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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 125: Cross-Border Pursuit 9
The phone rang, and in the hospital room, everyone's ears perked up. Xiao Mu of Little Sleep suddenly opened his eyes. He answered the call, and the sound of wind and rain made Big Gourd's voice unclear. "Brother, there's a boat... someone saw lights around Wugui Cove."
"Make sure of it, set a fire," Xiao Mu replied, as if he had been waiting for the command. Once the order was given, his entire arm dropped down, and he seemed to slump, his tense body relaxing.
Guo Wei was checking the map while Shen Lingchen and Lin Qizhao watched. Guo Wei pointed out, "This should be a smuggling landing point; there have been several captures of smugglers in this area."
"It's over twenty kilometers from the dock; we might miss our chance to intercept. If they board from here, they can leave the country in less than an hour..." He picked up the phone and called the Coastal Patrol Team. The satellite phone crackled with static due to bad weather as he spoke, "Lin Department Head, the winds are strong and the sea is dark. Without an accurate location, we can't intercept... We haven't spotted any suspicious vessels; most have received weather notifications and have docked."
"Have them patrol nearby; they'll soon see a clear position," Xiao Mu suddenly said.
Everyone looked at him in confusion. Shen Lingchen asked in disbelief, "Set a fire? In this weather?"
"It will happen; there will be a bright flame. Li Derli is an old thief and should have the ability to evade pursuit. By now, he should be close to shore. Those smugglers will have special ways to communicate," Xiao Mu said, his expression unreadable yet profound.
Lin Qizhao was stunned for a moment; he had no choice but to believe. He informed over the phone, "Approach Wugui Cove; I'll send you the coordinates shortly... Action Signal: Firelight."
"All checkpoint personnel, obey: Order to approach Wugui Cove... Action Signal: Firelight."
Firelight... Firelight.
A strange term appeared on the police communication devices stationed at different locations and on the project team's communication hub. Meanwhile, the incessant rain continued to fall on this damp and cold night—could there really be firelight?
Firelight... Firelight.
On Xiao Mu's face, a sickly flush appeared as if a spark was reflecting in front of him, faintly illuminating his eyes. He murmured, "Everyone has a bit of firelight in their hearts; it can either illuminate others or consume oneself. Thus, noble and vile endings emerge differently. Now, it's time to put an end to this."
More than forty people did not understand, and Lin Qizhao said, "The recent capture failed; Rong Wu has already escaped."
"He won't get far. There is a spark of fire burning within him that will destroy him."
Xiao Mu remarked, quietly closing his eyes as if entering a mysterious state. A brutal battle had left his body weak, yet his mind had never experienced such clarity.
Time pointed to twelve fifteen…
Li Derli crouched low, gazing at the sea. A dim yellow light, resembling a ghostly flame, swayed with the waves. He opened his satellite phone, dialing a number to guide the boat to dock. The call signal was poor, but he managed to connect. The fishing boat changed course and headed toward him.
He let out a sigh of relief; the thrill of surviving felt like a climax, causing his entire body to tremble. As he neared the shore, he removed his outer clothing and swam from beneath the rocks, donning a life jacket. He activated the signal light on his body. Gradually, he floated with the water's ebb and flow toward the boat.
The waves were high, and that flickering light stood out starkly against the dark sea. In such weather, only those with excellent swimming skills would dare take the risk.
"Damn it, that's him; there's no mistake."
"Don't take risks; Gourd Brother has already been killed. They have guns."
"Who’s taking risks? Get closer; it's too far to shoot."
"Get to that rock and shoot down from above..."
A group of shadows raced along the shore with the tide, heading towards the fishing boat. Some carried large jars, others wielded thick clubs, and a few tucked bottles under their arms. As they reached a high point on the rocks, one of them waved a bottle and lit a lighter, placing it on a stone. A burly figure swung the thick club wrapped in cloth and struck it hard, sending a flaming Molotov cocktail soaring into the sky, arcing towards the fishing boat.
Thud… it fell into the sea.
“Damn it, let’s do it again.”
