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Chapter 128: Cross-Border Pursuit 12
At seven in the morning, in the Suzhou and Hangzhou Criminal Investigation Team office, Squad Leader Xiao Zhuoli irritably slammed his pen down. He glanced at Chen Shaoyang, who was sitting in front of him, leaning back slightly. Director Liu Wenqing and Political Commissar He Zhuangzhi wore equally speechless expressions. It was far more challenging for a police officer to hold their ground than to deal with a suspect, especially with four supervisors from the Provincial Department watching; there was no way to use any tricks.
Chen Shaoyang seemed to have entered a defiant mode. No matter what questions were asked, he remained silent and uncooperative, glaring at his former superiors with hostility. The expression on his face suggested that if he weren't handcuffed, he might have lunged at them.
Indeed, this Criminal Police Captain came from a military background, with both commendable achievements and disgraceful records; he certainly wasn't a model citizen. As daylight broke, Director Liu stifled a yawn and said, "Shaoyang, are you trying to stage a protest against the organization? Just wait until Nie Qifeng finishes surgery and hands you over; I want to see what you have to say then."
"Is this how you treat your superiors and comrades?" Political Commissar He scolded.
Finally, Chen Shaoyang reacted. He rolled his eyes and replied, "I should be asking you that. You handcuff me without any inquiry, merely based on suspicions of leaking information. You’re ready to condemn me without proof."
"Is there any mistake in the Provincial Department's decision?" Xiao Zhuoli reprimanded his subordinate.
"The Provincial Department has made plenty of mistakes. Who knows, maybe they are wrong today too. Don’t you have any doubts at all?" Chen Shaoyang retorted angrily.
"Impudent!" Director Liu shouted.
"Ah, there's no saving him now," Political Commissar He remarked sympathetically.
"You can resist all you want; it’s a dead end. If you come clean about your gang's connections now... You’re putting on quite a show, aren’t you? Did you hire Xu Gang as an informant and then grasp the criminal facts about Ma Yubing and his crew? Did you then turn a blind eye and collude with them?" Xiao Zhuoli questioned.
This was the inevitable path of all corrupt police officers. Chen Shaoyang listened, his face contorted in discomfort. Gritting his teeth, he declared, "Without evidence, I refuse to confess."
Bang… Xiao Zhuoli was furious; he slammed the table and shouted, "By the time evidence surfaces, it will be too late for you to confess."
At Wugui Cove, within the police cordon, a tall figure stood guard in the rain. As the sky gradually brightened, the unique nature of this place became clearer. The shoreline was lined with police cars, and a fishing boat that had drawn the attention of the entire police force continued to sway in the waves, securely tethered by several ropes. Countless busy figures were at the scene, clearing away the contraband caught on the boat.
At the center of this heavy encirclement was a van. Inside, the Interrogator opened a vent on the roof to let in some fresh air. As soon as it was opened, a gust of sea breeze mixed with rain rushed in, bringing a touch of freshness to the stifling space. In one corner of the van, Li Derli took a deep breath, his previously despondent expression now showing a hint of anger.
The contraband on board had been handed to him by Nie Qifeng. He had no idea where it came from or who had stolen it. When asked where it was headed, he mentioned Japan, but he suspected that was just a lie; Japanese authorities were not fond of fishing boats entering their territorial waters. Since midnight, he had shared so much information, but beyond that, he was unclear.
At exactly seven o'clock, the interrogation plan began to shift. The Preliminary Examiner received information from the special task force and changed tactics: "Li Derli... until your identity is officially confirmed, we'll call you Li Derli. Now tell us about your relationship with Lindelong. What happened to that ten million?"
Li Derli's eyes widened in surprise; he became alert.
"Your usury business seems to be doing well. You must have lost quite a bit in the stock market? Did you really think we wouldn't know? You lost money and then took risks by getting involved in such a major case?" another preliminary examiner questioned.
"I swear it's not me! I'm just a transporter; even if you pin this on me, it won't help," Li Derli replied awkwardly.
"Even without pinning it on you, you're still doomed. With a case value of sixty million, I can't see any way out for you... Pan Shuanglong is confessing that part of what they stole was offered up to Brother Five. Sometimes they get people out through Brother Five; it's all connected—someone steals, someone sells stolen goods, someone commits crimes, and someone else helps bail them out," said the Preliminary Examiner.
Li Derli fell silent. Unexpectedly, another examiner chimed in with an even sharper question: "Pan Shuanglong claims you're Brother Five. Want to hear his testimony? Oh right, he's not the only one—Golden Treasure also stated you're his direct contact, Brother Five."
