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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 119: Cross-Border Pursuit 3
"That's amazing!"
Guan Yiqing, Guo Wei, and two subordinates brought by Lin Qizhao were all captivated by Xiao Mu in less than ten minutes.
His method was unconventional—he used finger painting. By utilizing different hardness and angles of his fingers and nails on the computer touchscreen, he created portraits, further refining them with a stylus. The result was a vivid likeness, and the entire process took so little time that even a dozen police sketch artists would struggle to match half his speed.
"Who is he?" one officer, well-versed in the difficulty of such artwork, whispered to Guo Wei.
Guo Wei chuckled and replied, "I don't know him, and it's probably best that we don't."
What started as a joke turned serious when the officer remarked solemnly, "Understood. He must be from Special Operations—our comrade."
Pfft... Guan Yiqing couldn't hold back her laughter, biting her lip to suppress it. Guo Wei nudged her with his foot, urging her to keep quiet. She smiled sheepishly, trying hard to stifle the laughter threatening to burst out.
It was peculiar; Xiao Mu, usually so unkempt, was utterly focused while drawing. With one hand holding the stylus and the other painting, he illuminated the screen with a series of portraits of various suspects. He smiled at each image as if it were an incredibly joyful task.
Another portrait emerged—a particularly sleazy bald man with protruding teeth, a crooked nose dotted with pimples, and bumps on his cheeks. The grotesque likeness startled everyone present. One officer blurted out, "Is there really someone who looks like this?"
"There is, and we might see him soon," Xiao Mu replied, clawing at the screen. He displayed four portraits—each suspect shown in two or three versions: before and after makeup. The differences were striking. Stretching like he had completed a monumental task, he sighed in relief and said, "Let's investigate. The skinny one is called Mainboard from Guangdong; the sleazy one is Locksmith—his origin doesn't matter; he's easy to track down. The woman is Lani from Yunnan; and this one is Azure Head—he's been around Suzhou and Hangzhou; the local police should have a record on him... All four should have criminal records."
One officer connected with the Coastal Task Force began refining the sketches before inputting them into the database. Guo Wei quietly asked, "How can you be sure they all have records?"
"Just a guess; who knows? I might be right," Xiao Mu replied with a smile.
In that smile, there was definitely something being hinted at. Guo Wei gritted his teeth and shot him a threatening look. Xiao Mu pointed at him and said, "Your attitude is not right. What did you say your name was again?"
"You know it... I just called... what was it again?" Guo Wei replied deliberately.
"Ah, it seems like you have some feelings about me. Where do those feelings come from?" Xiao Mu glanced at Guan Yiqing, then fixed his gaze for two seconds before Guan Yiqing spoke up, "Be careful with your words."
Hearing this, Xiao Mu clapped his hands in delight, "Oh, I see where those feelings are coming from... heh heh."
It was clear that Guo Wei saw him as a threat, and the cause of it probably lay with Guan Yiqing. The more Xiao Mu observed the two, the more interesting they became. With his keen eye, he could tell that this handsome guy had feelings, while the beautiful girl seemed indifferent.
"What a pity, Guo Wei. You should ask me for tips on how to woo girls. Approaching a girl is just like interrogating a suspect; you need to understand her true desires to win her over... Have all your previous efforts been in vain?" Xiao Mu said with a smile, causing Guo Wei's face to turn red as he pressed his lips together and dared not speak. Guan Yiqing, even more hesitant to join in, found an excuse to stand with the two officers and examine the search results.
Look at that—someone too perceptive is bound to have no friends. Guo Wei ignored him and turned away.
Just as silence fell for a few seconds, one of the officers looked at Xiao Mu with admiration and cautiously asked, "Comrade... where did you receive your training?"
"Training?" Xiao Mu was taken aback.
"This..." The officer gestured, describing the method of sketching portraits that seemed unbelievable to him. It was his first time seeing it; he had heard that Interpol had similar training programs that could recreate a person's facial features using simple lines on a computer. It seemed like Xiao Mu had just used that technique.
"Such things require talent; they can't just be trained... Come on, let me show you something else." Xiao Mu said as he took out his notebook and began sketching quickly with a stylus. He then held it up for everyone to see and asked, "Look, what is this?"
Uh... All four officers were stunned in unison; what he had drawn was a belly button surrounded by hair—a vividly depicted lower half of a woman. Guan Yiqing gritted her teeth, wishing she could kick him.
"Thinking has its patterns, and so does perception... What if we look at it this way?" Xiao Mu turned the computer screen around.
The group gasped in surprise as the scenery transformed into the image of an old man with wild hair, his belly button resembling a mouth, and his wrinkles forming squinting eyes.
