I write obituaries for the gods.

Chapter 20 Speaking Frankly

Let's speak frankly and openly.

Lin Chen looked directly at Jiang Zhengge and sighed softly.

"I killed Qingtian," Lin Chen said softly, "and I found you because I know you are also dealing with Qingtian."

"The Investigation Bureau didn't say it was going to target the Foundation," Jiang Zhengge said.

"RBAI-1045 Anti-Gamma Class Special Revolver Shotgun."

The moment Lin Chen uttered the name, a barely perceptible light flashed in Jiang Zhengge's eyes.

"Equipped with one armor-piercing round and several dragon's breath rounds."

"Optimus Prime's weakness is the suppressor on his back. His superpower is to increase his muscle density, but after losing the suppressor, his muscles will instead swell..."

"The weapon's designer told you to avoid engaging in melee combat with Skybreaker if possible; this gun is merely an alternative..."

"Hey? Isn't this the instruction manual for that shotgun?" Li Zhanyi finally realized. "I'm the one who carried that box!"

"You're preparing to deal with Qingtian," Lin Chen said, looking directly at Jiang Zhengge, "and you've already made the worst-case scenario plan."

"..."

Jiang Zhengge observed Lin Chen calmly and without showing any emotion.

But Lin Chen knew that the section chief was assessing the situation.

He didn't speak, but waited quietly for Jiang Zhengge's reply.

"..."

Jiang Zhengge stared at Lin Chen for a while, then slowly spoke:

"Did you extract the azure substance from Qingtian's body?"

"Answer my question first, are you targeting the Foundation?" Lin Chen said softly.

"I don't want to feel pressured," Jiang Zhengge laughed.

"I only have one trump card, and only one chance," Lin Chen closed his eyes. "So, can I trust you?"

"Alright, kid, you're a smart guy."

Jiang Zhengge smiled and then waved gently.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound filled the room, like the chirping of cicadas on a summer night.

Lin Chen raised his head and looked around, but could not find the source of the sound.

"This room is highly encrypted," Jiang Zhengge said. "Even our own people can't hear us talking now."

"Now, I can answer you: Yes, the Bureau of Paranormal Investigations is investigating the Foundation, and Optimus Prime is our entry point."

"Why?" Lin Chen asked instinctively, then added, "Why investigate the foundation? I thought..."

"Did they think we were like those companies, subject to the constraints and control of foundations?"

Jiang Zhengge chuckled and shook his head.

"The Anomaly Investigation Bureau is directly under the jurisdiction of the Rain City Government and possesses a high degree of independence. After all, as you know, Rain City is rife with anomalies. The normal city you see before you today was all cleaned up by us working overtime. If we didn't have enough independence, how could we get things done?"

"But the Foundation claims that demigods are the main force in fighting anomalies." Lin Chen frowned.

"That's true. Some high-risk anomalies are better handled by demigods, such as gamma-level ones," Jiang Zhengge twisted open his thermos and took a sip of water. "But who's responsible for the preparations before the operation? What type of anomaly is it? What's its classification? Where does it reside in the subspace ruins? What's its depth? What's the potential area affected?"

"Do you think someone as dim-witted as Qingtian could possibly understand these things?"

A barrage of technical terms left Lin Chen dizzy, but he decided not to ask questions for now and instead focus on the key information:

"So, the Bureau of Investigation and the Foundation have a cooperative relationship."

"That's right, there are indeed some," Jiang Zhengge readily admitted. "We all hope to minimize casualties while maintaining peace, so a lot of unusual intelligence is shared with the Foundation, and high-risk intelligence is directly assigned to demigods for handling."

"But you must understand that high-risk anomalous entities are only a small minority. Most of the low-level anomalous entities around you... well, to give you an example, do you think a noble lord's personal servant would personally clean every corner of his territory, even if there were only a few rats?"

"I understand." Lin Chen nodded slightly.

Therefore, the Investigation Bureau was responsible for the neutralization of most of the abnormalities in Rain City, making the city appear to be operating normally on the surface.

