Once, I wanted to be a good person

He spoke, emitting sounds of getting out of bed and dressing up. Then, slightly tousling his hair, he yawned and walked out.

Upon exiting the dorm, the Investigator pointed to the outside of the temporary residence and said, "The Director said we can assemble outside."

Investigator Cui nodded and then walked out leisurely.

Upon arriving at the open space outside the temporary residence, he discovered that, besides himself, there were also several commissioners from the Security Bureau who had been called out.

Bai Zhi and Bai Ling stood in front of everyone, patiently waiting. Next to them stood a person in a black robe, whose purpose was unknown.

Shortly after, when Director Pang also arrived at the open space, Bai Zhi slowly began, "Everyone knows that there is a traitor among our special case team."

"And not just one."

"After the previous two rounds of screening, the suspects have already been narrowed down to among you."

"Since the traitor is very cunning, I specifically invited a Lie Detector from the bureau to assist me in a new round of screening."

"I know that the traitor possesses either an Extraordinary Item or an Awakening Ability that can shield against lie detection."

"But this time, the lie detector is a person; as soon as you dare to use any ability or item, you will be immediately discovered."

"So, I advise you all to think carefully."

Hearing Bai Zhi's words, the Investigators and commissioners below exchanged glances.

Clearly, nobody expected that they were all gathered together in the dead of the night again just to catch a traitor!

Moreover, there's more than one traitor?

At this moment, Investigator Cui was even more shocked, "More than one traitor?"

"Are you kidding?"

"In the whole special case team, apart from Han Kaiwei, I'm the only member of the organization..."

"Could it be from that mysterious organization behind the tycoon?"

"Or perhaps ... planted by some other saint?"

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but recall his conversation that day with the saint.

His movements within the special case team were known clearly by other saints in the organization. (Chapter 28)

This meant that there might indeed be other organization members around him that he was unaware of.

Plus, with the sudden appearance of a Lie Detector in the special case team, Investigator Cui felt completely unsettled...

At this moment, Bai Zhi spoke again.

She said, "Of course, I'm not without sympathy. Having worked with you all for so long, I have developed certain feelings. I'm willing to give everyone one last chance."

"Thus, I promise that the first person who admits their own identity as a traitor and provides me with intelligence about their backing organization will be dealt with leniently."

"If the intelligence is valuable enough, you could even become an informant and receive protection from the Security Bureau."

"As for the other person who doesn't come forward voluntarily... Sorry. You can only pray that you manage to escape from my hands."

"You all know, when I lose my temper, I never leave survivors."

As she spoke, her whole body suddenly erupted with an astonishing aura. Simultaneously, five dazzling stars quietly floated out behind her.

These five stars formed a hexagram pattern missing a corner, ethereal and vast, inducing awe at a glance.

Everyone present changed their complexion.

For this signified that Bai Zhi had fused with five complete Awakening Abilities, and was just a step away from the Spirit Ascension stage.

To say nothing of within the special case team or Qingshan City, even in the Emerald City region or the whole of Xida State, she would be considered a master.

At this moment, Investigator Cui's hands were clenched tightly.

He felt trouble was brewing.

'This crazy woman, is she for real?'

'And when did she fuse another ability?'

'This wasn't in the intelligence reports.'

'What should I do now?'

While Investigator Cui was anxious, each suspect was thoroughly searched to confirm they carried no Extraordinary Items and then escorted to separate rooms for isolation.

Investigators without suspicion were grouped in threes, keeping watch at the windows of the rooms to prevent them from escaping or contacting each other.

Investigator Cui was also brought to an Investigator's dorm alone.

Inside the dorm, he suppressed the agitation in his heart, sat by the table, and then patiently waited for his interrogation.

As he waited, he gradually calmed down, and his mood relaxed slightly.

Firstly, he believed it was very unlikely that reinforcements from the Security Bureau had arrived; this could all just be a setup.

After all, if the reinforcements had truly arrived, there wouldn't just be one Lie Detector. That wouldn't match the Security Bureau's style.

Secondly, even if that Lie Detector had arrived early and they discovered his and another member's identity issues,

as long as he and the other member kept their mouths shut, they wouldn't be able to extract the organization's information and deal with him.

Thinking this, he suddenly felt unease again...

Even if he could ensure to keep mum, could the other organization member guarantee the same?

What if he spoke?

Then wouldn't he be doomed?

Bai Zhi, that crazy woman, was indeed capable of committing acts of torture.

Thinking of this, he could not help but feel anxious and wanted to stand up and walk around.

However, seeing that an investigator was constantly watching him, he could only take a deep breath or two and make sure not to show any signs of abnormality.

He felt that he must calm down.

Not to mention that there might not be any other traitors, it could just be Bai Zhi deceiving him.

