480: Chapter 415: Legalist Intervention, Investigating Doubts Using Criminal Law

On the third day after returning to the fortress, Lin Zhou was in no hurry to track down the Cardinal.

He handed over the captured Guixu energy core to Li Mo for research, while he sat in the barracks, spreading all the files on the supply line disappearance case across the table. Three transport teams, three hundred people, vanished without a sound. Although the Void Sect's Cardinal had fled with heavy injuries, why did he attack the supply line? Merely to cut off the supplies of the Seventh War Zone? No, there were much more efficient ways to cut off supplies—attacking warehouses, destroying teleportation arrays, or contaminating water sources would all be more useful than attacking transport teams.

Attacking the transport teams indicated that his target was not the supplies, but something else.

Lin Zhou pulled up the cargo manifests of the three transport teams—the first was carrying raw materials for rune armor, the second was carrying godhead restoration fluid, and the third was carrying chaos crystals. There was no commonality among the three types of cargo, making it impossible to see what the Cardinal was targeting. He then pulled up the personnel rosters of the three transport teams—captains, vice-captains, escort captains; everyone's background showed no anomalies.

But when he compared the disappearance times of the three transport teams side-by-side with the patrol logs, he discovered the first suspicious point.

The disappearance times of the three transport teams all fell within the patrol gaps of the defense zone of Karon, the Deputy Commander of the Seventh War Zone. The defense zone Karon was responsible for was the middle section of the Silent Corridor, the safest stretch. According to the patrol schedule, a patrol squad passed through every four hours. The disappearance times of the three transport teams just happened to fall precisely within these patrol gaps.

[Patrol Log · Suspicious Point]

- First transport team disappearance time: 2:00 AM - 4:00 AM

- Karon's defense zone patrol gap: 1:30 AM - 4:30 AM

- Second transport team disappearance time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

- Karon's defense zone patrol gap: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM

- Third transport team disappearance time: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

- Karon's defense zone patrol gap: 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM

Every single disappearance was precisely timed during the patrol window gaps.

Lin Zhou frowned. This left two possibilities—either the Void Sect had incredibly good luck, or they had obtained the patrol schedule. And the patrol schedule was only known by the Seventh War Zone Headquarters and the defense zone commander himself.

He continued to flip through the files and found the second suspicious point. The disappearance locations of the three transport teams were all within Karon's defense zone, and all within the same area—a "blind spot" with a diameter of about fifty kilometers. The spatial rules there were stable, with no Chaos Beasts and no Shadow Clan, making it the safest area. It was also the area where people were most likely to let their guard down.

[Disappearance Location · Data]

- First: Eastern section of Karon's defense zone, coordinates (127, 345)

- Second: Eastern section of Karon's defense zone, coordinates (126, 348)

- Third: Eastern section of Karon's defense zone, coordinates (128, 343)

- Range: Approximately fifty kilometers in diameter

Three transport teams disappearing in the same defense zone and the same small area was definitely no coincidence.

Lin Zhou closed the files and stood up to find Qin Qing.

"Qin Qing, I need you to help me look into someone."

"Who?"

"The Deputy Commander of the Seventh War Zone, Karon."

Qin Qing pulled up Karon's file.

[Karon · Personal Profile]

- Name: Karon

- Military Rank: Lieutenant General

- Position: Deputy Commander of the Seventh War Zone

- Godhead Rank: LV850 (Initial Stage of high-tier divine power)

- Divine Domain: Iron Divine Kingdom (sharing the same origin as Lei Zhan's, but more defense-oriented)

- Resume: During the Old Universe era, once stationed at the edge of the Chaos Star Domain, achieving outstanding military exploits

- Recent Divine Power Growth: Abnormal

Qin Qing's pupils contracted sharply.

"Captain, Karon's godhead Rank was only LV600 three years ago. In just three years, it went from LV600 to LV850? That's too fast."

"What is the normal cultivation speed for a godhead?"

"For ordinary deities, gaining one hundred Ranks in ten years is already incredible. Gaining two hundred and fifty Ranks in three years, unless..." Qin Qing paused, "unless he absorbed a massive amount of Guixu energy."

Lin Zhou fell silent. Guixu energy could temporarily boost one's godhead Rank, but the price was godhead contamination, eventually turning them into a Puppet of Guixu.

"Are there any signs of contamination in his godhead?"

