Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1299 612: The Withered Oil Cultivator_4

"All of our personnel have gone to investigate the Steam Reduction Faction."

"Forget about the Steam Sect. Everyone, drop whatever they're doing, and focus solely on this investigation!"

Chuuni was about to leave but was stopped by Li Banfeng.

Light Bulb discovered a Hidden Form Space during the transport of the Tracking Device; had he acted impulsively and entered it, he might not have survived.

Although he didn't go in, it was because of this Hidden Form Space that the Steam Reduction Faction was implicated, diverting the entire Dark Star Bureau's attention, thus leaving Light Bulb's oil-less face issue unresolved.

This issue was targeting Light Bulb.

Someone knew Light Bulb used Preserved Fruit's face cream.

Someone knew Light Bulb was investigating the face cream!

Someone intentionally distracted us!

There's a traitor in the bureau!

The traitor is likely in the Public Security Team, but it could also be in the laboratory.

Li Banfeng said to Chuuni: "Don't inform the team, call the Chief Investigator to the lab to see me."

Chuuni nodded, and shortly thereafter, brought the Chief Investigator over.

Li Banfeng didn't start with the face cream matter; he asked the laboratory technician: "Is everyone in the lab present today?"

"Everyone's here today."

Li Banfeng instructed the Chief Investigator, "Make sure the laboratory staff disconnect communication devices and block signal transmission."

The technician was stunned: "Bureau Chief Li, we here..."

"I'm not saying there's an issue here. Keep working on your experiments safely and figure out the properties of this face cream. Be very cautious and don't expose yourselves."

The Chief Investigator immediately got to work, first blocking the signals, cutting off the landline, and collecting the communication devices.

Li Banfeng explained the situation to the Chief Investigator: "You need to find absolutely reliable people to handle this. If any information leaks, all the responsibility will be solely on you!"

The Chief Investigator didn't dare slack off, heading straight to work.

Soon, Chuuni brought Preserved Fruit over. Upon hearing about the quarantine, Preserved Fruit had no clue what was happening.

When asked about the face cream, Preserved Fruit responded, "I bought it online. This face cream is extremely popular; its oil-control effect is excellent and lasts a long time."

Light Bulb said glumly, "How could it not be effective? It's alive; our faces have become breeding grounds. I even feel dry, how do you manage?"

Preserved Fruit replied, "What's there to fear about dryness? I'm oily-skinned and when I sweat, my face feels awful!"

Li Banfeng ordered the lab to conduct tests on both of them.

The lab results came out quickly, revealing a large number of unknown microorganisms on Preserved Fruit's facial skin, which were the cellular structures seen under the microscope.

The density of microorganisms on Light Bulb's skin was over six times that on Dumpling's.

The lab provided a preliminary analysis: these microorganisms are similar to fungi, starting as spores hidden in the face cream, too small for optical microscopes to detect.

Upon contact with animal oil, the spores rapidly grow and replicate; the more oil, the more they proliferate. Due to the large number of microorganisms, Light Bulb's face, with its Oil Cultivation, ended up completely dried out.

According to Lian Bud, Light Bulb might be the sole inheritor of Oil Cultivation; others using the face cream found their skin oil-free as expected, so only Light Bulb noticed something was wrong.

Someone is using the face cream to spread these microorganisms.

The extent of the disaster these microorganisms could cause is unknown to Li Banfeng, but from another scent of the face cream, a warning of war.

Li Banfeng had been vigilant about war lately, and this scenario might be one waged by the Inner State, although unlike any war Li Banfeng is familiar with!

What a blessing, truly a blessing!

Good fortune that Light Bulb discovered this.

The Chief Investigator soon traced the face cream's source: "The manufacturer is in Yuezhou, led by Han Xiaoxuan, a local there. Presently, it seems this company is the sole producer of such face creams. Bureau Chief Li, should we take immediate action?"

"Yes, action should be taken." Li Banfeng was somewhat concerned; the situation might result in leaked information.

The Chief Investigator was also concerned: "I suggest we immediately shut down all communications within the Dark Star Bureau, leaving only your line open."

