Chapter 194 - 156: Captain Huo: You Control a Divine Technique to Predict the Future, Don’t You?

"So... a phone in Li Ping’s nightstand, and another in Zhang Long’s toilet tank! Both were found... Yes, and you’ve confirmed they both frequently contact the same unknown number? And the numbers are identical... Good. Very good."

As he spoke the last words, Huo Qiming’s expression remained placid, but his voice took on a chilling edge.

He might have a righteous spirit, but that didn’t mean he was soft-hearted.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. When faced with evil, his only response was to strike it down.

"Secretary Zhang," Huo Qiming said, enunciating each word, "I want you to immediately take all seven of these traitors and..."

"But you only have evidence for two of them..." Chu Bamboo cut in quietly. "What reason will you use to arrest the other five?"

Huo Qiming fell silent for a moment, then turned to stare intently at Chu Bamboo.

"If I were you, I would put the phones back exactly where you found them, right now! And restore the rooms to their original state." Chu Bamboo paused briefly to gather his thoughts before continuing, "Because there might be far more than just seven moles!"

"Use them as bait. Monitor them and their usual contacts, and slowly unravel the web of suspicion. That’s a more logical approach. Or, even if you absolutely must arrest them, you can’t do it on charges of espionage!"

"Arrest them for embezzlement, for corruption, for accepting bribes, for any suspected criminal activity... and you can’t use those reasons to arrest all seven at once! Two is the absolute limit. Any more, and you’ll put the other moles on alert!"

Huo Qiming considered this for a long moment. After confirming there were no flaws in the logic, he nodded slightly. Just as he was about to repeat the orders, he heard Chu Bamboo add, "One more important detail: Li Ping likes to place a single hair in his doorjamb when he leaves. Don’t forget that."

"...Secretary Zhang, after his ’ideological education session’ is complete, target Li Ping directly. Use embezzlement and corruption as the reason! Lock him up for interrogation. Hold off on the others... and use only the internal cameras at headquarters to monitor the other six!" Huo Qiming said, then hung up.

’So the inspectors are supposed to carefully replace a hair in the door after they leave? For him? Does he think he deserves that kind of care? Since you’re so cautious... you can tell it to the prison walls!’

"Kid, you’re really something," Huo Qiming said, looking Chu Bamboo up and down with admiration in his eyes. Though he didn’t hold out much hope, he made the offer anyway. "Any interest... in becoming my secretary?"

This was different from last time, when Chu Bamboo’s display of Memory Divine Techniques and his supreme talent had made Huo Qiming consider taking him on as a disciple.

This time, Huo Qiming’s invitation to be his secretary... meant that he admired and valued Chu Bamboo’s administrative, procedural, and intelligence capabilities. He wanted to groom Chu Bamboo for a political career.

Unlike becoming a disciple, if Chu Bamboo nodded this time, he would be on a path to becoming a major figure in the public-facing side of the Captain’s Office, promoted by Huo Qiming himself...

He might even gain the trust of the Imperial Capital and become a dual administrator like Huo Qiming, straddling both the Extraordinary and Mortal Worlds. It wasn’t impossible.

"How about a different reward," Chu Bamboo said lightly. "I’m too used to my carefree ways. I could never be a big shot in that kind of system. Being the director of my own Management Department is already exhausting enough."

Li Kang was speechless.

He opened his mouth to speak several times, but held his tongue. ’You hole yourself up in the Nuwa Base all day doing God knows what... and *that’s* exhausting? If Wall Announcements heard him say that, he’d probably explode!’

"Well, that does put me in a difficult position." Huo Qiming rubbed his brow, thinking for a moment. Then, he offered the exact same reward as last time: two honorary vice-captain positions.

Chu Bamboo rolled his eyes. ’So, basically, it’s the same reward whether I accomplish something or not? Although, that actually makes sense, I guess.’

"Alright, that’s enough for this inspection. I should be getting back," Huo Qiming said calmly. After all, with what had just happened at headquarters, he needed to return and take command of the situation.

"Did I say the matter was over?" Chu Bamboo suddenly said. His words stopped Huo Qiming, who had already turned to leave, dead in his tracks.

"I want one thing," Chu Bamboo said, staring at Huo Qiming’s back and holding up a single finger. "I want administrative and operational control of the Second District’s Special Operations Brigade. Of course, one day is all I need."

"...Didn’t you say before that you didn’t want to be a temporary captain?"

"Which is why I only need it for one day." Chu Bamboo smiled. He had no problem borrowing the strength of the Special Operations Brigade to deal with an enemy, but making him clock in for work every day? ’No, thanks.’

He said nonchalantly, "After Qi Heng escaped, he contacted the All-Powerful side... Hmph, those Demon Cultists are truly dead set on destroying me. Qi Heng is preparing to flee to another city and take on a new identity, living as a freelance Transcendent from now on... And before he leaves, he plans to complete a task commissioned by the All-Powerful Lineage—"

"To kill me... and Li Kang!"

Li Kang froze. "...?"

’Wait, what does this have to do with me?!’