"There's no record in his file. But his recent physical examination report shows that his godhead integrity has dropped by 5%, which the military doctors claimed is normal wear and tear." Qin Qing shook her head. "If he is contaminated, a routine physical exam wouldn't detect it at all. It requires the Fire of Civilization to test."

"Then we will use the Fire of Civilization."

Lin Zhou stood up. But he could not directly test Karon—Karon was the Deputy Commander of the war zone, and without a justifiable reason, he could not easily cast suspicion. He needed more evidence.

He returned to the barracks and continued to analyze the files.

This time, he used the Legalist "Art of Xing-Ming". The Art of Xing-Ming holds names responsible for reality and examines reality through names—by analyzing whether the names and reality of events correspond, one can uncover contradictions. Lin Zhou inputted all the military records of the transport teams' disappearance times, locations, cargo manifests, and patrol schedules into the data analysis System of the Temple of Civilization, letting the sanctuary perform a deduction.

[Temple of Civilization · Xing-Ming Deduction]

- Deduction Subject: Supply Line Disappearance Case

- Data Volume: Approximately 30,000 entries

- Deduction Method: Legalist "Holding Names Responsible for Reality"

- Output: List of Contradictions

A moment later, the Temple of Civilization outputted seven points of contradiction.

[Contradiction Points · List]

1. Disappearance times completely overlapping with patrol gaps—probability below 0.01%

2. Disappearance locations concentrated in the same small area—probability below 0.05%

3. Karon himself repeatedly absent from defense zone meetings—times coinciding with the disappearances

4. Karon's Divine Power growth curve is abnormal—250 Ranks in three years

5. Karon's godhead integrity dropped by 5% in his physical exam report—no logical explanation

6. Karon repeatedly requested increased independent patrol authority for his defense zone—rejected by General Rex

7. Karon's interaction with Void Sect captives—participated in interrogations but refused to use lie-detection divine arts

All seven contradiction points pointed to the same person.

Lin Zhou did not hesitate any longer; carrying these contradiction points, he walked into General Rex's headquarters.

"General, I need to investigate someone."

After reading the list of contradictions, General Rex's face turned livid.

"Karon... he has been with me for thirty years. From the Old Universe to the New Universe, he saved my life." General Rex's voice was hoarse. "But it is also possible that he is no longer the original Karon."

"General, I request to conduct a secret investigation on Karon. We won't alert him and will gather evidence in secret."

"How long do you need?"

"Seven days."

"Granted."

Lin Zhou began to deploy his plans.

He had Qin Qing retrieve Karon's Divine Power cultivation records for the past three years under the pretext of a "routine inspection." The records showed that Karon spent seven days in "secluded cultivation" every month, refusing any communication. And these seven days happened to coincide perfectly with the times of the Void Sect's three operations.

[Cultivation Records · Time Comparison]

- Karon's seclusion times: January 7-13, April 5-11, July 2-8

- Void Sect operation times: January 9-10, April 7-8, July 4-5

- Overlap: 100%

It was no coincidence.

Lin Zhou then had Li Mo deploy ten miniature rule detectors in Karon's defense zone under the guise of "testing new equipment." The detectors could record all energy fluctuations within the defense zone, including divine kingdom expansions, spatial teleportations, and void energy releases.

[Miniature Rule Detectors · Data]

- Quantity: 10

- Coverage Area: The entirety of Karon's defense zone

- Detection Precision: Capable of identifying godhead fluctuations, teleportation fluctuations, and void energy

- Stealth: Excellent (Fire of Civilization coating, undetectable by conventional means)

Three days later, the detectors sent back the first set of data.

[Detector Data · (First Three Days)]

- Karon's defense zone energy fluctuations: 127 times

- Normal patrol fluctuations: 120 times

- Unknown fluctuations: 7 times

- Among them, void energy fluctuations: 3 times

- Time: 2:00 AM - 4:00 AM (patrol gaps)

Lin Zhou zoomed in on the data of those three void energy fluctuations. The wave patterns matched perfectly with the "Karma Fault" residue he had collected at the third disappearance site.

The chain of evidence was now complete.

On the seventh day, Lin Zhou walked into General Rex's headquarters once again with all the evidence.

"General, it's time to reel in the net."

General Rex looked at the data and remained silent for a long time.

"Lin Zhou, if I order Karon's arrest, you must come with me."

"Yes, sir."

"If Karon resists, you must capture him yourself."

