Such a huge incident had happened in Freiden Free City; there was no way it could be kept under wraps.
After a few days of dissemination, at least the people here had a general understanding of the situation.
The Rockmorgan Family had been authorized to conduct research on a certain type of crystal, but during the process, they veered off course and began researching a dangerous project.
What was even more alarming was that the person responsible for this project was the hidden leader of the Clown Gang.
Although Ran naturally did not take the Clown Gang seriously, the people here had some knowledge of them, knowing that their superior was an organization called the Supreme Society, of which Professor Swina was the first discovered member.
Today, the Supreme Judge at the scene was a dark-skinned woman, but she had three glowing screens floating above her head, containing the people Yu Jing mentioned who “did not need to be physically present.”
Xu Chuyao was very envious, sitting comfortably at home holding a video conference to get things done, unlike herself who had just endured a thorough investigation and had to travel thousands of miles to attend in person.
Among the three screens, one was even completely empty.
“Alright, let’s begin,” the dark-skinned woman said. “Is this incident the personal act of Swina, or is it related to the Rockmorgan Family? Before we answer that question, let’s first review a segment of the interrogation record.”
She projected a video onto the massive screen behind her, showing Swina handcuffed and quietly sitting behind a table.
The interrogators asked him about the Supreme Society, but they received very few answers.
“I am a mid-level member with low rank in the Society. My understanding of them is as limited as the Clown Gang’s understanding of me. I don’t know who they really are. I only know I’ve had a smooth path — smoothly entering the family’s Research Institute, smoothly becoming a supervisor.”
The video stopped there, and everyone’s gaze turned to the person standing at the podium.
Edward adjusted the position of his emerald staff and calmly said, “Our selections at the Research Institute have always prioritized professionalism. Simply put, Professor Swina is the highest-ranked Earth-element Spirit Power User in the Institute. Deputy Supervisor Fort is similarly ranked, though at a slightly lower level. In addition, Professor Swina’s letter of recommendation was personally written by the Principal of Freiden Academy, spanning several pages.”
It was perfectly normal for a Principal to write a recommendation letter for an outstanding graduate from their own school.
It was also reasonable that the family considered the recommendation of the local Spirit Power Academy’s Principal when arranging personnel.
Logically, there was no issue, but Edward’s implication was clear: even the family itself was unsure if anyone had assisted Swina in this matter.
His promotion path had indeed been smooth, but he also had some connections and influence—each step was explainable.
The dark-skinned woman exchanged opinions with the people around her, mainly observing the reactions in the two active video screens above. Without further comment, she continued to ask:
“In terms of crystal research, why did the Rockmorgan Family pursue an unauthorized project?”
“Because the authorized project hit a dead end,” Edward answered too honestly, leaving others momentarily speechless.
“So you insisted on having a research outcome,” the dark-skinned woman pressed, “to gain dominant control over the crystals?”
Edward did not answer immediately. Twirling his staff slowly, he studied everyone’s expressions.
“I think humanity is truly incredible. You know, at the very beginning, we were feeble upright creatures trying to conquer this world with our agile hands. First, we mastered stone—the Stone Age—then various crops, livestock… eventually all life.”
Xu Chuyao noticed that the young girl next to her, Xiaopingli, had already fallen into a daze.
“What is he trying to say?” Beti whispered softly, “The tone is so high.”
“Later, with the Spirit Power outbreak, the era of human supremacy ended. During the Spirit Power Age, the only thing we have mastered so far is mineral ores. Why? Because it’s a good start, just like our prehistoric ancestors—we are retracing the path we once took.”
Edward spoke the last sentence as a question, then smiled to himself: “No, there is only one reason—among all races affected by Spirit Power, stone is the only thing without consciousness, the only thing that won’t resist us.”
On the Eurasian Grasslands, the horns of Black Mountain Sheep tore into fresh, bloody wounds.
In the deep mountains, the Tiger Roar made people dread approaching.
Towering Treants rose from the ground, even larger than the Eiffel Tower.
Along the South Asian Border, rapidly growing Ancient Fungi stained the land black.
He released the emerald staff and opened his arms toward everyone: “But now, these stones that emit strange lights tell us the situation is different. Under the influence of Spirit Power, even lifeless stones are changing.”
The venue fell completely silent. Even Beti dared not whisper because the quiet was too conspicuous.
Edward looked again at the dark-skinned woman and bowed slightly: “Supreme Judge, please tell me, as humans trying to regain global supremacy, should we fully grasp this power before it spirals out of control, or should we treat it as a new, high-risk threat?”
The place where Shen Ning had gone was not far from the main venue, basically just across a street. But the atmosphere was incomparable; if one didn’t know, one might mistake it for an ordinary office.
Upon entering, she first drew a good card. Then upon entering the main hall, the young girl found there were still many people inside.
“Next, who’s next?”
The front desk called out. Shen Ning was about to raise her hand when a middle-aged man rushed forward.
“It’s my turn, it’s my turn! I’m a supervisor in the Transportation Department. Listen, sir, I just deliver goods. Others just drop a box on the truck, and I handle the dispatch. If there’s no paperwork, it’s fine to take the cargo through X-Ray. But if there’s paperwork with a Confidential Goods Warning Symbol, how dare I look at it?”
