Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 257 - 240 Traitor’s Sequel

Chapter 257: 240 Traitor’s Sequel

The matter of telling the truth needs to wait until I am alone with Mazao later; right now I must first handle the interrogation of the senior researcher.

I slightly gathered my thoughts, then posed a question to the senior researcher in front of me. As a matter of courtesy, the first question I asked was more about official business, concerning the origin of the Impermanence Armor, which Fu Feng and Dong Che would be more concerned about—where did the Human Bureau acquire such high-level weaponry?

This time, without the hindrance of Spiritual Restriction, and under the effect of the Black Rope Heart-locking Ring, the senior researcher could only reveal the truth he knew.

And his words made Dong Che’s complexion change dramatically.

"This weaponry was developed by the Human Bureau themselves," he answered uncontrollably.

"—That’s impossible!"

Dong Che cried out as a knee-jerk reaction, yet his eyes betrayed his words, clearly showing he believed it. The possibility that the Human Bureau could develop Impermanence Armor meant that someone high up in Luo Mountain indeed leaked the complete technology of the Evil Sword to the Human Bureau. He was among the first to suspect a traitor within the high ranks of Luo Mountain.

However, Luo Mountain and the Human Bureau have been fundamentally at odds, and unless it’s a special case like Chen Long, it is hard to imagine any motive for Luo Mountain’s upper echelons to provide support to the Human Bureau.

"The Impermanence Armor is one of the research directions we took to allow ordinary people to wield Extraordinary Powers as well, through indirect manipulation of Mana via weapons and armors, instead of altering the individuals themselves," the senior researcher said resignedly, "In this process, we used the Evil Sword and its manufacturing technology provided secretly by Luo Mountain, and made major modifications to the latter.

"However, forging a set of Impermanence Armor would require at least fifty Evil Swords, and due to the enormous consumption and low success rate of the forging, it was deemed a markedly unprofitable failure, so after forging a single set, we temporarily sealed it in the warehouse."

Dong Che stepped back, gritting his teeth and saying, "So it’s true..."

"How could the traitor circumvent such a stringent pact that prohibits leaking information regarding the Evil Sword technology?" I continued questioning the senior researcher, "Also, who exactly is the traitor?"

"The matters like these should only be known by the Silver Mask... Ying Lingyun, and a handful of other top figures of the Human Bureau hierarchy. I don’t have the clearance to know," the senior researcher honestly admitted.

Dong Che then calmed down, articulating, "It’s practically impossible to bypass those restrictions with mere cunning, but if the traitor is of Great Success Rank or higher, that’s a different story. Demon hunters of Great Success Rank and beyond have surpassed the theoretical constraints of demon hunters. They can easily trample any pact or principle with their formidable Mana."

"So you are saying, the traitor is of Great Success Rank, or even Great Evil?" I asked.

"Great Evil... traitor..."

Dong Che’s face turned blank for a moment, as if it wasn’t until I spoke those words did he connect those two terms together.

It’s not necessarily that his reaction was slow, but our cognitions differ. Unlike me, who has formally encountered the abnormal world for less than a month, Dong Che probably grew up in that world, developing a worldview far removed from conventional norms. Luo Mountain is affiliated with the Great Evils—under such a prejudiced cognition, accusing a Great Evil of being a traitor to Luo Mountain might be akin to accusing an emperor of sedition in an ancient dynasty.

"... Regardless, if the traitor is among the personnel of Great Success Rank or above, then the list of suspects can be narrowed down to a very small scope. Although I do not know the motive of the traitor, it is hard to imagine that a traitor engaging with the Human Bureau is an Extraordinary Fanatic; it is more likely that the traitor emerges from our Governance Ideology."

Dong Che shook his head vigorously to clear his confusion, then coldly analyzed, "Furthermore, not all demon hunters of Great Success Rank and above would be interested in memorizing the principles of the Evil Sword technology. The traitor is likely a Great Success Rank adept in relevant fields, such as that legendary Array expert, Weichi. Then there are also the Great Success Ranks in management positions... This would narrow down our suspect list to less than five people..."

Upon saying this, his expression suddenly changed, and he turned to look at Fu Feng, who had been silent all this time.

From the direction of his reasoning, it seemed that Fu Feng was also on that very short list of suspects.

"What... you suspect me, believe I’m the traitor?" Fu Feng asked indifferently.

Facing the oppressive aura of a Great Success Rank, Dong Che exhibited extreme nervousness, hesitating for two seconds before he finally mustered the courage to say, "...It’s not entirely impossible."

