Chapter 25: What Are You Up To?

Chapter 25: What Are You Up To?

There was still one hour and twenty minutes before Tian Hu was sent to prison when Roland arrived at an abandoned underground parking garage. It was where Pan Long’s secret base was located. They had bought the place and installed every facility they needed.

But now it was completely empty. Apart from drifting dust and spiders slowly lowering themselves from the ceiling on silken threads, the only thing left inside was Roland, her face filled with shock.

It was as though a time bomb had been planted in her heart, constantly announcing the time remaining:

One hour, nineteen minutes, and one second.

One hour, nineteen minutes.

One hour, eighteen minutes and fifty-nine seconds...

Even though the time in her mind was not as precise as an actual clock, it still served as a reminder and urged her onward.

Roland checked several times to make absolutely sure this was Pan Long’s base. Pan Long had even established a livable office here, where he usually stayed to study the occult. It was the only effort he had ever made on behalf of his grandmother. Ever since meeting Roland, Pan Long had firmly believed that the way to break the curse that caused her repeated journeys through time and space must lie in the realm of the occult.

The pressure of time was interfering with Roland’s ability to think logically. She simply sat down cross-legged on the cold floor, began breathing deeply, and entered meditation.

“Calm down, Roland. Don’t think about the time for now. Think carefully. You must have overlooked some crucial detail...”

After a while, she slowly opened her eyes and stared blankly at the place where Pan Long had once established his office.

It was utterly empty. There was not the slightest trace that anything had ever been built there—or dismantled. Everything seemed to confirm her theory.

“Looks like my existence does have an impact on this world after all.”

In the world of her true body, Roland had once sought out Pan Long under the identity of Liu Er and warned him never again to cause trouble in the city center. That was why Pan Long had come to this underground garage in the back streets to devote himself to studying the occult.

“If Roland doesn’t exist in this world, then no one ever gave Pan Long those warnings. That means he’s still running an inn in the city center.”

Once she had figured it out, Roland did not waste another moment. She immediately rose and left.

Longteng Inn had now acquired the two neighboring businesses and become the much larger Longteng Hotel. A fountain in front of the entrance sent up a constant flow of water, while two stone lions stood on either side of the doorway, lending the place an imposing air.

“That brat. Looks like he was lying when he told me he had no money in the world of my true body. In this world, a hotel like this means that if I hadn’t warned him back then, he would have been running one within three or four months!”

Thinking this, Roland hurried into the hotel, panting for breath.

“I’ve told you how many times? Only change into formal clothes when inspectors come. Normally, you need to dress more provocatively. You college students just don’t get it! It’s not like I’m asking you to receive guests, so what are you embarrassed about? You’re only here to serve as advertisements. Otherwise, how are those wealthy businessmen visiting the hotel for the first time supposed to know about our extra services? Do you think they’ll have the nerve to ask?”

The hotel manager was lecturing the receptionists. When he saw Roland’s filthy clothes, he immediately went over to stop her.

“Hey! You there, kid! Who are you looking for? Do you even know what kind of place this is? How dare you barge in!”

Roland ignored him and looked around.

“Where’s Pan Long? I need to see him urgently.”

The manager was startled. His expression grew serious, and his attitude changed at once.

“May I ask what your relationship with him is?”

“I’m his...” Roland began to say that she was Pan Long’s grandmother, but then she suddenly noticed the manager’s face. She reached up and yanked the top hat from his head.

His bald crown gleamed brightly under the lobby lights.

“Third Brother? Not bad. Put on a suit and you look almost respectable. I nearly didn’t recognize you!”

“Er... could you give me my hat back?”

Third Brother still had no idea who she was and did not dare lose his temper. Instead, he turned around and vented his anger on the receptionists who were trying not to laugh.

“What are you laughing at? If you don’t want to work, then get the hell out!”

“You dare bully people right under my nose?”

Roland seized Third Brother by the ear. He immediately let out a howl of pain.

“Take me to Pan Long. Now!”

“All right, all right, little ancestor! Lord Long isn’t at the hotel. Let go first, and I’ll take you to him right away!”

Clutching his ear, Third Brother hurried ahead to lead the way. He was deeply puzzled. The girl looked extremely young, barely old enough to be considered an adult. She probably wasn’t a police officer. But why was he so frightened of her whenever he drew near?

It was as if the instant she spoke, something deep within his soul had issued a warning:

This was absolutely, unquestionably, someone he could never afford to provoke.

“Is Pan Long far from here? I don’t have much time.”

Roland’s voice carried a sharp warning.

“I don’t care much about anything in this world, least of all people like you. If you delay me, the consequences will be far beyond anything you can imagine.”

Third Brother did not entirely understand what she meant, but he could grasp the general idea.

In simple terms: if he caused trouble, he was finished.

“It’s very close. Just around the corner.”

The inexplicable unease in his heart drove Third Brother to break into a run. Then he suddenly realized that Roland was still walking—but somehow, the distance between them had not changed in the slightest.

Third Brother led her into a shabby inn.

“Lord Long lives on the second floor. He said he couldn’t get used to staying at the hotel.”

Outside Room 203, the bald man knocked on the door.

“Lord Long, it’s me. There’s a young woman here to see you.”

Before anyone inside could answer, Roland kicked the door open. She stormed in and, without a word, slammed Pan Long’s head onto the tea table. The purple-clay teapot was jolted onto the floor, where it shattered into pieces.

Pan Long had not yet recovered his senses.

Wasn’t there supposed to be a young woman? What was this thing that had rushed in and pinned him down? And where was the woman?

While the bald man stood frozen in astonishment, Roland had already drawn a military knife from her boot and pressed it against Pan Long’s throat.

That finally brought Pan Long fully back to his senses.

“Damn it, Third Brother! What the hell are you up to? Are you trying to rebel?”

“L-L-Lord Long! It’s not what you think! I didn’t know she was actually a police officer!”

The bald man’s heart sank. Regardless of how young the girl looked, judging by her skills, he would have believed it if someone told him she belonged to a special forces unit.

“I’m asking you—where is Tian Hu now? Speak!”

Roland felt this was the fastest way. Explaining to Pan Long that she was Liu Er would not take much time. After all, only Pan Long knew Liu Er’s final words before his death.

But she could not afford to waste even a single second. Judging by her internal estimate, there might be only an hour left—or even less.

End of Chapter