Some time earlier, ten minutes after Adrian's information was made public.
Inside the Three Leaves Building, Adrian received a call.
It was from an agent of the Judicial Bureau.
"You don't look like you're doing very well." A foxlike, cheerful voice came from the other end. "You tried to squeeze a soft persimmon, only to get squeezed by it instead. Doesn't feel good, does it?"
"Camilla, if you called just to mock me, there's no need." Adrian answered calmly. "I had anticipated this from the moment I moved against the Phantom Agency.
It's just that he was even stronger than I expected."
"Do you regret it?" Camilla laughed.
"No. Even so, I won't change my thinking or my strategy."
Adrian answered decisively, "No one else should be meddling in the Unified Bureau's internal affairs. I have never seen the world created by Utopia, but the present world was defended by the Unified Bureau. I cannot tolerate even the possibility of it being destroyed."
"Then, shall we join forces?" Camilla asked curiously. "If you obediently lower your head and help me now, I wouldn't mind lending you a hand."
"Help you? You?" Adrian was cold. "I won't abandon my position. You're asking for too much, Camilla. Careful you don't dislocate your jaw."
"This is the current situation, Adrian. A timely rescue and an unnecessary embellishment come at different prices." Camilla said slowly. "After all, if I take you in, I might incur the hostility of that man from the Phantom Agency, right?"
"I won't accept." Adrian refused flatly.
"I'll call you again."
Camilla sounded even more delighted. This was exactly the outcome she wanted to see—next time, the price would not be the same.
Adrian hung up. He was not angry, but his face was as still as water.
He had