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墨書 Inktalez
In Tongguan, everything was calm, but outside of Tongguan, a sudden storm was nearing its end.
At 3 PM, in Yulin, San Family Town, the local branch collaborated with the Commerce Department to raid two locations where brainwashing was taking place, rescuing 47 individuals who had been illegally detained by a pyramid scheme organization.
By 4:30 PM, in Xiangzhuang, a suburb of the provincial capital Chang'an, the stationed police station, in coordination with the Commerce Department, shut down a pyramid scheme group that was openly conducting seminars. They confiscated over a thousand unlicensed products and detained 171 individuals for review. This group had been quite creative; they rented a local Catholic church and even recruited the preaching priest as an affiliate.
At 6 PM, images from the operation site in Yanbian County were sent back to the project team's base, rescuing 51 people. A close-up shot revealed that the various wealth creation notes made by pyramid scheme members filled two large sacks.
At 7:30 PM, Director Fan Wenjie of the Provincial Department returned and immediately asked the restaurant staff to turn on the television. The local news featured a comprehensive report on the crackdown against pyramid schemes. He watched intently from start to finish. Afterward, he set down his chopsticks and called Luo Guanquan and Ye Tianshu back to the project team office.
The news brought new developments for the project team. The orders had come directly from the Provincial Department. However, it was puzzling why such minor operations required such high-level attention. As Fan Wenjie walked ahead, seemingly aware of their confusion, he explained:
"During my report with Xu Ting this afternoon, I received information from the Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce that aligns with what we have gathered. They are indeed preparing to implement a larger operation."
Thus, they decided to select three hideouts across various locations as a facade to make those hidden pyramid scheme operatives believe that the police were lagging far behind them. Luo Guanquan smiled and said, "It's necessary. Generally speaking, after completing a purchase cycle, pyramid scheme groups will assess individuals' economic conditions. They will retain only those with potential or outstanding performance while discarding or severing ties with the rest, leaving them to fend for themselves."
"In fact, their unusual proliferation is also a test for us or perhaps an attempt to divert our investigative focus," Ye Tianshu added.
"It could be both; after more than a decade of fighting them off, they've become quite adept," Fan Wenjie remarked.
Upon entering the conference room, the three took their usual seats. The information gathered that day was laid out before Director Fan. He glanced at what concerned him most and asked about two individuals who remained most worried: "What? They split up? What’s the situation? Have we gathered any information on Jin Ke Kaiyue Business District?"
With several questions in succession, Ye Tianshu cautiously reported: "Director Fan, regarding Tu Shenhao, we are still uncertain about his true power. Therefore, the local police force has not dared to take action yet; there is only one team of three in Tongguan who are struggling to follow up... A new team has just been dispatched and should be arriving soon."
Fan Wenjie understood their predicament; most of the time when crossing regions, even their own people could be untrustworthy. He tossed out an information update: "This afternoon I reported to Xu Ting that there has been no change in our department's policy. The directive is clear: we cannot be satisfied with merely injuring or driving them away and giving them breathing room; instead, we must incapacitate or eliminate them entirely to prevent any chance of resurgence... In this regard, the Business Task Force will provide us with timely reporting information. At that time, police and business departments across the province will organize a joint operation as part of this initiative’s command center. We must not let our guard down..."
After a political lesson was delivered, they began sorting through case situations. However, those sitting at the command center could never truly grasp what changes were occurring ahead. Soon enough, discussions returned to Tongguan—what had happened there? What were they planning? These questions became essential pathways toward clarity...
At that moment, Xiao Mu was walking toward the restroom of Yueke Western Restaurant.
The greatest advantage of the Pyramid Scheme was its isolation, cutting off all modern communication methods. The means of communication were extremely outdated. Before the meal began, he had already spotted Lian Qiang sneaking into the restaurant.
As soon as he entered, Lian Qiang grabbed him. Xiao Mu smiled lightly as Lian Qiang quickly spoke about the safety of the environment and what had happened.
