Chapter 176: 175 Confirming Identity and Launching the Investigation

"I know it still sounds unbelievable, but I do have a way to prove it."

Unaware that Li Ang had already verified the truth of her words through another means, Princess Wang Nuwei, who had spent the entire night devising a plan to prove her identity to the Clearance Bureau, lifted her old shawl and placed it on the table, her expression serious as she introduced it:

"The wool used in this shawl comes from Merino County, specifically from the Merino Baiyan sheep unique to that region. This wool is exceptionally fine, resists soiling, and has a pure hue ideal for dyeing, making it highly prized by nobility."

But because Merino Baiyan sheep grow slowly and inhabit steep rocky cliffs, making wool collection extremely difficult, their wool production is exceedingly low, rendering it extraordinarily expensive—even among nobles, few can afford it, and when used for clothing, it is most often blended with other fibers."

"This shawl was a gift from my father on my twelfth birthday, made entirely of pure Merino Baiyan wool. Its texture is completely different from blended wool fabrics, the embroidery depicts the Royal Red-Collar Robin, and the tassels were woven by my personal lady-in-waiting—nowhere else in the capital will you find another shawl like this."

"But this is still just a wool shawl. Isn't counterfeiting it not particularly difficult? And we don't understand wool—we can't verify whether what you're saying is true or false."

After patiently listening to Princess Wang Nuwei's account of the shawl's origins, Jerry frowned and replied:

"Do you know how incredibly difficult it is to forcibly erase the existence of a princess from everyone's memory? Such an ability borders on the divine."

Forget the entire world—even if we limit the scope to just the kingdom, or even further to the capital alone, finding such an anomaly… uh… thing would be no ordinary challenge."

"So rather than believe a princess has been forgotten, I'd rather accept this as the rambling of a madman. After all, it's far more plausible that someone forged a shawl than that an entire princess was erased from collective memory."

"Your skepticism is entirely reasonable, but please don't rush—I haven't finished speaking."

Determined to reclaim everything she had lost, Princess Veronika had prepared thoroughly. Undeterred by Jerry's doubt, she gently pushed the shawl toward Li Ang and said calmly:

"Mr. Li Ang… you own a magical broom that can fly through the sky, correct?"

Hangover from a night of drinking, the news of his early marriage, and the dissonance between memory and reality had nearly overloaded Li Ang's mind—but trusting the badge system, he gave a quiet hum of agreement, then rubbed his temples and looked at the princess, hoping she could finally produce convincing evidence.

"Then that's right. Yesterday, I was carried by you and rode on that broom."

Under the watchful eyes of Li Ang and Jerry, Princess Veronika unfolded the shawl and pointed to the intricately woven tassel net, her eyes faintly relieved as she said:

"My lady-in-waiting thought my attire was too… uh… exposed, so she hastily wove a net from the shawl's tassels. When I rode your broom, the tassel net snagged against it and tore slightly."

"So if you haven't used that broom since yesterday noon, it likely still has a strand of white-with-red wool clinging to it—the wool from the only pure Merino wool shawl in the entire capital."???!!!

After hearing Princess Veronika's words, Li Ang froze for a moment, then immediately pulled out the Witch's Broom and inspected the bristles at its tail.

Li Ang and Jerry were stunned to find that, though some wool had been blown away by the wind, a few strands still clung to the broom's tail—identical in texture, color, and thickness to the wool on the shawl on the table.

"Phew… I think this evidence should prove something, right?"

After Li Ang and Jerry compared the wool, Princess Veronika exhaled softly, unclenching her fists—still calm as she spoke:

"You can ask someone knowledgeable about textiles about Merino wool to verify whether I lied. And if I'm telling the truth, it proves that yesterday I had contact with Mr. Li Ang—and rode his broom."

"Though it may sound boastful, a woman like me sitting behind you—Mr. Li Ang surely wouldn't have forgotten. So the only logical explanation is that everyone's memories, except mine, have been altered. Do you agree?"

Although it may sound a bit self-praising, a woman like me sitting behind you—Mr. Li Ang, I'm sure you can't have no memory at all—so the only explanation is that everyone's memories, except mine as the victim, have gone wrong. Do you agree?

Agree… This was definitive proof!

"Find the Director!"

Realizing the woman claiming to be princess was ninety percent likely telling the truth, Jerry drew a deep breath, his expression grave as he sent a soul-voice to Li Ang:

'If someone used an anomaly against a royal princess, this is catastrophic. Per the agreement between the Bureau and the Twelve Kingdoms, such a case must be immediately reported to Headquarters, and the investigation must be taken over by the local Division Director. From now on, this case is no longer ours to handle!'

"If it's confirmed that someone used an anomaly to harm a royal princess, this becomes a major matter. According to the agreement between our Bureau and the Twelve Kingdoms, such a case must be reported immediately to the General Bureau, and then taken over and investigated by the Director of the local branch. From now on, this matter is no longer under our jurisdiction!"

"So... just a week before the year-end review, the princess was attacked by an anomaly on the level of a demon god?"

After drunkenly listening to Li Ang and Jerry's report, the red-haired Director, dragged forcibly from sleep, let out a despairing sigh.

After drunkenly listening to Li Ang's report, the red-haired Director, forcibly dragged back from sleep, let out a cry of utter helplessness.

With such a critical incident occurring right before the year-end review, no matter how well it was resolved later, a failing evaluation for negligence was inevitable. This year's rating for *** Bureau would plummet to an unprecedented low—becoming last among the eighty-seven divisions.

What? Didn't we already lock in last place after the Ryan Blood Night? Haven't the words "Olivia" already been carved onto this year's Pillar of Shame?

What? Since the Lyon Blood Night, we've already been ranked last, and even the words "Olivia" have been pre-carved onto this year's Pillar of Shame?

Leaning back helplessly in his chair, the red-haired Director cleared the remaining alcohol from his body, then, burdened with unspent rage, began pondering how to resolve this deadly problem as quickly as possible.

First, find the anomaly—or the person who used it!

"This… uh… how should I address you?"

Hearing the red-haired Director's question, Princess Veronika, who had been studying his lips, blinked and nodded slightly:

"Veronika. Your Excellency may call me Veronika."

"Very well, Princess Veronika."

Now in "work mode," the red-haired Director shed all traces of his drunken slouch, his expression solemn as he pledged:

"On behalf of the *** Division Director of the Clearance Bureau, I guarantee you: from this moment until this matter is resolved, you are absolutely safe. No one will harm you."

"Furthermore, I ask you to fully cooperate with our investigation. Our *** Division will spare no effort to restore everything to its original state in the shortest possible time!"

Additionally, we hope you will fully cooperate with our investigation; our *** Branch will spare no effort to restore everything to its original state in the shortest possible time!