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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 126: Cross-Border Pursuit 10
A police car sped into the Criminal Investigation Division Five, screeching to a halt and splashing water everywhere. The driver jumped out and hurried toward the Division through the rain. It was Captain Chen Shaoyang of the Criminal Investigation Team Five. As soon as he stepped into the foyer, he froze for a moment. Squad Leader Xiao Zhuoli, City Bureau Director Liu Wenqing, and Political Commissar He Zhuangzhi were all looking at him seriously, as if waiting for him.
This was bad. Acting without authorization and opening the Armory could get him several years in prison. Even if it was Shen Lingchen who led him here, such actions were strictly forbidden.
"Is he Chen Shaoyang?" someone from the Provincial Department asked curiously.
The Squad Leader, Director, and Political Commissar nodded. Xiao Zhuoli, his direct superior, spoke with frustration: "This is Comrade from the Provincial Department. Shaoyang, how could you get into trouble again? The incident with Ma Yubing hasn’t even settled yet, and now you’ve opened the Armory during your suspension. Do you know what kind of behavior this is?"
"I know," Chen Shaoyang replied defiantly. "Please punish me as the organization sees fit."
"Merit is merit, and fault is fault. Don’t think that just because you found a black hideout, it can cover up your mistakes," the Director said angrily.
It felt like a reprimand in front of the Provincial Department representatives, making a show of authority. The Political Commissar prompted him, "Shaoyang, how could you be so bold? Who gave you this information?"
He hoped to share the blame with someone else to lighten his punishment, but Chen Shaoyang was stubborn. He straightened his back and said, "No one. I found the leads myself—Ma Yubing, He Shi, Mao Shiping—I’ve been watching them for years. If I don’t bring them to justice, I won’t have the face to wear this police uniform again."
"I'm afraid you'll have the face but no chance to wear it," Xiao Zhuoli said bitterly.
That chance might be slipping away. Two officers in white helmets approached and reached for Chen Shaoyang's gun and equipment. They turned back to consult each other, seemingly unsure whether to put handcuffs on him or not. The representatives from the Provincial Department remained noncommittal and directly asked, "Chen Shaoyang, let’s set aside your disciplinary issues for now. I just want to ask you one thing: The Toy Store was compromised. Besides personnel directly under the Provincial Department's command, you were in control all along. How did the information leak… Why were there assailants from the other side targeting informants in Cangji, resulting in one dead and one severely injured?"
"What? You suspect me?" Chen Shaoyang shouted angrily, his fury boiling over as two inspectors restrained him.
"The local Police Force only had you in the loop; who else should I suspect? Do you really think Deputy Commissioner Shen trusts you so much that he would share important case information with you?" a representative from the Provincial Department said bluntly, implying that Shen Lingchen had long suspected him.
Several hawk-like gazes fixed on Chen Shaoyang as he spat angrily through gritted teeth: "So this is how it is? You think I'm playing tricks? I damn well… don’t know."
"Put the handcuffs on him." The representatives from the Provincial Department were no longer polite. Two inspectors cuffed Chen Shaoyang, who continued to curse under his breath. As they turned to leave, several leaders from Suzhou and Hangzhou followed closely behind, entering the temporary command center. They exchanged formal greetings without any unnecessary formalities, and a thick stack of documents was handed to Director Liu. The Provincial Department sternly informed the Suzhou and Hangzhou officials:
"An insider has already led to the death of one of our Red Line Informants. This matter is now in your hands. You have 24 hours to uncover the truth, especially within your jurisdiction, to determine if there are any hidden suspects still at large."
Their attitude was cold and indifferent. The group hurriedly took their leave, escorting Chen Shaoyang away while four inspectors from the Provincial Department followed closely behind. This was a very uncompromising approach, pressuring them for results.
The Director, Political Commissar, and Squad Leader shared a vehicle as they passed by numerous sentry posts and saw police cars frequently coming and going. Recognizing the license plates, Director Liu flipped through the materials with a weary expression and said, "The theft case in Binhai has all fallen into our hands... and now we've lost a Red Line Informant. I fear my time as director is coming to an end."
