Chapter 300: Investigation and Rank Testing

Chapter 300: Investigation and Rank Testing

Within the military ranks, the presence of a traitor is an extremely serious matter.

Having a traitor lurking within the ranks could be a significant hidden danger, potentially leading to unforeseen and severe consequences.

Lu Heng paid a visit to the Dragon Valor Base and met with Instructor Liu Songren to discuss this matter.

Subsequently, Instructor Liu reported the situation to his superiors, initiating a self-inspection procedure and forming an investigation team to question the warriors who had been to the Queldore Battlefield.

It wasn't just Zhuo Hongjun; all the warriors summoned to the Elven Civilization were to be interrogated.

This included Wu Weibing, Tao Yalun, Chen Zi Hang, and Zhuo Hongjun—a total of ten individuals who would be subject to the investigation.

The investigation team required more specialized personnel, so additional members were brought in from the Iron Blood organization to assist.

In the temporary meeting room of the investigation team, the members gathered for the first time. Instructor Liu Songren was the primary leader, tasked with overseeing the operation.

The team from Iron Blood included familiar faces—Chen Lianian and his mentor, Gao Zhiting, leading a total of four investigators.

The ten warriors to be questioned were interviewed one by one in order.

As most of the ten had been promoted, they received the order and rushed over from various battle zones to be interrogated.

The first to be questioned was Chen Zi Hang, as Lu Heng had already discussed the matter with him, and he was aware of what the investigation team was looking into.

The other nine only knew that they had been ordered to come, but they were unaware of the specific task.

In the interrogation room, Lu Heng, Chen Lianian, and a recorder sat across from Chen Zi Hang, preparing to begin the questioning.

Chen Zi Hang, understanding the situation, remained relaxed.

Lu Heng spoke first, "We've talked about this before, but we still need to go through the process. A written report is required, so just go over the entire process again."

In the military ranks, discipline has always been strictly enforced.

Chen Zi Hang understood this and nodded in agreement, "I understand. You can start asking."

Lu Heng primarily listened, while Chen Lianian took the lead in asking the questions.

The specific content to be inquired about had already been determined during the previous meeting.

If there were any details that needed clarification, additional questions could be added on the spot.

Chen Lianian asked each of the predetermined questions, especially delving into the details of what happened in the Dark Werewolf territory.

After questioning Chen Zi Hang, they proceeded with Wu Weibing, followed by Tao Yalun, and so on.

When Wu Weibing entered, he appeared relaxed and even greeted Lu Heng with a raised hand.

Lu Heng nodded in acknowledgment and pointed to the chair in front of him, "It's just a routine interrogation."

Wu Weibing was familiar with such interrogations, which usually followed an incident requiring an internal investigation.

As long as it was a standard interrogation, the issues were usually minor.

The questions asked were generally the same, and the responses from the ten individuals would be compared and analyzed.

If someone's answer differed from the others, it would indicate a problem.

However, if all ten responses were identical, the issue would be even more significant.

After all, each person's perspective is unique, and when answering the same question, the content would undoubtedly vary.

As the questioning progressed, Lu Heng listened from the side, and many of the responses were repetitive, allowing him to piece together the entire sequence of events in his mind.

It was as if he had experienced everything alongside these ten individuals in the Dark Werewolf territory.

When it was Zhuo Hongjun's turn to be questioned, Lu Heng sat behind the desk, not looking up at him but remaining mentally focused.

Lu Heng had initiated this investigation primarily to scrutinize Zhuo Hongjun, as Chen Zi Hang and the other eight had entered Koloss City together, spending most of their time as a group, which reduced the likelihood of them carrying out a betrayal mission.

Relatively speaking, Zhuo Hongjun was a more likely suspect.

Chen Lianian first asked Zhuo Hongjun to recount his escape from the Dark Werewolf territory.

Zhuo Hongjun's account differed from the others only in minor details, with the overall sequence of events remaining consistent.

Chen Lianian didn't detect any issues and continued, "Did you obtain any ranks in the Abyss Battlefield?"

Zhuo Hongjun countered, "Which rank are you referring to? I did obtain an Arcanist's source essence."

Chen Lianian emphasized the question, "Did you obtain the Dark Werewolf rank?"

Zhuo Hongjun shook his head, "No."

Lu Heng closely observed him, and his response was natural and fluent, showing no signs of lying.

Chen Lianian glanced at Lu Heng, signaling with his eyes that there was no deception.

With a career spanning decades in investigation, he could usually discern whether someone was lying based on their responses.

If he were an expert in microexpressions, he could clearly analyze which microexpression indicated deception.

