Mystery Paradise: Wishing Power Demon

"Breaking news, breaking news! A gigantic miraculous structure has appeared at Dongfang Qianlin Fort, capable of crossing the ocean within a single day!"

"The Paradise Sect lands on the Old Continent, is this a counterattack by the Heretical Cult, or the rise of a new god?"

"Exclusive interview by Walter News Agency! Up-close contact with the Divine Envoy of the Paradise Sect, bringing you first-hand decryption!"

Outside the newspaper office, the cries of newsboys echoed one after another, and the crowd coming to buy newspapers was endless. From the morning when the new issue of the newspaper was released, a crowd had already gathered outside the Walter News Agency. By midday, the stream of people did not decrease but increased, almost blocking the entrance.

"I want to buy five copies!"

"Give me two!"

"Sorry, sir, today’s weekly has sold out. Would you like to check out something else?"

"Haven’t the new batch been printed yet? That’s too slow!"

And such conversations were continuously heard inside the newspaper office.

"When will the third print of twenty thousand copies be ready? The sales points outside are almost depleted!" Qiu Ji knocked on his pipe impatiently, glaring at the head of the printing department.

"You’ve asked so many times already, the machines can only go so fast; they can’t exactly fly!" The latter wiped the sweat from his forehead, "But rest assured, I’m personally overseeing the factory to ensure that as soon as the newspapers are printed, they’ll be in the hands of the newsboys!"

After the printing manager left, Qiu Ji walked to the window and parted the blinds to look outside. People on the street were continuously drawn in, joining the onlookers’ throng. Perhaps these people didn’t usually read the news, but Qiu Ji would wager that once they understood the content of the papers, they would definitely become paying customers!

Such is the charm of exclusive breaking news!

"What’s the big event today?" someone suddenly asked behind him, "To have so many people buying newspapers... I haven’t seen such a scene in a long time."

Qiu Ji hurriedly took off his pipe and respectfully nodded to the speaker.

The person who entered the office was none other than the big boss of Walter News Agency, Carmen Watter.

Since Qiu Ji had been promoted to editor-in-chief, the boss had handed over basic operations of the newspaper to him and only came by occasionally.

"Mr. Watter, it’s big news! The kind that comes once in a century!" Qiu Ji quickly recounted his trip to Thistlefort and his miraculous experience witnessing the airborne transport of food, "Just think, the last transportation revolution was the development and popularization of steam trains, which directly created the Longjiu Family and related machinery companies. And this flying miraculous structure I saw can cross the ocean in just one day, traveling back and forth between the new and old continents. If it were to become popular, imagine the change it would bring to the world!"

Even the most unsophisticated folks could instantly understand how astonishing this was.

At the moment he got the prototype paper, he had anticipated the weekly’s popularity, so he made an exception and printed a hundred thousand copies initially. But he found he had underestimated the impact of this series of news; the second print of fifty thousand was rapidly sold out, and by the third batch, there were only twenty thousand copies. Not that he didn’t want to print more, but their own printing factory was nearly out of paper.

"Really? You went to Thistlefort?" The boss exclaimed in surprise, "I thought when you reported that you were going out for an interview, you were going to follow up on the village pollution incident we reported earlier."

"Ah... Did I not elaborate?" Qiu Ji pretended to be forgetful, "Sorry, perhaps I was in such a hurry I neglected to mention it."

After all, before setting out, he didn’t know what kind of news he might dig up from the east; if he left with much fanfare and returned empty-handed, it would be too embarrassing for an editor-in-chief.

"But these things you’re talking about... just listening to them is thrilling," Carmen Watter walked to the desk and flipped through the piled up mock-ups, "I’ve only been away from the newspaper office for a week, and it feels like the world has undergone earth-shattering changes, making one look forward to what miracles will happen next."

"I don’t know about miracles, but I can predict a thing or two about what will happen next." Qiu Ji could not help but smile, "The other newspaper owners will invite you to dinner tonight, trying to pry into the breaking news. If you can keep your lips sealed, then I can push Walter News Agency’s newspaper sales to the next level... and even making it the top seller in the near future isn’t impossible."

