Chapter 354

The cause of Hou Jue Jin Juan's sudden death sparked endless speculation within the capital; due to the extraordinarily complex forces behind it and the sheer number of suspicious elements, almost no one could determine the truth.

But upon learning of Lei Nade's death, without a single trace of doubt or hesitation, Emma immediately identified the killer—or rather, the benefactor.

"Li Ang!"

After knocking on the office door and seeing Li Ang's expression unchanged, his face showing not the slightest sign of disturbance, Emma, her eyes brimming with tears, bit her lip and softly greeted:

"I… good morning…"

Hearing this ordinary yet profoundly unusual opening, Li Ang first blinked in surprise, then returned her a brilliant smile.

"Senior Emma, good morning!"

Looking at Li Ang's calm face, Emma's heart surged; she drew a deep breath, clenched her fists tightly, and asked, voice trembling slightly:

"Have you… heard about the Jin Juan family?"

"Mm."

Seeing Senior Emma, who was clearly asking despite knowing the answer, Li Ang understood she had already guessed the truth; he smiled and did not conceal it further, speaking directly:

"Congratulations. From now on, the fog has finally lifted."

"Thank you… truly, thank you!"

Confirming her suspicion through Li Ang's gentle gaze, Emma felt the world before her blur instantly; large, scalding tears spilled relentlessly from her eyes.

She stepped forward abruptly and embraced Li Ang tightly, burying her face against his shoulder and weeping uncontrollably until his legs went numb, only then finally stopping.

But after crying herself out, Emma lifted her head, wiped her tears, and did not smile through her tears—instead, she bit her lip, her expression solemn:

"Li Ang, this won't do."

"Huh?"

Before Li Ang could ask, he felt a soft pressure in his palm—and Senior Emma's voice transmitted directly through the contact:

"When a person bearing Word-Spell dies, it is a grave matter. Even if headquarters has sealed the case, investigators from the Bureau will arrive within a week.

Although Lei Nade's status is not high enough to warrant them bringing something like 【Temporal Rewind】, once all suspects are identified, they will use their issued anomalies to conduct targeted investigations into every 'utterance' and 'action' those suspects made or took over the past several days.

For example, our conversation just now—if you had confessed to me the moment you saw me that you were the one who did it, it would have triggered 【Truthful Utterance】 or 【Unreserved Speech】, flagged directly by their anomaly device.

And even if you were extremely cautious and never confessed to anyone what you did, if you performed obvious 【Killing Act】 or 【Coercive Act】, it would still be directly flagged by that anomaly…"

After briefly explaining the Investigation Bureau's procedure, Emma warned with concern:

"Li Ang, think carefully—since then until now, have you directly harmed that man's body? Forced him to throw himself into the lake? Or confessed the truth to anyone?"

"No."

Squeezing Senior Emma's hand in return, Li Ang answered confidently—he had researched this beforehand:

"Everything happened within a dream. I merely murmured a faint 'mm' from over ten meters away, did nothing else, and never confessed to anyone.

The only conversation I had before you arrived was with the black goat on the desk—but all exchanges related to that day occurred between souls, undetectable by anyone."

"So rest easy, Senior Emma. If I didn't have confidence I could escape blame, I wouldn't have acted so lightly."

"Good that you're confident… but still, be extra careful!"

Seeing Li Ang had clearly prepared properly, not acted on reckless impulse, Emma felt significantly relieved, then softly admonished with deep guilt:

"Also, if—just if—the investigators arrive and accidentally uncover something, and suspect you… then confess it was I who ordered you. Absolutely do not shoulder the blame yourself!

In Olivia's absence, I am temporarily in charge of the Virgin Branch. I issued you this task out of personal vengeance; you, trusting your senior, carried it out without suspicion. That way, your culpability is minimized."

"Senior Emma, I…"

"Don't refuse!"

Squeezing Li Ang's hand firmly, Emma blinked her still-red eyes and said sternly:

"Forcing you to do this much for me is already a great wrong. If something happens and you try to take the blame alone, I'll turn myself in! Then both of us, as conspirators violating regulations, will face internal execution!

But if you say I ordered you, at least one of us will survive! Li Ang, I'll give you a formal task authorization later—keep it on your person at all times, understood?"

"..."

"Speak!"

"Mm…"

Watching Li Ang nod helplessly, Emma's stern face finally broke into a smile again.

Feeling the uniquely comforting warmth in her palm, for the first time she felt utterly at ease, and she softly scolded:

"Li Ang, I just remembered—did you teach Ellie to make that wish on her birthday, asking me to spend the whole day with her?"

"Mm."

Hearing this, Li Ang scratched the back of his head, then nodded, admitting frankly:

"I was afraid you'd go straight to Lei Nade for revenge after Ellie fell asleep, so I came up with a plan to keep her occupied all day."

And then you went to Cuiyu Manor yourself that night and finished everything, didn't you?

"You even used a child…"

Glancing at Li Ang with tender eyes, Emma bit her lower lip:

"When I left home, Ellie asked me to ask you—what gift are you going to give her? I want to see what you've prepared this time to sweet-talk her!"

"As for the gift…"

Watching Senior Emma, usually gentle and composed, display such rare, tender petulance, Li Ang rubbed his nose and smiled:

"A body like any normal child's—one that won't turn transparent in sunlight, that can attend school normally, grow up normally, and live a full life… What do you think of that gift?"

"?!!!"

Amid Emma's overwhelming joy, Li Ang gripped her hand and explained his discovery in detail, then added with slight apology:

"After finding Ellie's… location, I originally planned to bring her back immediately. But I was working overtime at the Bureau that night—I couldn't appear at Cuiyu Manor, much less take something that belonged in the lake.

And with Hou Jue Jin Juan dead, if Ellie immediately regained her body, it might make the investigators suspect you. So I didn't act directly…"

"Enough! Li Ang! That's enough!"

Suddenly releasing Li Ang's hand, Emma embraced him again, her vision blurred with tears:

"You've already done so much for me and Ellie! I… I truly don't know how to repay you! I… maybe…"

"Bang!"

As Emma, overcome with joy, was about to say more, Li Ang's office door was violently shoved open—a voice filled with delight rang from outside:

"Hah! Little Li Ang! Amazing news!"

The red-haired Director, covered in yellow mud, face weary, burst in, his expression wildly excited:

"Water-Bearer—he… uh… you two?"