The theme was business investment; the target was sixty-nine thousand eight hundred per share; the venue was on the 22nd to 25th floors of Jinke Kaiyue Commercial Building; the number of participants was currently unknown; there was one existing staff member, Jia Fangfei. The relationships with Tu Shenhao and Yang Menglu were unclear.
Xiao Mu's thoughts were clear, and within seconds he had reported everything. Hearing this, Lian Qiang looked confused and said, "No way? There's only one person?"
"That makes two of us," Xiao Mu replied.
"Who are you going to scam?" Lian Qiang asked, surprised that there were only two people.
"Apparently, others will arrive soon… Hey, did your brain get caught in the door? I've only been in for a day; how much can I know?" Xiao Mu said.
"Is that right? Sixty-nine thousand eight hundred? Is that possible?" Lian Qiang questioned skeptically. If the Pyramid Scheme had grown this large, it would break records.
"That's the price per share; it definitely costs that much. The company’s renovations and leasing would easily exceed a hundred thousand. If they charge twenty-eight hundred or thirty-eight hundred, they'd be losing money," Xiao Mu explained.
"Damn, these scammers are really something," Lian Qiang exclaimed. If they were investing over a hundred thousand from the start, one could only imagine how much they planned to scam—definitely a shocking figure.
"That's all I have for now. I'm trying to lure this girl for more information, so don't disturb me," Xiao Mu said as he washed his hands and prepared to leave. Lian Qiang was displeased by this and stopped him, shoving a small listening device into his hand.
At this moment, looking again, the person no longer resembled the stubborn figure from before; he was clearly excited and eager to try. Lian Qiang chuckled, "Be careful. If you feel something is off, just destroy it... Hey, Linzi, if you want to mess around, just say you're messing around. Don't drag the organization into it, okay?"
"Fine, then I'll recklessly go mess around. Please support me, organization," Xiao Mu replied with a smile, flipping the conversation back on Lian Qiang. Lian Qiang found himself both amused and helpless; he couldn't stop him. As he was leaving, Xiao Mu casually reached into his pocket and pulled out a stack of cash, stuffing it directly into Lian Qiang's coat pocket. Lian Qiang awkwardly protested, "This... this is too much."
"This isn't for you personally; it's for work. Dress better next time if you want to show off. This is a Western restaurant, not a street stall. Look at you—scruffy and sweaty—you're embarrassing the police," Xiao Mu said as he quickened his pace to leave. Lian Qiang cursed under his breath but felt an inexplicable sense of gratitude.
A thousand bucks—that was a significant amount! Usually, it was the police bribing informants; how did it turn into informants supporting the police this time?
Holding the money, Lian Qiang felt a mix of emotions and struggled to process it all...
……………………………………
……………………………………
Sitting elegantly back in his seat, he flashed a smile at Jia Fangfei across the table, lightly sipping champagne while cutting into his tenderloin. He forked a piece and gracefully brought it to his mouth. For the first time, Jia Fangfei noticed how elegant someone's eating could be; she couldn't help but admire him. The pieces of tenderloin he cut were nearly uniform in size, creating a visually pleasing effect.
"Fangfei Jie, you don't seem to have much of an appetite," Xiao Mu asked softly, maintaining his gaze.
His gaze was as intense as fire, causing Jia Fangfei to instinctively avoid direct eye contact. She smiled and asked, "Have you spent a long time abroad?"
"Yes, not short..." Xiao Mu replied cautiously, wondering if this was yet another test.
It didn't seem like it; Jia Fangfei curiously inquired, "Then why choose this path?"
He shouldn't have fallen to such depths; after all, he was a returnee. Xiao Mu chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "It's an era where there are more beasts than people; being a returnee is worth less than a dog. The center of the world is in China now; the value of studying abroad is as fake as domestic knockoffs—it's reached an absurd level... You won't be fooled by that title, will you?"
Xiao Mu suddenly recalled what his friend Su Rongle had said; it seemed he had indeed been away too long and didn't quite understand the current situation back home. Throughout this journey, he felt he had witnessed more than during ten years of studying abroad. Jia Fangfei smiled and found his honesty oddly endearing; however, it also made her feel that he was more complex than he appeared. She gently set down her knife and fork and lowered her voice to ask, "This afternoon you mentioned psychological disparity... could you provide more detailed advice?"
