
Li Ya replied gently: "He's my father."
Liu Ziming looked Li Ya up and down, unable to resist interjecting: "Your father is Dean Li of Starlight Academy! With such status and position, why would you open a coffee shop in a place like this?"
He glanced around before continuing: "This little shop can't make much money in a year, right? With your father's wealth, you shouldn't have to worry about money for your entire life."
"Because I love coffee."
Li Ya answered calmly: "I enjoy this kind of shop-owner lifestyle, and besides..."
"I'm just an ordinary person, not as great as my father. I just want to live my life well and do what I want to do—that's enough for me."
Liu Ziming was momentarily speechless, opening his mouth but unable to form a rebuttal.
Li Ya turned her gaze to Su Zhan, slightly bowing as she asked: "Sir, did you have something specific to discuss with me? Is the coffee not to your taste?"
"Of course not."
Su Zhan's brow relaxed as he stood up: "I just thought this coffee was exceptionally delicious, so I wanted to see what kind of person could run such an excellent coffee shop."
Li Ya nodded politely: "Thank you for your support. If there's nothing else, I'll return to my work now."
Everyone nodded in acknowledgment.
Li Ya turned and walked away, her high heels clicking crisply on the marble floor.
Her figure soon disappeared around the corner of the coffee shop.
Su Zhan's eyes narrowed sharply.
The address given by the Hulk mask.
Was this coffee shop.
And the manager of this coffee shop turned out to be Dean Li's daughter.
Dean Li happened to be under significant suspicion.
Su Zhan already had a bold idea forming in his mind.
Think about it—Dean Li, esteemed as the head of Starlight Academy, holding such a respected position, why would he risk helping Aberrants?
This made no sense at all.
The address from the Hulk mask specifically pointed to this coffee shop, and the owner turned out to be Dean Li's daughter.
What were the odds of such a coincidence?
Why would a wealthy young lady content herself with running a small shop in such a modest place?
And all that talk about "being happy is enough."
He didn't believe a word of it.
Su Zhan's gaze suddenly turned sharp.
The truth might be quite simple.
Li Ya herself was an Aberrant, and Dean Li was helping his own daughter.
Only the explanation of familial love made sense.
That's why Dean Li deliberately sent Professor Wang away before the Mist descended...
Could paternal love really drive a respected dean to such corruption?
"Brothers."
Liu Ziming said with a serious expression, lowering his voice: "I think there's something strange about this manager! A young lady from a wealthy family coming to a place like this to run a coffee shop? Who's she trying to fool?"
"Tell us something we don't know."
Xie Xi said lightly.
"I can't be bothered to argue with you right now."
Liu Ziming continued: "Think about it—Dean Li has no reason to help Aberrants, but there's one possibility... his daughter, Li Ya, is an Aberrant."
Su Zhan slightly raised his eyebrows.
Quite clever—at least he wouldn't have to remind them himself.
And it didn't waste his efforts in bringing everyone to this coffee shop.
Now all he needed to do was sit quietly, lower his profile, and leave the stage to his teammates.
The more you say, the more mistakes you make.
Right now, it was best to avoid showing any cracks if possible.
Wang Mingyuan had remained silent until now, when he gently set down his coffee cup: "Have any of you considered that if Li Ya really has problems, why would she open her shop so close to the Aberrant Purge Division?"
"The most dangerous place is the safest place."
Xu Hao spoke up: "Opening the coffee shop here actually reduces suspicion."
"Wait, wait, wait."
Liu Ziming raised both hands: "The more you talk, the more confused I get. So what's the situation now? Is Dean Li the mole? Is his daughter an Aberrant? Then shouldn't we..."
"Should what?"
Feng Jue interrupted him: "Charge in and arrest them directly? Don't forget, we have no evidence."
"Then we can't just sit here doing nothing, right?"
Liu Ziming frantically rubbed his hair: "If nothing else, we could tell the Aberrant Purge Division about this? Have them work with us..."
"Wait."
Wang Mingyuan raised his hand, cutting him off.
"Wait for what?"
Liu Ziming spoke rapidly in his urgency: "If we wait any longer, the opportunity will be gone!"
Just then, the coffee shop's doorbell chimed clearly.
A delivery guy in same-city courier uniform stood at the door, holding a document bag: "Who here is Wang Mingyuan?"
Wang Mingyuan calmly raised his hand: "Over here."
Liu Ziming looked puzzled: "This, this is..."
Wang Mingyuan signed for the package and leisurely opened the sealed document bag.
"Now."
Wang Mingyuan pulled out a paper with a bright red seal from the document bag: "We can make our move."
Everyone focused their eyes on it.
It was unmistakably an Aberrant Purge Division search warrant!
Even Su Zhan couldn't help but widen his eyes.
He never expected something this important to be delivered through same-city courier service.
Also, the fact that Wang Mingyuan obtained a search warrant so quickly clearly indicated powerful connections behind him.
Well done, Professor Wang.