Chapter 382

At this moment, he had no choice.

If you don't actively mobilize Anlong City's main forces to coordinate with the emergency squad's operations, you'll be suspected of colluding with the Black Feather Organization!

"What's the latest deadline?"

"Three hours… no, within two hours!"

"Alright, we'll wait for Mayor Hu's news!"

"The two captains should rest for now!"

"Got it!"

Hu Zhilong hurried away, leaving only Su Yang and the other three in the office.

Logistics staff brought tea, fruit, and snacks to Su Yang and the others.

After the door closed, Liu Mengyun began inspecting the conference room and found no eavesdropping devices or pet beasts.

Hao Ren whispered, "I think Mayor Hu is probably not involved—why are you still doing this?"

Su Yang sat on the sofa, picked a piece of fruit, and put it in his mouth: "Deputy Liu, you must have noticed something, right?"

When Liu Mengyun spoke during her conversation with Hu Zhilong, Su Yang knew immediately she had spotted the problem.

Because Liu Mengyun was usually cold and silent, always standing quietly behind Su Yang.

Today, she not only spoke—she deliberately tried to provoke Hu Zhilong; it was extremely unusual!

Su Yang knew that Liu Mengyun was likely warning him then.

Warning him to follow the original plan!

"Hu Zhilong has a problem—a big one!"

Hao Ren asked, "How so?"

Hao Ren dared not underestimate Liu Mengyun.

They had worked together before; he knew her abilities were likely even higher than his own.

"Hu Zhilong knows Yi Gaojie—he knows what documents Yi Gaojie stole. After seeing Yi Gaojie, he tried to steer our thoughts toward the idea that the documents were swapped, to clear his own suspicion!"

Liu Mengyun glanced at Hao Ren, who lowered his head.

"But there's a major flaw here!"

Hao Ren asked, "What flaw?"

"If the Black Feather Organization really swapped the documents, they'd know they'd been exposed… so why haven't they acted? Why haven't they evacuated Anlong City or targeted Hu Zhilong? If they already knew, why was their base discovered at all?"

Hao Ren asked, "Could the Black Feather Organization have deliberately sacrificed a pawn?"

"If that were true, why swap the documents at all?" Liu Mengyun deduced. "I suspect the documents were reported by Hu Zhilong himself. After Yi Gaojie went missing, Hu Zhilong became alert and prepared. If Yi Gaojie truly caused trouble, he'd blame the pet beast master who delivered the documents, then destroy the Black Feather base to prove his innocence—even if we suspect him, we have no proof."

Without proof, they couldn't touch Hu Zhilong.

The Southwest Military Department was always arrogant toward outsiders.

But when punishing internal personnel, they still required evidence!

Su Yang asked calmly, "Have you ever considered that Hu Zhilong is clean, the documents really were swapped by the Black Feather Organization, but they didn't anticipate Yi Gaojie would deliver the real missing-person records to Changwu City? The Black Feather Organization did plan to assassinate Hu Zhilong, but they're weak and haven't found an opportunity yet. The Black Feather base Hu Zhilong found is bait—they want him to think he's wiped them out, then wait for the right moment to kill him?"

"Hmm… that's possible!" Liu Mengyun hadn't considered this hypothesis, but she quickly reacted: "But still, why are you planning to act?"

"Hu Zhilong is definitely guilty—one hundred percent!"

Hao Ren and Liu Mengyun stared at Su Yang in shock.

"Major, what did you discover?"

"Yes!"

Liu Mengyun asked curiously, "Can you tell us?"

Hao Ren also watched Su Yang intently, eager to know what he'd found that made him so certain Hu Zhilong was guilty.

"No!" Su Yang saw their frustrated expressions and couldn't help smiling. "You just need to know Hu Zhilong has a big problem—follow the plan, that's all."

Whether Hu Zhilong was guilty or not, Su Yang knew the moment he saw him!

More accurately, he didn't see it.

He smelled it!

Hu Zhilong's body carried the scent of Blue Jade Butterfly cocoons!

Not just one cocoon's scent—but the mixed odor of over twenty cocoons.

Su Yang had smelled Blue Jade Butterfly cocoons before, in the Shalang Gang's underground breeding chamber.

Indirectly possessing the Mythic-level Divine Smell talent of the Earth Thunder Bear, any scent Su Yang had ever smelled was nearly impossible to forget.

How could a Platinum-level pet beast master carry the scent of over twenty Gold-level Blue Jade Butterfly cocoons?

Either he entered the Black Feather Organization's underground breeding base.

Or he came into contact with someone who had.

Either way, Hu Zhilong has a big problem!

"Hao Ren, send the emergency squad over—we're launching a joint operation!"

"Understood!"

Two hours later, Hu Zhilong finally appeared.

"Captain Su, all personnel are assembled—I've even pulled out many elite troops from the Reclamation Force: fifty-three Gold-level pet beast masters, one hundred thirty Silver-level pet beast masters!"

To clear his suspicion, Hu Zhilong worked tirelessly.

"Good, let's hold a mobilization meeting!"

"Alright," Hu Zhilong hesitated, then agreed. "But I think we should act quickly—such a large-scale troop movement might make the Black Feather Organization flee outright."

"I understand!"

Fifty-three Gold-level pet beast masters, one hundred thirty Silver-level pet beast masters, plus over seventy Gold-level pet beast masters from the emergency squad, all gathered on the parade ground inside Anlong City's military headquarters.