Sara Zuck left with Dream Morrow, and although the path ahead had been paved for her, how she would walk it and to what extent she would succeed still depended on herself. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novelFɪre.net Entering that circle meant wading into muddy waters, where she’d have to face all sorts of trials in life. At eleven in the morning, Yusuf Zuck met with two individuals at Guolin Home-Style Restaurant, both of whom were private detectives who had collaborated with Samuel Ross once before! As is widely known, private detectives aren’t recognized in China, and they can’t even legally register; they operate on the fringes of the law, exploiting its loopholes. Of course, their methods are diverse; some play dirty, some play clean, and others have extremely complicated social networks, having to be familiar with people from all walks of life. They also need to continually absorb a wealth of social experience, keep up with the times, and be adept in both high technology and the tricks of the trade! Yusuf Zuck meeting two private detectives at once was unusual, since colleagues in this line of work could be enemies. His action was questionable, but after some thought, he decided to bring them together nonetheless. Competition breeds a broader market, and after assigning the task, both parties would work even harder in their rivalry. Samuel Ross did not show up because he was being entertained by the district bureau leaders at lunch, an acknowledgment of his significance. The first to arrive was a young man, not yet thirty, wearing a leather jacket, jeans, leather gloves, a scarf, and looking quite dashing and fashionable. As he entered the room, Yusuf Zuck stood up, and the young man directly asked, "Are you Mr. Zuck?" "I am Yusuf Zuck, hello!" Yusuf shook hands with him. "Hello, Anais Dillon." This was Anais Dillon, who, with a sunny smile, shook hands lightly with Yusuf before taking a seat across from him. "Mr. Zuck, you’re a regular client of ours now, what’s the assignment this time? We had a great time working together last time, I even had dinner with Brother Sen twice. I was hoping to meet you, the big boss, for a meal, too. Finally, the honor is mine!" This man, clearly a slick operator, could talk to anyone. A few sentences in and he was acting as if he and Yusuf were old friends. "I’ve been quite busy, but I’ve wanted to invite you for a meal. Let’s call this our getting-to-know-you drink, and let’s get together often from now on!" "Sure thing, Mr. Zuck, too polite! From now on, we’re friends, just call me anytime you need something, I’ll be there!" Anais Dillon chuckled heartily. "Knock, knock, knock~" At that moment, the room door was knocked once more, and another young man wearing a leather jacket – astonishingly similar to Anais Dillon’s, and jeans and shoes that were nearly identical, appeared. This guy was also under thirty and radiated a sunny, handsome vibe. "Damn, we’ve got a clash of outfits here!" Anais Dillon said, speechless at the coincidence. Who would have thought they’d match ? The newcomer paused for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Which one of you is Yusuf Zuck?" "That’s me." Yusuf extended his hand in greeting. "Hello, my name is Isaac Quintana!" This man’s demeanor was completely different from Anais Dillon’s; he was not as easygoing and carefree, seeming quite serious instead. It was likely even his name was fabricated – Isaac Quintana, after all, is the name of a type of eagle. He also glanced at Anais Dillon. Anais Dillon frowned at that moment. What was this guy’s deal? "Mr. Quintana, Mr. Dillon, let’s cut to the chase; just listen." Yusuf Zuck knew that these two were feeling wary, given that it’s not optimal to have outsiders present when discussing investigative matters. "Previously, I investigated a man named Marlon Shepherd. At that time, unsure who would be faster or more accurate, I had Samuel Ross engage two private detective firms simultaneously, which means both of you!" "Ah? Colleagues?" It was only then that Anais Dillon and Isaac Quintana exchanged glances, both realizing they were private detectives and even dressed the same – this coincidence wasn’t as simple as wearing the same clothes, they had bumped into colleagues. Yusuf continued, "Both of your professional standards are very good, and the results of your investigations were virtually identical; both were also quite prompt." "The reason I’ve called you here today is that I have another task for you. Both of you will still work on it separately, and don’t worry about the money – I’m not short on cash, so your job is just to provide me with the investigation reports, and having two reports will yield more accuracy!" "Of course, I do indeed want to make friends with both of you. In the capital, having friends can open many doors, and although you’re competitors, the city is big enough that there shouldn’t be too much direct competition between you." "What’s the assignment?" Isaac Quintana asked first. "It’s a company called New Era Film. Right now, I only know the address and the CEO of the company. I have no other information, so I’d like your help to investigate everything about New Era Film, including whether they have hidden shareholders, how many there might be, what productions they have made before, who are their signed artists, the source of the CEO’s capital, and so on – a comprehensive investigation." "As for the payment, since we have already cooperated before, there’s no need for discounts this time. Just name your price!" "Mr. Zuck, you’re straightforward, so I won’t beat around the bush. I don’t know how much Brother Hai charges, but I need one hundred and thirty thousand." "Hmm, I also want one hundred and thirty thousand!" Isaac Quintana didn’t bargain down; one hundred and thirty thousand was neither high nor low for investigating a film company, since the expenses would be just a few tens of thousands. "Let’s not do one hundred and thirty thousand, round it up to a clean amount. I’ll give you one hundred and fifty thousand each, and the sooner you can complete it, the better, what do you say?" Yusuf Zuck invested heavily, not because he was splashing cash around, but because he found these two individuals reliable and worthy of connecting with. Those like them were akin to hunters traversing the forest; he knew there would be times he’d need their services in the future! "Mr. Zuck, nobody does business like you do, I’ve never met a customer who’s so straightforward, who doesn’t bargain but raises the price instead," joked Anais Dillon. "Ha ha, Mr. Zuck, you’re openhanded, this job will be a pleasure. Don’t worry, we’ll provide you with the investigation reports as soon as possible!" Isaac Quintana also finally smiled; he found Mr. Zuck quite interesting, apparently a man who really wasn’t short on money! "All I can say is, our collaboration isn’t just for once or twice; there will be many more opportunities in the future. Honestly, I could use people like you around me. Why don’t you two work exclusively for me, name your price?" Yusuf Zuck spoke half-jokingly, half-seriously. "Mr. Zuck, are you serious, or just pulling our legs?" Anais Dillon blinked in response. Yusuf Zuck chuckled, "I’m a man of my word—spit and stick!" "Ha ha, you’re generous, Mr. Zuck, I consider you a friend for sure, but let’s forget about working exclusively. However, just give the word when you need anything, I guarantee I’ll be there!" "Right, whatever you need, just say it." Isaac Quintana nodded as well. "The dishes are served, let’s eat and drink..." Yusuf Zuck smiled, knowing that these two had their guard up. Having just met for the first time, how could they possibly trust him so easily? PS: Four Chapters done