"The urgent task is to clarify Chen Shaoyang's situation. If he is indeed an insider, we might all be finished," the Political Commissar replied.
"What should we do? He's one of our own; are we supposed to interrogate him? I watched him rise to the position of captain," Squad Leader Xiao Zhuoli said, looking troubled.
"You're being foolish; this is actually quite generous of us. If they bring in outside officers to interrogate him, how will we explain that?" Director Liu retorted sharply, waving his hand. "We'll handle it ourselves at the brigade."
Anger and anxiety filled the air. With outside officers involved, they swiftly uncovered two cases of stolen goods within hours, leaving the local Police Force embarrassed. The Political Commissar glanced at some documents illuminated by his phone's light and exclaimed in surprise, "Chen Shaoyang has already been suspended? How could he have such audacity?"
"Shen Lingchen was reassigned; the Provincial Department must have suspected him early on," Director Liu explained.
"But what about his informant, Xu Gang? Isn't he also missing?" the Political Commissar asked again.
"We can't rule out that he might be crying thief while stealing a bell himself. If he has colluded with criminal organizations, he could betray even his own people; what does an informant matter then?" Xiao Zhuoli replied.
Inside the vehicle, several heavy sighs were heard.
The convoy headed straight for the brigade. The Provincial Department had placed all local Police Force personnel under strict orders not to leave their posts, gathering all mobile police units at the brigade. They hurriedly escorted Chen Shaoyang into the building, where Squad Leader handled the questioning. Once he was taken inside, four inspectors stood guard at the door.
Chen Shaoyang sat in the chair, his belongings being searched one by one. Two leaders from the bureau observed as Xiao Zhuoli awkwardly spoke, "Shaoyang, let's be honest here. Violating discipline is a minor issue that can be handled internally; but if you betray the organization, that's a serious matter... So tell me, what exactly happened?"
"I didn't do anything! A contact of mine died, and now you want to find someone to blame? I'm just unlucky; how is this related to me?" Chen Shaoyang retorted angrily.
"Adjust your attitude," Liu Director reprimanded, slamming down the documents. He clasped his hands together and said earnestly, "You need to recognize the situation. The major case that caused a stir in Binhai yesterday has led us to recover stolen goods and resulted in the death of an important informant. Do you really think the Provincial Department will let this slide? Don't harbor any illusions. After all these years of training by the organization, where has your party spirit gone? Where are your principles?"
Chen Shaoyang was left speechless by the scolding. Xiao Zhuoli continued on the topic, softening his tone, "You've been a veteran detective for a long time; I won't waste words. If you wait for evidence to be uncovered piece by piece before you explain, don't you think it will be too late?"
With several pairs of eyes fixed on him and the recording device running, private conversations were no longer possible. Knowing he couldn't escape this predicament, Chen Shaoyang hung his head in despair and said, "Don't push me. If there’s no evidence, I won’t answer any questions."
His expression suggested he was prepared to resist until the end. The Political Commissar slammed his hand on the table and shouted angrily, "What kind of attitude is that? After being a detective for so many years, you've learned to act like a suspect who doesn't fear interrogation. Tell me, how many times have you violated discipline?"
"The budget office barely releases half of what it should; ask those team leaders if anyone hasn't violated discipline!" Chen Shaoyang shot back.
"You..." The Political Commissar was momentarily speechless, glaring at him.
The atmosphere grew tense with shouts and arguments echoing throughout the room; it seemed this person would not be easy to interrogate.
…………………………
…………………………
Lin Qizhao and Shen Lingchen arrived at Wugui Cove around three in the morning. The scene was quite spectacular; remnants of burning flames lingered as several assault boats surrounded a suspect's vessel in the sea, rocking with each wave. Fishing boats had been pulled ashore by SWAT teams using ropes, while countless police cars crowded along the shoreline.