As everyone stared in astonishment, his brush moved, and a tuft of hair expanded into a majestic lion's head. When the lion's head was flipped upside down, it morphed into a bearded face. With a few more strokes, it quickly transformed into the image of a Husky, dazzling everyone and leaving them breathless. Xiao Mu excitedly remarked, "In the eyes of a tech enthusiast, the world is made up of 0s and 1s; in the eyes of an artist, it's composed of colors and lines. The art of makeup is about changing colors and lines, utilizing visual discrepancies... By the way, that Lani is a master in this field. She's not just an ordinary makeup artist; she must have studied painting. Her work is stunning."
As Xiao Mu set the computer down, the others were still in shock. Turning around, they found Lin Qizhao staring at them with an expression as if he had seen a ghost. Noticing Lin's lack of response, Xiao Mu asked, "What's wrong?"
"Oh... Mr. Mu, could you step outside for a moment?" Lin Qizhao called out to Xiao Mu, who followed him out.
Once the door was closed, one person who had just regained his composure asked, "I take back what I said earlier; that person is not a police officer."
"Oh? How did you figure that out?" Guo Wei inquired.
"A person with such skills would be wasting their talent as a police officer," he replied, still amazed by the artwork on the screen.
"Wrong again; he applied to be a Patrol Officer but was turned away during recruitment," Guan Yiqing added nonchalantly. The two men stared at him in disbelief.
Just then, an alert flashed on the computer screen—there was already news coming in at an unexpected speed. Closing the drawing display revealed that an electronic file had been transmitted from home.
In less than ten minutes, all four individuals had been identified.
Indeed, all four had criminal records. Xiao Mu's sketches matched almost perfectly with the photos stored in crime databases—identical down to the last detail.
"Oh my God, for this arrest, we might need to use cheat codes."
A police officer spoke sternly, and the crowd exchanged glances, momentarily unable to process such a surprising revelation.
Outside the corridor, Shen Lingchen and Lin Qizhao were watching Xiao Mu. There were some minor issues with the interrogation of Golden Treasure; it wasn't that they couldn't proceed, but it was impossible to do so quickly. What they needed now was time and opportunity.
"There must be concerns," Shen Lingchen commented.
"Having just been arrested, there’s no way he doesn’t have some resistance," Lin Qizhao replied.
Interrogation was a gradual process, slowly wearing down one's resistance and chipping away at their psychological defenses. The two curiously approached Xiao Mu. He looked at them with curiosity, and Shen Lingchen explained, "Before we begin, I wanted to consult you. We don't want it to turn into a hassle like with Pan Shuanglong."
"Right, you’ve dealt with similar situations in Shaanxi Province. Where do you think his psychological weakness lies?" Lin Qizhao asked.
"He’s motivated by money; people like him are easy to handle. Just get me a police uniform to intimidate him a bit; it will definitely work," Xiao Mu said quietly. The two leaned in to listen to his plan, and after hearing it, they seemed somewhat taken aback. Shen Lingchen exchanged glances with Lin Qizhao; after all, it was late at night, so what was there to fuss about? Lin Qizhao reluctantly agreed.
Before the interrogation began, they had already identified the suspect. Shen Lingchen and Lin Qizhao were excitedly high-fiving each other. With the facial features they had gathered along with a witness's testimony, the theft case in Binhai was no longer a challenge. Amidst the puzzled looks from others, Lin Qizhao took a police uniform that a member of Criminal Investigation Team Five had hurriedly brought over and helped Xiao Mu change into it. Together, they approached the door of the interrogation room while Shen Lingchen and Lin Qizhao entered first.
Taking their seats, they activated the recording device. Golden Treasure, having been toyed with by the Gourd Brothers, still had remnants of playdough colors on his mouth. He had tried to escape but ended up getting beaten again. Now freed from ropes but handcuffed instead, the sudden change in circumstances had soured his mood to its lowest point; under such conditions, he might just give up entirely.
“Where did the Golden Treasure come from?” Shen Lingchen asked.
“I picked up the wrong package and didn’t have time to check it yet,” Golden Treasure replied softly.
“That bag alone is worth hundreds of thousands. Do you really want to carry it yourself?” Lin Qizhao inquired.
This was a serious question. Whether it was out of fear or something else, Golden Treasure's lips trembled, but no words came out… Right, in situations like this, one could only make up stories about finding it, taking the wrong package, or anything unrelated to oneself. As Golden Treasure pondered, a thought struck: “Oh right, I remember now! It belongs to that group of people, the ones I know. The leader is called Big Gourd, his real name is Hu Yiming, and his older brother is Mulin Shen.”
Oh… Shen Lingchen and Lin Qizhao exchanged knowing smiles. Lin Qizhao said with a grin, “That’s exactly what we were going to discuss next. We already have enough information; your testimony isn’t that crucial. You just need to choose a guilty plea.”
