Chapter 223: Seems Like I Have a Bonus Effect on the Mentally Ill

"Such confidence isn't a good thing." Elder White Cloud Sword God stood in the corridor, frowning in thought. His main purpose in talking to Chief Xu was to urge him to be more vigilant.

The traitor within headquarters held a high position.

Otherwise, how could they know their location?

Furthermore, the nuclear warheads were under strict guard, with numerous activation procedures. It was definitely not something a single person could accomplish.

"Could it be... Old Xu is the problem?"

He shook his head, dismissing the unrealistic thought.

How could I suspect Old Xu? I must be overthinking things out of fear.

As a Heavenly King level expert and the guardian of Xia Du, Elder White Cloud Sword God held a lofty position. For an Evil Lord to appear undetected in Xia Du, and for him to discover it, there was a high probability that the Evil Lord intentionally exposed itself.

Otherwise, an Evil Lord capable of evading detection wouldn't be so easily discovered.

The more he thought, the more complicated it became. He had a strong feeling that everything was being manipulated, that someone was leading them by the nose. The thought was terrifying.

Even a veteran as strong as him was nearly killed.

Actually, it wasn't just nearly.

It was a situation where people could have really died.

Night fell.

A grand and lavish banquet was held in Xia Du. There was no other meaning behind it; it was specifically to entertain Lin Fan. He had come from afar to help, not only saving Elder White Cloud Sword God but also nine City Guardian level experts.

Could such a debt of gratitude be repaid with a single meal?

Certainly not.

However, under the current circumstances, all they could do was offer a meal. It was mainly a gesture of goodwill, nothing more.

Tianfu Restaurant.

The finest restaurant in Xia Du, it occupied a vast area. The interior was resplendent, decorated in a classical style, resembling an ancient imperial palace.

"What a beautiful place," Old Zhang exclaimed, gazing at the interior decorations.

"Indeed, very beautiful," Lin Fan agreed.

The Evil Chicken in his arms sighed inwardly. Humans truly knew how to enjoy themselves. It had never seen such a building, and it felt quite impressive. This was the benefit of successfully infiltrating human society, getting close and personal with their innermost secrets.

To say there weren't any secrets, it wouldn't believe it.

Just this place… could it be just for a simple meal?

At this moment, the Evil Chicken focused its senses, detecting numerous gazes directed towards it. Although it couldn't see the gazes, it could swear that in the hidden private rooms on either side, humans had noticed its presence.

How terrifying.

It hadn't expected human experts to be present in such a place.

Thinking about it, it made sense.

Such a luxurious place would naturally attract many human experts, and the matters they discussed would be of great importance.

At the same time, the doors of the surrounding private rooms opened. People stood at the doorways, searching for the source, eventually locking onto the Evil Chicken in Lin Fan's arms.

They returned to report their findings.

The experts who could sense the Evil creature's presence were surprised. Why would an Evil creature appear here? It was simply suicidal.

Like a lamb wandering into a pack of wolves.

Thinking itself powerful.

In reality, it was courting death.

The scouts reported back: it was an Evil Chicken, accompanied by Xia Kunyun. The experts were surprised, then nodded and continued eating and drinking.

With Xia Kunyun present, there was nothing to worry about. They also knew that headquarters had invited experts from Yanhai City, one of whom seemed to keep an Evil creature as a pet. This strange combination was hard to ignore.

Some considered going over to investigate.

Xia Kunyun was a department official, holding a high position. There must be a reason for his presence. But after some thought, they decided against it. They were here for a meal, and many of their colleagues were present. Even if they went over to greet him, it might not be of any use.

Better to stay out of it.

Old Zhang looked left and right, curiously asking, "Are we here for a meal?"

Xia Kunyun replied, "Yes, Chief Xu specifically invited you for a meal. He also brought the headquarters' senior officials to welcome you. I hope you enjoy yourselves."

This wasn't just a welcome dinner; it was a recognition of Lin Fan's significant contributions.

Chief Xu felt that if they didn't do something, it would be a disservice to Lin Fan. If One-Eyed Man found out, he would definitely scold them: "Our strongest expert from Yanhai City went to help you, and you didn't even offer payment, let alone a decent meal."

That would be truly unforgivable.

Lin Fan smiled gently, "Old Zhang, do you like it here?"

"I like it," Old Zhang replied.

Xia Kunyun observed their interaction, simply smiling. This meal was a necessity, and it couldn't be perfunctory. They had to choose the best place. Given Lin Fan's contributions to Xia Du, a single meal couldn't possibly repay him.

Otherwise, Xia Du would have lost not only a Heavenly King level expert, but also nine City Guardian level experts.

That was a loss no one could bear.

Soon, the door to the most luxurious private room was pushed open. Chief Xu greeted them with a beaming smile, "Welcome, our greatest benefactor of Xia Du!"

Such a warm and welcoming atmosphere made Lin Fan feel a little embarrassed.

He felt that the people here were truly kind, not only inviting him to dinner but also treating them so amicably. They were truly good people.

Old Zhang fearfully hid behind Lin Fan.

The group inside the private room gathered around, their faces bearing professional smiles.

"So young and promising! To have such strength at such a young age, you are truly the hope of humanity!"

"Indeed, when I was his age, I was still studying at the High Academy."

"Yanhai City produces talent, and this time, it's an extraordinary talent."

Praises flowed endlessly.

An ordinary person, showered with such praise, would have been embarrassed, scratching their head, thinking, "I'm not as great as you say."

Unfortunately, the person standing before them was mentally ill.

Lin Fan didn't find anything wrong with these compliments.

At this moment, a middle-aged man in a red suit exclaimed curiously, "Let me have a good look at the young man who saved our Elder White Cloud Sword God."

"Remarkable! This is the best physiognomy I've ever seen."

"A full forehead, destined for great wealth and honor, a truly unparalleled countenance!"

The man in the red suit looked at Lin Fan with a glint in his eyes, as if appraising something, but it was hidden deeply, and no one noticed anything amiss in his gaze.

"What you're saying is strange," Lin Fan said, looking at the man. He understood each individual word, but when strung together, he felt confused. He sensed the man was praising him, but the praise was puzzling.

"Beitao, stop showing off your third-rate fortune-telling," Chief Xu said.

He was truly speechless when it came to Beitao. In his youth, Beitao had shown great talent. They had expected him to attend the High Academy, but who could have imagined he would choose a lesser academy to study useless skills like fortune-telling?

However, talent was talent. Even so, he thrived in the department's clerical work, rising to a senior position.

"Hahaha, Old Xu, I was just curious," Beitao chuckled.

His attire always clashed with those around him, giving off an air of arrogance. However, his smooth talk and flattery were highly effective, and no one could resist his charm.

He made everyone feel like he was a good person.

A good brother.

"Everyone, please be seated," Chief Xu gestured.

He knew Lin Fan's background – a mental patient. He had initially worried about potential awkwardness or problems, given Lin Fan's condition. After all, he was mentally ill, and no one could predict when an episode might occur.

But judging by the current situation, everything seemed fine.

It seemed that he, Old Xu, had a positive influence on the mentally ill.