Chapter 241 The Traitor Continued

The matter of the truth will have to wait until I have a chance to be alone with Asahi later. Right now, I must deal with the interrogation of the senior researcher.

I composed myself slightly and then posed a question to the senior researcher before me. Out of courtesy, I first inquired about the more business-oriented question, one that Fufeng and Dongche would likely be more concerned with: the origin of the Impermanent Sword Armor—where did the Humanitarian Division obtain such high-level weaponry?

This time, there was no mental restriction to hinder them. Under the influence of the Black Rope Heart-Locking Ring, the senior researcher could only reveal the truth he knew.

What he said made Dongche turn pale.

“This is an armed force developed by the Humanitarian Affairs Department itself,” he replied uncontrollably.

"—This is impossible!"

Dongche shouted reflexively, but his eyes betrayed his words; he clearly believed it. The Humanitarian Division could develop the Impermanence Sword Armor themselves, which meant that someone in the Luoshan leadership had indeed leaked the complete technology of the Impermanence Sword to the Humanitarian Division. He was also the first among us to suspect a traitor within the Luoshan leadership.

However, Luoshan and the Humanitarian Affairs Bureau are fundamentally incompatible organizations. Unless it is a special case like Chenlong, it is hard to imagine that the Luoshan leadership would have any motivation to provide support to the Humanitarian Affairs Bureau.

"The Impermanent Sword Armor is one of our research directions to enable mortals to manipulate supernatural powers. That is, without modifying the mortals themselves, we can indirectly manipulate magic through external tools such as weapons and armor," the senior researcher said resignedly. "In this process, we used the Impermanent Sword and its related manufacturing technology, which were secretly provided by Luo Shan, and made significant modifications to the latter."

"However, it would take at least fifty Impermanence Swords to forge a complete set of Impermanence Armor. Because the consumption was too great and the forging success rate was low, it was considered a serious failure that would not be profitable. After forging a set, we temporarily sealed it in the warehouse."

Dongche took a step back, gritting his teeth as he said, "It's actually true..."

"Isn't there a strong contractual constraint on the Luoshan leadership regarding the Wuchang Sword technology, prohibiting the disclosure of information? How did the traitor circumvent this constraint?" I continued to question the senior researcher. "Also, who exactly is the traitor?"

The senior researcher honestly said, "These things should only be known to Silver Mask... Ying Lingyun, and a few other people at the very top of the Humanitarian Department. I have no authority to know."

Dongche calmed down and said, "It's basically impossible to circumvent those restrictions with clever tricks, but it's a different story if the traitor is at the Great Completion level or above. Demon hunters at the Great Completion level or above are super strong individuals who have transcended the constraints of demon hunter theory. They can easily trample on any contract or principle with their extremely powerful magic."

"So, the traitor is at the Great Accomplishment level, or even the Great Impermanence level?" I asked.

"The Great Impermanence... traitor..."

Dongche's face went blank for a moment, as if he had never associated the two words together until the moment I said them.

It might not be that he's slow to react, but rather that our perceptions differ. Unlike me, who has only been formally exposed to the supernatural world for less than a month, Dongche probably grew up in that world from a young age, cultivating a worldview far removed from common sense. Luoshan belongs to the organization of the Great Impermanence—under this preconceived notion, accusing the Great Impermanence of being traitors to Luoshan is perhaps like accusing the emperor of treason in an ancient dynasty.

"...In any case, if the traitor is among those at the Great Completion level or above, then the list of suspects can be narrowed down to a very small range. Although we don't know the traitor's motives, it's hard to imagine that someone who makes deals with the Humanitarian Affairs Department would be a transcendentalist; the traitor is more likely to be from our social order."

Dongche shook his head vigorously to dispel his confusion, then calmly analyzed, "Also, not all demon hunters above the Grand Completion level are interested in memorizing the principles of the Impermanence Sword technique. The traitor is likely a Grand Completion level expert in a related field, such as the legendary array genius Yuchi. There are also Grand Completion level experts in management positions... This way, the list of suspects can be narrowed down to five or fewer..."

At this point, his expression suddenly changed, and he turned to look at Fu Feng, who had been silent all along.

Judging from the direction of his reasoning, Fu Feng seems to be on that very short list of suspects as well.

"What... are you doubting me? Doubting that I'm the traitor?" Fu Feng asked calmly.

Faced with the pressure of the Great Completion level, Dongche showed great nervousness. After hesitating for two seconds, he actually dared to say, "...It's not entirely impossible."

"You really dare to say that. Assuming I really am a traitor, do you think you can escape from here?" Fu Feng said in a strange tone. "Or do you think Zhuang Cheng will help you?"

