Chapter 177

"Thank you, I will fully cooperate."

After stealing another glance at the Red-haired Director's lips and confirming the lipstick color matched the faint stain on Li Ang's collar, Princess Veronica's eyes flickered, then she spoke:

"Director, although I am not an employee of your Clearance Bureau, I spent last night thinking, and I believe three people may be involved—would you mind hearing my thoughts?"

Your thoughts?

Sensing subtle hostility emanating from the beautiful woman across from him, the Red-haired Director slightly narrowed his eyes, then quietly guided a strand of hair to press Li Ang's palm against the Black Goat's forehead, signaling him to assess the Princess's soul state, before smiling warmly and nodding:

"Of course it's convenient—indeed, I welcome it. Having a concrete target to investigate is far better than blindly searching the ocean."

"Then I won't keep you."

Suppressing thoughts of the lip print and lipstick, Princess Veronica took a deep breath, then frowned as she spoke:

"First, a grandmother and granddaughter. Yesterday, since I was on a private visit, I was extremely cautious—aside from Mr. Li Ang, I had almost no close contact with anyone. The only exception was the servants' kitchen on the west side of the Lyne estate.

At the time, Mr. Li Ang had been ambushed while chasing rebels and entered the kitchen as if seeking something. Meanwhile, I was outside soothing a little girl named Phoebe, who patted my chest a few times. When Mr. Li Ang emerged again, he no longer recognized me.

Later, when Mr. Li Ang forgot me and left on his own, I tried to ask him why, but the girl's grandmother called out and stopped me, preventing me from catching up to him. I suspect she deliberately held me back.

Also, though their ages differ greatly, the old woman named Lucy claims to be Phoebe's sister, and the little girl Phoebe truly treats her as such. I believe these two are highly suspicious."

A grandmother and granddaughter calling each other sisters?

Meeting Li Ang's gaze as he stroked the goat's head and receiving his confirming nod that the Princess had not lied, the Red-haired Director paused briefly, then nodded and pressed further:

"Valuable information. Do you remember what they looked like?"

"I do."

Princess Veronica answered with firm certainty:

"The old woman named Lucy has a hoarse voice, a slightly hunched back, and appears to be around sixty or seventy. The little girl, Phoebe, has a round face and small stature, about six or seven years old. Her eyes are… very unusual. There's something… hmm… how to put it?"

Frowning as she recalled, Princess Veronica spoke uncertainly:

"It's like… a kind of purity, but not the innocence of a child. Children's eyes still carry emotion and thought—but this child's eyes gave the impression of… hmm…"

Recalling with her, Li Ang ventured:

"Clear-eyed stupidity?"

"Yes! That's exactly it!"

Glancing sideways at Li Ang, Princess Veronica nodded:

"She's like a blank sheet of paper wiped clean. Her intelligence seems lower than that of other children her age, but she's not truly stupid—just profoundly ignorant, because she's experienced so little, leaving her in a strange, empty void."

"Understood. This is indeed valuable information."

Glancing at Jerry, who was also deep in thought, the Red-haired Director silently commanded him to act immediately, then memorized the details and asked gently:

"And the third person?"

The third person…

Hearing this, Princess Veronica hesitated, seeming reluctant, but finally spoke:

"The third suspicious person is my brother Joshua. Though he showed no abnormal behavior, I don't know why, but I have a strong intuition that he's involved too…

Hmm… never mind. Forget I said that.

After all, if this is truly connected to Joshua, given how much he and his mother despise me, I'd probably already be dead."

"I see."

Watching the Princess, who had named a third suspect only to retract it, the Red-haired Director nodded impassively, then smiled and gestured toward the door:

"Princess Veronica, if you have no further information to provide, the Clearance Bureau will now take over. Please wait for a moment in Mr. Li Ang's office.

Please don't misunderstand—we aren't hiding anything from you. But since you've been forgotten, the Royal Family's Silent Soul Manual may no longer protect you. Eavesdropping on our conversation could bring additional danger. We hope you understand."

"Understood."

Princess Veronica nodded, rose immediately, and walked out. Once her footsteps faded down the corridor, the Red-haired Director began issuing orders:

"Jerry, have your contacts go to the Lyne estate kitchen and record every scent present there yesterday noon. Cross-reference them and find those two—those grandmother and granddaughter who call each other sisters.

Then, notify Emma. Have her drop all other tasks for the next two days and remain on high alert in the Bureau. If any rebels show up, move immediately and bring them back to me!

Lastly, Li Ang—after you deliver the hair, take my note straight to the Wang Gong and investigate Prince Joshua thoroughly. Find out whether he's connected to this."

"Understood."

After hearing the Red-haired Director's orders, Jerry immediately left. But Li Ang hesitated, then spoke up:

"Director, if possible, could someone be swapped with me on this task?"

"I'm afraid not."

The Red-haired Director shook his head:

"You're the only one left in the Bureau who can detect lies. You're the best candidate to investigate Prince Joshua."

"…"

I'm not saying the assignment is inappropriate—I just gave that guy a fist to the face yesterday and spat on him. I think he's unlikely to cooperate with me…

"Li Ang, believe me—this woman is not ordinary. Her intuition is worth taking seriously."

Seeing Li Ang still reluctant, the Red-haired Director spoke earnestly:

"If she truly is a Princess, she is direct bloodline of the Twelve Royal Houses. And the Twelve Royal Houses… hmm… let me put it this way: if you trace back far enough, even the current Twelve Kingdoms' royal families can be considered, in a loose sense, part of the Clearance Bureau."

"Huh?"

"It's true."

Glancing at Li Ang's stunned expression, the Red-haired Director hesitated briefly, then explained:

"Including the fallen Kingdom of East Carlevon, every royal family's ancestors were once Wardens of the Watch Palace—possibly even its creators. Because of their ancestors' deeds, the Clearance Bureau agreed to treaties with the Twelve Kingdoms and even made concessions in certain areas.

Most royal families inherited minor abnormalities from their ancestral Wardens, and intermarriage among them has led to some exceptional direct descendants possessing unusual abilities—even without any abnormal objects.

Li Ang, listen to me: if I'm right, Princess Veronica's special ability likely lies in her intuition. So if she suspects Prince Joshua, he almost certainly is involved. You must investigate him thoroughly."