There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game

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Huai'an City ranks as one of the largest metropolitan areas in the entire empire, covering almost an entire continent among the global eleven, and it also boasts Academy Island, situated independently upon the nearby ocean.

Both the headquarters of Long Group and the Bray Family are located within Huai'an District.

These two financial powerhouses respectively control the empire's technological Micro-end and manipulate the gaming realm that dominates the youth fashion trends. "Free Night," which has become a global sensation, was developed by the latter.

"I'll definitely be invited to Long Group's press conference, and even if I'm not, I can still get in," Wei Ya said leisurely.

She wasn't wrong; after all, Wei Ya was kin to the Derek Family, and furthermore, she had ensnared the young master of the Bray Family, thus she had plenty of official ways to gain entry.

While speaking, she projected the information she had gathered yesterday onto the round table; it included all the intel that Angel Derek had collected in this period.

"It seems my task is to steal server data about 'Free Night.' Apparently, there's something very important hidden in the game. Moreover, Angel has already completely earned Leon Bray's trust—he's utterly devoted to me, and we've even reached the point of discussing marriage," Wei Ya said.

"'Gamma' indeed has a mission for you, but your task isn't urgent," Pianning said thoughtfully, "Besides you, there are two other code-named members also handling matters related to the Bray Group. They've already entered the corporate workforce."

"Ah? So am I in a free love affair with Leon?" Wei Ya was somewhat stunned when she heard this.

Pianning just shrugged her shoulders.

Regardless of whether it was before, that guy is now just a tool man.

Moreover, Gamma has special abilities, and the New An Bureau almost specifically requires him.

So rather than saying "dating the young master of the Bray Family to infiltrate the group" is a mission requirement; it's more like the organization casually giving Gamma a diversion.

Yin Banqian immediately followed with, "It seems my mission is to go head-to-head with Paradise Bird, right? I don't even know why I ended up in enemy territory yesterday."

Hearing this, Pianning explained, "Just like with the New An Bureau, despite Paradise Bird's overt recklessness and lawlessness, they still have a dossier on New Humans, all of which are individuals the New An Bureau has not absorbed. Therefore, we want to get our hands on that data, especially at this critical time when Spatial Jump Skills are about to be unveiled."

"Oh!" Yin Banqian suddenly realized, so that's why he was blown up so badly at the start of yesterday's game!

"Can't I just steal it?" Wei Ya asked, puzzled.

"You can't. There's a New Human on the other side with abilities similar to yours who can lock onto data fluctuations within a certain range," Pianning shook her head.

"Alright then."

"Speaking of the Paradise Bird Organization, I also encountered a very strange person yesterday."

Yin Banqian suddenly remembered something and recounted what had happened in the game yesterday, emphasizing the condition of his brain at that time.

Pianning nodded thoughtfully, "Paradise Bird has always been against the New An Bureau. If they've also set their eyes on the same target, it's only natural. Moreover, about what you experienced, it's likely you triggered the safety device of a core member."

"Safety... device?"

"Every core member with a code name has a mark left in his mind by the director of the New An Bureau. He can protect our brains from being scrutinized and manipulated," Pianning tapped her temple.

"Wait a second..."

Hearing this, all three present felt goosebumps.

Yin Banqian couldn't help but say, "Our brains are already connected to Micro-end technology, and now someone's planted a mark inside with their powers? This really isn't…"

This is like being thoroughly riddled with leaks!

What can save our brains now!

Pianning's expression remained calm, "Yes, you could also see this act as another form of control and checks."

"Are there no objections within the New An Bureau?"

"You can consider the New An Bureau as a sort of religion," Pianning said with a meaningfully gaze.

"..."

Understood.

```

The roundtable meeting fell into a brief silence.

It was then that Cheng Can turned his head and said, "So, I suppose my role is purely to recruit new members, seeing as my abilities aren't that special, except for being pretty good at gaming and leveling up accounts."

Pianning looked at him, pondering, and spoke, "The fact that you've been assigned a codename and tasked with making contact with the targets indicates that your abilities are not that simple. In fact, you possess another ability, which may not be obvious, but is quite impressive."

Cheng Can was surprised, "What is it?"

"You easily gain people's trust," Pianning said earnestly.

"..."

"Pfft..."

The somewhat heavy atmosphere collapsed in an instant.

Wei Ya couldn't hold back her laughter, and Yin Banqian appeared to be trying hard to contain himself, just politely not laughing out loud.

Cheng Can bit his lip and turned his head away again. He should never have spoken up!

In fact, she wasn't joking at all; the matter was quite real... Pianning's expression contained a hint of helplessness.

After all four teammates had introduced their identities and missions, the group's attention naturally turned towards the quiet and excessively well-behaved junior among them.
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Xu Shuo had sat there all along, not interjecting, quietly listening to their discussion, his clean and gentle face indeed the epitome of obedience.

It was at this moment, under the scrutiny of several gazes, that the daydreaming Xu Shuo came back to reality. He spoke innocently, "Ah, sorry, I haven't noticed any particular mission I'm responsible for, it seems I'm just plainly teaching at the school."

Pianning softened her expression, speaking gently, "Indeed, you have no mission. From what I've been able to access in your records, you simply go out occasionally to meet people."

Xu Shuo promptly asked, "Are the New An Bureau's mission assignments usually managed by you?"

"...No."

This question caused Pianning to pause for a moment before continuing, "I can only manage the members of the non-core group. Members with codenames are given their missions by the Chief, who then passes them to me to relay the information."

That brought them full circle to the previous question.

"Even so, have you never met that Chief?"

"No," Pianning stated, "The Chief of the New An Bureau is assumed to be a New Human with the power of Mind Transmission. His orders appear directly in our minds, and he communicates with core group members through mental exchange."

"So the reason I have not received a new mission since my failure yesterday is because the Chief hasn't made the arrangements yet?" Yin Banqian spoke up at this time.

"Correct."

"Thinking about it this way, aren't we all just puppets on strings to that Chief?"

Cheng Can couldn't help but speak up again, "He left a mark in our minds. If we defy his orders, won't we be done for right away? What if he issues orders that are the exact opposite of our missions? And, is it possible that he's eavesdropping on our conversation right now?"

Ah, this guy finally said something that makes sense!

Wei Ya shot him a gratified glance.

Cheng Can: "..."

With hesitation, Pianning said, "You need not worry about that. In fact, there's something I haven't told you all yet."

She rarely showed such a flustered demeanor, and the others instantly grew serious, watching her earnestly, waiting for her to continue.

Once again, the air grew tense.

And Pianning, taking a deep breath, declared:

"The Prophet is already aware that our chips have been replaced!"