Chapter 1 Feeling Unwell

Feeling unwell, not lending it. Hearing this response, Detective Chang's scalp went numb. Why did he think the Marshal was gradually becoming mature and steady?

The Marshal was still the same Marshal, and her personality had never changed. Maturity and steadiness were an illusion. In the final analysis, no one in the world dared to provoke her anymore. Without provocation, of course, she would be gentle.

"We can't let our plan fall short because of such a ridiculous reason," the black-robed old man said.

"Detective Chang, you should have a lie detection tool. A Dominator-grade tool is enough." Detective Chang suppressed his anger. "Why won't the Marshal lend the Tiger Seal? Clearly, it's Fu Qingyang interfering. Do you think Fu Qingyang's intelligence wouldn't consider that a Dominator-grade tool could deter Yuanshi Tianzun? That's underestimating our scouts. Secretary Zhou, please ask Elder Cai to think of a solution."

Secretary Zhou's voice deepened, "The Leader not interfering in affairs is the rule. But if the Leader won't lend the tool, what can Elder Cai do? Force the Marshal?"

No one in this world could force the Marshal. While the black-robed old man was pondering, Detective Chang glanced at him and said, "Let's not fumble around in areas we're not good at. Headquarters has plenty of experts in struggle, right?"

Secretary Zhou smiled, his voice still low. "Detective Chang, is that a compliment or sarcasm? It's not really a problem. If the Marshal won't lend the Tiger Seal, then we don't need the Tiger Seal. The key to this matter has never been substantive evidence. The key is whether Yuanshi Tianzun wants to seize the Yin-Yang Disc. Will the Ten Elders allow this to happen publicly? Not to mention the Ten Elders, even the Leader won't tolerate it. If Yuanshi Tianzun insists on going his own way, his enemies will be the Ten Elders and the Leaders. So now..."

"So, we just need to give headquarters a reason to deal with him, a knife, and we don't have to worry about the rest."

"Exactly!" Secretary Zhou smiled.

Detective Chang's face showed a smile, "I know what to do."

Zhang Yuanqing had been left in the interrogation room for five hours. It was now 6:30 PM, and the sun was about to set.

He sat on the interrogation chair, eyes closed, motionless. Suddenly, the soundproof door of the interrogation room opened, and Detective Chang, dressed in a stylish suit, entered the room alone, empty-handed, without a pen or notebook.

Detective Chang turned off the video recorder, pulled out a chair and sat down, saying calmly, "Have you had enough fun? You lifted female employees' skirts in the office area, controlled computers to play obscene videos without authorization, and manipulated employees to insult Elder Hai of the Huaihai branch, causing chaos in the branch. Based on these alone, I can detain you for ten days."

Detective Chang waited for a moment, and seeing that he was still motionless with his eyes closed, he said coldly, "Believe it or not, I'll chop you with my sword."

Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, a smirk on his face. "You have to speak with evidence. Who doesn't know that I, Yuanshi Tianzun, am devoted and a gentleman? I've never touched obscene videos in my life. What you're saying is groundless. Elder Qin Hui, are you forcing me to sing 'Man Jiang Hong' with all my might?"

Detective Chang automatically ignored him and said to himself after asking, "The Huaihai branch has always been poor. Compared to your Songhai, our colleagues' salaries and benefits are not worth mentioning. Initially, you asked for a sky-high price, demanding both tools and fifty million in cash. The branch's executives were all against it."

"You were very assertive and dared to bang the table with headquarters. Although headquarters was dissatisfied, it tolerated you twice because of your unlimited potential. Our Huaihai branch could only accept it. That's the rule. We can only obey the orders from above, even if they're unfair."

"This time, you're borrowing the Yin-Yang Disc, and it's not too much to charge you some money. We'll only charge you once, and we won't card you for the next two times. Borrowing the Yin-Yang Disc requires payment. That's also the rule." Speaking of this, he shook his head, "Fu Qingyang is a shrewd politician. He couldn't possibly not understand this tacit agreement, but he encouraged you to seize the Yin-Yang Disc. I really don't know what his intentions are."

Zhang Yuanqing squinted, "A clumsy attempt to sow discord. Also, don't talk to me about your set of unspoken rules. I don't acknowledge them!"

Detective Chang said calmly, "I know you won't acknowledge them. If you understood these rules and principles, you wouldn't have reached this point today. You could have had a better future."

"I don't think so," Zhang Yuanqing said calmly, "A great man once said that I am as wise as all things, but it is admirable to be stubborn. Well, that great man is me."

Detective Chang sneered, not hiding his sarcasm, but said, "When I was young, I was like you, only recognizing reason. But reality taught me how to be a person. I won't waste words with you. First, I'll tell you good news. The Marshal refused to lend the Tiger Seal. I'll also tell you bad news. We have a way to make you tell the truth."

Zhang Yuanqing raised his eyebrows, about to speak, when he suddenly saw Detective Chang behind the interrogation table raise his hand, palm down, fingers slightly curled. He was a puppeteer.

Zhang Yuanqing felt invisible lines hanging down from the top of his head, piercing into his back of the neck, shoulders, elbows, and knees.

He felt similar sensations in his wrists and ankles.

His pupils contracted violently, but soon, even pupil contraction became something he couldn't control independently.

He had become a marionette in Detective Chang's hands. This was the ability of a Yanshi (Automaton Master).

"The bad news is, we don't need the Tiger Seal anymore." Detective Chang rose with a smile, turned on the video recorder, then returned to the interrogation table and took out a black iron token, holding it in his hand as he said, "Yuanshi Tianzun, look at my token. Now I ask you, has the Yin-Yang Disc been lost?"

After speaking, he moved his left hand slightly.

Zhang Yuanqing pondered, seemingly wanting to struggle, but still said something against his will: "It has not been lost."

