Starting Cultivation in Wasteland-Chapter 557 - 427: Gradi

The communication with the C-level Guard is not just about inquiry; he's also sensing Panda's response.

If there's indeed a problem detected, the Guard Captain can personally step in, and having the Guard Team investigate a teacher at the academy isn't really challenging.

However, the reaction from the other side matched his expectations.

—A bit arrogant, somewhat schadenfreude upon learning the situation, and also shrewdly deducing that the person isn't in serious trouble.

In fact, the C-level Guard didn't believe Panda was significantly suspicious either.

This guy hasn't even paid the final payment; clearly he's taken advantage, then to turn around and hire someone to kill—how insane would that be?

But of course, he can't say that. He solemnly stated, "Recently, the only one my boss has antagonized... is you."

Qu Jianlei scoffed at those words, "Do you think I believe you? It's odd if your boss hasn't antagonized many people!"

The other side paused and said, "If you maintain this attitude, then I can only suggest this to my boss's sister."

"Go ahead," Qu Jianlei replied indifferently, "I'll be waiting for you at the academy."

Just then, a faint voice came from the other side, "Ask him, who did he give the recordings to?"

It sounded like Gwendolyn's voice, somewhat weak—the Imperial technology is advanced, but that's a penetrating wound.

The C-level Guard repeated the question.

Qu Jianlei nonchalantly replied, "Whether I gave it to anyone is my business. I didn't fake the recording."

After a night of treatment, Gwendolyn also had enough time to analyze who might have shot him.

Just like Qu Jianlei said, he has many adversaries. You can tell by how many forces he guessed while half-conscious.

But those forces fear his brother-in-law, so they suppressed the hatred—since fundamentally, there's no deadly enmity.

However, you can't rule out someone snapping and retaliating against him.

Or, some long-standing grudge, with the other side thinking that after waiting so long, suspicion would be minimal if they acted.

Initially, he thought Panda did it, purely because it was the most recent grudge.

Moreover, he planned to keep pressuring Panda, squeezing more money out of him, feeling the matter hadn't ended.

But after an emotional outburst, thinking it over, it's like the Guard said, Panda has no reason to harm him!

Then he thought of another possibility: Did Panda release the recording?

If that's the case, the attack he suffered could likely be from the Starr Clan.

Gwendolyn knows this family quite well. Although their influence in this Star Realm is small, they can't be underestimated.

If it's a family that spans star realms, who wouldn't believe they have some dirty means?

Initially, Gwendolyn didn't inform Romel before taking action against him.

His goal was to swallow at least half of that family's assets—in this, he wasn't lying to Panda.

However, he didn't expect the other side to discover quickly that he was the mastermind behind it, and offered money for leniency.

The money wasn't much, just 20,000 silver coins, because the Starr Clan warned: don't push us too far.

Gwendolyn wasn't particularly concerned about this threat, but their ability to swiftly pin him down was terrifying.

So after taking the money, he planned to squeeze some benefit from Panda.

Essentially, he still wanted to deal with the Starr Clan—those assets are too tempting.

As for possible retaliation from the other side in the future? Once the second-in-command rises to become the leader, it won't be a problem.

Unfortunately, Panda refused to be squeezed, and a series of ensuing changes completely derailed his plans.

However, Gwendolyn is quite aware that the Starr Clan has considerable hatred towards him.

The other side could guess that his abrupt interference was aimed at their family assets—this grudge is definitely significant.

He thought about it the entire night, considering everything, he speculated a few arch-enemies.

Among them is the Starr Clan, who might have brought in experts from other planets or even star realms for revenge.

However, if this family acts against him now, there should be a prerequisite: Panda released the recording.

Otherwise, for a matter currently under close watch by the planetary fourth-in-command, the Starr Clan should give some face.

Would Panda release the recording? Gwendolyn isn't very certain.

By common logic, Panda's hatred with the Starr Family is far greater than with him.

But in this world, there's not just logic; there's also a word called "unexpected."

After a night of treatment, Gwendolyn's spirit improved somewhat.

Upon hearing Panda's words, he essentially could ascertain that the guy likely didn't release the recording.

So he snorted coldly, "I struck at the Starr Family also at your request. Would releasing it make them spare you?"

Qu Jianlei laughed at that, "If they won't spare, then let them come. I'm happy to see you have bad luck."

"Speak properly," Gwendolyn still couldn't help being pompous, "Have you considered the consequences?"

