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墨書 Inktalez
Four O'Clock in the Morning...
Zhang Quan glanced at the time, his eyes drifting to Xiao Mu, who had removed his hood and was sitting elegantly in a chair, taking a sip of water. With an apologetic tone, he said, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" Xiao Mu chuckled at this remark. Seeing the deep expression of regret on Zhang Quan's face, he asked, "What are you sorry for?"
"I'm sorry... for pulling you onto this path. I find myself regretting it a bit now," Zhang Quan replied, sitting down across from him. He looked at Xiao Mu's handsome yet youthful face, which only intensified his feelings of remorse.
"You're half apologizing and half worried, aren't you?" Xiao Mu said.
"Yes," Zhang Quan admitted without hesitation. He was not just surprised by Xiao Mu's willingness.
"Let me put it this way: if I go back to my old life, facing my father's disdainful gaze again—it's like he looks at me as if I'm a piece of trash," Xiao Mu said, his face contorting with discomfort. It was the same deep doubt he felt every time he woke up after a hangover. He continued, "I can avoid my father, but I can't escape everyone else. When I'm dressed in designer clothes, driving a nice car, and just starting to feel good about myself, I still have to face the hateful looks from ordinary people. They might think I'm even worse than trash... Being a rich second generation is tough too; the richer you are, the more fake their expressions become."
Zhang Quan laughed. Was that really the reason? But wasn't that the life most people yearned for?
Xiao Mu also laughed and said, "Between returning to the known monotony of Binhai and staying here to face the unknown challenges, I've chosen to accept the challenge... Haha, all my life, you've treated me like a treasure. I've always thought I was worthless."
"Is that really your reason?" Zhang Quan asked incredulously.
"Ah, do you think it was your noble ideals of fighting crime and benefiting society that moved me? That won't do; crime is something inherent in all social structures and can never be eradicated," Xiao Mu replied.
Zhang Quan was baffled. He felt there was something seriously wrong with this mindset and asked sternly, "It's not just us who treat you like a treasure; the Pyramid Scheme gang does too. That shouldn't have a negative impact on you, right?"
"How could it? The impact is definitely positive. I've never felt such a clear sense of achievement before... Honestly, if I didn't already have enough money, I wouldn't want to leave. Not everywhere treats someone like me with such reverence. Lu the Madman is right; this kind of thing gives me an unparalleled sense of accomplishment," Xiao Mu said.
Zhang Quan swallowed hard, seemingly stunned by his words. After a moment of silence, he quietly said, "You need to understand your position; you're currently in the police camp. Right and wrong must be clearly defined."
"I know, but we are in a confusing world. For instance, aren't there bad people around you? Aren't there lawbreakers among the police? And are all the criminals you encounter truly irredeemable, without even one who deserves sympathy?" Xiao Mu said with a smile. This kind of dialectic left the not-so-complex-minded Zhang Quan dumbfounded. After a moment of silence, he stood up to leave, throwing out a rude remark:
"I'm done talking to you. If I say any more, you'll brainwash me."
...
He really left, but not far—just a few rooms away. What Xiao Mu might not know was that tonight, several psychological experts and forensic doctors from the Provincial Public Security Bureau were mobilized, with seven or eight vehicles transporting different individuals to assist this informant.
The physical examination showed no issues, except for a tattoo, which needed to be investigated for its origin and meaning. When the psychological test results were presented to Fan Wenjie, he was taken aback. Every single item was marked correct—over a hundred professional terminology testing items seemed to have received full marks. He excitedly asked, "It looks like the test results are good; everything is checked off."
"Not quite, Director Fan. This person has issues," said a female officer in her forties.
"What kind of issues? Psychological issues?" Director Fan inquired.
"Yes." The doctor explained that especially during the lie detection test, this individual managed to deceive the equipment. He made several false statements like "I am Obama," "I am a woman," "I am a psychopathic killer who has killed seven people," and so on—obviously incorrect answers—with no change in heart rate at all. Even skin conductivity and pulse showed no variations.
Thus, the conclusion was that this person's words could not be trusted.