"No, no, no... I’m really not! There’s someone else who’s Brother Five; I don’t have any connections!" Li Derli panicked; if this case identified him as the mastermind, his life would be over.
"You need to show some attitude here. Nie Qifeng is incapacitated and He Shi is dead; who do you think will be identified as the mastermind? Just so you know, I'm not deceiving you—think it through."
"Usually, contraband is handled by someone behind the scenes; it seems like you're the only one left."
The two preliminary examiners teased Li Derli until he could no longer sit still. His lips trembled as he insisted, "It's really not me."
"Then who is it?" one of them pressed.
"I... I don't know," Li Derli whispered.
"Are you saying what we're telling you is nonsense? Oh, here's some new information: the boss of Hongfa Securities, Feng Qingshan, has pointed out that you've used art as collateral and have several stock trading accounts with them. Oh... if you don't add more funds soon, they'll force a liquidation," the Preliminary Examiner said.
This news nearly pushed Li Derli to the brink of collapse. His lips trembled as he muttered to himself, "You reap what you sow... it's all my fault..."
"Let's talk. We're not interested in your sins; we are interested in your crimes... Tell us who Brother Five is, and we'll consider it a contribution," the examiner said casually, feeling unusually relaxed. An interrogation without pressure was a rare occurrence for an Interrogator.
"I really don't know," Li Derli replied.
"Who does know?" the examiner asked.
"Rong Wu knows. Someone like him wouldn't associate with people like us," Li Derli said.
Finally, a crack had opened. The examiner exchanged glances with his partner, and someone remarked, "Oh, I see. Then we'll ask Rong Wu later. We have an idea already; he's just a cop, a bad apple. We'll catch him sooner or later, and then we can introduce you."
Li Derli bit his tongue in frustration, breaking the skin and causing cold sweat to pour down his back. It seemed he knew something after all.
"You squeeze; we'll slowly extract the truth," one of the examiners said.
Another added provocatively, "By the way, let's circle back to that Hongfa Securities matter. You used art as collateral... Two years ago, there was a Theft Case at Xinyuan Community involving Wang Zihua and Kang Zhuang. Those names shouldn't be unfamiliar to you, right?"
Li Derli's eyes widened in shock as he realized the two police officers were watching him like cats playing with a mouse. In that moment, he understood—he was the mouse whose tail was already on fire; no matter how much he struggled, there was no escape.
He fell silent, knowing he had already slipped up. His head banged against the wall of the compartment with enough force to knock himself out in frustration...
The situation was gradually turning around. Pan Shuanglong began to confess, while Li Derli was on the verge of collapse. Nie Qifeng, just out of surgery, still clung to his silence, but he could no longer stop the unraveling of his former circle of friends. This gang, primarily engaged in fencing, usury, and theft, was beginning to reveal its sinister nature.
There were few who offered help in times of need; many were eager to kick someone when they were down. With Nie Qifeng incapacitated, Li Derli arrested, and Rong Wu on the run, it became clear to all those familiar with the situation that the choice between financial loss and bankruptcy was evident. Anecdotes about this group were being unearthed bit by bit.
Nie Qifeng was involved in usury and fencing stolen goods; several pawnshops and businesses had economic dealings with him. No one minded handing over items that could lead to their imprisonment in exchange for leniency on other matters. Li Derli, as the financial manager, not only lent money but also borrowed funds. Among the summoned businessmen, half owed him money while the other half were indebted to him. The amounts were substantial, creating a tangled web of debts—triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal—making it difficult to untangle. The most sensitive aspect was:
No one wanted to discuss why they lent him money.
The businessmen were certainly not fools to lend money without reason. Thus, the root cause lay in two mortgage guarantee companies, which themselves were not clean. They had guaranteed large loans for Rong Wu and others while simultaneously pawning artworks to two commercial banks. The money obtained was then lent out at usurious rates. Among those involved was an old cop from the Longgang Public Security Bureau who played a significant role.
It was easy to understand; having a police identity made it easier to collect debts.
Hearing about these events made several officials at the Su-Hang Command Center grit their teeth in anger. It was just a theft case involving a group of rascals, yet so many businessmen, public servants, and even banks were serving them.
Bang! Chen Dingli slammed his hand on the table in frustration and exclaimed, "Shameless... utterly disgraceful!"
"They say that clear waters have no fish; if the water is murky, we fear big fish will emerge," Zheng Kegong remarked cryptically.
