Chapter 140 Director Xu Yan, a Smile Conceals a Sharp Edge

[A warm, smiling voice rings in your ear.]

[Accompanied by a broad, warm palm.]

[Patting your right shoulder neither too lightly nor too heavily.]

["Buzz—"]

[In your relaxed state, you suddenly hear someone speaking in your ear out of the blue.]

[And you hadn't sensed any footsteps or airflow fluctuations beforehand.]

[If this were any ordinary person with a guilty conscience forcing a calm facade...]

[Under this intense, momentary stimulus, they would likely uncontrollably reveal a flaw.]

[For instance, a sudden contraction of the pupils or a momentary disruption in breathing.]

[Or perhaps a stiff movement made subconsciously to hide panic.]

[This is one of the most common psychological tactics used by interrogation veterans of the Alien Cult Investigation Bureau.]

[After the first stage of high-pressure interrogation ends, the subject is placed in a seemingly safe rest area.]

[When the subject lets down their guard, thinking they've successfully bluffed their way through, and begins to eat or rest...]

[Suddenly appearing, providing a certain stimulus.]

[In this transition from extreme relaxation to sudden shock...]

[Humans cannot control micro-expressions and subconscious reactions.]

[If one has a guilty conscience, that subconscious performance in that moment absolutely cannot be hidden.]

[But you are different.]

[This shallow psychological game is something you've experienced countless times during your century-long simulation career.]

[You've long since lost count of how many times you've been through it.]

[Under the dual buffs of Regret of a Thousand Autumns (Gold)'s "Reality Overlay" and your absolute control over your own body...]

[You even forcibly suppressed your defensive instincts.]

[You showed no signs of panic, naturally following his lead and turning around.]

["Delicious! Truly delicious!"]

[Your mouth was still stuffed with a large piece of juicy exotic beast meat.]

[A bright, carefree smile appeared on your face, one of pure satisfaction from eating fine food.]

["Uncle, I've never eaten such a delicious boxed meal in my life!"]

["This meat is amazing, ten thousand times better than the braised pork in our school cafeteria!"]

[As you spoke, you looked up.]

[Looking at the person behind you.]

[This was a middle-aged man you had never seen before.]

[He was of average build, slightly plump, and ordinary-looking.]

[The type who would definitely not stand out in a crowd.]

[He wore an amiable smile, looking like a kind-hearted uncle from next door.]

[However, the deep black Investigation Bureau uniform he wore, and the dark gold cross-sword badge pinned to his chest...]

[As well as the two crossed star patterns on his epaulets representing power...]

[All of them proclaimed his identity to the outside world.]

[This person was the highest-ranking official of the Wuyue City Alien Cult Investigation Bureau.]

[Director, Xu Yan!]

[A genuine Mountain-Sea Realm Grandmaster!]

[Clearly, your appearance as a simple foodie...]

[Did not show any unusual emotions, successfully passing his micro-expression test.]

[Xu Yan wasn't disappointed; after all, this was just a casual probe.]

[He replied with a chuckle.]

["As long as it's delicious. I was afraid our food here might be too coarse."]

["And not to the taste of you young people."]

[Looking at his "good old man" passerby appearance...]

[Although you knew perfectly well in your heart that he must be the Director of the Investigation Bureau...]

[In your current persona's awareness, you had to pretend to know nothing of the specific details.]

[Moreover, even in the last simulation, you had never met this Director.]

[The people who dealt with you from start to finish were only Cold Kite and Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian.]

["It's not coarse at all! Uncle, are you an investigator here too? You're really too kind."]

[You pretended to be a bit constrained, putting down your chopsticks and moving to stand up.]

["Hey, sit, sit, sit. It's just a meal."]

["There aren't that many rules. Just call me Uncle Xu."]

[Xu Yan waved his hand and pulled over a chair from nearby.]

[He was actually holding an identical boxed meal.]

[He sat side-by-side with you, opened the lid, and began to eat heartily.]

["Mhm, today's braised Tusked Boar meat from the cafeteria is indeed stewed just right."]

[As Xu Yan ate, he began to chat with you casually.]

["Young man, how old are you this year?"]

["Seventeen, Uncle Xu."]

["From Longnan City? Where do you live? What do your parents do?"]

["I live in the school dormitory."]

["My parents... passed away very early. I'm an orphan and attended high school on federal pensions."]

[You answered truthfully, a trace of gloom appropriately appearing in your eyes.]

[Xu Yan nodded and picked up a piece of green vegetable with his chopsticks.]

[While asking about basic information that he clearly already knew inside out from a thorough investigation...]

[He was secretly observing whether your state while answering was natural.]

[After chatting for about seven or eight minutes, the atmosphere seemed completely harmonious.]

[You were like a high school student opening up to the concern of an elder.]

[Just then.]

[Xu Yan swallowed the food in his mouth and seemingly casually wiped his mouth with a tissue.]

[But his tone suddenly became somewhat sharp, pointing directly at the core:]

["By the way, Little Li."]

["When did you come into contact with that so-called Senior in your dreams?"]

["Also, as a student still in high school..."]

["Why did you dare to believe the words of a Senior you haven't even met..."]

["And dare to run all the way to our Wuyue City Investigation Bureau alone to make a report?"]

[Although his gaze was still on the lunch box, an invisible aura belonging to a Mountain-Sea Realm Grandmaster...]

[Had already firmly locked onto you.]

["What if that dream was fake?"]

["What if it was just some rare illusion-type ability? Or someone playing a deliberate prank?"]

[Xu Yan turned his head, his originally kind eyes now becoming as sharp as knives.]

["Your martial arts cultivation is very good, Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood at seventeen—you have a great future ahead."]

["But if, because of such an uncertain matter, because you reported false information..."]

["Our Investigation Bureau wasted a large amount of manpower and resources..."]

["Little Li, have you thought about the fact that you might suffer severe punishment because of it?"]

["This will leave a record, potentially affecting your future for a lifetime."]

["When that time comes, what will you do?"]

[These words were like a needle hidden in cotton.]

[Xu Yan applied pressure step by step.]

[Facing this kind of intimidating concern from a Mountain-Sea Director...]

[You stopped eating.]

[You put down your chopsticks, and the honest smile on your face faded.]

[Leaving only bitterness and helplessness]

["Uncle Xu... no, Lord Investigator."]

[You gave a bitter smile, meeting Xu Yan's scrutinizing gaze.]

[Your tone carried a hint of desolate self-mockery.]

["Do you think... I have any room for choice?"]

["First of all, do you think an ordinary high school student..."]

["Facing the demands of a mysterious powerhouse who can silently infiltrate my dreams and leave those visual messages..."]

["Do I have the right to say no?"]

[You clenched your fists, your knuckles turning white.]

["If I didn't do as told, what would happen to me?"]

["I'm only in the Qi and Blood Realm; I don't even have the ability to resist."]

["Secondly, I came to submit the evidence."]

["One reason was to fulfill the Senior's request, which I was forced into."]

["But the second... was to seek the protection of the Investigation Bureau!"]

[You took a deep breath, your tone becoming incredibly sincere and earnest.]

["Although I don't know how many people are involved behind this, or what exactly is going to happen in Longnan City..."]

["But since the matter has found its way to me, I can only choose to trust the authorities!"]

["As long as I can truly get in touch with the Investigation Bureau, I believe that at the very least, my life won't be in danger."]

["Even if the dream is ultimately proven false, even if I am punished..."]

["It's still much better than living in fear every day, constantly worrying about my life."]

["As for what I told the Deputy Director before, about wanting to exchange information for Origin Opening Realm resources..."]

[You shook your head self-mockingly.]

["That was also instructed by that Senior."]

["He told me that when talking to the Investigation Bureau, only by showing a strong desire..."]

["Will they believe the information you provide more readily."]

["People without desires or needs are often the most suspicious."]

["To be honest, Lord Investigator."]

["What Origin Opening Realm resources? To me, they are just an extravagant hope."]

["Besides, I don't think that just based on these few photos, I could exchange them for a treasure as precious as a kaiyuan stone."]

["If I can keep my life in this terrifying incident..."]

["And peacefully take the College Entrance Examination next year, I'll already be satisfied."]

[After saying that, you let out a long sigh and picked up your chopsticks again.]

[You lowered your head and shoveled the remaining rice in your lunch box.]

[These words were filled with sincere emotion, sounding as if they were true.]

[After listening, Xu Yan gave you a deep look.]

[This Director, who had seen countless people, did not respond to your words.]

[Nor did he continue to apply pressure with his speech.]

[He simply reached out with his broad palm and gently patted your shoulder.]

["Young man, don't worry."]

[Xu Yan's voice returned to that amiable feeling, carrying a hint of consolation.]

[" Study hard， Cultivate diligently."]

["Everything will come in time."]

[After speaking, he picked up his empty lunch box and turned to leave the rest area.]