Chapter 559: The Fraudster
Today marks a week since Ancestral Cang started his job.
Unfortunately, all the promises Young Master Sang made have not come true.
The ideal life of torturing prisoners never happened; instead, Ancestral Cang has spent the entire week like a corporate slave, endlessly handling various documents and writing reports.
Every time he asks Cheng Da Yong when he can conduct an interrogation himself, he’s met with a lackluster response:
“Eh, little Zhang, I understand you youngsters have ambition and want to shine.”
“But honestly, the world today is much better than before. Real criminals might not even fall into our hands.”
“Just hang tight, okay? As soon as there’s a suitable case, I’ll set it up for you right away.”
Thus, poor Ancestral Cang keeps waiting day after day, trapped in his superior’s grand illusions, dreaming of the day he can personally extract confessions.
As the saying goes, what you keep in mind will eventually echo back.
Finally.
On this day, when Ancestral Cang was on the verge of an emotional breakdown while organizing reports, Cheng Da Yong suddenly bursts into his office:
“Little Zhang, hurry up! We’ve got a case!”
Ancestral Cang was so excited he almost shed tears.
…Finally!
It’s finally here!
He’s been waiting for this day for so long.
Although he had no idea who the poor soul about to be in his clutches was, he was ready.
Sorry, but all the frustrations and agony he’s endured these days will be collected double from this unfortunate one!
As he followed Cheng Da Yong to the Punishment Department’s prison, Ancestral Cang’s mind raced with fantasies of the poor wretch he would soon torment.
Hopefully, it’s a fallen fairy. I just love tormenting women.
If this woman falls into my hands, I will not rest until she crumbles into despair and is tortured into a non-human state!
With sadistic joy, Ancestral Cang strode into the prison.
And then, his smile slowly froze.
…Sadly, this wasn’t some fallen beauty.
It was a scruffy, unkempt middle-aged man with a greasy belly and a face full of stubble.
“This guy is Chen Zhang, he got caught for scamming elderly people and defrauding the family members of Demon Cultivators.”
Cheng Da Yong briefly skimmed through the case file, handed it to Ancestral Cang, and patted his shoulder: “Just get him to confess, and we can lock him up.”
Ancestral Cang’s mouth twitched, but he said nothing.
…Well, it’s not impossible.
Although he’s not a woman, at least he’s under my control.
Torturing a man is still torturing.
If I don’t get to see these pathetic ants show their tragic, desperate expressions, Ancestral Cang feels like his mental state might just snap.
Soon, after Cheng Da Yong left, Ancestral Cang slowly found his former regal demeanor as he sat at the interrogation desk.
The middle-aged bald man across the table, named Chen Zhang, was pinching his nose while looking over at him. His expression was casual, as if he wasn’t a prison newbie.
“Pathetic ant. You’re very lucky to be in front of this… this investigator.”
Ancestral Cang grinned menacingly: “From now on, I’ll make you experience the cruelty and suffering that an ant like you could never imagine, leading you into despair and total—”
“Wait a moment, kid.”
The man suddenly pinched his nose and raised a hand to stop Ancestral Cang.
He then looked around mysteriously, leaning in to whisper:
“Let me ask you. Are you having fun here?”
Ancestral Cang: “?”
“Not having fun? But why should I care? I’m asking you!”
“Well, not having fun is what I expected.” Chen Zhang sighed: “I’ve heard that the Demon Cultivators treat their staff well, and both cultivators and mortals want to come here for a steady paycheck.”
“But without random riches, people don’t get rich; without midnight grass, horses don’t get fat. Staring at a steady paycheck and earning that little dead-end salary is boring as hell.”
Ancestral Cang almost instinctively nodded in agreement.
“Kid, let me take a guess at your background. You must be from a prominent family, right? You got into the Demon Cultivators through family connections?”
Chen Zhang scrutinized Ancestral Cang for a while and suddenly said: “And looking at you, all gloomy, I bet you don’t really like this job your family arranged for you, do you?”
“Isn’t it super boring? Isn’t it not exciting at all?”
Ancestral Cang’s mouth twitched again.
Seeing his tacit agreement, Chen Zhang got even more excited: “I knew it! Your aura screams greatness! You’re destined for glory, a significant figure!”
“With someone like you in chaotic times, you could conquer a region and achieve great things!”
His words made Ancestral Cang feel flattered, and he even squinted his eyes a bit.
“But if you’re placed in peaceful times, you’ll probably rot away in mediocrity,” Chen Zhang shifted his tone, suddenly letting out a long sigh.
Ancestral Cang frowned slightly and murmured, “Are you underestimating me?”
“I’m cherishing talent, my friend.”
Chen Zhang looked all pained and sentimental: “A talent like you wasting away in peaceful times is just tragic.”
“Here’s the thing.”
He suddenly looked fierce, resolute: “Kid, since I’m already in prison…”
“There’s something I’d rather entrust to you than let it die with me.”
“I have a hunch… you’re going to become a leader of great matters. With your abilities, you’ll achieve big things. It’s better than lying around here being a little clerk, right?”
His barrage of words left Ancestral Cang deep in thought. After a moment, he slowly said, “What is it?”
Seeing him taking the bait, Chen Zhang immediately began to promote fervently: “It’s like this. I, along with some ambitious folks from my hometown, set up the ‘Peace and Joy’ Foundation, specifically created to help all the talented but struggling people in the world realize their dreams.”
“Take this letter from me to a tavern in Linzhou. The staff there will recognize my handwriting and treat you as their master.”
“Sure, I’m in jail now, but the Peace and Joy Foundation’s project cannot be halted. We’ve gathered many partners and amassed a huge fund of two million spirit stones!”
“It’s a pity that to withdraw this money, you need to pay a fee, and I got caught while trying to pay it.”
“If you take two thousand spirit stones as a fee and meet with my partners,” Chen Zhang said mysteriously, “the Peace and Joy Foundation and those two million spirit stones will be all yours.”
“Then, with this money, you can do whatever you want! No more hiding in this pathetic little place!”
After hearing this, Ancestral Cang remained silent for a long time before narrowing his eyes slightly:
“Are you really willing to hand over your life’s work just like that?”
“Well, it’s better than watching my efforts go to waste.”
Chen Zhang patted his chest: “Besides, I don’t just hand this out to anyone. It’s only for talented people like you that I can relax.”
If Chen Zhang’s offer sounded unfounded, Ancestral Cang would not have believed it.
But if it’s about thinking Ancestral Cang is promising, then he certainly believes it.
After all, he is a dignified god-king. It’s normal for little fish to sense his overpowering aura.
During this time, Ancestral Cang learned that in the Abyss Realm, as long as you have spirit stones, even if you don’t need to work, you could spend money on women to torture and bully.
Too bad his salary doesn’t allow for that.
If he had those two million…
After a brief hesitation, Ancestral Cang let out a cold snort: “I don’t think you dare to deceive me.”
“Write the letter. I’ll show you how this weak project of yours will thrive in my hands.”
“Well then, I look forward to seeing how you perform, kid.” Chen Zhang grinned and began to write.
