Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 467: No Other Discussions

After sorting through the events, Tang Wan felt even more burdened rather than relieved. Although they had a rough idea of the culprit's true intentions, she painfully realized that they couldn't take any effective measures to prevent the situation from worsening.

As long as Old Master Tang's condition didn't improve, the family would remain leaderless. Tang Huang had already started openly provoking in Zhonghai, not to mention the mess back in Yandu, where the situation was chaotic and filled with hidden dangers.

When leaving Tang Wan's house, Yang Chen thought about comforting this poor woman. However, after pondering, he realized that apart from helping her, he had nothing to say. He figured Tang Wan wouldn't want to be seen as weak, so he stayed silent.

Returning home, it was already dinner time. Yang Chen found himself having spent the whole day busy dismantling bugging devices, feeling somewhat self-deprecating.

At dinner, Yang Chen noticed that Lin Ruoxi hadn't returned home as usual. Wang Ma seemed to have anticipated Yang Chen's confusion and explained with a smile, "Miss went to see Miss Christine tonight. She said she had some matters to discuss, so she won't be home for dinner. No need to wait for her."

Yang Chen initially thought Lin Ruoxi was working late, but upon hearing she went to see Christine, his face turned dark. That unpredictable woman might blurt out something inappropriate again. The more Yang Chen thought about it, the more likely it seemed, but he couldn't prevent Lin Ruoxi from meeting her. He could only eat quietly, hoping Christine wouldn't be too loose-tongued.

Guo Xuehua noticed Yang Chen's worried look and asked curiously, "Son, why are you so bothered that Ruoxi went to see Christine? Is it that strange?"

Yang Chen forced a smile and waved his hand, indicating it was nothing. "I'm just surprised. Ruoxi rarely seeks out strangers to chat."

"Why do you think it's just chatting? It could be work-related," Guo Xuehua countered.

Yang Chen was taken aback, realizing she might be right. His wife could simply be discussing work matters with Christine.

After dinner, Yang Chen spent some time watching TV with his mother and Wang Ma before returning to his room. Considering the time difference, it was likely midday in Europe. He turned on his computer and logged into his usual video chat tool.

Soon, the red-haired Soren appeared on the other end of the video. Dressed in a black suit, he looked quite spirited and saluted Yang Chen.

"Hades, my lord, is there an important command you need from me?" Soren asked directly.

Yang Chen looked at Soren's outfit and laughed, "I remember you hate wearing suits. Why the formal attire all of a sudden?"

Soren's eyes showed a hint of warmth, and a rare smile appeared on his stern face. "I'm surprised you remember my dislike for suits."

"You're my friend. I don't have many friends, so I naturally remember their habits," Yang Chen replied matter-of-factly.

"It's because of my daughter, Isabella. She's getting married today," Soren said with a smile.

Yang Chen was taken aback and then laughed heartily. "Isabella? That little wildcat? She's getting married? Who's the groom?"

Soren's expression turned slightly sour at the mention of the groom, and he grumbled, "Unfortunately, the bastard who stole my sweetheart is Macedonia's grandson."

Hearing this, Yang Chen couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, slapping his mattress forcefully. "You mean Macedonia's chubby grandson, Brewster?"

"Yes, but I prefer to call that brat 'Little Wild Boar'," Soren replied with a pout.

Yang Chen felt a wave of emotion. Soren and Macedonia were both close friends, and he was well-acquainted with their families. Compared to the men themselves, their families treated Yang Chen with more warmth and less reverence, like his own family.

Isabella and Brewster were like younger relatives to Yang Chen, even though they were about his age. Knowing that they were getting married, and that it was a union between two families he was so close to, filled him with joy. "I'll ask Ron to send a gift on my behalf," Yang Chen said, pretending to be displeased. "Soren, you and Macedonia are really something. Such an important event, and you didn't inform me beforehand. Aren't I family to those two youngsters?"

Soren replied gratefully, "Of course you are, Lord Hades. Without you, my family and I would have been eliminated by MI5 long ago. You gave me the life I have today and the happiness of seeing my family. You are our most respected family member. The reason neither Macedonia nor I told you about this is because we didn't want you to make a special trip back to Europe. You know, if you return to Europe after more than a year, it will unsettle many forces and might bring you trouble. We didn't want to disturb your life."

"You don't need to worry about that," Yang Chen said with a bitter smile. "Next month, I'll be going to Paris for Fashion Week. Even if you and Macedonia are considerate of me, I still have to go back to Europe."