Chen Lianian relied on his experience and intuition to sense tension or deception, but he might not be as adept at explaining the specifics.

This is a process of experience accumulation. They might not be skilled in attending classes, but they are good at investigating.

Chen Lianian asked all the questions and saw no issues. He glanced at Lu Heng, silently asking if they should switch to another topic.

Lu Heng considered for a moment and asked, "What is your rank?"

"First Rank or Second Rank?" Zhuo Hongjun asked casually.

Lu Heng frowned slightly at his constant questioning.

Chen Lianian knocked on the table and said sternly, "When asked about your rank, answer fully without asking questions."

Zhuo Hongjun quickly straightened up and replied, "Yes, my First Rank is Assaultor, and my Second Rank is Punisher Knight."

Lu Heng touched his forehead and thought for a moment before saying, "Conduct a rank test."

For external Ability Users, they have the right to refuse rank testing.

This is a matter of privacy, similar to DNA and fingerprints. Unless there is evidence to obtain a search warrant, citizens have the right to refuse.

The ranks of Ability Users are treated similarly.

Moreover, Ability Users possess extraordinary powers, making them harder to manage. They are not easily provoked unless there is evidence of harm.

Ability Users in the military sequence are different.

All combat information must be documented.

Therefore, once the investigation team requests a rank test, Zhuo Hongjun has no right to refuse.

Not only Zhuo Hongjun, but Chen Zi Hang, Wu Weibing, and others must also undergo inspections to determine if they possess the Dark Werewolf rank or other ranks capable of inflicting beastly wounds.

The Ironblood Investigation Bureau has specialized methods to test Ability Users' ranks, including ability observation, blood tests, energy analysis, and more.

In the indoor training ground.

Lu Heng and Chen Lianian stood on the second-floor corridor, observing the rank testing below.

Ten individuals under investigation took turns undergoing blood tests and energy analysis, then demonstrated their Energy Essence abilities in the indoor training ground.

During the demonstration, each person showcased their abilities, revealing all their rank capabilities.

Wu Weibing, Tao Yalun, and others had three ranks, so they displayed three Energy Essence abilities.

The Ironblood investigator in charge of rank testing took notes.

Lu Heng recognized all the rank abilities on display, identifying them with a glance.

After testing five people, it was Tao Yalun's turn. He demonstrated his Second Rank Flamebeast Claw, leaving deep claw marks on the cement slabs.

Chen Lianian handed the file to Lu Heng and tapped it with his pen, asking, "Is this what you're looking for?"

Initially, the rank under investigation was Dark Werewolf, but it didn't mean that was the only possibility.

Any ability capable of causing beastly claw marks was a potential match.

The primary focus on Dark Werewolf was because the Queldore World had a Dark Werewolf territory.

Lu Heng called Tao Yalun into a small conference room and asked again, "When did you acquire this rank?"

Tao Yalun was unaware of the investigation's purpose. He was here to cooperate, so he answered whatever was asked.

Feeling nervous under the second round of questioning, he replied, "Three months ago."

Lu Heng thought for a moment and asked, "Have you used this ability to attack elves?"

Tao Yalun shook his head, "Of course not. We were summoned to establish diplomatic relations with the elves."

Chen Lianian asked a few more questions, and Tao Yalun answered them all.

After answering, he asked nervously, "Is there something suspicious about me?"

Lu Heng waved his hand and said, "Don't be nervous for now."

Chen Lianian pulled Lu Heng aside and whispered, "Do you find him suspicious?"

Lu Heng slowly shook his head, recalling the files he had seen in the Elven World. The files recorded that the bodies of those Elven guards had beastly claw marks but no burn marks.

"The records show beastly claw marks but no burns. Moreover, there were bite marks in addition to the claw marks, so it's unlikely he caused those injuries."

Chen Lianian nodded and said, "Then let's continue with the others."

Lu Heng returned to Tao Yalun and said, "Don't be nervous. We don't suspect you for now, but it's best to avoid going out alone during this time."

Tao Yalun understood the seriousness of the investigation and agreed, "Okay, I understand."

...

After questioning Tao Yalun, Lu Heng and Chen Lianian returned to the second-floor platform overlooking the testing area.

Currently undergoing rank testing was Zhuo Hongjun.

Zhuo Hongjun demonstrated his First Rank Assaultor abilities and then his Second Rank Punisher Knight capabilities as requested.

Both ranks appeared normal, at least in terms of the effects displayed.

As for disguising rank abilities, such a situation could exist, but it would require corresponding disguise abilities.

