Chapter 171 - 107: Seeing Through
"Tina’s clairvoyant ability isn’t foolproof. It’s hard for her to detect anything beyond a certain distance or if special tools are involved."
The white-haired girl nodded slightly. "That’s enough, Tina."
Lisi glanced at the Clown lying on the ground and had Tina deactivate her clairvoyance.
’Good thing Tina dislikes Kali and didn’t let her use her clairvoyance as well. Otherwise, if she saw the Clown like this, the Secret Investigation Department’s greatest secret would be exposed.’
Wei’en noticed that Melbel had also disappeared. ’Did he leave in pursuit of that dark figure?’
At this thought, he glanced at Kali but said nothing.
"Captain, we can now confirm that someone is pulling the strings in this case. Should we continue to investigate?"
"I’m afraid we can’t continue the investigation," Lisi said, shaking her head. "This matter is already beyond our ability to handle."
As she spoke, she poured a bottle of developing solution in the room. Seeing the mysterious figure that had appeared in the room over the last two days, she gritted her teeth. "It really is him."
Kali bit her lip as she looked at the figure. Thinking of the factory workers infested by the Bone-Eating Worms, she felt a murderous intent toward someone for the first time in her life.
’I must... I absolutely must bring that heretic to justice!’
"Let’s go. We’re heading back."
With a cold expression, Lisi memorized the building’s location and led her team back to the textile factory.
Not long after they returned, the notified higher-ups of the city-state sent their representatives, though some factions were conspicuously absent.
From the Secret Investigation Department came Ministers Yegor and Albert, leading a few members of the Combat Department.
The Council sent a councilor, but he only brought a few clerks with him. After arriving and understanding the situation, he had one of the clerks return to the Council to report.
The Noble Committee, however, sent no one. They claimed the matter did not involve the Noble District and was therefore outside their jurisdiction.
Likewise, neither the Dawn Church nor the Storm Church made an appearance, citing reasons similar to those of the Noble Committee...
Although Kali was disappointed, she said nothing. After all, she was still just a Saintess Candidate, not the true Her Holiness the Saintess of the Dawn Church.
The city-state’s major newspapers, however, were like sharks that had scented blood. A crowd of reporters arrived and surrounded the sizable textile factory.
"Excuse me, Mr. Councilor, will what happened in this factory spread to the rest of the city-state?"
"No, it will not. The Council has a detailed response plan."
"Then why were these poor workers infested, and why wasn’t the city-state’s Array activated?"
"That requires further investigation. Once the facts are clear, the Council will issue a public announcement in coordination with the Secret Investigation Department and the City Guard."
"Excuse me..."
After these officials arrived, Wei’en and his team were sidelined. It wasn’t until three in the afternoon that they were told they could leave.
"That’s it?"
Wei’en looked over at Minister Yegor and the others, who were still in discussion, feeling somewhat baffled.
’What about the follow-up plan?’
’Aren’t we supposed to be tracking down the Bone-Eating Mother Worm?’
’And what about the mysterious figure who orchestrated all of this from the shadows?’
"The task of tracking has been handed over to the Combat Department," Lisi said, much calmer now. "Additionally, over the next two days, the Council will coordinate with the City Guard to sweep every district and eliminate any infested individuals."
Kali’s expression darkened. "A lot of people are going to die, aren’t they?"
"It’s unclear how many, but this whole affair is clearly far from ordinary."
"Hm?"
Wei’en looked at Lisi. He had the same suspicion, feeling that the person behind all this was plotting something major.
"The city’s Rune Array has a specialized detection function for Abyssal Creatures like the Bone-Eating Mother Worm, which are capable of causing mass casualties. But this time..."
Lisi took a deep breath. "What’s unusual this time is that person was somehow able to disable the Rune Array. That’s something the Abyssal Sect is absolutely incapable of, unless..."
Wei’en’s expression flickered. "Are you saying they have an inside man in the city-state?"
’If an outsider couldn’t do it, the problem must be internal. It’s simple logic.’
"Yes, but we can’t rule out the possibility that this person has a way to evade wide-area detection..."
Wei’en frowned. ’Maybe the Bone-Eating Mother Worm itself could evade detection, but there’s no way all the people infested by the Bone-Eating Worms could do the same.’
’The fact that this was only discovered now clearly indicates a problem with the Rune Array.’
"Are Minister Yegor and the others aware of this?"
Lisi nodded. "He already told me I’ll need to investigate the Rune Array. But..."
She paused, gesturing for the group to start walking before she continued.
Once they were out of the factory district and back in a residential area, Lisi said, rubbing her temples, "To investigate the City Rune Array, the Secret Investigation Department’s leadership has to submit an application to the Council and the Noble Committee."
"Minister Yegor isn’t sure the application will be approved, so he told us to go back and wait for further notice."
"Understood."
Wei’en understood. ’As long as there’s a lead to follow up on, that’s what matters.’
’The real fear is that the city’s higher-ups will do nothing and just let the Bone-Eating Mother Worm continue producing more Bone-Eating Worms.’
’Maybe I should take another trip to the Laos District later tonight?’