Soren's eyes widened, surprised that Yang Chen would attend such an event.

Yang Chen didn't dwell on that and moved on to the main topic. "Soren, I'm reaching out because I need you to help me investigate something. It's not urgent; you can enjoy your daughter's wedding first."

"Please, Lord Hades, tell me what you need," Soren replied, regaining his serious demeanor.

"I need you to check the sales records of the MLK760 miniature bugging device from the U.S., especially if any have entered the black market in China," Yang Chen said.

Soren frowned and said, "Lord Hades, I can answer that right away."

"Oh?" Yang Chen raised an eyebrow.

"The thing is, we previously tried to order the MLK760 through special channels from the FBI, but we failed because the MLK760 is now completely controlled by the military. If someone in China has one of those devices, it must have been purchased under a military contract. There's no other way to obtain it," Soren explained firmly.

Yang Chen's eyes flickered with thought, and he nodded. Smiling again, he said, "That's all I needed. Now, you can go enjoy Isabella's wedding. My best wishes to you all."

Soren didn't linger, and after saying goodbye, he exited the video call.

Yang Chen thought for a moment and then connected to another video address. After more than five minutes, there was a response.

When the video screen opened, a blonde woman in a white lace court-style long dress appeared. Her ample bosom and perfectly cinched waist created a striking image that stirred the blood—this was Jane.

Receiving an unexpected call from Yang Chen, Jane seemed especially happy. Her flawless face was filled with excitement, and her slightly wavy golden hair was neatly styled, making her look like an elegant princess.

Behind Jane was a luxurious bed, with bright sunlight casting on it and reflecting off some intricate decorations around it. It was clearly her private room.

"Dear Yang Chen, what a surprise to hear from you. If I hadn't come back to my room to get my favorite hairpin, I might have missed you," Jane said with a smile.

Yang Chen admired Jane for a moment and said, "Dressed like that, you'll steal the bride Isabella's thunder."

"You know?" Jane said in surprise. "I thought Soren and Macedonia planned to keep it from you. Was it your butler Ron who told you?"

"I just found out, but that's not the main point. I need your help with something else," Yang Chen said.

Jane pouted, "I knew you had a reason for calling me. No fun at all. Alright, tell me, then I'll go be a bridesmaid."

Yang Chen smiled helplessly and then explained Old Master Tang's condition and the incident involving Andre's murder.

"In terms of brain and mental illness research, there's no one more authoritative than you. After all, you cured my madness. So, I thought you might be the best person to treat Old Master Tang. Of course, I understand you're very busy, with teaching and attending various scientific conferences. I'm not asking you to come right away. If you can't come, you can send a student who you believe is capable. I don't mind," Yang Chen said.

Jane looked a bit regretful. "Andre is dead? He was a decent scholar, though a bit greedy, he was genuinely talented. Don't worry, Yang Chen, I'll come personally. This is my chance to visit you in China. How could I refuse?"

Yang Chen gave an awkward smile. "I'm talking about serious matters."

"So am I," Jane said with a playful wink. "After Isabella's wedding, I'll buy a ticket to China immediately. You must pick me up then."

"Picking you up is no problem, but given what happened to Andre, your safety must be ensured. I don't want you to get hurt while helping my friend," Yang Chen said seriously.

"Aren't you there? You'll protect me, just like you did when we first met years ago. You protected me and my mother, didn't you?" Jane said, full of nostalgia.

Yang Chen opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. Instead, he smiled and said, "I can't be by your side all the time."

Jane giggled, "Don't worry about me. I have my ways to ensure my safety. Don't you trust me? I'm one of the smartest women in the world."

"That's true," Yang Chen agreed with a nod. "Also, you have connections with Johns Hopkins in the US. Can you talk to them and keep Andre's death from blowing up too much? Let's avoid lawsuits. We'll make sure they get an explanation in the end."

Jane nodded, "I understand. Don't worry, Johns Hopkins and I have many important collaborations. They won't go against my wishes."

Hearing this, Yang Chen felt relieved. He didn't really care about the specifics and just mentioned it in passing. To him, helping Tang Wan was a trivial matter, even if others saw it as a monumental task.

After bidding farewell to Jane, Yang Chen turned off his computer. The room fell into darkness and silence, making him feel a bit bored. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he slapped his forehead. He had been so foolish! Why was he staying cooped up in his room when two of his favorite people were living right next door? Climbing over a wall wasn't that hard, was it?

With this thought, Yang Chen's mouth curved into a mischievous smile. He turned his gaze towards the balcony.