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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 132: A Visitor from Afar
"Now, please rise for the verdict."
In the courtroom, the panel of judges presided over by the judge, the audience filled with hundreds of citizens, and dozens of media outlets outside the side seats all pointed their cameras at the group of suspects dressed in orange.
"…The suspect Nie Qifeng, guilty of theft, intentional homicide, trafficking in stolen goods, and illegal possession of weapons… sentenced to death, deprived of political rights for life, and all property confiscated…"
The audience fell into a heavy silence. Sitting in a wheelchair, Nie Qifeng wore an expressionless face as the cameraman captured only his indifferent demeanor.
"The suspect Li Junshan, formerly known as Li Derli, guilty of theft and trafficking in stolen goods… sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, deprived of political rights for ten years, and all property confiscated…"
The notorious "Black Kite," who had committed numerous thefts, appeared weak and almost fell over…
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Guan Yiqing quietly entered Guo Wei's office. Standing behind him, she happened to witness this scene playing on the computer—an ultimate trial that had concluded two days prior. This was the largest theft case in Binhai City's history, attracting coverage from numerous national media outlets. The case spanned several years and ultimately confirmed 42 members in the gang, with principal offenders Nie Qifeng and Li Junshan both sentenced to death.
"Hey there, handsome. Are you reminiscing about your youthful days?" Guan Yiqing suddenly asked.
"Huh?" Guo Wei looked up in surprise and then broke into a bright smile. At that moment, he was in a clean, bright office with a stack of newspapers on his desk and a cup of tea beside him. It seemed he truly was reflecting on those thrilling days.
Guan Yiqing pulled out a chair and sat down. She watched with interest and remarked with a smile, "It's hard to imagine how audacious these thieves were. When the incident at Tangchen Premium Community occurred, Nie Qifeng was nearby while Li Junshan and his accomplices were among the crowd watching the excitement… They even took some photos to report it."
This was revealed later during the trial; Nie Qifeng recruited members while Li Derli was responsible for training. This gang had left their mark across several provinces. Apart from Rong Wu, it was this skilled locksmith Li Junshan Li Derli who supplied many experts in lock-picking to various smaller gangs. Guo Wei chuckled as he said, "They were too clever for their own good; they ended up losing their lives after stealing over a billion worth of goods… This has become an annual joke."
"What do you think about Nie Qifeng's character? It seemed there was no difficulty in interrogating him; several old cases and even bodies found at sea were all confessed by him," Guan Yiqing noted, seemingly surprised.
"No doubt about it; he definitely has antisocial traits. He knows he's doomed, so he seeks a quick end," Guo Wei replied.
"That's true... but why are people with antisocial personalities sometimes more sensitive in certain emotional aspects than ordinary people?" Guan Yiqing asked.
"Are you referring to Nie Qifeng, Rong Wu, and He Shi?" Guo Wei replied.
"Yes," Guan Yiqing said.
The relationships among these three were quite special. He Shi had helped the down-and-out Nie Qifeng, and when He Shi was nearly killed, it was Nie Qifeng who came to his aid. The relationship between Rong Wu and Nie Qifeng was even more puzzling; when Nie Qifeng was a kickboxer, Rong Wu was merely a lackey carrying his bags, yet this lackey later became the core figure of the entire group.
Guo Wei thought for a moment and said, "I've read the interrogation files. According to Nie Qifeng, he was injured in the ring more than once. During his worst times, the only one by his side was Rong Wu. Even when he could no longer compete due to his injuries, it was Rong Wu who took care of him... Huh, it does seem that fate can create two brothers in adversity—one called a hero and the other a villain."
"Well, after spending a year in the office, you've made some progress," Guan Yiqing praised. He pressed pause and asked, "Are you planning to visit the master this weekend?"
"Sure, I was just thinking about that... I mean, the master is something else. When Suzhou and Hangzhou wanted to transfer him back as Squad Leader, he refused; then they offered him a deputy position here, and he turned that down too. Now he's gone back to the Provincial Department's Criminal Psychology Research Office. That's on par with a retirement department or a gatekeeping unit," Guo Wei said.
"You should tell him directly; what good does it do to tell me?" Guan Yiqing teased. Seeing Guo Wei's expectant expression made him wary as he added, "Wait a minute, don't play mind games with me. You think I don't know what you're thinking? You want the master to pull me along as a third wheel."
