Outer City conspiracy theories

After the barbecue party, "Loquat Candy", "Dionysus", and "Paper Kite" successfully obtained the list of facilities in the sealed laboratory presented by the manager of the outsourcing company.

Loquat Candy glanced at it and still didn't find anything particularly noteworthy—the catalog was too "clear." The purpose of each facility was specified, each laboratory had been preliminarily inventoried, and many facilities even showed that they had been leased or directly purchased by a certain company.

This seemingly Confidentiality Level clearly indicates that the location of the experimental project they are looking for, which could involve "Authority," is not the location they are looking for.

However, just as the "Loquat Candy" staff put away the list and prepared to leave...

At the main entrance of the research lab, the manager called out to "Loquat Candy".

"Please wait a moment, everyone."

Because they had been treated well, and feeling obligated to help, Loquat Candy, Yin Lan, and Paper Kite all stopped when they heard that the other party seemed to have a request.

In addition, the group had been very efficient, so there was no need to rush and they weren't in a hurry to leave.

Yin Lan looked at the manager—he was indeed noticeably different from the reception staff at the previous small stations.

The badge identifying him as a third-class citizen gleamed on his chest; his designer autumn clothes exuded an air of high society; and there were even obvious traces of Alchemy Component implantation surgery on his neck and arms.

Watches and glasses also have a slightly alchemical feel to them.

Even... he looked to be only in his early twenties, at most thirty, the prime of his life.

She has a well-proportioned figure and a very well-maintained face.

He remained composed and respectful even when facing Yin Lan and her group of "Headquarters inspection personnel".

This means that his appearance in the Outer City was most likely not because he was exiled here after "failing" in the Struggle, but rather because he voluntarily came here to "train" and add an experience of leading an Outer City project to his "resume".

"What's wrong? Is there anything else?"

Yin Lan looked at the manager and asked.

The other party gave a friendly smile and said, "It's nothing serious... I just wanted to inquire whether the Headquarters' sudden addition of this spot check is because there's some project at 'Supreme Evolution' that needs to be restarted?"

"Or... will anything change in the near future?"

The manager lowered his voice as he spoke.

Yin Lan looked at him with some wariness.

Why are you asking about this?

The manager smiled and moved closer to Yin Lan.

"I understand the rules... I won't let you take the risk of leaks for nothing."

As he spoke, the manager pulled out an anonymous Asset Points redemption voucher and quietly slipped it under Yin Lan's sleeve.

Yin Lan frowned even more and pushed the voucher back into the other person's hand.

"Sorry, I don't know anything about this either."

The manager looked somewhat surprised, then nodded.

"I see... It seems this is quite a matter. How about this, after work, let's find a restaurant to talk? I know a restaurant nearby with quiet private rooms, perfect for discussing business."

As the manager spoke, Yin Lan shook her head, preparing to refuse again.

The Paper Kite, who was standing nearby, had also come forward, ready to push the manager away.

However, before Paper Kite and Yin Lan could make a move, Loquat Candy stepped forward.

"Sorry, friend... we have other plans for tonight—as for news, we really don't have any."

"However, I'm quite curious, who are you inquiring about these things on behalf of?"

The manager listened to the Loquat Candy's words, squinted at him, and then laughed loudly.

"Oh, I don't represent anyone... I just saw you were from the Headquarters the Universal Trade Association and was wondering if you had any inside information. I'm just a manager of a small company in Outer City, and I'd like to use this information to buy some index products and make a small profit, like car maintenance fees."

Loquat Candy laughed, "Is that so... If that's how you put it, then it's not very interesting, my friend—then I can only tell you that I really can't recall any information that could be called 'insider information'."

The manager was curious after hearing what the Loquat Candy said.

"Oh... really? Then what would it take for you to remember?"

Loquat Candy said, "Your watch is from the 'White Pine Needle Series,' right... It's a product of the Divine Power Group. Even though you've become a 'manager' at such a young age, you'd probably feel bad buying this for yourself... This should be a gift, right?"

Who gave it to you?

The manager chuckled softly, "You certainly have a keen eye, sir. This was a gift from the son of Viscount Patman... He and I were classmates, and we even interned together at an independent laboratory invested in by the Inner City Divine Power Group."

"Viscount Patman," Loquat Candy chewed on the name, a thoughtful expression on her face, "Your Excellency Viscount Patman should not be completely unaware of this matter. If you want to know what new developments the Universal Trade Association has made regarding 'Supreme Evolution'... then you should ask your old classmate; perhaps that would be faster."

