Oaks, of course, was a pitiful creature.
When the ship's accompanying medic relayed the examination results to the assembled officials, several faces in the room shifted with barely concealed distaste.
Qin Mianfeng looked incredulous. "Are you saying he was… potentially sexually assaulted by the bandits?"
The medic glanced at him and gave a curt nod, a hint of grim satisfaction in his tone. "While not completed, the attempt was clearly made. There are defensive scratch marks on his thighs and lower back. Furthermore, based on my observation, the trousers he is wearing are not his own; they belong to someone else. The forensics team just confirmed it—the biological tissue under his fingernails matches the DNA of the jailer, whose body has been located. It appears the young man fought back, killed his assailant, and escaped. This aligns with the survivors' testimonies."
The others listened, a mixture of morbid amusement and a sense of karmic justice coloring their thoughts. A faint, almost inaudible whisper came from a female inspector: "What a waste." She glanced at Qin Mianfeng, expecting shared vindication, but found his face etched with suspicion rather than triumph. His eyes flickered, and he quickly countered, "But he allegedly killed all these bandits. If he was locked in a cell, fighting off an assailant, how could he possibly have orchestrated the deaths of the entire gang?"
It was a valid loophole. Qin Mianfeng was quick. The others caught on.
The female inspector raised an eyebrow. "Lying, then. Greedy for the bandits' wealth, most likely." Her voice took on a legal, almost singsong quality. "Under Imperial Statute, if he indeed eliminated these outlaws, the Bandit Suppression & Civil Security Act would grant him legitimate inheritance rights to their ill-gotten assets. The government couldn't simply seize them unless it can be proven he did not commit the acts, the evidence is insufficient, or…" she paused meaningfully, "…he is deceased."
Her words hung in the air. A heavy silence fell.
Qin Mianfeng quickly calculated the potential value of the bandit lair. A realization dawned, laced with contempt. "So, she obviously couldn't have killed them all. Which means the survivors' testimonies must be fabricated. And the only reason for a false testimony…" he concluded with a cold sneer, "…is greed."
Zhou Linlang looked up at him, a flicker of contemplation in her eyes. After a moment, she addressed the room. "Follow procedure. Investigate based on evidence. Avoid preconceptions."
Qin Mianfeng's expression stiffened imperceptibly but smoothed over instantly. He cautiously observed Zhou Linlang, then added with a practiced, self-deprecating smile, "Of course. I may be mistaken. After all, if he truly saved those people… it would render all my efforts somewhat pointless." He offered a bitter chuckle.
The others, swayed by his apparent sincerity, moved to console him, promising a thorough investigation to "establish Oaks's guilt conclusively."
Qin Mianfeng watched Zhou Linlang from the corner of his eye. She showed no particular reaction, already engrossed in another datapad. She was too busy, her purview too high, to linger on this sordid, small-time drama. People like Oaks—the dregs of noble lines—were beneath her notice, just as the truly exceptional prodigies were above it. She existed in a realm of administrative efficacy, unmoved by tales of either extreme depravity or miraculous redemption.
Qin Mianfeng felt a confusing mix of relief and frustration. The spectral elder's voice echoed coldly in his mind. This also means you are currently beneath her serious consideration. A talented youth from a trash planet is still just that. To truly claim a woman of her caliber, the rewards in both tangible benefits and System points would be transformative.
"I understand," Qin Mianfeng murmured inwardly, a determined glint in his eyes. "The more challenging, the more valuable the prize."
He allowed his gaze to drift toward Zhou Linlang, who had walked to a viewport, one hand resting on her hip as she made a call to an external liaison. She had removed her outer robe earlier due to the ship's stifling heat, revealing a form-fitting camel-colored knit sweater. Her neck was slender, her posture unconsciously elegant as she spoke into the comm, a stray strand of hair brushing her cheek. The faint glow of a hexagonal rune on her tiny earlobe hinted at an active spell—a Privacy Ward. Professional, cautious, controlled. No emotion leaked through.
After finishing the call, she turned. Qin Mianfeng had already averted his eyes, adopting a shy, slightly awkward demeanor.
Zhou Linlang showed no reaction. As she put away her communicator, her fingers performed a subtle, intricate motion in the air—an unraveling gesture. The invisible "knot" of the Privacy Ward dissolved, making her next words audible to all.
