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墨書 Inktalez
At Tongguan Xiyang Road, the Washington Family Banquet Hotel was bustling with guests, yet the parking lot had many empty spaces. This strange phenomenon was due to one reason: a private booking.
Yes, a private booking. The hotel, with a capacity to host three hundred people, was fully operational, transforming the first three floors into an upscale buffet specifically for entertaining Wei Heng Business, a significant client.
The first group was delayed by forty minutes, and soon after, everything else followed suit. In charge of the event was Yang Menglu, who frequently rushed to the lobby to greet guests while also making phone calls to the company. She received unexpected news: the delay was caused by Mr. Lin's captivating speech.
Then came a shocking update from Tu Shenhao, who excitedly informed her that the revenue far exceeded expectations. He regretted not being present to hear how "Mr. Lin" charmed everyone.
From a certain perspective, this was merely a scam with one goal: to encourage those distant "investors" to generously contribute and join Wei Heng Business's capital operations. Yang Menglu had always believed that implementing this plan would be quite challenging; however, seeing the current pace of progress, difficulty no longer seemed to be an issue. The real challenge lay in controlling the tempo and not going overboard.
At that moment, there was no time for careful planning as the second group arrived. She and General Manager Liu Yong busily welcomed them, ushering guests to the second floor while arranging transportation for the first group to rest at the hotel. Before they could finish this task, the third group was already on their way. Minutes later, they received another hundred guests arriving on two large buses, led by General Manager Xu Da. As he guided the clients to the restaurant, Yang Menglu could hardly contain her astonishment.
In reality, pyramid schemes were not so easy; convincing others to part with their money was never straightforward. More often than not, these general managers worried about their performance. Yet today was different; everyone seemed exuberant—whether they were collecting money or paying it.
"Manager Xu... could you come here for a moment?" Yang Menglu waved her hand as if seeking assistance and called Xu Da over from his lively conversation with clients. They stepped out into the corridor outside the restaurant where he still wore a cheerful smile, seemingly still caught up in excitement. Yang Menglu quietly asked, "What exactly happened at the company? I heard Mr. Lin's speech was remarkable?"
"Oh... it wasn't just remarkable; it was extraordinary... Sister Yang, our group can talk big too, but when it comes to him alone, none of us can compare," Xu Da replied earnestly.
Really? Just a few days apart and there’s already such a change? Yang Menglu knew Xiao Mu's capabilities well and skeptically said, "It can't be that impressive."
"Oh come on! You can't even imagine how impressive it was! We’re at least doubling our efforts here; he talked about capital operations scaling from one-to-three ratios directly up to one-to-three hundred—an increase of one hundred times! I couldn’t even grasp it... but those ten or so small bosses from Ordos understood perfectly. They went downstairs and each bought several shares—at least five each! Let me tell you, if there hadn’t been a ten-share limit, those local tycoons would have thrown down millions," Xu Da said dreamily. It seemed clear that Mr. Lin operated on an entirely different level; in short:
Mr. Lin was no ordinary person; even his boasting was extraordinary.
"What are you talking about? Just go back," Yang Menglu waved him off as she realized he couldn't articulate his thoughts clearly. Xu Da chuckled and replied, "Why bother understanding everything? As long as it fills our pockets, isn’t it all just meat buns hitting dogs?"
Yang Menglu let out a soft hiss, signaling him to stop talking nonsense. The two of them made their way back to the restaurant, one in front of the other. Holding the prepared meal cards, Yang Menglu distributed them according to the number of people. Dinner was still here, and this gathering had cost quite a bit; now it seemed worth it.
She gracefully weaved through the crowd, her professional sensitivity allowing her to capture the genuine sentiments of the clients around her.
Someone remarked that General Manager Lin was quite young but certainly impressive. A colleague corrected him, saying, "Of course he's impressive! Just look at his outfit; it must cost tens of thousands. And that watch on his wrist? It's a Rolex, a limited edition worth hundreds of thousands!"
Another voice chimed in, "General Manager Lin is really handsome." A woman nearby added, "Don't even think about it. You might as well wait until your next life to be born a beauty if you want a chance with him. Just look at his beautiful secretary; do you really think he would notice you?"
Whispers continued, "I’ve invested sixty-nine thousand; will I make money?" Someone else replied, "General Manager Lin said that while the company opens the door for you to earn money, it's up to individuals to make profits. He can only guarantee that you won't lose money, which is already pretty good."
As for whether one would lose money or not, there was no doubt about it; the company's strength was evident. With all-inclusive travel and accommodations, it was clearly a very generous investment firm.