It was like being doused with cold water. But that wasn't all; the psychologist added that a normal person would show fluctuations during such tests. For example, when viewing bloody scenes, their pulse would typically react with excitement; conversely, when answering common knowledge questions, discrepancies would arise. Therefore, the doctor solemnly stated: "There is a risk of psychological illness."
Hearing this left Fan Wenjie stunned for quite some time. Suddenly he uttered an "uh," dismissing the doctor before he hesitated like an ant on a hot pan. A significant amount of energy had already been spent on infiltrating Cult Leader's operations. He had inadvertently discovered this person's potential and had gone through great lengths to decide to utilize him. However, if he truly had psychological issues, it would be alarming; if he turned out to be aligned with Lu the Madman, it would be embarrassing for the police.
After pacing for a long while, he hurried out only to find Ye Tianshu and Zhang Quan waiting at the door. This incident had escalated so much that even the usually reclusive 3326 had come out. Irritated, he called them over and handed them the form, angrily stating, "Look here! The doctor says there are psychological issues—can we even use him?"
"I heard... this..." Ye Tianshu glanced at Zhang Quan.
Zhang Quan pondered for a moment and suggested they check the surveillance footage. On the screen, Xiao Mu sat upright with his hands flat on the table, completely unlike his usual carefree demeanor. Suddenly understanding, Zhang Quan whispered a few words to his two superiors before returning to his room.
The door opened, and Xiao Mu did not look back. When Zhang Quan sat down in front of him, he slammed the report on the table and looked at him seriously, angrily saying, "Stop pretending."
Pretending, it was definitely pretending. Even He Yuguo's Thug had suffered a loss, and Lu the Madman along with He Yuguo's group of Pyramid Scheme veterans had all been fooled by him. It seemed that tricking a testing device wasn't a big deal.
Suddenly, Xiao Mu smiled, his face lighting up with joy as he said, "If you can test me, why can't I test you? Tell me, did the psychologist's results say I have a mental illness? And mild tendencies towards perversion and violence?"
Zhang Quan was so angry that he threw the report at him, grumbling, "I knew it! If I’m sick, you won’t be healthy either."
"Nice compliment... I won't bother reading the report; it's too lame. Humans are complex creatures, and psychology is the most intricate part of a person. Do you really think a few pictures and some questions can reveal someone's true mental state? That's so outdated. The games we played in psychology class were more advanced than this. You can go check with that female doctor; I tested her after her divorce. She just found someone she’s satisfied with, and when she came here, she might have been sweet-talking her lover," Xiao Mu said.
Zhang Quan was dumbfounded. What was going on? The testing doctor had been tested herself. He had no idea what Mulin Shen was thinking; it was all just bizarre nonsense.
"Since we're just sitting around doing nothing, let's verify this. How about a bet? If I lose, I'll bring back a bottle of wine for us to enjoy; otherwise, it’ll be boring," Xiao Mu suggested.
Zhang Quan stood up suspiciously. He had been an undercover agent for years and had seen all sorts of strange things, but this kid was particularly infuriating.
After about ten minutes, he returned with a bottle of wine and two packages of cold dishes. As he placed them on the table, Xiao Mu was already laughing uncontrollably.
Zhang Quan awkwardly watched as Xiao Mu leisurely ate. His shock had reached its peak; Director Fan had personally connected with the female doctor by phone and ordered her to discuss personal matters in the name of the organization. Then... everything was confirmed. That female doctor had divorced a year ago and had just found someone new; before being urgently called here, she had been with her lover.
Needless to say, both leaders were overjoyed. Forget about tests; this was the person they needed.
But Zhang Quan still hadn’t recovered from his shock. He even watched the surveillance footage again but found nothing unusual—just an ordinary face. How could one tell about a divorce and a new love? Embarrassed, he cautiously asked, "Lin Zi, how did you figure it out?"
"Pour the wine."
"Hey."
"Let's start with three cups."
"Alright."
After being teased for a while, Xiao Mu smiled and said, "The reason is that during the test, I caught a faint scent of champagne on the female doctor's body. She had her eyebrows done, lipstick on, and foundation applied... What else can a woman in her forties do with all that? She must have been out pursuing pleasure."
"Then why can't it be an affair or a secret rendezvous?" Zhang Quan challenged.
