I Have Infinite Skill Points-Chapter 620: Baron Country Mission

Arriving in Baron, the official in charge of reception from Baron was at the airport holding a sign. Wang Lan’s group, possessing personal spatial storage, didn’t carry luggage like the others and stopped before Big Beard.

"Hello, I am Fire Phoenix."

"Fire Phoenix, hello. I’m Latin, the head of Baron’s police department! Thank you very much for your assistance. The car has been prepared outside the airport."

Wang Lan and his group boarded the car. The scale of the reception showed the importance Baron placed on them. Four luxury cars traveled in a convoy, with traffic police clearing the way, ensuring a smooth, unobstructed journey.

It was no joke. An S-Class independent squad from the International Security Council was on par with visiting foreign dignitaries; how could they not be served with utmost care?

After arranging for Wang Lan’s group at the hotel, Latin, the head of Baron’s police department, attended to them personally, overseeing all arrangements.

"Latin, don’t trouble yourself. Just tell us the details of the situation."

"Mr. Fire Phoenix, you’ve just arrived. Wouldn’t you like to rest first and start working tomorrow?"

"Work starts tomorrow, but we must understand the situation first. Otherwise, it would be bad to be completely in the dark."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Latin quickly said. "The intelligence we have is limited, but we can confirm the killers are all women. The first victim was an arms dealer from Baron.

He had a habit of celebrating with a woman after completing a deal. He was found in his hotel room with a snapped spine, and the woman he’d invited had vanished without a trace.

At that time, we thought it was a dispute between gangs and didn’t take it seriously. But the following month, in a high-end casino, four tycoons were killed by their female escorts. The bodyguards they brought were all shot dead instantly. The perpetrators escaped.

We scrutinized the surveillance footage, but they vanished shortly after leaving the casino. We searched all the hotels and motels but found no trace of the killers.

The third victim was one of our country’s legislators, shot dead in the crowd during a street speech. The scene was chaotic, and we still haven’t identified the suspect.

The fourth victim was the former head of the police department, my old boss. A killer infiltrated the police department silently, shot him dead, and calmly left. There were at least three police department officials in the office; the female assassin killed my predecessor right in front of them.

The latest incident was a month ago. A major drug lord was killed, along with over a hundred of his armed men. Ballistics analysis revealed they all died from handgun wounds, even though the drug lord’s men possessed numerous automatic rifles.

There were signs of a shootout at the scene. Among the footprints, only five sets belonged to women. This indicates that five women wielding handguns engaged in a gunfight with over a hundred heavily armed drug traffickers, and in the end, the traffickers were completely annihilated.

Baron’s national elections are imminent, but there’s widespread panic. Out of desperation, we sought assistance from the International Security Council, hoping to find these damned killers quickly."

Wang Lan frowned. Among the victims were arms dealers, business leaders, a politician, government officials, and drug traffickers. Are these assassins killing indiscriminately across both legal and illegal spheres?

"Is there any connection between the victims, whether personal or business-related?"

"None. The arms dealer was an unprincipled scoundrel, but he was very cunning and had a powerful legal department. We’ve never gathered enough evidence to convict him, so he’s always evaded justice.

The four murdered tycoons were legitimate businessmen, well-known entrepreneurs in the country. Although they occasionally gambled, their records were clean. The legislator was a candidate in the upcoming election, but he wasn’t very competitive. His participation wouldn’t have affected the election’s outcome, so his murder also baffles us. From every angle, the killings seem unrelated."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. The murdered arms dealer and the drug trafficking ring were sworn enemies; they were utterly incompatible. The arms dealer once kidnapped the son of one of the tycoons and killed the boy even after receiving the ransom.

Although everyone knew the arms dealer was responsible for the kidnapping, we couldn’t arrest or convict him due to a lack of evidence. So, these three parties—the arms dealer, the drug ring, and that tycoon’s family—should be incompatible and wouldn’t have any beneficial dealings."

"Send the files over later. We need to study them thoroughly."

"Okay, I’ll have my subordinates deliver the files shortly."

After Latin left, Wang Lan and the others didn’t take the matter too seriously. It was clearly an internal issue for Baron, unrelated to the safety of human civilization. And since it happened in Baron, Wang Lan was even less concerned.

Their primary purpose was vacation; the mission was secondary. However, a mission undertaken still had to be completed. From Latin’s explanation, it seemed the killers struck once a month. They decided to examine the data for clues once it arrived. If none were found, they would wait for the perpetrators to make their next move, which would hopefully leave some traces.

The files were delivered quickly, but by then Wang Lan and the others had already gone out for a stroll. Baron was a coastal country, and its ports were its largest source of income. San Bao, the capital of Baron, also boasted the country’s largest port, making its economy incredibly prosperous.

Skyscrapers towered and shopping malls were everywhere. Looking at San Bao alone, it felt like the Tokyo metropolis. Any luxury brand one could imagine was available in San Bao, as was every major international brand.

Due to Baron’s preferential policies, brand-name goods were much cheaper than in Jade Country, with most items at half price. How irresistible was this for Jiang Xinyu and Xie Sisi? To put it in one sentence: they were like mice who had fallen into a rice bin.

