In the academy, inside an office.
A person leaned back in a chair, eyes half-closed, seemingly taking a nap.
But upon closer observation, one could see their eyelids twitching. Clearly, they were not resting, but engaging in an information exchange.
This person was using a Communication Scroll, holding a brain-to-brain conversation that no one outside could monitor.
The item user said, "The authorities know about the attack. The investigation team is coming to the academy soon!"
A reply came from the other end. Judging by the voice, it was Tianci, Han Qiu's subordinate.
Tianci: "Isn't this within expectations? Since the authorities know about the attack, they'll definitely investigate everyone with relevant knowledge."
"But the official notice said they've grasped major clues and ordered all faculty to assemble. They might have already obtained concrete evidence!"
Tianci: "Not necessarily. It's very likely a bluff. Besides, even if you are exposed, what right do you have to beg the Chairman for help? Don't forget, the intelligence you provided was wrong. You should be grateful the Chairman isn't holding you accountable."
"My information wasn't wrong. Shi Jingyi herself said she requested leave to go into secluded meditation at home, and this rule made it impossible for her to go out... How was I supposed to know she wasn't at home? She's not the type of person who likes to lie!"
Tianci: "Whether she lied to deceive you all, or left home for other reasons, the fact remains that Bruce's men came up empty. Our Chairman is displeased, and Bruce is very displeased as well."
"This... I can still make up for it. As long as I'm still at the academy, and Shi Jingyi is still at the academy, there will be opportunities in the future!"
Tianci: "If you can survive this investigation team, there might still be room for future cooperation. Otherwise, this is where it ends."
"I can survive this. You're right just now. The investigation team claiming they have evidence is very likely a bluff. I won't fall for it. Even if they use items, I have my defenses... Let's get in touch later."
The conversation ended.
The initiator slowly opened his eyes, clenching both hands into fists, resolute in his determination to pass the investigation.
Two hours later.
A five-person investigation team led by Silver Fox entered the academy.
They first teleported away from the Countermeasures Research Office base, then crossed the academy walls to enter the interior, avoiding passing through any gates.
The academy personnel, who had received advance notice, were now all gathered on the playground.
"I heard someone sold out Lecturer Jingyi?"
"Who would do something like that..."
"It feels like this has blown up big time."
The teachers whispered among themselves. The information they received was limited. They only knew they had been summoned because of the attack on Shi Jingyi.
But how exactly Shi Jingyi had been attacked, what her current condition was, and where she was, they had no idea at all.
Before long, Silver Fox and the other four arrived.
"Dear teachers, I'm so sorry to trouble you all. However, this matter is of great importance, so please do bear with us~"
Silver Fox said with a smile. As she spoke, her eyes swept around, confirming that all the teachers who had attended the meeting that day were present, with none absent.
If no one was absent, it either meant the traitor wasn't among these teachers.
Or it meant Zhao Ming's bluffing tactic had failed. The traitor was among these people but was confident they had left no evidence, so they didn't flee.
Zhao Ming was currently very calm, looking at each person one by one, observing their expressions.
"Major Silver Fox, the attack on our academy's key lecturer is indeed a matter of great importance, and it's necessary to investigate thoroughly." Dean Zhou Qinfeng stepped forward as the academy's representative and spoke up first.
"Yes, indeed." Another main lecturer, Ouyang Shanyue, said in a deep voice, looking quite united in righteous indignation.
"Lecturer Jingyi is the most outstanding lecturer in our academy, recognized by all. The attack on her absolutely cannot be forgiven. We must find out who's responsible!"
Silver Fox nodded: "The academy is an official institution, and every teacher falls within the official system. No matter who is attacked, we will investigate diligently."
At this point, another lecturer asked with a displeased tone: "Major Silver Fox, I heard that your investigation team believes one of us betrayed Lecturer Jingyi? How is that possible? We have no reason to do such a thing!"
