Chapter 36: Debriefing Meeting

Each region had reported some breakthroughs, but the clues were too fragmented—scattered insights with no coherent logic to thread them together. As a result, no substantial progress had been made.

O’Berain was, naturally, dissatisfied. The number of people he held accountable increased by the hour, leaving those still waiting to debrief increasingly tense.

The deputy ministers seated at the long conference table each wore different expressions—some grim, some unreadable. One even stifled a yawn.

Deputy Minister Liu Jun, seated furthest in, appeared contemplative, his gaze flickering with thought.

It was Luo Yan’s first time attending such a meeting. The length of it surprised her. More than half a workday had passed, and they had worked straight through a meal. For a moment, she worried she might have to stand up the young lady Lu—

Today was Friday. She was scheduled to visit the school for an ability test, and Lu Xiao Na had also promised to give her the extraction liquid. If she didn’t leave soon, she’d likely miss both.

Thankfully, by 3 p.m., the debriefing concluded.

Shen Hui summarized the session:

“Based on today’s reports, our main suspicious targets are as follows. First—our own Investigation Department…”
He paused briefly, almost imperceptibly, and avoided meeting Luo Yan’s eyes.
“Then the Transportation Department, the Aros Mining Area, and… the government building. These are the four key zones. Some, like the Investigation Department and the government building, are highly suspicious but lack evidence. Others, like the Transportation Department and Aros Mining Area, have fragments of clues, though none conclusive.”

“We’ve seen the most traction with the Transportation Department. Current speculation suggests at least one mid- or high-ranking employee may be colluding with outside forces. There are also suspicions regarding Transport Team 23, though the black box recordings retrieved earlier make this less likely.”

O’Berain tapped his knuckles lightly on the table. Then he turned to Luo Yan.
“What do you think, Consultant Luo?”

Since being warned by Lu Xiao Na, he hadn’t tried any tricks on her—at least not overtly. Yet the glint of mischief in his eyes now betrayed his true intentions.

Luo Yan ignored the look. She paused to think before answering.

“I agree there’s likely a mole in the Transportation Department. The mob’s ability to deploy quickly and respond with precision implies they had someone feeding them intel.”

She continued, “But I don’t think it stops there. I suspect more than one mole—and that there’s an organized, well-resourced force behind them. It’s entirely possible both our company and the government building have been infiltrated.”

Her gaze swept the room.

“Consider the Wasteland ambush: it wasn’t just a mob attack. They deployed thousands of Corpse Hounds. Coordinating a hidden movement of that scale, undetected by our surveillance systems, would require intimate knowledge of the city’s blind spots—something only an insider at the government level could provide.”

She was spot-on.

Several officials looked at her with renewed interest. Deputy Minister Liu Jun even gave a slight nod of approval.

People often dismissed beautiful women as ornamental, assuming their value was limited to social leverage. But when one like Luo Yan demonstrated sharp judgment and insight, the impact was all the greater.

O’Berain stared at her for a moment before smiling.
“Consultant Luo’s analysis is sound. So, in your opinion—how do we find this mole?”

Luo Yan said, “If a mole does exist, then we’re currently at a disadvantage—they’re hidden, and we’re exposed. But what if we reversed that?”

Shen Hui raised a brow. “And how would we do that?”

“Give them an opportunity they can’t ignore,” Luo Yan replied.

Deputy Minister Liu Jun leaned forward, intrigued.
“You mean… create variables. Induce them to act on their own?”

She glanced at the graying deputy minister. She had heard of him—one of the longest-standing figures in the department, respected by many.

“Exactly. I won’t presume to tell you how. You all know the protocols better than I do. But I will emphasize this—monitor all communication channels closely.”

Liu Jun nodded, thoughtful.

The gazes around the table began to shift—some measured, some openly impressed.

O’Berain’s eyes narrowed.

He had meant to lead the conversation toward discrediting her, to trap her in speculation and cast doubt. Instead, he had given her a perfect opportunity to shine.

With a tight smile, he said,
“Consultant Luo really is someone Mr. Lu values. Not just beautiful—also full of ideas.”

“But—” His tone suddenly sharpened. “Ideas can be dangerous when oversimplified. Stirring the pot might alert the mole, allowing them to erase evidence and derail our investigation.”

Silence fell.

Though his comment was clearly targeted, his point wasn’t invalid.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, Liu Jun spoke up.
“Consultant Luo’s suggestion has merit. If we continue with conventional methods, we risk giving the mole enough time to cover their tracks. Introducing a little uncertainty might be our best chance.”

O’Berain’s tapping fingers froze.

Since taking office, no one had ever openly pushed back against him in a full meeting—especially not to defend someone he’d clearly marked for suppression. His surprise showed for a moment. Then came a smile—cool and polished.

“From that angle,” he said slowly, “what Deputy Minister Liu said is indeed reasonable.”

Liu Jun smiled lightly. “Just a personal opinion. Of course, final decisions rest with Minister O’Berain.”

O’Berain gave a small nod and looked around. “Does anyone else have anything to add?”

No one spoke. Judging from their expressions, they were still digesting Luo Yan’s proposal.

Shen Hui cleared his throat. “If there are no further comments, let’s move on to the next item—the smuggling case.”