Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

"According to the latest intelligence, a secret organization composed of demons, ghosts, and betrayers has begun to take action. They call themselves the 'Shadow Council'. Their goal is to attack the Empire's newly built train station in three days."

"We suspect that the troops in Zur have been infiltrated and cannot be fully trusted. Therefore, we must transfer personnel from outside to ensure the safety of the train station."

"Shadow Council? Are you sure about the reliability of this news?"

"The source of the information is Senator Bell. He is already under our control. The authenticity of the information is beyond doubt."

Bernard was silent for a moment, then stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the streets of Zur City.

"Okay, I will transfer an elite force from outside the city and put it directly under your command. But remember, this operation must be foolproof. If the station is attacked, the loss to the empire will be immeasurable."

"Joxuel, you are responsible for coordinating the intelligence sharing between the execution agencies and the military." Bernal looked at the secretary general standing beside him, "I don't want to see any mistakes."

Qiao Xiuer straightened his back, like a straight spear, and replied in a deep voice: "Yes, General."

After discussing this matter, Bernal got up and left the execution office.

This matter is of great importance, and he must go to the parliament hall in person to inform Harold.

"Report to the Corps Commander! Something happened!" Just as Lin Yi was discussing the specific matters with the general's secretary Joe Xuer, a member of the execution agency stumbled into Reinhardt's office.

His face was full of panic and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. It was obvious that the matter was very serious.

"What happened?" Reinhardt couldn't help but frown when he saw the look of his men.

"That..." The subordinate's eyes flickered and he glanced at Lin Yi and Qiao Xiuer. He seemed a little hesitant, not knowing whether he should report in front of them.

"Go ahead and speak. These people are not outsiders." Reinhardt noticed the other party's eyes and signaled that they could just say whatever they wanted to say.

"Yes! Commander, Senator Bell... was killed." The man took a deep breath and tried to calm himself, but his voice was still trembling.

"Senator Bell died in the execution facility?"

When Joe Xuer heard that Congressman Bell had been murdered, his first reaction was that the sky had fallen.

Behind the congressmen are often the largest interest groups and intricate power networks of the Zul Empire.

The life and death of every member of parliament affects the nerves of countless forces. If one is not careful, it may trigger a storm that sweeps the entire empire.

The reason why Su Xiao did not encounter any obstacles when he encircled and suppressed the Ghost Ring Organization last time was very simple - the Ghost Ring Organization assassinated two powerful congressmen.

This move was like a bombshell, instantly causing a huge wave in the entire parliament.

The lawmakers are all worried that they will become the next target.

Therefore, when Su Xiao proposed the plan to encircle and suppress the Ghost Ring, there was almost no opposition in the parliament, and it could even be said that everyone agreed with it.

Even those congressmen who usually did not get along with Su Xiao and the execution agency closed their eyes and pretended not to see anything.

After all, the threat of the ghost ring has directly affected their life safety, which is the bottom line that all congressmen cannot ignore.

However, Councillor Bell’s death was very different from previous circumstances.

The place of his death was not anywhere else but inside the execution agency, a location that is itself full of intriguing meanings.

Reinhardt's face was terribly gloomy, his fists were clenched, and his knuckles made a "clicking" sound.

As the head of the execution agency, he knew the seriousness of the matter better than anyone else.

Congressman Bell's death was by no means a simple assassination.

It is more like a carefully planned conspiracy, a sharp knife pointing directly at the heart of the execution agency.

This is not only a provocation to the authority of the execution authorities, but also a threat to the entire imperial order.

Reinhardt knew very well that if the truth was not quickly ascertained and a response was not made, the law enforcement agencies would be plunged into an unprecedented crisis and might even become victims of the game between various forces.

"Block the news immediately!" Reinhardt almost gritted his teeth as he gave the order, "All those who know about this are strictly prohibited from spreading it! Secretary Qiao Xiuer, you must contact the military immediately and try to delay the time as long as possible!"

Qiao Xiuer nodded, but the anxiety on his face did not ease at all: "I am afraid this matter cannot be concealed for long. Senator Bell's family is very powerful, and they will get the news soon. By then, I am afraid we will face even greater troubles..."