"You fool, if she had a husband, she would try to hide any changes about herself, fearing discovery... Her demeanor suggests she is afraid others won't know, so it can only mean she's found someone new, not that she's cheating. That's why I deduce she's divorced," Xiao Mu explained. He then looked seriously at Zhang Quan, who shot him a glare before bursting into laughter. They both laughed, their eyes sparkling with amusement.
Ye Tianshu, watching the surveillance footage, couldn't help but chuckle. He turned to Old Leader and said that if this kid were a police officer, it would be great. Old Leader didn't quite agree; he smiled and remarked that it would be troublesome to have someone like him watching over you every day.
Of course, both leaders were already resigned to the situation and quietly left to start arranging follow-up plans.
After finishing off a bottle of wine, mostly consumed by Zhang Quan who was worried about getting Xiao Mu too drunk, Zhang Quan sighed in admiration: "Linzi, if you were a cop, with your skills, you'd excel in any department."
"No, no, I have no fondness for that profession," Xiao Mu replied.
"Why not?" Zhang Quan was surprised to hear that Xiao Mu had such an aversion to being a police officer.
"It's meaningless. You know what? Wearing a uniform and adhering to discipline is like dancing with handcuffs on; you can't fully express yourself," Xiao Mu said.
Having hit the nail on the head, Zhang Quan poured himself another drink, pursed his lips, and nodded heavily. That was indeed the weakness of police work, but it was also the reason they could uphold justice.
Xiao Mu felt emboldened and continued proudly: "Now you believe I've studied crime, right? Let me tell you why I don't think highly of being a police officer: no matter how hard you work or how much effort you put in, when it comes to systemic social issues, it's always futile; even if you exhaust yourselves, you can't make up for the shortcomings of the system. You're a detective, right? No matter how brilliant your case-solving skills are, you're merely tracing and reconstructing someone else's footprints. And often, you still can't find the truth..."
As he spoke more passionately, Zhang Quan glared at him fiercely, feeling belittled and frustrated.
"There's something even more ruthless," Xiao Mu teased, "Your expression tells me you agree with my answer... But committing a crime is different; it requires intricate planning, boundless imagination, and a free-spirited execution that disregards all systems and authorities... Tsk, that's what you call pleasure. And you all... just hold back."
Bang! Zhang Quan slammed the table and cursed angrily, "Shut the hell up, or I'll make you regret it."
"Haha... You're too pathetic. You don't appreciate crime and lack respect for criminals; that means your status as a police officer isn't very high," Xiao Mu said, shaking his head in disapproval.
Zhang Quan was momentarily stunned by the remark. It seemed somewhat reasonable, yet he couldn't tell if it was twisted logic. Instinctively, he rejected the idea and decided not to pursue this dangerous topic any further, fearing that recorded conversations might lead to trouble later.
...
After drinking to a slight intoxication and resting for two hours, Zhang Quan remained busy discussing the most reasonable and safest approach with his Field Duty teammates. They were focused on sending back the informant, which had kept several Field Duty teams awake all night, watching those involved in pyramid schemes at the station and intersections. Those individuals had more patience than the police, just waiting for Xiao Mu to appear.
Of course, this also proved Xiao Mu's importance, which made the task force even more concerned. Several plans had been devised, considering many details.
As dawn approached at four o'clock in the morning, it was time to set off. Zhang Quan hurriedly pushed open the door to Xiao Mu's room, only to find him already prepared for departure. He sat there with an incredibly solemn demeanor. In that moment, Zhang Quan recalled how he looked before every battle—he sat down and handed the plan to Xiao Mu, who glanced at it and tossed it onto the table.
"Are you nervous?" Zhang Quan asked.
"My heartbeat and pulse will tell you I'm not," Xiao Mu replied with a smile.
"There won't be any danger; at most, you'll just get beaten up," Zhang Quan said.
"Of course there won't be; they need me just like you do," Xiao Mu stated. His relaxed expression was infectious enough to ease Zhang Quan's tension. No matter how mischievous Xiao Mu might be, he appeared quite charming at that moment. Noticing Xiao Mu seemed lost in thought, Zhang Quan casually asked, "Can you tell me what you're thinking about?"