Li Banfeng shook his head, as doing so would imply a major incident occurring, prompting a clever traitor to devise alternate methods of sending messages out.

Fortunately, Li Banfeng had acquired experience in Puluo State dealing with traitors.

Deploy orders on a small scale, closely watch suspicious individuals.

Chuuni is certainly trustworthy, and Li Banfeng directed him to gather personnel: "Go bring Cone and Preserved Fruit..."

"Cone went to Gourd Village, Preserved Fruit is in the lab."

They're accustomed to this.

"Go call Crabapple Fruit over."

Chuuni stated, "Crabapple Fruit and Preserved Fruit used the same face cream."

What a coincidence!

The most capable subteam leaders were unavailable, so Dumpling had to be brought along: "Get Dumpling and Huajia, take personnel and let's investigate this factory."

"How many should we bring?"

"Let Chen Changrui devise a plan. Combatants must be plentiful, as the other side is very likely to resist arrest; biochemical personnel must be in abundance to effectively prepare for extensive biochemical assault.

Investigation personnel must be sufficient; bring more drones; faced with biochemical warfare, people cannot be sacrificed; bring more Fire Cultivators, absolutely clean up post-battle..."

Chuuni roughly calculated: "Bureau Chief Li, we need quite a few people, hiding this won't be easy; we'd better focus on key individuals first."

Focus on key individuals.

"How many people know that Light Bulb used Preserved Fruit's face cream?"

Chuuni was a bit embarrassed: "Back then, Preserved Fruit shouted I'm a pervert at me loudly; almost everyone in the team knows."

Li Banfeng pondered: "The one executing the transport mission with Light Bulb was Ming Xing, right?"

"Yes," Chuuni nodded, "There was also a bit of dispute between the two of them."

The dispute stemmed from Ming Xing missing out on this merit.

At the time, Ming Xing had gone to buy drinks; Light Bulb parked the vehicle and spotted the Hidden Form Space, thus it happened.

Chuuni and Li Banfeng thought alike: "Bureau Chief Li, should we first control Ming Xing?"

Li Banfeng shook his head: "This individual might not be simple; during the control period, he might still have ways to send messages out,

send him to the archives room to organize Steam Sect related materials, assign him several assistants, give him a hefty workload; keep him busy throughout the night to ensure it's not completed."

Being smart, Chuuni understood how to proceed.

Ming Xing, thinking he was going to work overtime for the Steam Reduction Faction issue, complained quite a bit going to the archives room.

Chen Changrui developed his plan, Li Banfeng made changes, each department gathered personnel, logistics arranged vehicles, and Li Banfeng immediately led the team to the factory.

Li Banfeng entered the workshop silently; workers were still laboring, unaware of his arrival.

He entered the factory with the primary goal of apprehending the manager, traversing the workshop swiftly into the office building; Li Banfeng rapidly walked through each floor.

On the third floor, he found the general manager's office, pushed the door open, and entered.

Behind the desk sat a tall, dark-skinned man, holding a compact powder case, applying makeup to himself while looking in a mirror.

The powder he used was quite fragrant, patting it lightly on his face; the man seemed satisfied, turning to glance at Li Banfeng, softly asking, "Who are you looking for?"

Perceiving Li Banfeng, confirmed this individual's cultivation level is high.

Li Banfeng smiled: "Are you the manager of this factory, Han Xiaoxuan?"

"That's me; how can I help you?" Han Xiaoxuan closed the powder case, smiling warmly at Li Banfeng.

Hiss~

Li Banfeng heard the crisp sound of steam discharge through the Silk-pulling Earrings.

"Are you the general manager of this factory?" Li Banfeng closed the office door, "I'm here to buy some face cream."

"Looking to buy face cream from me?" Han Xiaoxuan praised, "Great choice! You really know how to do business!"

"I wouldn't say I know business well," Li Banfeng sat across from Han Xiaoxuan, "but primarily, my family needs to eat."

PS: You're in the right place; this is an Inner State person.