Chapter 1194 - 1194 1193 Wanted

Chapter 1194: Chapter 1193: Wanted Chapter 1194: Chapter 1193: Wanted [Corpse Country·Ministry of Punishment Warrant-6.1173]

Criminal – ‘Limb Blade’ Xiao Ji.

Corpse Country, Dye House District, Internal resident.

Once selected by the imperial court as a Ministry of Punishment – Green Robe Historian, yet dismissed due to innate cruelty. Is implicated in a large number of murder cases in the Dye House District, victims of whom were treated with extreme brutality while alive, and whose hearts were perfectly excised from their bodies.

Robbed a significant amount of wealth from the Dye House District – Tai’an Dye House.

During the escape, killed two Ministry of Punishment officers, eventually vanishing in Oil Mill Street.

A reward of [A hundred barrels of heavy oil] is hereby offered (doubled if captured alive).

Those who provide clues to the Ministry of Punishment will also be entitled to [Ten barrels of heavy oil] upon verification.

…

Zhang Xiliang rummaged through his room to find this somewhat outdated warrant and said,

“When [Xiao Ji] escaped to the Oil Mill District a year ago, the wanted notices were plastered all over the alleys and streets.

I just casually took one… However, there has been no information about [Xiao Ji], nor could the Ministry of Punishment find any clues; everyone has gradually forgotten about it.”

“A hundred barrels of heavy oil? Seems quite substantial.”

“Heavy oil is different from the ‘Corpse oil’ we trade for, it belongs to a higher purity class of transactional oil… probably can reach a ratio of 1:5 compared to the common ‘Corpse oil’ we have in hand.”

“Getting a hundred barrels at once, we probably couldn’t handle it, could we?” Han Dong pondered the matter of claiming the reward even before laying eyes on the criminal.

“That won’t be a problem; if we truly do capture Xiao Ji, the Ministry of Punishment will issue us an Oil Coupon with the imperial seal.

We can use the Oil Coupon to trade freely in the market, or exchange it for heavy oil at any oil depot.”

“That sure is convenient. It seems this guy’s head is really worth something…”

“What’s the use if he’s valuable? Let alone whether we can defeat him, we don’t even know where he is… After so many years, even the Ministry of Punishment hasn’t found him; the trail has gone cold a long time ago.”

As an Outsider, Han Dong’s analytical approach was not confined by all the assorted rules and boundaries, and his entry point was different.

He first posed a question:

“Why are we certain this guy has always stayed in the [Oil Mill District] and couldn’t possibly have fled to another district?”

“That’s not possible… ‘Corpse Country Reform’ specifically mentions the problem of sectional dividing.

There are no loopholes in the segregation of management between districts; any individual trying to cross boundaries will have their identity recognized.

Even if Xiao Ji had really reached Black Zombie Rank, he couldn’t have silently moved through different districts.

It’s very likely that Xiao Ji was seriously injured during his escape and died shortly after arriving in the Oil Mill District… and then was sold to the refinery by some unknowing Corpse Handler, naturally disappearing without a trace.”

Han Dong immediately rejected Zhang Xiliang’s last opinion, “Not likely… the corpse collectors at the refinery aren’t the least bit foolish.

Even when a regular like you goes to deliver a corpse, they perform a thorough inspection inside and out.

Xiao Ji is at least at Green Zombie Rank, his green aura very noticeable.

If the refinery supervisor discovered that the corpse was a wanted criminal, they would surely hand him over to the Ministry of Punishment for the reward, but since the Ministry is still offering a reward, it likely means Xiao Ji is still alive.

Zhang Xiliang, could you mark out the areas that the Ministry of Punishment wouldn’t search?”

“The Ministry of Punishment wouldn’t search? The only impossibility is the refinery that directly belongs to the [Ministry of Works].”

However, Xiao Ji’s incident caused quite a stir, and the Ministry of Works also cooperated fully with the investigation.”

“Cooperation doesn’t necessarily mean they would completely open up and let the Ministry of Punishment search every corner, right? After all, the importance of the oil refinery can be said to be the nation’s lifeline…”

“Yes… The head of the oil refinery is rumored to have reached a level beyond Black Stiff.”

“Doesn’t that narrow it down?

Since Xiao Ji couldn’t hide in the core area of the oil refinery, nor could he wander on the streets… The only possible hiding spot must be in the peripheral areas of the oil refinery.

Moreover, I’m certain he didn’t flee here for no reason…

The Oil Mill District is an area of critical surveillance by the court; fleeing here would increase the chances of being captured… But this guy spared no expense to escape here from other districts, surely having an ulterior motive.

Zhang Xiliang, do you have a detailed map of the oil refinery, preferably one that includes the surrounding areas?”

“I do… but it’s not very detailed. However, I’ve worked at the oil refinery for over ten years, I’ll try to complete it as much as possible.”

“Hmm, go quickly. If possible, try to mark out the approximate elevations of different areas.”

Han Dong felt this matter was very promising.

Since he could confirm that the target was indeed in the Oil Mill District and not dead… and meanwhile, the Ministry of Punishment had weakened their search efforts due to not finding the fugitive for a long time.

Accordingly, the other party must also have become complacent during the year of vigilance.

If he could find the hiding area, it would be an excellent opportunity to capture the high-priority fugitive.

Half an hour later, a highly complex factory district map was laid out in front of Han Dong, with corresponding annotations based on work experience.

Han Dong’s eyes, like USB ports, rapidly absorbed the information on the map, combining the two-dimensional map with written descriptions to build a three-dimensional scene in his head.

First, he disregarded the core area of the refinery and the outer peripheral areas that had been scrutinized.

He conducted a meticulous analysis of areas that could contain [excess space].

Zhang Xiliang looked on, somewhat bewildered, not understanding how Han Dong was looking at the map with his eyes closed.

Just then, with his eyes closed, Han Dong suddenly pointed his finger at a place on the map, “What is this place? Why is it so far from other refinery areas… And why are the walls so thick?”

“The abandoned corpse disposal area.”

“Abandoned corpses?”

“Correct… not all zombified bodies are suitable for ‘Corpse oil’ extraction.

Some that are infected with strange diseases, contain residual toxins, or are some other unknown corpses that fail the inspection process are all piled up here.

Because these corpses pose potential dangers, the area used for disposing of abandoned corpses has walls three times the normal thickness and is isolated from other areas.”

“Such a filthy and lowly area, the officers from the Ministry of Punishment probably haven’t searched it thoroughly… Shall we go take a look?”

“Alright, I’m supposed to go to work at the refinery tomorrow. I might be arranged to dispose of abandoned corpses en route; Mr. Han, how will you get there? Perhaps you should apply for a job at the refinery today.”

“No need for that, just you being able to get there is enough.

When you reach the target location, just leave this object in an open space, and I will naturally be able to come over.”

That said, Han Dong extended a quasi-real tentacle from his mouth.

Zhang Xiliang felt a pull on his consciousness the moment he took the tentacle, as if he were in the deep space of another universe… It frightened him so much that his body shook, and a green liquid continuously flowed out between his legs.

“Yes…”

A single tentacle had frightened him, a Green Zombie, to this extent. Zhang Xiliang’s confidence greatly increased; perhaps this could become a major turning point in his life.