Saiyu still couldn't figure it out: "How was Garcia exposed?"
"I've been monitoring him the whole time. I didn't see anyone targeting him or trying to trap him..."
"Who did it? How did he suddenly get caught?"
"This is actually simple..."
Pariston replied with a soft laugh: "Most of the time, you don't need to understand the cause."
"You only need to ask yourself: after something happens, who benefits the most? That person is likely the mastermind."
"In my mind, I already have an applicant."
Hearing this, Saiyu also fell silent in thought.
In his heart, he too vaguely had a guess.
No solid basis, but if Pariston said so, it was likely accurate.
"From what I know about Garcia, he always handled his loose ends cleanly, leaving no gaps."
Pariston continued smiling: "I don't know how that person found the evidence, but since he did, it proves his intelligence-gathering ability is extraordinary."
"It wouldn't be surprising if that person already knew about our communications, our meetings, and perhaps, even our relationship."
Saiyu: "...?"
"Is it really that outrageous?!"
He couldn't fully believe it, but because he trusted Pariston, he shut his mouth obediently.
With some wariness, he glanced around.
"Even if that person knows, so what?!"
Saiyu still insisted: "We didn't do anything that violates rules!!"
"That guy, Garcia, brought ruin upon himself. We're the ones who followed rules and discipline!!"
"Unless Garcia decides to blurt something out... Uh, he shouldn't do that, right?"
Saiyu suddenly thought of something and narrowed his eyes: "If Botobai and the others also use his children as leverage..."
"Do you think that guy might betray us, turn his coat at the last moment, and sell us out?!"
"Betrayal happens only once, and then countless more times."
Pariston gently shook his head and said with a smile: "If he really betrayed us..."
The corners of his mouth, carrying that faint smile, also spoke the most realistic words: "Then that also means he can betray other people as well."
"You should know, he worked for many years in the Hunter Association's examination department, holding important positions, and he has numerous connections and entanglements with the upper levels of various national governments."
"If he opens a hole here with us, tell me, will those high-ranking government officials still trust him?"
"I understand."
Saiyu said with a look of realization: "If he doesn't open his mouth, then that's still fine."
"Considering all the work he has done for those top government officials in the past, they might still leave him with a path to live."
"But if he does open his mouth..."
Saiyu said seriously, one word at a time: "Only the dead can keep secrets."
"That's right."
Pariston watched that figure walking away, his gaze tranquil and deep: "If he keeps his mouth shut now, then at worst he'll just be sentenced according to his own crimes."
"But if he loosens that mouth even once..."
"Then he's beyond saving."
If Garcia kept quiet, then even the worst possible outcome would be only his execution.
But his family and his children could still survive safely, and even enjoy the shade brought about by his death.
But if he began biting indiscriminately, then he and everyone in his family would disappear from this world.
Yes, physically.
After all, those high-ranking government officials can't be sure whether he has hidden evidence somewhere that implicates them.
In that case, physically erasing him is the best method to reduce threat and risk.
"That guy should be a smart man."
Saiyu believed that from their interactions over this period, Garcia clearly wasn't an idiot.
Hopefully, he understands what he should do.
"Looks like the days ahead won't be boring."
Saiyu smacked his lips. "And they won't be smooth either."
At the very least, after Garcia's capture, many of their plans would be affected.
Their undercover operations in the future would also become much more difficult.
"All because of that guy!!"
Saiyu muttered under his breath: "Garcia's incident should be something he orchestrated behind the scenes."
"Although we don't know how he did it, that guy is seriously bizarre..."
Possessing complicated and unpredictable abilities, those are exactly the types that Enhancer-types like them dislike, don't want to encounter, and are worst at dealing with.
"You think so too, right?"
Hearing Saiyu's words, the smile on Pariston's face deepened.
"Then, if those powerful government figures learn that such a person exists, someone who can investigate others' secrets, obtain their hidden stains, and Garcia was captured exactly because of him..."
"You mean..."
Saiyu instantly understood: "To make those big shots feel threatened by that guy?"
"But we don't have any evidence proving he did it, nor that he has such methods..."
"No evidence is needed."
Pariston continued smiling: "For them, as long as there's a reasonable suspicion, that's enough."
"And once the seed of doubt is planted, they will inevitably begin testing and probing."
"And once that Pandora's box is opened, nothing will ever stop again."
Pariston understood those bigshots far too well: "So, when the time comes, we just need to go along with the flow, using the smallest price to push for the biggest outcome..."
Having made up his mind, Pariston rested his hand on his chin.
A new storm of thoughts had already begun spinning within his mind.
But what Pariston didn't know was this: Every word of his and Saiyu's conversation had already been overheard by the robot that controlled this entire building.
"Planning to use those high-ranking government officials to pressure me?"
After Luke learned everything from the House Robot, he simply smiled slightly.
"Let them get past Chairman Netero first."
With Chairman Netero standing in the front, Luke wasn't very worried.
After all, he had the Phantom Troupe backing him and numerous backup plans.
If, because of pressure from those government elites, he was forced to step down… Luke didn't care.
If he had to step down, then he would simply step down; he had other places to go.
But he guaranteed that after stepping down, he would give those people an unforgettable lesson.
Chairman Netero, more or less, understood this point.
He would definitely mediate.
As for Beans… Well, without surprise, he'd definitely help too.
After all, if Luke left, where would he find such an excellent assistant to help him handle documents, chores, and workload?!
For the sake of his own job, Beans would certainly defend Luke to the greatest extent possible.