With another loud bang, another bottle smashed onto the fishing boat, igniting a fire instantly. However, several shadows on the boat quickly extinguished the flames. The crew was shouting and cursing, but the attackers paid no mind. A few of them stripped down almost completely, dousing themselves in gasoline as they ignited a roaring fire. They lit up signal flares while throwing bottles that either landed on the deck or over the side. Soon, the fishing boat was illuminated like stars flickering to life before being snuffed out again, its flames dancing like candlelight in the wind, becoming the brightest beacon in the night.
Flames… flames…
As this flicker of fire ignited, countless tricycles, two-wheelers, and vans rushed towards the scene. They didn’t even have time to get close before they started lighting up. Barrels of gasoline were set ablaze; with a kick, flames erupted along the shore only to be doused by waves, then reignited again. In the rainy night, the flickering flames shone exceptionally bright.
Flames… flames…
Another truck loaded with alien weapons arrived—small flying devices about the size of washbasins. Though they looked like toys, they could be remotely controlled to fly several dozen meters and became deadly weapons in this specific environment. Guided by remote controls, one after another, these flying machines carrying burning strips of gasoline soared towards their targets. Some exploded mid-air; others detonated upon hitting the deck or side of the boat, unleashing bursts of flames that were difficult to extinguish—more stubborn than gasoline itself.
Flames… flames…
The increasingly bright firelight revealed Big Gourd running desperately through the rain. He slipped but got back up and continued to run. He cried out in anguish; he shouted and roared as he envisioned Erhu Lu's treacherous smirk before him. He couldn’t remember how many times they had been captured or beaten, but he knew that even amidst humiliation and disdain, scavenging through trash together felt sweet.
They relied on each other; together they were home.
But now, that home was shattered. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably as he mourned for his brother—the one who always fought with him, who was inseparable from him—who would never return.
He cried out and ran desperately towards the direction of the flames as if Erhu Lu were waiting for him there.
Flames... flames...
The Coastal Patrol Team excitedly reported over the Satellite Phone, "Flames, we see flames, very bright flames."
In a speeding police car, someone was relaying the information through a walkie-talkie, "Flames, we see flames, extremely bright."
"Flames... we see them, heading to the scene..."
"Flames... we see them... fishing boats, we see them."
The last stretch of swimming became a desperate struggle. Li Derli was nearly exhausted, and the increasingly bright flames behind him filled him with dread. The chaos on the boat ahead felt apocalyptic. Even now, bottles engulfed in flames were flying toward the vessel, turning it into a glaring target. When he finally reached the side of the boat, he could faintly hear the sound of police sirens.
"Quick... pull me up!"
He shouted from the water, tugging at the rope that was already catching fire. Those incendiary bottles posed no real threat to the boat; the true danger lay in their exposed position. The crew scrambled to pull him aboard. Just as he stepped onto the deck, a bottle smashed against his head with a loud clang, igniting a patch of flames. In his panic, he tore off his outer clothing and life vest, but the fire continued to burn fiercely.
"What the hell is this?" Li Derli exclaimed in terror.
"It's a gasoline-based compound adhesive. If it weren't for this heavy rain, it would have burned down the boat... Boss, who did you mess with? Look at how many people are coming," the Captain said while directing a turn.
Li Derli turned back to see more people gathering on the shore just dozens of meters away. Further out, police lights flickered through the night like stars; he had no idea how many had arrived. Gritting his teeth, he cursed, "Damn it, those dogs raised by Old Cripple have finally turned on us... Let's get out of here."
"Where to go, Boss? If we get spotted by the police, we're finished," the Captain replied.
"Nonsense! The stuff I have on this boat is worth more than ten of your boats combined... Head toward the public Sea; I have backup waiting," Li Derli said nervously.
Just as Captain was about to remind everyone that it might be difficult to escape, a sharp alarm echoed across the sea. Dozens of searchlights from the Coast Guard illuminated the waters, and several speedboats sliced through the waves like a school of barracuda hunting their prey, racing toward the fishing boat.
"This is the Coastal Patrol Team. Fishing vessel 2301, immediately stop your ship and prepare for inspection..."
The repeated voice announced that the escape route had reached its end.