"Prepare to depart for the Li Conglomerate Mining headquarters."
The team acknowledged in unison. Then Zhou Linlang's gaze settled on Qin Mianfeng. "Young Qin, your involvement with our official business ends here. Do you have a destination? If not, we can drop you off at a secure settlement within X5's jurisdiction to avoid potential repercussions from the Li Group."
Qin Mianfeng was taken aback, a thread of panic tightening in his chest. She's not taking me with her?He had assumed his demonstrated value and her apparent appreciation would secure him a place. She must not have seen my true potential—my casting speed, my wordless conjuration! Damn it, it's all because of that bastard Oaks!
He forced calm into his voice. "Magistrate Zhou, please don't concern yourself with me. Reporting the Li Group was my own choice. I'm not afraid of consequences; otherwise, I wouldn't have acted in the first place." He infused his words with a noble resolve. "I wish to accompany you. Whatever storms come, let us face them together."
It was a skilled rhetorical move, designed to subtly reframe their relationship from "witness and official" to "comrades-in-arms," creating an illusion of shared burden and camaraderie.
Several team members nodded, impressed by his bravery and sense of justice.
Zhou Linlang was silent for a long moment, then turned her face slightly. "Very well."
She instructed an aide to escort Qin Mianfeng to a witness holding room, where he would be protected under formal protocol. Qin Mianfeng disliked the label—it felt restrictive, distancing him from the casual proximity he desired—but he knew better than to push too hard. He accepted with apparent gratitude.
Just as he was leaving, a guard approached with an update.
"The survivors are protesting. They object to us treating Oaks as a criminal under guard. They're demanding proper medical treatment… How should we proceed?"
Treatment was, of course, standard procedure. But the team's personal distaste had led to… delays. Zhou Linlang, unaware of this, frowned slightly, her eyes sweeping over the female inspector and the others. They shifted uncomfortably, offering mumbled excuses. The medic was more forthright. "I was occupied with other cases. I'll attend to him immediately."
Zhou Linlang looked down at her reports, her voice cool and measured. "As a public inspection department, we wield authority. But do not forget there are internal oversight bodies above us. Conglomerate tactics are formidable. If they seize upon even a minor procedural error and amplify it, not only will our efforts be undone, but the backlash will consume us." She paused, letting her words sink in. "Personal sentiment must never supersede the letter of the law. Especially sentiment influenced by… external parties."
The team stiffened. The implication was clear. Oaks, however despicable, was tangentially connected to the corporate power structure they were investigating. If he were to die under their watch, the political fallout could be severe. They had been careless.
The "external party" in her statement was, unmistakably, Qin Mianfeng.
The medic and others hurried out to provide care. The female inspector stepped forward to formally acknowledge the oversight, then asked, "Magistrate Zhou, in your opinion, can we establish Oaks's fraudulent claim? Survivor testimonies carry significant weight in Imperial jurisprudence, sometimes outweighing physical evidence."
Zhou Linlang had intended to delegate this minor matter, but recognizing her team's zealous disdain, she offered guidance. "Ensure forensics establishes an ironclad timeline. Prove he lacked the means and the opportunity. That should be sufficient to invalidate the survivors' statements… unless he can provide a compelling alternate explanation."
The female inspector's expression brightened. She happily accepted the task. At that moment, she received a notification from the medical bay: The patient is conscious. Interrogation may proceed.
"He's awake?" Zhou Linlang raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. The Oaks affair was a trivial sidebar in the grand scheme. Yet, an inexplicable sense of dissonance lingered. Qin Mianfeng. Oaks. Both were minor figures tangentially linked to Li Conglomerate affairs on X5. One held damaging evidence; the other could become a pawn.
"Yes, he's awake. Would you like to observe, Magistrate?"
"No. Proceed."
The room was stark, utilitarian, and sweltering. The air conditioning, according to the Economic Ministry staff, was "temporarily out of service."
Bullshit,Yao thought, but the persona of the weak, worthless Oaks had to endure it. She submitted to the brusque medical treatment—wounds cleaned and bandaged without anesthesia. The sharp, unyielding pain is what finally dragged her fully back to consciousness.
She awoke to agony. No water was offered. The interrogation began immediately.
The female inspector cut straight to the heart. "Explain the contradiction. How could you simultaneously resist assault andeliminate dozens of armed bandits outside? Please, enlighten us. This is a skill of remarkable… multitasking."