"Impressive! I haven't seen such an exhilarating scene in years," Shen Lingchen remarked as he got out of the car. Lin Qizhao quickly opened an umbrella for the Political Commissar. Shen Lingchen chuckled and said, "Wait a minute; you're ranked higher than I am. I should be holding the umbrella for you."
"You're mocking me again. After this case, I will publicly announce that I, Lin Qizhao, am the disciple of Deputy Commissioner Shen. You are my master," Lin Qizhao said humbly.
"Forget it. The one lying inside there, I considered him my master, but he has already expelled me from his school," Shen Lingchen gestured toward the ambulance that had arrived with Xiao Mu inside. Lin Qizhao smiled and said, "It's not embarrassing; tonight, he is our deity."
"Indeed, we have been a bit narrow-minded, always thinking we are experienced experts. But how can you understand the mindset of these suspects when you sit in an office... like them," Shen Lingchen continued as they walked.
Those people were the ones who had turned the tide tonight, gathered in a group, while the arrested individuals were guarded by SWAT officers with their weapons drawn. The onlookers seemed ready to pounce at any moment.
Entering the secured area, Lin Qizhao displayed his identification. The on-site commander approached and reported, "We just towed in the fishing boat; there are eleven arrested individuals on board, and we are preparing to count the seized goods... Director Lin, there is a small issue."
"Are you referring to those people?" Lin Qizhao asked, gesturing toward those waiting in the rain.
"Yes. When we escorted them down, this group rushed forward wanting to fight... Oh dear, what kind of heinous act did this guy commit? If it weren't for the Police Force, they would have beaten him to death," the on-site commander said with a hint of lingering fear.
"We're here for that reason," Lin Qizhao reassured him.
The commander was about to mention how difficult these individuals were to handle when he noticed Shen Lingchen searching for someone. It was easy to find; the person closest to the security line was holding a short stick and seemed ready to attack the police car at any moment.
Tonight, he was the main character—Big Gourd, Hu Yiming.
This guy was already in tattered clothes but looked fierce enough to intimidate the SWAT team as if they were facing a formidable enemy. The on-site commander whispered, "If I didn't know they were signaling us, we would have likely taken action by now."
"It's fine; today he stands with us," Lin Qizhao comforted.
Shen Lingchen patted Big Gourd on the shoulder. Big Gourd slowly turned around and asked bluntly, "What do you want?"
"Follow me," Shen Lingchen said as he turned around.
"I need to keep an eye on you, in case you take the Black Money and let Li Derli go... I know him; he was with Golden Treasure," Big Gourd replied seriously, now filled with an unparalleled sense of justice, so much so that he didn't even trust the police.
"Xiao Mu is here; he wants to see you," Shen Lingchen said without looking back.
Those words seemed to have an invisible magic. Big Gourd threw down his belongings and rushed after him, almost sticking to Shen Lingchen's side, urging him, "Where is he? Where is he? If you dare to lie to me, I'll throw you into the sea... Anyway, I've lost my brother and I'm tired of living."
Finally witnessing this stubbornness, Shen Lingchen pointed to the ambulance. Big Gourd pushed him aside and hurriedly climbed aboard.
Lin Qizhao quickly pulled Shen Lingchen up and said with a smile, "Master, I really admire you for raising such a Commander of the Underworld."
Old Shen was covered in mud, left with only a bitter smile.
Big Gourd reached the front of the vehicle and knocked on the door. When it opened, Guan Yiqing's face appeared under the lights. He was momentarily stunned and said, "Damn, I thought the first time I saw you, you wouldn't look like that chick's lackey. Turns out you're in a Striped Uniform."
"I thought you were just a useless punk too, but after today, that's no longer the case," Guan Yiqing said as he extended his hand to pull him in.
Feeling so generous made Big Gourd a bit shy. He climbed into the car, hunched over, and sat down on the short bench beside Xiao Mu. Concerned, he pressed on, "Don't worry... as long as you're okay..."
"I'm fine," Xiao Mu replied but then fell silent.
Big Gourd also had nothing more to say. Tears began to flow as he sobbed, gripping Xiao Mu's hand tightly. "Brother, Er Er is gone... I... I miss him... I miss him..."
