Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Lin Yi left the parliament hall and walked on the streets of Zul City.

The night was dark, and although the lights on both sides of the street were still bright, they could not dispel the feeling of depression in his heart.

The death of Senator Bell, the conspiracy of the Shadow Council, the traitor within the execution agency... these clues are like cold silk threads, interweaving into a dragnet that is gradually approaching him.

The opponent's plan had obviously begun to work, but he had not yet fully understood the direction of the game.

"President Lin, you're back."

As soon as I stepped into the door of the execution agency, a member came to greet me with a hint of anxiety in his tone that was difficult to conceal.

"Captain Reinhardt is waiting for you."

Lin Yi nodded slightly without saying much, but his pace couldn't help but quicken.

When I pushed open the office door, I saw Reinhardt standing in front of the window with his back to the door. His face was gloomy and he was obviously in a bad mood.

"How is it?" Reinhardt turned around and looked directly at Lin Yi, "What did His Majesty Harold say?"

Lin Yi walked to the table, picked up a glass of water and took a sip, then said: "His Majesty has temporarily suppressed the voice of the parliament, but we don't have much time. Before attending the hearing tomorrow, he asked us to find out the truth."

"Tomorrow..." Reinhardt frowned when he heard the time limit. He couldn't help but raise his hand to rub his nose, and a trace of fatigue appeared on his face.

If Su Xiao were still there, one night might give him a glimmer of hope.

But now, the time given by Harold was too short. Reinhardt did not have enough confidence that they could solve the problem in such a short time by themselves.

"Where's Bonnie?"

"We're already eliminating any suspicion." Reinhardt then walked to the table and pushed a thick document in front of Lin Yi.

"After investigation, there are a total of 178 suspects. Some of these people either have inconsistent funds in their accounts or have recently acted strangely. But you also know what the execution agency is like - everyone has some little secrets. It's very troublesome to find out the situation of these people in a short period of time."

There was a hint of helplessness and anxiety in Reinhardt's tone. If he were given a week, he would definitely be able to find the traitor among these 178 people.

But the reality is that they don't even have three days.

In two days, the station's ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin, and time waits for no one.

In such a short time, even if Reinhardt sent out all his manpower, it would be difficult to collect enough intelligence.

"178 suspects..." Lin Yi repeated in a low voice, a trace of thought flashing in his eyes, "This number is indeed too large. It is almost impossible to check them one by one in a short period of time."

Reinhard nodded, with a hint of helplessness in his tone: "Yes, and some of these people have complicated backgrounds, and even have connections with high-level members of the parliament. If we act rashly, we may alert the enemy and even cause greater trouble."

Lin Yi walked to the table, spread out a list of personnel from the execution agency, and quickly scanned the names on it.

"Call Bonnie back. I need her help with a scene."

Lin Yi has already outlined a clear plan in his mind. Although the Zul Empire is a mixed bag and there are cunning "silver coins" hidden everywhere, this does not mean that he has no solution.

Half an hour later, Bonnie's voice exploded in Reinhardt's office: "Are you sure?!"

There was disbelief and shock in her tone, and her voice was so loud that it even penetrated the heavy door, attracting the attention of two members of the execution agency who happened to pass by outside the door.

The two members were originally sent by the team leader to pick up a document and happened to pass by Reinhardt's office.

"If the traitor is really this person, what are you going to do?"

At this moment, one of the execution agency members suddenly tripped and the documents in his hand fell to the ground.

Seeing this, the other person sighed helplessly, quickly squatted down, and helped Dan pick up the scattered documents.

"Dan, when will you change your reckless habit? If you continue like this, who will dare to let you take charge?" His tone was a little reproachful, but also revealed a hint of concern.

"Sorry, I was distracted just now. I'll treat you to dinner after get off work today as an apology, how about that?" Dan raised his head and showed a naive smile. It seemed that he was just concentrating on picking up the documents on the ground, but in fact, his attention had already been focused on the conversation in the room.