"You really dare to say that. Assuming I really am a traitor, do you think you can escape from here?" Fu Feng said strangely, "Or do you think Zhuang Cheng will help you?"

"I never thought that way." Dong Che said.

I indeed did not plan to side with Dong Che. Although I was pleased by his admiration, I was not yet to the extent of being heedlessly flattered by compliments from someone whose stance was unknown. Moreover, even if Fu Feng was indeed colluding with the Human Bureau, frankly speaking, I didn’t object.

Perhaps speaking this way now could make others think, "What nonsense are you spouting?" In reality, I personally do not harbor any animosity towards the Human Bureau. The reason for destroying the old base of the Human Bureau last time was mainly that they hindered my rescue of Changan. The true enemy has always been Ying Lingyun alone.

Since Dong Che possesses a Perception that seems able to discern others’ mental changes, perhaps even my detached thoughts were perceived by him. On the other hand, even when facing someone of Great Success Rank, his attitude of speaking his mind truly impressed me. Thinking about this, I actually developed a bit of a desire to help him.

When I had this thought, Dong Che seemed to sense something and wanted to look back at me, but he restrained himself. Could he really perceive my thoughts?

"Let me clarify beforehand, you are mistaken. If I really were a traitor secretly supporting the Human Bureau, how could I possibly let you partake in interrogating this person?" Fu Feng asked.

"... It might be because you didn’t expect there to be someone here who knows the passphrase for the Spiritual Restriction." Dong Che cautiously said, "Although you didn’t recognize that the armor was the Impermanence Armor initially, even if one were a traitor secretly supporting the Human Bureau, they wouldn’t necessarily be fully aware of every research project of the Human Bureau, especially those failed ones, so not recognizing it is quite normal."

"It has been rumored that Luo Mountain harbored traitors secretly supporting the Human Bureau since the past, but no one has ever suspected individuals above the Great Success Rank. Assuming you are a traitor, even if this researcher spoke superfluously, you would have plenty of room for justification.

"But this time is different, not only crucial evidence has appeared, but also critical testimony... Who could have predicted this?"

Saying this, he couldn’t help but turn his head to glance at Mazao. After all, Mazao’s performance had been truly prominent, and I felt proud for her.

Hearing this, Fu Feng instead smiled in relief.

"So it turns out, Gua Tianshi has arranged you here to frame us Governance Ideologists." he said, "However, your reasoning is still too naive. You might have forgotten one thing: Ying Lingyun of the Human Bureau possesses an ability called ’Possibility Doppelgänger’, and the technical principle of the Evil Sword might also be derived from summoning his other possible selves."

But even if Ying Lingyun really could summon such a "Possibility Doppelgänger", isn’t it contingent on the possibility that "there are traitors within Luo Mountain"? Though that would just provide much leeway for debates. Dong Che seemed to realize this too, and unwillingly shut his mouth, seemingly relieved to have avoided direct conflict inadvertently.

Fu Feng’s gaze towards Dong Che deepened. The crisis for Dong Che might not have been resolved yet. In case Fu Feng was indeed a traitor, given Dong Che’s current situation of being confined in the base, the true life-threatening phase would be forthcoming.

Indeed, Dong Che has Gua Tianshi backing him, but Fu Feng too has Fa Zheng behind him. If the latter is indeed conspiring with the Human Bureau, Fa Zheng’s desires might be involved. The disciple identity of the Great Impermanence is not a universal lifesaver.

"I apologize for showing you such an unseemly side," Fu Feng said to me, "Please continue the interrogation."

I nodded, then posed the next question to the senior researcher: "Do you know Zhu Changan and Silver Moon?"

"... Yes," he nodded, "Zhu Changan, the biological son of Ying Lingyun, the resurrection vessel for the Great Demon Silver Moon."

Hearing this response, not just Fu Feng, but Dong Che also focused on this subject. Regardless of their stances, at least in dealing with the abnormal entity, the Great Demon Silver Moon, their interests should align. It is a super demon threatening humanity, which must be dealt with promptly.

I continued to ask: "This so-called ’resurrection vessel’...is it referring to ’a condition necessary for Ying Lingyun to resurrect Silver Moon’, or ’a contingency set up by Silver Moon before its death for its own resurrection’?"

No sooner had I asked this question did I realize my way of posing the question might have been mistaken. Even if the answer were the latter, Silver Moon would have already made all preparations for its resurrection, and Ying Lingyun shouldn’t be privy to it, otherwise, he wouldn’t need to scheme extensively to find a method to resurrect Silver Moon.

And since Ying Lingyun was unaware, this senior researcher would have even less reason to know.

However, the senior researcher answered my question without hesitation: "Both are correct."

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