“I hadn’t thought that way,” Dongche said.

I certainly didn't intend to side with Dongche. Although I was pleased by Dongche's expression of admiration, I'm not so easily swayed by a few flattering words from someone whose stance I don't know. Besides, even if Fufeng really was colluding with the Humanity Department, frankly, I wouldn't have any objections.

Perhaps saying this now might make others think, "What nonsense are you spouting?" Actually, I have no hostile intentions towards the Humanitarian Affairs Bureau. The reason I destroyed their old stronghold last time was mainly because they hindered my rescue of Chang'an. The only real enemy from beginning to end has been Ying Lingyun.

Since Dongche possesses that ability to perceive changes in others' mental states, perhaps he even sensed my detached thoughts. However, on the other hand, his straightforward attitude even when facing a Grandmaster-level expert truly impressed me. Thinking about it, I genuinely felt a desire to help him.

When this thought crossed my mind, Dongche seemed to sense it and wanted to turn around to look at me, but he held back. Could he really sense my thoughts?

"Let me make this clear beforehand, you've misunderstood. If I were truly a traitor secretly supporting the Humanitarian Affairs Bureau, how could I possibly allow you to participate in the interrogation of this person?" Fu Feng asked.

“…It’s probably because you didn’t expect anyone here to know the password to the mental restriction,” Dongche said cautiously. “Although you didn’t seem to recognize the armor as the Impermanence Sword Armor at first, even a traitor who secretly supports the Humanitarian Division wouldn’t necessarily know everything about the Humanitarian Division’s research projects, let alone a failed one. So it’s normal that you didn’t recognize it.”

"The existence of a traitor secretly supporting the Humanitarian Department in Luoshan has been a long-standing rumor, but no one has ever suspected anyone above the Great Completion level. Assuming you are the traitor, even if this researcher says something superfluous, you still have ample room for defense."

"But this time it's completely different. Not only have crucial evidence emerged, but also crucial testimony... Who could have predicted this?"

As he spoke, he seemed unable to resist turning his head to glance at Asao again. After all, Asao's performance just now was truly outstanding, and I was proud of her.

Upon hearing this, Fu Feng smiled with relief.

“So that’s how it is. It seems that the Diviner Master used his divination skills to arrange for you to come here in order to frame our governance system,” he said. “However, your reasoning is still too naive. There is one thing you may have forgotten: Ying Lingyun of the Humanity Department has an ability called ‘Possibility Doppelganger,’ and the technical principle of the Impermanence Sword may also be something he obtained by summoning other possible versions of himself.”

However, even if Ying Lingyun could actually summon that kind of "possible clone," it would still have to be based on the possibility that "there is a traitor within Luoshan," right? That would just increase the room for further wrangling. Dongche seemed to realize this as well, and could only reluctantly shut his mouth, seemingly relieved to have avoided a direct confrontation.

Fu Feng gave Dong Che a deep look. Dong Che's crisis might not be over yet. If Fu Feng really was a traitor, given Dong Che's current situation of being under house arrest in the base, the real life-or-death situation would only come later.

Admittedly, Dongche has the Divination Master behind him, but Fufeng also has Fazheng behind him. If the latter is indeed colluding with the Humanity Department, Fazheng's will may well be involved. Being a disciple of Dawuchang is not a foolproof talisman for survival.

“I’m sorry you saw such an unseemly side of me,” Fu Feng said to me. “Please continue the interrogation.”

I nodded, then asked the senior researcher the next question: "Do you know Zhu Chang'an and Yin Yue?"

“…I know.” He nodded. “Zhu Chang’an, Ying Lingyun’s biological son, and the resurrection vessel for the great demon Yin Yue.”

Upon hearing this reply, not only Fufeng but also Dongche turned their attention to it. Regardless of their respective stances, they should at least be aligned on the issue of the powerful demon Yinyue. It was a super demon that threatened humanity and had to be dealt with swiftly.

I continued, "This so-called 'resurrection container'... refers to 'the necessary condition for Ying Lingyun to resurrect Yin Yue,' or 'a foreshadowing that Yin Yue set up before her death to resurrect herself'?"

As soon as I asked the question, I realized that I might have made a mistake in how I phrased it. Even if the answer was indeed the latter, and Yin Yue had already made all the preparations to revive herself, Ying Lingyun shouldn't have known about it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to go to such lengths to find a way to revive Yin Yue.

Since Ying Lingyun didn't know, there was even less reason for the senior researcher in front of him to know.

However, the senior researcher answered my question without hesitation: "Both."

(End of this chapter)