"You know the rules of the execution agency. Traitors will be killed without mercy." Reinhardt's voice came through the crack in the door and pierced Dan's eardrums.

Hearing this, Dan's right hand, which was sorting documents, trembled slightly.

He took a deep breath quickly and forced himself to calm down so as not to let the documents he had just sorted out scatter all over the floor again.

After finishing the packing, Dan immediately took the documents to the office of his team leader and dropped them off.

He calmly observed the expression on the captain's face, trying to catch any abnormality from it.

However, the team leader looked normal, without any sign of abnormality.

Despite this, Dan's concerns did not dissipate.

The news he had just heard made him feel more nervous than ever before. He knew the methods of the execution agency very well - once he was identified as a traitor, only death would await him.

On the surface, Dan still pretended to be calm, but in his mind he had already begun to quickly plan his next move.

If the execution authorities already know his identity, then every step forward will be a matter of life and death.

"Captain, I've put the documents on the table. If there's nothing else, I'll go back first." Dan tried to make his voice sound calm, and even deliberately added a hint of fatigue, as if he had just completed an ordinary task.

The team leader raised his head, his eyes stayed on Dan's face for a moment, and then nodded: "Okay, you've worked hard. Go to bed early today, we still have tasks tomorrow."

Dan responded, turned around, and walked out of the captain's office with steady steps.

The moment the door closed, his pace involuntarily quickened.

"We must contact them as soon as possible..." This thought kept echoing in Dan's mind.

He quickly glanced down the corridor, and after making sure that no one was around, he walked quickly towards the side door of the execution facility.

It was a place where few people usually passed by, and it was also the only route where he could avoid surveillance and ears.

"Sure enough, some people can't sit still."

Just as Dan was about to take the opportunity to leave the execution facility, Lin Yi, Bonnie and Reinhardt in the room received news from their subordinates at the same time.

After a thorough investigation, the scope of suspects has been greatly reduced from the initial hundreds to more than twenty people.

This investigation was carried out in an extremely secretive manner. Apart from Lin Yi and the other two, only the Internal Affairs Department, which was in charge of the investigation, knew about it.

However, the people from the Internal Affairs Department never contacted Congressman Bell, so their suspicion was ruled out.

In this situation, Lin Yi adopted the strategy of "luring the snake out of its hole".

He deliberately spread some specious news within the execution agency, creating a tense atmosphere as if the traitor was about to be caught.

The real mole will definitely take action after feeling the pressure - and once the other party reveals his true colors, it is the best time for them to close the net.

"Bonnie, you continue to stay here and monitor the movements of other suspects. Reinhardt, come with me to arrest the suspect."

Lin Yi and Reinhardt quickly walked out of the office and chased in the direction Dan left.

On the street, Dan's pace became faster and faster, almost jogging.

He always felt that there was a pair of eyes staring at him from behind, but every time he looked back, he could only see empty streets and dim lights.

"I have to get out of here as soon as possible..." This thought kept echoing in Dan's mind.

He knew that he had no way out.

He quickly turned into a remote alley, trying to use the complex alleys to shake off possible pursuers.

Just as he walked into the alley, a black shadow suddenly flashed out from the side, like a cheetah that had been lurking for a long time, and accurately blocked his way.

He looked up and saw Lin Yi standing at the entrance of the alley with his hands in his pockets and a faint smile on his face.

Dan froze, his face instantly turning pale, as if a cold blade was pressed against his throat: "Lin... Dean Lin, why are you here?"

Lin Yi walked closer slowly: "I want to ask you, it's so late, why don't you stay in the execution office and run to such a remote place, what do you want to do?"

Dan's forehead was covered with sweat. He pretended to be calm, but his voice trembled involuntarily: "I... I just came out to get some fresh air. I've been under too much pressure at work recently."