"But almost all the limelight was stolen by the demigods," Lin Chen said softly.

"That's right. After all, the Foundation trains demigods using the same methods as celebrities," Jiang Zhengge nodded slightly. "They need to run errands. For them, rescue operations are no different from celebrities attending commercial events. It's just that celebrities sell their skills, while they sell their power."

"The Iron Horn Bridge incident..." Lin Chen said softly.

He recalled the way Qingtian had insulted Huihui and abandoned his uncle and aunt, and couldn't help but silently curse that giant baby in his heart.

May you die a horrible death, you dog of the foundation...

"As for why we're targeting the Foundation... that's not something you can know right now."

Jiang Zhengge shrugged and said:

"Now can you tell me what your 'Gnosticism' is? If you don't tell me, I'm not letting you out, and you won't be eating tonight."

"You mean, my abilities?" Lin Chen asked.

"That's right." Jiang Zhengge nodded slightly.

"..."

Lin Chen closed his eyes and remained silent for a short while.

"Your clerk has called you out three times already," he said softly, opening his eyes. "He's holding my psionic spectrum report."

"The director of the investigation bureau contacted you when we came in. You should go see her after the interrogation is over."

"as well as..."

Lin Chen got up, walked to the glass window, and looked at his faint reflection.

He reached out his hand, his temples slightly warm, and then—

"Clatter".

A gun landed in his hand—it was Jiang Zhengge's sidearm.

Lin Chen picked up the pistol, played with it for a moment, then returned to his seat and placed it on the table in front of him.

"If you won't let me go, I can find a way to escape," he said.

"......"

Jiang Zhengge reached down and touched his waist, then pulled out an identical pistol.

He and Li Zhanyi exchanged a glance, and the girl happily clapped her hands:

"Wow, magic trick!"

"Don't make a fuss," Jiang Zhengge said in a low voice, then turned to Lin Chen, "So, your abilities are... mimicry and super hearing?"

"You can understand it that way," Lin Chen nodded.

Lin Chen didn't directly mention the "Mirage City," but based on Li Zhanyi and Jiang Zhengge's reactions, he was certain of one fact:

The other party was unaware of what kind of ability the "Mirage City" possessed.

This thing...even the people at the Anomalies Investigation Bureau don't know about it...

Is this really that strange?

With this understanding, Lin Chen clenched his fist slightly.

He sensed his opportunity: a force outside the Bureau of Investigation's cognitive framework.

The Investigation Bureau must confront the Foundation, and "Mirage City" will become its trump card.

Jiang Zhengge couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

This was even easier than Lin Chen had anticipated: his value was still increasing.

"When did you awaken your psychic awareness?" Li Zhanyi asked Lin Chen curiously. "You weren't awakened the day we met, were you?"

"No," Lin Chen shook his head, "I really needed your help back then."

He thought for a moment, then gave Li Zhanyi a faint smile.

"Thank you for protecting Huihui."

"So you mean I didn't protect you?" Li Zhanyi chuckled. "But you are indeed amazing, managing to take down Qingtian all by yourself. It seems you really don't need protection."

"How did you become so familiar with him?" Jiang Zhengge frowned, glanced at the girl, and then looked back at Lin Chen. "But Zhanyi said that you caught Qingtian's fist."

"That's right." Lin Chen nodded.

"Let me add something: that guy could throw a punch at supersonic speed, and you caught it?"

"Yes."

"May I ask how you did it?"

"Um..."

Lin Chen thought for a moment, then shrugged slightly:

"Maybe it's because I play a lot of action games, like... being able to perfectly block an attack at a crucial moment..."

Jiang Zhengge: ......

He leaned back slightly in his chair, glanced at the traitor Li Zhanyi who was chuckling beside him, and rubbed his temples.

"You little rascal... still hiding, huh..." he said softly.

"If you promise to protect me and Huihui, I'll tell you more."

Lin Chen looked directly into Jiang Zhengge's eyes, while the latter pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I'll give you an answer in a bit," Jiang Zhengge said.

......