"We'll talk about it later!" Reinhardt interrupted him, a fierce look flashing in his eyes, "The most important thing now is to find the traitor and figure out the real purpose of the Shadow Council. Put other things aside for now!"

Lin Yi didn't pay attention to this. He quickly walked up to the subordinate and asked, "How did Senator Bell die? When?"

The subordinate was frightened by Lin Yi's aura, his body unconsciously tensed, and he quickly lowered his head and replied: "Just now, we found him dead on the chair in the cell. The cause of death is unknown, it looks like a sudden illness, but... his expression is very strange, as if he saw something extremely terrifying."

"Investigate! Seal off the execution facility immediately and no one is allowed to enter or leave! I want to know who is tampering with my territory!"

Qiao Xuer took out the communicator to communicate with the general. Bernard's voice came from the other end of the communicator: "Fully cooperate with their actions. These lunatics dared to kill even the congressman, what else would they not dare to do? We must investigate it thoroughly and never let the situation get worse!"

Lin Yi didn't say much and walked directly to Senator Bell's cell.

The moment he pushed open the door, Congressman Bell slumped in his chair, his body stiff, his eyes wide open, and his pupils dilated, as if he had seen something extremely terrifying before he died.

His expression was so distorted that it almost didn't look human, and there was a strange smile on the corner of his mouth.

Lin Yi approached the body and carefully examined every inch of Congressman Bell's skin.

There were no external injuries on Congressman Bell's body, not even any signs of struggle.

His skin was incredibly cold, feeling like ice. He didn't look like someone who had just died. Instead, he looked like he had been dead for several days.

The only explanation is that his vitality was instantly drained away by some force, and even his soul was completely deprived.

This kind of method is definitely not something that ordinary people can do.

"It's not an ordinary assassination method."

Reinhardt signaled his men to go over and get the thing, and soon, a silver rune was handed to him.

Reinhardt picked up the rune and gently placed it on Senator Bell's forehead.

The rune flickered slightly, then turned into a wisp of black smoke and dissipated into the air.

At the same time, in a dark corner of Zul City.

A man in a black robe stood in the shadows, holding a black rune in his hand. A low roar could be heard faintly from the rune.

If someone familiar with Congressman Bell stood here, he would be shocked to find that the voice was almost exactly the same as Congressman Bell's.

"The plan is going smoothly." The black-robed man whispered with a hint of pride in his voice, "The execution agency has fallen into chaos, and the parliament has also begun to take action. Next, it's our turn."

"Don't be careless." Another cold voice came from the darkness, "The execution agency and the sanatorium are not so easy to deal with. Don't forget how the Ghost Ring was destroyed before."

"Ghost Ring?" The black-robed man chuckled with disdain in his tone, "In the face of absolute power, any resistance is nothing more than an ant. The Ghost Ring is completely courting its own destruction. If they had followed the council's plan and honestly accumulated strength in secret, how could they have been wiped out?"

"I hope so." The voice gradually faded away, as if it had never appeared.

The man in black robe clenched the rune in his hand, and a hint of madness flashed in his eyes.

"The Zul Empire...will soon be ours. Those self-righteous guys will eventually crawl at our feet."

"It looks like the Shadow Council has infiltrated."

"The fact that they were able to kill people quietly inside the execution agency shows that they are very familiar with the layout here. There is no doubt... there is a mole inside the execution agency."

When the word "traitor" was mentioned, Reinhardt's face looked very ugly.

Finding a mole is an extremely difficult problem for any organization.

If we are not careful, the entire organization may lose morale or even fall apart.

But if we don't investigate, the mole will be like a thorn in our throat, which will sooner or later lead to disaster if it is not removed.

But if you don't investigate, the mole will be like a thorn in your throat, and you will get into big trouble sooner or later.

"Reinhardt, you stay here and maintain the stability of the execution agency." "Secretary General, the safety of the imperial capital is temporarily in your hands. The awakened people in the execution agency cannot be trusted now, so we can only rely on the military to maintain order in the short term."

He paused, glanced at everyone present, and continued, "I have to go to the parliament hall now. Congressman Bell was murdered. This matter is very serious. I must report the situation to His Majesty Harold in advance."