Detective Chang asked again: "Why lie?"

He moved his fingers.

Zhang Yuanqing, under his control, replied, "I want to embezzle the Yin-Yang Disc."

Detective Chang originally wanted to ask if Fu Qingyang knew about it, but after thinking it over, he gave up.

As the Marshal's younger brother, the young master of the Fu family, and an elder with real power in the Songhai branch, Fu Qingyang was as tough as iron in terms of background and strength. Involving him would only ruin things and bring no benefits.

So he changed his words and said, "Thank you. Everything you said today has been recorded by the video recorder. I will report it truthfully."

Having said what needed to be said, he clenched his left hand, severing the invisible lines. But Zhang Yuanqing's body still hadn't recovered, and his joints were like they were rusted, difficult to move.

Detective Chang got up and walked to the video recorder, turned off the recording function, and said calmly, "In five minutes, your condition will recover. You can continue to stay here, or you can return to Songhai."

He removed the video recorder from the bracket, turned and left.

In the factory hall transformed from Fu Jiawan's other courtyard, Fu Qingyang sat in a high-backed chair, hands folded on his abdomen, examining the four pieces of machinery placed in front of him.

"Introduce them," he turned his gaze to Xiahou Aotian beside him.

"It's time for you to see my achievements. These four mechanical weapons are what I created after working for two days and nights to complete your task. Our excellent employee, Li Chunfeng, almost died suddenly in the cooling pool. I suggest a salary increase." Xiahou Aotian said.

"To maintain the stability of the financial structure, I have decided to deprive you of the power to raise salaries." Fu Qingyang said, "I happen to have a meeting this afternoon, you only have five minutes, begin."

"What meeting?" Xiahou Aotian asked.

"Yuanshi Tianzun's trial."

"What did he do again?" Xiahou Aotian was overjoyed.

"Where's Li Chunfeng? If he hasn't died suddenly, have him come out to explain." Fu Qingyang expressed his dissatisfaction in a cold tone.

He suddenly admired Yuanshi Tianzun's ability to deal with these trashy alchemists with ease.

Xiahou Aotian "coughed" and finally stopped talking nonsense, picking up a metal arm guard and saying, "It's called the Atlas Gauntlet. It looks bulky, but its total weight does not exceed five kilograms. The material used is Wind Steel Core. The characteristic of Wind Steel is that it is light, so even scholars and musicians who are not good at physical strength can easily control it."

"I have implanted a sensing system in the gauntlet that can recognize the wearer's movements." As he spoke, he put on the arm guard and punched the workbench, the steel workbench making a loud noise.

"This punch is comparable to a level 3 early stage Fire Master. The disadvantage is that it consumes too much energy and can only be punched three times before it needs to be charged. The charging ability is something I added myself. Also, the fist is also equipped with six armor-piercing short arrows, one of which can break the defense of a level 2 earth monster. Four consecutive hits on the same part can break the defense of a level 2 late stage earth monster. If poisoned, they will definitely die." Xiahou Aotian spoke eloquently.

"In addition, although Wind Steel is light, it is famously strong and can also be used as a shield when necessary."

Fu Qingyang nodded with satisfaction. Although this alchemist had a strange and flamboyant personality, his professional level was good.

"How about the confidentiality system?"

"Don't worry, I have implanted a small self-destruct device inside the arm guard. As long as someone tries to disassemble it, the self-destruct device will be set to activate, ensuring that the internal structure of the mechanism is not leaked."

Then, Xiahou Aotian picked up a one-meter-long giant crossbow.

"Its disadvantage is that it is difficult to aim and requires extremely strong arm strength to use. But the power of the crossbow arrows is stronger than a sniper rifle. The ideal user is a scout."

The third mechanical weapon is a round ball.

This mechanical weapon is called the Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus. Press this button and throw it out, and armor-piercing poison needles will be launched, with an effective range of thirty meters, covering 360 degrees with no blind spots.

It is quieter than a hand grenade, but more lethal. After use, self-destruction will be activated, and it is a consumable item.

"Why is your naming style changing so much?" Fu Qingyang glanced at the "Atlas Gauntlet" and "Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus."

Xiahou Aotian was stunned and looked over with a pitying gaze, "You don't know what the Atlas Gauntlet is, and you don't even know what the Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus is? You must not have a childhood, how pitiful." Fu Qingyang's eyebrows twitched.

Xiahou Aotian began to introduce the last mechanical weapon, a mechanical puppet.

"This puppet is the most expensive to build. I have implanted the eyes of a Bewitching Imp in its eyes. It has bewitching abilities, armor-piercing is implanted in its left arm, and it also possesses the combat instincts of a swordsman, comparable to the yin spirits of a late-stage Night Watcher. It is a strengthened Yin Corpse. In the transcendent stage, it is powerful and easy to use. The government will definitely buy it at all costs and then hope that we can mass produce it!"

Fu Qingyang said, "Record a demonstration video for me, and write a data sheet for the mechanical weapons for me. Give it to me before 2 PM, no problem."

"Chunfeng hasn't died suddenly yet, I'll have him complete it."

"Alright," Fu Qingyang left the technology department of King's Return.

At 2:30 PM, in the headquarters meeting room, the projector on the roof was turned on, a yellow light lit up, flashing for a few seconds, and beams of blue light were projected onto the long meeting table.

At the ends of the beams sat the elders, twenty in total. The six elders of the Songhai branch were all present, as were the four elders of the Huaihai branch. The remaining five were Elder Cai, who was responsible for this meeting, and the secretaries of the other nine elders at headquarters.

Elder Cai, shrouded in a faint mist and with light that was already inhuman, said, "The meeting will be chaired by me to discuss the case of Yuanshi Tianzun's embezzlement of official assets."