Chương 168: Proof That Cannot Be Forged

Roland's voice was hoarse and distorted with excitement as he bombarded Ji Ying with questions: "Who exactly are you? How do you know about both Miss Xingshuang and Inspector Xingxian? Where is Miss Xingshuang now? Is she in danger? What is your relationship with her?"

Faced with Roland's obviously out-of-control and anxious questioning, Jiying did not answer immediately. She maintained her elegant and relaxed sitting posture, gently crossing her legs.

He simply raised his right hand and gently tapped the armrest of the sofa with the knuckle of his index finger, making a "tap" sound.

The soft "knock" seemed to be reminding the other person to pay attention to the current rhythm of the conversation.

"Director Roland," her voice was calm and composed, a stark contrast to the other person's loss of composure, "it seems you are more eager to know the answer than I am."

"However, before answering your questions, shouldn't we—go back to our previous topic?"

"Are you, and the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs you lead, worthy of my trust?"

Ji Ying's unhurried question was like a bucket of cold water, instantly pouring onto Director Roland's head, which was already feverish from his eagerness.

He was, after all, an experienced leader. After his initial, uncontrollable loss of composure, he immediately realized how inappropriate his behavior had been and forced himself to pull himself out of his shock and anxiety.

He took a deep breath, calming his heart which was pounding with worry, and then slowly sat back down in the large chair.

He knew that the mysterious "Silent Shadow" before him was far more complex than he had imagined, and that impatience and questioning would not yield any useful information from him.

"Phew—" Roland let out a long sigh of relief. Although the gentle smile on his face still carried a hint of stiffness, it had returned to its surface calm.

He spoke slowly, in a more solemn and sincere tone than before, "Miss Jiying, I'm sorry, I lost my composure just now."

"But please believe me, the reason I am so agitated is because—I haven't received any news about Miss Xingshuang for so long, and I am really worried about her safety."

"I assure you that neither I personally nor the Bureau of Extraordinary Events that I lead would ever collude with any forces in the virtual world."

"So please believe me, and please believe the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs. As long as you can provide true information about Miss Starfrost and the current crisis, I am willing to pay any necessary price in exchange."

Ji Ying listened quietly to Director Roland's heartfelt statement, a thoughtful light flickering in his dark red eyes.

After a moment, she nodded slightly: "Alright, Director Roland, since you've put it this way, then I'll—I'll believe you this once."

After a moment, she spoke slowly, her voice calm, as if stating something utterly ordinary: "Five nights ago, a Crescent Moon-level magical girl who called herself Starfrost visited you, and this was your second meeting."

Director Roland's body trembled slightly. He didn't speak, but nodded solemnly, signaling her to continue.

"During that meeting, she revealed to you that the magical girl force in Jiangchuan City has been greatly weakened, with only herself as a Crescent-level and two relatively inexperienced Stardust-level newcomers remaining."

"She also told you that behind the frequent virtual infiltration incidents that have occurred in Jiangchuan City recently, there is likely a powerful enemy secretly carrying out some kind of scheme."

"9 Jiying's narration was clear and accurate, and every detail matched Roland's memory of the conversation perfectly.

From Xing Shuang's first visit to the Bureau of Extraordinary Events, where she initially explored the "Shadow Tide" organization and the Apostles of the Void Realm; to her second visit, where she raised questions about the Bureau's assistance mechanism— Director Roland listened quietly, his expression changing constantly as Ji Ying narrated, from initial surprise to later solemnity, and finally disbelief.

These conversations were an absolute secret that only he and Miss Xingshuang should know, yet this girl who called herself "Silent Shadow" was able to recount them in such detail and with such precision.

This brought his shock to an unprecedented peak, and he became completely convinced that the mysterious figure before him must have an extremely close and special connection with Miss Xingshuang that went beyond that of ordinary collaborators.

She might even be Miss Starfrost's most trusted spokesperson.

Roland's breathing became somewhat rapid without him realizing it. He knew that what he was about to hear was likely the answer he had been most eager to know for the past five days.

When Jiying repeated, "—Then, Xingshuang received an emergency distress signal from the South City Industrial Park. After a brief farewell to you, she hurriedly left your office," her words abruptly stopped.

Silence fell in the room once again.

"And then?!"

After waiting for a few seconds, Director Roland realized that Ji Ying seemed to have no intention of continuing. The anxiety and worry that he had managed to suppress welled up again.

After five days of complete silence, and after numerous anxieties about the unknown future, he finally—from an unexpected third party—he heard a clue about Miss Starfrost.

This clue was so important to him that it made him temporarily abandon all his composure and calmness.

"What happened to her after that?! Tell me quickly!" His body leaned forward slightly uncontrollably, and his voice became hoarse again due to his uncontrollable excitement.

Ji Ying slowly adjusted his posture, and looking at Director Roland's once again losing his composure due to worry, a knowing glint flashed in his dark red eyes.

But she didn't immediately answer Roland's question about the aftermath of Starfrost. Instead, she changed the subject, her beautiful eyes instantly becoming sharp, and her tone becoming extremely serious and solemn: "Before answering your question, Director Roland, I need to tell you something even more important."

"Because I have concrete evidence to prove that there is a traitor within your Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs!"

"—What?!"

If Roland was shocked and anxious when Jiying revealed that he knew Xingshuang and Xingxian, then the word "traitor" made him freeze in place.

Then, as if he had suddenly figured something out, all his previous doubts and confusions found the most reasonable explanation at that moment.

He instantly understood the root cause of all of Ji Ying's seemingly arrogant probing, and all her questioning of the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs' stance and his own identity.

She wasn't truly hostile towards herself, but rather using the most direct and extreme method to confirm whether she, the highest leader of the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs, was—the traitor hidden deep within.

Thinking of this, Director Roland felt a complex mix of emotions that were hard to describe: anger, lingering fear, and—a sense of relief.

He was glad that he hadn't gotten completely enraged by the other party's provocation, glad that he had chosen to respond to her probing with sincerity, and glad that he seemed to have initially gained the trust of the mysterious girl in front of him who possessed crucial information.

But he knew that to gain her complete trust, he had to show absolute sincerity and prove his innocence.

If that's not possible, the conversation will probably end here. The other party won't risk telling someone who can't prove they aren't a traitor more about Miss Starfrost and the mole.

Thinking of this, Roland took a deep breath, all expressions vanished from his face, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity and determination.

He reached out and pressed an inconspicuous internal communication button under his desk.

"All security personnel waiting outside the office, immediately de-escalate, return equipment, and go back to your posts." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

"I repeat, evacuate immediately!"

"But, Director—" came Qin Yue's voice, tinged with obvious hesitation and worry, through the communicator, "Your safety—"

"That's an order." Director Roland interrupted her, his tone calm but still resolute.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."

After saying that, he immediately cut off the communication.

The office fell silent again, with only the sound of torrential rain pounding against the floor-to-ceiling windows outside the building.

Ji Ying watched silently as Director Roland finished doing all this. She could clearly feel his determination and sincerity, but the wariness in his dark red eyes had not completely faded.

Director Roland slowly raised his head, his empty eyes once again "looking" at Ji Ying: "Miss Ji Ying, although I have shown my sincerity, I also know that it is not enough to completely dispel your doubts."

"Your concerns are valid. Until that traitor hiding in the shadows is exposed, everyone here, including me, is a suspect."

Roland was silent for a moment, as if he was making some extremely difficult choice.

Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he solemnly took out a palm-sized, exquisite box made of some kind of unknown wood from the inside pocket of his shirt and gently placed it on the desk.

"However, I do have a way to prove my position and determination to you."

1

"A proof that is absolutely impossible to forge."