Chapter 778: A Flying Kick!

"What's wrong? You've got nothing to say?"

After testing the effective range of 【Tongue of Truth】 and discovering that its influence had been largely neutralized—so that the fewer lies in his words, the less effect it had on his tongue—Li Ang switched to his Performance Master persona and scowled sharply:

"I know you investigators have personal grudges against our Virgin Division, so your reports always exaggerate things—but this time you've gone too far!

You're trying to frame us for something this big? Do you have any idea what will happen if you succeed? How much damage will it do to me and Senior Emma? Do you even have a conscience? Or did your dog eat it?"

"…"

Hmph, my conscience might well be in a dog's belly—but your thick-skinned face? Even a dog wouldn't swallow it!

After straining for a long while and confirming 【Tongue of Truth】 had truly lost its effect, the veteran investigator took a deep breath, then silently picked up his pen and began recording the truth as it was.

What I reconstructed using the 【Chrono Pocket Watch】 is the absolute truth behind the death of Marquis Jin Juan. Unlike the 【Tongue of Truth】, which can be manipulated, what I witnessed with my own eyes cannot be false—Marquis Jin Juan was definitely killed by him!

But 【Chrono Pocket Watch】 itself has an extremely high Li Ang value; no mere investigator can activate it. It's also logged in the Bureau's records as one of the "Three Time Artifacts," crafted by Director Aquarius from the remnants of the King of Time. It should have been taken by "Director Aquarius" already.

So if I dare to reveal this, I'm essentially announcing to everyone that I'm connected to Director Aquarius. A single verification would immediately expose my identity. Compared to the explosive news that I'm still alive, illegally killing a marquis is trivial.

And to escape the effects of 【List of Instructions】 and 【Dead Street Lamps】, and to hide from the Cleanup Bureau, I've already discarded all of my "Evil Souls." If even this remaining portion of my "Good Soul" is discovered, I'll have nothing left at all.

This kid in front of me may be full of secrets and could obstruct my next plans—but he's not worth me risking my last breath for…

Not worth it! Not worth it!

…

After weighing the costs and benefits in less than a second, the veteran investigator—or rather, half of Director Aquarius—forced down the bitterness in his chest, his face blank, and asked each pre-scripted question one by one.

Li Ang, meanwhile, continued playing his role, answering each question in turn, then slipping in his own agenda—using vague, half-truths to completely dilute the last remnants of 【Tongue of Truth】's effect.

Thanks to the "mutual cooperation" of both sides, this aggressive "interrogation" ended with eerie calmness. The veteran investigator's notebook held only a pile of ambiguous replies and Li Ang's fervent declarations of loyalty to the Cleanup Bureau.

"We'll stop questioning for now. We'll continue our investigation and come back when we have enough evidence… There's another matter."

After closing the notebook filled with Li Ang's "loyalty" to the Cleanup Bureau—something that made him feel nauseous just looking at it—the veteran investigator pulled out a sealed document and handed it over without expression.

"What's this?"

"This is a dangerous situation uncovered by the General Bureau, using two Time-class anomalies, guided by the Watch Palace's hint."

Still reeling from Li Ang's torrent of lies, the veteran investigator glared darkly:

"Originally, this was meant to be handed directly to Lady Olivia after confirming you two had no collusion with her. But since our investigation was too sloppy and we wronged you, I have no face to show her. Please deliver it yourselves!"

The Watch Palace's hint?!

Hearing the veteran investigator's words, Li Ang and Emma both stiffened, solemnly accepting the sealed document.

"Is this message only for Olivia to read, or can we read it too?"

After examining the tightly sealed document, Emma frowned:

"And why use a paper document? The Watch Palace's hints are usually critical—why not transmit it directly via 【Celestial Mirror】 to Olivia?"

"I don't know. I'm just delivering it."

After hearing Emma's questions, the veteran investigator shook his head:

"As for whether you can read it… the General Bureau didn't specify. They only told me to deliver this to the Virgin Division—so any member of the Virgin Division should be allowed to read it."

Any member of the Virgin Division can read it? So… this must be a large-scale operation requiring the entire division's involvement!

Understanding the document's significance, Emma didn't dare delay. She whispered two instructions, grabbed the document, and hurried off. Meanwhile, Li Ang—who had just been aggressively confrontational—rose with a relaxed air and saw the investigator out:

"Then I won't see you off any further. Take your leave."

"…" Watching Li Ang, who claimed he wouldn't "see him off any further" but only shifted slightly on the sofa, unwilling even to stand and escort him to the door, the veteran investigator let out a bitter laugh, giving a slight nod:

"Good! You're very good!"

Staring at Li Ang's face again and again, etching into his memory the man who had nearly killed him, the veteran investigator—who had always been mild-mannered and never resorted to insults even when provoked—finally let out a strange, knowing smile, his tone heavy with implication:

"Mr. Li Ang, I'm certain we'll meet again before long."

"…"

???

Why does that sound like a villainous final boss line?

"Wait."

Though he found no concrete issue, Li Ang instinctively sensed something off—he'd heard too many lines like "XXX, we'll meet again someday" in his past life.

After glancing at the investigator's naturally smiling face and sensing the mysterious aura radiating from him, Li Ang hesitated briefly—then couldn't help but call out:

"Don't go yet… Is your name Camus?"

"What?"

Hearing Li Ang's question, the veteran investigator turned back, surprised:

"Have you heard my name before, Mr. Li Ang?"

"It does sound familiar… Let me think…"

Muttering nonsense, Li Ang leaned in eagerly, placing both hands on the veteran investigator's shoulders to prevent him from moving, then exclaimed with fake delight:

"It's you! You're not the one who…"

Before he could finish, Li Ang's right leg shot up—and, following the secret martial arts technique passed down by the female officer—he delivered a flying kick straight to the veteran investigator's groin!

The director had said the wallet would be stolen within a week—and this old man showed up right on cue. His suspicion was alarmingly high.

And that last line of his? Pure villainous final boss energy. It felt wrong in every way. So whether he was guilty or not, better to kick him first and test the waters.

After all, I have immortality, and the director's office is just twenty steps away. Even if I really did kick up a boss, I'm unlikely to die—so this kick has far more upside than downside. Definitely worth it!

…

Why kick me? Did I get exposed?

Noticing the flying kick aimed at his groin, the veteran investigator's eyes widened sharply. A flood of chaotic, abnormal thoughts surged into his mind like a tide.

Impossible!

I've separated my Good Soul for nearly seventy years. I've never had any contact with Director Aquarius. For over fifty years, I've worked diligently—every record is clean, verifiable. How could I possibly be exposed?

But if I'm not exposed, why did he suddenly attack?

Could it be… because I wrote negative reports on him in the past, and just now I couldn't help but drop a threat as I left? He held a grudge, and now he's ambushing an old man—kicking me in the balls?

No… is this kid really that monstrous?

Staring at Li Ang in disbelief, the veteran investigator longed to leap up and instantly crush the bastard's skull, to see what kind of filth filled his brain.

But remembering his goal, remembering Li Ang's troublesome immortality, and remembering Blood-Haired Lady just twenty steps away—ready to kill at the slightest disturbance—the veteran investigator clenched his lips in anguish, trembling as he slightly parted his legs…

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

(End of Chapter)