The video playback ended, yet the private room remained deathly silent.
It was only when Luo Tianyu placed the mobile phone back onto the table with a sharp clack that it sounded like a bell waking the other two from their daze, allowing the silence in the room to finally dissipate.
“Was that video… taken by your people?” Lu Yunze asked.
“It was taken by the Execution Division, and I was actually present at the scene.” Commissioner Liu tucked his mobile phone away, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Old Master Luo, if what that captive in the video said is true, don’t you think it explains many things?”
Why Lu Yunze and his companions were frequently targeted by assassins, and why they were attacked by a Raging Mist Master immediately after getting off the plane—all of this could be explained if Lu Yunze was colluding with the Black Star Cult. Everything would make sense.
“Aren’t you going to investigate whether what this person said is true or false?” Lu Yunze asked again.
“Is that not why we have come to find you, Mr. Lu Yunze?” Commissioner Liu smiled. “Considering you are the Old Master’s foster son, we did not send men to arrest you directly. We hope you will cooperate with the Execution Division now and accept an investigation.”
Originally, he had intended to discuss this matter with Luo Tianyu alone, but he hadn’t expected Lu Yunze to come here directly.
This had saved quite a bit of trouble.
Only now did Lu Yunze understand the reason Luo Tianyu had called him here.
He glanced at the Head of the Luo Family, who had remained calm and composed. Finally, the other man spoke.
“Yunze, there is something I hope you understand.”
“Uncle Luo, please speak.”
“I spent half my life’s effort to build the Luo Family to its current state. Only I truly know the hardships involved.”
Luo Tianyu narrowed his eyes at him.
“Precisely because I know how hard it was to achieve, I cherish it exceptionally. I will never allow anyone to snatch away what belongs to my Luo Family. Do you understand my meaning?”
“I do.”
Luo Yao was Luo Tianyu’s most beloved daughter. The pathetic wretch in the video had directly claimed that Lu Yunze was working with the Black Star Cult to target Luo Yao. This undoubtedly touched his bottom line.
When he was younger, Lu Yunze had faced a kind Uncle Luo, but now that he was an adult, he had to face the Head of the Luo Family. He could still be kind and gentle, but when facing an enemy, he would show no mercy.
Even if the other party was Lu Yunze, whom he had adopted.
This was the first time Lu Yunze felt a bone-chilling coldness emanating from Luo Tianyu.
Lu Yunze stared at the teacup on the coffee table, the tea inside reflecting his heavy expression.
Lu Yunze’s mind began to race in a mental storm.
Working with the Black Star Cult was non-existent; someone clearly wanted to frame him.
Thinking back to the previous assassination attempts, it was hard not to suspect the same group was behind this. Since they couldn’t succeed by force, they were resorting to underhanded methods?
He had to find evidence to prove his innocence, otherwise, he would truly be taken away.
Even if he could clear his suspicion later, the schemes aimed at sowing discord would only increase, and the people willing to trust him would grow fewer and fewer.
He needed to recall carefully where the problem lay.
Where exactly could he find a breakthrough?
The evidence Commissioner Liu had presented was that video.
“Commissioner Liu, is the video in your hand… guaranteed to be real?”
“Haven’t I said it once already? Of course it is real.” Commissioner Liu frowned. “If you think there’s a problem, you’re free to watch it again and speak up if you have any questions. Or perhaps you have other evidence that can prove you have no connection to the Black Star Cult?”
“No, I have no evidence.”
Lu Yunze shook his head. He had no direct evidence to prove himself, so he requested to watch the video one more time.
This time, he carefully observed the captive being interrogated, focusing his gaze on a single point.
The video resolution was very low, and the audio was somewhat unclear. The footage even shook during filming. Trying to see the small details was truly difficult.
Lu Yunze, think fast! What was the difference between those assassins and this captive?
The first batch of assassins was a sniper.
The second batch of assassins was a group of street thugs.
The third batch of assassins was the Raging Mist Master.
The first and third batches were dead, leaving only the second batch alive.
Wait, the second batch?
Lu Yunze suddenly thought of something and asked.
“Can I make a phone call?”
“Be my guest.” Commissioner Liu nodded.
Lu Yunze took out his mobile phone and dialed a certain person’s number. After waiting silently for half a minute, the call finally connected.
“Mr. Lu, is there something wrong?”
“Officer Wang, regarding that group of thugs you took back, how are they?”
“Ah, about that…”
As Officer Wang explained, the haze in Lu Yunze’s eyes gradually dissipated, and he let out a long breath.
“I see. I understand.”
After hanging up the phone, Lu Yunze didn’t speak for a long time, making Commissioner Liu grow impatient.
“Mr. Lu Yunze, can we go now?”
“I cannot go with you.”
“What?” Commissioner Liu froze for a moment. “It’s better if you obediently follow orders. The Execution Division won’t make things difficult for you.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to take me back for investigation and verify the authenticity of the evidence in the video?”
“Yes, what about it?”
Lu Yunze met his gaze and said solemnly:
“There’s no need. That video is fake.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Commissioner Liu’s eyes widened, and Luo Tianyu also looked toward him.
“How can you say the Execution Division…”
Commissioner Liu was interrupted by Luo Tianyu, who signaled Lu Yunze to continue his explanation.