"He is the shark; this time we must strand him... Any news from Lin Qizhao?" Chen Dingli asked.
Deputy Director Yan glanced at the screen where the core information remained hidden and shook his head.
"Who is this Brother Five? It seems only Rong Wu or You Bisheng can unveil his identity," Zheng Kegong said.
"Rong Wu is key; we must capture him. Not only does he owe a massive debt, but he is likely the mastermind behind several thefts and homicides," Chen Dingli stated. As layers were peeled back, it became clear that he was a crucial wedge in this intricate puzzle; only by taking him down could the entire domino effect be set in motion.
"He knew something was wrong, but he had no way of knowing the fate of the Red Line Informant. Perhaps he should assume that there had been no exposure... Summoning these individuals was done overnight, and now he was trapped," Zheng Kegong said.
Looking back, this summoning was quite a clever move, buying time and pushing the entire Case Situation toward its conclusion. Otherwise, they might not even have sufficient grounds to apprehend Rong Wu at this point.
Yan Bureau listened to the two discuss and stroked his chin, saying, "Why do I feel that such a smart person should have run away? What if we missed him? It's already dawn."
It was hard to say. The three Commanders fell silent; at this stage, it was no longer a matter of ability but rather luck.
Of course, their capabilities had been maximized. On the Police Force deployment map, Binhai had mobilized nearly all its police. An Action Team composed of over forty units was scattered throughout Dibinhai city. As long as there was an emergency, they could reach any point within five minutes.
Luck—who knew which side it would favor this time...
…………………………
…………………………
"What time is it?"
"Seven twenty."
"According to the contact's instructions, boarding for the seven forty flight should have stopped by now."
"Right."
"But..."
Lin Qizhao asked Shen Lingchen, and then both looked toward the phone on the coffee table, which still hadn't rung. Xiao Mu, sitting on the sofa like a monk in meditation, had been silent for a full hour.
"Mu, if there really is no news, then we should start the manhunt. The wanted notice has already been issued; he won't be able to escape," Lin Qizhao said.
"Be patient. If you want to take shortcuts, you need to have a patience a thousand times greater than that of an ordinary person. Opportunities are fleeting, and don't put too much faith in the Police Force's manhunt. There are still so many fugitives online who haven't been found for years," Xiao Mu replied softly.
It was as if he were seizing the opportunity to criticize the police; his words were harsh and uncomfortable. Shen Lingchen remarked, "I think he has already left."
"You can't be sure; you just want to get more reasons from me," Xiao Mu said.
"Do you have any?" Shen Lingchen asked.
"I do," Xiao Mu replied.
"Is it still about feelings?" Shen Lingchen questioned, starting to doubt.
"No, he once let me go," Xiao Mu clarified.
"Are you referring to the incident with Xu Gang?" Shen Lingchen inquired.
"Yes. I was actually at my wit's end, ready to give up. He deliberately left behind a phone that exposed my tracks, and I put on a tearful act, calling my father's assistant to ask him to visit the grave for me."
"That's irrelevant. Letting you go and leaving him behind are two different things," Lin Qizhao asked curiously.
"But after that, he treated me very well. You could tell he felt a kinship with me," Xiao Mu said, seemingly lost in thought. Shen Lingchen reminded him helplessly, "He was preparing to incite you to commit a crime."
"Right, but that was also for my sake. Committing a crime is the best way for someone with ideals but trapped in a cage to take revenge on mediocrity. He succeeded; after this incident, it will probably cause quite a stir," Xiao Mu opened his eyes. In the morning light, his face had a sickly flush.
"We've digressed; let's not discuss this anymore," Lin Qizhao said awkwardly.
Guo Wei and Guan Yiqing were still present, and in the adjacent room, there were SWAT members and the remaining backup personnel.
Sigh... Old Shen let out a heavy sigh, his face marked by a sense of failure and frustration. He worried that their luck had run out.
Xiao Mu observed the expressions of the others and pointed at Old Shen, saying, "You only want to trample him underfoot to fulfill your long-held wish. Your heart is tied to that disciplinary report; you want to clear your name and return to your organization."
He then pointed at Lin Qizhao, stating, "You only want to bring him to justice, turning him into a star on your shoulder."
Next, he pointed at Guo Wei and Guan Yiqing, saying, "You two are filled with hatred and disdain, eager to catch him with your own hands."
Xiao Mu accurately identified their mindsets: "So you will never know what he is thinking... As for me, I neither want to capture him for personal gain nor do I wish to step on him for my own success. That’s why I have the opportunity to understand him... Therefore, I am certain that this call will come."