"Breathing?" Reinhardt's voice came from behind Dan, "The back door of the execution station is not a good place to breathing." Dan turned around suddenly and saw Reinhardt standing at the entrance of the alley, blocking his retreat.

"Why, are you surprised to see us?"

Reinhardt stepped forward and said, "Dan, the execution agency has treated you well, why did you betray us?"

Dan lowered his head and was silent for a moment. Finally, he whispered, "I...I was forced to do this. They captured my family and threatened to kill them if I didn't obey their orders."

"So, you chose to betray the Execution Agency and join the Shadow Council?"

Dan nodded, with a hint of despair in his voice: "I know I was wrong, but I had no choice... I... I just wanted to protect my family."

"If you want to protect your family, you should have told us this in advance. With the help of the execution agency, I don't believe that your family cannot be rescued."

Reinhardt stared at Dan, his eyes devoid of warmth. "Moreover, your asset account had over a dozen transfers inexplicably some time ago, and your life has suddenly become much more extravagant. I'm afraid this is why you're unwilling to give up."

Reinhardt stared at Dan, not believing what he said at all.

Dan's body trembled slightly, obviously hit hard by Reinhardt's words.

"The excuse sounds touching, but the fact is that you chose to betray and profited from it. The Shadow Council gave you enough money and benefits to make you willingly work for them, right?"

Dan lowered his head and was silent for a moment. Finally, he whispered, "Yes... yes. They gave me a lot of money, and I... I was greedy at the moment, so I agreed to their conditions."

Dan raised his head with a hint of pleading in his eyes: "I know I was wrong. I am willing to cooperate with you, as long as you give me a chance..."

Just as Dan was struggling over whether to betray the Shadow Council, a cold voice suddenly sounded beside him: "Troublesome guy, I knew you couldn't keep a secret."

Dan was stunned, the expression on his face froze for a moment, and then he showed a trace of incredible horror: "Nightmare? It's you! Why are you here?"

The figure of Nightmare slowly emerged from the mark behind Dan, surrounded by inky black fog. Its appearance caused the temperature of the entire alley to drop suddenly.

"Nightmare...you..." Dan's voice trembled slightly. Obviously, he didn't expect Nightmare to appear at this time.

Nightmare sneered, as if he was looking at an insignificant ant: "Idiot, do you think you can betray us? The Shadow Council will never trust anyone, especially a cowardly traitor like you."

Dan's face turned pale instantly, and his body took a few steps back involuntarily: "I... I didn't betray him, I just..."

"Just what? You think you can escape? You should know the consequences of betraying the Shadow Council."

Ever since Dan betrayed the Executioner Agency, the Shadow Council has tattooed a special mark on his body.

This mark is not only the bond between Dan and the Shadow Council, but also the medium through which nightmares lurk.

Through this mark, Nightmare can hide in Dan's body at any time and monitor his every move.

Every time Nightmare talks to Dan, he is actually lurking in his body.

The reason for sending Dan to a fixed location was simply to reduce his risk of exposure.

Just now, Dan's thoughts were obviously shaken, and he even tried to confess everything to Lin Yi and Reinhardt, which forced Nightmare to show up and interrupt him.

Dan knows a lot of secrets about the Shadow Council, so the existence of Nightmare is an insurance. Once Dan shows intention of betrayal, Nightmare will get rid of him.

Dan's body was aging rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye. His skin was as dry as dead bark and his gray hair was falling like autumn leaves.

"No...no! What's going on?!" Dan's voice was full of fear and despair. He tried to struggle, but his body seemed to be firmly bound by some invisible force and he could not move.

"Do you think betraying the Shadow Council will end well? Your life has long been in my hands. Now, it's time to take it back."

As the nightmare's voice fell, Dan's original height of 1.8 meters turned into a shriveled old man less than 1.5 meters tall in the blink of an eye.

His skin was like rotten bark, covered with deep wrinkles. His body shook twice, then fell to the ground like a fragile tile, shattered into pieces, turned into a pile of fragments, and dissipated into the air.

