<h4>Chapter 1339: Chapter 1647: North County</h4>


    After parting with Nanrong Hao, Ling Chen drove home, packed some simple clothes, and then headed to the airport. Hearing Nanrong Wanqing’s tone on the phone, Ling Chen realized the matter must beplicated. Otherwise, with Nanrong Wanqing’s calm personality, she couldn’t possibly be so anxious.


    Traveling from East Sea City to North County covers thousands of kilometers, one on the easternmost side of Huaxia, the other on the western side, the distance is very far.


    After taking a flight for more than four hours, Ling Chen transferred to a car and spent over five hours on the road before finally arriving at the destination, North County.


    North County is a small county town in the west, not very economically developed, with only one hotel in the entire town. Due to its remote location, there are rarely any outsiders here.


    Upon arriving at North County, Ling Chen took out his phone and called Nanrong Wanqing. After more than ten minutes, an old model Mercedes slowly drove up and stopped beside Ling Chen.


    The car door opened, and Liang Zhao Hui got out from the driver’s seat, waving his hand at Ling Chen, "Ling, get in the car!"


    "Liang," Ling Chen greeted with a smile and got into the passenger seat.


    "Liang, where did you get this car?" Ling Chen examined this at least ten-year-old Mercedes, asking.


    "Oh! Don’t mention it, we searched the whole town and only managed to rent a somewhat decent car."


    Ling Chen nodded, then shifted the topic to business, "Is the situation serious this time?"


    "Ling, honestly, we don’t know what’s happening right now. But judging by the chairman’s demeanor, the situation should be tricky."


    "You mean you really have no idea what’s going on?"


    "Those guys are so arrogant they don’t take us seriously at all. No matter what we ask, they don’t say a word."


    "Them?" Ling Chen asked, "Who are ’them’ you’re talking about?"


    "Isn’t it that group of archaeologists? Honestly, if it wasn’t for the chairman stopping me, I’d have taught them a lesson already."


    As they spoke, the Mercedes drove out of North County into a pitch-ck wilderness. After about ten minutes of driving, the Mercedes finally stopped. Ling Chen opened the car door and looked far, seeing a dozen tents pitched about tens of meters away, the area brightly lit.


    "Ling, let’s go, the chairman and the others are there."


    Ling Chen responded, quickly following Liang Zhao Hui’s steps. Soon, the two arrived at the location of the tents. At this time, Nanrong Wanqing was already waiting outside. Besides Nanrong Wanqing, Zhong Wei and several security personnel from Falcon Private Security Company were present.


    "Chairman."


    "Chairman." Everyone greeted.


    Ling Chen responded to each, quickly stepping forward to Nanrong Wanqing, asking, "What’s going on? Where’s Su Lin?"


    "Lin is currently missing; I wanted to find her, but those people stop us from going, and I have no way."


    "Missing?" Ling Chen was taken aback, speaking in a deep voice, "Who stopped you? Take me there."


    "Follow me." Without dy, Nanrong Wanqing led Ling Chen and a group of security personnel to a tent not far away. Before entering, several youths standing outside the tent reached out to block them.


    "Miss Nanrong, we’ve already said we’ll find a way to handle it, hope you don’t interfere with our work," one youth said patiently.


    "By the time youe up with a solution, it’ll be toote. Move aside! I want to see your professor."


    "Sorry." The youth shook his head, "The professor instructed that no outsiders are allowed to disturb him."


    "Where’s the need for so much nonsense?" Ling Chen raised an eyebrow, directly squeezing past the youths outside the tent and striding in. Seeing this, the others quickly followed.


    Inside the tent, Ling Chen nced around, seeing an old man with graying hair seated inside, along with three or four middle-aged men in their forties and fifties. These people were surrounded at a table, seemingly researching something.


    Seeing Ling Chen rush in from outside, the gray-haired old man immediately stood up, pointing at Ling Chen and angrily shouting, "What are you doing? Don’t you know this is a research area, no outsiders allowed."


    Ling Chen strode forward, kicked the table to the ground, and red at the old man, "Old man, spare me the useless talk, I just want to ask you one thing, where’s Su Lin? I want to see her right away."


    The old man spoke, "I’ve told you, we’ll bring Xiao Su to you, but first, you mustn’t interfere with our work."


    "Professor Hao, I chose to believe you before, the result is it’s been two days, and there’s still not a trace of Lin. As her family, you should at least tell me what’s happened to her," Nanrong Wanqing interjected.


    "Sorry, Miss Nanrong, this involves our archaeology department’s secrets, not suitable to disclose to outsiders. Also, our archaeological operation this time is authorized by the country, if you interfere with our work, you’re opposing the country. By then, I’ll make sure you won’t be able to walk away from this."


    As he spoke, the old man pointed to the tent’s entrance, angrily shouting, "Now, all of you get out, don’t let me see you again."


    "Hmph!" Ling Chen sneered, "Using the national authority to oppress us? Old man, let me tell you, I’m not scared so easily." After speaking, Ling Chen turned to Nanrong Wanqing, asking, "What’s this old man called?"


    "Hao Dongnan, he’s a professor of archaeology at East Sea University."


    "Hao Dongnan." Ling Chen nodded, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number.


    "Hello! Old Tang, can you check for me if there’s a professor named Hao Dongnan in archaeology, yes, that’s right, Hao Dongnan... What? Okay, I see." After hanging up, Ling Chen nced at Hao Dongnan, smiling faintly and said, "I wondered what big shot you were, daring to impersonate national archaeological personnel."


    Hearing this, Hao Dongnan’s face couldn’t help but show panic, "You... what are you saying?"


    "Professor Hao, do you know how serious a crime impersonating on behalf of the state is? Once verified, you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison."


    "No, it’s not." Hao Dongnan hurriedly waved his hand, "I didn’t, you’re talking nonsense."


    "I had my friend check your profile, you’re just a professor of archaeology at East Sea University, the National Archaeological Team hasn’t approved your employment application. Professor Hao, you’d better think carefully, do you wish to tell me Lin’s whereabouts, or spend your life in prison."


    "I..." Hao Dongnan opened his mouth, momentarily dumbfounded, unsure of what to say.


    "What, haven’t thought it through yet? Fine!" Ling Chen picked up his phone, saying, "Then I’ll call the police."


    Seeing Ling Chen’s actions, Hao Dongnan hurriedly stopped him, "Don’t, I’ll... I’ll talk, I’ll say everything."