To conceal his abilities and waste a skill slot is not a wise choice. Moreover, during the job rank testing, there are inspectors who specifically test for power, so even with a disguised ability, it would be impossible to mimic the power of a similar rank.

Lu Heng finished reading and confirmed that Zhuo Hongjun had indeed displayed the abilities of an Assaultor and a Punisher Knight, with no signs of suspicion.

Chen Lianian also couldn't find any issues. "Should we move on to the next person?"

He had already noticed that Zhuo Hongjun was Lu Heng's main suspect, as he had asked many more questions during the interrogation.

Lu Heng thought for a moment and asked, "Has the test report come out? Does he only have two job ranks?"

"Let me check." Chen Lianian made a call to the testing team.

Before long, the testing team delivered both the blood test report and the energy analysis report.

The technician in charge explained, "According to the test results, we only detected two types of Origin Energy within his body, confirming that he only has two job ranks."

Lu Heng narrowed his eyes slightly. "He doesn't even have a Third Rank Proficiency? Not even a Tri-Transformation Essence?"

Given Zhuo Hongjun's family background, he must have invested heavily in resources.

Wu Weibing, Tao Yalun, and the others all had Third Rank Proficiencies, yet Zhuo Hongjun didn't even have a Tri-Transformation Essence.

Liu Songren, who happened to be passing by, overheard their discussion and interjected, "I know something about this. Zhuo Hongjun's family has already prepared the Tri-Transformation Essence, and he should be integrating it soon. The truth is, he's just picky and refuses to take on any job rank that might lower his combat power."

This explanation made much more sense.

As for when Zhuo Hongjun would integrate the Third Rank Proficiency, it had no relevance to the current investigation.

According to the test results, his two job ranks were indeed Assaultor and Punisher Knight, and neither of these ranks could cause the beast-like claw marks on the wounds.

In other words, this investigation had actually proven his innocence.

Subsequently, the remaining individuals also underwent job rank testing, and there were no issues.

Everyone's job rank abilities were clear, except for Tao Yalun's Flamebeast Claw, which could cause beast-like claw marks. Other than that, no one else was a suspect.

As for Tao Yalun, the suspicion was also minimal.

The investigation reached another stalemate at this point.

Chen Lianian raised a question, "Are only our Daxia Ability Users under suspicion?"

Lu Heng slowly shook his head. "No, all Ability Users summoned to the Elven World in the same batch are suspects. However, if they are from other countries, it's almost impossible to investigate them."

The batch of Ability Users summoned to the Queldore World included not only those from Daxia but also Ability Users from Fusou, Shendu, the White Eagle Federation, the Lionheart Empire, and Siam.

The variety of summoned Ability Users was too diverse, and it would likely take more than half a year to investigate them all.

Such a long time would mean experiencing numerous Abyss Battlefields, and by then, it would be too late.

Therefore, the investigation had to end here, and it was impossible to continue.

Before leaving, Lu Heng went to the entrance to see off Wu Weibing, Tao Yalun, and the others off.

There were a few who hadn't attended the previous gathering, and Lu Heng hugged them, saying, "From now on, we'll all go our separate ways. I wish you all become commanders in your respective regions."

"I have to go; there's still work at the base." Wu Weibing patted Lu Heng's arm.

This farewell might be their last, as they didn't know when they would meet again.

Perhaps not meeting again was for the best, as the next reunion might be due to another urgent mission.

Lu Heng waved goodbye and saw them off.

Then, Zhuo Hongjun also came out.

The two exchanged glances, their eyes filled with unspoken meaning.

Zhuo Hongjun walked up to Lu Heng, his expression respectful, and said, "I can guess that you suspect me, but I truly haven't done anything against the rules. You can doubt my abilities, but not my loyalty to the country."

Lu Heng noticed that his attitude had become much more restrained, unlike his previous arrogance.

"I hope so. This investigation is only temporarily halted. If new clues emerge in the future, we might summon you back."

Zhuo Hongjun nodded in agreement. "I will fully comply with the organization's arrangements and am always available for investigation."

After saying this, he stood at attention and performed a military salute before turning and leaving in a car with a red-lettered license plate.

Chen Lianian, along with his apprentice and two other Ironblood investigators, came out and waved goodbye. "Our work here is done. We'll write the investigation report, and if there's nothing else, we'll be off."

Lu Heng nodded. "Okay, you've worked hard."

"It's not hard work; it's the same work everywhere." Chen Lianian waved his hand.

As they walked out of the gate, Lu Heng suddenly asked, "Investigator Chen, based on your intuition, who among them do you think is suspicious?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end