Zou Hai turned around.
He said softly, "Rest well... and prepare for the ’Spiritual Assessment’ tomorrow."
The door of the sickroom closed, and silence returned.
"How is his illness?"
"The words he spoke are exactly the same as the first time he woke up... with such a state of mind, I doubt he can withstand the Spiritual Assessment."
Zou Hai looked at the flickering candle in the study and the shadow cast by the candlelight, and said with some distress, "Quasi-General, this is an image from the sickroom."
Lin Lin stopped writing.
He looked up and focused on the projected image.
The emaciated man awoke, first with tremendous confusion.
Then came the vehement declaration...
Finally, evidence was presented.
He calmly watched the images in front of him... not just one, but two, on the left and on the right, each showing footage from three days before and three days after the man regained consciousness, the entire sequence almost identical.
The man sitting in front of the sickbed, in both instances, was the same.
The nearest observer to witness all this, Vice Officer Zou, shook his head and said, "This really is a pitiable fellow, who burned his blood for the Investigation Corps, had all his comrades sacrificed, and faced doubts even after struggling to return... If it weren’t for the existence of ’Spiritual Assessments,’ everyone would probably believe him, believing that he speaks the truth."
After Hong Zhong returned to the Fortress, he was taken over by Gu Castle Fortress.
Subsequent treatments, as well as follow-up investigations... were also fully managed by Lin Lin.
Transcendents under the Investigation Corps’ White Lizard’s command had more than once requested the transfer of duties, but were refused by Lin Lin.
"Indeed, he is a wretched person."
Lin Lin watched the two images, speaking emotionlessly, "I too hope what he says is the truth... However, until he passes the ’Spiritual Assessment,’ I won’t release him, nor will I believe a single word he says."
Vice Officer Zou nodded with a complex expression.
He knew this was the correct decision! The leaders of the Investigation Corps, more or less, had old ties with "Hong Zhong." Before any official documents were passed, it was best to keep him detained at Gu Castle Fortress.
"However, Quasi-General," Zou Hai massaged his brow, "the captain of the Investigation Corps Second Team... has more than once requested to take him back."
"You know, those guys from the Investigation Corps... are not to be trifled with," he said somewhat helplessly, "the pressure on me is truly a bit much."
"Since he has awakened, conduct a thorough ’Spiritual Assessment’ for him tomorrow," said Lin Lin with an unchanged expression, "Tell Zhong Yuan, the captain of the Investigation Corps Second Team, that if he passes the ’Spiritual Assessment,’ they should take him away as soon as possible, not a second longer... If he doesn’t pass, they needn’t worry about anything else, Gu Castle will deal with the rest. If they’re dissatisfied with that, they can report directly to Central City, and I accept any orders from Central City."
Vice Officer Zou nodded slowly after hearing these words.
He saluted, preparing to leave and, before opening the door to the study, he remembered something else.
"Quasi-General, there may be a ’visitor’ arriving at Gu Castle tomorrow."
How could there be a visitor to a place like Gu Castle?
"It’s arranged by Duke Zhuxue..." Zou Hai began to speak tentatively; he knew that some people in Central City were best not mentioned to the Quasi-General, and Duke Zhuxue was one of them.
Before he could finish,
"Tell him to get lost," Lin Lin said coldly without lifting his head, "Whether Gu Castle has visitors or not isn’t for Zhuxue to decide, it’s up to me!"
Zou Hai seemed taken aback, as the Quasi-General appeared to have misunderstood the identity of the visitor... He wanted to say more.
"Go," Lin Lin waved his hand, clearly uninterested in continuing the topic.
And the very next moment,
There was a deep roar in the sky above Gu Castle Fortress.
It was the sound of a Source Energy Boat, what’s crucial was... this was Gu Castle Fortress, where he, as the person in charge ensconced within, didn’t permit any Source Energy Boat of Gu Castle to move without his consent.
For an outsider to not trigger Gu Castle’s defense system, there was only one possibility.
This was a Source Energy Boat authorized by Her Majesty the Empress.
Zou Hai glanced at the message and said respectfully, "Quasi-General, the guest has arrived earlier than anticipated... he is here."