Time was of the essence. Qingyi had already contacted her colleagues in the Criminal Investigation Task Force and set up a thorough trap.
All that remained was for the treasure appraisal master to arrive so they could lure out the cave-thieving criminal gang.
Qingyi gave Sam Li a once-over, nodding in satisfaction. "This outfit suits you well. Do you want to change into something else?"
Sam Li shook his head. "No need."
The moment he officially accepted the commission to play the role of a treasure appraisal master, a system notification echoed in his mind:
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have successfully triggered a hidden quest: Playing the Role of a Treasure Appraisal Master—]
[Hidden Quest: Playing the Role of a Treasure Appraisal Master]
As the one portraying Zhongli, you are well-versed in astronomy and geography, knowledgeable about ancient and modern history, and proficient in various fields. You understand clothing and daily essentials, jade and porcelain, food and delicacies, tea and spices, flora and fauna, and even politics and economics. Utilize your expertise to assist Qingyi in capturing the ruthless antique thieves.
[Quest Reward: +1% Role-Playing Progress and permanent acquisition of this knowledge.]
Just as Sam Li had thought—evaluating antiques, like listening to books, drinking tea, and bird-watching, could also increase his role-playing progress. Even better, he would permanently gain this knowledge.
If that was the case, this would be a significant improvement for him.
The system's voice rang out once more.
[Congratulations, Host! You have acquired knowledge of clothing and accessories (24-hour trial).]
[Congratulations, Host! You have acquired knowledge of jade and porcelain (24-hour trial).]
[Congratulations, Host! You have acquired knowledge of tea and spices (24-hour trial).]
[Congratulations, Host! You have acquired knowledge of flora and fauna (24-hour trial).]
Seeing Sam Li lost in thought, Qingyi couldn't help but call him back. "What are you thinking about? If you're ready, let's go. My colleagues are already waiting for me."
Mentioning her colleagues made Qingyi sigh and shake her head.
Originally, Zhu Yuan was supposed to handle the task of recruiting an agent, but after a unanimous vote, everyone agreed that Qingyi was the most eloquent and persuasive—making her the best candidate for negotiation.
And so, here she was.
Sam Li gave a slight smile. "I was just thinking about how to play the role of a treasure appraisal master convincingly."
With Zhongli's vast knowledge now at his disposal, Sam Li was practically a walking encyclopedia.
Forget just playing an appraisal master—he was one.
Seeing his dedication, Qingyi was quite pleased. "No need to overthink it, young man. Pretending to be a treasure appraisal master isn't as hard as you imagine. Just remember this simple trick:
Stand still and say little. Keep silent and avoid making hasty judgments. Frown often, even if nothing is wrong. Sigh with your hands behind your back as much as possible!
"That way, people won't be able to read you, and they'll assume you're someone profound. In official Security Bureau terms… it's called Dihua. You don't have to do anything—just stand there, and they'll fill in the blanks themselves, convinced you're an expert."
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to see Sam Li already letting out a deep sigh.
"Yes! Just like that! You're picking this up quickly," Qingyi said approvingly. "The moment you sigh, they'll assume you have some incredible trump card up your sleeve."
Of course, this kind of psychological trick only worked on clueless criminals.
Against a seasoned task force member like Qingyi, it would be completely ineffective. In fact, it would only make someone lose faster.
Seeing her confidence, Sam Li chuckled. "Good method. Thank you, Miss Qingyi."
With the commission settled and a strategy in place for dealing with the antique thieves, it was time to depart.
Sam Li casually picked up a birdcage nearby and, before leaving, made sure to lock the door of Hare's House.
Just as he secured the lock, a brand-new off-road vehicle pulled up, screeching to a stop right in front of him.
From inside, Qingyi's voice called out, "Why are you carrying a birdcage?"
"Taking the bird for a stroll."
"Not bad. It looks like an imitation antique birdcage, which can serve as a prop to enhance your disguise as an appraisal master. It seems you're even sharper than I thought—I admire your professionalism."
The next moment, as soon as Sam Li climbed into the car, Qingyi floored the accelerator.
The off-road vehicle sped off.
On the other side of New Eridu—20th Street.
Compared to the area where Hare's House was located, 20th Street was even more run-down. The buildings were low, dilapidated, and the whole place had the chaotic, grimy atmosphere of a slum.
As she drove, Qingyi casually introduced the area. "This is the edge of New Eridu's metropolitan zone. Go any farther, and you'll hit the outer ring."
After navigating through several turns, the off-road vehicle pulled into a secluded alley and stopped at a remote corner.
Before Sam Li could step out of the car, five or six people in uniforms—some from the Criminal Investigation Task Force, others from the Public Security Bureau—immediately surrounded them.
"Senior, you're finally back! How did it go? Did you find someone suitable to play the treasure appraisal master?"
"Mr. Sam Li, to avoid any accidents later, come out and meet my colleagues first," Qingyi called toward the SUV.
Under the curious gazes of the gathered officers, Sam Li slowly pushed open the back door of the vehicle. One hand held a birdcage, the other a cup of coffee, as he stepped out with an air of calm composure.
The coffee had been picked up along the way on Liu Fen Street—Qingyi's treat.
"This is Sam Li. He's a professional agent I found at Hare's House. He'll be the one pretending to be the treasure appraisal master," Qingyi said, before turning to the Criminal Investigation Task Force members. "As for these colleagues… well, I'll let them introduce themselves."
One of the plainclothes officers stepped forward. "Hello, I'm Zhu Yuan. Are you really just pretending? You look exactly like the real thing."
The moment Zhu Yuan laid eyes on Sam Li, he was taken aback by his refined demeanor and elegant appearance. For a second, he almost thought Qingyi had once again abused her task force privileges and dragged in an actual treasure appraisal master.
The last time she pulled a stunt like that, she'd been chewed out by their superiors for hours.
But now, Zhu Yuan realized he had completely misjudged the situation.
Sam Li's disguise was too convincing.
From his attire and mannerisms to the antique birdcage in his hand—every detail exuded the aura of a true appraisal master. Even Zhu Yuan, a trained investigator, couldn't find a single flaw.
At that moment, three nearby security officers also stepped forward to greet him.
"Mr. Sam Li, hello. We're from the Security Bureau—"
Before they could finish, one of them suddenly froze.
His expression shifted to one of pure shock, as if he had just seen a ghost.
"Wait… it's you?! Weren't you the guy who died on 12th Street last time?!"
Sam Li raised an eyebrow. "Died?"
Turning toward the officer, he instantly recognized him.
This was the very same officer who had been among the first responders that day—the one who had tried to stop him from entering the Hollow.