He picked up the phone calmly while the others stared at him in disbelief. Unexpectedly, as if they shared a connection, the phone that had been silent suddenly rang in Xiao Mu's hand. The screen lit up, the ringtone sounded, and the pleasant chime instantly excited everyone who had been waiting anxiously...
"Shh..." Lin Qizhao excitedly directed them to set up surveillance and began tracking the number. After a few rings, he signaled Xiao Mu, who leisurely placed the phone to his ear and heard Rong Wu's voice: "Has he left?"
"No," Xiao Mu replied.
"Who are you?" Rong Wu asked in surprise.
"Mulin Shen," Xiao Mu stated.
"You..."
"I'm not dead. The information you received was incorrect."
"Then you're as good as dead."
"Wrong, it's you who is doomed."
"......"
Click. The call ended. Wearing his earpiece, Guan Yiqing felt frustrated. It had barely been ten seconds, and while everyone stared at Xiao Mu, he smiled and said, "It's fine, he'll call back. Brother Five has revealed himself; he's the one most afraid."
No sooner had he spoken than the phone rang again. Xiao Mu answered, saying, "Brother Wu, we didn't finish our fortune-telling last time. Do you need me to take another look? How about a remote reading?"
"You’re stalling for time, hoping the police will catch me?" Rong Wu replied.
"No, the police won't catch you. Even if they had a chance, you wouldn't let them succeed," Xiao Mu said.
"Heh, you know me well. What do you want to say? Think it through before you speak. I've just decided that my goal is to kill your entire family," Rong Wu stated.
"What I'm hearing from you is fear. I can see the fear in your heart; you're worried about me or the police being a threat to Yingzi," Xiao Mu responded.
"You... you bastard... I will skin you alive inch by inch," Rong Wu gritted his teeth.
Xiao Mu closed his eyes but spoke slowly, "That ambition of yours might not come to fruition... How about we talk about something practical? For instance, it seems I can see that you're holding a photo right now—one with you, Yingzi, and your parents. That obsession you can't let go of has shaped you, but it will also destroy you at the moment of your success, won't it?"
"What do you want? Tell me what happened to Yingzi?" Rong Wu's tone softened.
"She's fine; she was caught gambling and is being held at Branch," Xiao Mu replied.
On the other end of the line, there was a long sigh followed by silence. Strangely enough, the call had not been disconnected.
Guo Wei was timing with a stopwatch while Guan Yiqing nervously focused on tracking the location, indicating that they were just ten seconds away from pinpointing the mastermind's exact position.
Xiao Mu ignored the comments and quietly asked, "Was I right in my guess? I can also tell that you have a pile of cigarette butts around you, a bottle of strong liquor, and you've been crying... Our situations are so similar; we've both lost our most beloved ones and last night, we lost someone we valued the most."
"Are you a cop?" Rong Wu did not answer but countered with a question.
"No, like you, I'm just a pawn of the police," Xiao Mu replied, giving an accurate definition of his role.
"Bastard, I misjudged you," Rong Wu said, unable to contain his anger.
"Fortunately, I didn't misjudge you. We've both chosen a way to seek revenge that is rather mediocre, so there's no need for you to belittle me. A rascal has no right to mock a pawn," Xiao Mu stated.
"How much time do I have left?" Rong Wu asked again.
At that moment, the location was pinpointed. Guan Yiqing was at the computer, stacking small dots that appeared on the map of Binhai City at Hunan Road Property Building.
Xiao Mu glanced at it and said, "Five minutes. In five minutes, the police will surround that place. You might want to try and see if you can escape."
Damn it, Lin Qizhao was furious, and Xiao Mu was speaking the truth.
But the next sentence left him stunned. Rong Wu spoke on the phone, "Thanks, but I can't leave now. Guess again, what will happen to me?"
"You will make sure that everyone else cannot get what they want," Xiao Mu replied.
"Congratulations, you guessed right. Heh heh," Rong Wu said.
Only the two of them could understand their conversation. The Leftover Crowd exchanged confused glances while Lin Qizhao had already arranged for the capture. Hearing this, he looked at Xiao Mu with curiosity but was taken aback when Xiao Mu continued nonchalantly, "But I want to try something; how about we make a deal?"
"You sold us out; what else do I have to sell?" Rong Wu said seriously.
"There's a deal: you let me go, and I'll fulfill one of your wishes," Xiao Mu said.
