Chapter 35: City-wide Manhunt

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: City-wide Manhunt

Renee Jennings transferred the money back to Henry Stark.

Then, she checked the balance on her bank card.

She glanced around the cramped apartment, and an idea took root deep inside her.

’Buy a house!’

"I’m heading out," Renee Jennings said. She was wearing a black down jacket, a red scarf, and a small detective-style hat.

Blueberry eagerly trotted over with a pair of shoes in its mouth. "My beautiful Renee, where are you going?"

"You want to come with me?" Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow.

Blueberry nodded its feline head. "I do."

’The two human cubs are cute, but playing with them for too long is exhausting.’

"Alright, let’s go," Renee Jennings agreed.

The human and cat duo headed out the door.

Renee Jennings took Blueberry to look at some nearby properties, but she was quickly discouraged.

She had less than four million, but the properties easily cost tens of millions. Four million wasn’t even enough for an unfinished unit.

Renee Jennings bought a hot coffee at a convenience store and squatted by the roadside without a care for her image, sighing, "I really want to get rich!"

’System, can’t you issue some new missions with cash rewards?’

[System 009: Apologies, Miss Jennings. Missions and rewards are both random. If you wish to make money, you need to figure out a way yourself, or complete a hidden mission.]

Renee Jennings: "..."

She had majored in fashion design in college, but back then, all she cared about was having fun and hooking up with rich guys. She hadn’t studied at all.

’With no special skills, how am I supposed to make money?’

Blueberry lay at her feet. Sensing its master’s distress, it suggested, "Renee, you have such a way with animals. Why not open a pet shop?"

’Opening a pet shop isn’t that simple, and I don’t have a vet license.’

However, Renee Jennings didn’t want to discourage Blueberry. "That’s a great idea. You’re so smart."

Blueberry was thrilled by the praise. "Of course I am."

Just as Renee Jennings was getting up to go home, a small, chestnut-red swallow suddenly struck up a conversation with her.

"Renee, are you really short on cash?"

Renee Jennings stopped in her tracks. She looked up at the little swallow and asked with a smile, "What is it, Ruby?"

’Has news of my money problems already spread to the birds?’

Ruby: "Do you want those things that are like, golden yellow strips?"

"What are those?" Renee Jennings asked, confused.

Ruby thought hard for a moment, then its eyes lit up. "I remember now! The humans call them gold bars!"

"Gold bars?" Renee Jennings’s eyes widened. "You have some?"

"I don’t," Ruby said, shaking its little head. "But I know where to find some~"

Renee Jennings didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "I know where to find them too, but you have to pay for them."

Ruby giggled. "Renee, these ones are free!"

Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow. "Free?"

"Yep!" Ruby said. "The gold bars are just sitting by a lake."

Renee Jennings furrowed her delicate brows, not quite understanding. "Why would there be gold bars by a lake?"

Another little swallow, unable to listen anymore, flew over. "You’re too dumb. You can’t even explain it right."

Ruby huffed. "You stinky bird! If you’re so smart, you tell her!"

"I can definitely explain it better than you!" Inky landed on Renee Jennings’s shoulder. "Renee, let me tell you, those gold bars were actually stolen."

"Stolen?"

"Yeah. That rich lady’s boyfriend ganged up with someone else, stole a hundred gold bars, and hid them under a rock by the lake."

"There’s also a ruby necklace in there. It would definitely look good on you, Renee."

Renee Jennings: "..."

’A hundred gold bars?’

’This is a major case.’

She took out her phone and did a quick search. Sure enough, there was a news report.

One week ago, Ms. Brooks of Lurain District returned home to find that a hundred gold bars and a gemstone necklace worth ten million were missing from her safe.

Security footage showed two masked thieves committing a home invasion.

The perpetrators seemed to have come prepared. They took a suitcase from her walk-in closet, went into the study, and left shortly after, dragging the suitcase behind them.

One gold bar weighed 50 grams. A hundred of them were worth six million, and with the gemstone necklace, the total value of the stolen goods reached sixteen million.

The Zenvia police acted quickly, announcing a city-wide manhunt and issuing a reward for information.

When Renee Jennings saw the reward amount, her eyes seemed to sparkle. The corners of her lips curved up, her fair face filled with eager anticipation.

"Alright my little treasures, which lake are the gold bars at?"

Ruby grew excited as well. "Renee, I’ll lead the way~"

A half-hour journey brought Renee Jennings and Blueberry to Serenity Lake.

A thin layer of ice covered the lake’s surface, and the trees were adorned with translucent frost. A cold wind swept by, making the thin ice tremble with a faint, crisp crackle.

Ruby: "Renee, this is the place!"

Renee Jennings looked around and saw a few people scattered about, busy taking photos, capturing the picturesque scenery.

She averted her gaze and looked at Ruby. "Sonny, do you know the exact spot?"

Renee Jennings planned to confirm the location of the gold bars first, then call the police.

Ruby, having been called Sonny, was both shy and delighted. "Renee, I know, but I forgot!"

Renee Jennings: "..."

Inky said with disdain, "I told you you were a dumb bird! You can’t even remember this!"

Ruby puffed up its chest angrily. "If you’re not dumb, then you take Renee!"

Inky: "Fine, I will!"

Watching the two little swallows bicker, Renee Jennings surprisingly didn’t find it boring.

Inky: "Renee, follow me."

It flew a short distance, landed on a rock, and after a careful look, said to Renee Jennings, "Renee, it’s right under here."

Renee Jennings strode forward.

She studied it for a moment. The rock seemed to fit perfectly with the surrounding stone slab. "I’ll need a tool to pry this slab up."

Renee Jennings thought for a moment, then stood up. "There was a hardware store on the way here. I’ll go buy something now. You all wait for me here."

Blueberry sat obediently. "You go. We’ll keep watch for you."

Renee Jennings went to the hardware store, bought a tool, and came back. Just as she was prying up the stone slab, a Little Sparrow suddenly flew over.

"Bad news, bad news! The humans who stole the gold bars are here!"

"Where are they?" Renee Jennings used all her strength to pry up the slab and saw a black backpack lying inside.

She unzipped it. Inside was a bag full of gold bars, along with the ruby necklace.

The Little Sparrow said urgently, "I think I saw the two humans! They said they were going to move the stash to a new spot."

Renee Jennings hesitated for a moment, then pushed the slab back into place, pretending nothing had happened.

Ruby asked in surprise, "Renee, aren’t you short on cash? Don’t you want these gold bars?"

"This is stolen property. We can’t take it." Renee Jennings stood up, pretending to be a tourist who was just there to take pictures.

While pretending to take photos, she moved to a different spot and dialed the police.

After hanging up, Renee Jennings watched the two thieves’ movements out of the corner of her eye.

One was fat, the other thin. They wore baseball caps and masks, and they walked cautiously, constantly scanning their surroundings.

Renee Jennings didn’t dare to be too obvious, so she had Blueberry and the birds keep an eye on them for her.

Blueberry: "They’re prying up the rock now!"

Inky: "They’ve taken out the backpack."

Blueberry: "They’re pushing the rock back!"

Ruby: "They’re leaving!"