The List and Preparations to Act
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan looked up at Lin En and casually asked:
"Following the City Hall's regulations, even the Eerie Inscription have been arranged inside the No. 3 auxiliary boiler room. What are the City Hall's regulations?"
Lin En pointed to the document bearing the City Hall's red seal on the corner of the table and replied with a somewhat grim expression:
"The problem lies in this approval document. As early as half a month ago, an official from the City Hall officially issued a renovation plan. Moreover, it was not a separate renovation of the No. 3 auxiliary boiler room where the accident occurred, but a comprehensive renovation plan for the entire boiler room. The No. 3 auxiliary boiler room was just included in the scope of the shutdown and renovation."
"If there was any time period or anyone who had the opportunity to tamper with and analyze the No. 3 auxiliary boiler room, it was only during the period about half a month ago when the entire boiler room renovation plan was being pushed forward."
After listening to Lin En's explanation, Lu Yuan immediately pieced together the whole story in his mind, nodded, and said:
"I see. They used the pretext of renovating the entire boiler room to conveniently seal off the No. 3 auxiliary boiler room. That makes perfect sense. I understand now."
After saying this, Lu Yuan pointed to the specially sealed glass bottle containing the mushroom core on the lab table, and then turned to Lin En and said:
"Perfect timing! I was examining this mushroom core at my workstation just now when I also discovered some crucial clues on it."
Upon hearing this, Lin En, who was standing by the table, perked up and quickly took half a step forward to ask:
What clues did the consultant discover?
Lu Yuan naturally couldn't reveal his Deep Study on the panel. He pointed to the gray-black core inside the glass bottle, its surface covered with deep and shallow wrinkles, and answered methodically:
"Judging from the artificial traces on the outer shell of this core, there are indeed signs of large-scale cultivation. It seems that someone cultivated it on a large scale in one place. Moreover, based on my inspection and testing just now, this kind of mushroom would be more effective if it were cultured by soaking it in a special liquid. Since it needs to be cultivated on a large scale with liquid, it means that the Heretic's cultivation den in the city must require a large amount of space, and it must be a place with water."
Following Lu Yuan's finger Lin En glanced at the wrinkles on the surface of the core inside the bottle. After hearing this analysis, his brows furrowed slightly, and he nodded heavily, sighing:
"It requires a large area, and it needs to be a place with water... In that case, the official in the City Hall who issued the entire boiler room renovation plan is even more suspicious. We must apprehend him and interrogate him as soon as possible."
Lu Yuan's gaze fell on the document and list of officials in Lin En's hand. He thought of his plan to collect lists of sensitive individuals, and after a moment's thought, he spoke up:
"If you're going to arrest that City Hall official this time, I want to be involved in this list and the arrest operation as well."
When Lin En heard Lu Yuan offer to go along to capture the person, he stood there for a moment and thought about it before nodding in agreement.
"No problem. With Consultant Lu Yuan going along, we're sure to find some clues that we might miss. But Consultant, please be careful. If it comes to actually making arrests, just leave it to us."
As Lin En agreed, she handed Lu Yuan the original copy of the City Hall's approval document on the corner of the table, along with the list of suspects attached to it.
While Lu Yuan reached for the document and looked down to look through it, Lin En pointed to the top line of text on the list and began to explain the official's background to Lu Yuan:
"Advisor Lu, look, the person at the very top is the official who directly approved the entire boiler room renovation plan. He's an official in the City Hall specifically responsible for Pipe Network and water conservancy, and he happens to have real authority over the underground drainage channels, abandoned reservoirs, and large areas of idle municipal land in Watch City."
Lu Yuan looked down at the signature and job description on the original approval document, and combined this with the cultivation conditions he had just deduced from the mushroom core. The two previously independent clues suddenly aligned perfectly. Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said:
"They're in charge of the Pipe Network and water conservancy, and they also control the underground drainage channels and abandoned reservoirs in Watch City... Doesn't this perfectly match what I just said about needing a lot of space and places with water?"
Lin En nodded emphatically, his expression growing even more serious.
Lu Yuan flipped over the first page of the original approval document, his gaze following the list of suspects below. Seeing several other names listed below that had also signed off on the renovation project process, he pointed to the list and asked Lin En:
"What about those other people who also signed the list? Shouldn't they be arrested along with them when we go to make arrests this time?"
Hearing this, Lin En shook his head helplessly and lowered his voice to explain to Lu Yuan:
"The officials who signed these documents are all connected to local nobles and City Hall- ranking officials in Watch City. Until we extract irrefutable evidence from the main culprits, the Academy is not planning to launch a direct purge of these officials. However, Advisor Lu, rest assured, their names have been highlighted, and their every move will be under our secret surveillance. We have already deployed people to keep a close watch on them, and their daily activities and authority will be strictly limited."
After listening to Lin En's explanation, Lu Yuan remained outwardly calm, but his gaze carefully scanned the list of suspects in his hand from top to bottom, especially lingering on the names at the top for a moment.
After carefully reviewing the entire list, Lu Yuan handed the original approval document and the list back to Lin En. He then carefully stored the specially sealed glass bottle containing the [Illusion-Reality Boundary Mushroom's Core] on the lab table in the locked metal cabinet at the bottom of his workstation before turning to Lin En and saying:
"I've reviewed the list. Let's get ready to go now."
Lin En immediately reached out and took the document back, nodded, and led Lu Yuan out of the west workstation. They gathered the action team, which was already fully armed and waiting in the workshop, on the side of the main corridor of the factory. The team was there to carry out the search and capture mission. The group walked straight out of the workshop.