novelapdf 98. Investigation
98. Investigation
Seven Absolute Peaks.
Lin Mo sat upright in the main seat, on the long table in front of him were dozens of tokens neatly arranged from the bodies of the attackers last night. These tokens were jet black and cold to the touch, with a coiled dragon pattern embossed on the front and the two seal characters "Inner Guard" engraved on the back, which were the standard tokens of the Imperial Guard.
Hong Jiu and Zhao Kun stood on either side, their expressions grave. Last night's alliance founding celebration was attacked. Although the attackers were repelled, the fact that they were able to mobilize the royal guards was no small matter.
"Alliance Leader, these tokens are identical to the genuine articles in terms of style and material," Hong Jiu said after picking up a token and examining it carefully. "The tokens of the Imperial Guards are extremely difficult to counterfeit. The carving technique of the dragon pattern and the texture of the black iron match the intelligence we have."
Zhao Kun added, "I have examined all the bodies. These people are well-trained, work together seamlessly, and their martial arts styles show clear signs of military training. They do indeed seem to be from the Imperial Guard."
Lin Mo didn't respond immediately. He picked up a token with his slender fingers, his fingertips slowly tracing its edge. His experiences since his rebirth had made him extremely cautious about every detail. His lover from his past life was still sealed within a magical artifact, awaiting rescue; his enemies in this life hadn't fully surfaced; and now the royal guards were involved—the waters were getting deeper and deeper.
He closed his eyes, his inner energy flowing slowly, a faint trace of spiritual power clinging to his fingertips, like the finest tentacles, probing into every texture of the token. This was a subtle perceptive technique he had learned from the sword spirit of the Taixu Ancient Sword, capable of detecting traces imperceptible to ordinary people.
Suddenly, his fingertip paused below the words "Inner Guard" on the back of the token. There was a barely perceptible indentation there, more like a special mark than a carving.
Lin Mo opened his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing within them. "Bring me the 'Microscopic Mirror'."
Soon, a specially made glass mirror was presented to the table. This magnifying mirror was specially made by the craftsmen of the manor based on Lin Mo's memories from his previous life. The mirror surface was specially polished and could magnify objects dozens of times.
Under the microscope, the subtle indentation became clear. It was an extremely delicate pattern, like a cluster of dancing flames, yet with a somewhat eerie feel. At the center of the flames, there seemed to be an even smaller rune, but it was so tiny that even the microscope could not make it out completely.
"This is..." Hong Jiu leaned closer to examine it, his face showing confusion. "How could there be such a mark on the inner guard token? I've never heard of it before."
After careful observation, Zhao Kun shook his head and said, "When I was undercover in the capital, I had seen the Imperial Guard tokens, but I had never seen this kind of mark. The way this mark is made is very special. It doesn't seem to be an official design; it seems more like... it was added later."
Lin Mo put down the microscope, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, producing a rhythmic tapping sound. His gaze swept over all the tokens on the table, and he said in a deep voice, "Check all the tokens to see if they all have this mark."
Hong Jiu and Zhao Kun immediately got to work, carefully examining each token under a microscope. The results came back quickly: all the tokens had the tiny flame-shaped mark in the exact same location, without any discrepancy.
"This is no coincidence." Lin Mo stood up, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and looked at the deep night outside. "The Imperial Guards are directly under the Emperor and are responsible for protecting the palace and conducting investigations and arrests. They wield immense power. But as far as I know, although the Imperial Guards are mysterious, their tokens are standardized and they would never add any markings on their own."
He turned around, his eyes sharp: "This mark could very well be a key clue. The inner guards who possess these marked tokens might not be the real royal inner guards, but rather imposters from some other force. Or perhaps... there has been an unknown division within the royal inner guards, with some members infiltrated and controlled by some force, and this mark is a symbol of their identity."
Hong Jiu gasped, "Impersonating imperial guards? Or have the imperial guards been infiltrated? If it's the former, that's one thing, but if it's the latter, then the power behind it is terrifying—they can even control the imperial guards?"
Zhao Kun pondered, "Alliance Leader, although last night's attack was carried out under the banner of the Inner Guard, the motive is unclear. Our alliance is newly established, and many interests have been affected. The four great families, some traditional powerful sects, and even some powerful figures in the court may all be acting under the guise of the Inner Guard. This mark might help us find the real mastermind behind it all."
Lin Mo nodded, sat back down in the main seat, and ran his fingers over the marked token. The cool touch made his mind exceptionally clear. "Whoever it is, since they've already made their move, it won't be a one-time thing. We must be the first to find out the truth."
He looked at Hong Jiu: "Hong Jiu, you set off immediately, taking two marked tokens with you, and secretly head to the capital. Do not use our open channels. Activate the most secretive 'undercover agent' to have 'him' help identify the mark. 'He' has been mingling in the lower echelons of the capital for many years, coming into contact with all sorts of people. His understanding of various hidden symbols and secret marks far surpasses that of ordinary people. Be extremely careful and do not reveal your identity or purpose."
"Understood!" Hong Jiu solemnly accepted the token and carefully put it away.
Lin Mo then looked at Zhao Kun: "Zhao Kun, you are in charge of the manor's internal affairs. Strengthen security, especially night patrols, and double the number of sentries. Announce to the outside world that I suffered minor injuries last night and need to rest, and will not see any guests for the time being. We need to create the illusion for the other side that we were stunned by the attack and are now licking our wounds."
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
"Furthermore," Lin Mo pondered for a moment, "have our people in other channels in the capital also keep a close eye on whether there have been any unusual personnel changes, unfamiliar faces, or unusual activities recently, especially within the Imperial Guard system. But remember, just keep an eye out, don't investigate too deeply, so as not to alert them."
As orders were issued, the entire Seven Absolutes Manor began to operate silently, like a sophisticated machine. Hong Jiu, upon receiving the orders, did not hesitate and immediately disguised himself, leaving through the manor's secret passage under the cover of night. Zhao Kun, meanwhile, began to deploy the manor's defenses, while subtly spreading the news of Lin Mo's "injury."
Silence returned to the council chamber, leaving only Lin Mo. He picked up the token with the flame mark again and examined it repeatedly under the lamplight. The flickering flame seemed to possess a kind of bewitching power, drawing his gaze.
"Inner Guard... Mark... Flame..." Lin Mo muttered to himself, his mind flashing back to fragments of memories from his past life, as well as all the information he had gathered in this life about the court, the royal family, and various forces, trying to connect this strange mark with a known force.
But after pondering for a long time, he still had no clue. This mark seemed to have appeared out of thin air, belonging to no one he knew.
"It seems the waters of the capital are even more murky than I imagined." Lin Mo put down the token, his eyes becoming deep and resolute. "No matter who you are, since you dared to attack me, you should be prepared to pay the price. This token is the first clue to finding you."
He blew out the lamp, plunging the council chamber into darkness, with only the faint starlight filtering in through the window, illuminating his tall and solitary figure.