The speedboats surrounding the vessel advanced along its side. A shot fired from the boat was quickly silenced by a hail of bullets as the Armed Police began their forced boarding...
...
...
Officers rushing to the scene reported back on this unusual sight. It was unclear how many people were involved or how many vehicles were present, but what was clear was the overwhelming blaze of gunfire. Under the glow of the flames, the fishing boat was exposed, trapped between land and sea with no way to escape.
"Firelight, firelight... this is the light of justice, but unfortunately, it is not our doing," said Chen Dingli from the Provincial Supervisory Office. The command center was stunned by the images transmitted from the scene; they had not anticipated such a significant commotion arising from one informant.
"Let’s call this case 'Firelight.' Perhaps it can illuminate some of our past oversights and suspects who slipped through our fingers," Zheng Kegong remarked, feeling a mix of emotions.
"How's it looking at the hospital? Check on that," Deputy Director Yan reminded those involved in the case. Someone made a phone call while he paced thoughtfully, resting his chin on his hand. He then addressed the other two: "I agree with using this code name, and I suggest we bring this informant into our task force. We shouldn't worry about his identity; he has been following the major Pyramid Scheme case in Shaanxi Province closely, and no one knows these suspects better than he does."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
The opinions were surprisingly unanimous; even doubts were conquered by the overwhelming blaze of fire.
At that moment, a liaison from the hospital reported, "Director Zheng, Director Lin suggested that we cover the medical expenses for one of the injured civilians from the Cangji incident, and also arrange the funeral for another who has died..."
"Agreed," the three Commanders replied in unison.
...
"The higher-ups have approved it."
Lin Qizhao quietly sat beside Xiao Mu, placing the video feed from the scene in front of him. He occasionally observed Xiao Mu's changing expressions—whether they were smiles, relief, or even that kind of expected look.
Yet, it was precisely this situation that made both him and Shen Lingchen feel anxious. This guy had learned who knows how much in the Underworld; if the same methods were not applied in this context, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"You’re already worried about how to appease them, aren’t you?" Xiao Mu asked softly.
"Yes, the report from the scene said over two hundred people showed up. How did so many gather? I had no idea you had this many," Shen Lingchen replied.
"I don’t; it’s Big Gourd and Erhu Lu who do. Those two are not very reliable; they can’t save a dime. They don’t save any money at all, but they’ve managed to make so many friends—probably even they themselves don’t realize it," Xiao Mu said.
It was a sorrowful topic. Lin Qizhao shifted the conversation, saying, "I’ll convey the opinions of the project team leaders. They hope you can follow this case closely. If you have any requests, feel free to mention them."
"No," Xiao Mu said, exhaling deeply, speaking calmly and resolutely. "Just like you police enforce the law, sometimes public outrage can turn into personal vendetta, becoming an obsession in your hearts. Now, I am experiencing that too."
"The next step is to capture Rong Wu and interrogate Li Derli simultaneously. We need to catch one while the other is exposed," Lin Qizhao suggested, as if seeking the opinion of a superior.
Unfortunately, the suggestion was misguided. Xiao Mu shook his head. "Wrong. If you do that, you'll be chasing after the tail of a car, ending up with mud on your face."
"What do you mean?" Shen Lingchen asked, now cautious not to dismiss Xiao Mu's opinion. This person had proven insightful on both micro and macro levels, seemingly no less capable than an experienced officer.
"What I mean is, why have you been avoiding Brother Five? With such a commotion, he won't be oblivious to it," Xiao Mu explained.
"We need evidence... We have to obtain evidence. Nie Qifeng is still in surgery, and Li Derli probably won't confess anytime soon. Rong Wu is on the run; we currently lack even the evidence to arrest him—it's only a criminal summons for now," Shen Lingchen replied.
"Just now, there was news that Brother Five once saved You Bisheng from these people..." Xiao Mu reminded them.
"Right, I remember now." Shen Lingchen slapped his forehead and continued, "The last time I saw You Bisheng, he said something strange: 'You're a good cop. It's a pity that if I had met someone like you earlier, maybe I wouldn't have ended up like this.' He said he could only hate those bad people and could never understand why they were so evil."
"Exactly. He was actually giving you the answer," Xiao Mu stated.
"The answer... Does this person have a connection to You Bisheng's past?" Shen Lingchen pondered aloud. But that too posed a challenge; someone like You Bisheng mostly interacted with the police.
"There’s another person who might know the answer... Chen Shaoyang," Xiao Mu added.
Lin Qizhao paused for a moment before connecting the dots. Chen Shaoyang had crossed paths with You Bisheng and was also linked to the Suzhou and Hangzhou case involving Ma Yubing. A cross-comparison could reveal the most suspicious individual. That person was a deeply hidden malignancy, likely more harmful than Rong Wu.
In this situation, Guo Wei dared not speak up; he knew that what would ultimately surface might be an outcome no one wished to see.
"Notify Chen Shaoyang to report to the project team immediately... Yi Qing, pull out all the case files for You Bisheng, compare them one by one with the investigating officers and the locations of incarceration."
Shen Lingchen whispered briefly with Lin Qizhao before giving the order. He stood up and glanced at Xiao Mu. At this moment, returning to the project team seemed inappropriate; the operation by the seaside was still ongoing.
"Actually, we can set this aside for now. When I was in school, I learned from a professor that every case has its own character. Each case will, intentionally or unintentionally, embed traits of the suspect's personality at certain points, like a special identifier. If you see through it, everything else becomes easy to recognize," Xiao Mu said.
The Leftover Crowd listened intently as he continued, "Two years ago in the Theft Case, Pan Shuanglong was identified as an outsider; he wasn't skilled at breaking into insurance cabinets. Song Lijuan was also unaware and was another outsider. It's likely that those who were tracking were also outsiders; they had no idea a crime was about to happen and were being used as a protective layer for the operation... This method features layers of suspected targets that conceal the real culprits so deeply that even if you investigate, you only find unrelated individuals. Moreover, once you start investigating, it alerts them, and they know immediately."
The others absorbed his words. Xiao Mu shifted his focus again and said, "Now look at yesterday's case in Binhai. The five involved came from different places and didn't fully know each other. I was responsible for drafting the plan, but they had already prepared it; they just provided me with a very detailed description of the situation to guide me in creating a seamless action plan... This is actually a strategy that kills multiple birds with one stone: first, it diverts the investigation direction away from Wang Zihua's case; second, even if a resolution is reached, what we find are just a group of unrelated suspects; third, it allows previous cases to be pinned on these individuals."
Shen Lingchen finally spoke up. "We've analyzed this already. What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying what you haven't analyzed: the characteristics of the case. First, they all used layers of concealment to divert investigative attention; second, a scapegoat was designed before the crime took place. Thinking deeper, such individuals are masters of disguise and are hard to detect. Even if you can see through it, you have no evidence to accuse them... This is another manifestation of High-IQ Crime: always standing in the position of an observer."
These words resonated deeply with several officers. Even if they could uncover the truth about this person, capturing them would likely be difficult. Whether it was You Bisheng or Rong Wu and others—could they really leave behind evidence? If there were evidence, You Bisheng would probably be eager to take credit.
"Don't worry; we will investigate thoroughly," Lin Qizhao said somewhat sheepishly.
"No, no, no. You don't understand my point. Whether or not you investigate is your business; I'm only looking at this person's character," Xiao Mu replied. His words were unappealing, but no one dared to ignore them. Shen Lingchen couldn't keep up with his train of thought and asked, "Character? We don't even know who they are; how can you discern their character?"
"Of course! Such highly vigilant individuals often prefer complexity over simplicity. They obsessively perfect every detail and ensure nothing leaks... This is a strength but can sometimes become their flaw," Xiao Mu explained.
"A strength... is also a flaw?" Guo Wei struggled to grasp this concept; he was already overwhelmed by this bizarre case with suspects appearing one after another—who could handle that?
"Exactly! It's like being too clever for your own good. Just like I studied psychology but still can't manage my relationship with my father properly—there's only a thin layer of glass separating genius from foolishness. Once you break through that layer, you realize they're practically an idiot," Xiao Mu said, his eyes lighting up as he began to connect the dots.
