I! Cleaner!

6.

Looking at the female investigator whose face turned red with anger, almost breathless, Leon couldn't help but give a mental thumbs-up to the Black Goat, deciding to buy it a few more packs of Gotth after work.

Although the Black Goat's "attack power" was somewhat lacking, its verbal aggression was maxed out. He remembered a previous investigation where a similar scene occurred, leaving the investigator rolling their eyes, using it as a specialized tool against investigators.

"All right, Eisha."

The old investigator glanced at the arrogant goat head in surprise before speaking up to mediate, gently advising,

"Let's stop with the routine questions for now. After all, we haven't obtained any substantial evidence, and jumping right in like this is indeed somewhat presumptuous... Why don't you step out for some fresh air? I'll handle the rest."

"Okay..."

Hearing the elder investigator's advice, the female investigator clenched her fist and then nodded slightly with pursed lips, leaving the office with a look of unwillingness.

After she stormed out, the mild-mannered old investigator sat up straight, looking Leon in the eye, and said peacefully,

"Lord Leon, if I'm not mistaken, the death of the Goldcrest Marquis has a direct connection with you, doesn't it?"

Of course not!

Leon, who had prepared mentally, instinctively wanted to shake his head in denial but found his tongue slightly rigid, unable to move at all despite his effort.

"Looks like you're about to lie again."

The old investigator, slightly parting his lips to show Leon his tongue glowing with a faint white light, smiled and said,

"After returning from you last time, I felt my skills were lacking, so I applied to the main bureau for an anomalous object capable of discerning lies and used it to replace my original tongue.

During conversations with me, if your responses are lies, your tongue will be affected, preventing you from providing false answers, so please try to speak more honestly in our subsequent exchanges."

An anomalous object for lie detection?

After hearing the elder investigator's words, Leon involuntarily squinted and looked at his tongue.

Though not clearly visible due to the angle, there seemed to be something resembling a "suture" in the middle of his tongue.

The latter half of the elder investigator's tongue was completely normal, with no abnormalities. Yet the white, glowing front half appeared sun-dried, looking shriveled and shrunk, the tongue's surface barely intact while its underside was significantly shriveled, with dark green tongue veins bulging out, appearing quite ghastly.

'Be careful; that's the "Tongue of Truth!"'

A slightly damp hand grasped his, and Senior Emma's gentle voice, through the contact of their hands, slipped into Leon's soul.

'This thing is an anomalous object crafted by the fourth-generation Taurus Director. He infiltrated the cemetery of the Church of True Word and exhumed the grave of their first Grand Speaker to remove this tongue from the body.

The first Grand Speaker never told a single lie from birth to death, so using his tongue as an anomalous object forces others to answer truthfully as he did.

Moreover, this thing requires very little consumption; as long as one has a bit of Leon Value, they can use it. The only cost is needing to replace their own tongue, and its usage is limited.'

"Zzz..."

[Through Emma Alman's detailed explanation, you've gained substantial intelligence about the "Tongue of Truth," activating the heterochromatic badge "Materialist Soul (Crimson).

Having understood the activation rules of the "Tongue of Truth," your resistance to this anomalous object has significantly increased, allowing you to shield its deeper effects already.]

Tongue of Truth, huh?

Scanning the popped-up prompt, Leon gripped Emma's hand back, and through their soul connection, asked,

'What else? Is there more intelligence?'

There is, indeed... but what are you asking this for?

Emma blinked in slight confusion at Leon's question but, trusting Leon, quickly explained through their soul connection,

'There's indeed more...

According to the calculations of the fourth-generation Taurus Director, when the total cumulative usage reaches the number of truths the Grand Speaker spoke in life, it will wither on its own.

So, roughly three hundred years ago, it was sealed by the Director at the time, only taken out during very crucial moments. I don't know how he got it.

Anyway, Leon, don't deal with him anymore; my Leon Value is much higher than his, making this thing less effective on me, so let me handle the questions next!'

"Zzz..."

[Through Emma Alman's detailed explanation... you've already managed to shield its deeply profound effects.]

'It's okay; let me answer.'

Reassuringly patting Senior Emma's hand, Leon stretched his still somewhat stiff tongue, his accent slightly off but still fairly fluent, and said,

"All right, I'll try to be more honest from now on... Besides, I didn't kill the Goldcrest Marquis, nor was I involved in any way; you really have the wrong person."

?!!

The old investigator's eyebrows twitched at Leon's response, then immediately tensed the muscles in his jaw, trying hard to suppress the obviously nonsensical statement.

However, no matter how hard he tried, even a visible small bulge appeared on his chin, Leon's words flowed more smoothly, even turning the tables, saying with a slightly disdainful expression,

"Additionally, I don't know what's going on with you; without any evidence, you boldly confronted me, accusing me with offensive questions, and even prepared a corresponding anomalous object.

Yet no matter how meticulous you are, innocent people will always be innocent. Concerning the Goldcrest Marquis's drowning suicide, I feel no guilt whatsoever; feel free to investigate all you want. Neither I nor Senior Emma laid a finger on him.

But trying to pin things on us without any evidence, I suspect you're connected to Aquarius. After this conversation, I'll immediately file a complaint with the main bureau to thoroughly investigate your background and movements!"

No way... Aren't you aware of what you did? How dare you investigate me?

The old investigator, his tongue nearly twisted off but unable to suppress Leon's righteous speech, tightened his jaw muscles, beginning to question whether the "Tongue of Truth" was broken.

Before coming, he had already investigated the Verdant Feather Estate and secretly used the "Chronometer Pocket Watch" to trace the events of that day.

The righteous-looking scoundrel in front of him, on that night, knocked out the guards and sneaked into the estate, stood at the Goldcrest Marquis's door for over ten minutes, and the Goldcrest Marquis had nightmares the entire night, drowning himself the next day!

Damn it! If this matter is disconnected from him, I'd pull out the "Chronometer Pocket Watch" and chew it up on the spot!