“`
“Ha! Our genius has arrived!”
The speaker was Zhang Guang’en.
He was a portly man currently in the midst of a banquet.
Most of the attendees at the banquet were from the Psychic Cultivator’s Association—local psychics from the Tianma Star Sector.
Upon hearing that an A-grade psychic, namely Gu Hang, had appeared in their Star Sector, many psychics from various planets rushed over; when they heard that the widely known Zhang Guang’en from the entire Cosmos Domain had arrived as well, the number of visitors increased substantially.
Zhang Guang’en was adept at social interaction, far more a politician than a scholarly figure or a reclusive and mentally sensitive psychic.
Gu Hang, a true politician, sometimes didn’t have the patience to receive the numerous visitors individually, but Zhang Guang’en was willing to do so.
This might have been the difference between someone like Gu Hang, who held authority in his own right, and an official like Zhang Guang’en who worked under a larger system.
At Zhang Guang’en’s enthusiastic invitation, Gu Hang joined the banquet.
Amid the clinking of cups and toasts, Gu Hang chatted with the attendees, exchanging what could only be described as trivial pleasantries.
He didn’t like such occasions, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t good at them.
And how could the perceptive Zhang Guang’en not know that Gu Hang’s visit was to seek him out for a matter?
He enjoyed the feeling of being flattered, but after arriving in the Tianma Star Sector, what mattered to him most was Gu Hang.
An A-grade psychic was a rare find. In the Dragonhawk Star Domain, there was only one, and in the entire Eastern Cosmos Domain, which totaled over two thousand planets, there weren’t more than a hundred A-grade psychics.
Every A-grade psychic was a valuable treasure. Adding one meant that the entire Star Domain had a higher say in the upper echelons of the Psychic Cultivator’s Association.
There were significant interests involved.
The value of one Gu Hang was many times greater than the Psychic Cultivators’ Association of the entire Tianma Star Sector combined.
Soon, Zhang Guang’en had the others continue the banquet and interaction while he, personally, took Gu Hang to a private room with a terrace.
“What’s up, young Gu? Is there something you want to discuss with me?” he asked with a smile, with no visible movement of his hands, yet tea cups, a teapot, and plates slowly flew over, pouring tea and setting themselves up on the small table on the terrace. In a matter of moments, a set of tea and snacks for conversation was arranged.
Gu Hang, without being polite, took a sip and expressed his admiration, then got down to business, “I’m thinking of leaving Korolya III for a while to return to Rage Owl Star.”
Zhang Guang’en frowned.
He took a sip of his tea, then said, “This is… a bit difficult to manage. According to the investigation team’s requirements, no one is allowed to leave the planet. You are a member of the investigation team, so you should know the rules.”
“Hmm, so doesn’t that bring me to you?” Gu Hang was of course good at speaking nicely, “Your face carries much more weight than mine. Rules are dead; there must be some flexibility, I ask the Grand Mage for guidance.”
“Hahaha!” Gu Hang’s somewhat flattering words made Zhang Guang’en laugh heartily.
The delighted Grand Mage said, “If it were someone else, then undoubtedly there would be no bending the rules, strict impartiality. But for you… well, there could indeed be some ways to think about it.”
“Please, Grand Mage, think if you can help.”
In fact, this was just a pretext.
Gu Hang himself was a member of the investigation team; he was well aware of the workings of the investigation teams from the Star Sector to the Star Domain to the Cosmos Domain.
In truth, by this time, the investigation work was not only lightweight but could practically be said to be idle.
Half a year had passed since the incident occurred, what evidence could there be left to find?
It was merely a matter of checking each person who was present at the time and the entire environment of Korolya III.
As for the elimination of suspects, it was pretty much conclusive. There were plenty with the motive, since the War Apostle had offended many; however, none had the capability to commit the crime.
If one insists the incident was man-made, then the perpetrator must have been a very powerful entity, possessing some unknown method, and had the ability to carry it out. And the doer must not have been present at the scene, perhaps no longer even in the Tianma Star Sector.
The probability of this was very low.
The consensus among the three investigation teams was that the incident was, with high probability, an accident.
This conclusion was supported by the fact that in the half-year since the incident, the Abyss’s invasions on Korolya III had become increasingly severe.
Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire
Theoretically, at this stage, the case could be closed.
With the final conclusion coming directly from the investigation team dispatched by the Eastern Cosmic Realm Government, the persuasiveness should already be high. Next, the investigation team would wrap up, the matter would largely be concluded, and the outcome reported to the Central Empire, where the Supreme Council of Holy Terra would sign off, and the whole case would be officially settled.
However, Galaraldo’s unique status lay in the fact that his death would directly shock the Sun Lord himself.
This was the individual who directly oversaw the Terra Council and could be considered the de facto supreme ruler of the Empire, not so easily convinced by local government conclusions. He didn’t even allow the Central Government to send an investigation team, but formed one directly from his own Expeditionary Force.
“`