"Exactly. If anyone were to do such a thing, it would definitely be that Duanmu Feng. He had his arm broken by Lecturer Jingyi and harbored resentment, so he deliberately sought revenge."
As soon as these words were spoken, the other teachers chimed in agreement.
Zhao Ming then spoke up to refute: "It's not Duanmu Feng. First of all, he didn't know Lecturer Jingyi had requested leave for secluded meditation. Secondly, even if he did know, he had no chance to leak it. After leaving the academy, he was brought to the base by the authorities and is still under isolated review."
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.
If Duanmu Feng had been under isolated review the entire time, he indeed had no opportunity to contact the outside world or pass along intelligence.
"Let's begin now."
Zhao Ming signaled to Silver Fox. Since the bluffing tactic hadn't worked, they would proceed with the backup plan.
Silver Fox nodded slightly. With a flip of her palm, a stack of white cards appeared in her hand.
She smiled brightly and gestured to the teachers: "Dear teachers, please take a look. These aren't ordinary cards. They're specialized lie-detection item cards, crafted by an Ascendant from the Countermeasures Research Office.
If the person holding one tells a lie, the white card will turn scorched yellow, so we can know who the traitor is."
Upon hearing this, the teachers' faces showed displeasure, and they murmured among themselves. Since the era of Doomsday Rules began, this kind of lie-detection item was generally used on criminals. Subjecting teachers like them to it indiscriminately was somewhat undignified.
But given the gravity of the matter, and since the students were all staying in the dormitories with no one watching, there was no loss of face.
So no one stepped forward to protest or refuse. They all silently accepted this testing arrangement.
However, among the teachers, one person wore a strange expression. It was Zheng Kexue, one of the main lecturers.
He was in charge of the main course "Research on Mind Power Items." Because he had backing from the authorities, he could access and consult the official item database.
Except for a few major confidential items/abilities that required the highest authority to query, he could view almost all information in the official database.
His greatest hobby was browsing through all kinds of information in the database, often spending an entire day at it. He could recite the effects of certain item categories he was interested in backward and forward, and would share them with his students during class with great familiarity.
Coincidentally, interrogation-type items were one of his areas of interest. But he had absolutely no impression of this "lie-detection card" item in Silver Fox's hand. He had never seen it in the database.
Moreover, he felt that this kind of item shouldn't be on the "major confidential" list, should it?
"To ensure the privacy of all teachers, the questioning will be conducted separately."
After Silver Fox finished speaking, she signaled Zhao Ming with her eyes. He also took out an item, a wooden board.
Placing it on the ground, the board automatically unfolded on three sides, quickly forming a semi-enclosed room. It was a survival-type item suitable for quickly building temporary wooden shelters in the wild.
"Please form a line, teachers, and enter the wooden compartment one by one for the lie-detection test."
Upon hearing this, the teachers obediently queued up and went in one after another.
Silver Fox and Zhao Ming were responsible for questioning inside the wooden compartment, while Yang Ran and Bai Xuewu stood outside on either side of the line, appearing to lounge around but actually monitoring and standing guard.
If any teacher in the line tried to run or make a move, the two of them would detect and intervene immediately.
Chen Na stood off to the side by herself. Her task was to activate her Perception Domain during the lie-detection tests, keeping everything around them under the team's control.
As the teachers walked into the compartment one by one for questioning, Chen Na stood there somewhat bored. Suddenly, her Perception Domain caught something. Her eyes turned toward the direction she sensed, and a hint of surprise appeared on her face.
"Xiao..."
"Shh."
Guan Tong's voice sounded softly in her ear.
"Xiao Na, don't let anyone know I'm here for now."
Chen Na lowered her gaze and saw a thin wisp of shadow resting on her shoulder. She knew it was Guan Tong's shadow.
Because her Perception Domain had a "Marking" ability, the moment she detected Guan Tong's Mind Power, she recognized the owner of that Mind Power.