The more Yang Menglu listened, the more astonished she became. She hadn't anticipated Xiao Mu's rapid growth. Even though the team had done well in the early stages, achieving such results required an undeniable fact. Originally, Xiao Mu had been just a decoration; now he had become the most convincing fact. The carefully prepared displays of strength from other companies had turned into mere decorations.
Another group began speaking, and Yang Menglu noticed them and slowed her pace. Each of them had a rugged appearance and sported beards; one even had a short knife tucked into his trousers. She recognized them as coming from Inner Mongolia—tycoons who had made small fortunes in coal and mining—and they were discussing none other than "General Manager Lin."
"… General Manager Lin must have done leveraged trading before; it's incredibly profitable. For instance, if you leverage ten million at a three-to-one ratio, you can borrow thirty million from the bank for a total stock account value of forty million. With one position at four hundred thousand each, if you bring in ten clients with one million each, you'll break even… Then you can take that ten million cash and leverage again with the bank to still get forty million… An annualized return of 300% is completely normal; it could even be higher."
"Does that mean we have risks?"
"There are risks, but they aren't financial; they lie in legality."
"Hey, don’t scare me! I’m just following you here."
"You see, if you can't handle legal matters properly, they become illegal; if you do illegal things well and early enough, they become legal… Isn't it just like how we operate coal mines? One resource integration and we all become illegal operators."
"Come on! Wind and solar energy are all state-owned; let alone coal mines! Ha ha…"
A hearty laugh echoed as Yang Menglu handed over the meal card, and the group couldn't resist teasing her. One bold individual reached out and gave her a quick squeeze on the backside. Yang Menglu skillfully dodged, but still felt the unwelcome touch. Though she wore a smile, inside she was seething with embarrassment and anger.
How dare they touch me? Just wait until I make you cry for your mothers.
She felt no sympathy for such people, but as she walked along, hearing more and more about "President Lin," a sense of unease crept in…
The tension between the two factions was palpable; it was an atmosphere that could not be understood unless one was immersed in it.
The task force was already in a state of readiness, with the City Bureau, Branch offices, and police stations serving as nodes to construct the Skynet, waiting for the right moment to strike. On the large screen displaying the task force's operations, various assembly points were shown filled with police cars and officers, all poised for action at a moment's notice, ready to target those nests that were like tumors.
At 1 PM, the relocated Police Force arrived, coming from Zhi Yang, Huayin, and Sanmenxia to take position near Tongguan, less than twenty kilometers away. Meanwhile, new developments emerged as personnel at the Jin Ke Kaiyue gathering point began to disperse; some had moved to Washington Hotel. During facial recognition checks, several suspects from various provinces appeared on high-priority watch lists—individuals previously targeted for their involvement in Pyramid Schemes.
The dispersal of the crowd could lead to adverse effects; capturing them was not yet feasible, so they decided to hold off.
At 2 PM, Field Duty officers attempting to enter the Jin Ke Kaiyue office faced obstacles and could not contact their informants inside. The uncertainty about how many individuals were involved, how many organizers there were, and whether they could find solid evidence left the task force hesitant.
At 2:20 PM, news came from the Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce Investigation Team regarding a tip-off. It claimed that under the name Jin Ke Kaiyue, a Pyramid Scheme had illegally amassed over twenty million. This information was confirmed through monitoring by the provincial bank's microcomputer system, which detected several POS machines operating under "Wei Heng Business" and "Wei Heng Investment" collecting payments within the province. The number of these machines and whether there were others unmonitored remained unknown.
At 2:40 PM, Undercover Officer 3326 reported that someone had pulled Big Head and Big Mouth away. He suspected that Tu Shenhao was plotting an escape. However, this information turned out to be incorrect; Field Duty Officer Lian Qiang had already followed those two confidants while another Field Duty Officer Ma Fenghuo had led a team to pursue Tu Shenhao. The actions of this key figure were puzzling; he had left the province with minimal baggage and traveled over two hundred kilometers away to Yima City.
At this point, doubts began to surface within the task force about their suspect relationship map; it seemed Tu Shenhao's connection to the entire Pyramid Scheme was quite intricate.
By 3 PM, with no new updates coming in, three Commanders of the task force sat in the conference room in silence, their eyes fixed on the screen as they awaited new leads. They could directly see the surveillance footage of Jin Ke Kaiyue's lobby—it was just a step away—but they had no opportunity to infiltrate that tightly-knit organization.
"This is a pot of undercooked rice."
