Sheng An took a deep breath, looked at Hao Jingye, and spoke again. "You hid among us not just to learn more, but to guide us, too, didn't you? It even had something to do with your superpower."
She paused, then said evenly, "Copying must take time. That's why you stayed in the Special Affairs Office, gradually displaying all those abilities..."
He had been in the process of copying them!
Hao Jingye lightly pinched his glasses, and they dissolved into smoke and dust.
He lowered his eyes, watching the glasses disappear bit by bit, as though his memories were dissolving along with them. Beneath his gradually reddening pupils lay an unreadable tangle of emotions.
He raised his head with a smile and nodded.
"How clever. You guessed it all. Copying does take time, but that wasn't the only reason I stayed in the Special Affairs Office. I was interested in all of you, and in you in particular. So I stayed."
Sheng An stared hard at him.
There was no doubt that he was powerful, especially now.
He had strength he had kept hidden, and strength he could wield in battle. That was why he was in no hurry and still had time to answer her questions.
Sheng An did have many unanswered questions. She asked again, "In Stone City, after Academician He and I narrowed down M's identity to someone in the Special Affairs Office, you decided to pin the blame on Qiu Yu. That's why you strengthened her superpower just now and helped her escape.
"You knew exactly how she thought. You knew she'd leave, that she'd survive. And as long as she lived, you'd have someone to take the blame for whatever you did next, while you carried on being Assistant Hao without a care. Isn't that