"Mhm." She nodded softly. "I know. I won't say anything."
Guan Tong himself hadn't come. He was still in Sakura Prayer Country. But his shadow had entered the academy, monitoring every teacher who could potentially be the traitor.
Even though Zhang Minglu had contacted him and informed him that the investigation team had been dispatched, Guan Tong didn't place all his hopes on the authorities. He still conducted his own investigation.
And after the investigation team arrived, the other four couldn't detect the shadow's presence at all. Only Chen Na, with her Perception Domain activated, could immediately catch Guan Tong's Mind Power on the scene.
Inside the wooden compartment, the teachers who entered generally took a few minutes to come out, and after coming out, they weren't allowed to return to the original line to communicate with other teachers. They all queued separately on the other side.
The teachers still waiting in line didn't know what was being asked inside, but seeing that all those who entered came out safely, they were relieved yet increasingly tense.
If the people ahead hadn't been flagged, could the traitor be among those remaining?
As the line grew shorter, those who hadn't entered yet grew more and more suspicious, silently keeping more distance from each other, afraid that the traitor might suddenly lash out and hurt someone.
"Next."
After another teacher came out safely from the compartment, Silver Fox called out, and the next person in line entered the compartment.
Zhao Ming saw the newcomer and handed over a white card: "Dean Zhou, please."
It was Zhou Qinfeng who had entered this time. He took the card, and Silver Fox smiled apologetically from the side: "I'm so sorry to put someone as esteemed as you through this test."
Zhou Qinfeng shook his head: "Even as the dean, I can't be given special treatment. Whatever test the other teachers take, I take the same."
Zhao Ming asked: "Dean Zhou, may I ask your name?"
Zhou Qinfeng frowned at the question but still cooperated: "Zhou Qinfeng."
He subconsciously glanced at the card in his hand. It hadn't changed color.
Zhao Ming: "How old are you this year?"
Zhou Qinfeng: "I'm sixty-two years old."
The card remained white.
Zhao Ming asked a few more routine questions, and Zhou Qinfeng answered them all, growing somewhat impatient inside.
After two or three minutes, Zhao Ming finally asked the key question.
"Have you leaked information about Lecturer Shi Jingyi's secluded meditation to anyone outside? Please answer with 'yes' or 'no.'"
"No." Zhou Qinfeng answered without hesitation.
The white card in his hand instantly turned scorched yellow.
Zhou Qinfeng's expression changed dramatically.
Silver Fox and Zhao Ming exchanged a glance. The latter said coldly: "Dean Zhou, it seems the truth has come to light."
"No, impossible!" Zhou Qinfeng looked at the scorched yellow card in his hand and flung it to the ground. "This thing isn't accurate at all!"
"Whether it's accurate or not isn't for you to decide." Silver Fox was still smiling, but her smile had turned icy. "Please come back to the base with us to accept investigation."
In that instant, intense struggle flashed in Zhou Qinfeng's eyes.
Then he suddenly realized something and blurted out: "No! You're tricking me. This isn't a lie-detection item at all!"
At this, the smile vanished from Silver Fox's face. She pressed her earpiece and notified the three outside, including Bai Xuewu: "Target locked. It's Zhou Qinfeng."
Zhou Qinfeng's face turned ashen, completely baffled as to what was happening.
Zhao Ming then explained calmly: "Dean Zhou, you're right. These cards don't have lie-detection functions. They're low-grade items with only a color-changing function. The holder can make the card change color at will."
"Then, then why did you..." Zhou Qinfeng froze, figuring something out. "Could it be that every test subject..."
"That's right. We had every test subject's card turn yellow after they answered the key question, in order to observe each person's reaction." Zhao Ming said.
"Everyone's reaction was to deny the test result, which is completely normal..." Silver Fox took over the conversation. "But only you, Dean, asserted that the card wasn't a lie-detection item. Because you were prepared to deal with lie-detection items from the very beginning, weren't you?"