It is undoubtedly a serious matter that a congressman was killed in an execution facility.

Normally, Reinhardt should have come forward in person on such occasions, but his character was too rigid and could easily cause unnecessary conflicts in the parliament hall.

In addition, the execution agency cannot do without his presence at the moment, so this task can only be handed over to Lin Yi.

After Lin Yi left the execution agency, he quickly headed towards the parliament hall.

The death of Senator Bell is not only a conspiracy of the Shadow Council, but also a time bomb that may explode at any time.

If it is not handled in time, the entire Zul Empire will fall into chaos.

The Parliament Hall is located in the center of the imperial capital. It is a magnificent building. Its towering stone columns and exquisite reliefs symbolize the power and order of the empire.

After entering the parliament hall, Lin Yi grabbed a guard and asked where His Majesty Harold was working.

The guard recognized Lin Yi's identity and immediately respectfully took him to the room where Harold was.

The door of the room was gently pushed open, and candlelight spilled out from the crack of the door, illuminating the portraits of monarchs of past dynasties hanging on the wall. The eyes in those portraits were examining everyone who stepped in here.

Harold sat at his desk, the quill in his hand making a rustling sound as it moved across the paper.

"You're here." Harold sat behind his desk with a calm tone, as if he had already expected Lin Yi's arrival.

He had just learned from Bernard the news of the murder of Senator Bell. It seemed that no corner of the empire escaped Harold's eyes.

The parliament has a limited number of members, and each one is an indispensable piece on the chessboard of imperial power.

Although Harold usually wished that all these congressmen would disappear, he knew better than anyone that the large number of deaths of congressmen in a short period of time would plunge the entire Zul Empire into chaos.

These members of parliament are not only symbols of power, but also the link between the various forces in the empire.

Through them, Harold controlled the forces below and maintained the balance of the empire.

The death of one or two senators might not have much impact on the empire's power structure, and might even give Harold the opportunity to place his own confidants there.

But if too many parliamentarians die, the power chain of the entire empire will be broken, and even Harold's own position will be threatened.

Harold raised his hand slightly, motioning Lin Yi to sit down, then gently placed the feather pen in his hand on the table, staring at him like a hawk: "Bell died inside the execution agency, this matter...what do you think?"

Lin Yi sat down calmly, his back straight, and looked at Harold calmly: "Your Majesty, the death of Senator Bell was a conspiracy of the Shadow Council. They tried to use this method to provoke confrontation between the Parliament and the execution agency, thereby weakening the power of the empire."

"The Shadow Council... they are quite courageous. However, how can you be sure that this is the action of the Shadow Council and not... someone within the Execution Agency taking the opportunity to eliminate dissidents?"

Harold's words clearly showed his dissatisfaction with the execution authorities.

The emperor's suspicion and caution were deeply ingrained in his bones.

He never trusted anyone easily. Even Su Xiao, who had made great contributions to him, could not make him completely let down his guard.

Harold picked up the wine glass on the table and took a sip of the red wine in the glass.

He was really surprised to find out that there was a traitor inside the execution agency this time.

You know, last time Su Xiao had built the entire execution agency into an iron wall. Harold thought that the execution agency could be trusted in a short period of time, but he didn't expect problems to arise so soon.

He put down the wine glass, his eyes fell on Lin Yi again, and his tone was meaningful: "You should understand that the execution agency is the sharp blade of the empire, and this blade must not have the slightest rust."

Harold was giving him a signal - if the execution agency could not maintain internal stability, then Reinhardt, as the manager, would face the fate of being replaced.

From the Empire's perspective, the loss of control within the execution agency is a more deadly crisis than the threat posed by the Shadow Council.

If this sharp blade backfires, both the monarch Harold and those high-ranking parliamentarians may be hanged in front of the Parliament Palace tomorrow.

The entire empire's power system will collapse overnight. At that time, demons will run rampant and the empire will fall into endless darkness and chaos.

"You need to attend the hearing tomorrow." Harold said in an unquestionable tone, "Someone must come forward to explain Bell's death. You are the most suitable person."

"Also, who else do you think is the traitor in the parliament besides Bell?"

