Earl Ent was brutally murdered in his home. His death was eerily similar to that of Prince Vinoss: he was dressed in a woman's long dress, blue high heels on his feet, with a messy makeup on his face.
At the crime scene, Yang Ming knelt by a footprint in the corner, slightly lost in thought.
Several veteran officers were gathering evidence at the scene. One officer brought in a panoramic camera, converting all details of the scene into data to create a holographic virtual crime scene.
"Sir." Chapters fırst released on novel-fire.ɴet
Yang Ming stood up and looked at the officers nearby, "Speak."
The officers began to speak one after another,
"Just like the last case, there was no satellite data, no nearby surveillance data, no module memory data."
"It's not just the data; there's also no biological information detectable at the scene. The microbial levels are extremely low, obviously processed."
"This footprint is the only trace left by the perpetrator."
Yang Ming nodded, looked down at the footprint, and said softly, "Military boots."
The officers remained silent.
Yang Ming said, "Organize all the materials from the scene, as detailed as possible, and then send them up."
A relatively young-looking officer hesitated slightly and said quietly,
"The information from the last crime scene is all classified: the number of stabs, the position, the angle where Prince Vinoss was attacked. We never disclosed these, but the injuries of Earl Ent... it's just too similar. Is it really a group committing these crimes?"
Yang Ming gazed at this officer and slowly said, "Investigate this as a murder case. Do not merge the two cases yet; I will lower your access privileges later."
"Don't ask why, just do as I say. The murderer is obviously not someone you ordinary officers can handle."
Yang Ming glanced down again at the footprint, sighing inwardly.
He didn't want to see the Old Emperor now.
The Elder Court's counterattack was practically a direct slap in the face. The Old Emperor must be furious now.
But he had no choice but to see the Emperor.
The alloy door at the scene had also been kicked open with great force by someone, clearly not just any ordinary Transformed individual.
Last time, Yang Ming deliberately kicked down a door to leave an obvious clue, intending to scare the enemy.
Yet, the other side left this kind of mark to tell Yang Ming the opposite,
That the individual combat strength of the White Ghost was insignificant in the eyes of the Elder Court.
What Yang Ming could accomplish, they could easily achieve as well.
Since the Emperor wanted war, it meant that the elders representing the Empire's Great Nobles were eager to fight.
in the Elder Court's legislative chamber, inside the Great Elder's lounge where Yang Ming had once stayed.
There were no idlers inside or outside; both inner and outer layers of light-blocking films were used to ensure no risk of leakage from the conversation here.
Over twenty elders either stood or sat, and the Great Elder's hookah made the room smoky with most people remaining silent.
Suddenly, an elder slapped the armrest, cursing, "I never expected that damned White Ghost would still capture our people under these circumstances!"
"Let them capture," the Great Elder chuckled, "haven't you heard? They're just taken back to assist with the investigation."
Various elders began to speak in turn,
"The mere security police dared to storm the legislative chamber; this is the first time in the Empire's history."
"There's no explicit law against it. In fact, under the Elder Court's supplemental regulation V2304 regarding noble crimes, Emperor Star, the Emperor Star Circle's security teams can arrest suspects directly in power departments and public places after receiving special permission."
"It's fine if they take them back. Earl Ent was brutally murdered at home, in the same manner, with the same signs. And all three of them have alibis; even if the White Ghost wants to frame them, there's no evidence."
"What do you think our great Emperor will do?"
"Probably smashing things."
"We have cleared out many of the people we placed in the Imperial Palace module. Now, there are only a few contact points with the Emperor; it's impossible to monitor him all day."
"What's the reaction from the Military Department?"
"Defense troops announced to conduct rotation and closed training, which in short means they won't get involved in Emperor Star's surface affairs temporarily. They dare not meddle."
"Dare not?" an elder sneered, "The Military Department reports directly to the Emperor. No matter whether the nobility or royal power prevails ultimately, it doesn't affect them. They have all the money and ships; who can limit them?"
"Doesn't the Military Department have a sense of crisis? If the Emperor truly wishes to untie the shackles and reclaim the legislative seats from the Elder Court, the next step is military reform."
"The Emperor might have already given the Military Department some promises."
The Great Elder sighed, "The current question is, we still don't know why the Emperor wants to do this. We all deeply respect the Emperor; his orders are the highest directive the Elder Court follows, but the Emperor, still wants to turn the blade against us."
"Indeed, the change was so sudden."
Someone said, "Perhaps victories over the Insect Race and the New Federation made the Emperor enjoy the sensation of all eyes focusing on him."
None of the elders dared to speak up.
"Great Elder, what should we do next?"
"With Earl Ent's murder, we grieve greatly. Let finding the killer be our primary focus first," the Great Elder sipped his tea, "later, the Elder Court will issue an order to dispatch several elders to the security office to oversee the case. What do you all think?"
The elders nodded individually.
The Great Elder sighed softly, "That White Ghost is far too young and impulsive."