Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 873 - 511: Harmonizing Agent_2

After watching the surveillance footage, Li Banfeng asked a question: "Was the cigarette butt left by this group of people?"

Director Zhang spoke very cautiously: "There is some saliva left on the cigarette butt, which is currently being tested. Before the test results are out, we cannot be completely sure of the source of the cigarette butt. But judging from the current clues, the cigarette butt is most likely left by them."

Li Banfeng looked at Director Zhang and said: "How could they smoke with gas masks on?"

Director Zhang also knew this detail was not very reasonable: "The current inference is that they put on gas masks after entering the plant area."

"You mean they smoked a cigarette to relax before putting on the mask and casually left the cigarette butt on the ground?" Li Qi continued to stare at Director Zhang.

Director Zhang made no response; the cigarette butt issue was indeed hard to explain, but the entire process’s reasoning was mostly flawless.

Not only he couldn’t find fault in it, others couldn’t either.

Unknown individuals trespassed into a restricted area, and this area had seen a large number of dangerous unidentified creatures. In such a situation, taking emergency measures to respond was reasonable and in accordance with regulations.

Shen Jingye looked at Li Banfeng and said: "Director Li, we have explained this matter clearly, now I need a reasonable explanation from you, why did you last night..."

He was about to ask why Li Banfeng took the security team members to trespass into the restricted area, but he was interrupted by Li Banfeng before he could finish.

Li Banfeng said: "There are serious issues with your work, and this has not been explained clearly."

Shen Jingye was very patient: "Could you explain in detail, what exactly is the issue with our work?"

Li Banfeng said: "Xiao Liu found the cigarette butt and informed Xiao Zhang, Xiao Zhang identified the suspicious individuals and informed you, then you directly informed the Public Security Team. Don’t you think there’s a problem here?"

Shen Jingye calmly replied: "This is according to division of duties, following standard operating procedures. I don’t see where the problem is."

Li Banfeng said: "The problem is, why was I not informed?"

Shen Jingye’s expression darkened: "Director Li, this is not within your scope of duties."

Li Banfeng said: "What is my scope of duties?"

Shen Jingye couldn’t directly answer because he hadn’t defined the scope of duties for Li Banfeng.

"This issue still needs to be discussed in a meeting to decide."

Li Banfeng said: "You didn’t define my duties, which proves you have a problem."

Shen Jingye remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said: "Yes, this is my oversight, what do you plan to do about it?"

"As it’s your first offense, write a self-review." Li Banfeng prepared paper and pen.

"I am not in the mood for your nonsense!" Having said this, Shen Jingye got up and left Li Banfeng’s office.

In the corridor, he saw centipedes crawling all over the floor.

Li Banfeng, sitting at his desk, explained: "These are samples I brought back from the textile factory, haven’t got a chance to send them to the lab. Our security team members were bitten by these, still in the hospital, Little Shen, be careful with your steps."

Shen Jingye let out a cold laugh.

These were brought back from the textile factory?

Do I look like I would believe such an absurd lie?

Shen Jingye returned to Li Banfeng’s office and sat back on the sofa.

The leather sofa had rustling sounds coming from the seams, and Li Banfeng reminded Shen Jingye: "I’m not very familiar with the methods and procedures for preserving samples, and these samples are very lively, crawling everywhere."

Watching the unidentified creatures wandering inside the leather sofa, Shen Jingye fell into deep thought.

Does Li Qi really dare to bring such things into the office?

Even if he’s not afraid of breaking regulations, doesn’t he care about his own safety?

Don’t fall for his tricks, don’t be threatened by him. He must have used some hallucination-inducing dark energy carrier, similar to the situation in that ’inescapable’ conference room before.

With determination, Shen Jingye persisted on the sofa for a minute.

Then he grabbed a chair, sat by the table, and started writing the self-review.

Don’t argue with Li Qi, he’s mentally unstable. If he really brought centipedes, the consequences would be severe if bitten.

Shen Jingye began writing, and Li Banfeng looked at the other two directors: "Don’t just sit around, don’t you bear any responsibility?"

As he spoke, a dozen centipedes emerged from the sofa, crawling at the feet of the two men.

Director Liu, Director Wang, and Director Zhang, with mocking smiles, glanced at Li Qi, then picked up paper and pen and began writing self-reviews on the coffee table.

After the reviews were written, they were handed to Li Qi for review.

Director Shen’s, Director Zhang’s, and Director Liu’s reviews were satisfactory, and Li Banfeng let them leave.

Director Wang’s review lacked depth, and Li Qi made him rewrite it.

Learning through experience, and with an important meeting in the afternoon, the meeting office sent over the agenda in advance to avoid offending Li Qi.

Li Banfeng was not interested in the meeting, but one topic caught his attention.

This agenda item was about handling two security team members.

One was Chen Changrui, whose situation was clear to Li Banfeng, facing job reassignment.

The other was Qin Minghui, who had issues with illicit use of the harmonizing agent, facing dismissal.

Putting down the agenda, Li Banfeng dialed Qin Minghui’s office phone.

The phone received no answer; Qin Minghui was not at his desk.

He was in Director Wang’s office.

Director Wang was seated, while he stood.

"Xiao Qin, you don’t need to say much about this matter or hold any illusions. To achieve today’s result means you’re lucky."