Chapter 119: The Candy Was Poison After All

When Yu Zhi mentioned that the “function was unusual,” a flush rose to Yu Ya’s cheeks, while Ye Chen’s expression suddenly stiffened. Their focuses were different.

This time, Ye Chen stood up before Yu Ya and instantly appeared beside Yu Zhi. The swiftness of his movement made Yu Ya, who had just pushed back her chair, momentarily stunned.

...How could he move so fast?

Staring helplessly at the report filled with various parameters, Ye Chen looked pleadingly at Yu Zhi, only to have the report snatched away by Yu Ya.

A magnetic yet intellectual voice slowly rose, shifting from low to high tones:
“The tested object appears to be candy in appearance, but is in fact a psychoactive control drug?!
“It is both stimulant and hallucinogenic, and the maker seems to be able to exert a certain degree of control over those who consume it?!”

Yu Ya translated with surprise. Yu Zhi, with a tone of certainty, added,
“Yes, just as you see. So my conclusion is that this is not food at all, but a kind of poison.
“If used properly, it can have a tremendous effect.
“But if employed for malicious purposes, the consequences are unpredictable!”

Yu Ya shot Ye Chen a questioning look, ready to sharply interrogate him on where he had gotten such a thing. Yet she found him furrowing his brows in deep thought.

The siblings instinctively sensed that something was amiss.

After a long silence, Ye Chen looked up, his tone grave as he asked,
“Directors, have you recently heard about the multiple mysterious disappearances of children at the farms outside the city and in the outer districts?”

Both shook their heads in confusion.

Their information was so out of touch; if they kept hiding away in the lab every day, they wouldn't even notice if the city walls were breached... Ye Chen thought with frustration.

“Then let me tell you...” He began to recount the events, speaking roughly about the farms since he hadn’t investigated them personally, but gave a much more detailed account of the incidents in the outer city.

He laid out everything he had experienced and speculated on, piece by piece.

Opposite him were two highly intelligent individuals, arguably among the continent’s elite. Consulting their advice was far better than guessing alone.

Moreover, having the support and counsel of two directors from the Extraordinary Mansion was an incredible privilege.

Yu Ya asked meaningfully:
“Do you think someone is using these candies—no, these pills—
“To lure children away, right?”

Ye Chen nodded silently. When Yu Zhi first said this was food made by the Awakening Artifact, he had a foreboding feeling.

As he knew, the effects of Awakening Artifacts were bizarre and unpredictable.

Even if told this pill would explode in the mouth, he would accept it.

Furthermore, when Yu Ya mentioned the stimulant, hallucinogenic, and control effects, his suspicions hardened.

Stimulation and hallucination—weren’t those exactly how Niuniu’s mother behaved that night?

Children don’t lie; Niuniu said her mother had eaten unknown candy—this was hardly questionable.

Niuniu’s candy was given by a close friend, who was very likely one of the two children missing from the residential district.

This was easy to verify with a quick check.

But there was another question: if all had taken the same candy, why wasn’t Niuniu’s mother abducted—or controlled?

Suddenly, a word flashed through Ye Chen’s mind like a beam cutting through the fog.

Age!

He abruptly turned to the goddess’s brother, speaking rapidly:
“Director Yu Zhi, could you do me a favor and test how this candy affects different age groups?
“Let’s divide the age brackets every ten years.”

Yu Zhi readily agreed, eager to continue the research.

Given the candy’s limited lifespan, it might dissipate at any moment.

“All right, leave it to me. But Yu Ya’s equipment here is insufficient; I’ll have to take it back to my lab.”

Though his words were directed at Ye Chen, he glanced at his sister.

Yu Ya rolled her eyes at him and turned away, no longer paying attention—meaning, “Do as you please. Happy now?!”

Yu Zhi scratched his head, chuckling like a child.

...

The room returned to just the two of them.

Yu Ya watched her “subject” thoughtfully, still stroking her chin, wearing a look as if she wanted to say something but held back.

Tidying the cluttered notebooks on the table, she said,
“If you have any other questions, just ask directly!
“As long as I know, I will tell you.”

Ye Chen cast an admiring glance her way... Dealing with a wise woman was sometimes effortless, yet at other times quite taxing.

His hesitation earlier was because he felt his next question might be sensitive, possibly stirring conflicts between Mansions.

So after a moment’s thought, he cautiously asked,
“Teacher, I remember you telling me the Extraordinary Mansion exists for the sake of humanity.
“Then, regarding these disappearances of ordinary children whose fates remain unknown, shouldn’t the Extraordinary Mansion also step in?”

Yu Ya’s crimson lips curled faintly, her resentment seeming to dissipate—perhaps the title “teacher” worked its charm.

“You really like being called teacher, huh? Just don’t make me your student in the lab!” she teased.

Her smile flickered briefly before the teacher’s usual aloof expression returned, her face unreadable as she asked,
“What? Do you want the Extraordinary Mansion to send people to help you search?”

Ye Chen shook his head, thinking... If I asked you bookworms for help, I’d be lucky not to get lost myself.

“No, what I want to know is why the Outer City Patrol Mansion won’t let us investigate these cases thoroughly?”

“You want to know that?” The clever teacher instantly connected the dots. “So you’re not investigating this as a patrol officer? No wonder you contacted me with a different number.”

“The answer is simple: it’s nothing but dirty dealings among the Mansions inside the city.

“The Outer City Patrol Mansion you belong to is subordinate to the Inner City Patrol Mansion, which is your superior—surely you know that.”

Ye Chen nodded slightly.

“And the Patrol Mansion’s partner in crime is the Defense Mansion—they are the city lord’s two most loyal hounds,” she said with disdain.

Ye Chen twitched at her words... Is that a roundabout way of calling me a dog too?!

“The Wen Yu we met at the last trade fair is the director of the Personnel Mansion, and she’s closely associated with Yang Ji, who heads the Construction Mansion,” her expression grew even more contemptuous.

Ye Chen realized... Looks like Qiao Mucao wasn’t lying. Wen Yu’s shamelessness matches well with a director’s—typical.

Apparently, quite a few people knew about their affair—even the information-isolated teacher was aware. This must be common gossip by now.

Also, Ye Chen suddenly noticed that although Yu Ya hailed from the Steel City, she was surprisingly well-informed about the Energy City’s affairs.

Clearly, that earlier statement was just the beginning.