Recently, a criminal organization known as the "Axe Gang" has been running rampant in the Throne Quarter, giving the local Public Security Station a massive headache.
They purchase contraband drugs from Outer Ring rebels and then sell them in the Throne Quarter, causing the district's crime rate to skyrocket. The Throne Quarter Public Security Station has organized multiple targeted operations, but every single one ended in failure.
The reason for these failures was simple: every time an arrest operation was launched, the Axe Gang seemed to know in advance and prepared countermeasures accordingly.
Therefore, the Throne Quarter Public Security Station suspected—no, could basically confirm—that there was a mole inside the station tipping off the Axe Gang.
In fact, there was also an undercover agent within the Axe Gang itself, but this agent was not under the Throne Quarter Public Security Station. Instead, they belonged to the Janus Quarter Public Security Station.
The undercover agent had originally infiltrated a mid-sized gang. When that gang was absorbed by the Axe Gang, the agent was absorbed along with it.
Thus, the upper echelons of New Eridu Public Security planned to organize a joint operation: using the undercover agent to identify the internal mole, then wipe out the Axe Gang in one sweep.
However, one undercover agent was not enough. The leadership believed it would be best to involve an expert in espionage and internal moles as a consultant, to provide targeted guidance and suggestions.
When Mayor Mayflower learned of this matter, she immediately thought of Yunkui Summit.
During both the Meffer Mine incident and the Divine Tiger Companions public screening ceremony incident, Yunkui Summit had encountered internal moles—but both were resolved with ease.
As a result, Mayor Mayflower contacted Yixuan Shifu, hoping Yunkui Summit would send an expert consultant on internal moles to assist the Public Security's joint operation. And so, Yixuan Shifu found Arden.
After all, in both incidents, the internal moles had been uncovered by Arden himself—there was no more suitable candidate than him.
...
Janus Quarter, Public Security Station.
Arden arrived here in the capacity of an expert consultant and walked into an office.
"Welcome, Daoist Arden!"
A middle-aged male officer walked up to greet him.
A weathered face, immaculate uniform—at a glance, he was clearly a serious, responsible, and perhaps somewhat stubborn officer.
"I'm Huang Yunlong. I serve as an Inspector in the Janus Quarter. You can call me Inspector Huang!"
The middle-aged officer extended his hand in a friendly manner.
"!!"
The title "Inspector Huang" made Arden pause. He felt like he had heard this title somewhere before, but couldn't recall where.
"Nice to meet you, Inspector Huang!"
Arden quickly came back to his senses and shook his hand.
"This is Zhu Yuan, leader of the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team, and Public Security Officer Qingyi. These two will be assisting in this operation."
Looking at the approaching female officer and Bangboo-like Public Security Officer, the corner of Arden's mouth lifted slightly.
To be honest, if it weren't for cooperating with the Janus Quarter Public Security Station, Arden might not have come at all. He wasn't particularly interested in the Axe Gang—only Zhu Yuan and Qingyi were appealing enough.
Especially Qingyi, the automaton officer. Arden was very curious to see New Eridu's most advanced humanoid automation technology.
"I'm very glad to be working with both of you."
Arden shook hands with Zhu Yuan and Qingyi as well.
"Daoist Arden… no, I suppose I should call you Consultant Xu now. You should already have some understanding of this operation, correct?"
After the brief introductions, both sides moved straight to business.
"Yes, I know a bit."
Arden nodded.
Due to the mole and undercover agent situation, this operation would be led primarily by the Janus Quarter Public Security Station. Arden's role was to provide professional guidance and advice—he did not need to personally carry out arrests.
"Then… things will be much easier from here."
As he spoke, Inspector Huang slid several photographs in front of Arden. "The Axe Gang has been very active in the Throne Quarter lately. As a disciple of Yunkui Summit, you should have heard of them?"
"Mm… I've only just heard of them recently."
Yunkui Summit and the Waifei Peninsula were both located within the Throne Quarter. Presumably intimidated by Yunkui Summit's strength, the Axe Gang had wisely avoided those two areas. Otherwise, there would have been no need for the Public Security to intervene—Yixuan Shifu, who despised evil, and Ju Fufu, the chivalrous senior sister, would have wiped them out already.
"This here is Brother Kun, the Axe Gang's leader…"
Inspector Huang pointed to a photo of a short, chubby man with a smiling face, his chest and arms tattooed with crossed axes. "And this is the second-in-command…"
He continued introducing the core members of the Axe Gang one by one.
After finishing all the introductions, he suddenly changed the subject. "One of these individuals is an undercover agent placed inside the Axe Gang by our Public Security. Consultant Xu, do you have any thoughts?"
This is… a test?
Arden glanced at Inspector Huang, then at Zhu Yuan and Qingyi, who were both watching him intently. He immediately understood Inspector Huang's intent.
Arden was participating in this operation as an expert on internal moles and undercover agents. Since this was their first meeting, Inspector Huang wanted to gauge his true level.
Perfectly reasonable.
There was no need to directly identify who the undercover agent was—so long as what he said made sense, it would earn recognition. But Arden wanted to give the three of them a little transmigrator-style shock.
He first pretended to carefully examine all the photos several times. Then, under their probing gazes, he pinched his fingers as if calculating something.
At this very moment… it is suitable to show off.
Then Arden said solemnly, "If I'm not mistaken, this one should be the Public Security's undercover agent."
As he spoke, his finger landed on the photo of a Wolf Thiren with a voluptuous figure.
"As expected of Yunkui Summit's top disciple! Consultant Xu—no, Master Xu!"
Inspector Huang's tone was filled with admiration and respect. At the same time, he fully acknowledged Arden's role as an expert and senior consultant for the upcoming operation.
"Miraculous! Truly marvelous!!"
Qingyi was utterly incredulous.
She readily admitted that even with her highly advanced processor, combined with big data analysis from online sources and internal Public Security databases, it would be impossible to identify the undercover agent in such a short time.
"How did you tell?"
Zhu Yuan, with her straightforward personality, asked directly.
The undercover agent's information was classified at an extremely high level. Even she had only been informed of the true identity after being confirmed as a participant in the operation. And Arden figured it out just by looking at the photos and doing a quick calculation?
That was absurdly amazing!
"Ah! It's really not that miraculous."
Although he spoke modestly, Arden nearly burst out laughing inside.
If he couldn't even recognize Jane Doe, then he really would have played Zenless Zone Zero for nothing!
Of course, that couldn't be said out loud.
"It's just experience in reading people, plus a few small divination tricks."
Arden began to improvise confidently. "I grew up navigating the streets and markets, meeting all kinds of people… I naturally developed a sixth sense for judging character… and Yunkui Summit's unique divination techniques are secret arts not passed down lightly…"
"Ohhh!"
"So impressive!"
"..."
Inspector Huang, Zhu Yuan, and Qingyi were all completely bluffed. Even though they didn't quite understand what Arden was saying, it gave them an overwhelming sense that he was incredibly capable.
"Then, we'll be relying on Consultant Xu for the rest of the operation."
"Rest assured! Acting chivalrously and punishing evil is a duty my Yunkui Summit cannot shirk!"
Words often used by Ju Fufu came out of Arden's mouth without the slightest awkwardness—and sounded just as convincing.
===BREAK===
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