Clearing his throat, Lu Yunze immediately began to explain his evidence:
They had encountered three batches of assassins in total. Although the second batch was the only one taken to the Police Guest Bureau, he had just learned through the phone call that an accident occurred when Officer Wang and the others were interrogating them.
These assassins were all under the same Secret Art. There was an identical Secret Art Sigil on each of their tongues.
Some died just as they were about to reveal information about their master, some committed suicide by biting their tongues to trigger the Secret Art rather than submit, and some were killed by the Secret Art activating on its own even without speaking or committing suicide.
Aside from the third batch’s assassin, the Raging Mist Master, who was clearly high-ranking, the fates of the first two batches were roughly the same. This proved the conspiracy against Lu Yunze and the others was meticulously arranged and would never leave a chance for anyone to leak information.
If the captive’s identity in Commissioner Liu’s video was absolutely certain, then he should have been placed under the same Secret Art.
But after Lu Yunze carefully watched the video, he saw no trace of a pattern on the man’s tongue. Furthermore, the fact that he could completely reveal the information about Lu Yunze’s cooperation with the Black Star Cult was very suspicious.
“Commissioner Liu, your luck is just too good. We couldn’t get a single word out before the people died.”
Lu Yunze’s voice grew louder and louder.
“Why is the captive you caught so conveniently free of any Secret Art and able to answer exactly what you wanted to hear?”
Commissioner Liu clutched his mobile phone tightly, his face turning extremely ugly.
“If there’s a problem, we can talk after we reach the Execution Division. You might not trust me, but surely you trust the Execution Division?”
“Funny thing is, I really don’t.” Lu Yunze quipped.
Because the Execution Division in Lan City was so useless, it almost gave Lu Yunze the illusion that all regional branches were incompetent.
“I am not someone who doesn’t know how to repay a debt of gratitude. Since I grew up in the Luo Family, I will certainly consider the interests of the Luo Family. Moreover, Luo Yao is my younger sister; even if I were possessed, I would never conspire with outsiders to harm her. If I did such a thing, wouldn’t I be a beast condemned by all?”
“You—”
“I’ve laid out my words. If you still want to take me away, please bring forth more powerful evidence to refute me and make me truly concede.”
Commissioner Liu almost stood up, but he managed to calm down and looked at Luo Tianyu.
“Old Master Luo, surely you understand the prestige of the Execution Division? This is also for the sake of our future cooperation.”
So, knowing he can’t make me submit, he’s counting on someone else?
Lu Yunze also looked at Luo Tianyu. This man was the one who held all decision-making power here; those words earlier were actually intended for his ears.
After a long silence, Luo Tianyu sighed and then clapped his hands forcefully.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The rhythmic sound made the other two feel a sense of dread.
“As expected of Lu Yucheng’s son. You really didn’t disappoint me.”
Luo Tianyu smiled and even patted Lu Yunze’s shoulder.
“I am very satisfied with your performance.”
“Huh?” Lu Yunze was stunned.
“Old Master Luo, are you going to shield him?” Commissioner Liu couldn’t hold back anymore.
Luo Tianyu signaled for him not to be anxious and to sit back down.
“I believe the Execution Division will not make things difficult for Yunze, and I believe you will give me face. If you want to take him away, of course you can.”
“Old Master Luo is indeed a sensible man…”
“But before you take Lu Yunze away, answer one question for me.”
“Please speak, Old Master Luo.” Commissioner Liu cupped his hands.
“Where do you intend to take him?”
Commissioner Liu’s expression froze, then shifted into a stiff, flattering smile.
“Old Master Luo, you really like to joke. To the Execution Division base, of course. Where else could we go?”
Luo Tianyu only chuckled softly. “How coincidental. I also have evidence in my hand.”
He also took out a phone and played a recording. A lively and somewhat familiar female voice came from it:
“Um, Head of the Luo Family, I am Lu Ziyi from the Execution Division. If you receive this recording, it means we are still searching for the missing Commissioner Liu. We will report to you as soon as we find him…”
Huh?
That voice was indeed Lu Ziyi’s.
Lu Yunze felt his scalp go numb. If Commissioner Liu was currently in a “missing” state, then the person sitting next to him was…
Just as Luo Tianyu was about to put his phone away, the “Commissioner Liu” suddenly pulled out a small handgun hidden at his waist and pulled the trigger repeatedly at him.
Click! Click! Click!
The imposter froze for a moment. Sensing an icy touch in his palm, he realized that at some point, the weapon in his hand had actually frozen. Frost had blocked the muzzle and was rapidly spreading along the body of the gun.
Luo Tianyu’s expression clearly meant:
When did you get the impression that I came here alone?
The imposter tried to draw his phone directly, but Lu Yunze, who was beside him, delivered a kick to his wrist, sending the handgun flying from his hand.
Since he wasn’t the real Commissioner Liu, Lu Yunze had no reason to show mercy.
“You people really are persistent. Can’t you stay quiet even on the Luo Family’s turf?”
The imposter let out a cold snort. As Lu Yunze rushed toward him again, the man pulled something from his pocket and threw it onto the floor.
Thick smoke immediately billowed up, accompanied by the sound of a window breaking.
When the dust cleared, the imposter’s figure was already nowhere to be found.
***