Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 990 538: Principal and Interest

Li Banfeng sent Lu Dongjun into the Third Room. That night, no one at home disturbed the Old Man, and the Old Man talked with Lu Dongjun for a long time.

The next morning, the Old Man woke up Li Banfeng: "Ah Qi, let's have a talk."

Li Qi entered the Third Room and did not see Lu Dongjun.

The Old Man said, "He's still in our house. Some things we can't let him know, some things we can't let him remember, but for some things, we still need him."

"What things?"

"He has a mark hidden on him, hidden very deeply."

Li Qi murmured, "A very deep mark... Old Man, how did you find it?"

Portable Residence said, "That's not the important part. What's important is that it's an Inner State mark. When we get to the Inner State, we can take out the Inner State map and use this mark to find a certain location.

The reason I let Lu Dongjun live until now is because I think this mark is very important. Ah Qi, who do you think left this mark?"

Li Banfeng said, "I think it was left by that high figure who released him from the Inner State."

"Ah Qi, who do you think that high figure is?"

Li Banfeng said, "I think that high figure is Grandpa Train."

Portable Residence was silent for a long time and said, "You think so too?"

"I once went to the Inner State, not by myself, but in a dream."

When Li Banfeng said this, Portable Residence had some impression. Li Banfeng was muddled at Black Stone Slope, wandering on the bus for three days, refusing to go home.

Portable Residence said, "I guessed at the time that you met Old Train in the Inner State."

Li Banfeng nodded, "It was he who rescued me from the Inner State, from the cracks of the dream. Lu Dongjun also escaped from the cracks, the method is too similar, so I think that must be Grandpa Train."

"It's him, you think it's him too..." Portable Residence trembled a bit, all thirteen rooms quivering, "If this mark really was left by Old Train, once we get into the Inner State, we can rescue him."

Li Banfeng said, "I promised Grandpa Train I would definitely find a way to rescue him from the Inner State. I'm planning to investigate this matter, starting with that singing hall in the Underground City."

"What are you going to investigate at the singing hall?"

"There's a ruthless person in that singing hall. I suspect this person is related to Lu Dongjun, though Lu Dongjun never mentioned him.

This person must have crucial clues, clues related to Grandpa Train. Through him, we might find the entrance to the Inner State."

Just as Li Banfeng was about to get up, Portable Residence shouted, "Ah Qi, don't go."

"What's wrong?"

"When you went to the Underground City, I went with you. Though we are strangers, you can tell by the means used, that person is ruthless, and you can't provoke him now.

I also asked Lu Dongjun, and he knows nothing about this person. We should find out more details before looking for him."

Li Banfeng pondered a moment and said, "I'll investigate the Wizards Association first. They summoned Lu Dongjun using a Contract Book. It can't be a coincidence; there might be arrangements made by Grandpa Train behind it."

A handsome man and a man named Jun, it sounds like mere coincidence, but upon closer thought, there's much deeper meaning here.

Grandpa Train discovered Lu Dongjun in the Inner State, in a kiln. He saw Lu Dongjun's potential, lent him some power, and gave him a test.

Lu Dongjun passed the test, escaped the kiln, and fled to a relatively safe place.

At that time, Grandpa Train, through helpers from the Outside Provinces, made arrangements for them to summon Lu Dongjun through a special ceremony.

Lu Dongjun carries Grandpa Train's position coordinates, an effective means to rescue Grandpa Train.

Of course, all these thoughts are based on Li Banfeng's deductions. To verify if these deductions are true, it must start with the Chamomile Wizards Association.

Just as Li Banfeng was about to go to the Dark Star Bureau, he was stopped again by Portable Residence: "This might be an arrangement by Old Train, but it could also be one by the Inner State. They might be baiting, Ah Qi, you must not be fooled."

"Old Man, what's wrong with you? Why so timid? Don't you want to rescue Old Train?"

"I do, more than anyone, but I can't risk you for the sake of rescuing Old Train."

Li Banfeng was stunned: "You care about me that much?"

"I care, just like I care for Old Train," Portable Residence suddenly smiled, "I don't even know why you are worth caring for. The peddler made a bad deal and offered me to you as compensation. I don't even know where our bond came from."

After sitting in silence for a moment, Li Banfeng and Portable Residence both laughed.

After laughing, Li Banfeng went to the Dark Star Bureau.

There are things that need investigating, but indeed, precautions are necessary.

Members of the Chamomile Wizards Association remain detained at the Bureau. Li Banfeng asked them a few questions. Most questions were insignificant, but one was crucial: "Where did you get the Contract Book to summon the Lost Soul?"

After spending so many days in the Dark Star Bureau, Chairman Cheleviko's attitude had calmed considerably. He no longer resisted interrogations and answered most of Li Banfeng's questions truthfully: "I answered this before. The Contract Book was transferred to me from another Wizards Association in our country."

According to him, it seemed like a big deal, involving multiple forces from different countries.

But Li Banfeng didn't think so. He noticed that Cheleviko deliberately overlooked some details: "By transfer, do you mean you bought it?"

Cheleviko nodded.

Li Banfeng was not very satisfied with this answer: "You'd better be more specific. Was this thing bought from Lavsha Nation or in Huan Country?"