Chapter 97

So… does that mean what I did at that restaurant back then has already been investigated by you guys?

Looking at Leon’s sudden serious expression, the female police officer couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“I thought you were acting all confident, but you actually believed you weren’t exposed?”

“Do you usually not read newspapers?”

After pointing this out, seeing Leon’s somewhat confused gaze, the female police officer couldn’t resist adding sarcastically: “Actually, you did a decent job covering your tracks. You kept your face covered throughout and immediately went to the Shopping Plaza with massive foot traffic after the beating. If you’d just changed clothes in any random restroom, we wouldn’t have found you.”

“But your luck was atrocious—getting hospitalized because of a collapsed cash box and being photographed by a Sun Newspaper journalist who published it as a fun story on the Social Edition’s front page.”

“The Chief Editor of Daily Highlights didn’t even need three seconds to recognize you from the paper, and after we checked the hospital records at Secret Investigation Bureau, naturally, we locked onto your identity.”

Ah…

While being hospitalized due to divine intervention is unavoidable, Leon felt awkward after critiquing someone else’s impatience only to end up failing himself.

“So you…”

“You’ve been exposed for a long time! We just didn’t arrest you because you’re from the Clearing Bureau!”

“Besides, though I’m a bit hotheaded, I’m still a secret investigator. How could I be as stupid as you think?”

The female police officer, who had endured much from Leon before, finally seized an opportunity to vent frustrations and feel relieved, lifting her head slightly as she huffed:

“Get it now? I’ve been keeping tabs on you for a reason! After discovering Disgraceful Rebels infiltrated the Public Security Bureau, how could I ignore it? Naturally, I had to strictly prevent and guard against them!”

Upon hearing this, Leon fell silent for a moment before counter-questioning:

“By ‘strictly prevent and guard,’ do you mean sneaking attacks on my butt while I’m practicing shooting?”

“…”

After hearing Leon’s words, the female police officer’s expression dropped.

“That was something I couldn’t help…混账乱党! Didn’t we agree not to bring this up again?”

“Alright, I won’t mention this matter. But in exchange, you better forget about mine too!”

After exchanging a few barbs, both parties resolved their misunderstandings, improving their impressions of each other. From originally thinking of each other as crazy people and disgraceful rebels, they now saw each other as reckless women and overly aggressive police personnel.

Recalling Leon’s “political stance,” the female police officer felt he wasn’t aligned with the Lane Family, fully putting her mind at ease. She tucked away the list Leon gave her and asked:

“We’ve uncovered what we needed to find. What’s next? What are we going to do?”

“Next…”

Glancing at the darkening sky, Leon turned his gaze to the female prisoner tied up like a dumpling on the sofa. After some thought, he said:

“My business here is done. But since you’ve helped me quite a bit, I can assist with investigating what you’re looking into.”

What I’m investigating…the Investigator from six years ago?

Understanding Leon’s meaning, the female police officer straightened her expression, stood up, and approached the sofa, seriously telling the gagged female prisoner:

“You should know there’s no way for you to escape. And once we return to the Secret Investigation Bureau, you’ll face non-stop interrogation for 24 hours until you spill everything.”

“Mmmph! Mmmph!”

“Don’t worry; I’m not asking about the rebels right now.”

Looking at the struggling female prisoner glaring furiously at her, the female police officer took a deep breath and sincerely said: “I know you don’t trust me. You’d rather take revenge on the Lane Family than clear your husband’s name, but I still hope you’ll cooperate with my investigation.”

“Since the assassination attempt on the princess is too big, once we return to the Secret Investigation Bureau, all interrogations will focus solely on the rebels themselves. Your husband’s case probably won’t get looked into, so this isn’t just my last chance—it’s yours too.”

After saying these words and seeing the female prisoner stop struggling, the female police officer cautiously asked: “Are you willing to cooperate with my investigation? Blink if you agree.”

Hearing this, the female prisoner hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly twisted her head, glaring at Leon from afar.

Realizing she feared Leon might suddenly ask questions to extract more information about the rebels, Leon raised an eyebrow and countered: “And why don’t you consider this: if I intended to pry information from you, would it matter whether you spoke or stayed silent?”

“…”

Upon hearing Leon’s counter-question, the female prisoner’s spirit sagged, blinking with a hint of defeat.

Indeed, his bizarre interrogation method seemed to require her to just stay awake. Even if she remained silent, he could obtain answers directly…

…

“Hmph…”

Once the handkerchief was removed from her mouth, the female prisoner glared resentfully at Leon before taking a deep breath and coldly addressing the female police officer.

“What do you want to investigate about my husband?”

“Let’s start by confirming his identity.”

Prepared with paper and pen, the female police officer frowned slightly and said:

“Among those capable of harming your husband, the previous Minister of Defense from the Military Department has already been executed by the princess’s order. The rest include your husband’s superior and the Lane Family back then…”

“There’s no need to check my husband’s superior anymore.”

Interrupting the female police officer, the female prisoner snorted disdainfully and added with satisfaction:

“He worked for your Secret Investigation Bureau. Around four years ago, he disappeared after work and was found decomposed when discovered. You only need to look into those managing the Arms Company within the Lane Family back then.”

Four years ago…

Upon hearing this, the female police officer was startled and quickly asked:

“The previous Director of the Interrogation Department?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

Shaking her head, the female prisoner smirked:

“All I know is, he didn’t even remember my husband. It was only after I repeatedly reminded him that he recalled having such a foolish subordinate. Funny, isn’t it?”

“…”

“But he wasn’t entirely useless.”

Glancing at the female police officer’s somewhat uncomfortable expression, the female prisoner chuckled bitterly:

“To tell the truth, I owe him thanks. If he hadn’t desperately beg for mercy before dying, claiming he was just following orders and that someone else targeted my husband, I wouldn’t even know who to hate.”

“…”

So…in the end, it was the Lane Family who made the move?

Grimacing and crossing out “superior,” replacing it with “Lane Arms Company,” the female police officer glanced sideways at Leon.

“The one in charge of the arms company six years ago was…”

“Bobby Lane.”

Recalling relevant records, Leon promptly blurted out a name, then mused aloud: “He’s ranked second on the list I gave you. This person is the younger brother of the current head of the Lane Family, with an age gap of nearly twenty years between him and his older brother…”

“Oh, and his brother has no offspring, so if nothing unexpected happens, he’ll likely take over the Lane Family and become the next Lionheart Duke.”

(End of Chapter)