Ye Tianshu scratched the back of his head, no longer hiding his anxiety. The number of people gathered was greater than that of the Police Force, and the situation was complicated. With two locations involved and in such a high-end venue, any oversight during the arrest could lead to severe consequences, making it difficult for a police officer to proceed.
In truth, the police were not afraid of criminals; rather, they feared the public opinion that stood on a moral high ground and acted recklessly. If they did nothing, they would be accused of inaction; if they acted too lightly, they would be said to be colluding with the bad guys. If they took decisive action, they would be criticized for their Civilized Law Enforcement practices. They had no choice but to consider their words.
"Undercooked or not, we have to eat it all," Fan Wenjie murmured. He closed his eyes and recalled several visits to the Mental Hospital. The frustration he felt was palpable as he firmly stated, "Don't feel pressured; the responsibility doesn't fall on you. I will take the lead. In this day and age, opportunities for a police officer to dedicate themselves to their career are rare. If I am held accountable for doing my duty, that would be my honor... Don't hesitate; seize every opportunity and take them all down."
"Understood." Ye Tianshu stood up but his voice lacked conviction. He hesitated and asked Director Fan, "Should we wait a bit longer? We really don't know what the situation inside is like. There are too many people in an office building, and plans are still being formulated..."
"Right now, 3326 cannot play its role; our informant is trapped inside, and the target has split into two groups... Director Fan, let's hold on a bit longer. The opportunity hasn't presented itself yet. I have a feeling that this astute informant will find a way out. As long as he shows up—even if it's inside the building—there's a chance he could connect with our Field Duty team," Luo Guanquan reminded.
In response, Director Fan could only silently agree. He changed the subject and asked, "What about the flow of funds? How significant is the discrepancy?"
"It could be substantial. Today's collection is the largest and most concentrated one so far. As for how much each General Manager collected before arriving with their teams, we have no way of knowing," Ye Tianshu replied. Luo Guanquan added, "In Pyramid Scheme organizations, financial handling is quite strict; there are dedicated personnel responsible for transfers and laundering money. Those collecting cash don’t manage accounts directly, but using POS machines for large transactions is rare because it involves interbank T+1 settlements, which inherently increases risk."
"So we have one more business day?" Ye Tianshu asked. The next day's settlement must go through the Provincial Bank's operations department, where the flow of funds could be tracked.
Luo Guanquan shook his head, denying Ye Tianshu's optimistic assessment. "How many machines did they use? It's unclear. With such a large-scale operation, if there are any hidden or missed targets or damages, applying for fund freezes from the Provincial Bank could become problematic. Also, it's not just one payment method; cash, mobile banking, ATMs, online banking—all can be used."
This was the convenience brought by high technology: while investigations advanced, crime continued to evolve. Ye Tianshu grimaced slightly as he glanced at Director Fan, who had remained silent throughout. After over two months of preparation for a unified provincial operation, just before launching into battle against the enemy, they found themselves stuck in a dilemma. He felt deeply responsible for failing to meet organizational expectations.
"Team Ye... another group has emerged... about eighty people..."
Ye Tianshu heard the call and switched screens to see enthusiastic personnel from Younger Brother getting into vehicles—apparently heading out for a meal.
"Calling Field Duty team: no matter what it takes, find a way to connect with Internal Line."
"Ye Tianshu," he commanded in the announcement.
At this moment, Xiao Mu was drenched in sweat, sitting dejectedly. After hours of identifying people, persuading them, and coaxing them, he felt utterly exhausted.
"Are you okay?" Jia Fangfei asked, leaning against the door, having returned at some point.
Xiao Mu rested his head on the table, expressing his misery. "Sister, I really can't go on. How many more people are there?"
"Half left," Jia Fangfei replied with a smile.
"Ah? Just kill me now," Xiao Mu said, closing his eyes in pain.
Jia Fangfei gracefully walked to his side and gently kissed him. "How could I bear to do that? It's fine; I've arranged for them to go eat. It's all your fault for being so outstanding. What was supposed to be a twenty-minute meeting ended up dragging on for an hour."
Her complaint was clearly a compliment. At that moment, Jia Fangfei looked at Xiao Mu with sparkling eyes, amazed that finding a substitute had turned into discovering a treasure. The way he spoke about capital operations was far better than any Pyramid Scheme textbook. She stood behind him, massaging his shoulders and softly asked, "Mr. Lin... I was worried you wouldn't be able to explain the company's operations. I never expected your explanation of financing to be so excellent. The bosses from Ordos want to meet with you privately tonight; they genuinely seem interested in investing in you."
