The black market in Snake Scale City was a boiling pot of noise, teeming with people coming and going.

A delivery truck slowly pulled to a stop in front of the clothing store, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Oh, Old Deer, you’re here at last!"

The Peacock Boss, who exuded an air of exquisite taste, hurried forward to greet him, his face wreathed in smiles.

A middle-aged man, bundled up so tightly that only his shrewd eyes were visible, climbed down from the truck. It was Old Deer.

He hopped down carefully, complaining, "Old Peacock, if it weren’t for our decade-long friendship, I wouldn’t have dared set foot in this Snake Scale City of yours."

He kept his voice low as if afraid of being overheard, his eyes scanning his surroundings warily.

The Peacock Boss clapped Old Deer on the shoulder and said nonchalantly, "It’s fine. As long as outsiders don’t stay the night and leave before sunrise, nothing will happen."

His tone was relaxed, but Old Deer’s brow remained tightly furrowed.

"Is that what this is about? I run a clothing business in the Imperial Capital—the Imperial City! Everyone knows Snake Scale City is full of anti-Empire Dark Forces. If I get found out, will I still have a business in the Imperial City? I might not even make it out alive."

Old Deer grew more agitated as he spoke, waving his hands in the air, his face etched with worry.

The Peacock Boss sighed helplessly, his face breaking into an appeasing smile. "Alright, alright. I owe you one."

With that said, the two began unloading packages of clothes from the truck. Piled as high as a small mountain, each bundle was heavy, stuffed with all sorts of exquisite apparel.

"But don’t the rumors say Snake Scale City is only populated by males? Why did you have me bring women’s clothes and shoes? You have a female here in Snake Scale City?" Old Deer asked as he worked, his curiosity flaring like a newly lit fire.

Hearing this, the Peacock Boss’s gaze flickered away. He stammered, "That... you shouldn’t ask about that."

"Hey, I’m taking a huge risk delivering this stuff for you. I ask for a little gossip, and you won’t even tell me? Are we buddies or not?" Old Deer stopped working, put his hands on his hips, and pretended to be angry.

The Peacock Boss glanced around. Seeing that no one was paying attention, he beckoned Old Deer closer and whispered, "Alright, alright. Come here, I’ll tell you quietly."

Old Deer drew near, leaning in to listen.

The Peacock Boss lowered his voice. "There is indeed a female in the city. The Lord brought her back himself. She’s stunningly beautiful. They say she’s a maid, but she doesn’t seem like one to me.

"Besides, Miss Su has a wonderful personality. She’s so polite, and she even performed a spiritual soothing for me." He spoke animatedly, his face beaming with pride.

Old Deer’s eyes lit up. "What does she look like? Let me see her," he said eagerly, starting to head in the direction of the old castle.

"Are you crazy? The Lord himself brought her here. You, an outsider, dare to go see her? Do you have a death wish?" The Peacock Boss grabbed Old Deer, his face a mask of terror, as if Old Deer were about to walk into the lion’s den.

"Right, right, you’re right, Old Peacock. But you know how incredibly rare females are. And if even you, a peacock who loves beauty, says she’s pretty, I’m just dying to see her for myself." Old Deer scratched his head, his expression full of regret.

Worn down by his pestering, the Peacock Boss relented. "Alright, alright. As it happens, Miss Su came by my shop to buy something. I suppose I can pull up the security footage for you." With that, he led Old Deer into the store.

Old Deer leaned eagerly toward the screen. When the image of the young, beautiful Su Yaoyao appeared, his eyes grew wider and his mouth fell slightly open in stunned admiration.

"Miss Su... what’s her full name?" Old Deer asked without looking away from the screen.

"I think it’s... Yaoyao. Yes, Su Yaoyao!" the Peacock Boss said, finally managing to recall her name.

"Oh." Lost in thought, Old Deer secretly recorded the video clip with his Light Computer.

After finishing the delivery, Old Deer drove his truck out of the city.

At the city gate, black-robed figures searched not only people and vehicles entering the city, but also those leaving. Security was ironclad.

Old Deer’s heart was in his throat. His hands tightened unconsciously on the steering wheel, and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. Thankfully, the inspection went smoothly, and he drove out of Snake Scale City without incident.

Once he was a safe distance from Snake Scale City, Old Deer pulled over to the side of the road. He scanned his surroundings warily, and only after confirming he was alone did he cautiously take out his Light Computer and dial the number for the bounty.

"Hello, is this Admiral Bai Lian? I’ve found a human female in Snake Scale City."

His voice trembled slightly, a mix of excitement at the impending high-value bounty and a hint of anxiety.

That call was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, sending massive ripples through the hearts of three men.

In the Imperial City, Bai Lian, Reg, and Pani, who were all recovering from injuries, heard the news. Their breath caught in their throats, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Bai Lian’s brow furrowed so tightly it looked like two mountains about to collide. He had been frantic with worry these past days, unable to find any trace of Su Yaoyao. In desperation, he had posted a bounty for information about her on the Star Network.

But too many people had tried to swindle him for the high-value bounty. He had been disappointed countless times, so his tone was exceptionally cold. "Are you sure? Deceiving an Admiral of the Empire is a capital offense."

"Yes, I’m sure. She’s identical to the portrait in the bounty you posted. I even recorded a video," Old Deer explained hurriedly, a fawning tone creeping into his voice.

With that, his fingers trembling, he sent the secretly recorded footage to Bai Lian.

Bai Lian, Reg, and Pani stared intently at the Light Computer screen. When the face of Su Yaoyao—the woman they had thought of day and night—appeared, the rims of all three men’s eyes instantly turned red, as if set ablaze.

"It’s really her!" Reg’s eyes were rimmed with red, his voice trembling with emotion. "I knew it. I knew she was out there somewhere, waiting for us."

He shot to his feet, but the sudden movement pulled at his injuries, making him hiss in pain. He seemed oblivious to it, however, his eyes glued to the screen, filled with a desperate longing for their reunion.

Pani’s hands trembled. His lips parted as he murmured, "We finally found you, Yaoyao." His voice was barely a whisper, as if speaking any louder might cause the news to shatter like a soap bubble.

Not long after Old Deer hung up, his Light Computer showed a deposit of one billion Star Coins.

With the immense fortune secured, a greedy smile spread across his face.

Bai Lian watched the image of Su Yaoyao on the screen, as if trying to etch every single detail of her into his memory.

He stood up, his voice low but firm, filled with an undeniable power. "We’re going to Snake Scale City. No matter the cost, we are bringing her back."