At 5:30 in the morning, Henan Province Bus Station.
Lin Yu handed a stack of 25 cash bills to an unlicensed taxi driver with a pale complexion, speaking weakly.
"Count it. There's a bank nearby where you can verify it."
As Lin Yu spoke, the middle-aged unlicensed taxi driver nodded.
Without refusing, he cheerfully walked to the ATM and deposited all 25 red bills.
Naturally, there were no issues.
The driver, now assured of his payment, waved excitedly.
"Thanks, young man! Whatever brings you to Henan, I wish you all the best!"
Lin Yu watched the taillights disappear, waving with mixed emotions.
He had initially thought the driver was exaggerating when he claimed to have been a test driver for rally racing teams—turns out that might have been an understatement.
The speed was truly impressive. Had the driver said he'd competed professionally, Lin Yu would have believed him.
Though the ride was rather bumpy.
The Nissan sedan had practically been smoking on the highway.
Lin Yu had hoped to catch some sleep during the ride but ended up being jostled awake every second.
"But this works out better—at least I'll have more time now."
With that thought, Lin Yu found a breakfast spot near the train station.
After polishing off an authentic bowl of spicy soup with fried dough twists, he wiped his mouth and wandered around the station area.
Just like Jiangcheng Bus Station, Zheng City Bus Station in Henan had no shortage of unlicensed taxi drivers.
However, these drivers had more local flair—their vehicles weren't limited to sedans.
Motorcycle taxis and three-wheeled rickshaws were equally common.
As Lin Yu strolled along the roadside after breakfast, an early-rising unlicensed driver approached.
"Where to, young man?"
This time, Lin Yu decided to leverage another characteristic of these drivers.
"I'm looking for someone. There's this famous private detective in Zheng City—exceptionally good at catching cheaters, and unusually handsome... Where can I find him?"
Switching to a Henan accent, Lin Yu asked warmly.
The question left several drivers scratching their heads.
Coupled with Lin Yu's local accent, which signaled he wasn't an out-of-towner, many drivers lost interest and walked away.
Undeterred, Lin Yu continued searching for clues about Furbollo.
Finding someone through such needle-in-a-haystack methods wasn't easy, but...
Just as Lin Yu expected, while Furbollo wasn't a celebrity, he wasn't entirely unknown either!
Soon, a helpful tattooed man carrying a leather bag stepped off a bus and overheard Lin Yu's conversation with the drivers.
"Hey there, local buddy. This 'detective' you're asking about—does he like wearing all sorts of fancy hats and look kinda foreign?"
Hearing this, Lin Yu turned around, his face lighting up.
The man chuckled. "We've crossed paths. He's got skills—not just catching cheaters but also helping debt collectors track down deadbeats. And his rates are fair."
Lin Yu was surprised. "Were you his client? Hired him before?"
"Nah, I was the deadbeat he tracked down."
The tattooed man answered honestly.
Lin Yu was momentarily speechless.
The man laughed heartily. "But it's all good now. Later, he helped me find the mole in my company... I'm back on my feet now."
"So what do you need him for? You're too young to be married, and don't seem like someone chasing debts... Why look for him?"
Lin Yu hesitated briefly before putting on a sincere expression. "To be honest, I need his help finding someone."
"No money involved, but there's some history between us."
Hearing this, the man grew serious.
"In that case, he's your guy—though it's been two years since I last sought his help. No idea if he's still around."
"He doesn't have a fixed office, but try the old eastern district of Zheng City, especially near primary schools. Might find his flyers on telephone poles."
"Look for the ones that say nonsense like 'World's Greatest Detective'—that's him."
"Oh, and if his phone's not working, check cheap internet cafes or snack bars."
"He might be holed up in some corner."
With that, the tattooed man waved goodbye.
"That's about all I know... Take care, brother!"
"Got it, brother. Thanks a bunch. See you around."
Following the man's directions, Lin Yu hailed a cab to Zheng City's eastern old district.
After getting off near Zhengcheng Third Primary School, he stepped onto the worn-out streets with their wobbly pavement tiles, scanning the walls and poles for old flyers.
Most advertised locksmiths, miracle cures, or fake certificates, with occasional religious pamphlets.
But nothing about private detectives.
Just as Lin Yu wondered if Furbollo had moved away, he spotted an A4 printout on a bus stop sign.
"Henan's Most Badass Detective! King of Zheng City! Puzzle-Solving Emperor! Your Trusted Choice!"
The unhinged, pathologically arrogant tone made Lin Yu sigh.
After a moment's thought, he dialed the number using a secondhand phone he'd purchased.
The call connected instantly, but the voice on the other end took him aback.
"Hello! Yufu Supermarket!"
The booming voice unmistakably belonged to a middle-aged woman.
Lin Yu spoke uncertainly. "Uh, hello... I'm looking for a private detective..."
"Oh! Oh! You want Xiao Luo—is it urgent?"
"Somewhat, yes. It's a big case."
Hearing this, the woman's tone warmed instantly.
"Alright, hold on—I'll call you back."
A loud *click* followed as the call ended abruptly.
Ten confusing minutes passed before Lin Yu's phone rang again—the same woman calling back.
"Hello, young man! You're looking for Xiao Luo, right?"
"I'm handing you over to him now—Fu Luo, pick up the phone!"
A groggy voice mumbled in the background: "Wha... who calls this early?"
"Big clients can also... OW!"
"Alright, Ma, I got it! I'll take the call!"