"Since you have shown up on your own initiative, don't even think about escaping."

Nightmare turned around and looked at Lin Yi and Reinhardt coldly: "Escape? Do you think you can catch me? That's ridiculous."

“Lightning, Heavenly Punishment!”

As Reinhardt's voice fell, the clouds in the sky suddenly rolled, and a huge bolt of lightning fell from the sky, striking directly towards Nightmare.

But Nightmare seemed to be prepared. The moment Reinhardt attacked, Nightmare turned into a cloud of smoke and dissipated.

The lightning struck the place where the nightmare was just now, and a huge deep pit was blasted on the ground, but it failed to cause any substantial damage to the nightmare.

"Trouble, you are the most troublesome guy indeed."

As energy creatures, demons are not afraid of physical attacks. Their bodies can easily dissolve the edge of swords and the power of fists and feet.

But Reinhardt's attack is lightning-based, and his ability is a natural nemesis for demons.

Lightning can not only tear apart their energy cores, but also directly destroy their source of life.

This is why the Shadow Council wants to throw dirty water on the execution agency at all costs - their goal is to drag Reinhardt into the water. As long as he falls, no one can stop the demons' actions.

At this moment, Lin Yi's fingers moved, and Reinhardt nodded secretly after seeing Lin Yi's gesture.

"Lightning Chain!"

The silver-white chain flew out instantly and wrapped around the nightmare.

However, this time the chain passed through the black fog, as if hitting nothingness, without causing any substantial damage to it.

"boom--"

The lightning and black fog collided, causing a huge energy fluctuation.

The black fog of nightmare was torn apart by lightning, emitting a shrill wailing sound.

Taking advantage of a gap in Reinhardt's attack, Nightmare took the opportunity to escape from the alley. He was not a fool and would not engage in a one-on-one battle with a demon's nemesis like Reinhardt.

Reinhardt did not chase after him, but instead glanced at Lin Yi.

"Let's go back and deploy manpower."

The moment Nightmare left, the soldiers of the Shadow Corps had already followed Nightmare away through their shadows.

In fact, Reinhardt and Lin Yi could be said to have released a huge amount of water just now.

Whether it is Lin Yi's power of the abyss or Reinhardt's lightning chain, it is enough to completely suppress the nightmare in an instant.

However, the two did not do so. The Nightmare had the opportunity to escape only because the two did it on purpose.

The reason why the two did not take action was that they were preparing to play the long game and catch the big fish.

An hour later, Lin Yi walked into the hall of the execution ground with a group of high-risk awakeners bound by shackles.

Their footsteps were heavy, and the metal shackles made a harsh sound as they rubbed against the ground.

Their hands and feet were bound with heavy shackles, but even so, the dangerous aura emanating from their bones was still chilling.

After being brought out by Lin Yi, these awakened ones showed intoxicated expressions on their faces, as if the beasts trapped in the cage for a long time finally smelled the breath of freedom.

For these high-risk awakeners who are about to lose control, there is only one way to leave the ward - that is, the top management of the sanatorium orders them to go out and eliminate the enemy.

This is their only "freedom" and their only "hope".

Lin Yi turned and looked at the group of awakened ones: "Listen, your chance has come. As long as you complete this mission, you can get the latest No. 5 potion. It can temporarily suppress your tendency to lose control and let you live a little longer. But remember, if anyone loses control, you know the consequences."

The shackles on the bodies of these awakened ones are not just for show. Each shackle has a built-in high-energy bomb. As long as Lin Yi is willing, these shackles can blow them to pieces at any time.

This is the last resort to control them and the reason why they have to obey.

When the awakened ones heard Lin Yi's words, a hint of enthusiasm and expectation flashed in their eyes, and they nodded to indicate that they understood.

"Let's go." Following Reinhardt's order, the members of the execution agency quickly gathered and set out together with the awakened people from the sanatorium. (End of this chapter)