Chapter 62: Target Locked: Chen Xin!

Lin Xiao explained his concerns.

Huang Lingzhao pondered for a moment, nodded, and asked, "As you said, I only considered how to act myself without factoring in the opponent's countermeasures. What do you suggest we do?"

Originally, she had already uncovered some clues, but now she had no choice but to reluctantly let them go.

After Lin Xiao rejected her plan, Huang Lingzhao truly had no idea what to do next.

Lin Xiao said seriously, "We start with those big shots."

Huang Lingzhao: (⊙`´⊙)

What kind of logic is this? Completely incomprehensible!

Lin Xiao explained earnestly, "The entire chain you mentioned—from capturing people to building camps and conducting experiments—is entirely controlled by Jin Baolai, giving him ample room to set up his schemes.

However, the big shots cooperating with him are beyond his control, which allows us to bypass his arrangements.

The vast majority of these big shots have only had one or two transactions with Jin Baolai and are not his protectors.

We can pick one or two suitable candidates and try to find a breakthrough through them."

Huang Lingzhao did not reply immediately because she felt that although what Lin Xiao said made a lot of sense, it was completely unfeasible.

That's right, Jin Baolai engaged in shady business.

Therefore, the real masterminds behind him must be very few in number.

Black gloves cannot be shared.

Consequently, most of the big shots on the list who had supported Jin Baolai only offered one-time help based on transactions.

Once the favor was done, the account was settled; they would not constantly protect Jin Baolai.

That being said, why would those people offend a wealthy tycoon like Jin Baolai to help us?

Not to mention we couldn't even get to see them!

Lin Xiao smiled and explained, "We don't need to directly ask those big shots to help us deal with Jin Baolai. As long as we can get them to answer a single question for us, the subsequent situation will naturally open up."

"What question?" Huang Lingzhao asked, puzzled.

"Have you ever wondered how Jin Baolai sells his research results to those big shots, and what use those big shots have for buying them?" Lin Xiao countered.

"How does he sell them? Of course, Jin Baolai produces research results targeting specific agony vows, and the big shots buy them to use in their agony rituals!" Huang Lingzhao replied.

Lin Xiao shook his head. "It's not that simple. If I gave you my experience dealing with a certain agony vow, would you dare to use it?"

"Why wouldn't I..." Halfway through her sentence, Huang Lingzhao realized the problem.

For any transcendent, an agony vow is a secret tied to life and death.

Who would want anyone else to know about their agony vow?

So how did Jin Baolai gain the trust of these big shots and complete the transactions?

"That point is indeed crucial. If we fail to figure out how Jin Baolai gained their trust, we might overlook many potential risks," Huang Lingzhao agreed, nodding.

She hesitated for a moment and continued, "But... how are we supposed to see these big shots?"

Lin Xiao pointed at a name in the materials and said, "Let's start with him."

"Chen Feng? The president of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce and also the CEO of the Chen Corporation. You know him?" Huang Lingzhao asked in surprise.

Lin Xiao shook his head. How could he possibly know such a big shot?

The South Cross Federation was a federal nation and also a standard capitalist country, entirely comparable to the Eagle Country of his past life.

Therefore, Lin Xiao would never treat the president of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce as merely a wealthy merchant.

This was a country where money spoke, and wealth was, to a certain extent, synonymous with power.

This President Chen was definitely among the top twenty most powerful figures in the entire East Sea region.

"If you don't know him, how are we supposed to see him? Let alone ask him about Jin Baolai's secrets," Huang Lingzhao asked.

"I know his daughter." Lin Xiao pulled out a business card and placed it on the table.

[East Sea City Tax Bureau: Secondary Tax Inspector — Chen Xin]

When they met at the shop that day, Chen Xin had given him a business card and said he could look her up if he needed anything.

Lin Xiao knew it was just a polite gesture, and Chen Xin wouldn't actually expect him to show up with demands.

But at this moment, this was the only breakthrough available, and he had no choice but to bite the bullet and pay a visit.

Besides, Lin Xiao had another, more important reason for choosing Chen Xin:

According to Huang Lingzhao's records, four years ago, a tax raid targeting Jin Baolai's group had been led by Chen Xin.

Although Chen Xin had let Jin Baolai off during that operation, this only proved further that Chen Feng was not the mastermind behind Jin Baolai.

Otherwise, Chen Feng would not have let his daughter get involved in a relationship with Jin Baolai that could potentially implicate her in the future; he would have chosen to avoid suspicion and assigned someone else to be in charge.

Therefore, making a trip to see Chen Xin, even if it didn't yield a good result, meant he wouldn't have to worry about walking into a den of thieves.

Facing the business card Lin Xiao pulled out, Huang Lingzhao widened her eyes.

She picked up the card with both hands and examined it repeatedly, as if she couldn't believe it was real.

Wow!

You actually know Chen Feng's daughter?

Can a small-time individual business owner really forge a connection with a wealthy young heiress?

Huang Lingzhao's gaze turned suspicious as she looked up and down at Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao: (▔皿▔)

Hey!

What kind of impolite thoughts are you having?

Are you going to judge a book by its cover again?

How hateful!

Is this the public stereotype that a handsome man simply has to bear?

"We just met through a friend, we're not very close," Lin Xiao explained.

Huang Lingzhao seemed skeptical. "Do you need me to go with you later?"

"No need, I can go alone," Lin Xiao shook his head. "Bringing you might actually backfire."

Hearing this answer, Huang Lingzhao's gaze grew even more suspicious.

Lin Xiao: "..."

Is she suspecting that Chen Xin and I are having an affair?

And therefore worried that if she comes along, Chen Xin will get jealous?

So Lin Xiao offered an extra explanation, "It has nothing to do with me; she's just a bit jealous, and bringing you along easily triggers her hostility."

Hearing this reply, Huang Lingzhao couldn't help but feel much better.

She smiled and asked, "Is it because I'm very pretty? Are you worried that Miss Chen will be jealous? What does she look like?"

Although Huang Lingzhao didn't say it outright, she certainly wanted to be complimented.

Given such a comparison, receiving a compliment made her even happier!

Yet Lin Xiao had to bite the bullet and say, "Not any worse than you."

Huang Lingzhao: "..."

You know that's not the answer I wanted to hear! Can you even talk?!

Of course Lin Xiao knew what she wanted to hear, but the problem was he didn't dare to lie.

There were only lazy women in this world, not ugly ones.

As long as a woman wasn't overweight and put some effort into herself, she would look quite nice.

That's right! Many men were really not that picky!

Furthermore, a wealthy heiress had the money and time to work on her appearance; she was practically impossible to be ugly.

Chen Xin was naturally beautiful and even a fair bit taller than Huang Lingzhao. Therefore, while her facial features might be slightly inferior to Huang Lingzhao's, her figure and temperament made up for it. Overall, they were truly a match.

Seeing the slight disappointment of Huang Lingzhao's dashed expectations, Lin Xiao suddenly added, "I'm worried she'll be jealous of you because you are younger and have a more approachable vibe.

Most of those aloof women don't like lovable young girls like you; it makes them look older and harder to get along with."

The moment the words left his mouth, Lin Xiao saw Huang Lingzhao desperately pressing down the corners of her mouth to keep them from curling up.

Yet in the end, a smile still broke through.

It's not because he's complimenting me! (⁄⁄⁄﹏⁄⁄⁄)

It's just that...

His praise sounds so sincere!