104: Lord Zhuang is in a bad mood!

Li Qing and the other high-ranking officials who followed behind were also shocked and horrified by the sight, rushing forward to support him.

"My... my treasury..."

City Lord Zhuang Bai's eyes were vacant, muttering to himself as if he had lost his soul.

His life's work!

Half a lifetime's work!

Its value had been slashed by at least half!

"How could this happen, how could this happen..."

Chief Steward Zhang Long rushed to the treasury entrance and stared at the empty scene inside, his face a mask of stunned disbelief.

"The door isn't broken, the Formation is untouched... how... how did the thief get in?"

This question echoed in the minds of everyone present.

It was a perfect locked-room theft!

No!

It was even more bizarre than a locked-room theft!

It was as if ghosts were at play!

"Investigate!"

Zhuang Bai violently shoved away those supporting him, his eyes bloodshot like a Vicious Beast ready to devour its prey, letting out a hysterical roar!

"Investigate for me! Seal the entire city! Turn Jinling City upside down if you must, but find that thief!"

"I will tear him to pieces! Tear him to pieces!!"

Terrifying Killing Intent erupted from his Spirit Transformation Realm body, sweeping through the entire City Lord's Manor!

Everyone was frightened to the point of trembling, not daring to utter a word.

The entire City Lord's Manor instantly descended into a chaotic uproar.

Countless Guards rushed out of the manor, sealing the city gates and conducting house-to-house searches.

Inside the manor, Zhuang Bai personally took charge, beginning to interrogate all the Guards and servants on duty last night.

Each one was subjected to his sharp and relentless questioning.

However, nothing was gained.

Everyone claimed that last night was completely normal, with no anomalies detected.

The treasury's Formation showed no record of being triggered.

No one saw any suspicious figures entering or leaving.

This had become an unsolved mystery!

Li Qing stood among the crowd, watching the furious and crazed Zhuang Bai, wearing an equally "shocked" and "enraged" expression.

He even stepped forward proactively, saying with "righteous indignation":

"City Lord, this thief is so audacious, he shows no respect for you or our Jinling City!"

"Though I am not particularly talented, I wish to share your burden, City Lord, and assist in investigating this matter!"

Zhuang Bai, somewhat irrational by now, looked at the volunteering Li Qing, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes.

"Good! Good! Li Qing, you are thoughtful!"

Yet, amidst this chaos and fury.

Zhuang Bai's eyes, filled with blood vessels and suspicion, swept over everyone present.

His trusted aides, his subordinates, his Guards... right now, he suspected everyone!

Because this was too bizarre!

To empty his treasury without triggering any mechanisms or Formations, there must be an inside agent within the manor.

Moreover, this inside agent's strength and methods were unbelievably high!

His gaze eventually, unconsciously, landed on that youth with the "indignant" expression.

Li Qing.

This youth who had just arrived at the City Lord's Manor when such a shocking theft occurred.

This youth whose Prodigy-like talent even made him feel apprehensive.

Could it be him?

This thought flashed through his mind for just a moment before Zhuang Bai himself extinguished it.

Impossible.

He was just a youth who had recently Brokenthrough to the Condensing Essence Realm. No matter how high his talent, he couldn't possibly possess such heaven-defying methods.

Moreover, he had been in secluded Cultivation in his own courtyard all last night, with countless hidden Guards as witnesses.

He had neither the time nor the motive to commit the crime.

Zhuang Bai shook his head, casting aside this absurd suspicion...

Looking at the mess before him, he had only one thought in his heart.

No matter who you are, no matter where you hide.

I, Zhuang Bai, will find you and make you wish you were neither alive nor dead!

Jinling City was in turmoil.

Countless armored Guards from the City Lord's Manor flooded the streets like a tide.

They wielded cold weapons, sealing every entrance and exit, conducting house-to-house searches that could be described as digging three feet into the ground.

For a time, there was chaos and panic among the people.

The news of the City Lord's Manor treasury being robbed spread through the entire city like a storm.

Everyone was stunned and shocked by this news.

That was the City Lord's Manor treasury!

The most heavily guarded, most resource-rich place in all of Jinling City!

It was said that not even a fly could get in.

Now it had been completely emptied?

How was that possible!

"Have you heard? The City Lord's Manor treasury was cleaned out last night!"

"My heavens, is that true? Who has such nerve and skill?"

"Absolutely true! My cousin's neighbor works at the City Lord's Manor. He said the City Lord was so angry he vomited blood on the spot, and now he's acting like a madman, ordering a city-wide lockdown to find the thief!"

"Hiss, that thief is too fierce!"

"To pull off something like this right under the City Lord's nose, he must be a truly formidable figure!"

Discussions rose and fell in every street and alley.

And now, as the mastermind behind this storm, Li Qing stood before the treasury ruins with a "grave" expression.

Beside him was the bloodshot-eyed, frenzied City Lord Zhuang Bai.

"Young friend Li Qing, come look!"

Zhuang Bai pointed at the perfectly intact treasury door, his voice hoarse like a broken gong.

"The door shows no signs of damage, the protective Formation on it is functioning normally, not even a trace of energy fluctuation!"

"Tell me, how did the thief get in!"

Zhuang Bai stared intently at Li Qing, less asking a question and more venting his frustration and madness.

Li Qing furrowed his brows, putting on an act as he circled the treasury, occasionally tapping the walls with his hand and squatting to inspect the ground.

With acting skills like this, if placed in his previous life, winning an Oscar would be more than enough.

He was secretly overjoyed inside.

How did he get in?

Of course, by digging a tunnel right under your feet.

But he dared not say that.

"City Lord Zhuang, this matter is indeed extremely peculiar."

Li Qing pondered for a moment, putting on an expression of serious analysis.

"The door and Formation are intact, meaning the thief did not force entry."

"Moreover, to empty the treasury so quickly without leaving any trace is not something an ordinary person could achieve."

Zhuang Bai said through gritted teeth.

"Nonsense! Could an ordinary person have this ability? I suspect..."

"I suspect there's an inside agent!"

His gaze swept over all the Guards present like a sharp blade.

Those he looked at trembled in fear, hurriedly lowering their heads.

Li Qing secretly laughed inside.

An inside agent?

The biggest inside agent is standing right in front of you, actively helping you analyze the case.

"City Lord, the theory of an inside agent is certainly possible."

Li Qing shifted the direction of the conversation, guiding Zhuang Bai's train of thought.

"But consider this: even if there is an inside agent, who could have the ability to empty the entire treasury without triggering the Formation?"

"Unless... the thief possesses some kind of... some kind of method we cannot comprehend."

He deliberately made his words sound mysterious and profound.

Zhuang Bai was taken aback, instinctively asking.

"What method?"

"For example, space."