"Oh? Getting clever?" Guan Yiqing raised an eyebrow.
Guo Wei shrugged and replied, "Don't be foolish. He's not from our world. If he wants to show up, he will; if not, there's nothing we can do about it."
At this point, Guo Wei felt a bit regretful. He noticed Guan Yiqing's despondent expression and couldn't help but ask, "Do you remember how long it's been since you last saw him?"
"One year and six months," Guan Yiqing replied.
"Add 24 days," Guo Wei added.
Guan Yiqing paused and looked at Guo Wei; she suddenly realized that she wasn't the only one who cared.
"It's useless. The master called me yesterday... He’s right; fame brings fear and danger. Informants can't escape this law either. In the past year and a half, countless police units have been trying to track down this Red Line Informant—it's hard to count them all—even those operating under departmental banners have been involved. If they find out anything about him, he'll probably be forced into hiding again."
Guo Wei spoke softly, giving Guan Yiqing a look of helplessness.
At that moment...
"Gao Rui, convicted of theft, with an especially large amount involved, sentenced to fifteen years in prison."
"Pan Shuanglong, convicted of theft, intentional injury, and dealing in stolen goods, multiple sentences combined, sentenced to life imprisonment and fined five hundred thousand yuan."
"Ma Yubing, convicted of dealing in stolen goods..."
At the same time, Shen Lingchen leaned slightly forward. Upon seeing the faces of Locke Gao Rui, Li Yingrong, Lani, Wang Shanqing, and Gao Zhiguang, he felt as if he had returned to that heart-stopping rainy day when thousands of Police Force members surrounded them. They had calmly slipped away through the gaps. If it weren't for a tip-off from an informant, they might never have seen the true faces of these Rascals.
Yes, informant... The term was not used in the judgment. The fifth Rascal was named Li Xiaoyong, with three words in parentheses: deceased.
This name also appeared in classified files, marked as deceased.
However, in reality, this person was now more mysterious than dead. For one year and six months, Shen Lingchen had thought of countless ways to meet him but could not ascertain his whereabouts. He had searched at home, among friends and acquaintances, and even in Suzhou and Hangzhou; it was as if the person had vanished into thin air—there was no trace left.
"Old Shen... what are you daydreaming about?"
A loud voice interrupted his thoughts. Shen Lingchen looked up to see Director Zheng Kegong. Startled, he quickly stood up. Old Zheng entered and smiled as he said, "Take a seat; the conditions in the Criminal Psychology Research Department are quite good... What are you looking at? Oh, this case of theft! This case alone has been investigated for nine months across eleven provinces. Both the investigators and the amount involved have set new provincial and ministerial records."
"Indeed, Director Zheng... should we be heading to the City Bureau soon?" Shen Lingchen asked with a smile.
"The leadership just had a discussion; nothing is decided yet... Ah, Old Shen."
"Let's stop there."
"Did you just cut me off before I even finished speaking?"
"It must be about the Incite case and my return to the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Do you think I can go back?"
"Why not? It's what everyone expects. If you don't go, no one else will dare to."
"Lin Qizhao can go directly."
"Too young, needs more training. Hey, your attitude isn't quite right. You skipped the celebration, had someone else represent you at the awards ceremony, and pretended to be sick at the hero report meeting... Are you feeling emotional? Just say it. It's normal to reach out to the organization; they're just worried you'll abandon them."
"Come on, let me say this, Leader, please take a seat."
Shen Lingchen stood up and pressed Zheng Director down into his seat, bowing respectfully, which startled Old Zheng. Shen Lingchen continued, "Director Zheng, first of all, I want to thank you for giving me a chance to turn things around."
"Don't mention it; it's based on your abilities."
"This brings me to my second point. You still don't know whether it's based on ability or not? Solving one or two major cases involves a lot of luck. My luck came from an informant... But to be a good police officer and a leader, it’s not about luck anymore. Whether it's self-discipline or political ideology, I'm not exactly qualified; you promoted me despite my shortcomings..."
"Haha... Has that matter passed?" Zheng Kegong laughed. At this point, he couldn't help but give Shen Lingchen a thumbs up. "Alright, I'll report this situation to the leadership. Forget it; I won't push you anymore. Seeing you like this reminds me of a wronged little wife, and it makes me angry."