"It's very simple. Giving someone a big pie is definitely more persuasive than just drawing one," Xiao Mu said.
Indeed, any preaching or teaching is merely about promoting a vision, essentially drawing a pie to satisfy hunger.
But isn't that a scam? If you really give them a pie, can it still be called a scam?
Jia Fangfei pondered this. Seeing her struggle to grasp the concept, Xiao Mu quietly incited her, "There's an old saying: if you want to take something, you must first give something. It's straightforward. You need to remove others' psychological doubts, and with your current resources, you can absolutely do it. Your company's promotional video was quite good; it must have cost a lot... For example, I once saw a news story about a certain tycoon company that brought in a truckload of cash to distribute year-end bonuses; another company rented an entire flight for a group trip... Just think, if people see such strength, wouldn't it be more effective than your promotion?"
"Oh, I understand now," Jia Fangfei said, enlightenment dawning as she envisioned that scenario.
Xiao Mu directly proposed the idea of distributing cash on-site—freshly prepared and piled up like a golden tower. In such circumstances, even the smartest person would see their intelligence plummet, and even the most skeptical would let down their guard.
While he spoke this way, Xiao Mu's mind was brewing mischief. If they dared to use this method, it would leave them impoverished with no chance of recovery.
However, Jia Fangfei seemed convinced and mused aloud, "Virtual and real... Actually, we could use this line of thought to create some visual materials."
Xiao Mu nodded with a smile. "Exactly. What is virtual can become real; what is real can become virtual. Our thousands of years of culture are filled with such wisdom. Fighting against heaven and man is endlessly enjoyable."
Jia Fangfei squinted her eyes and smiled brightly, as if her heart had blossomed. She raised her glass and lightly poured some for Xiao Mu while softly asking for his advice. Meanwhile, Xiao Mu combined his observations of various scams to offer Jia Fangfei reasonable suggestions. For instance, if an international company wanted to establish itself in a second- or third-tier city like Tongguan, they needed to prepare a solid explanation; if they gathered so many people together, meticulous arrangements were necessary to avoid being seen as an illegal assembly; and for the company's members, there should be a unified model to prevent any imitation from raising suspicions since information was so readily available nowadays.
Jia Fangfei listened with great interest, nodding frequently. From her composed expression, Xiao Mu inferred that these arrangements had likely been well-prepared already. After talking for a while, he suddenly stopped and awkwardly said, "Oh, sorry! Am I overstepping? Have these companies already made their preparations?"
"Of course," Jia Fangfei replied with a smile. "But hearing your suggestions makes me feel quite reassured... Come on, let's toast to our careers!"
"Cheers!" Xiao Mu raised his glass with a grin as he clinked it against the beautiful woman's. Inside, he felt a twinge of surprise—as if witnessing an unimaginable scam once again—this time likely bigger than he had anticipated.
Yet Jia Fangfei seemed distracted, often gazing at Xiao Mu with an intent look. It wasn't until near the end of the meal that Xiao Mu suddenly realized he had overlooked the most crucial matter.
A man and a woman together always create a scene.
He lightly swirled his wine glass, his eyes peering through the glass at Jia Fangfei across the table. At that moment, her delicate features blushed like red wine, and in the softly playing music and the murmured whispers around them, it was easy to let one's imagination wander.
"You seem lost in thought. What are you thinking about?" Jia Fangfei asked with a smile, as if she already knew the answer.
"If I say I'm thinking of you, would that ruin the mood?" Xiao Mu teased.
"A little. Tell me, do all men do this? When they see a beautiful woman, does their pituitary gland just start daydreaming?" Jia Fangfei joked.
When she tilted her head and smiled, there was a hint of mischief in her expression, reminiscent of a girl playfully teasing her guardian. Xiao Mu chuckled and replied, "Men definitely do that. So, does that mean when a beautiful woman sees a handsome guy, her pituitary gland is also daydreaming about mutual affection?"
