CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 57: RATTLE, FISHING_2

At this point, Old Xi Zhang stood up.

"I’ll go get you some hot water to make tea."

"Sit down, it’s fine, just stay and listen." Wen Yan grabbed Old Xi Zhang.

Old Xi Zhang looked at Feng Yao, who nodded as well.

"It’s alright, you don’t need to avoid suspicion."

Old Xi Zhang glanced at Wen Yan’s calm face again and sighed inwardly. He was really being treated as one of their own now.

Wen Yan ate a Little Bun while casually saying,

"What I mean is, from what you said, people who’ve been brainwashed, they’ll believe it without a doubt. No matter what you say, they’ll still only believe what they want to believe.

Even if someone suspects they’ve been tricked—brainwashed by Mo Zhicheng—their heart will still struggle, right?"

"That’s right. Mo Zhicheng’s ability isn’t just ordinary hypnosis; it’s extremely powerful. The longer you’re brainwashed, the deeper it takes root. Like that Hopping Corpse—after months of constant brainwashing, he even turned into a Big Executor Zombie." Feng Yao nodded, waiting for Wen Yan to go on.

But Wen Yan just smiled, a little slyly.

"Here’s what I’m getting at: if they firmly believe they’re working for a secret department in the Scorching Sun Department, and they’re even willing to do all the dirty, tiring jobs, then in a way, their loyalty and initiative sure aren’t in question.

And, in their hearts, Minister Cai is still the head of this secret department.

So, what if—just maybe—Minister Cai really did have such a department in his hands?"

"There really isn’t! I personally checked with the Minister." Feng Yao shook his head helplessly.

"I mean, there could be." Wen Yan stressed, sounding very serious.

"..." Feng Yao froze for a second, then inhaled sharply.

"From my very first day at the Funeral Home, the director told me: figure out the rules first.

Mo Zhicheng claims he’s from some secret department, but he didn’t want to take responsibility, so he pushed the blame onto Minister Cai.

That’s perfect, then. People who are already loyal, now brainwashed, and deeply convinced about their own role.

So, have Minister Cai personally show up and tell them: You’ve done a great job. You’ve been through the test.

That’s right, I do have a secret department right here. I’m the head of this department.

But this department can’t publicly exist in the Scorching Sun Department; it must be officially denied.

Mo Zhicheng was originally an undercover agent, secretly infiltrating some restless organization, but he betrayed us.

Do you think people who’ve been brainwashed by Mo Zhicheng wouldn’t believe all of this?

Wouldn’t they finally stop wasting mental energy on inner struggles?"

Feng Yao got it now—this would absolutely wipe out all potential trouble instantly, and Minister Cai would even get some more trustworthy people in his ranks.

After all, these past few days, they’ve truly seen the power of Mo Zhicheng’s brainwashing.

Those brainwashed just once were alright, but if you got brainwashed a few more times, your thinking and perception were really never coming back.

There really were people who felt Minister Cai’s official denial was for legit reasons, that it was right, that the secret department could never be acknowledged.

"I get what you’re saying, but using this kind of approach in the Scorching Sun Department, well..."

"I know, I know, your rules and all that. So-called ’secret department’ doesn’t have to actually be called a secret department, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be anything powerful, as long as the label exists, that’s all that matters. Do you think Minister Cai needs to get headquarters’ approval to quietly set up a cleaning office? He runs the entire Nanwu County Scorching Sun Department, surely he has at least that much authority?"

"..."

Feng Yao was at a loss for words. Although it didn’t exactly fit the department’s internal procedures, it would work really well. Those people not yet identified by the internal review would be more likely to expose themselves.

"There’s one more thing, can you guys make a fake file under the name Su Yue?"

"What are you planning now?"

"Doesn’t need to be detailed, just the name, and set the access permissions high to help you guys fish for someone."

"Help us fish for someone?" Feng Yao didn’t quite get it.

"Last night, I heard Lady Lie mention a name: Soul Devouring Beast. The stuff they’re doing right now is all for this Soul Devouring Beast."

Hearing that name, Feng Yao’s face changed dramatically.

Earlier, when Wen Yan talked about last night’s events, he’d never said the words ’Soul Devouring Beast’—he’d clearly been saving it for now.

"If what Lady Lie said is true, then Minister Cai being parachuted into Nanwu County, and whatever happened over in Duanzhou, it’s all for this, right?

This... should be top secret, right?

But now, even a few wild demons on the loose know about it.

So, when do you think the person behind all this actually found out?"

Wen Yan didn’t go on, and didn’t spell it out—but it was clear: the Scorching Sun Department’s intelligence on Soul Devouring Beast had already been leaked.

He was probably more certain than anyone in the department about the exact day the Soul Devouring Beast arrived.

If Feng Yao tried to add a fake ’Su Yue’ file with high clearance in the department’s archives, he definitely wouldn’t have the clearance for that.

And if Cai Qidong did it for him personally, Cai Qidong probably wouldn’t be thrilled either.

But if you put it this way: because intel on the Soul Devouring Beast leaked, they set up a fake, highly classified ’Su Yue’ record as bait, to see who tries to look it up, or who has the ability to access it—

That way, they could confirm whether someone inside the Scorching Sun Department was leaking top-secret information.

Then it all makes perfect sense, and no one could pick holes in it.

Because Wen Yan’s current level of intelligence really isn’t low, plus direct contact, and the Soul Devouring Beast case is top priority anyway—even going through formal procedures, it would be pretty easy to get done.