"Oh? There’s a follow-up?" Walter set down the newspaper, looking at him curiously.

"Yes, and I bet that even in a hundred years, this news will be remembered by everyone," Qiu Ji’s eyes shone, "Either it’s a colossal scam, or it’s history itself."

"Now that you mention it, I’m even more eager to hear the answer," Walter laughed, "But one thing I’m very curious about... you certainly didn’t go to Thistlefort on a whim; someone must have brought you the news of this big event. But why did this person not approach those bigger and more famous newspaper agencies, and instead, chose Walter? What’s the meaning behind that? Buddy, I’d really like to know who brought such a generous gift to our newspaper."

Qiu Ji’s smile stiffened on his face.

He knew the boss would definitely ask about this matter; it was just a matter of time. Yet, when the other party did bring it up, he realized that no matter how he responded, none of his answers were ideal.

In the past, Dane had taken off, abandoning the Walter heiress without so much as a goodbye, leaving old Walter bedridden for three days in rage. God knows what reaction Walter would have now upon hearing Dane’s name.

But if the boss insisted on knowing, could he really keep it a secret forever?

Just as Qiu Ji was gritting his teeth, preparing to give up Dane’s name, a series of exclamations suddenly erupted from outside the office.

"Nobody move! Stay where you are!"

"Where is the person in charge of the news agency?"

Qiu Ji was stunned. He exchanged a look with Walter and then stepped forward to try and open the door.

But someone was faster than him.

A man wearing a grey leather coat burst through the door, nearly hitting Qiu Ji. He was tall and burly, with a steep nose and eagle-like eyes. With just a cold sweep, he clearly distinguished who was the boss and who was the editor-in-chief.

"You’re Qiu Ji?"

His words carried a thick Western Borderlands accent.

"Indeed, may I ask who you are?" Qiu Ji also got heated, "This is a workplace, no entry without permission!"

"You may call me Li Tening. I am here by the order of Duke Longjiu to invite you for a visit," said the man expressionlessly.

Surprise was evident on both of their faces.

Did he just say, Duke Longjiu?

"This... I’m afraid I don’t have time..." Qiu Ji said with a forced smile.

Li Tening did not bother with further words but instead produced a photograph. The moment Qiu Ji saw it, his face turned pale! The photograph was none other than of his wife and five-year-old child!

"Do you have the time now?" the man asked again, coldly.

Qiu Ji clenched the cigarette between his teeth tightly, eyes glaring at the man in the leather coat. He detested this noble demeanor: the arrogance of looking down on others, the belief that the entire world should revolve around them—it made him sick to his stomach.

"Fine, I’ll go with you."

"Wise choice," Li Tening put away the photo and looked past Qiu Ji to Carmen. Walter, "Effective immediately, halt the printing and distribution of the current Walter Weekly. You and all staff are not to leave Shengxia, stay home and wait until our investigation is complete."

"Hold on, what law have we exactly broken!?" Walter exclaimed angrily, "Reporting news is our job, and it’s a legal livelihood in the Royal City. On what grounds do you order us to stop!?"

"No laws have been broken, but the Duke prefers you to pause," Li Tening’s tone remained as calm as still water, but this tranquility was chilling, "If you’re unwilling to comply, that’s fine, but at least give your employees a long vacation so they’re not implicated. They have families too, after all."

"..." Walter was dumbfounded for a moment.

"Enough, don’t be obstinate. Let’s talk when I’m back," Qiu Ji took a fierce drag on his cigarette, then spat... "Out of tobacco. Let me refill it before I leave, that alright with you?"

"Please do," the other party nodded, though his gaze never left the editor-in-chief.

With a sense of resignation, Qiu Ji could only take out his pipe from the drawer, fill his tobacco pipe, and after giving the boss a long look, he followed Li Tening out of the office.

Looking outward, Walter saw the editorial hall of the news agency had been taken under control. A dozen people were guarding the stairway entrances and the windows facing the street, seemingly leaving no chance for escape.

Without a doubt, these men in grey were professionals.