"Mm." Jia Fangfei pondered for a long moment, as if confirming something, but her expression was rich with nuance. She smiled and countered Xiao Mu's question, "Are you trying to test me?"
"Aren't you testing me as well?" Xiao Mu retorted.
"Then you should be careful. I'm also a trickster, the kind that deceives with emotions," Jia Fangfei warned playfully.
Her tone only added to the ambiguous atmosphere. Xiao Mu took a sip of his wine, grinning mischievously as he whispered to her, "You can tell I'm quite the romantic... It seems we can indeed start taking some substantial actions."
"Are you sure? I haven't noticed anything at all," Jia Fangfei shook her wine glass in denial. However, her teasing tone, passionate gaze, and smiling demeanor told Xiao Mu an entirely different story.
It was simple; this woman was capable of seduction.
Xiao Mu assessed based on his experiences with numerous women from various backgrounds.
…………………………………
This segment, having crossed thousands of mountains and rivers, returned to the distant Provincial Capital of Chang'an, hundreds of miles away...
In the project team's base, a large cubicle office was filled with the sound of audio playback. The screen froze on a scene in a Western restaurant, where a passionate couple was visible through the window. The male and female officers analyzing the audio occasionally exchanged knowing smiles.
What was described as **, when viewed from another angle, took on a different context in the eyes of the police.
"Our Internal Line has done an excellent job; it has revealed a lot of information. This company has engaged in corporate promotion, so we should be able to find clues from their film and television production."
"They just finished renovations; we should be able to find the company that provided those services. Following this lead, let’s check the payment accounts for Check."
"Since each payment is sixty-nine thousand eight hundred, they must have prepared accounts; it’s unlikely they received all cash."
"Since personnel are already on their way, they must have gathered different targets in some form. We need to check vehicle rentals and closely monitor vehicles entering and exiting Tongguan recently."
"This Jia Fangfei is very suspicious; let’s Check her background..."
The three leading officers, Fan Wenjie, Ye Tianshu, and Luo Guanquan, were immersed in the continuously emerging clues, appearing somewhat excited. The information brought back by an Internal Line was far more intuitive and detailed than what could be gleaned from undercover work or Field Duty. Those present could already sense that after so many difficulties and repetitions, the moment to unveil this dark plot was finally approaching.
By the time the two concluded their tasks, it was already twenty-one hours. Field Duty was reporting on the target's whereabouts. At this moment, the three Commanders reluctantly withdrew their thoughts from the ongoing investigation. Several internal staff members working overtime were replaying recordings, anxious not to miss any detail. Using this as a lead, investigations in several directions quickly commenced.
Soon, units providing renovation services in Tongguan City were listed.
Quickly after, vehicle rental registration units across the province were compiled.
Before long, results regarding Jia Fangfei's background check came in.
In the end, this result still made Fan Wenjie frown. The household registration data found no matching individuals. The search for the name "Jia Fangfei" yielded over two thousand results nationwide, none of which matched. Furthermore, the criminal information database returned no results.
"Perhaps aside from Tu Shenhao, all the others are false identities. As long as these false identities remain undetected, Tu Shenhao, a figure in the Surface Issue, is safe," Ye Tianshu remarked as he glanced at the search results.
Since it was a crime, there had to be an effort to conceal their real identities in everyday life. However, the methods used by groups like Pyramid Scheme were a notch above others, and what made it even more challenging was that they rarely recruited individuals with criminal records. Consequently, even the crime information database that the police relied on for investigations became useless.
However, Luo Guanquan had a different perspective. He smiled and reminded them, "This just shows that our direction is correct. If we could uncover a criminal record by simply typing a few keys, it would only heighten our suspicions."
The three of them laughed. Director Fan Wenjie said, "Most cases are solved by following leads, but this time it seems we have to wait patiently. I’m thinking we can’t afford to make mistakes; you two work hard and don’t overlook any clues. From now on, we need to be in a state of readiness and establish twenty-four-hour surveillance and protection for this Internal Line individual... his value is increasing."