Lin Qizhao was gentle, and Shen Lingchen didn’t press him hard. They both seemed to know enough already. Golden Treasure anxiously clarified, “Really, it’s theirs! Mulin Shen used to be Mao Shiping’s lackey. Once Mao Shiping left, he became the boss. I have nothing to do with their dealings; I wouldn’t dare touch their stuff, and I don’t even know what it is.”
“Oh… then let me introduce you to someone. Come in,” Shen Lingchen said as the door opened.
Dressed in formal attire and police uniform, Xiao Mu adjusted his hat and straightened his uniform before stepping inside. He stood at attention and saluted Lin Qizhao and Shen Lingchen, saying, “Report Deputy Commissioner Shen and Director Lin, Officer 332642 reporting for duty.”
Thud… Golden Treasure rolled his eyes back and collapsed without warning. The chair was bolted down, and this guy really could go limp like a noodle, fainting right there.
Damn, he was scared out of his wits! Shen Lingchen and Lin Qizhao couldn’t help but laugh.
Xiao Mu had a method for dealing with people like this. He crouched down and shouted fiercely, “Golden Dog! Brother Five said if you lost the goods, he’ll throw your whole family into the big pool!”
Oh… Yikes… Golden Treasure twitched for a moment before coming back to consciousness, gasping for breath with foam at the mouth, eyes wide with terror as he looked at Xiao Mu. You… you… he stammered for a long time but couldn’t get any words out.
"Do you understand what's going on? Speak up, I'm asking you!" Xiao Mu shouted.
"I understand, I understand," Golden Treasure replied, terrified and nodding his head.
If this person was an undercover cop, it would be the end of the line. Xiao Mu leaned in and said, "Now that you know, don't act foolish. You were secretly captured. I could spread the word that you were caught smuggling goods. Do you believe Brother Five would wipe out your entire family?"
"Ah, no, please... I'm begging you, I didn't do anything. I just helped them with the delivery," Golden Treasure pleaded, grabbing onto Xiao Mu.
"Exactly, your crime isn't that serious. Hurry up and find the main culprit. The goods belong to them; someone like you doesn't have that much power... Sit tight," Xiao Mu said as he helped Golden Treasure into the Interrogation Chair.
At this point, Golden Treasure was already in tears, sobbing uncontrollably as he said, "Oh no... Wood Master, you've really put us in a terrible situation."
"Absolutely not. Brother, I'm taking good care of you. I've already reported to the organization that Pan Shuanglong, Widow Ma, and Mourning Hair are the main culprits. You're just a minor accomplice. You need to bear this; just pretend I didn't say anything," Xiao Mu replied.
The atmosphere was thick with bravado. Shen Lingchen waved his hand and said, "Get out."
"Yes," Xiao Mu replied seriously with a salute. He turned back to the weeping Golden Treasure and shouted, "Why are you crying? If you send them to their doom, you'll have a way out! Hurry up and confess!"
This sudden wake-up call hit Golden Treasure like a bucket of cold water. Wiping his nose and tears away, he stammered, "I'll confess, I'll confess... The goods aren't mine; they're Mourning Hair's... No, no, it's Panzi who brought them back... We were supposed to find a buyer before selling them. Widow Ma is being chased by the police; Brother Five said we can't move the goods for now and should wait until things cool down..."
As Xiao Mu closed the door behind him, Golden Treasure had already plunged into a state of extreme panic, speaking rapidly about everything he knew. Between life and death, everyone understood what choice had to be made.
The swift change in atmosphere felt almost comedic to the other officers present; they were left dumbfounded. Lin Qizhao's subordinates included many skilled individuals, and one who had always admired Xiao Mu pointed at him as he left and exclaimed, "He's a cop!"
"How has your judgment changed again?" Guo Wei asked curiously.
"This trick is very effective; it stirs the suspect's instinct to seek profit and avoid harm, and just like that, it opens up." The officer replied.
"I assure you," Guan Yiqing said seriously, "he... is definitely not a police officer."
But why did that serious expression come with so much absurdity?
After a while, unable to see Xiao Mu on the surveillance, Guan Yiqing anxiously left the room to look for him. Not finding him, she asked a guarding detective who directed her to the Special Interrogation Room. She pushed the door open and froze at the entrance.
Xiao Mu had already taken off his police uniform and neatly folded it. He was gently rubbing his police cap, a rare sight of him being so serious. Guan Yiqing watched for a long time before speaking up, "You seem to have a fixation on being a police officer?"
"Yeah, I do. When I was a kid playing cops and robbers, we all wanted to be the police; no one wanted to be the bad guy," Xiao Mu replied softly.
