Inspection Office.
Inside the study.
"Monitor the realm?" Xiao Wuque looked at Jiang Ning, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes.
Then he nodded. "That is indeed so. One of the Heavenly Surveillance Bureau's duties is to monitor the realm. But why has Brother Jiang suddenly asked about this?"
"Some things must be done by someone." Jiang Ning spoke as scenes from Su'nan Commandery City flashed through his mind—the mass grave beyond the city, the towering blaze, the pit that burned with corpses.
At that moment, Xiao Wuque looked into Jiang Ning's eyes, and disbelief flickered within his own.
A thought abruptly surfaced in his heart, yet he instinctively shook his head, feeling it was impossible.
"Lord Prefect, please take me to the Heavenly Surveillance Bureau. I wish to see the methods it uses to monitor the realm," Jiang Ning said.
"I understand." Xiao Wuque looked at Jiang Ning and nodded knowingly.
"Brother Jiang, please follow me." Xiao Wuque put away the case files on the table, then headed out of the study.
Heavenly Surveillance Bureau.
It occupied a tall building outside the royal palace.
The building stood nine stories high, its entirety constructed from blackish-gray stone bricks.
Windows and doors densely covered its exterior, yet only the main entrance on the first floor stood open.
Two gate clerks stood on each side of the entrance.
When Jiang Ning and Xiao Wuque arrived before the gate.
They saw that Blind Elder had already appeared at the entrance, as though he had been waiting for a long time.
"Senior!" Upon seeing Blind Elder at the gate, Xiao Wuque hurried forward with quick steps, respectfully observing the etiquette of a junior.
"Lord Xiao, since you have come to seek me out today, there must be something important, yes?" Blind Elder