"We're already on it; the follow-up team has just connected with Lian Qiang and Ma Fenghuo," Ye Tianshu replied.
"What about 3326?" Fan Wenjie asked.
"No good," Ye Tianshu shook his head. He explained that 3326's physical characteristics and background could only get him to the Thug level. Currently being used as a driver, he couldn't penetrate the core of this scam group at all.
The leaders were left speechless by this outcome; their carefully prepared undercover operation had not yielded much. Who would have thought they would stumble upon a treasure halfway through? The group strolled into the conference room, discussing their findings with lingering interest. Just as they were about to leave, Fan Wenjie suddenly remembered someone he had overlooked and turned back to ask, "Do we have any leads on Lu the Madman?"
"Oh..." Ye Tianshu pulled out his PDA and checked for updates. He reported, "He Yuguo appeared in Binhai City. The Binhai authorities looked into his itinerary based on his false identity and found high-speed train travel records leading to Lu Hongbo's whereabouts in Zhongzhou City."
"What was he doing?" Fan Wenjie asked cautiously; Lu the Madman was a breakthrough point in this case, yet now he seemed to have gone off the radar.
"We initially couldn’t find him, but then we discovered something from the Zhongzhou City 402 task force report," Ye Tianshu handed his phone to Director Fan. Old Fan took a look and chuckled helplessly, "What? He’s been sent back to a Mental Hospital again?"
"Yes, he was caught teaching at a Pyramid Scheme hideout and detained for two days. They couldn't deport him or take any action against him; he ended up being sent for mandatory treatment at a Mental Hospital like us," Ye Tianshu explained.
This absurd outcome left Fan Wenjie momentarily speechless as he returned the phone and asked incredulously, "So does this mean that when these General Managers used him, they didn’t mind? And once they were done with him, they just cast him aside? That’s incredibly utilitarian!"
Although he was a celebrity, it seemed that his position in this Pyramid Scheme gang wasn't very high; otherwise, he wouldn't have been caught so many times.
"I suppose the mastermind behind this, Boss Jia, is also playing the game of openly building a platform while secretly maneuvering behind the scenes? And Lu the Madman is just one of the pawns, serving to divert attention. From the reports from neighboring provinces, their Pyramid Scheme activities appear to be sporadic, unlike our area, which is a disaster zone," Ye Tianshu said.
At that moment, Luo Guanquan chimed in with a smile, explaining, "Lu the Madman's ambitions are too grand. He definitely can't be used for meticulously planned operations like Tongguan. This is probably how his life will go; those General Managers treat him to food and drinks, and then he ends up repeatedly going in and out of the detention center and Mental Hospital."
"Haha, pity the poor; they must have their own faults," Fan Wenjie remarked, expressing no sympathy for such scum.
The adjustments were underway, and the list of Police Forces that could be cross-utilized had already been drawn up.
At the forefront of surveillance points, personnel had been expanded. A team from the Provincial Capital arrived with a disguised communication vehicle—something only used for major cases. With two drivers, two communication officers, and a Field Duty team in threes, along with Lian Qiang and his group, they could form three teams. Such a powerful lineup showed how much importance the task force placed on this Internal Line.
At 10:30 PM, through the surveillance camera, Xiao Mu and Jia Fangfei returned to their residence at Washington World and entered their apartment building.
"Qiangzi, how did we end up nurturing this Internal Line? It's gotten so bold that it's practically burrowing into their guts," a new Field Duty officer asked enviously. An Internal Line like this was simply something one could hardly hope to encounter.
"Haha, if I told you, you'd be envious to death. It's not us nurturing him; he's actually supporting us... You see, our expenses these days are all covered by the Pyramid Scheme gang," Lian Qiang boasted as he waved a stack of cash around, handing out bills to his colleagues—just one each as a token of greeting.
"You know this violates Discipline," one Field Duty officer said sternly as he took the money and casually stuffed it into his pocket. "But since you're being so generous, I won't report you."
"Get lost, you think you're so clever after getting something for nothing," Lian Qiang scolded.
A few familiar and unfamiliar faces exchanged greetings before parting ways. