Chen Yan: "?"
"Elder Seventy-One, don't tell me you never passed my report up the chain?"
Elder Seventy-One's expression grew increasingly grim, the unease and guilt in his eyes flashing past in an instant.
He coughed twice and forced out an awkward smile.
"Cough, cough."
"As for the report, I definitely passed it up..."
"It's just that I... uh, didn't make the contents sound quite so serious..."
"You know, Chen Yan, at my age, if I want to climb any higher, I need an extraordinary stroke of luck..."
"To show off my capabilities, I just concealed a tiny little bit..."
"I originally thought that if we sent the Dustfolk to fill the line, they could exhaust those bastards to death even if nothing else worked... Who knew they had a method of assimilating people on the spot..."
"Besides, shouldn't someone acutely corroded by demonic energy turn into a Demon Cocoon first? How could they directly become combat-capable demonic creatures..."
Chen Yan waved a hand, having no patience to listen to him ramble on with excuses, and cut him off directly.
"Elder Seventy-One, just tell me how much you concealed."
"Uh..." The black-bearded middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth.
"I only reported that the Grand Elder was instantly killed by that red-armored greater demon..."
Chen Yan's expression stiffened, and he hurriedly asked back.
"What about the deal? You didn't mention it at all?!"
"No..." Elder Seventy-One's face flushed red as he stammered.
Seeing Chen Yan's expression change drastically, he hastily tried to placate him.
"Help me out, Chen Yan!"
"When the family head comes to question us later, you absolutely have to keep it hidden for me!"
"Otherwise, I won't have a future left..."
"Keep it hidden for you?" Chen Yan's tone turned stiff.
"How am I