Lin Yi's eyes narrowed, and several names flashed through his mind, but he remained calm on the surface: "Your Majesty, the situation within the parliament is complicated, and I dare not speculate. But I will find out the truth as soon as possible and will never let the conspiracy of the Shadow Parliament succeed."

Harold chuckled, seemingly not surprised by Lin Yi's answer.

He knew too well how dangerous the game of power was. Even a figure like Lin Yi did not dare to be easily drawn into the vortex of parliament.

This kind of thing is too sensitive. If you are not careful, you will get into trouble and even be doomed.

"Okay, go ahead." Harold's voice was a little tired, and he waved his hand. "I will temporarily suppress the voice of the parliament on Bell's matter. However, time is limited, and you must give me a result as soon as possible."

"Yes."

"Also, investigate the Shadow Council as soon as possible. If it weren't for this unexpected success, I wouldn't have known there was such an organization hiding under my nose."

Harold looked at Lin Yi, his tone meaningful: "You are always calm and I trust you. However, this matter is very serious. I hope you can find out the truth as soon as possible and don't let me down."

His Majesty Harold waved his hand, indicating that Lin Yi could leave.

Lin Yi bowed, then turned and walked out of the council hall.

After Lin Yi left the council hall, Harold looked to the corner and saw a red-haired man appear in the council hall.

"He has just discovered me." The red-haired man stood in front of Harold, looking calm, as if the two were just having an ordinary conversation.

Harold leaned back in his chair, tapping the tabletop rhythmically with his fingers, making a slight "tapping" sound.

His gaze fell on the red-haired man, with a hint of amusement in his eyes: "Do you think... this matter has anything to do with the execution agency and the sanatorium?"

"This person is deep-minded and cautious. What he said is half true and half false. As for the execution agency and the sanatorium..." He paused, "There is indeed a traitor in the execution agency, but the sanatorium... may not be clean."

Harold paused tapping the tabletop when he heard this, and his eyes became colder. “You mean, the nursing home might also be involved in this?”

The red-haired man nodded slightly, his voice low and calm: "Your Majesty, although the sanatorium is independent of the power struggle on the surface, its influence cannot be underestimated. It is almost impossible for the Shadow Council to lurk in the imperial capital for so long without the cooperation of internal forces."

This red-haired man is Harold's true confidant. During the last rebellion of the Ghost Ring Organization, it was he who personally dealt with the Eye Chamber and the betrayed Queen.

The fact that he was able to complete such a private mission and survive until now is enough to prove that he holds an extraordinary position in Harold's heart.

"However, according to the intelligence, this vice president should be trustworthy for the time being."

"When the execution agency took action yesterday, they deliberately brought two ghosts without any attack capabilities. Judging from this performance, they should not intend to attack Senator Bell. This time, it is most likely the Shadow Council that took action, probably to silence Senator Bell and not let him reveal too much information."

The red-haired man nodded slightly: "He is a smart man. He knows his place and knows what to say and what not to say."

Harold chuckled. "If used well, such a person can be a sharp weapon, but if used poorly... he can become a hidden danger. His ability is beyond doubt, but his loyalty... needs further testing. The situation in the imperial capital is becoming more and more complicated, and I cannot allow any uncertain factors to exist."

The red-haired man did not refute, but just stood aside quietly.

Harold continued, "The Shadow Council's actions were clearly well prepared. They chose to act at this time, obviously after careful consideration."

The red-haired man hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, do you need me to investigate secretly? If the Shadow Council has really infiltrated our core institutions, then their threat is far more serious than we expected."

"Go, focus on the execution agency. That's where we should least be infiltrated. If there's a problem there, our foundation will be shaken."

"The execution agency...if there is a problem, then it must be completely cleaned up."

"Remember one thing, the action must be secretive, and don't alert the enemy. Since the Shadow Council was able to infiltrate the Penal Commission, it means that their methods are extraordinary. What we need is solid evidence, not groundless speculation. Once the enemy is alerted, they are likely to withdraw quickly, or even bite back."

"clear."

Harold looked out the window again, with a hint of barely perceptible worry: "Also, the sanatorium cannot be ignored. Herbert, I hope you don't do anything stupid." (End of this chapter)