"I can't," Xiao Mu replied flatly.
"Family; at times like this, one thinks of family the most. It seems like your dad sent you to a mental hospital," Zhang Quan remarked. Initially unaware of the situation, he later found out that for Xiao Mu, a mental hospital wasn't such a bad place after all.
"Yes, it was out of love for me, but what I returned to him was always hatred... I once hated him to the bone, and after all these years, I finally received the same in return," Xiao Mu murmured, speaking with such melancholy.
"So you're expecting a change? Don't think too much about it; there will be someone from the Provincial Department explaining the situation to your family afterward," Zhang Quan said.
"You’re the one overthinking. You’re always afraid I’ll be distracted by other matters... I won’t. I’m not doing this for anyone; I’ve always expected change, just like you police officers hope to change the world. I’ve always wanted to change myself," Xiao Mu replied.
"Actually, there’s no need to change; your true self is the best. Even when you’re starving, you wouldn’t resort to desperate measures. You’d still spare some change for a beggar. It’s only when someone has nothing that you can see their noble qualities. I see that in you," Zhang Quan said.
Xiao Mu's eyes suddenly widened, looking at him with a mix of joy and surprise, as if he had just discovered a kindred spirit.
Zhang Quan continued with a smile, "The reason you stayed is that you don’t want to see more ordinary people being swindled by Pyramid Scheme gangs, losing their fortunes and ending up in Mental Hospitals. You don’t want to witness those bastards running rampant and doing evil. You deliberately wrap yourself in a tough exterior, but your fragile and kind heart has already been touched by these evils. Your guilt, your anger, your sense of justice prevent you from choosing to stand by idly."
In an instant, Zhang Quan seemed like a different person. Mulin Shen suddenly recalled that since he was an undercover agent, he couldn’t be as foolish as he appeared on the surface. Someone who could wear both innocence and ferocity on their face could not possibly be a fool.
Xiao Mu was taken aback. He looked at Zhang Quan's fierce face with confusion and slowly said, "Baldy, you are definitely not an ordinary police officer; I can spot those silly Striped Uniforms from a mile away."
"I slipped up; I shouldn’t have used the term 'East-West Fusion.' It doesn’t fit my tough guy image," Zhang Quan laughed, realizing that detail had raised Xiao Mu's suspicions.
"I also slipped up; I let you see that I'm a good person," Xiao Mu chuckled.
"Then let’s go; there will be bigger stages where we can fully unleash ourselves and be a pair of bad guys," Zhang Quan invited with a smile.
Xiao Mu stood up with a grin and pointed at him arrogantly, saying disdainfully, "You’re going to lose; don’t think just because you’re a cop you’ll win... I’ve never lost at psychological games."
"That was school; this is real combat. If you're exposed, you'll get beaten into a pulp," Zhang Quan countered.
"The tongue is mightier than the fist. If I want to leave, I’ll leave; if I want to come back, I’ll come back—no problem at all. Do you believe that?" Xiao Mu scoffed.
"I don’t believe it," Zhang Quan shook his head.
"Let's give it a try. If you lose, introduce me to a Police Flower. I want to play with some enticing outfits," Xiao Mu said.
"If you lose, you have to introduce me to a rich beauty. I'm going broke here; I want to live off someone," Zhang Quan replied seriously.
The two of them slapped their hands together in agreement, their expressions lewd and gleeful, quickly getting into character. They looked like two schemers plotting a robbery and kidnapping. Quietly, they slipped downstairs and left the project team's base through the back door.
At 5:40 AM, Xiao Mu sneaked near the long-distance bus station, trying to find out the price for a black car out of the city. By chance, he ran into He Fatty and his crew. He didn't recognize them, but they knew him well. Upon seeing him, they acted like they had found treasure; with a whistle, about ten people surrounded him. They taped his mouth shut, secured his travel bag over his head, and shoved him into a car before driving off. The station's security personnel saw it but didn't dare intervene.
Half an hour later, Zhang Quan received a call from the missing He Yuguo, ordering him to hurry back because they had caught someone and he was nowhere to be found.
This message was music to the project team’s ears; it felt like their excitement had been triggered. However, along with that excitement came an added layer of concern...
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