“Hello, sir, I understand your situation, but it’s no use explaining here. Please go inside and make your statement.”
Shen Ning silently watched this scene, then looked at her own ticket number, seemingly still needing to wait for several rounds.
“Miss, come have a seat, you still have a long wait.” A burly man waved at her.
Looks like she had to wait a while longer, so she sat down.
No sooner had she sat than the man began chatting.
“Sigh, you know, this whole incident is really frustrating. When they first brought the stuff, they said it was confidential goods, told us to place and guard it well but not to look at it. Now that something happened, they ask why we didn’t check. How could I check beforehand?”
He seemed quite indignant. The girl didn’t know how to respond, so she just nodded silently.
“Oh, by the way, I didn’t introduce myself—I’m responsible for the city’s material management. The building collapse was because the underground warehouse stored those things, and those things got in because I signed off on it… Could I not sign? When someone brings a permit signed from above, if I don’t sign, am I defying orders?”
While grumbling, he glanced up and down at the girl:
“Miss, how old are you? Do you have any responsibility in this? But at your age, it probably isn’t much.”
Shen Ning shook her head: “I don’t know.”
“Then tell me, what connection do you have with this incident? Let me help you analyze.”
The young girl thought carefully: “The orders and catalysts for the monsters’ actions might have been provided by me.”
Is that so… huh, where did the man go?
Shen Ning looked around and saw the big man had already moved to the other side, blocked by a pillar, only his voice audible but not his figure.
“Well then, miss, we’re strangers meeting by chance, haven’t exchanged many words, but I have some difficulties. Don’t tell people you know me.”
Yet in reality, when Shen Ning walked into a small room inside and saw the staff here, their attitude toward her was quite good.
“Although we don’t know exactly what you did in the Research Institute—our rank is not high enough for such secrets—it’s confirmed above that you acted under duress and without knowledge, and…” The staff carefully reviewed the file, “…you were also one of the key executors in the capture of the main criminals.”
“Something like that,” Shen Ning smiled slightly, “provided a bit of help to the main force.”
While Swina was being subdued by two teachers to the point of near suffocation, she quietly delivered a sneak attack nearby to avenge Liu Shu’s shooting.
“Impressive.”
In the end, she only had to fill out some personal information and a declaration of unwillingness and ignorance, then was arranged to leave through the back door.
“If there’s really nothing much wrong here, then let’s continue discussing personal matters,” a voice appeared beside her ear, “This is something to resolve.”
It was the voice of the Sexually Repressed Shadow.
The young girl’s small private issue was actually raised during the second half of the “One Day Two Nights Battle.”
“Even if Chuyao has a 1% problem, don’t you have 99% fault? Chuyao just wants to tease you. What’s her fault? It’s because you’re so hard to tease that she resorts to this.”
This was what the Broken Shadow said in the early hours yesterday, just after regaining its original determination—a complete 180-degree change that stunned everyone.
Though the words didn’t sound quite right, after careful thought, the girls found there was some truth to it.
First, consider their different time lines and situations: the Sexually Repressed Shadow was so repressed that it was almost hyper-feminine; just a little spark would set it off. Perhaps Chuyao’s casual laugh would make it furious and want to retaliate.
The Broken Shadow was too pure, also easily teased, like the kind of girl in cartoons who puffs her cheeks and sulks when her girlfriend plays a little trick.
As for the Milky Ning Reflection…
“I don’t know, Chuyao…”
“Alright, we get it. You don’t have to say anymore.”
Correct—bugged, giving up thinking, spinning left, Abbas sweet, Xu Fuji’s.
In summary, looking at it this way, it seemed it was really because Shen Ning herself was too hard to tease, causing Chuyao to get carried away and come up with a mischievous idea.
“Even so, that’s just too incredible.” Shen Ning muttered to herself.
She knew what the reflections meant: find a way to stabilize small emotional outbursts, so that every three days there’s a small anger and every five days a big one, and Chuyao wouldn’t have to fake death anymore.
“Don’t be so pessimistic. Trust me, and you’re trusting yourself.” The Sexually Repressed Shadow said confidently. “People named Shen Ning always have some part of them that loves to get angry.”
Ran, you say it with sunshine and confidence, but on closer listen, that didn’t sound like a compliment.
From the back door to the street, Yu Jing waved at her: “Here, are you okay? Were you hassled inside?”
The young girl gently shook her head.
No harassment, not many questions asked. It felt like just going through the motions.
“Good, the Principal also told me nothing would happen… Let’s go wait for Xu Chuyao.”
The two returned to the car, driving slowly back to the place where Xu Chuyao had left earlier.
In front of the gate shaped like a Libra scale was a pedestrian-only street, and vehicles mostly parked on the opposite side.
Yu Jing parked the car. Shen Ning had already stepped out and was walking toward the opposite side of the street because she saw Xu Chuyao coming out of the gate from a distance.
But the next moment, she saw an exotic-looking young girl suddenly kick out from somewhere and grab her girlfriend’s sleeve.
Heart
【Villain Points +50】