"I miss him too..." Xiao Mu couldn't hold back his tears any longer. He comforted Big Gourd, saying, "Stop crying; Er Er would laugh at you for being so weak... Promise me a few things; otherwise, I won't be able to rest easy."
"Well, you speak," Big Gourd said, wiping away tears and nodding.
"Liu Yang is still in the hospital; you all should go see him more often," Xiao Mu said.
"Okay, I understand," Big Gourd replied.
"Erhu Lu... when I come back, we'll work together," he couldn't help but add.
"Yes, let's go together," Big Gourd said through his tears.
"Promise me, no more fighting and killing. Just be honest at Zhengmin Road and collect what you can. If you can't collect anything, then spend less... Just like we said when we returned, we won't let others bully us, nor will we bully anyone else... alright?" Xiao Mu said.
"Mm-hmm." Big Gourd wiped his tears, his voice trembling as he responded.
"Go now, let everyone head back. Just tell them that we'll repay this favor for Erhu... go on," Xiao Mu said weakly.
"Okay... take care, brother. Come back soon. These police have been giving us a lot of trouble; they don't trust us..." Big Gourd cried.
"Go now... I know. Wait for me to return... ah," Xiao Mu waved his hand.
Big Gourd hesitated for a long time, wiping his tears repeatedly and turning back three times as he got out of the car. He looked at Xiao Mu on the hospital bed and gently closed the car door behind him.
This was like a signal; just as I needed a spark, light flared up. With Big Gourd's return to the group, those people began to slowly disperse, some in threes or fives, others in pairs, cramming into broken-down cars or squeezing into tricycles. Before long, not a single person was left.
"Wow, who are those people in the car?" the on-site commander stared in disbelief, unsure what kind of magic was in the ambulance that had tamed these individuals.
"You're in charge now. The team from Binhai will arrive shortly. No one is allowed to approach this area without confirmation from the Provincial Project Team," Lin Qizhao commanded.
"Understood," the Commander replied, saluting as he watched the two depart.
The two convoys paused briefly before driving off, curiously heading in the direction of Binhai.
This was done for confidentiality, and only familiar personnel were aware of the situation. At that moment, a command center was being relocated. The true core of the entire project team was already here, hidden within the ambulance escorted by two police cars.
Inside the vehicle, Guo Wei and Guan Yiqing were calming their emotions. They couldn't understand why they were moved by someone like Big Gourd. Their eyes were red, and Guan Yiqing leaned over to Xiao Mu's bedside and asked, "Do you want some water?"
"No, thank you," Xiao Mu shook his head. Guan Yiqing took a tissue and gently wiped away the tears on his face. Xiao Mu looked at her with tenderness in his eyes and softly said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Guo Wei chimed in for Guan Yiqing, earning him an eye roll from her. He then quietly asked Xiao Mu, "Mu, I've always been curious about something."
"You find it strange why they follow my orders so obediently? It's simple; they see me as a brother," Xiao Mu replied.
"Brother?" Guo Wei frowned at the term.
"Yes. There's a saying: 'If a ruler treats his subjects like brothers, they will regard him as their confidant; if he treats them like dirt, they will see him as an enemy.' I might have unintentionally earned their respect because I don't care much about money... What they seek is just three meals a day and a little pocket change. No one sees them as human; anyone who shows them even a bit of kindness will be held in high regard in their hearts," Xiao Mu explained.
Perhaps it was indeed unintentional kindness, but now those actions had become a source of concern for him. Guan Yiqing softly remarked, "This is a matter of mutual understanding; it can't be faked. He Shi actually lost without injustice; he always viewed these people merely as tools for making money."
"That's right," Xiao Mu smiled.
"Oh? Why do you always praise her?" Guo Wei teased, trying to create a lighthearted atmosphere.
Xiao Mu turned her gaze towards him and explained, "Women are foolish because they possess great wisdom; while you are foolish because you think too highly of yourself."
