As Pei Yan and others, who had spent a restless night at the Secret Prison, returned to the Investigation Bureau, they sat across the street in an unaffected cold drink shop, sipping on their drinks while watching the far-off Investigation Bureau building.

Even though they had mentally prepared themselves for the Investigation Bureau attack, the sight of the building, completely ravaged by fire, left them in shock. Nearby, the area remained cordoned off, with firefighters and uniformed agents going in and out of the building. In front of the building, reporters were doing live broadcasts in front of cameras.

The TV in the cold drink shop continuously streamed reports on the incident: Seventeen dead, one hundred thirty-five affected. Fortunately, the twelve people sent to intensive care last night are now out of critical condition and receiving further treatment at the hospital. The initial investigation pointed to a gas explosion caused by aging pipelines and inadequate safety inspections by the building's management. The relevant personnel has been detained, awaiting further investigation to provide a satisfactory answer to the public.

Pei Yan, slanting in his seat while watching a fleeting image of Yu Zhongmin being escorted into a police car on TV, took a sip from his cup and lamented in a low voice, "Yu Chu is really unlucky! This counts as taking the blame, won't they honestly lock him up?"

The people present understood the real truth of the matter. Xia Yu, lounging against the bed, lazily commented, "It'll likely just be for show, but he'll surely face punishment! I never thought Shen Yu would be so bold, to actually dare attack the Investigation Bureau's headquarters! Have you heard!"

With that, she leaned forward a bit, and the rest also moved in to hear her appraise them, "I heard from the Intelligence Department that Director Mei Simiao was seriously injured and sent to the military for comprehensive treatment and still hasn't woken up, and there was also a consultant who sacrificed themselves!"

"Yeah, my brother told me that even the high-ups from other realms have been sent to the Investigation Bureau to learn about last night's battle situation. It's said that the battle was truly earth-shattering, compared to which our fight at the Secret Prison was just child's play." A still very weak and pale Ye Jiumu, sipping coffee, murmured.

"Lucky the Investigation Bureau reacted quickly and moved Qi Weidong out, or else it would have been disastrous!" Peng Lang, looking at the building, said with lingering fear. Now the Investigation Bureau is temporarily dispersed to two special forces camps. Xue Buli and Kong Lin stayed there to tend to the wounded, and the Captain was called away upon returning to headquarters and hasn't been seen since.

Jiang Feiyang, rubbing his sore neck and yawning, said, "But in terms of achievements, ours was bigger, right? This battle thoroughly revealed Shen Yu's domestic foundation, and for a long time ahead, we'll enjoy a time of peace without the buzzing of flies around our ears."

Contaminated by Jiang Feiyang's yawn, Pei Yan also let out a long yawn, slumping into the booth and muttering, "I hope so!"

After speaking, he looked out the window, his eyes distant. Since last night, he felt something was wrong, a nagging feeling that he'd forgotten something but couldn't recall it, making him restless and agitated. Two cold drinks down didn't clear his muddled mind; instead, it made him even more drowsy.

"We've seen enough of the Investigation Bureau; let's go back. We all need plenty of rest after last night's fight!" suggested Wang Wenze, glancing at the exhausted, worn-out faces around the table.

"Yes!" "Okay!" His suggestion immediately met with unanimous agreement. They had come despite their fatigue, wanting to see what the Investigation Bureau had become; now that they had seen it, their curiosity was satisfied. After paying the bill, everyone stepped outside to the business car.

As he reclined in the seat and watched Wang Wenze start the car and slowly pass by the Investigation Bureau building, Pei Yan nonchalantly asked, "Now that the Bureau looks like this, where will we be going? Will we ever return here?"

"No, we won't!" Ye Jiumu, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it, stated leisurely.

"Then where are we headed? We're not staying at the military compound forever, are we!" Pei Yan turned his head to inquire, not that he had anything against the military but knowing that if they were stationed there, it would severely limit their freedom, something he was internally resisting.

"That won't happen, but we won't return here either!" Ye Jiumu, blowing out a smoke ring, remarked. "While you were asleep, I heard my brother say that after this incident, the higher-ups decided the Investigation Bureau headquarters could no longer appear in the capital area. If another attack occurred, the consequences would be too terrible. So my brother estimates our new office site won't be in the capital but chosen in surrounding second or third-tier cities, in remote areas with less population movement."

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!" Although suspecting as much, hearing Ye Jiumu confirm it made Jiang Feiyang cry out, "How is this different from exile! Goodbye my dear capital! Goodbye glitz and glam! Goodbye my vibrant nightlife!"

"Be content! This time, you guys living outside didn't suffer any losses, Wang Wenze and I suffered the most!" Pei Yan lamented, gazing at the disappearing building's silhouette, murmuring, "I don't even know if our dorms were burned, with so many things inside, and the guitar my sister gave me!"

Saying this, Pei Yan suddenly awoke, slapping his muddled head and hastily pulling out his phone, disregarding any orders for discretion. He first called home, and upon confirming the safety of his parents and older relatives, finally felt half-relieved, and then dialed his sister's number.

Listening to the soothing ringtone on the phone, Pei Yan was visibly anxious, "Answer the phone! Why aren't you answering!" Watching as the call didn't get through, a growing unease spread in Pei Yan's chest, and unwilling to give up, he dialed again.

Over and over, still no response.

Meanwhile, at the temporary Investigation Bureau command post, Jiang Donghu watched his ever-vibrating phone, glancing at the incoming number. Looking up at the people in the office, he inquired, "Still not answering?"

"You still refuse to hand over the phone for us to check?" Sitting across, Gu Shenghui's face was grim as he stated in a stern voice. Caught in a snare crafted by Mu Fanchen after countless calculations, his mood had become exceedingly bad after hearing Jiang Donghu's recount of events.

"Yes, I promised Miss Pei that this phone must be handed personally to her brother, and no one else besides him may touch it. This is my promise as a man! If you must see what's on it, you'd have to kill me first!" Jiang Donghu, with eyes as sharp as blades, resolutely replied.