"Hehe," Qu Jianlei responded, smirking insincerely, "Consequences... I'm not the one being sniped anyway."

"You saying it so seriously actually reminds me, if I send the recording out, my danger would be much less."

"Anyway, if the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up, right?"

"You!" Gwendolyn couldn't take it and fainted in anger.

The hospital nurse came running upon hearing, checked her over, and calmly said.

"It's nothing serious, not having rested well for a night after injury, her body is overdrawn, a sleep will do."

The C-level guard looked at the unconscious boss worriedly, pondering how to handle this matter.

At that moment, the door of the ward was pushed open, and a large-built woman with C-level Cultivation Level walked in.

The woman glanced at the sleeping Gwendolyn and asked with a cold face, "What exactly happened?"

The arrival wasn't anyone else, it was the Guard Captain's wife, Gwendolyn's sister, Gradi.

"Sis," the C-level guard forced a smile, "someone ambushed us, we're not sure who."

Gradi coldly stated, "My brother may not be competent, but not just anyone can bully him."

"List all the suspects for me, dare to say you don't know again."

The C-level guard dared not defy, quickly taking out a piece of paper and handing it over, "It's all on here."

This was the suspect list he and the boss painstakingly compiled over a night.

Gradi took a look at the paper, and couldn't help but be startled, "So many people... What's he been up to?"

"Those circled are the main ones," the C-level guard answered honestly, "the rest are just suspects."

"But even the circled ones are too many, right?" The woman continued shaking her head, "I've warned him repeatedly not to cause unnecessary trouble."

She knew her brother was unreliable, but didn't expect him to attract so much animosity.

The next moment, she focused on another issue, "What's with this Panda... also an assistant from Star No. 2?"

Impossible not to notice, the name was originally circled, then crossed out, and finally half-circled again.

The C-level guard could only recount the full story, including the recent communications dialogue.

While narrating, he would certainly embellish his boss somewhat, but dared not distort the facts too much.

The person in front wasn't someone he could easily deceive, plus, dishonesty would affect her analysis!

Currently, the urgent task was to identify possible suspects, incorrect information would only delay investigations.

After listening, Gradi shook her head, half amused half exasperated, "He's trying to scam even the foreign teacher's money, has he gone broke?"

Then she decisively declared, "Inform that Panda to delete the recording, say I said so."

She spoke with such conviction, leaving no room for negotiation.

Your aura is quite intimidating, the C-level guard shook his head, and answered with an awkward smile, "I'm afraid that's challenging!"

"The other party seems very confident and not pretentious, if really instructed, it might backfire."

"Just a Modified Warrior," the woman raised her wristwatch and instructed, "Gather information on this person, I want all the data."

Soon, the recent status of Panda was transmitted through the watch.

Gradi studied it briefly, then spoke in surprise, "He defeated the Patrol Captain Smiling Face?"

She wasn't familiar with Shrek, but she knew quite a bit about what a Patrol Guard was like, not to mention the rank of a Patrol Captain.

Actually, she'd seen Smiling Face twice and had some impression of him, reportedly he's quite powerful.

The C-level guard responded with a bitter smile, "Even Smiling Face himself admitted it, accepting defeat wholeheartedly."

After a pause, he added another sentence, "In fact, that Blood Moon's Shrek is much more formidable than Smiling Face."

"This guy gets into trouble with such people," Gradi shook her head, sighing helplessly. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Then she looked at him and spoke earnestly, "Contact Panda, tell him Gwendolyn will refund the money in exchange for the recording."

"Refund?" The C-level guard was astonished, in all these years, he'd never heard of the boss refunding anyone's money.

"Must refund," Gradi declared without hesitation, "You have no idea how difficult it is to get Smiling Face involved."

The C-level warrior's eyes brightened, "So, does it mean... the Starr Family has an ace up its sleeve to bring out Smiling Face?"

Gradi glanced at him, "I don't know what the ace is, don't speculate, just contact him quickly!"

The C-level warrior hesitated, then said, "But you know, the boss never refunds money, I can't make this decision, and I have no funds."

"I didn't say you should advance the payment," Gradi promptly stated, "just deduct it from your boss's account."

"But..." The C-level warrior's face scrunched in distress, "I truly can't decide on this."

Gradi looked at him deeply, "After all, you know his account, don't you?"

The C-level warrior replied with a bitter smile, "I do help the boss manage the account, but it's not my money."

However, Gradi insisted without hesitation, "I'm the one pushing you, if he's unhappy, let him come to me."

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