Even if there were, he had to trust everyone's faith in the organization! He couldn't be paranoid!

Moreover, the organization's reinforcements were about to arrive, and by then, they would surely be able to rescue the two of them.

So... he must not lose his composure.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Just as his thoughts grew tangled, suddenly, his door was pushed open.

Bai Zhi, Bai Ling, and the person dressed in a black robe walked in.

Seeing the three of them, Cui Xuemin quickly adjusted his mood and then, narrowing his eyes slightly, he smiled faintly, gave a formal salute, and said, "Good day, officer."

Bai Zhi nodded, then said, "Don't be nervous, we are just going to simply confirm your identity for the first time."

At this, she went straight to the point and asked, "Are you the traitor in the Special Case Team?"

Cui Xuemin's hand inadvertently touched the seam of his trousers as he sincerely said, "I am not!"

Bai Zhi nodded, then looked toward the person in the black robe.

Cui Xuemin also discreetly looked at the person in the black robe.

Then he only saw the person in the black robe take out a notebook, make two cross marks on it, and then show it to Bai Zhi.

Bai Zhi, upon seeing the pattern, obviously stiffened for a moment. Her body tensed, as if slowly gathering energy, then she looked at Cui Xuemin, smiled meaningfully, and said, "Investigator Cui, is there anything you would like to tell us?"

Seeing Bai Zhi's expression, a sudden nervousness struck Cui Xuemin's heart.

Could it be... that person was really the Lie Detector?

Had he really arrived so quickly?

That shouldn't be, right?

Because he suspected Bai Zhi was deceiving him, Cui Xuemin, although worried, pretended to look puzzled and said, "Ah? I have nothing to say, officer."

Bai Zhi looked at him intensely and said casually, "Alright. Since you don't feel like speaking, there's no rush. I'll go see if your companion has anything to say."

Saying this, she led Bai Ling and the person in the black robe, without any hesitation, out of Cui Xuemin's room.

Upon leaving, she also deliberately instructed in front of Cui Xuemin, "Keep a close eye on Investigator Cui. Notify me immediately if there's any issue."

"Yes!" the investigators outside the door promptly responded.

Inside the room, Cui Xuemin's hand involuntarily clenched tightly...

Subsequently, Bai Zhi and her companions used the same method, the same state, and the same "instructions" to sequentially visit Director Pang, Wang Hao, Shan Hui, Gao Shu, and all other personnel under suspicion.

Just like that, after a full round, the three people returned to the clearing.

Upon arriving at the clearing, the person in the black robe slightly bowed to Bai Zhi and Bai Ling, then consciously stood back, giving the two space.

Bai Zhi and Bai Ling gave the person a glance and then whispered amongst themselves.

Bai Ling, "Bai, what exactly are we doing by Fang Ze's command? Why can't I understand at all?"

Bai Zhi frowned and pondered for a while, then shook her head, "I don't know either."

"But... it's better to trust someone wholly than to harbor doubts. Let's contact him now."

Saying this, the two pulled out Windbreeze Flowers from their pockets and connected the communication.

When the communication came through, via the Windbreeze Flowers, they saw Fang Ze apparently sweating profusely as he busied himself.

Bai Ling leaned closer and couldn't help but ask, "Fang Ze, what are you doing?"

Hearing their voices, Fang Ze wiped the sweat off his forehead and, without answering her question, immediately asked, "Is the task completed?"

Indeed, the two's curiosity was successfully diverted by Fang Ze.

Bai Zhi nodded, then said, "Everything was done as you instructed."

At this, she couldn't help but ask, "But... I still don't understand, what are you doing?"

She paused, then added, "With these arrangements, can you really catch the traitor?"

Hearing Bai Zhi's words, Fang Ze couldn't help but smile.

As the most famous theory from the past life's game theory—the Prisoner's Dilemma—it had been validated by numerous experiments and was even used extensively by various transmigrators before.

This also proved its effectiveness.

Although the original situation didn't align with the Prisoner's Dilemma,

But... Fang Ze had intentionally gathered all the suspects and had Bai Zhi announce "not just one traitor," "leniency for whoever confesses first," and "no mercy for the latter confessors," before separating them, thereby artificially creating a Prisoner's Dilemma!

In the face of the threat of death, trust is the most fragile.

Especially when you don't know how your accomplices will choose, once you decide to conceal, you're essentially placing your life in the hands of others.

The psychological pressure and the level of trust needed aren't something ordinary people can withstand or possess.

Of course, Fang Ze also considered whether, after the organization's indoctrination, these people's wills could be strong enough to endure this pressure.

So... he also prepared a subsequent plan, adding the final straw to their fragile psyches...

Thinking of this, Fang Ze chuckled and said, "Whether or not the traitor can be caught, you'll find out soon."

"Next, carry out the next step of the plan."