"You’re being foolish. Theoretically, it sounds good, but who in the banking finance sector is a fool? To turn this into reality, you need to deal with the banks first... If you can meet that prerequisite, then why would you need investors? Why not just make money?" Xiao Mu replied.
In truth, it was just a lie—merely omitting the necessary conditions. It was like saying the most straightforward way to make money is to walk into a bank with an AK-47; the prerequisite is that you have the ability to take it and survive afterward.
Jia Fangfei laughed. "Having that theory is impressive... Hey, Mr. Lin, what did you do before? How did you end up in a mental hospital?"
"I’m a patient with delusions," Xiao Mu said as he stood up, seriously telling Jia Fangfei. Seeing her disbelief, he added, "Don't even talk about financing; if you asked me how to rob a central bank, I could give you a detailed plan."
This was a bit difficult to accept, and Jia Fangfei paused for a moment before smiling and saying, "Well, you found a stage to showcase yourself. This time, it’s going to earn you more than robbing a bank."
Xiao Mu's heart raced at that, startled, yet he excitedly asked, "How much did you make?"
"Eight figures," Jia Fangfei said, unable to contain herself. She leaned in and kissed Xiao Mu on the cheek, then encouraged him, "Stay motivated; I believe these people have significant potential."
Over ten million, and still not satisfied. Xiao Mu felt a knot in his throat as he grew anxious. How could they have scammed so much money? Who did it belong to?
"Are you scared?" Jia Fangfei teased as she playfully touched his face.
"What’s there to be afraid of? Fortune favors the bold; the timid starve... Let’s grab a meal and get back to work," Xiao Mu replied, trying to mask his nervousness. His bravado was so convincing that Jia Fangfei likely no longer doubted their partnership on this venture.
After a brief pause, the two stood up and descended a floor. By now, the employees had started to speed up their lunch breaks. It was quite simple here; boxed meals with mineral water were prepared for them to eat quickly before returning to work. However, as Xiao Mu reached the lower floor, he held Jia Fangfei back seriously and said that there were too many people today. Eating with them wouldn’t be appropriate; if they kept asking questions during the meal, it would waste time. So, let’s just grab something nearby and hurry back for a rest.
This idea was exactly what Jia Fangfei wanted to hear. The two took the elevator down; during lunchtime, there weren’t many people around. An additional maintenance worker joined them in the elevator and exchanged nods and smiles with them. Once they exited the elevator, Xiao Mu's bad habit kicked in again as he stopped and looked outside at the blazing sun with a pouty tone, saying, "Oh no, I really don’t want to go anymore; I’m too hungry… How about you bring me something back?"
"That’s fine… but," Jia Fangfei looked at Xiao Mu with a hint of caution.
"Two servings of Ice Cream, vanilla flavor; roasted goose rice would be great too. And make sure to grab a chilled beer, preferably Blue Ribbon… You can decide on the rest; just get something easy. I’m really exhausted," Xiao Mu said lazily, adopting an air of entitlement.
Jia Fangfei didn’t mind at all. She gently kissed Xiao Mu and said, "Just wait for me upstairs… Don’t wander off."
"Okay, hurry up; I’ll take a nap," Xiao Mu replied.
Watching Xiao Mu enter the elevator, Jia Fangfei finally stepped out of the lobby and drove off quickly to get some food.
In this brief moment, the repairman from the second floor came back in. Xiao Mu directly asked, "Code word."
"Ah? What code?" the Repairman was taken aback.
"Just by looking at you, it's obvious you're a dead Striped Uniform. Do elevator repairmen usually go down with the guests?" Xiao Mu asked.
"Oh, I was worried I would miss it again, but you saw right through me," the Repairman said, his face lighting up with joy. He grabbed Xiao Mu like an old comrade reunited after a long time and said affectionately, "Comrade, I've been waiting for this chance to see you."
"Cut the small talk. What about Baldy? I don't trust you," Xiao Mu said, feigning difficulty. The Repairman was prepared for this and replied, "Baldy said to listen to me, or else you'll be in trouble."
That statement was quite unfriendly, and he spoke it cautiously. However, when Xiao Mu heard it, he smiled and said, "The code matches; we're on the same side... Hey, why aren't you catching anyone yet? I can barely keep up the act."
Shh... The Repairman hushed him lightly as they rode the elevator up to the eleventh floor. Pulling Xiao Mu out of the elevator, they entered an unleased floor. After passing through a dimly lit corridor, they slipped into a bare hall. Upon entering, Xiao Mu was greeted by a group of men leaning against the wall who rushed over as if they had seen family...
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