Chapter 92: The Second Layer of Truth

Yan Jing didn't directly explain the so-called anomaly. Instead, he looked at the blood-drenched Yu Mo and asked with a smile, "Mr. Yu Mo, it's about time you talked."

"Tell us exactly how you orchestrated the bombings."

Yu Mo stared at the wooden stakes protruding from his body. Resentment flashed in his eyes, but he finally spoke.

"This banquet wasn't just a marriage alliance. It was a public, three-party conference."

"Our primary goal for this conference was to secure the support of the attending guests."

"Everyone wanted the upper hand for this conference. So, Yu Mu orchestrated the so-called bombings."

"The plan was simple. Three steps."

"First, leak that we had received an Advance Notice, sparking panic among the VIPs in the Tower."

"Second, trigger an explosion and kill a few nobodies."

"Third, publicly accuse Sun-Swallowing Tower of poor security to secure our advantage before the conference even began."

"But we didn't expect Virtue Bridge to send 'Kindness' as their elder."

"We had no choice. After some discussion, we decided to make him our first target."

"And so, we triggered the first explosion."

Yan Jing nodded.

"That's where the story should have ended, right?"

Yu Mo clenched his fists.

"It should have. But I never expected those bastards from Sleepland to interfere."

"On the day of the first explosion, Meng Shuangsheng from Sleepland approached me. He casually let slip that they had already found the bomber and handed them over to Sun-Swallowing Tower."

"First thing the next morning, the Tower was going to announce that Sleepland had caught the culprit."

"Those bastards had obviously just found a scapegoat."

"But while we were talking, I realized they seemed to know about our Flesh Bombs. They hinted multiple times that we were the ones who orchestrated the attack."

"They didn't have any evidence, but they were absolutely certain we wouldn't dare trigger a second explosion."

"Meaning, once the scapegoat was turned in, the bombings would stop. That would make their scapegoat the definitive bomber."

"We risked everything plotting this, only to hand them the victory on a silver platter."

A cruel smile twisted his lips.

"How could we let them get what they wanted?"

"So that very night, we orchestrated the second bombing."

"That way, Sun-Swallowing Tower would realize the culprit Sleepland handed over was a fake."

"That's why we specifically targeted a Sun-Swallowing Tower employee. We timed it for the dead of night, when he was completely alone."

"Because only then could we use the smallest disturbance to get Sun-Swallowing Tower's attention."

He let out a long, heavy sigh.

"We just didn't expect you bastards to notice."

"And you tipped off the Order Management Bureau."

"Anyone with a bit of status knows exactly how terrifying that woman, Lu Miao, really is. Once she locks onto you, you're finished."

"She must have been secretly designated as the next head of the Old Sin City Order Administration Bureau ages ago."

"Heh. I'm getting off track."

He took a deep breath.

"Regardless, since you found the evidence, we initiated our next plan: throwing out our own prepared scapegoat."

"That Yu Wen was always a lunatic. Being a fall guy was his greatest use."

"Using his death to put an end to this matter was the perfect choice."

"To make it more convincing, Yu Mu even deliberately injured herself to sell the ruse."

"But I refused to accept it—"

He took a deep breath.

"This conference is more important than you could possibly imagine. Yu Mu was heavily injured, and we were tied to a bombing scandal. The conference hadn't even started, yet we were already pushed to the brink."

"Fortunately, I had set up a few pieces in advance. We still had a chance to turn the tables."

"That waitress who came by tonight was one of them."

His voice gradually faded. He looked up at Yan Jing with a dark gaze.

"That is the entire story."

But what happened next caught him entirely off guard.

The four people sitting across from him actually began to clap in unison.

Loud applause echoed through the breakfast hall. For a brief moment, Yu Mo felt dazed, as if he weren't a prisoner pinned to a wall, but standing in some auditorium.

Inexplicably, he thought of the late Yu Wen.

He also liked breaking into inexplicable applause like this.

Were these bastards a bunch of psychopaths?

Yan Jing smiled.

"An excellent story, Mr. Yu Mo."

"But now that you've laid it all out, haven't you noticed the anomaly?"

The anomaly?

Yu Mo froze upon hearing the word again.

What exactly was the anomaly?

He didn't understand at all.

Seeing this, Yan Jing let out a sigh.

"You said earlier that the people from Sleepland seemed to know about your Flesh Bombs, right?"

Yu Mo's eyes only grew more confused.

Was there something wrong with that?

"So, do you think it's possible that they also knew what was wrong with you in here?"

As he spoke, Yan Jing tapped his own head.

As Yan Jing's words landed, Yu Mo's expression instantly froze. As if cast in ice, his pupils shrank and his mouth fell open.

Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

In a matter of seconds, countless questions rushed through his mind.

He was right. When he heard that Sleepland had handed over a scapegoat, why hadn't he tried to verify it? Why had he rushed in a panic to set up the next bomb?

When setting up the second bomb, why hadn't he considered how glaringly out of place the time, location, and victim were compared to the first attack?

Why hadn't he considered that the Flesh Bombs were already a massive vulnerability, and instead rushed to sacrifice his hidden pieces?

Why had he been so obsessed with getting even? Now that he thought about it, Yu Mu had even tried to talk him out of it—so why had he acted so impulsively?!

The realization hit him. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he stared at Yan Jing with wide eyes and trembling pupils.

"You said earlier that the Order Administration Bureau didn't come here. Where did they go?"

Yan Jing didn't answer. He only smiled.

"They went to help you finish what you wanted to do, Mr. Yu Mo. Sleepland is the oldest existence in this Domain. You likely have no idea just how deep their foundation runs."

Beside Yan Jing, Old Master Liu and Chen Nian exchanged a glance.

To be honest, they didn't know much about Sleepland's foundation either.

How was it that this guy had gone out once today, and come back looking like his very eyes brimmed with wisdom?

Eighth floor.

Meng Shuangsheng's room.

Bathed in an orange glow perfectly suited for sleep, Meng Shuangsheng half-reclined on his bed, holding a wine glass in his right hand and taking slow, deliberate sips.

It was deep into the night. Normally, he would have been fast asleep by now.

But tonight was different. Tonight was worth celebrating.

Those brain-dead idiots at Dandelion Manor were probably still completely in the dark.

At the thought, he pulled a Pocket Watch from his pocket with his left hand. He admired it under the light, the corners of his lips curving upward.

His older brother had been right. To deal with those guys, any random item from the Family was more than enough.

He admired it for a while longer. Just as a wave of drowsiness hit him and he prepared to settle in for a good night's sleep...

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

Someone suddenly knocked on the door.