Discovery

"Everyone, please remain calm. This is merely a portable scanner made using outdated manufacturing techniques. It has no network transceiver, nor does it have any recording or storage capabilities." Holding the long rod-shaped device, L9 explained with a smile.

"L9! What exactly are you trying to do?!" L9's words did not calm the black-robed figures present. If anything, they had the opposite effect. One of them shouted sternly at L9 as he rushed toward the exit.

Quick on the draw, L9 grabbed him and stopped him, loudly repeating, "Everyone, please remain calm and let me finish. This is extremely important!"

"L9, what are you trying to say?!"

"L1, this scanner is related to the information I'm about to reveal. I need to confirm that everyone here is still themselves!"

"What do you mean?!"

"I need to make sure none of you have been modified by the Epoch Clan. So first, I need to give you all a small physical examination."

"Ridiculous. Who knows what that thing of yours really is?"

"Think about it carefully, everyone. If I meant to harm you, why would I have come here alone? The ones bursting in right now would be the Epoch Clan's combat forces."

After hearing L9's words, the black-robed figures gradually stopped their commotion. "Fine, L9. What you said does make sense. But you only have five minutes. Five minutes from now, I expect to hear this supposedly extremely important information of yours." It was L1 who spoke. His words seemed to carry considerable weight; once he proposed the arrangement, all the black-robed figures ceased their movements and chose to cooperate.

"No problem. Although this detector is crudely made and outdated, it has been modified and is much more powerful than before."

Amid a flurry of hurried testing, the black-robed figures gave