Chapter 2325: S-Rank Guide Forced Love 10

Being publicly called out and questioned, Lu Wen's expression shifted slightly, the muscles on his face twitched, and he forced himself to stay calm.

"You Zan! You know the situation yourself—spiritual fluctuations were violent, making communication impossible!"

"My top priority is ensuring the team's safety; I warned you to stop! What can I do? Rush up and die with you?"

He spoke faster and faster, as if that could hide his inner guilt.

"Enough."

Jin Chen cut in coldly, "Governor, regarding the specific details of the S-07 Ruins mission, the Council has authorized me to take charge of forming an independent elite reconnaissance team for a re-evaluation."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the momentarily pallid Lu Wen, then added, "Just this morning, the reconnaissance team set out, heading to the incident point at the edge of the ruins to re-conduct on-site inspection and clue gathering."

Those words were like a thunderclap out of nowhere.

You Zan glanced sideways in surprise, his gaze complex as it lingered on Jin Chen.

"What!"

Lu Wen snapped his gaze toward Kai En, his panic worsening.

He hadn't heard a whisper of it! This meant…… the covered-up traces, and the civilians who had been silenced……

Kai En's expression also finally sank.

His gaze toward Jin Chen was that of offended anger.

This move by Jin Chen not only directly interfered with his faction's internal affairs, but also publicly slapped him in the face!

"Jin Chen!" Kai En suppressed his anger, "For such a major investigation operation, why wasn't it reported in advance to the Governor's Office?"

Jin Chen remained calm, "Governor, this investigation is part of the Council's internal routine review procedure; the authority lies within my responsible framework."

"The preliminary briefing will be submitted to the Governor's Office as soon as key evidence is obtained."

He deflected Kai En's questioning with a mere four ounces to move a thousand pounds.

Kai En: "……"

Kai En was choked into temporary speechlessness, his eyes gloomily fixed on Jin Chen.

Jin Chen must have done it on purpose!

He deliberately picked today to block his further pressing of You Zan.

Kai En was furious beyond measure; glancing over, he saw Bai Ye indifferent, buried in a book, which made him grit his teeth even harder.

"Council Chairman!"

Bai Ye closed the book in his hands, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the air.

"Since the investigation has been launched, let's discuss the details of the old mission after the results come out."

"Today's main purpose is still to assess You Zan's current condition and controllability as a sentinel, right?"

Kai En forcibly suppressed his surging anger, his cold gaze once again turning to You Zan.

"Then, You Zan, sentinel, regarding the Central Area High Tower, regarding your current situation, do you have any grievances?"

You Zan felt Jin Chen's grip on his hand gradually tightening, his agitation forcibly restrained within controllable bounds.

He met Kai En's probing gaze, twitching the corner of his mouth.

"I only hate that I'm not strong enough."

Vague, but its meaning goes without saying.

In the subsequent Q&A, no matter how Kai En pressed or how sharp the topic, You Zan did not flare up with the initial burst of irritability.

Finally, Jin Chen directly interrupted, signaling that it was over.

Kai En gave Jin Chen a sharp glance, "I hope you can keep him under control, Councilor Jin Chen."

"An out-of-control weapon harms both others and itself; the Governor's Office will continue to monitor his condition."

Having said that, Kai En lingered no longer, turning and striding out, with the guards closely following.

Lu Wen, as if pardoned, nearly fled out, not daring even to glance at Jin Chen before leaving.

Bai Ye set the book down, gave Jin Chen a slight nod, and departed.

The moment the door shut completely, You Zan jerked his hand back from Jin Chen's grasp.

Jin Chen paid it no mind, instead picking up the book Bai Ye had left on the table; his mood seemed fine.

"Well done."

Jin Chen looked at You Zan, curled up in the corner radiating irritability, and said, "I'll step out for a bit and bring you a new gift when I return."

"Get lost." You Zan didn't turn back.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -2, total now 92!】

——

Jin Chen secretly met with Bai Ye and returned to their residence, already half a day later.

The indoor temperature control system blocked the outside chill; You Zan remained curled on the soft mat in the corner, and when Jin Chen entered, he carried the outdoor fresh chill.

The black thicket cat slowly flicked its tail, staring at Jin Chen.

Half a second later, a white wolf appeared, padding over faster than Jin Chen to grab the cat and play.

You Zan: "……"

You Zan turned his head away.

Jin Chen took off his council-issued windbreaker, casually draped it over the chair back, and from the black metal case he carried, he took out something.

A collar.

It was neither the coarse iron ring common among the lower classes nor the nobles' flashy status ornament.

Overall made of finely textured leather, lined with soft synthetic material, and edged with extremely fine silver wire.

Jin Chen held it, walked up to You Zan, and said, "Put it on."

You Zan: "???"

He stared intently at the dark leather ring, his pupils suddenly constricting.

"Is this the gift you mentioned?"

"You fucking think I'm a dog?!"

You Zan rose to his feet fiercely, shame and rage surging to his head as if he could pounce forward and tear the person before him apart in the next second.

Jin Chen wasn't angry; instead, he stepped closer, his fingers stroking the soft leather inside the collar, somewhat helpless.

"This is protective gear, not a shackle."

"It can help stabilize your mental energy, especially when you're outside—you're always wanting to go out, aren't you?"

Jin Chen's lips curled suddenly, he leaned in slightly, gazing at You Zan's angry eyes, "Or perhaps."

He said teasingly, "You'd rather I kept my hand on you all the time, like in the training room..."

Training room...

You Zan's eyes flickered; the deliberately forgotten bodily memory surged up, a secret tremor rising beneath his skin, making his muscles instantly tense.

You Zan shouted in shame and anger, "Get lost, I'm not wearing it!"

He swung hard at the collar, but Jin Chen intercepted him midway.

Jin Chen seized the moment, pulling him back into the corner; a cold aura washed over him, completely enveloping him.

The cold edge of the leather brushed over You Zan's Adam's apple, that deadly yet vulnerable protrusion.

Then it slid across the skin of his neck, the faint friction like an electric current racing up his spine, arousing utter shame.

The collar loosely encircled his neck; Jin Chen didn't fasten it right away, pressing his fingertip against the buckle to hold the position, his fingers lightly grazing the sensitive skin on his neck.

Jin Chen looked at him, "Wear the protective ring and you can go out—will you do it yourself, or shall I help you?"

You Zan bit down hard on his tongue tip, a metallic taste spreading.

He couldn't stay in this room forever; there were still many things to do.

Somehow, perhaps swayed by those words, You Zan closed his eyes and tremblingly raised his hand.

His fingertips were icy, feeling the cold metal buckle inside the collar.

A soft click sounded, like the fulfillment of some pact.

In the overly quiet room, the sound was too sharp to ignore.

The buckle clasped shut, the collar fitting snugly around You Zan's neck, faint blood vessels visible beneath the skin.

Jin Chen lowered his eyes to hide his smile, then gently pinched You Zan's flushed cheek.

"Very good."

You Zan's ears instantly burned crimson; intense shame made him jerk his face away.

Yet, beneath the neck bound by the collar, his tumultuous emotions were completely out of control.

【Villain Heartthrob Value +4, total 14!】

The black swamp cat likewise sensed it, giving a slight twitch when the white wolf's paw pressed down, letting out a startled low growl, though its tail instinctively wrapped around.

The white wolf lowered its head to glance at the small thing by its feet, then looked toward Jin Chen.

Jin Chen chuckled lightly.

It's time to run a compatibility check.