Chapter 87: Interrogation

As Chen Ling personally sliced open his own face, Rindonggang became so quiet that only the sound of the wind remained.

For some reason, everyone felt a shiver down their spine as they looked at Chen Ling's scarred face and faint smile.

“...That's enough,” the Six-Marked Enforcer finally said. “Take him inside to treat his wounds, and prepare him for questioning.”

The two enforcers breathed a sigh of relief. They helped Chen Ling up and walked directly towards a small hut nearby.

The hut was clearly a temporary requisition, likely someone's private home, cramped and dimly lit.

Chen Ling was helped inside and sat by the bed. After the two enforcers brought him gauze and medicine, they told him to wait there. Chen Ling heard them close the door as they left, but they didn't depart; they remained standing guard outside.

Chen Ling simply applied some medicine to his face and wrapped it twice, then paid no more attention to it.

After all, for him, with his Facelessness ability, a face was merely a consumable. He could simply peel off this skin and still have a flawless new face.

Over the next half hour, four or five groups of people arrived successively.

Some were enforcers, some were politicians from Aurora City, and the origins of others were unknown even to Chen Ling, but they were clearly important figures within Aurora City.

They repeatedly questioned the events and details, especially the deaths of Yan Xicai and Lu Xuanming.

Chen Ling directly attributed Yan Xicai's death to Jian Changsheng; as for Lu Xuanming's death, he blamed Number 8.

Strictly speaking, Chen Ling hadn't lied; he had merely omitted some details and re-attributed the actions of certain individuals.

Even if these people were to re-enter the ancient ruin and meticulously search the crime scene, they would find virtually no flaws, unless they went into the abyss at the bottom of the cliff and found the bodies of the District 1 enforcers he had thrown down.

But even if found, their faces had all been defaced by Chen Ling, and with their bodies mangled from the fall, it would be almost impossible to confirm their identities.

Soon, the enforcers received more news:

They found an empty K18 train in a warehouse near Rindonggang, suspected of having merged with some kind of sacrificial artifact.

This discovery further corroborated Chen Ling's testimony: the Arsonists had indeed used a train attack to complete the face-swapping ritual. The K18 train connected the seven major districts, and a train not officially recorded carrying District 1 enforcers from the starting station would hardly arouse suspicion. Moreover, the Arsonists had cleaned the train so thoroughly that not a single clue was left behind.

As for whether other districts might have been swapped... no one even suspected it, because Chen Ling had no reason to lie about this, and the fact that he himself had ridden the train without being replaced was the best evidence.

“...So, is the interrogation over?” Chen Ling rubbed his eyes tiredly. “When can I go back?”

“It should be soon,” one of the enforcers guarding the door replied hesitantly.

“Should be?”

“After all, it's the first time such a serious trial incident has occurred, and the implications are too vast. Moreover, the Constellation Merchant Guild and that Seven-Marked Enforcer are not to be trifled with. They originally hoped their chosen successors would undergo trials and embark on the Divine Path, but they all died in there... Do you think they'll let this go?”

Hearing this, Chen Ling's brows furrowed deeper. “What does this have to do with me? The Arsonists killed them.”

“But the Arsonists are all dead,” the enforcer said meaningfully. “Everyone else died, but you're the only one who survived... If they want revenge on the Arsonists, they can only start with you, trying to find more clues.”

“But I've told you everything I know.”

“What if you're holding something back? These powerful families always have ways to make people spill everything they know, even reconstruct everything you've seen... Only then will they feel at ease.”

“Of course, after such a process, most people either die or go mad...”

Chen Ling's heart immediately sank.

If those people in Aurora City really used such methods on him, wouldn't everything be exposed?

“Isn't that vigilantism? Don't the enforcers care?”

“It is, and it's strictly forbidden in Aurora City... But who among these enforcers and officials would dare to oppose them? If they want to take you, who would dare stop them?”

Chen Ling fell silent.

At that moment, the enforcer seemed to realize he had spoken too freely and quickly explained, “Brother, I was just speaking casually... It's not necessarily going to happen.”

Chen Ling didn't respond. He suddenly remembered that the people who had repeatedly questioned him about the details of Yan Xicai and Lu Xuanming's deaths had all looked rather grim after their inquiries.

A bad premonition welled up in his heart. He closed the door and began to ponder inside the room: if someone truly intended to take him away, how could he escape this situation?

With so many enforcers outside, where could he run?

Just then, a low murmur of conversation came from outside the door, and then the door to the hut was pushed open.

Standing outside the door was a man dressed in black. He wasn't wearing the standard enforcer's trench coat, but rather clothing made of an expensive, warm fabric. Behind him stood two enforcers, one of whom was the man who had just spoken with Chen Ling, looking at him with sympathy.

“Enforcer Chen Ling,” the leading man said slowly. “Come with me.”

“Where to?”

“Aurora City.”

Chen Ling's brows furrowed tightly. “Who are you? Why should I go to Aurora City?”

“Who I am isn't important. What's important is... you must come with me today.” The man's gaze sharpened, and a terrifying pressure erupted from within him, engulfing Chen Ling like a tsunami!

The phantom of a Divine Path appeared—a Divine Path Chen Ling had seen not long ago: the Book Divine Path.

Compared to the opponent, Chen Ling's current mental strength was worlds apart. Undoubtedly, the opponent's rank was above Tier 4, but not yet at Tier 5, as there was still a noticeable difference compared to the aura of the Five-Marked Enforcer.

As expected, this person was likely sent by the Constellation Merchant Guild or the Seven-Marked Enforcer.

Since abducting Chen Ling overtly violated Aurora City's regulations, they couldn't directly send enforcers. Instead, they had to employ powerful individuals outside the system, and this owner of the Book Divine Path was clearly one of their people.

“What if I refuse?” Chen Ling articulated each word slowly.