My Professions Have Too Much Personality - Chapter 71: Proof! It Was Red Gold
Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Proof! It Was Red Gold
Yang Yan remained silent, but his gaze was just as cold.
“Sigh…” Zhang Hongbo saw the three of them instantly present a united front and felt a sense of exasperation. He explained, “Of course, not every report is accepted, nor do they all make it to my desk.”
“This time, someone filed a report under their real name and came to the Inspectorate in person. And this person… Su Chen, you know him.”
’A report under a real name? In person? Someone Su Chen knows?’
A flicker of movement in Yang Yan’s eyes, and his expression grew more reserved.
’Lord City Lord, could you be more specific?’ Su Chen thought. But with a clear conscience, he had nothing to fear and remained confident.
Zhang Hongbo had anticipated this. He simply pressed a few buttons on his desk, and soon, several Inspector Guards escorted a person forward.
A flash of surprise crossed Su Chen’s eyes. He really did know this person. “Huang Peng.”
He was the leader of the small refugee group his predecessor had belonged to.
“He’s known you for at least ten years,” Zhang Hongbo said.
“Su… Su Chen…” Huang Peng looked up, an indescribably complex expression welling in his eyes—part venom, part sorrow. “Didn’t expect to see me again, did you?”
Gu Bing, who was standing nearby, frowned. ’They really do know each other? For more than ten years?’
Only then did Su Chen speak. “Lord City Lord, haven’t you investigated? He was supposed to have inexplicably disappeared some time ago.”
“It is precisely because we investigated that I summoned you,” Zhang Hongbo explained, his eyes growing profound. “The ones who took him were likely Black Tuo’s people. Yet they sent him back and had him identify you as one of the Deceitful God’s Followers.”
“This implies that for some reason, Black Tuo’s people believe you are also one of the Deceitful God’s Followers, and they want to use us to eliminate you.”
“That’s what’s strange. Why would they go to such great lengths, taking the trouble to find someone who has known you for so long to identify you? It’s as if they were afraid we wouldn’t take it seriously.”
As he said this, the looks in both Yang Yan’s and Gu Bing’s eyes changed. Their gazes toward Su Chen were now inevitably filled with scrutiny.
’Old Zhang’s reasoning sounds plausible, but it’s also a bit of a stretch,’ Su Chen thought. ’It’s more likely a timely coincidence. Given the current situation in Southwind, the Deceitful God’s Followers are an extremely sensitive topic. Add to that the fact that Huang Peng really did know my predecessor for a long time.’
Su Chen nodded. “I see. Your insight is profound.”
“He… he… for more than ten years, he was completely mediocre, a total nobody! Without some sudden, major change, how could he possibly have become so powerful!” Huang Peng ground out through clenched teeth. “And I’ve seen him at his home, fiddling with some strange-looking statues, all secretive-like.”
“There was a time when he was acting all strange, muttering to himself that he was about to strike it big.”
This was all just fabricated nonsense. Su Chen listened quietly.
But Zhang Hongbo asked, “Do you have nothing to say in your defense?”
“Trying to prove my own innocence would be foolish. I could just as easily claim I’ve seen Zhang Hengyu do the same things,” Su Chen said, shaking his head.
Zhang Hongbo’s mouth twitched. Yang Yan, however, cut straight to the point. “Then let’s proceed with a spiritual analysis and see if he has the aura of a Deceitful God.”
“What are the consequences?” Su Chen asked, looking at the white-haired man. ’If it were that simple, Zhang Hongbo wouldn’t have needed to make such a big deal out of this.’
Yang Yan was just as blunt. “You’re a Physical Side Professional, not adept at manipulating Spiritual Power. We will have to forcibly extract a sample of your Spiritual Power. The consequence is that your spirit will be damaged and will require time to recover. But it’s the simplest way to prove your innocence.”
Su Chen’s heart skipped a beat. ’Then someone from the Spiritual Side wouldn’t be harmed?’
“No,” Yang Yan said, shaking his head. “But a Mental Professional would recover much faster.”
’If I’m not one of the Deceitful God’s Followers…’ Su Chen let out a silent sigh of relief, but he put on a troubled expression. “Then I’d be suffering this injury for nothing?”
He didn’t mind using this method to completely clear his name, but he had to at least feign some reluctance.
Yang Yan crossed his arms and said nothing.
Gu Bing explained with a sigh, “But the Black Tuo Followers’ actions still require an explanation. The current situation is very complicated.”
“He’s stalling! He has a guilty conscience!” Huang Peng roared hoarsely.
With a wave of his hand, Zhang Hongbo sent him crumpling to the floor. The man had served his purpose as a witness; he was of no more use.
“Even your teacher would likely approve if he were here,” Zhang Hongbo added. “Afterward, you will be compensated with the potions required to heal your spirit.”
