Upon uttering these words, Han Mingqi remained unharmed by the dark energy carrier, a clear indication that his statement, as far as he understood it, was truthful.
Shen Jingye pressed further, inquiring, "Where did you obtain Kang Zhenchang’s address?"
"He Jiaqing provided it to me," Han Mingqi responded with astute brevity.
Within his sphere of knowledge, this was indeed the factual account.
Furthermore, He Jiaqing was already a wanted individual by the Dark Star Bureau, rendering an additional charge inconsequential.
However, this tactic, while effective against the dark energy carrier, could not deceive Shen Jingye: "Did He Jiaqing inform you directly?"
Han Mingqi's lips quivered, betraying the difficulty he had in formulating a reply.
Shen Jingye reiterated his question: "Was the information conveyed to you directly by him, or was it relayed through someone else?"
Presented with a binary choice, Han Mingqi found himself compelled to offer an honest answer: "It was conveyed..."
"Who relayed it to you?"
"It was..." Han Mingqi faltered, the sensation akin to shedding another layer of his very being.
"It was Zhu Junlong," Han Mingqi ultimately confessed under duress.
"What is this Zhu Junlong’s occupation?"
"He, he is the proprietor of the Tea Mountain Hotel..."
The interrogation concluded. Shen Jingye departed the room and issued a decisive command: "Apprehend Zhu Junlong, the general manager of Tea Mountain Hotel, without delay. Seal the establishment and detain all individuals present, both staff and patrons, for questioning."
For this crucial operation, Shen Jingye enlisted the assistance of Li Qi.
Inside the vehicle, Shen Jingye directed a question to Li Banfeng: "Director Li, what was the nature of your relationship with He Jiaqing during your tenure in Puluo State?"
Li Banfeng inclined his head slightly: "My interactions with him in Puluo State were minimal; I am not intimately familiar with him."
Within the confines of the car resided a Virtue Cultivation Spiritual Object, capable of compelling truthfulness, situated around the Eighth Layer. Li Banfeng could keenly sense its potent aura.
Regrettably, this Spiritual Object proved ineffective against a Cultivator Above the Clouds. Li Banfeng’s statement was, in fact, the unvarnished truth; his association with He Jiaqing in Puluo State had been negligible, leaving him with little insight into the man.
The spiritual wisdom of this particular Spiritual Object was limited, falling considerably short of the standard for a magical treasure. Employing the Insightful Spirit Sound Technique, Li Banfeng discerned that it lacked the capacity to identify its wielder.
Shen Jingye acknowledged this, stating, "That aligns with what I've gathered. Chief Envoy Liao mentioned that by the time you ascended to the ranks of the nobility, He Jiaqing was largely situated in Yuezhou.
His influence there is deeply entrenched, and the Tea Mountain Hotel represents one of his primary strongholds. This operation promises significant gains, potentially leading to the apprehension of the entire organization in a single stroke."
Li Banfeng intentionally inquired, "How did the bureau ascertain the connection to the Tea Mountain Hotel?"
"It was the culmination of extensive efforts by the bureau..." As he spoke, Shen Jingye's right hand moved towards a switch located near the car door.
This switch, designed with deceptive simplicity, appeared to control the car window.
In reality, its function was entirely unrelated to the window; it was intended to regulate the Virtue Cultivation Spiritual Object.
His objective was to deactivate the Judge’s dark energy carrier, thereby preventing himself from succumbing to its influence and being compelled to speak only the truth.
Before his fingers could reach the switch, Li Banfeng placed a bottle of water into his right hand: "Young Shen, the discussion of accolades can wait. Let us focus on the specifics of our work. Detail precisely how we uncovered the lead regarding the Tea Mountain Hotel."
"This discovery stems from our prolonged period of investigation and surveillance; it is a significant outcome..." Shen Jingye exhibited a degree of agitation, setting aside the water bottle and reaching once more for the switch adjacent to the car window.
He succeeded in activating the switch, only for Li Banfeng to swiftly deactivate it.
Due to Li Banfeng's rapid movement, Shen Jingye remained entirely oblivious and continued his discourse, "In preparation for this operation, the entire bureau initiated the formulation of detailed strategies targeting the Tea Mountain Hotel three months ago..."
A jolt of electricity coursed through Shen Jingye's body, causing him to tremble momentarily. His gaze shifted towards the switch by the window, then to Li Qi seated beside him.
Li Qi let out a sigh: "Young Shen, there's no need for pretense. Simply elaborate on the operational details."
Shen Jingye dabbed the sweat from his brow: "Director Li, regarding the specific operational procedures, we shall discuss them further upon our return to the bureau; certain information is classified."
Li Banfeng nodded in agreement: "Very well. Come to my office after the operation is concluded."
In truth, even without Shen Jingye's explicit explanation, Li Banfeng could already infer approximately seventy to eighty percent of the situation.
Earlier, Big Head had departed the data room and proceeded directly to the Tea Mountain Hotel, a clear intention to deliver a message to He Jiaqing.
The message conveyed was an address, intended to guide He Jiaqing in locating a specific individual.