Chapter 239: 238 Even Investigating Requires Skill

So you've come here to pick a fight with me…

After listening to Li Ang's aggressive question, the female reporter's taut spine subtly relaxed.

Good! Pick a fight, fine! Just don't bring people to arrest me!

"Mr. Li Ang… no, His Grace the Duke of Lionheart, soon to be wed into the royal family! You seem to have a slight misunderstanding about me."

After steadying herself, the female reporter smiled sweetly.

"First, I wrote only seven articles about you, not eight.

Second, suppose you were the reporter for the Sun Newspaper and discovered the same news I did—wouldn't you have written a few pieces too?"

Of course I would, and I'd write more than you did.

Hearing her counterquestion, Li Ang's expression flickered with embarrassment—he realized he'd indeed been too active in stirring trouble, and it was only natural for reporters to target him.

But fortunately, that wasn't the point. His real purpose wasn't to confront her over news reports, but to probe the true nature of this "Reporter Nicole," suspected of being a rebel.

…

"Alright, I admit my recent activities made excellent news topics."

Wool cap, high-collared shirt, professional skirt, small leather shoes, thick shawl… her clothing covered her completely, revealing no skin except her fingertips, painted light pink.

Strange—the Sun Newspaper's walls were lined with metal heating pipes; the indoor temperature wasn't low at all. Why wear so much?

As Li Ang carefully observed the female reporter, he glared with feigned indignation:

"But every single article you wrote said nothing good about me—some were outright lies!"

"You're exaggerating~"

The reporter shook her head, studying her "opponent" in return, and smiled as she pointed a finger at the newspaper on the desk.

"Though many consider the Sun Newspaper merely an entertainment paper—even its political and business reports often chase rumors—I personally place great value on factual accuracy.

In the articles about you, whenever I wasn't certain, I never made definitive claims; I used phrases like 'suspected,' 'possible,' or 'according to my speculation.' Isn't that right?"

Her hands were extremely pale, with skin so smooth it seemed to glisten, as if dewy and ready to burst.

Without immediately answering her question, Li Ang pretended to read the newspaper, but his eyes lingered on her handback—and narrowed slightly.

This skin quality was too perfect.

Winter had arrived; the capital's winter was cold and dry, and the wind outside the Sun Newspaper's entrance was fierce. Even with the best skin, she should have shown slight dehydration after coming in from outside.

This unnatural dewy glow shouldn't appear today… Considering her identity as an anomaly holder, her hands likely had some special "issue." Later, I'll find a chance to shake her hand and see if it's some kind of anomaly object.

"Alright, I admit you have a point."

Pulling his gaze away from the "newspaper," Li Ang's expression softened slightly, then he pulled an older newspaper from his shopping bag and placed it on the table.

"Was the 'Fecal Water' Incident Intentional? Thomas Lane: Evidence Forged"

"Reporter Nicole, you wrote this article, didn't you?"

This… was the one where the Lane family, allied with two other noble houses, deliberately had the water company pump feces into the public pipes to seize Char Department Store?

I remember handing the evidence I found directly to the Royal Justice Minister after writing it. Though the Lanes fiercely denied it, they still faced a strict investigation led by the Princess, fined nearly 300, 00 gold wheels, and forced to sell their water company's operating rights at a steep discount.

So… all the earlier stuff was just a cover. The real reason this new Duke of Lionheart came to pick a fight was this article that crippled the Lanes?

Recognizing the newspaper Li Ang produced, the reporter frowned, then looked at the new head of the Lane family and nodded expressionlessly.

"Yes, I wrote it. Do you have questions about this article?"

"I do have questions."

As Li Ang pondered where the "sheep's tail" was, as Black Goat had said, he narrowed his eyes:

"The biggest issue is the evidence. Where exactly did your evidence come from?"

"Mr. Li Ang, if you'd read the article carefully, you'd know I clearly stated the source of the evidence."

Uncomfortable under Li Ang's overly "sharp" gaze, the reporter frowned:

"When Char Department Store's cash box collapsed and injured people, I rushed to the scene for an interview and happened to pick up those pieces of evidence on the shopping plaza… Whether you believe it or not, these are facts!"

"I believe you. Of course I do."

Li Ang nodded, then replied with equal blankness:

"But have you ever considered why such crucial evidence would appear out of nowhere—and just happen to be found by you? Could someone have deliberately placed it there?"

"So you're accusing me of taking money to smear the Lanes?"

Slightly "understanding" the new Duke of Lionheart's implication, the reporter's tone turned sharp. She crossed her legs, leaned back in her chair, and smirked, tapping her leather shoe:

"Your Grace, first—do you really not know whether the water company data I reported was true or false? If you're clueless about such critical facts, I suggest you investigate yourself. At least, according to my findings, the Kingdom's punishment of your Lane family was even lenient.

And if you believe my reporting was false and caused your family's punishment, go file a complaint with the Sun Newspaper's dispute resolution department, then sue me at the News Administration Bureau… There, the complaint window is out the door, turn right, down the stairs."

She gestured toward the dispute resolution office, then sat upright, feigning fear, blinking with exaggerated dread:

"Your Grace, though your Lane family is nearly finished, you're still beyond the reach of a lowly reporter like me. If you sue, I'll gladly confess and pay the maximum defamation penalty—I recall it's… thirty silver wheels?"

Wow, thirty silver wheels! Just multiply that by a hundred thousand, and it'd cover your family's fine. That penalty is enormous—I, this reckless little reporter, have been thoroughly taught a lesson. Please, have mercy on me!"

"…."

Top-tier provocation. This woman's clearly a master of manipulation.

Watching the reporter who begged for mercy while relentlessly goading him, Li Ang fell silent. He didn't fly into a rage as she expected. Instead, he picked up the stack of old newspapers the usher had given him.

Under the reporter's puzzled gaze, Li Ang flipped to the article "Char Department Store Mega Sale: Man Crushed by 'Fortune' and Hospitalized," pointed to his own back, buried under piles of cash, then turned his body away and asked:

"Miss Nicole, doesn't this man look familiar?"

"…."

Looking from Li Ang's back to the same color old coat in the photo, the reporter's eyes widened in shock.

"That… the poor guy almost crushed by money… was you?"

"Yes, it was me. So you did write eight articles about me in this period—seven appeared in the Sun's political and business section, this one in the mass entertainment section. And…"

Turning back to face the reporter, now wide-eyed with astonishment, Li Ang spoke slowly:

"The evidence you found—I was the one who brought it to the shopping plaza. I intended to get Char's owner to expose the fecal water scandal, but… I ended up in the hospital due to an accident, and the evidence was left behind on the plaza, where you found it during your interview."

"…."

"…."

Staring at Li Ang, whose expression showed no sign of deception, the reporter froze, then stammered:

"Then… you came here to…"

"I came to thank you."

Grasping the reporter's unnaturally pale, smooth hand, Li Ang shook it vigorously, then broke into a radiant, intensely warm smile:

"Thank you—you've helped me immensely!"

"…."