aircannonsinc Chapter 53 No one gets rich without unexpected wealth
Chapter 53 No one gets rich without unexpected wealth
Lin Zhou's fingertips still retained the sensation of striking Boss Li's temple; the hardness of the bones beneath that thin skin contrasted strangely with the limpness of his body. Boss Li's eyes were wide open, his pupils unfocused, and dark red blood froth spilled from the corner of his mouth, trickling down his jawline and leaving a small, dark stain on his expensive silk pajamas—death from intracranial hemorrhage is always so swift, leaving no chance to struggle.
Since transmigrating, Lin Zhou's body has been strengthened to twice the strength of an ordinary person. Although his mentality has changed, this is indeed the first time he has killed someone. Killing Boss Li is no longer a burden for him. He has long disapproved of Boss Li's actions in both his past and present lives.
Lin Zhou suppressed his nausea. Although he was panicking, his actions didn't falter. He quickly squatted down, pulled an alcohol-soaked cloth from his pocket, and meticulously wiped everything he had just touched: Boss Li's collar, the edge of the desk, the doorknob—anywhere that might have left fingerprints was wiped repeatedly to ensure no trace was left. After doing all this, he took out a pair of thin latex gloves from his storage space, skillfully put them on, and the gloves fit his skin perfectly, not hindering any subtle movements.
The study was luxuriously furnished. A large, heavy, dark mahogany desk, its surface polished to a mirror, held exquisite writing implements, clearly indicating that Boss Li was quite fond of refined pursuits. The bookshelves on either side reached the ceiling, densely packed with books, mostly hardcover classics, interspersed with some seemingly valuable thread-bound ancient texts. Lin Zhou's gaze didn't linger on these superficial decorations; he knew very well that the real treasures would never be displayed so easily.
He strolled slowly along the bookshelves, his fingers occasionally tapping lightly on the wooden panels, listening to the subtle differences in the sound. When he reached the bookshelf in the west corner, the tapping suddenly became hollow, quite different from the dull sound elsewhere. A knowing glint flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes. He gripped the edge of the bookshelf with both hands, applied a little force, and with a slight creak, the entire bookshelf slowly moved half a foot to the side, revealing a hidden compartment behind it.
The hidden compartment was small, about the size of a shoebox, lined with soft black velvet. A small, delicate rosewood box lay quietly on top. Lin Zhou picked up the box; it felt slightly heavy. The surface was carved with intricate cloud patterns, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. He didn't rush to open it, but first checked the inside of the compartment to make sure there were no other mechanisms or hidden objects before taking the box out and gently placing it on the desk.
The moment the box was opened, a faint golden light flashed. Inside, lined with red velvet, were neatly arranged a bunch of brass keys and a black card. There were three keys in total, with an antique design, seemingly the keys to some kind of old-fashioned safe; the black card was made of hard material, with no patterns or words on the surface, only a long string of numbers and letters laser-engraved on the back, clearly the bank safe's number and combination. Lin Zhou picked up the card and examined it carefully. After confirming the information was complete, he carefully put the keys and card away and placed them in the inner layer of his storage space, where he kept his most precious items.
After dealing with the hidden compartment, Lin Zhou's gaze fell on the desk drawers. He opened each drawer in turn. The first two drawers contained some documents and ledgers. Lin Zhou glanced through them; they were all minor business contracts and income/expense records, nothing of particular value, so he casually tossed them aside. When he opened the bottom drawer, a black pistol appeared before him, with four boxes of ammunition neatly stacked beside it.
The pistol appeared to be in excellent condition, its jet-black casing gleaming with a cold sheen. Its slender muzzle suggested considerable firepower. Lin Zhou picked it up, weighed it in his hand, and found it to be a heavy, solid weapon—a high-performance military pistol. He checked the magazine; it was fully loaded, and the safety was engaged. Lin Zhou skillfully pulled back the bolt, confirming the pistol was in good working order, before tucked it into his belt and carefully stored away all four boxes of ammunition. These could prove invaluable in a critical moment.
Beside the desk, a safe about half a person's height caught Lin Zhou's attention. The safe was made entirely of alloy steel with a smooth surface. He didn't waste time trying to crack the password; for him, with his own storage space, the easiest way was to simply take the entire safe away.
Lin Zhou walked to the safe, placed his hands on the cold door, and with a thought, the massive safe vanished instantly, disappearing into his spatial storage. He could figure out how to open it later when he had more time.
Having dealt with the safe, Lin Zhou's gaze swept over the other items in the study. On the desk sat a blue-and-white porcelain vase, its surface painted with an elegant landscape scene, the brushstrokes delicate, the glaze even—clearly an ancient treasure. On the antique shelf in the corner were several jade and agate ornaments, their colors warm and their textures translucent, each piece quite valuable. Even the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall were by renowned artists, their brushstrokes vigorous and their artistic conception profound.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Zhou swiftly and precisely packed the antique paintings, calligraphy, jade artifacts, and agate pieces into a large package, which was then stored in his spatial storage. His movements were flawless; not a single item was knocked over, nor was any decoration damaged, as if these things had never belonged there in the first place. Soon, the study was completely emptied of its valuables, leaving only the seemingly heavy but ultimately worthless books and documents.