"Perhaps... you have a chance to become a police officer," Guan Yiqing comforted him.
Xiao Mu turned around, wearing a mysterious smile. Guan Yiqing curiously asked, "What are you laughing about?"
"Actually, a profession is just like a name; it's merely a symbol. If you define life with just one symbol, you lose its original meaning," Xiao Mu said.
"That's hard to understand," Guan Yiqing admitted, momentarily confused.
"It's not hard to understand. It's like being trapped in a city; those outside want to get in, while those inside want to get out. Don't you think that being a police officer can lead to feelings of weariness, frustration, helplessness, or even hatred towards the profession? The theory says you should love what you do, but in reality, doing one thing can hurt your passion for it. A simple profession can restrict your personal development," Xiao Mu explained. It seemed that the Underworld had transformed him into someone different—his actions resembled those of a rogue, yet his words carried an almost prophetic weight.
The psychologist always had a point, even if it was a fallacy that was hard to discern. Guan Yiqing listened to this guy speak, finding some truth in his words. She smiled and said, "Did I just see you wanting to go into the city?"
"Just like you want to leave the city," Xiao Mu replied with a grin.
"Oh please, here we go again." Guan Yiqing knew Xiao Mu's tricks all too well.
"Don't underestimate my methods; I've honed them to perfection through experience. Want to give it a try? I can make you convinced in under a minute," Xiao Mu said.
"Wow, you've really improved at bragging," Guan Yiqing exclaimed, surprised. Compared to their first meeting, he seemed even more infuriating now.
"Let's put it to the test. First off, your childhood was quite unfortunate," Xiao Mu declared. At his bold statement, Guan Yiqing shot him a glare. Realizing he had overstepped, Xiao Mu quickly added, "But happier than most."
"I can tell you grew up in an ordinary family with average means. A girl raised in poverty like you would be quite reserved, which indicates you had a strict and stern father who knew how to educate his children... Your restrained personality suggests you probably had a gentle, even submissive mother... I could even guess your father's profession... strict and stern, perhaps someone in law enforcement or a public servant, maybe a teacher... Am I right? Is he a teacher?" Xiao Mu asked. When he mentioned "teacher," he noticed a flicker of recognition on Guan Yiqing's face.
Once again, Guan Yiqing was taken aback by this charlatan. She stared blankly, completely unaware that her expression was the answer he sought.
"Silence means I’ll take it as an acknowledgment. Actually, there's been a secret I've wanted to share with you," Xiao Mu continued.
Still lost in surprise, Guan Yiqing mechanically asked, "What is it?"
"I can see that you once looked down on me, even hated me. But now, I feel like you've moved past that discomfort and might actually like me?" Xiao Mu said with a smile. Guan Yiqing pursed her lips and made a disgusted face. Xiao Mu chuckled and said, "The secret I want to tell you is that..."
Unintentionally, Xiao Mu used his words to bridge the gap between them, getting closer and closer while lowering his voice. Caught off guard, Guan Yiqing didn’t realize they had crossed into unsafe territory until she barely heard him whisper the secret: I’ve fallen for you.
Guan Yiqing's face flushed bright red. Then, even more infuriatingly, Xiao Mu leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. Startled by the sudden attack, she snapped back to reality and swung her hand at him. Xiao Mu ducked just in time to avoid it. In retaliation, Guan Yiqing kicked out her leg and sent him tumbling to the ground before storming off in anger.
"Oops, I misjudged."
Xiao Mu sat on the ground, laughing cheerfully. The mistake didn’t matter; what was important was that he hadn’t missed.
This little incident went unnoticed as Golden Treasure continued to provide information like beans spilling from a bamboo tube. The revelations were like a series of stimulants, exciting the officers involved in the case to the point of exhilaration.
The subsequent Police Force quickly followed up. At 8:40 PM, a team led by Captain Xu Fei of Ten Squad met with Guard Chen Shaoyang at Commercial Street. The discovery of stolen goods here had already alarmed higher-ups, and Binhai was adjusting its deployment and reallocating the Police Force.
Meanwhile, Golden Treasure's statements, along with the emergence of theft suspects, had also stirred up excitement within the task force. The Provincial Supervisory Office ordered Director Zheng Kegong of the Criminal Investigation Bureau to lead a team to Suzhou and Hangzhou to oversee the progress of this case. By 9 PM, a secret operation to capture four suspects from Binhai had already commenced.
At 9:30 PM, Director Zheng arrived at the Criminal Investigation Division Five in Suzhou and Hangzhou with key members of the task force. They traveled in two transport vehicles, keeping things low-key; for confidentiality reasons, over forty officers were packed tightly inside the two vehicles.
At that moment, Shen Lingchen and Lin Qizhao quietly left Fifth Squad with Xiao Mu...
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