660: Chapter 660 A Complex Network of Relationships

The Materials contained a detailed and factual record of the complete process by which officials from the Ministry of Energy in the Xiapu Star Cluster Administrative Center used their positions for personal gain, colluding across levels, transferring interests, taking bribes, and approving projects in violation of regulations.

Sa Deli leaned forward slightly, his gaze solemn as he looked at the whistleblowing information on the light screen. The keen intuition and case-handling experience he had accumulated over years as the Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee allowed him to instantly capture the deeper shadows behind this case.

He lowered his voice, his tone steady and certain.

"Team Leader Li, in my view, this matter definitely involves more than just one group from the Ministry of Energy. It's clear from the timeline in the Materials; during the period when the national crackdown was at its most severe, they actually managed to hide themselves silently and completely. As soon as the heat passed, they immediately returned to their old ways, becoming even more unscrupulous and intensified than before. To achieve this, nine times out of ten, someone across the entire Administrative Center Department is backing them up and covering for them."

Sa Deli knew better than anyone that while there were corrupt officials who slipped through the net during the crackdown, the vast majority would choose to lie low and observe. Those who committed crimes against the wind like this, without any hesitation, were very few.

Without layers of protective umbrellas, without internal personnel tipping them off, erasing traces, and smoothing over relationships, they couldn't possibly be so arrogant.

His experience as a long-time Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee told him that in a case like this, as long as they followed the trail upward, it would surely pull out a string of an intricately intertwined web of relationships.

Li Yang's face was ashen as he nodded slowly, expressing high agreement with Sa Deli's judgment.

With his hands behind his back, he took two quick steps within the office area, his voice as cold as ice.

"You are absolutely right; the water in this case is even deeper than we imagined. It's definitely not as simple as involving just one Ministry of Energy. The entire leadership of the Xiapu Star Cluster is likely rotten to the core.

Especially the local Discipline Inspection and Supervision System—with such large-scale, long-term bribery and interest transfers, the accounts, processes, and approvals are full of holes everywhere. I don't believe that with so many of them performing their supervisory duties year-round, not a single person would know? In this, they are either in cahoots, turning a blind eye, or even tipping them off and acting as moles!"

As his voice fell, the atmosphere in the office instantly became even more oppressive.

Almost at the same instant, Li Yang stopped abruptly as if suddenly struck by a realization. His eyes tightened sharply, and he immediately turned to the Team Member beside him, giving a stern order.

"Not good! Instantly! Immediately send people to protect the Whistleblower!"

His tone was urgent, carrying a sense of command that brooked no question.

"We are currently on an off-site inspection. Xiapu's local Discipline Inspection and Supervision has already developed problems, and there are very likely leakers and protective umbrellas within. Once word of this whistleblowing material leaks out, the Whistleblower might face unpredictable danger!"

Li Yang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anxiety in his heart, and added calmly.

"Investigating and handling a case requires complete witness and physical evidence, and legal procedures. The Whistleblower is the most critical source of this lead, and also the weakest link.

Once something happens to them, the lead will be cut off and the chain of evidence broken. Even if we understand it clearly in our hearts, and these vermin are standing right in front of us, without complete evidence and legal procedures, we won't be able to touch them at all. Protecting the Whistleblower is protecting the sharpest knife in our hands; there must be no mistakes!"

After all, if something truly unfortunate happened to the Whistleblower, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Not only would this lead, which was backed by ironclad evidence, be completely severed and the chain of evidence broken, but even more terrifyingly, the ordinary citizens and corporate practitioners who had long been oppressed by the corrupt clique and dared not speak out would completely lose the courage to stand up and speak.

If even a Whistleblower who submitted evidence under their real name encountered danger, who would dare to trust the Inspection Team in the future? Who would dare to step forward and expose the darkness?

By then, once the people's hearts were scattered, trying to pry open this deep-rooted corruption network would be as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Even more troublesome was that the Inspection Team's time for on-site review was limited. Once the period expired, they had to evacuate the Xiapu Star Cluster according to regulations.

After all, a comprehensive inspection was not an inspection for a single Galaxy Cluster alone.

Even if they later applied for a special re-examination or a separate return to the investigation on the grounds of a major case, the back-and-forth would have already given the corruption group plenty of room to breathe.

With the other party's intricate power and their ability to destroy evidence in advance, by the time the Inspection Team returned, all accounts, records, and transaction vouchers would likely have been wiped clean. When the time came to investigate again, there would be no traces to follow, and everything would be too late.

"The Team Leader has indeed considered everything thoroughly. This is a major matter; protection work must be carried out immediately. Furthermore, no local departments can participate. Our Inspection Team's people will move out personally to ensure nothing goes wrong!"

Sa Deli's expression turned stern, the sense of urgency in his heart instantly reaching its peak, and he immediately responded in a deep voice.

"I will go now to personally coordinate and arrange elite personnel to bring the Whistleblower safely back to the Inspection Team's base in the fastest and most discreet manner possible. We will provide strict protection throughout the process and absolutely not allow any accidents!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sa Deli said no more. He turned and walked away with large strides from the office area, hurrying to mobilize the Guard Division soldiers of the Security Assurance Division.

This Security Assurance Division, which accompanied the Inspection Team on cross-Galaxy operations, was not only the core force established by the Empire to ensure the smooth progress of inspection work but was also the most critical source of confidence for this operation.

Their duties went far beyond simple security and stability maintenance. Besides protecting the lives of Inspection Team members around the clock, ensuring communications weren't cut, and preventing the base from losing contact, they also bore the role of a powerful deterrent against the entire investigated Galaxy Cluster. They were a sword hanging over the heads of all corrupt forces.

Even if the supreme Commander of the Galaxy Guard Division was himself a corrupt element, it would be absolutely impossible for him to mobilize the Guard Division soldiers under his command to openly confront the Inspection Team's Security Assurance Division.

The reason was simple: if a superior was corrupt and took bribes, the guilt would only be borne by him personally and would not involve the low-level Soldiers and grassroots officers.

But once they dared to strike at the Security Assurance Division sent by the Empire, the nature of the act would completely change. That would be blatant rebellion, an open confrontation against Imperial law and central authority. The weight of the collective punishment was something no one dared to touch lightly.

The Soldiers knew better than anyone how to calculate this. They would never risk their own lives and their Family's future for the private interests of a corrupt superior.

It was precisely this layer of ironclad rules that made the Security Assurance Division the Inspection Team's solidest backing, allowing them to maintain the confidence to investigate to the end even when facing an intricate corruption network.