Chapter 8: Scapegoat

In the detention area, the air hung thick and still.

Under Hysilens' hypnotic influence, the once-stubborn detainees now stared blankly ahead, answering the interrogator's questions truthfully, as if the concept of "secrecy" had been completely erased from their minds.

"What's your line of work?"

"We're part of the underworld, responsible for handling shady dealings."

"Do you know what Ke Zhan has been secretly plotting regarding Ke Jie recently?"

"To ensure his grandson Ke Jie would dominate the College Entrance Examination, the Principal of First High used his influence to awaken Ke Jie's Talent a month early..."

Wait, the Principal is Ke Jie's grandfather? How did I not know that? Ke Lu whipped her head around, noticing Ke Yang's equally stunned expression.

"That's correct," Father Su confirmed, seeing the siblings' disbelief. "This information isn't a secret to us, I'm surprised you two didn't know."

Ke Yang's face darkened with fury, his opinion of their deadbeat father sinking to a new low. "No wonder my sister was always targeted at school."

Ke Lu, however, didn't dwell on this revelation. As a transmigrator, she lacked the emotional ties Ke Yang still felt for Ke Zhan. Her feelings for Ke Zhan were pure loathing.

Her real concern was: if the principal was behind this, was Ke Zhan pulling the strings?

When she voiced her suspicions, the others replied, "The principal of First High School has always been the one ordering us around. We don't know any Ke Zhan."

"A mere principal could obtain the Absolute Origin Pill? Erase the memories of so many people? I don't believe it," Ke Lu said coldly.

"It seems just like at the auditorium. Ke Zhan manipulates the principal to do his dirty work, ensuring he leaves no traces behind."

"What a perfect scapegoat."

Seizing the moment, the interrogator pressed further, extracting detailed confessions of the principal's decades-long involvement in shady dealings. Each revelation was more shocking than the last.

Father Su, his face grim as he held the thick stack of confession records, handed it to the butler beside him.

"Immediately mobilize all resources to verify these claims thoroughly. Ensure the evidence chain is solid and investigate any connections to the Ke Family."

His voice carried an unmistakable ruthlessness and determination.

After issuing the orders, he turned to Ke Lu and Ke Yang, his tone softening slightly. "Little Lu, Little Yang, I'm going to strike hard against your Ke Family this time. Will you... find it difficult?"

"No!" they answered in unison, without the slightest hesitation.

Father Su nodded approvingly, admiring the young people's decisiveness. "I'm glad you understand."

Ke Lu's eyes sharpened, her voice tinged with regret. "However, all these actions originate from the Principal himself. Given his familial ties to the Ke Family, he can certainly cripple Ke Zhan, but completely eliminating him will likely prove impossible."

Father Su's expression turned grave. "Indeed. Ke Zhan isn't foolish; he won't let himself be easily caught."

"But Sister, how can we definitively expose Ke Jie's cheating on the College Entrance Examination?" Ke Yang remained deep in thought, still brainstorming ways to gather irrefutable evidence.

Ke Lu stepped forward with composure, analyzing the situation. "It's simple. We all awakened this morning, and it's now afternoon. Under normal circumstances, students would barely have started learning basic cultivation techniques, making it impossible for them to accumulate significant Spirit Power."

"But Ke Jie is different. He awakened a month early. If we find a suitable public setting to test his Spirit Power cultivation, his level will undoubtedly far surpass that of his peers—ironclad evidence that cannot be refuted!"

"This method would have been perfectly safe if he'd waited until the College Entrance Examination in a hundred days. By then, his slight lead could have been explained as innate talent or abundant resources. Unfortunately for him, he exposed himself too soon."

Ke Yang suddenly understood. "So that's it! You're the only one who thought this through, Elder Sister!"

As they talked, they reached the elevator entrance.

The elevator doors closed silently and ascended rapidly, carrying them back to the surface.

Father Su immediately instructed the butler, "There's no time to lose. Uncle Wang, let's visit the Provincial Prosecutor-General together."

"Yes, sir."

In the blink of an eye, Father Su and the butler had vanished without a trace.

The System's announcement echoed in Ke Lu's mind:

[Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission: Uncover the Truth.]

[Reward: Cerydra Template upgraded to LV1.]

[LV1: Host receives the item "Chesspiece" and the skill "Chess Piece Manifestation."]

[Chesspiece: Different chess pieces grant various buffs and functions.]

[Chess Piece Manifestation: Summon chess pieces to fight for the Host.]

[New Mission: Just Deserts.]

[Ensure the guilty are punished.]

[Reward: Unlocks the "Faction" feature.]

Ke Lu meticulously reviewed each description, gaining a rough understanding of how to use them.

As she watched Father Su and the butler depart, she dialed the police. "Police? I'm reporting someone for cheating on the College Entrance Examination."

Meanwhile, some distance away,

Having left the area far behind, the butler asked his master with a hint of confusion, "Sir, why did you involve Miss Su Rou and the others in this matter today? We could have simply summoned Miss Hysilens."

"You never even told Miss Su Rou about this basement before."

Father Su smiled inscrutably. "That's because that girl, Su Rou, lacks the ability. She's too naive and incapable of controlling it."

"Today's events were also a way for me to gauge their capabilities, especially young Ke Lu's performance. She remained calm under pressure and even broke free from the illusion before you did."

"She can analyze situations with remarkable clarity, and her character and abilities far surpass those of her peers."

He gazed out the window at the rapidly receding sky, the dragon-and-phoenix-like celestial phenomenon still vivid in his mind.

"The highest SSS-Rank Talent, bearing the Imperial Bearing... This may be the Su Family's once-in-a-century stroke of fortune."

"If we can seize this opportunity, the Su Family's future will be limitless."

The Butler remained apprehensive. "But it could also plunge us into the Abyss."

The Imperial Bearing inevitably entails immense risks. A single misstep could have catastrophic consequences.

In his view, this investment required extreme caution. Given the Su Family's current situation, such a gamble seemed entirely unnecessary.

Having worked with Father Su for decades, the Butler understood his concerns. Father Su sighed softly.

"You're right, the risks are considerable. In peaceful times, I might hesitate. But these days, even the higher echelons... are far from tranquil."