Beside Bai Mo's seat, the staff member from the Immortal Technique Committee was a middle-aged man, seemingly unfazed by the awful smell. Instead, he was very tense, occasionally glancing at Bai Mo. Or rather, he was glancing at Bai Mo's plump fox, White Ears, nestled in his arms!
The middle-aged man himself was Sequence Nine.
The fugitive was also Sequence Nine.
And the plump fox cuddling in his master's arms, in a flick of its tail, had knocked Sequence Nine flying!
Noticing his gaze, Bai Mo felt more vexed. He originally didn't want to get involved with the Immortal Technique Committee. After all, fewer issues are better than more. Tonight, he was unfortunate to run into a fugitive and couldn't hide anymore!
He spoke up, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
"No need to be nervous.
White Ears knows its limits well.
It only uses seventy percent of its strength, leaving thirty percent of room.
Without special orders, it won't hit people to death.
As long as the fugitive is rescued in time, he can surely be saved!"
After speaking, Bai Mo felt something was amiss.
Because the expert beside him from the Immortal Technique Committee clearly shivered.
Yet, the expert forced a dry smile.
"No... No problem, I'm not... not nervous."
He took out his cell phone, not knowing whom he sent a message to.
A few minutes later, Bai Mo noticed two official cars approaching, then turning around to escort the van they were in, flanking it on the left and right.
Bai Mo sighed.
"I'm really not a dangerous person.
You don't need to call for reinforcements.
I'll go with you to the Immortal Technique Committee, clarify what needs to be said, and complete the necessary procedures."
The expert sitting next to him wore a smile that was both awkward and bitter.
...
The Immortal Technique Committee's headquarters was unexpectedly in the city center of West State City, comprising several discreet small buildings.
Zhang Shan had already been sent for treatment.
Bai Mo followed the expert from the Immortal Technique Committee into the small building and into the corridor.
White Ears, the apprentice fox, followed behind its master, carrying his backpack, acting as a little attendant. It held its head high and puffed out its chest, tail high in the air. In such an occasion, it had to keep up appearances and not embarrass its master!
...
The Background Investigation Section of the Immortal Technique Committee had a bustling large office, with dozens of people operating at high speed!
"Hello, is this the Kaiyuan Street Office? This is the West State City branch of the Immortal Technique Committee, urgently investigating a student named 'Bai Mo'..."
"Hello, is this Kaiyuan First Primary School? This is the West State City branch of the Immortal Book Committee, urgently investigating..."
Urgent calls were made to the street community where Bai Mo lived, his residential complex, the leaders, property management, and various neighbors;
Calls were made to the kindergarten, primary school, junior high, and high school Bai Mo had attended, as well as his former principals, class teachers, and subject teachers;
Bai Mo's educational records, files, medical records, and even the exams he had taken and the essays he's written had been retrieved by special vehicles and sent to the experts' desk...
Thus, on this rainy night, various departments in West State City erupted with high administrative efficiency, gathering all traces Bai Mo had left in this city over the past ten years or so, and sending it to the Immortal Technique Committee, to the Background Investigation Section!
Psychological evaluation experts, behavior experts, and sociological experts from the Background Investigation Section... also demonstrated high efficiency, checking the materials while holding a lively meeting. The secretary beside them quickly took notes.
"No blemishes!"
"Looks like there's no problem. He is an orphan, but never extreme."
"A very self-reliant and strong child; his grades have always been excellent."
"He's always ranked first. He's first in the city's unified exams too. A very intelligent individual."
"Throughout elementary, junior high, and high school, he had no friends. But he's not antisocial; he completes all homework and does all class duty work."
"Very polite to teachers... except sometimes he sleeps in class."
"Never done anything bad. Likes going to the supermarket to buy near-expiry milk, goes to the cake shop to bargain at nine in the evening, likes fishing for soup remains in the cafeteria, frequents bookshops to browse but never removes seals or dirties books, hobbies are online novels, and... he never reads pirated versions."
The experts raised their heads, looking at each other.
"This child has quite high moral standards."
"Isn't he an orphan? How does he afford genuine editions?"
"They're very cheap, just a few cents or bucks a day, definitely affordable."
"And he often encourages underappreciated authors, frequently casts recommendation votes, frequently supports initial publications."
"Oh."
A group of experts nodded in agreement.
At this point, Bai Mo's image in the modern society had been fully understood by them.
"He's a child who hasn't had it easy; life has been tough, but his moral standards are not low at all."
"Though not many friends, feedback from his teachers and his essays suggest he is a very optimistic and positive child."
A few experts provided the same conclusion...
[Overall Social Evaluation: Superior]
...
The brightly lit interrogation room.
Eight inquisitors sat behind the table, waiting for Bai Mo to arrive.
"The result of the social evaluation is out.
Superior?
Seems like a really good person."
Despite this, the eight were rather nervous, sitting upright. One of them, Fatty, even wiped sweat off his brow. Because all eight of them were Sequence Nine... just like the fugitive beaten half to death, they were all Sequence Nine...
Soon, they would question Bai Mo. Even though the social evaluation result was available, if Bai Mo lies, or if both sides fail to reach an agreement, it's still possible to spark a confrontation! They were simply coming to work, and definitely didn't want to risk their lives!
"Could Bai Mo be Sequence Eight?"
"Eight Sequence Nine can defeat one Sequence Eight?"
"Hard to say, Sequence isn't entirely equivalent to combat strength!"
"It's a pity the branch leader is on a business trip. If he were here, it would be great."
The branch leader is also Sequence Eight.
As for "Sequence Seven," this matter, they subconsciously ignored it; never considered it.
...
Bai Mo walked into the interrogation room, followed by his little apprentice, White Ears.
He lightly scanned the room.
He saw in the corner of the wall a lush pot plant hidden, a "Truth Grass." If anyone around lies, this grass would curl its leaves;
He saw among the eight inquisitors, two were already staring at his face, staring at his expression as if they were micro-expression lie detection experts;
He saw among the eight inquisitors, one had nestled Gu insects in his eye sockets behind his sunglasses, seemingly also a Lie Detection Gu;
He saw beside the inquisitors' table, crouching a wild dog, quite large and sour-smelling, seemingly out of place, a Pet Beast?
"Hello Mr. Bai Mo, please take a seat."
Bai Mo moved forward two steps and faced the inquisitors, taking a seat. The chair had armrests, seating, and backrest equipped with various lie-detection sensors, collecting lie-detection-related signals transmitted via cables to the corner instruments.
The lie-detection experts were fully focused; the Lie Detection Gu began to get excited; the lie-detection equipment lit up its indicator light... the inquisitors grew tense!