The manager calmly stated, "But Viscount Patman also doesn't have any concrete information..."

"We're just some frontline personnel on 'extension' assignments," Loquat Candy waved her "fourth-class citizen" sign, "There's no reason we should be more well-informed than a viscount."

"You jest," the manager said. "Citizenship hierarchy isn't absolute. I've already heard about your itinerary today... This is the sixteenth place you've visited this morning." "While 'spot checks' are usually quick, there's never been a precedent of having one team responsible for almost all the Outer City."

"Furthermore, I checked your 'investigation approval procedures'..."

Loquat Candy looked at him and asked, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

The manager shook his head. "No problem, everything is up to standard... it's just that the approval process for those procedures was a bit too fast."

"The application process only started at 10 p. m. last night, and by around 1 a. m., the internal approval process and the Outer City pass of the Universal Trade Association had been completed."

"At two o'clock, the cooperation documents from our Divine Power Group and Truth Company have also been presented."

"I'm not stupid, everyone... I've worked at the Divine Power Group Headquarters in the Inner City. These kinds of random inspection procedures and permits from the Headquarters of the Three Great Corporations can't possibly be processed in three hours—unless a high-ranking official or Noble with immense power personally oversees the matter."

At this point, the manager paused for a moment. "I can confess that I am indeed Viscount Patman's confidant, groomed to be his son's right-hand man... Viscount Patman is indeed my 'backer' and 'connection'."

"But compared to everyone else's background, Viscount Patman... certainly can't be considered well-informed."

Loquat Candy looked at the manager and said calmly, "You know quite a lot... So, Viscount Patman, are you planning to choose sides?"

The manager shook his head. "Viscount Patman has no intention of taking sides in this matter... but he also doesn't want to antagonize the person behind you, so... he wants to confirm whether he's in your way."

"After all... the heir of the Rainbowlight Family and Supervisor Tennyson of the Divine Power Group, are already dead, and Viscount Patman doesn't want to be the next."

When Loquat Candy heard the manager say that, she raised an eyebrow.

"He thinks these two men's deaths are related to us? I'd like to hear what Viscount Patman thinks."

The manager smiled wryly, "How could I possibly know what Viscount Patman is thinking..."

Loquat Candy shook her head, as if preparing to leave.

When the manager saw that Loquat Candy was about to leave without answering a single question, he immediately stopped him.

"Wait, Your Excellency," he said, gritting his teeth as he looked at the Loquat Candy's indifferent expression, "This... although I don't know what Viscount Patman is thinking, I have a general 'guess'—this may not truly represent what Viscount Patman thinks... but I dare to guess that perhaps Viscount Patman does think this way."

Loquat Candy said, "Oh? Tell me about it."

The manager hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Viscount Patman may be suspecting... that someone higher up wants to exonerate the Supreme Evolution and even the Creator."

Upon hearing this, Loquat Candy calmly withdrew her hand and straightened her cuffs and collar.

"Isn't that a bit far-fetched? How can you overturn the verdict on a bankrupt company and a criminal whose case has been closed?"

"We don't have that kind of power behind us, nor do we have that intention."

The manager said, "Of course it's not the 'Universal Trade Association'... it's the Truth Company."

"As you know, the suspect in the murder of the Rainbowlight Family heir and Supervisor Tennyson is the President of Truth Company —that 'Orange General' Paris."

"Logically speaking, Truth Company wouldn't need to send out a big shot like Paris to do something like this... but he's currently under investigation, which means... this might be something Truth Company did intentionally."

"Their plan is to use this opportunity to have 'President Paris' step down secretly."

The Loquat Candy simply nodded slightly.

"Sure, but what does that have to do with overturning the verdict on 'Supreme Evolution'?"

The manager began, "His Excellency the Viscount and President Paris actually had a brief collaboration back then. They both participated in the extermination of 'Supreme Evolution'... Therefore, His Excellency the Viscount is well aware that Paris, along with several senior executives within the Divine Power Group, developed 'Artificial Humans' technology under the instruction of their respective Noble backers."

"Therefore, Viscount Patman suspects... that after President Paris goes behind the scenes this time, he will use 'Artificial Humans' technology to replicate a controllable 'Creator,' and at the same time overturn the verdict on the Supreme Evolution, take back the legacy of the Supreme Evolution."

"So, what we want to know is..."

"Are you all looking for genetic traits left behind by the 'Creator' in your 'random checks,' or are you looking for evidence that Truth Company is illegally using these genetic traits?"