Li Kang’s face went pale, but then he remembered the 4 - 24 Captain Huo had just given him. He breathed a small sigh of relief and steeled his resolve.

’For the foreseeable future, I’ll have to keep the Soul Sword with me at all times... sleeping, eating, on missions, in the bathroom, even in the shower! And I’ll have to stay constantly on guard against a sneak attack.’

"How audacious!" Huo Qiming spun back around, his eyes clouded over with a dark fury. After everything that had just happened, he no longer had any doubt about the intelligence Chu Bamboo provided.

However, as he mulled over Chu Bamboo’s words, he began to sense something, though he couldn’t be certain. "So, your request for one day of command is because..."

’I think I know what he’s implying... but surely I’m misunderstanding him, right?’

"Mm-hm," Chu Bamboo confirmed with a beaming smile. "My goal, of course, is to capture the esteemed Captain Qi Heng."

Huo Qiming’s brow furrowed deeper as he scrutinized Chu Bamboo with a mixture of shock and disbelief.

’Are you serious? You think you can arrest... Qi Heng... in a single day?!’

’Even if I go back right now, order a review of all the surveillance footage, and have my people sift through the data... we might not find a trace of Qi Heng in two or three days.’

’And if Qi Heng uses that time to flee to another city, all hope of finding him will be lost... We’d have to just issue a wanted notice and hope for the best!’

’But you... are you really this confident? This brazen?’

"You know his location?" Huo Qiming pressed.

"I can make a rough estimate," Chu Bamboo’s voice was, as always, filled with a vibrant confidence, as if he had everything under control.

He continued, "Don’t ask about my source. It’s just like... how I knew about the moles."

"He is Mr. Zhu, after all! Maybe... some of the people from the redevelopment zone are undercover... over there," Li Kang quickly chimed in, trying to cover for Chu Bamboo.

"Does that sound reasonable to you?" Huo Qiming shot Li Kang a sideways glance, his tone noncommittal.

Li Kang flinched, giving Chu Bamboo a helpless look. Huo Qiming thought for a long moment before finally fixing Chu Bamboo with a sharp gaze. "However, kid... I think I have a good idea of what’s going on with you."

Though Chu Bamboo remained outwardly calm, he couldn’t help but wonder, ’Did I overplay my hand this time? Let’s see, if he really figures it out... should I just reset? I’ll be more careful in the next life...’

Then, he heard Huo Qiming say, "This is your ’Divine Technique,’ isn’t it?"

Chu Bamboo: "?"

"Kid! According to the reports, you’ve already become a Cultivator, but I can’t sense any Divine Thought fluctuations from you at all. Remarkable! I can’t find a single flaw." Huo Qiming was full of praise. ’Even his build is so normal...’

Chu Bamboo’s initial impression wasn’t that of a Transcendent, but of an ordinary person.

Chu Bamboo pursed his lips. ’Of course, that’s because I’m constantly using Rewrite on myself... It seems the effect is remarkable! Even an expert like Huo Qiming can’t detect anything amiss. Still, what did he mean by that...?’

"Is your Divine Technique the Great Prophecy Skill? Or A Corner of the Future? Or perhaps Zhuang Gong’s Butterfly Dream?" Huo Qiming speculated, speaking slowly.

These were all powerful Divine Techniques recorded by the Captain’s Office—abilities that offered a glimpse into the future!

The defining characteristic of these Divine Techniques was their rarity. In fact, one could say they were almost nonexistent.

Excluding Zhuang Gong’s Butterfly Dream—the weakest in terms of future-sight, as it was more about creating a possible alternate future...

The two great Divine Techniques, the Great Prophecy Skill and A Corner of the Future, both originated from the Celestial Secret Lineage of the God Worship Sect.

However, the Great Prophecy Skill came from the Western Sect, while A Corner of the Future came from the native sect.

In a way, the two Divine Techniques were actually one and the same, simply given different names by the two sects. The contemporary wielder of this power was always the designated Celestial Secret Archbishop of the God Worship Sect!

"After all these years... another one has finally appeared." Huo Qiming sighed wistfully, a trace of reminiscence in his eyes. He gave Chu Bamboo a long, deep look and issued a stern warning. "However, if that’s really the case, you must hide this Divine Technique well."

"...You mean?" Li Kang seemed to realize something. His pupils widened, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He looked at Chu Bamboo, his eyes filled with undisguised worry.

The ability to prophesize the future was, of course, extremely powerful.

But every coin has two sides—this Divine Technique had an extremely serious, one might even say fatal, problem.

For one, such users were exceedingly rare. Back when the Celestial Secret Sect was still around, even with a complete system for cultivating the ability, the entire God Worship Sect could likely only produce one such individual at any given time. That person would then, by default, become the Celestial Secret Archbishop of the Celestial Secret Sect.

Even at its peak, the most there had ever been at once was two—

One presiding as the Celestial Secret Archbishop of the Western Faction, and the other as the Celestial Secret Archbishop of the native faction.

And the second fatal flaw was that its users couldn’t see the cause and effect...

The Celestial Secret Lineage, now... was gone.

And the fundamental reason for its demise was...