Jiang Xinyu loved shopping, and Xie Sisi, now that she had plenty of money, had quickly caught the shopping bug too. It was simply...

I, the dignified Titled Strongman Greedy Wolf, *and* Fire Phoenix, captain of an S-Class independent squad of the International Security Council, not only lack any semblance of dignity on my first mission but have even been reduced to carrying bags for my team members—a pack mule? Wang Lan lamented internally.

A wave of sadness swept through him. But then, turning to see Xu Xiangwen in an even more pitiable state, he felt much better.

After about six hours of shopping, the two women finally returned, laden with purchases. Wang Lan would swear on three fingers that ninety percent of the items they bought would either be used once and forgotten or left aside right after unboxing.

Why even buy them? he wondered.

"Mr. Fire Phoenix, the files have been delivered," the hotel attendant told Wang Lan upon their return.

"Mm, got it."

After dismissing the attendant, the four of them entered their suite. Xu Xiangwen collapsed onto the sofa, his eyes rolling back like a dead fish. Jiang Xinyu and Xie Sisi, still excited, hurried into their rooms, chattering incessantly about their purchases.

"Wow, I wanted that too! Why didn’t you tell me when you saw it?"

"How about we go again tomorrow? Your shoes are so pretty; I want to buy a pair too..."

"Are the diamonds on this strap real?"

"How could they be? They’re synthetic diamonds. I just thought they looked nice, so I bought them... Sisi, try this on. If it looks good on you, I’ll give it to you."

"Really?"

"It’s beautiful! No, we *have* to go out again tomorrow. We haven’t been to West City yet."

"I was thinking the same thing! Let’s get up early tomorrow."

"Lanzi, any thoughts?" Xu Xiangwen, utterly drained, lifted his head and nudged Wang Lan, who was in front of him, with his foot.

"I wish I were dead!"

Wang Lan managed to calm himself, stood up, and picked up the files from the table. The police records were straightforward, offering no speculation or judgment, just a detailed account of the cases. Video files were on a USB drive.

Gradually, the excited chatter in the room subsided. The two women emerged, having changed into some of their newly bought clothes. Wang Lan looked up, and his eyes lit up.

"Well, gentlemen, do we look good?"

"What kind of question is that? So uncouth! How could you two not look good in anything you wear?" Xu Xiangwen immediately flattered them, ever the smooth talker.

Wang Lan chimed in, "One is as beautiful as a celestial maiden, the other, a nation-toppling beauty! Girls should treat themselves well. We’ll go out again tomorrow, hit West City, and go on a real shopping spree!"

"Really? That’s wonderful!" Jiang Xinyu excitedly ran to Wang Lan and pecked him on the cheek.

"Ah! My eyes! This isn’t the Xinyu I know!" Xie Sisi exclaimed, finding it unbearable, then turned and fled.

"Sisi, you’re asking for it—" Jiang Xinyu shrieked, chasing after her.

Xu Xiangwen gave Wang Lan a thumbs-up. "Lanzi, nice bootlicking!"

"You don’t know a thing," Wang Lan retorted. "Why resist when you know you can’t win? That’s just asking for trouble! Since the outcome is inevitable, you might as well embrace it."

"So, you’re saying I’m not the only one emotionally exhausted by this," Xu Xiangwen muttered.

"Are you stupid?" Wang Lan said. "Tomorrow, just ask Baron for a few ’errand boys,’ and that’ll solve it, won’t it?"

Xu Xiangwen resumed his lifeless sprawl on the sofa, while Wang Lan continued flipping through the files. Suddenly, he paused, a section of the text catching his attention.

"Wang Lan, what are you thinking about?" Jiang Xinyu and Xie Sisi, having finished their playful tussle, came out of the room and asked, noticing his expression.

"I think I know why that legislator was killed," Wang Lan said. "His campaign platform was for Baron to bid farewell to drugs forever."

"Ah, so that’s it!"

Besides its port-derived income, Baron also had mineral and energy resource economies. In addition to these three economic pillars, the drug economy was also a significant and undeniable force.

Although the cultivation and trafficking of drugs were strictly prohibited by Baron’s laws, and the government had conducted several anti-drug campaigns, their impact was minimal.

Baron’s main wealth came from port, mineral, and energy operations, all controlled by major magnates. These magnates held over ninety-five percent of Baron’s wealth and contributed nearly all its fiscal revenue.

This led to Baron’s government paying insufficient attention to its common citizens, except during election season every five years. At other times, their welfare or survival was largely ignored.

Wherever a vacuum in governance appeared, other forces would fill it. Baron’s gangs controlled most of the country’s impoverished population. To the government, these people seemed like a burden; to the gangs, they were a source of wealth.

The gangs exploited the manpower of the poor to develop illegal enterprises like arms and drug trafficking. Furthermore, because the gangs were so powerful that the government was unable to eradicate them, a ludicrous situation had arisen.

The Baron government managed the upper echelons of society, while Baron’s gangs controlled the lower strata. The upper and lower classes were severely disconnected.