Rong Wu fell silent. Xiao Mu continued, "The condition is that I will take care of Yingzi at the right time. I won't let her go hungry, I won't let her suffer, and I certainly won't let her end up on the streets. I will do everything in my power to ensure she lives a normal life, even if it means living a mundane existence... just like you treated her."
"You..." Rong Wu was at a loss for words, gasping as if he had struck a nerve.
"The exchange condition is that you tell me who Brother Five is. He is a cancer; with him around, my life is in danger. Yingzi will likely fall victim to his dark hands as well. If he doesn't show himself, he will definitely clean up afterward. You know this very well, so you cannot refuse this deal," Xiao Mu stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"I... you... I don't trust you," Rong Wu panted, beginning to waver.
"Even if you don't believe me, your outcome won't change. I'm actually doing this for you, just as you did for me," Xiao Mu replied.
Their conversation was strange; for a moment, Shen Lingchen couldn't comprehend it. He stared at Xiao Mu in astonishment, not expecting him to inquire about Brother Five's whereabouts through such a direct transaction.
Is it possible? It seemed unlikely. The other party's phone fell silent again, and Lin Qizhao worried it might be a signal relay, urging the Police Force to rush to the location.
After a long while, Xiao Mu asked, "Time is running out; have you made your decision?"
"I've made my decision. Can you do it?" Rong Wu asked softly, his voice tinged with desolation.
"You've already experienced it; I can do more than you imagine... In some ways, we are the same kind of people—stubborn enough to seek a way to retaliate against mediocrity."
Another moment of silence passed before Rong Wu said quietly, "You're right; we either die from mediocrity or die from retaliating against it."
"Tell me who it is. You’ve known all along that someone has been investigating the whereabouts of the stolen goods from Wang Zihua's case. Where are they?" Xiao Mu pressed.
The other party hesitated, likely unable to trust Xiao Mu's words. Xiao Mu continued, "Time is short; I'm actually giving you an opportunity. Whether it's people or stolen goods, they are easy to find—they're right beside you. If I don't find them myself, the conditions I've set will be voided. You'd better pray that someone like your sister doesn't stir up trouble again."
"Threat?"
"How dare you threaten Rong Wu?" Lin Qizhao mechanically reached out, seemingly wanting to stop Xiao Mu, but was held back by Shen Lingchen. After a few seconds of hesitation, Rong Wu's thunderous words broke the silence:
"His name is Xiao Zhuoli, Squad Leader of the Criminal Investigation Team in Suzhou and Hangzhou, a corrupt cop... His father is an expert in Antique Appraisal, and he is the behind-the-scenes loan shark in the Yangtze River Delta region. You Bisheng, I, Niezi, He Shi, we are all pawns he has collected. The answer lies with him. Although I would love to kill you myself, I hope you keep your promise."
"I will. I said that if I don't die, I'll make sure all of you do... So, I wasn't wrong. We appreciate each other, but unfortunately, we are not on the same path... You can leave now; no one will stop you." Xiao Mu said lightly as he cut off the call and placed his phone on the coffee table with a somber expression.
"Report your positions... All teams report your positions..." Lin Qizhao shouted irritably into the walkie-talkie, casting an annoyed glance at Xiao Mu.
Shen Lingchen was speechless; this informant was beyond anyone's control. He had managed to turn both the police and suspects around in circles while boldly stating that no one could stop him. Just as he was about to ask something, Xiao Mu looked at him displeased and said, "Old Shen, you're really not being fair. You weren't surprised at all earlier; did you already know there was something wrong with Xiao Zhuoli?"
"Let's discuss that later... Our main task now is to capture Rong Wu," Shen Lingchen replied awkwardly. Information about informants ultimately still concealed the most crucial parts.
"Oh, then you all carry on; I'm done here." Xiao Mu seemed exhausted as he slowly tucked his legs away and lay back on the sofa. Unexpectedly, it appeared he recalled something from the past, tears shimmering in his eyes.
Leftover Crowd couldn't spare a glance at him as Guan Yiqing set down her computer. She gently squatted beside him and asked, "Thinking about Erhu Lu again? Don't be sad. That was an accident, and it wasn't your fault. If he knew how much you did for him, he would be very happy."
"No, it's someone else. Why is it that his death seems insignificant while I still feel pity for him?" Xiao Mu said softly with his eyes closed, using a finger to gently wipe away the tears pooling at the corners of his eyes.
In a vague sense, Guan Yiqing seemed to understand. She stood up in panic but was unexpectedly pulled tightly by Xiao Mu who grasped her arm firmly and shook his head slowly—an indication for her to remain silent...
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