"This pressure from the achievements is suffocating. Just sharing experiences in meetings can happen ten times a week at its peak... Even now, people still come to consult me. Honestly, I don't have that much capability," Shen Lingchen lamented.
This person not only knows how to recognize talent but also has self-awareness. Zheng Kegong's evaluation of him rose a few notches as he patted his shoulder and said, "I understand. After being a police officer for so many years, you should take it easy for a few years now."
"That's not quite it," Shen Lingchen replied.
"Is there another reason?" Zheng Kegong asked.
"Of course. After this case, there probably won't be any similar major cases in Binhai for the next ten years... This peak might just be the end of my career; I can't surpass it anymore. It might be better to focus seriously on being an ordinary police officer," Shen Lingchen said earnestly.
"Alright... I won't push you anymore." Zheng Kegong clapped his hands and pressed Shen Lingchen back down. He walked away with his hands behind his back, and Shen Lingchen finally let out a sigh of relief. However, just as Old Zheng was about to leave, he added, "Oh, by the way, when there's no one around, I'll temporarily borrow you for a bit... I said you agreed, this is the bare minimum, after all, you're not even at the legal retirement age yet."
With a bang, he closed the door and ran off.
Shen Lingchen stared blankly, speechless. He turned off the courtroom recording, freezing the image of a group of suspects being interrogated. Surprisingly, the scene in his mind was that rainy day, with that deeply sinful suspect who should have been on trial. He chose an ending that no one could stop.
Looking at the suspects who were shackled and bowed deeply, Shen Lingchen felt that Rong Wu's choice held more dignity compared to theirs.
"This brat really isn't simple."
Shen Lingchen murmured to himself. To see a death wish, to witness someone's downfall—this wasn't merely understanding their psychology; it was seeing the essence of that person's soul.
He had experienced a life of indulgence and excess, had lived recklessly and heartbreakingly... Perhaps it was these countless experiences that others could never fathom that made his eyes so bright and his heart so clear.
As Shen Lingchen reflected on this, he gave Xiao Mu such an evaluation. Unfortunately, even now, it still wasn't enough to satisfy him.
In fact, that was his peak; Shen Lingchen knew he could never surpass it.
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At the same time, in a building on Zhongyuan Road in Binhai City, behind a guard post marked with a sign for the Police Training Center, there were several confidential units directly under the Provincial Department. One floor was dedicated to combating cross-border crime—the Criminal Investigation Special Training Division.
An SUV pulled up in front of the building, its body covered in mud from long travels. The vehicle stopped downstairs, and a man and woman got out. The man was tall and robust; the woman was equally imposing—a striking pair who stood over a head taller than the SUV. Their presence immediately drew attention.
The two flashed their credentials as they passed through the guard post. The sentry directed them to the seventh floor where there was an unassuming sign.
The woman remarked, "Party Instructor, the conditions here are much better than ours."
"That's right, our poor province can't compare to others," the man said.
"Can you find that person you mentioned?" the woman asked, seemingly puzzled about searching in such a place.
"I don't know, damn it, the people here in Binhai are really something; they just declared him dead," the man replied, feeling frustrated.
"Could it be that he really is dead?" the woman asked uncertainly. She recalled the place they had just visited, Qingchen Hotel. There must have been some misinformation; the boss's two sons, twins, were only a little over a year old. The confidential documents indicated that the person they were looking for had already acquired American citizenship. When they traced back the informant, it also showed as deceased—everything was a mess.
"Impossible... You have no idea how much trouble that guy has caused; he's a disaster that could last for centuries. He can't be a short-lived one," the man insisted.
"I can tell you two have a good relationship," the woman laughed.
"You've got it wrong; that guy has been a thorn in my side all along, always saying my IQ is flawed. Being with him has almost given me a psychological shadow," the man replied.
The woman was puzzled. It was quite rare for someone as renowned as a Party Instructor in Anhui Province to be put in such a situation.
As they exited the elevator, she curiously asked, "Lin Qizhao is quite a figure; do you think he knows that person?"
"If Codename Firelight is involved in the operation, then it must be him," the Party Instructor said.
They approached another door, verified their identities, and knocked on the director's office door. Upon being invited in, they found Lin Qizhao sitting with his feet on the desk while looking at his computer. When he saw two unfamiliar faces, he pulled his feet back and looked at them curiously. "Who are you two?"
They presented their credentials.
