Chapter 136 proposes to

Cold Kite looked at the three preliminary interrogation records in her hand, her brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

"Nonsense."

She casually flipped through a few pages and, somewhat speechless, tossed the records to her deputy, Gao Yu, standing beside her.

There was absolutely nothing of substance recorded in these files!

Aside from the basic personal identity information of the three individuals, when faced with questioning from the Elementary investigators...

They were like gourds with their mouths sawed shut; they either played dumb or talked around the subject.

What was most headache-inducing was that the demands these three made were practically identical and extremely arrogant.

If they weren't demanding to see her, the Deputy Director, they were calling out Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian Zongtian by name, insisting on meeting him!

"If I don't see the right person, I won't say anything."

This arrogant declaration written at the end of the records made Cold Kite so angry she almost wanted to laugh.

A Great Grandmaster of the Shentong Realm—was that someone just anyone could see?

He was the stabilizing force against the alien races and cults for the entire Jiangnan Province!

Even as the high-ranking Deputy Director of the Wuyue City branch...

When she normally wanted to see Old Zhao...

It could only be during the province-wide high-level internal debriefing meetings.

If it weren't for the fact that Old Zhao happened to be in Wuyue City recently to visit an old friend living in seclusion...

Even if Cold Kite had heaven-defying capabilities, she would hardly have the chance to exchange a few words with the Great Grandmaster in private.

And now, three youngsters whose hair hadn't even fully grown in, with the highest cultivation being no more than the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood...

Had waltzed into a dragon's den like the Investigation Bureau and were demanding to see the Great Grandmaster?

If it weren't for the fact that these three young people actually held something that piqued her interest...

Cold Kite would have long ago kicked these three ignorant little brats into the Black Prison detention center.

She would have locked them up for forty-eight hours first to let them cool their heads.

"I'd like to see exactly what kind of game you're playing."

Cold Kite straightened her black uniform trench coat.

She pushed open the heavy iron door of the first interrogation room on the left side of the corridor.

...

Interrogation Room One.

The moment the door opened, Liu Qing, who had been sitting anxiously in the interrogation chair, immediately stood up as if struck by an electric shock.

When she saw the silver cross badge on Cold Kite's chest representing her status as Deputy Director...

Liu Qing did not hesitate for a second.

She directly handed over the blue glass bottle she had been clutching tightly in her hand.

Cold Kite stepped forward but did not take it.

Instead, she used her Essence Power to levitate the glass bottle, scrutinizing it closely from a distance.

"Hmm?"

Cold Kite's gaze instantly became sharp as a knife.

This was the extremely pure residual filth of a Heart-Eroding Cult technique, perfectly stripped away!

Even through the glass bottle, she could feel that sinister, decaying aura.

What surprised her most was that this residue was handled so well; the stripping technique was textbook-level!

"This is definitely not a method an ordinary person could achieve."

"It seems there really is an expert guiding this from behind."

After Cold Kite confirmed the authenticity of the item...

She became certain that the Investigation Bureau would definitely have a significant harvest today.

She gestured with her hand.

Gao Yu, standing by the door, immediately walked over carrying a pitch-black metal box.

He carefully and tightly sealed away the blue bottle containing the key evidence.

Having done all this, Cold Kite pulled out the chair behind the interrogation table and sat down.

Her gaze was like a blade, staring fixedly at Liu Qing as she spoke slowly:

"This is indeed the aura of a Heart-Eroding Cult evil technique."

"Now, answer me. Who gave this to you?"

"You ran all the way here—what exactly is your purpose?"

Facing the questioning and pressure of a Soaring Realm Expert...

Liu Qing still couldn't stop an instinctive surge of fear from rising in her heart.

Her legs felt a bit weak, and her face turned pale.

However, at the thought of her weak sister lying on the hospital bed...

And the towering figure like a deity in her dream...

She forced herself to rally her spirits, gritted her teeth, and followed the instructions given by the 'divine statue' in her dream.

She answered the question truthfully:

"Deputy Director... my sister..."

Is an extremely rare Wood-type latent ability Awakener."

"She was targeted by a demon of the Heart-Eroding Cult and was cursed with a 'Qi and Blood Severing Technique,' nearly losing her life."

Liu Qing took a deep breath, her tone becoming somewhat relieved.

"Just last night, a... a Senior manifested and saved my sister."

"Then, He guided me, telling me to come to the Wuyue City Alien Cult Investigation Bureau first thing this morning."

"To personally hand over this residual evil technique He intercepted to Deputy Director Cold Kite!"

"Furthermore, that Senior repeatedly instructed that I must meet Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian Zongtian!"

"He said... what He has can help me exchange for resources to reach the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood, or even Breakthrough to the Origin Opening Realm."

After saying all this, Liu Qing let out a long sigh of relief and slumped into her chair, as if she had finally completed a monumental task.

However, hearing these words, Cold Kite laughed.

"Ha..."

Cold Kite laughed out of pure anger, her lips curling into a mocking arc.

"Good, very good indeed."

"You didn't come to our Investigation Bureau to actively seek protection."

"You actually ran here to sell intelligence and negotiate a deal?!"

Cold Kite no longer intended to be polite; she slammed her hand onto the metal tabletop.

With a deafening bang, she shouted sharply:

"Liu Qing! Do you know what you are doing right now?!"

"As a citizen of the Federation, the moment you discover traces of a cult..."

"You have an obligation to unconditionally cooperate with the Investigation Bureau's work!"

"Withholding information, or using it as a bargaining chip to blackmail the Investigation Bureau..."

"Based on this alone, I can treat you as a cult accomplice right now and take you directly into the Black Prison for interrogation!"

Facing Cold Kite's intimidation...

She did not back down, only giving a bitter smile.

"Deputy Director, I didn't want to blackmail you."

"The identity of that cult demon is the Chief Physician of Wuyue City Yangxin Hospital, Zhang Dehai!"

"He secretly discovered my sister's status as a latent Awakener while treating her."

"He then used the excuse of medical treatment to plant an evil technique in my sister, attempting to slowly drain her life force."

"Deputy Director, regarding the case, I only know this much."

"As for who that Senior is or what larger conspiracy there might be, I know nothing of other matters!"

"That Senior only told me that as long as I came here and told you these things truthfully..."

"And successfully met the Grandmaster, I would get the chance to advance to the Origin Opening Realm."

"Beyond that, I really don't know anything else."

Hearing the specific name and identity of "Yangxin Hospital Chief Physician Zhang Dehai"...

Cold Kite's eyes narrowed, and without any nonsense...

She directly utilized her Divine Soul power through the internal communication network...

To issue an emergency arrest and lockdown order for Yangxin Hospital to the Field Special Operations Team.

However, at this moment, Cold Kite's heart...

Was filled with many doubts that could not be resolved.

As an experienced investigator, judging from Liu Qing's micro-expressions, heart rate, and the stability of her Qi and blood flow while speaking...

She could conclude that Liu Qing was not lying; every word she said was, in all probability, true.

But the problem was...

"What kind of intelligence could possibly be worth disturbing Old Zhao?"

Cold Kite calculated silently in her heart.

Merely the identity of a cultist who is a hospital Chief Physician?

While this was an important lead, at most, he was just a low-level lackey of a branch.

A case of this level was simply not qualified to be reported to the Great Grandmaster.

"But this matter does involve the 'Heart-Eroding Cult,' which had been dormant for so long but has now resurfaced."

"It just so happens that Old Zhao is staying in Wuyue City recently. Reporting this bizarre event, which seems like a Divine Revelation, to him..."

"Is indeed not a problem."

"After all, in Jiangnan Province, no one cares more about the movements of these cultists than he does."

"However, before that, I'll wait until I've finished interrogating the remaining two people."

"And piece together all the clues first."

Cold Kite took one last look at Liu Qing, who sat somewhat anxiously in the interrogation chair...

Then turned and walked out of the first interrogation room.