"Qi Xiaoguang, I knew it was you—someone whose dog mouth can't spit out ivory."

Qi Xiaoguang, around the same age as Jin Shui, 26 years old. Male.

Ranked fifth in America's detective rankings.

Qi Xiaoguang's name is very similar to that of a famous historical figure, the renowned Ming Dynasty general Qi Jiguang, also known as Marshal Qi.

Of course, although Qi Xiaoguang shares the surname Qi, he has no actual relation to the famous Qi Jiguang—no direct or collateral descendant blood ties whatsoever.

Despite the lack of connection, Qi Xiaoguang's father greatly admired Qi Jiguang, hence he named his son Xiaoguang, meaning he wanted his son to become someone like Qi Jiguang.

To make his son a replica, or a "Little Qi Jiguang."

Influenced by this upbringing from childhood, Qi Xiaoguang, despite being of Asian descent, growing up in America, and holding American nationality, holds a very favorable view of Hua Country and its Ming Dynasty.

Consequently, he naturally harbors deep hatred for the Qing Dynasty. Jin Shui, who claims to be a so-called royal descendant of the Aisin Gioro clan, is fundamentally incompatible with him.

"If back then, after fighting the Japanese pirates, Marshal Qi had been transferred to defend Liaodong instead of Mongolia, there would have been no place for your kind of Jiannu scum."

After joining them, Qi Xiaoguang added this remark.

Mike, standing nearby, was also somewhat familiar with this period of history.

Back then, Qi Jiguang defended against the Mongols, while Li Chengliang was responsible for defending Liaodong.

After Qi Jiguang arrived there, he secured twenty years of peace on the northern border with just a single battle.

It wasn't for any other reason—it was simply because Qi Jiguang and his Qi Family Army were too formidable in battle. That one battle thoroughly terrified the enemy; it was fought with brutal intensity.

In contrast, Li Chengliang in the Liaodong region consistently employed a strategy of "nurturing the bandits to strengthen himself."

It was precisely this approach that allowed Nurhaci to be nurtured into a major threat.

Hearing this, Jin Shui showed no outward reaction, but inwardly he was seething with anger, grinding his teeth.

Thus, he opened his mouth to mock.

"Hmph, regardless, that's just your hypothetical scenario. In the end, it was my Great Qing Dynasty that replaced the Ming."

Qi Xiaoguang snorted coldly and didn't say more, because this was indeed the truth, regardless of the reasons.

Seeing the two were like fire and water, Mike began playing mediator on the side.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing. How about we all go have a cup of coffee later to cool off?"

"Besides, what you're discussing is ancient history. Don't get angry over that. Furthermore, both of you are Americans now!"

Qi Xiaoguang said, "Fine, fine, no more arguing. Let's talk about our current surveillance target, that Alice Apartment."

"I was just discussing America's Alice Apartment with some others. I asked them, if you were placed inside America's Alice Apartment, how many days do you think you could survive?"

"So now, I want to ask you two. How many days do you think you could survive if you entered this Alice Apartment?"

Mike had been inside Hua Country's Alice Apartment. Just being in Hua Country's Alice Apartment and encountering Robert gave him a headache, let alone this American Alice Apartment, which is on a much larger scale than Hua Country's.

"I think I could survive a week at most."

That was Mike's answer.

After Mike answered, he looked at Jin Shui, wanting him to answer the question too, hoping this would ease the tension between him and Qi Xiaoguang.

Jin Shui said, "Mike, you're underestimating yourself too much. You're America's tenth-ranked detective, and I'm the sixth. If we can't survive long in this Alice Apartment, then who can?"

Qi Xiaoguang asked, "So your answer is?"

"My answer is, I could easily live there for as long as I want, relying on my intelligence and wit."

As he spoke, Jin Shui used his right index finger to tap his own temple.

"I really don't know if you're overestimating yourself or just blowing your own horn too hard."

Hearing Jin Shui's answer, Qi Xiaoguang said this.

Jin Shui: "Excessive modesty is just pride."

"Qi Xiaoguang, what about you? You asked us this question, so what's your own answer? How long?"

Mike asked.

"About the same as yours. A week at most, or maybe a little more."

Mike nodded.

Mike didn't think Qi Xiaoguang's answer was a case of "excessive modesty equals pride," because he felt Qi Xiaoguang was telling the truth.

Although their titles sound impressive—America's whatever-ranked detective, America's top ten detective.

If you held some detective competition or had them solve some cases, they would definitely achieve excellent results, since that's their professional field.

But if you put them in an Alice Apartment—a place that challenges not just the mind, but also physical strength, the body, and especially adds a touch of elusive luck—it's really hard to say.

As the saying goes, it's easy to dodge an open spear, but hard to guard against a hidden arrow.

Even if you're America's top ten detective. If you were placed in a location with a bunch of America's teens-ranked, twenties-ranked, dozens-ranked, or even hundreds-ranked detectives, all trying to kill each other.

Could you really guarantee you'd definitely come out on top? You're also human; you could be taken out by a sneak attack.

Even if you're America's number one, so what?

You, America's number one, might possibly be taken out by America's thousandth-ranked detective.

After all, who would engage you in a direct confrontation?

If it's really about taking each other's lives, then people would definitely use every trick in the book, making it impossible to guard against everything.

Therefore, the same logic applies inside the Alice Apartment.

Who knows how many notorious criminals live inside, especially many criminals with terrifyingly, frighteningly high IQs, whose mental fortitude is no worse than yours, a so-called detective.

It's highly likely you couldn't even handle one of those criminals, let alone many others.

Therefore, Mike didn't know if Jin Shui said that to deliberately inflate his own worth, specifically acting that way in front of Qi Xiaoguang, or if he genuinely believed it.

If he genuinely believed it, Mike thought Jin Shui would inevitably crash and burn spectacularly one day in the future.

"Alright, time's up. I'm leaving first. If you want coffee, go ahead. I won't be having any."

Jin Shui took out his phone, saw the time was up, and left the room on his own.

After he left, Qi Xiaoguang said to Mike with a laugh, "See? The royal descendant doesn't deign to associate with commoners like us. Won't even have coffee with us."

"Thank goodness that damned demonic Qing is gone now, otherwise, who knows how high this kind of person's queue would be sticking up in the air!!!!"