To be fair, Sheng Lan Kui actually wasn't arrogant enough to go to the Outer City to take on a mission using his true appearance.

He had still applied simple makeup and altered his appearance.

Unfortunately, in front of Lin Yu, this "master of disguise," he saw through the other's identity almost instantly.

His long career of disguise—especially the processes of disguising himself as "May May" and "Zhu Ming"—had made Lin Yu extremely sensitive to the "minor adjustments" on other people's faces.

So...

"If Sheng Lan Kui doesn't have any twin brothers, or if the Saint-Land family doesn't have someone who looks almost exactly like him, then this should be the real deal."

Lin Yu made his judgment.

This guy who claimed to be a "confidant of a certain Peerage Noble" was actually a "Peerage Noble" himself.

And he should be a direct-line heir at that—otherwise, he wouldn't be so intimate with Sleepless Sky Huo Shu.

And if the "Team Leader" was "Sheng Lan Kui"...

Why would he do this?

Could it be that Sheng Lan Kui was the employer?

Why was he now hanging out with Sleepless Sky Huo Shu?

Lin Yu's mind raced with thoughts.

"Him hanging out with Sleepless Sky Huo Shu should have nothing to do with him going to the Outer City to take the C-77 commission."

"Based on the information given by the Sleepless Night Family Head, Sheng Lan Kui should have only a very small probability of being the employer..."

"Most importantly, if the person who answered the phone was the 'employer' himself, his personality was worlds apart from Sheng Lan Kui's."

If we further analyze this based on the rather mystical rule that "all Peerage Nobles have their quirks"...

"Maybe this 'Sheng Lan Kui's' quirk is that he likes going to the Outer City to be a mercenary?"

Lin Yu speculated to himself.

But regardless, Lin Yu still planned to find an opportunity to make contact with Sheng Lan Kui.

After all, although Sheng Lan Kui likely wasn't the employer, there was a very high probability that he definitely knew who the employer was!

This was crucial intelligence for Lin Yu.

And just as Lin Yu was thinking about how to make contact with Sheng Lan Kui...

Sleepless Sky Huo Shu and Sheng Lan Kui, along with that group of bodyguards and the accompanying steward and attendants, actually walked straight towards the direction where he and Huo Le were sitting.

"Are they actually coming for us?"

Lin Yu spoke with some surprise.

"Not necessarily. After all, Sheng Lan Kui also has a personality that loves eating, drinking, and having fun everywhere. Among the current heirs of the Five Great Noble Families, he's the one who loves running around the most, aside from Huo Xing," Sleepless Sky Huole said in a low voice. "But since they've seen the two of us, they'll definitely come over to say hello."

In the moment it took Sleepless Sky Huole to explain, the two men had already arrived at Lin Yu and Sleepless Sky Huole's table.

Sleepless Sky Huo Shu crossed his arms: "Well, well, if it isn't Sleepless Sky Huole. What a coincidence."

He greeted Sleepless Sky Huole with great arrogance.

"It certainly is quite the coincidence," Sleepless Sky Huole said indifferently, looking at Sheng Lan Kui beside him. "Mr. Kui has excellent taste. The food at this establishment is very good."

Sheng Lan Kui grinned: "Of course, Miss Huole... However, could you trouble yourself to introduce the person next to you?"

"Furbollo, my advisor."

Sleepless Sky Huole stated flatly.

"Oh, so it's the famous 'Detective' Furbollo," Sheng Lan Kui said with a smile. "I've often heard Mr. Huo Shu speak of you. He says that with your assistance, the position of Family Head would surely be already within his grasp."

This Sheng Lan Kui's speaking style was vastly different from when he was acting as the Team Leader.

He seemed to be wearing a layer of social mask, appearing polite, amiable, and gentle.

But these friendly traits were distant and hypocritical, making one feel that he was somewhat keeping others at arm's length.

Fortunately, Lin Yu was currently operating under the identity of "Furbollo," so dealing with him was relatively simple.

Facing the other's probing flattery wrapped in politeness, Lin Yu directly and happily accepted it.

"Thank you for your praise, sir, but that is indeed the truth."

As he said this, Sheng Lan Kui laughed.

"Truly confident... However, Furbollo, I still wish to remind you," Sheng Lan Kui paused, "Even though the Sleepless Night Family Head may have some favoritism towards you, and Mr. Huo Shu appreciates your talent..."

"A mere Commoner would do best not to overstep his bounds and meddle too much... Not all nobles are as benevolent, kind, and gentle as Mr. Huo Shu. After all, you don't have any substantial 'backing.' Be careful of being used and then discarded like trash once you're no longer useful—you people have a proverb... If there are no more prey, both the bow and the hunting dog lose their use. I hope you, Furbollo, will carefully consider your choices."

Sheng Lan Kui said with a light smile.

Before Lin Yu could speak, Sleepless Sky Huole smiled and looked at Sheng Lan Kui.

Compared to the sarcastic and insinuating Sheng Lan Kui, although Sleepless Sky Huole wore a smile on her face and her tone was equally calm, her words were much more direct.

"Stop pointing fingers at the affairs of my Sleepless Sky family. Are you implying that I am using Furbollo?" Sleepless Sky Huole said with a beaming smile. "These matters are none of your concern, Mr. Kui. You should focus on managing your own family's affairs first—your Saint-Land family meeting is coming up soon. I am quite looking forward to the outcome."

Even after being rebuked by Sleepless Sky Huole with these few sentences, Sheng Lan Kui still maintained his smile.

And at this moment, Sleepless Sky Huole spoke again.

"By the way, that phrase is 'When the flying birds are gone, the good bow is stored away; when the cunning hares are dead, the hunting hounds are boiled for food.' If you want to use their sayings, go back and find more advisors to study them properly. Don't embarrass the Peerage Nobility and make these outsiders mistakenly think you're illiterate."

The smile on Sheng Lan Kui's face distorted slightly.

Sleepless Sky Huo Shu spoke coldly: "Sleepless Sky Huole, don't go too far!"

"Am I going too far?" Sleepless Sky Huole laughed. "Sleepless Sky Huo Shu, you yourself lack the ability to please Mother, so the only path you can think of is poaching talent... What a foolish tactic, no wonder Mother doesn't like you!"

"Ha, you think you're any more likable?" Sleepless Sky Huo Shu retorted urgently. "You clearly have half Saint-Land blood flowing in your veins, yet even Mr. Kui from the Saint-Land family doesn't support you... Even when you actively went to support Sheng Lan Lai, the other party only agreed to your proposal under the pressure of my alliance with Brother Kui."

"You, someone who is unwelcome wherever you go, can you compare to me even half as much?"

"I have promised Furbollo immense benefits... And by following you, have you actually promised him anything concrete?"

As Sleepless Sky Huo Shu spoke, Sleepless Sky Huole glanced at Lin Yu and then laughed.

"Idiot, I'm not like you, who only knows how to make promises and paint pretty pictures..."

"I am about to give Furbollo an immense gift," Sleepless Sky Huole said, looking at Sheng Lan Kui. "Mr. Kui, didn't you just say that Furbollo, a mere Commoner, should best not meddle in noble affairs?"

"I'll tell you, he will soon no longer be a Commoner—he is about to Marry Into the Sleepless Sky family!"

Sleepless Sky Huole declared.

Upon hearing this, Sleepless Sky Huo Shu and Sheng Lan Kui both slightly changed their expressions simultaneously.

"You're going to marry him?! Sleepless Sky Huole, you are truly ruthless!"

Sleepless Sky Huo Shu said incredulously.

Hearing the other's shocked words, Sleepless Sky Huole was also greatly astonished.

"Huh?"

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"