Chapter 306 - 241: Purging the Mole, A Brand New Team
「The next morning, at Celestial Craft Group’s No. 3 Research Institute.」
The atmosphere was unsettling.
The usually bustling corridors were now so quiet that only the hum of the cleaning robots could be heard.
All the staff passing by kept their heads down, hugging the walls as they walked, terrified of making even the slightest noise.
Their gazes drifted from time to time toward the office of the chief advisor at the end of the hall, filled with undisguised awe and fear.
The sword strike from yesterday had not only slain a Tier Four Grandmaster, it had also severed the arrogance of everyone in the research institute.
「Inside the office.」
Han Feng sat in the large leather boss’s chair, his feet casually propped up on the edge of the desk.
He twirled an alloy fountain pen he had swiped from Li Mo’s desk, his gaze casually sweeping over the few people standing before him.
The project’s original core team was all here.
Deputy Chief Engineer Dr. Qian, Head of the engine team Engineer Ma, and the recently transferred administrative manager, Li Mo.
The three stood in a line, like schoolchildren waiting to be reprimanded by a teacher.
Dr. Qian’s legs wouldn’t stop shaking. Cold sweat dripped down from his balding scalp, smudging his glasses, but he didn’t dare wipe them clean.
Engineer Ma was in even worse shape. His face was sallow, and the circles under his eyes were as dark as a panda’s. He clearly hadn’t slept all night.
Only Li Mo, though he also had his head bowed, stood steadily. His face showed just the right amount of nervousness and deference.
"What are you all standing for? Sit."
Han Feng pointed to the sofa opposite them.
"N-No... we wouldn’t dare. Standing is fine. It helps with blood circulation."
Dr. Qian squeezed out a smile that was more pained than a grimace, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
Han Feng didn’t insist.
He toyed with the pen, his mind racing.
Going to Jinyuan Special Steel yesterday for some "physical persuasion" was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and the route was chosen randomly.
But as soon as he arrived, not only was the place deserted, but a Tier Four Evil Cult Grandmaster was lying in wait for him.
Coincidences like that don’t just happen.
The only explanation was a mole in their midst.
"You’ve all heard about what happened yesterday, right?" Han Feng suddenly asked.
"We heard! We heard!"
Engineer Ma flinched, then scrambled to answer.
"It was a display of Advisor Han’s supreme might, vanquishing evil and protecting the innocent!
We all watched the live broadcast from the office. That sword strike was just... just..."
He racked his brain for a word to flatter him, but he was too nervous and got stuck.
Han Feng looked at him with an unreadable smile.
At that moment, a faint silver light swirled in the depths of his pupils.
[All Things Identification], activated.
His gaze first fell on Dr. Qian.
[Target]: Qian Dayou (Human)
[Status]: Extreme terror, bladder sphincter tension, excessive adrenaline secretion.
[Surface Psyche]: ’Don’t kill me, don’t kill me! I just want to coast to retirement. I have elders and children to support. I never should have tried to make things difficult for this killer...’
Han Feng looked away.
’He’s just a coward. A nasty piece of work, but he doesn’t have the guts to collude with an Evil Cult.’
Next was Engineer Ma.
[Target]: Ma Guoqiang (Human)
[Status]: Severe anxiety, arrhythmia.
[Surface Psyche]: ’It’s over, it’s over. Just yesterday I was calling him a country bumpkin in the group chat, and now I’m going to get what’s coming to me. If I get fired, how will I pay my mortgage?’
’Another useless one.’
Han Feng’s gaze finally landed on Li Mo.
Li Mo adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, displaying just the right amount of discomfort. He even made a show of swallowing hard.
[Target]: Li Mo (Human??)
[Status]: Feigning calmness. Heart rate constant at 65 bpm (forcibly regulated by a micro-pacemaker).
[Internal Anomalies]: Implanted neural inhibitor chip at the base of the skull (military-grade contraband, used to block lie detection and emotional fluctuations).
High-frequency signal transmitter embedded in the left ulna (high-energy data-burst recorded yesterday at 18:23).
[Surface Psyche]: (Chaotic data stream. Unable to directly read specific thoughts. Only a cold scrutiny and... killing intent can be perceived.)
’Found you.’
The pen in Han Feng’s hand suddenly stopped twirling.
"Manager Li."
Han Feng called out.
Li Mo immediately took a step forward and bowed slightly.
"Advisor, what are your instructions? I’ve already stayed up all night reorganizing the logistics process. In the future, there will absolutely be no..."
"Yesterday afternoon, at 6:23, where were you?"
Han Feng cut him off, his voice flat, betraying no emotion.
Li Mo froze for a moment, a perfectly timed look of confusion flashing across his face.
"A little after six?
I was in my office organizing documents then. Dr. Qian and Engineer Ma were there. They can vouch for me."
Dr. Qian and Engineer Ma nodded hastily.
"Yes, yes, Manager Li was working overtime. He’s a model employee!"
"Oh, working overtime, were you?"
Han Feng took his feet off the desk and leaned forward, propping his chin on his steepled fingers, his sharp eyes locked on Li Mo.
"Then who were you sending a message to with that signal transmitter in your left arm?
Telling your Tier Four friend to put his mask on properly?"
The atmosphere in the office instantly dropped to freezing.
The deferential look on Li Mo’s face froze instantly, his pupils contracting to the size of pinpricks.
’How does he know?!’
’It’s a bio-stealth device implanted inside the bone! Even the most advanced security scanners can’t detect it. How could this brat in the Meridian Passage Realm possibly see it?’
Without a moment’s hesitation, Li Mo gave the most professional response.
It wasn’t to argue, nor was it to beg for mercy.
His right hand shot toward his lower back like lightning. Hidden there was a micro high-explosive poison gas bomb, powerful enough to blow the entire floor sky-high.
’Since I’ve been exposed, we’ll all die together!’
"Trying to pull this in front of me?"
Han Feng snorted coldly.
BOOM!
Spiritual Power, surging at a full 2000 hertz, came crashing down on him like a sledgehammer, held back by nothing.