They were denying her time to think, to fabricate a coherent story. The tactic was transparent.
Yao's face contorted into a mask of flustered panic. "I… I had my methods!"
"What methods?" The inspector's voice hardened. "This is a formal investigation. Providing false information that misdirects judicial proceedings constitutes obstruction of justice. You will bear legal liability. Think carefully."
Yao knew the statutes. She let her shoulders slump, feigning reluctant confession. "I used… the explosion. The mechanical horses."
"Explosion?" The inspector exchanged a glance with the medic. Forensics hadn't finalized their report yet, but initial analysis pointed to explosive detonation as the cause of death.
"How was it rigged? Pre-programmed?"
And so, Yao began her narrative, largely mirroring what she'd told the bandits, but with a crucial insertion.
"I only realized something was wrong after entering the woods. The lookout in the tree was wearing the same type of gear as the bandits who attacked us earlier. I thought, 'Oh gods, I've walked straight into the lion's den.' I was terrified." She drew a shaky breath. "So, when they directed me to lead the wolf pack into a trap, I… I secretly changed the command authorization on the mechanical horses. I thought, bandits want money, right? They'd never abandon those steeds. If they all gathered, and if they tried to kill me… I could trigger the self-destruct sequence. Take them all with me."
If true, it provided both motive and a plausible, remote method. A coincidental forensics update buzzed on the inspector's wrist unit: Confirmation – fatalities consistent with synchronized steed reactor overload. Exact timing inconclusive due to core data wipe.
The evidence was frustratingly permissive. It didn't prove her story, but it didn't definitively break it either.
The inspector's lips thinned. "That kind of programming command isn't common knowledge. You know how to do that?"
While full citizen dossiers for X5 residents were still pending transfer from the Li Group, common sense dictated that a wastrel noble bastard wouldn't have access to advanced technical education. So, how could she?
Yao blinked, her expression shifting to one of naive cunning. "I didn't know at first. But I'm the Xie family young master, right? They were sent to fetch me. So, of course, they had to listen. I asked Captain Adar for the command protocols… He was afraid I'd mess things up, so he even pulled up the interface and showed me on his screen."
The logic was airtight, disarmingly simple.
Means, opportunity, witness accounts, physical evidence… it all tentatively aligned.
The female inspector stared at the young face before her—clearly shrewd, undeniably street-smart, yet wrapped in the guise of a lucky fool. She thought of the girl Qin Mianfeng mentioned, violated and murdered. A wave of cold anger washed over her. She gave a short, mirthless laugh. "Young Master Xie is truly… resourceful. No doubt, you have a bright future ahead."
Yao pretended not to catch the sarcasm, offering a timid, ingratiating smile. "Thank you, Sister Inspector. Could you… maybe call my daddy for me? Ask him to come pick me up?" She poured on the childish helplessness.
The inspector's patience snapped. "We are not a concierge service for family reunions."
Yao feigned a cowed, awkward silence.
The team, finding no immediate lever, prepared to leave. Just then, the door opened.
Zhou Linlang entered.
The room stilled. She took a seat, her posture relaxed yet emanating absolute authority—the posture of someone whose professional competence grants effortless confidence. She studied Yao for a silent moment, then placed a datapad bearing the Li Conglomerate logo on her lap.
"The guard captain taught you the command sequence, you said." Her voice was calm, factual. "Write it again."
An aide immediately produced a pen and paper.
Yao's eyes caught the logo on the datapad. Li Conglomerate records. Oaks's official profile. It would list his education—or lack thereof. No technical training. No programming knowledge.
If she wrote the actual, complex command string now, it would be a direct contradiction to his documented capabilities. A trap. She could simplify it, describe it in plain language…
Her hand paused over the paper.
A sudden, icy clarity struck her. This isn't a test of memory. It's a test of identity.
This woman wasn't asking for proof of what Oaks knew. She was probing to see if someone elsewas wearing his skin.
Yao's fingers tightened around the pen. She didn't look up. With deliberate, careful strokes, she began to write out the intricate, technical command sequence in full—the same one that would be found in the system logs, the one a simple-minded wastrel could never compose, but a desperate "young master" who'd been shown a screen might clumsily mimic.
It was a gamble. But sometimes, the only way to survive a bluff is to call it with an even bolder one.