Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 770 - 478: The Soaring Dumpling

Li Banfeng looked at Dumpling, considering how to approach the situation.

The other party was a trained agent, and ordinary tactics might not suit her.

Dumpling sat opposite Li Banfeng, struggling to maintain her composure.

Since the day she entered the Dark Star Bureau, she was prepared for the possibility that one day, she might die on a mission.

How would she face the end of her life before dying?

Alone, Dumpling had entertained such thoughts before.

Especially in the bathroom, she would hold the showerhead and spray herself, pretending she had sustained a fatal injury, then she would try to find the strength to take her enemies with her.

Of course, being professionally trained, she had methods to self-rescue after being injured. It would be good if she could save herself, but if not, she at least needed to make sure to say her last words.

Last words didn’t need to be long, just four words would do: "I made it!"

Every time she imagined this scene, Dumpling would be moved to tears by herself.

Now, she was close to tears again, but not because she was moved, rather out of fear.

Reality was completely different from imagination; she wasn’t as brave as she had thought, and dying was far more terrifying than she had imagined.

Li Banfeng handed Dumpling a glass of water. "You don’t need to be so nervous."

Clutching the cup, Dumpling sincerely asked, "Is it poisoned?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I didn’t poison it."

Dumpling put the cup to her lips, her teeth chattering against it, clinking non-stop.

Watching Dumpling drink the water, Li Banfeng said, "I put laxatives in it."

Dumpling’s body tensed up, and a little color slowly returned to her pale face.

How could he do such a thing...

Dumpling felt a warm flow in her abdomen and involuntarily tightened up her Peach.

Li Banfeng continued, "This drug works especially fast, so we don’t have much time. Tell me, why did you dare to mix into Xiaoyao Lodge as a singer when you attended a banquet here with Dick Chen before? Why do you think I wouldn’t recognize you?"

Dumpling answered truthfully, "I used a Disguise Technique; you shouldn’t recognize my face."

"Why didn’t you change your voice?"

Her voice?

He recognized me through my voice?

"I thought you wouldn’t pay attention to my voice."

Li Banfeng had the Insightful Spirit Sound Technique and, with the aid of the Silk-pulling Earrings, he was particularly sensitive to voices.

Dumpling had spoken at the dinner table, and Light Bulb later revealed her identity. Naturally, Li Banfeng would take notice of Dumpling’s voice. Furthermore, her unpracticed performance on stage quickly made him sense something was off.

"Are you here in Xiaoyao Lodge to monitor me?"

Dumpling nodded.

"Did you find any useful information?"

"Not yet."

"Who exactly is Dick Chen, who came with you before?"

Dumpling didn’t want to answer.

The questions she answered before were about herself; leaking her own information was somewhat acceptable to her.

The questions now touched on secrets of the Dark Star Bureau and the Defense Agency. Dumpling didn’t want to become a traitor.

This slope was indeed difficult to navigate. Seeing Dumpling stay silent, Li Banfeng said, "I remind you, the laxative is very powerful; your body might leave the chair."

Why would her body leave the chair?

Because of the eruption?

Dumpling gritted her teeth as her stomach gurgled.

So what?

I’m not afraid of death; would I fear this?

Li Banfeng looked at Dumpling and asked, "Is Dick Chen from Puluo State, Huan Country, or a foreigner?"

Dumpling said, "He is a foreigner; he mentioned it himself when you were negotiating."

"Does he know you’re an agent from the Dark Star Bureau?"

"He does."

"Would the Dark Star Bureau reveal an agent’s identity to a foreigner?"

"That’s because his identity is very special."

"What’s so special about him?"

GURGLE, GURGLE. Dumpling’s stomach rumbled again.

She tried desperately to maintain her focus to avoid slip-ups in her response, but found it incredibly difficult.

She soon realized what the issue was.

Li Qi isn’t using the laxative to threaten me; he’s using it to disrupt my focus.

This was a special interrogation method Dumpling had studied. It utilized means that were minimally harmful yet highly urgent and persistent to break an opponent’s thought rhythm and concentration, thereby causing them to make continuous mistakes in their responses.

Amidst excruciating restraint and endurance, Dumpling gave a prepared answer, "Dick Chen is a businessman, assigned by the Defense Agency. My mission at that time was to ensure his safety."

Li Banfeng asked, "What area of business does he mainly engage in?"

"You should know very well; he has dealt with Ma Junyang before." Dumpling remained lucid, trying not to answer detailed questions, an important strategy in responding to interrogation.

Li Banfeng paused for a long time, silently observing Dumpling’s reaction.

RUUUMBLE...

Dumpling’s face was covered in sweat; she seemed not so lucid anymore.

Li Banfeng continued questioning, "Why would the Outside Provinces entrust a matter of a classified field to a businessman, and a foreign businessman at that? What’s special about this foreign businessman?"

"He," Dumpling took a breath, the cramping in her stomach blurring her consciousness, "I, I don’t know much about his background; that’s not within my responsibilities. If you want me to answer your questions, at least ask something I know..."

Dumpling was close to her limit.

"Then I’ll ask you a question you do know," Li Banfeng asked seriously, "The flood at Yellow Dragon Gate is approaching. May I ask young lady, how do you plan to stop it?"