After knocking everyone in the villa unconscious, he also searched all the rooms. He quietly entered the living room, dining room, and kitchen on the first floor, and the bedrooms, guest rooms, and dressing room on the second floor. To avoid alerting them, he only knocked everyone out and didn't thoroughly search for valuables, but he did take a general look at the layout and furnishings of each room.
Although the bedrooms were filled with high-end furniture and luxury items, in Lin Zhou's eyes, they were far less valuable than the treasures in the study and the basement he was about to visit. The clothes and jewelry were of limited value, and for efficiency-minded Lin Zhou, there was no need to waste time organizing them. So, after clearing out the study, he didn't go to the other rooms but headed straight for the villa's basement.
The entrance to the basement was hidden beneath the stairs in the first-floor living room. A separate storage room had been partitioned off there. Lin Zhou forcefully opened the door, revealing a steep staircase winding downwards. Below, it was pitch black, and a damp smell could be faintly detected.
Lin Zhou took out a flashlight from his spatial storage, turned it on, and a bright beam illuminated the path ahead. He slowly descended the stairs; the handrail was cold and hard, and with each step, he could hear the soft echoes of his footsteps in the empty basement. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, the entire basement was revealed before him.
The place was much larger than Lin Zhou had imagined, spanning several hundred square meters. The walls and floors had undergone special treatment, making them appear exceptionally sturdy. The entire basement was divided into several areas, each with neatly arranged shelves filled with a dazzling array of various items.
Near the entrance, the shelves were mostly filled with antique vases of various sizes and shapes. Some were simple and elegant, while others were ornate and elaborate. The patterns on the vases were lifelike and the colors were vibrant. They were clearly treasures that had been carefully collected. He did not linger for long. He packed the vases one by one into his bag and then put them into his storage space.
Further inside, there was a row of wooden bookshelves, neatly displaying a large number of ancient books and paintings. Most of these ancient books were thread-bound, the paper yellowed, but they were very well preserved, the characters clearly legible. Many were unique or rare editions, their value immeasurable. Lin Zhou even saw a landscape painting by Dong Qichang, its brushwork exquisite and its artistic conception profound, truly a national treasure. He carefully arranged these ancient books and paintings, packing them into his bag and taking them into his storage space, fearing even the slightest damage.
Deep in the basement, several glass display cases held various jade, agate, gold, and silver jewelry. The jade pieces were warm and lustrous, with pure colors, including emerald green jadeite, pure white mutton fat jade, and translucent Hetian jade. Each piece was exquisitely carved and uniquely shaped. The agates were colorful, with fiery reds, sky-blues, and dreamlike purples, crystal clear and breathtakingly beautiful. The gold and silver jewelry was even more dazzling. Gold bars and silver ingots were piled together, radiating a heavy metallic luster, while diamonds, rubies, and sapphires were set in various ornaments, sparkling with brilliant light.
Lin Zhou was somewhat dazzled by the sight; such wealth would have driven anyone mad, yet his mind remained remarkably calm. He simply and methodically collected the treasures one by one, categorizing the jewelry and placing it into special storage boxes. Only after collecting the last item, leaving the entire basement shelf empty, did Lin Zhou nod in satisfaction.
After leaving the basement, Lin Zhou suddenly remembered something and turned to walk towards the villa's storage room. The storage room was located in a corner on the first floor, filled with all sorts of odds and ends, covered in dust. He rummaged through it for a while and finally found an unopened can of gasoline, heavy enough to hold about twenty liters.
Lin Zhou carried the gasoline can back to the study on the second floor. The study was now somewhat messy from his rummaging, with documents and books scattered on the floor. He opened the gasoline can, and a pungent smell of gasoline instantly filled the air. He carried the can slowly around the study, evenly sprinkling gasoline on the carpet, curtains, books, and furniture, especially on Boss Li, who was covered in a large amount of gasoline.
Having done all this, Lin Zhou casually tossed the empty gasoline can on the ground and pulled a lighter from his pocket. Without a second thought, he lit the lighter and tossed it lightly, the flame landing on the gasoline-splattered carpet. With a "boom," a raging fire instantly erupted, spreading rapidly and quickly engulfing the entire study. Now there shouldn't be many traces of his presence left!
Flames shot into the sky, thick smoke billowed, and scorching air assaulted the senses. Lin Zhou didn't linger; he turned and ran towards the villa's gate. His movements were as swift as a leopard; he crossed the living room, pushed open the door, and his figure quickly disappeared into the night.