Upon hearing this, Rhys Maverick’s face immediately contorted with anger.
“What the hell is wrong with you? How is it my problem if someone stole from you? Why are you asking me to investigate? Can’t you go to the police yourself and let them handle it?”
Chris Shelby cracked a smile and said, “I heard you’re the king of thieves on the East Coast. You must have a way to find out who took my stuff. Just help me out, and I’ll make sure it’s worth your while!”
At this, Rhys Maverick was incensed.
“Kid, you’ve got the wrong guy,” he growled. “King of thieves? I don’t know anything about that. I’m a law-abiding citizen. If you don’t leave now, believe me, I’ll call the police on you.”
Chris Shelby rolled his eyes upon hearing this.
If he hadn’t known about Rhys Maverick’s notorious reputation, he might have actually believed he was a good citizen.
Chris Shelby didn’t want to waste more words. He walked over, grabbed Rhys by the neck, and lifted him off the ground.
Rhys Maverick’s face turned red as he yelled, “What are you doing? Put me down now!”
With an expressionless face, Chris Shelby replied curtly, “Cut the crap. Just help me find out who stole my things, and I’ll let you go. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what might happen to you.”
Dealing with someone like Rhys Maverick, you couldn’t reason with him.
Only force could resolve the situation.
“You…” Rhys Maverick was furious. When had he, the proclaimed King of Thieves of the East Coast, been treated like this?
He wanted to resist, but the cold look in Chris Shelby’s eyes made him shiver.
He realized that Chris Shelby was not someone to be trifled with.
Resigned, Rhys Maverick said, “Fine, I’ll help you investigate. Just put me down first.”
Chris Shelby let go and sat down on a nearby sofa, legs crossed.
Rhys Maverick glanced at Chris Shelby, his face filled with frustration.
He had been enjoying a game of hide and seek at home with his women, and this nuisance had ruined his fun. What rotten luck.
But Rhys Maverick knew he couldn’t leave until he had helped Chris Shelby.
“What exactly did you lose? You need to tell me so I can start looking,” Rhys Maverick said to Chris Shelby.
“A black iron tag,” Chris Shelby responded flatly.
“What!” Rhys Maverick was speechless.
He had thought Chris Shelby had lost something valuable. It was just a worthless piece of iron.
To disturb him, the great King of Thieves, over such a trifle was outrageous!
If it weren’t for the fact that he couldn’t overpower Chris Shelby, Rhys Maverick would have exploded in rage.
Rhys Maverick took out his phone and dialed a number.
“It’s me. Check who the hell on the East Coast stole a worthless black iron tag recently…”
Meanwhile, at the East Coast’s premier hospital.
“Daughter, we better not come here; staying is too expensive!” the woman said helplessly to the girl.
The woman didn’t want to come, but the girl insisted on it herself.
Smiling at the woman, the girl said, “Mom, don’t worry about the money. I’ll figure something out. Just stay here and get better. I will make sure you’re cured.”
Just then, a nurse walked in.
“Please come and pay the hospital bill!”
“Alright!”
The girl then went to the hospital’s billing desk.
“How much?”
“Three thousand dollars!”
“That much!” exclaimed the girl in surprise.
The hospital staff replied irritably, “What do you mean, ‘that much’? The fees are all listed here. If you think it’s too expensive, you don’t have to stay.”
The girl, stifling the anger in her heart, pulled out the $3, 000 she had saved from her pocket and handed it over.
“What should I do? This $3, 000 won’t last long!”
After leaving the hospital, the girl looked troubled.
She gritted her teeth and muttered to herself, “Where can I find so much money?”
Suddenly, she remembered the black iron plaque she had stolen not long ago.
She took the black iron plaque out of her pocket and murmured, “This plaque looks like an antique; selling it might bring in some money.”
With that thought, she took the black iron plaque to a nearby antique shop.
“Hello, how can I help you?” asked a shop assistant with a smile.
The girl hesitated for a moment, then took out the black iron plaque and asked, “Could you tell me how much this is worth?”
“Sure, we have an expert here who can take a look for you.”
Then, an old man with a white beard came over.
“I hear you have something for me to look at?” he asked with a hint of disdain, judging by the girl’s shabby clothes.
“Yes!”
The girl nodded and handed over the black iron plaque.
The old man’s eyes lit up as he examined it. With his years of experience, he recognized immediately that the plaque was an ancient artifact.
“Given its thousands of years of history, this must be a valuable item,” he thought.
He asked the girl, “How much do you want for this?”
She clenched her teeth and said, “I want $100, 000!”
She needed $100, 000 for her mother’s medical expenses.
The old man shook his head, “It’s not worth that much. I can offer you $10, 000 at most!”
The girl wasn’t foolish; she had noticed the spark in the old man’s eyes and guessed that the plaque was no ordinary item.
Now that the old man was offering only $10, 000, she refused to sell.
“Sorry, but I’m not selling it anymore!”
With those words, she snatched the plaque back from the old man’s hands and turned to run away.
“You…”
Watching her retreating figure, the old man wore a look of regret.
“This is an ancient relic! It could easily be worth over a million if sold.”
Meanwhile, Rhys Maverick told Chris Shelby, “I’ve found out that a girl named Amy stole your item.”
“Amy?”
“Amy isn’t really one of us; she just steals things occasionally. I have her details; you can go find her yourself.”
Rhys then handed Chris Shelby the detailed information about Amy.
“Thanks!”
With that, Chris Shelby turned and left.
Watching him go, Rhys Maverick breathed a sigh of relief.
The pressure Chris Shelby put on him was immense; he was close to breaking down.
According to the information Rhys provided, Chris Shelby learned that Amy’s mother was seriously ill, currently being treated at the East Coast First Hospital.
Without any hesitation, Chris Shelby immediately drove to the East Coast First Hospital.