“Is that all?” Su Chen asked, dissatisfied.
Zhang Hongbo chuckled. “I have kept this matter quiet. Clearing your name is what’s most important. Rest assured, there will be no lasting side effects once you’ve recovered.”
Su Chen fell silent, feigning reluctance. “Fine.”
’I have to go through with this one way or another. Compensation is a bonus, but I have no choice even without it.’
“I’ll do it,” Zhang Hongbo said, stepping forward, but Gu Bing stopped him. “Let me. A Tier Three Mental Professional is sufficient for this.”
“I’m acting in my official capacity,” Zhang Hongbo sighed.
Gu Bing ignored him and walked straight up to Su Chen, her tone still gentle. “Relax. I’m going to take a sample from your Spirit Body. You’re a Tier Two Professional, so your Spiritual Resilience isn’t low. But if you try to resist, the pain will be much worse.”
“Will this spiritual analysis allow you to see my memories?” Su Chen asked.
Gu Bing smiled. “No. Viewing memories requires at least a Tier Five Mental Professional.”
’Then last time, with Zhang Hongbo… ah, that must have been hypnosis.’
Su Chen finally nodded. Gu Bing extended a finger and gently touched his forehead. The contact was ice-cold, and then faint ripples began to spread.
Both Yang Yan and Zhang Hongbo watched intently.
A moment later, Su Chen felt a brief, sharp pain between his eyebrows. At the same time, Gu Bing’s brow furrowed, her expression changed dramatically, and she let out a shocked cry. “How… how is this possible!”
A sharp light glinted in Zhang Hongbo’s eyes. ’Is he really one of the Deceitful God’s Followers?’
Yang Yan was stunned. ’I misjudged him. I thought he was so calm because he had nothing to hide.’
“You… how are you a Tier Two Mental Professional!?” Gu Bing stared in astonishment at the handsome young man before her.
“What!” Zhang Hongbo’s heart pounded. ’A Tier Two Mental…?’
Su Chen’s speed in becoming a Tier Two Physical Side Professional was already astonishingly fast.
To think he was also a Tier Two Mental Professional! The progression rate for Mental Professions was known to be slower than for the Physical Side, as one couldn’t use external aids like the Gravity Chamber.
A sharp glint shone in Yang Yan’s eyes as he pressed, “Is he one of the Deceitful God’s Followers or not?”
Gu Bing’s expression was complex as she shook her head. “The spiritual sample is pure. There’s no trace of a Deceitful God’s aura.”
As for whether he might be a peripheral member, no one would raise the possibility without concrete evidence; otherwise, anyone could be accused.
“Your Spiritual Power is active, resilient, and extremely pure… According to our records, the time it took you to become a Tier Two Mental Professional was even shorter than for your physical class.” Gu Bing’s heart fluttered. She already had a guess and couldn’t help but ask:
“Your Spirit Talent… what level is it?”
Su Chen was silent for a moment before giving a wry smile. “My teacher told me not to speak of it casually.”
“Red Gold?” Gu Bing asked tentatively. Both Zhang Hongbo and Yang Yan snapped their gazes toward him, their expressions tense.
Su Chen nodded.
Gu Bing wore an “I knew it” expression. Yang Yan subconsciously clenched his fists, his astonishment growing, and he shot Zhang Hongbo a look that was tinged with amusement.
Zhang Hongbo’s heart sank. ’This is a problem.’
A Silver Level physical Talent would make him a rival for Zhang Hengyu. But a Red Gold Level Spirit Talent? It would be virtually impossible for him to return to Southwind City to compete for the position of City Lord.
’But after my previous machinations, on top of today’s incident, this kid has probably already come to resent me.’
He wasn’t afraid of Yuan Chenyang. Without this whole Red Gold Talent revelation, Yuan Chenyang would at most argue with him a bit upon his return. Zhang Hongbo could offer some compensation, and the matter would be dropped.
But now…
Zhang Hongbo’s mind raced, his eyes flickering. ’Hengyu’s relationship with him is still good… perhaps the situation isn’t unsalvageable.’
“I should be free to go now, right?” Su Chen asked, breaking the silence.
“There’s nothing wrong with you. Of course you can leave,” Gu Bing said with a nod. Inwardly, she mused, ’The Third Judge has found another great prospect.’
’However, Elder Xia is also here. If he finds out, he’ll probably try to snatch him away.’
“Wait…” Zhang Hongbo began. Su Chen looked at him warily, only to see an unprecedentedly sincere smile spread across the City Lord’s face. “Old Yuan and I have been friends for many years. This time, my hand was forced. I hope you won’t take it to heart.”
“By the way, Hengyu has been staying with you for so long, imposing on you. See here, is there anything you need? Anything you’re lacking? You can just let me know.”
