Outside the Pope Palace, the wind was bitterly cold.
News of the Iron Furnace Town Case escalating had spread through Spirit City's upper ranks as though it had grown wings.
The Black Market Armament Case.
Heaven Dou's White Stone Warehouse.
Tang San.
The Clear Sky Remnants.
Those few terms strung together were enough to keep many people awake at night.
They were also enough to stir other thoughts in many hearts.
The credit was simply too great.
Great enough that everyone wanted a share.
Di Yao had just stepped out of the Pope Palace and had not yet given the order to assemble when several figures appeared beneath the stone steps before the hall.
Elder Gray stood at the front.
Two Spirit Douluo-level Deacons stood behind him, their auras steady. At a glance, they were clearly no ordinary attendants.
The moment Hu Liena saw them, her brows furrowed.
"Elder Gray."
Her voice was cold.
"Is there something else?"
Elder Gray did not look at her. He looked directly at Di Yao.
"Di Yao, the Iron Furnace Town Case involves the Clear Sky Remnants and is tied to the Heaven Dou Black Market. This is no longer a case a child who has only recently entered the Pope Palace can lead."
A chill flashed through Hu Liena's eyes.
Those words were grating to hear.
Elder Gray remained composed, as if merely stating the facts.
"After deliberation, the Elder Palace believes that it should take over the main investigation from here on. You and the Holy Maiden may assist."
The air before the hall abruptly fell silent.
The expressions of several Pope Palace Deacons shifted slightly.
They were snatching the case.
And right outside the Pope Palace, they were openly taking it.
Hu Liena said coldly, "We uncovered Iron Furnace Town, and