[X] Bring round the subject of the fox children, but avoid mentioning the Diao connection you discovered, leave the matter with the deviant cultivation and sacrificial practices going on. [70% Success. Success means avoiding threats and having some fraction of the Diao enforcement turning to rounding up stray children. May be temporary.]
On the simple basis that if they drag their feet or sweep it under the rug, then we can put quiet pressure on by raising the Diao connection later. If we open hard and fast they'd be forced to respond hard and fast, but thats not going to be a good show of diplomatic tact.
They're the number 2 power of the province. If we play hardball the ball gets smashed into our face even if we fix the immediate problem.
Plus I think this would be better for the kids in some way. Turning the kids into pawns in the Diao internal faction struggle is not going to be any kind of good for the kids.
The Imperial leaning side will be using the argument to ridicule their fox connection, because what an honored cousin - to be raping and murdering in their fief, or to try to silence and suppress all traces.
The Weilu leaning side would be either distancing themselves from Madame Grey because its the worst kind of example of their heritage, or trying to make things right.
Either way, exceedingly unpleasant for the kids to become pieces in a high level slapfight they cannot understand.. Better to 'just' be charity cases.
Diao Hualing must have caught her slight unease, because the woman looked at her curiously for a long moment before continuing. "But, we should speak of your matter. We have begun investigations into the region your source indicated and found some corroborating evidence ourselves. There, we have found some indications of minor fraud and bribery occurring. Small matters, beneath the usual level our offices concern."
Ling Qi considered this, turning away from the roses. "There is some problem with the District investigators?"
Diao Hualing pursed her lips. "So far, it does not rise beyond a certain… slothfulness, rather than any direct collaboration, but yes. A number of clerks and officers of the lower and middle ranks will be receiving very negative performance reviews."
"And how does this relate to my issue?" Ling Qi asked curiously.
"We believe the fraudster responsible for a number of other minor crimes is positioned in the Districts Ministry of Communication. We have reduced the possible culprits to a half dozen or so," Diao Hualing said. "In a few weeks we expect to have narrowed it further."
"It seems strange that one who had been getting away with minor things would escalate," Ling Qi said thoughtfully as they resumed walking around the fountain, heading into a grove of vibrant cherry trees. "...Ah, but this fellow is certainly a dupe, am I right?"
"A minor fraudster, getting by on little pieces of sabotage and embezzlement? Certainly. He was likely working for another in this case. A 'dupe' as you said."
It wasn't a new idea for Ling Qi, it was why it was dangerous to work for someone else on the streets. You never knew when they were just throwing you to a bigger wolf to test their reaction, or just to provide a distraction.
Thats...a little more advanced that expected from someone doing it as an attack of opportunity might have. Definitely not a lone gunman then, just a weak link that was exploited.
State actor using open market resources or someone smaller throwing in hazards?
"Well that is unfortunate for him. How can I continue to assist?"
"There is some possibility that the culprit will have some methods of escape which would require significant resources to neutralize, if our assumptions are not correct. Since I know that you wish to involve yourself, perhaps you would like to save the Ministry this expense?"
"Doing the capture hm," Ling Qi considered. Hanyi naturally seemed to like the idea, though Zhengui seemed more ambivalent.
"It's probably not bad practice, if nothing else, and you do need to get her on your side," Sixiang murmured.
"I don't object, but is that legal? I wouldn't want to offend the lord whom owns the lands," Ling Qi said.
"Granting temporary arrest power to a contracted agent requires some paperwork, but is hardly too unusual," Diao Hualing shrugged.
I also notice this implicitly leaves Qi holding the bag if the culprit gets away.
If the Diao or Ministries manage to slip up, it looks like a conspiracy.
If the offended party herself fails to catch the connection, then all that can be done, has been done.