"Yes, sir."

That evening, under the pretext of an "emergency war council," General Rex summoned Karon to headquarters.

When Karon walked into the meeting room, he saw not only General Rex, but also Lin Zhou, Qin Qing, Wang Meng, and twenty elite soldiers of the Civilization Guardian Legion. His expression shifted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

"General, what is this?"

"Karon, someone has reported you for colluding with the Void Sect, attacking the supply lines, and causing the disappearance of three hundred soldiers." General Rex's voice was ice-cold. "Do you have anything to say?"

Karon fell silent for a moment, then smiled.

"General, you have been with me for thirty years, yet you believe an outsider over me?"

"The evidence is right here." General Rex pushed Lin Zhou's investigation report in front of him.

Karon opened the report. Looking at the data, the time comparisons, and the records of void energy fluctuations, the smile on his face gradually froze.

"This evidence is more than enough to send you to a military tribunal." General Rex stood up. "Karon, this is your last chance. Will you confess, or will you resist?"

Karon remained silent for a long time.

Then, the look in his eyes changed.

He was no longer a loyal deputy commander, but a believer of the Void Sect.

"General, you are wrong. Guixu is not the end, but a rebirth."

His divine kingdom suddenly expanded—the walls of the iron castle were no longer dark gold, but a grayish-white. What flowed along the walls were no longer defensive runes, but the distorted symbols of the Void Sect.

[Karon · Corrupted Form]

- Rank: LV850 (Initial Stage of high-tier divine power)

- Divine Kingdom: Iron Divine Kingdom → Void Divine Kingdom

- Characteristics: Guixu Erosion, Rule Contamination, Consciousness Devouring

- Status: Fully Corrupted

A flash of pain crossed General Rex's eyes.

"Lin Zhou, do it."

Lin Zhou took a step forward, the Sword of Civilization in hand and the green lotus sword at his waist. Su Yueyao's moonlight expanded, its silver-white brilliance illuminating the grayish-white divine kingdom. The Dragon Vein Golden Scale roared, its Dragon Breath vaporizing the void energy.

[Combat · Data]

- Lin Zhou's Rank: LV6700 (Middle Stage of great divine power)

- Karon's Rank: LV850 (Initial Stage of high-tier divine power)

- Disparity: Massive

Karon was no match. In less than thirty seconds, his divine kingdom was washed into tatters by the river of civilization. He fell to one knee, his godhead integrity plummeting from 100% to 20%.

"General... you... cannot kill... the Void..."

General Rex walked up to him and crouched down.

"Karon, you've been with me for thirty years. I saved your life, and you saved mine. I always treated you as a brother."

"Why?"

Karon raised his head, his eyes already devoid of life.

"Because... I was afraid of dying. Guixu said... as long as I pledged allegiance to it... I would not die..."

"But you are about to die now."

Karon smiled.

"At least... I tried..."

His eyes closed, his godhead integrity dropping to zero, and his divine fire was extinguished.

[Karon · Fall]

General Rex stood up, his back turned to Lin Zhou.

"Lin Zhou, thank you."

"General, this is not your fault."

"I know. But he has been with me for thirty years..." General Rex's voice choked up slightly. "I actually failed to notice that he was contaminated."

"The erosion of Guixu is silent and stealthy. If it weren't for the Fire of Civilization, I wouldn't have noticed either."

General Rex turned around and looked at Karon's corpse.

"Clean it up. Do not let anyone else know that the Deputy Commander of the Seventh War Zone was a believer of the Void Sect."

"Yes, sir."

Lin Zhou walked out of the headquarters and stood on the city wall.

Qin Qing followed him up.

"Captain, Karon is dead, but the Cardinal is still out there. Who actually masterminded the truth behind the supply line disappearance case—Karon or the Cardinal?"

"Both. Karon provided the patrol schedule and time windows, and the Cardinal carried out the attacks. The two cooperated, each getting what they needed."

"Now that Karon is dead, the Cardinal has lost his inside agent. Will he still continue to attack the supply lines?"

"He will. But not in the same way." Lin Zhou looked in the direction of the Chaos Star Domain. "He will change his approach."

"Then what should we do?"

"Wait. He will eventually show his slip-ups."

Lin Zhou walked down the city wall and returned to his barracks. The Fire of Civilization burned, illuminating the road ahead as well as the enemies hiding in the dark.