Anhui Province, Criminal Investigation Division Teaching Office Political Commissar: Aeming. From the Provincial Economic Investigation Bureau: Fan Saili, head of the Commercial Crime Investigation Section.
"Please take a seat," Lin Qizhao invited them to sit down and personally poured them some water. This place often hosted colleagues from various provinces; the crime situation had led to unprecedented close cooperation within the public security system. As he sat down, he curiously asked, "Party Political Commissar, it seems we haven't received any notification regarding your case situation... Economic investigation doesn't have much to do with us unless it's an intersecting case."
"Oh no, Lin Department Head, I came to find you after seeing news about Flame Action," Aeming explained.
"I am watching too," Lin Qizhao chuckled, adjusting his computer screen to show the courtroom video. "This case is quite representative. This theft and trafficking gang spanned several provinces. We spent nine months just on the investigation. It's rare for a theft gang to receive a suspended death sentence. Two of them committed suicide; otherwise, I suspect there would be two more facing the death penalty."
Fan Saili clicked his tongue in disbelief. Such shocking cases could only occur in developed cities. Aeming continued, "Department Head Lin, we are here to find someone who should be related to this case."
"Who?" Lin Qizhao suddenly became alert.
"Mulin Shen," Aeming replied.
Lin Qizhao's expression froze. After a moment, he adopted a serious demeanor and asked, "Please provide your badge number and verification code."
The badge number was for confirming identity, while the verification code ensured they were within the confidentiality agreement's scope. After Aeming provided both codes, Lin Qizhao entered them directly. With a press of the enter key, a page of information burst forth from the police training system. He glanced over it briefly and then regarded the individual with newfound respect, standing up to formally greet him.
"Department Head Lin, please don't be so formal," Aeming said, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"An undercover officer from Special Operations is a police officer among police officers; even the highest-ranking officers would pay their respects to you... Please take a seat. I understand now; you are the undercover agent from the Shaanxi Province Pyramid Scheme Case." Lin Qizhao was excited; such police experience was not something just anyone could have.
"Yes, that was my last undercover mission. I'm here to find my partner I met in the mental institution," Aeming explained.
"Is there a case?" Lin Qizhao asked directly.
"Oh... not exactly," Aeming hesitated, glancing at another person present.
Lin Qizhao smiled and said, "There's no need to feel awkward about this. Those who have reviewed the case files in detail might even want to recruit him directly. Even if there are blemishes on his record, it wouldn't be an issue. I've even received orders wanting to take this Red Line Informant from us; such individuals are as rare as outstanding undercover agents."
"Is he leaving then?" Fan Saili asked nervously.
"That's my next topic," Lin Qizhao replied with a smile. "We don't even know where he is."
"Ah?" Aeming and Fan Saili exclaimed in unison, both astonished by this revelation. How could it be like this?
"It's been a year and six months since he went missing. Initially, we kept his identity confidential, but later we found out that they didn't use the identity we provided at all; he just disappeared on his own... I know what you're all going to ask. We've investigated, and I'm sure you have too, but the result is the same: no news at all," Lin Qizhao said, a look of regret on his face.
"Party Instructor, what should we do?" Fan Saili asked, stunned.
"Missing... missing..." Aeming murmured, his gaze wandering. When he looked at Lin Qizhao, Lin Qizhao replied, "I can provide you with all the resources you need if you have a way to find him... Don't try to get information from his family; Mu Qingchen is very cautious now because an informant turned his son from a waste into a genius. He’s now at odds with the police."
"Hey, how does his dad have two sons?" Aeming asked in confusion.
"One was born from a stepmother. He thought that was unreliable and quickly had another child, hoping that this Prodigal Son would return," Lin Qizhao chuckled.
Fan Saili listened in bewilderment. "What does this have to do with anything?"
"His situation is quite complicated; you won't understand it right away... Hey, Lin Department Head, how about I give it a try? I haven't seen him in two or three years; I really miss him," Aeming suggested.
"Sure... wait a moment; I'll call a few helpers for you."
Lin Qizhao picked up the phone.
At that moment, Guo Wei received the call and rushed over with Guan Yiqing; Shen Lingchen also got the call and hurried over excitedly upon hearing it was once Xiao Mu's partner. During lunch when they gathered around the table, Aeming noticed something was off as everyone looked at him expectantly, as if he knew Xiao Mu's whereabouts. However, he understood that Xiao Mu had definitely gone missing for quite some time...
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