A few people remained silent, still trying to figure things out. Shen Lingchen smiled and said, "Don't look at us; we're waiting for you to break through."
"Let's reverse our thinking and simplify things. Since Wang Zihua was arrested, this matter couldn't be kept under wraps anymore. The case is significant, and it will definitely be investigated further. Moreover, it involves the Theft Case project and Old Shen. If Brother Five happens to know you, wouldn't he be losing sleep over it? Not to mention, you've caught Pan Shuanglong and are getting closer to Song Lijuan, peeling away his layers of disguise. Don't you think that would make him anxious? This anxiety could force him to use desperate measures and act recklessly. What do you think his intention is?" Xiao Mu asked.
"What is he trying to hide?" Guan Yiqing blurted out, then felt embarrassed; it was best not to speak in this setting, as it might highlight her lack of insight.
Unable to comprehend, everyone turned to Xiao Mu, who smiled and said, "The simplest truths often come from the most foolish people."
"What do you mean?" Lin Qizhao asked curiously.
"If those stolen goods from two years ago are still around, doesn't everything start to make sense? If they faced some financial issues, wouldn't it be necessary for them to pull off another big job?" Xiao Mu questioned.
Oh… several mouths formed an 'O' shape in excitement, unable to believe yet not daring to dismiss the idea.
This aligned perfectly with Shen Lingchen's judgment, yet the disparity in their identities left Lin Qizhao and the others astonished. Xiao Mu's reasoning seemed even more persuasive than Shen Lingchen's.
"Trust me; the simplest explanation is often the truth. The stolen items were all valuable; they are hard to sell and too precious to destroy. Yet they have surfaced again—holding onto them is like holding a hot potato. How could they not be anxious? When Rong Wu called me over that night, it seemed like he was being urged to replenish his stocks... Check the Stock Market; it soared to five thousand points this year before dropping back down to over three thousand. If Rong Wu is involved, he has even more reason to pull off a big score," Xiao Mu explained.
Guo Wei casually checked his phone and said, "It might be worse; it dropped below three thousand points yesterday. Replenishing stocks... Is he using leverage? That means he’s lost a significant amount of cash."
"This is the breakthrough point. We don't need to find Brother Five or arrest Rong Wu; we just need to summon everyone who has had financial dealings with him. The answers will emerge. The key lies with those involved in borrowing, auctioning, and mortgaging businesses. There’s no need for interrogation; just lay out the facts before them. When faced with bankruptcy or financial loss, they'll make the right choice. They’ve been covering their criminal activities with layers of unspoken rules—doesn't that resemble committing a crime?" Xiao Mu stated.
This was an extremely cunning move that directly undermined their foundation. However, Lin Qizhao and Shen Lingchen exchanged glances and nodded in agreement: "Good plan."
"Don't get hung up on where the evidence is; cast a wide net, and it will reveal itself... Once the stolen goods appear, I'll tell you where Rong Wu is and what he will do," Xiao Mu said slowly.
No one thinks this is a good idea anymore. If it were that effective, the thousands in the Police Force should be embarrassed.
"This is the nature of the police; they always maintain a skeptical attitude towards everything. The coastal operation should be over now, and they should have recovered the stolen goods from yesterday in Binhai. Li Derli must be that Locksmith; he is likely a carefully disguised false identity and probably has a criminal record," Xiao Mu said, his tone growing increasingly confident.
However, it was becoming harder to believe that the stolen goods from yesterday could have been loaded onto a boat in Binhai, brazenly parading around at sea while waiting to transport the hidden loot from Suzhou and Hangzhou. Upon closer inspection, this plan seemed audacious enough to disregard the police entirely.
Yet, the truth appeared to be straightforward. In the midst of their daze, reports from the coastal operation had already appeared in the online records:
At 12:40 AM, an illegal fishing vessel controlled by the Coastal Patrol Team was intercepted, capturing eleven individuals on board, including the recently wanted person Li Derli. Among those apprehended were several individuals illegally possessing firearms. Inside the cabin lay the stolen Antique from Binhai, carelessly tossed in the hold, with even the black plastic bag used during the crime left unopened...
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