Northern villa district.
Here, less than half of the villas were rented out, and apart from the patrols of security guards, few pedestrians could be seen. It was very quiet.
However, at this moment, the 'whirring' sound of vehicles shattered the tranquility of the villa district.
One by one, troop carriers stopped on the lawns, and Awakeners dressed in red emblem uniforms jumped down from the vehicles without pausing for a moment, sprinting rapidly toward their destination.
Tang Yu and Xing Ling, Xing Yue, emerged from a camouflaged Floating Chariot, scanning their surroundings.
Behind them, another Floating Chariot also came to a halt, and Shay, bamboo rat Li, and Boss Carmen, three followers, disembarked.
Composing a six-person sightseeing squad.
After the Divination results came out, the Security Bureau had already paid the first installment of the reward.
At this time, the Security Bureau proposed that they hoped Xing Ling could accompany them. Whether she took action or not, she would receive a sum of remuneration.
And if Divination was needed, based on the situation and difficulty, an additional part of the remuneration would be added.
Tang Yu didn't hesitate and agreed.
Even if the Security Bureau hadn't extended the invitation, he would have taken the opportunity to observe the situation.
Therefore, he organized a sightseeing group with sufficient safety assurances.
The operation quickly commenced.
Director Jin, Captain Lei, and the Ancestor Dragon's command team patiently awaited the results.
It wasn't long before several Perception ability users jogged back, shaking their heads, "Still no anomalies were discovered. Among the villas in the area, only three are inhabited. The Security Bureau has already talked with them, and we've also entered the villas to investigate, but still, nothing was found."
"All the villas house normal residents."
"Is there a possibility that Mr. K is hiding too deeply, thereby eluding our detection?" Director Jin frowned and asked.
One Perception ability user pondered for a moment and nodded, "It's indeed possible. But while Mr. K can hide, the items inside the villa can't always be hidden. Yet, we haven't been able to find any clues inside the villas."
Director Jin rubbed his temples and looked over at a nearby security guard, "Those other rented villas, have you gotten in touch with the tenants?"
The guard shook his head repeatedly, "The time is too short; we don't have a quick way to contact them."
Director Jin took a deep breath, his face showed decisiveness, "In that case, we go in by breaking doors for a thorough search. If Mr. K has a method of shielding perception, then we will send troops into the villas to physically search, remember not to overlook any place!"
"Besides," he turned his head to the other side, "Captain Lei, have that girl with the Divination ability try again. If she can pinpoint Mr. K's exact location, the terms are open to negotiation. Be quick; we can't drag this on any longer!"
Time passed by the minute and the second.
One by one, doors to villas were broken open, including those not yet rented, all were also searched, and not even any potential hiding places like groves, rockeries, or pools were spared.
"No discovery in villa number one."
"No discovery in villa number two."
"No discovery in villa number sixteen."
The faces of the Security Bureau and the Ancestor Dragon Special Combat Team members were grim.
Tang Yu was also somewhat puzzled.
Xing Ling conducted another Divination, and the result was very clear, pointing right to this area.
Tang Yu stood atop a raised lawn, gazing into the distance, "What do you all think?"
Several followers furrowed their brows in thought. Xiaoli was the first to speak up, unusually not munching on food, "I feel, there's something strange about this place, uhm, like it's shrouded by something."
"Is it dangerous?" Tang Yu asked.
"If there's no danger, then let it be. After all, we are only charging the price for a sightseeing group."
Security Bureau members continued their grid-pattern search.
At this point, none of the higher-ups were very hopeful.
Director Jin's brows were tightly knitted; he rubbed his temple that was starting to throb and tugged at his hair.
He thought for a moment, then turned to a security guard, "Among these sixteen villas, seven have been rented. What kind of people live in them? Bring me a list of the tenants."
The guard dared not delay and quickly brought over a list. Director Jin pondered over the list, "One four six nine eleven fifteen..."
Director Jin paused, "There are only six rented villas, where did the seventh one come from?"
"It's definitely seven, I remember it very clearly." The head of the security guard muttered quietly, counting forward, "One four six nine eleven fifteen... Oops, it does seem to be six. No, that's not right, I remember clearly, Liu, Chen, do you remember whether six or seven villas were rented?"
The other guards replied without hesitation.
As soon as they had finished speaking, they all shivered.
The Security Bureau's captains exchanged glances, each seeing the gravity and... excitement in the others' eyes.
They weren't afraid of problems arising; what they feared was... not being able to find the problem!
Atop the bulging grassy slope.
Xiaoli squatted on the ground, drawing circles in contemplation for a while, suddenly jumping up, "I've got it! This place is enveloped by some sort of Source Power Field, and this Source Power Field is distorting our Perception!"
"If it can distort even our Perception, doesn't it mean that the enemy's strength is far beyond imagination?" Tang Yu felt the urge to beat a retreat back to his Territory.
Xiaoli waved his hand dismissively, his face brimming with pride, "It's not like that. If the enemy could greatly distort our Perception, it truly would indicate their strength surpasses ours. However, the current Source Power Field actually has a minor effect on our Perception. It merely causes us to inadvertently overlook something."
"For instance, the enemy has made us ignore one of the villas. No matter how many times we search and pass by that villa, we would overlook it as if it had no presence."
"But, and pay attention to my 'but'..." Xiaoli ran to the side, broke off a branch, and gestured on the grass, "This kind of ignoring presence, it only works when it's not being perceived. Once it becomes apparent for some reason, the distortion effect on Perception greatly weakens."
"Like now, we have understood the principle of this Source Power Field, so its effect on us is negligible."
With that, Xiaoli looked up, expecting praise.
Tang Yu decisively ignored Xiaoli.
Was the Source Power Field here a result of some treasure, or was it man-made?
If it were man-made, even if the effect of this Source Power Field were minor as Xiaoli said, it would still mean that the person behind the scenes had the necessary 'knowledge'.
Between treasure and knowledge, which did he desire?
Of course, he wanted to grab hold of both ends.
Tang Yu was excited too.