"Oh, my life has been tough enough. Can you please stop bringing me down?" Guo Wei replied with a smile. He looked at Xiao Mu and asked, "Mu, once you're better, I want to learn psychology from you... I can't imagine how dazzling a police star you would be in a uniform."
"You’re mistaken. If I were a police officer, I would be just as mediocre as you... What I know is not because I'm particularly smart, but simply because I am closer to them," Xiao Mu said softly.
It was the truth, yet why did her words carry such a sense of sadness?
The car suddenly came to a halt midway. After stopping, Lin Qizhao and Shen Lingchen entered through the back door and sat inside as they continued their journey back to Binhai. Both of them seemed to be focused on the case at hand. Shen Lingchen asked with concern, "Mu, can you hold on?"
Looking at Shen Lingchen's arm wrapped in bandages, Xiao Mu smiled and said, "I can hold on; go ahead."
"Currently, the interrogation of Li Derli has begun right at the scene. It will take some time... Binhai has already taken action. Anyone related to Golden Cauldron or Mao Ye Investment Guarantee will be summoned by the police before dawn. The questioning plan will be formulated by the task force, and it will definitely commence before dawn... There’s one more thing," Shen Lingchen said, hesitating slightly.
Lin Qizhao spoke directly, "It's about Rong Wu. He must have gotten wind of this and fled. Can you confirm that he won't leave Binhai? Also, what you mentioned about finding Rong Ying to lure Rong Wu is really..."
It's quite underhanded, but Xiao Mu remained unfazed and said, "Trust me, this is the only way to find him; otherwise, we might not catch him at all."
If they couldn't catch him, then the theft case and the leaks within the police would remain a mystery. Shen Lingchen reluctantly said, "You say we can find him but also that we can't catch him; that seems contradictory."
"A person with antisocial personality traits often exhibits contradictory thoughts and actions. They try to blend into their surroundings while simultaneously resenting the suffering society brings them; they attempt to prove that everything they do is right, yet the only person they cannot convince is themselves... Human nature is inherently contradictory, and this conflict is even more intense in someone with antisocial traits," Xiao Mu explained. She looked at everyone; Guo Wei was the most straightforward and voiced his confusion: "I didn't understand."
Guan Yiqing chuckled while Lin Qizhao stared wide-eyed and said, "I didn’t understand either."
"It's simple: knowing it's a dead end yet still wanting to crash into a wall; knowing it's dangerous yet trying to turn danger into safety; knowing that running away would be safer but unable to let go of their burdens—returning to a state of having nothing is something not everyone can accept," Xiao Mu concluded.
"Then you say you can't catch them?" Lin Qizhao expressed some disbelief, underestimating the police.
Xiao Mu, however, smiled and countered, "He Shi is a classic example of antisocial behavior. Have you managed to catch him?"
Oh... Understood. Xiao Mu was conveying an undeniable truth: just because these individuals break the law does not mean anyone can bring them to justice. Their lawbreaking and refusal to comply are manifestations of their antisocial nature.
In the carriage, no one asked further questions; instinctively, they felt this judgment was likely correct.
At four o'clock in the morning, the vehicle was still on the road. The summons in Binhai had already begun, with all branches and district police stations fully mobilized. The mobile numbers and bank accounts of Rong Wu, Nie Qifeng, and Li Derli, along with leads gathered from peripheral investigations, had resulted in everyone involved being summoned to the police unit. Friends among the police who usually acted brotherly had completely turned hostile; there was no chance for leniency. Those who made excuses not to come were directly handcuffed. Panic spread throughout Binhai's lending and private equity industries as everyone exchanged calls asking one question:
Who else has run off with debts?
At four forty in the morning, at a high-end club, the Dongjiang District Police Station finally caught the main suspect. The Provincial Department directed the summons of a suspect that left Branch officers astonished—a delicate young woman was engaged in an all-night mahjong battle with several well-dressed ladies when the police broke in. She was the first to erupt in curses.
Her phone number had been technically located, eliminating the need for a reason for summoning; she was taken away for illegal gambling.
Her name was Rong Ying.
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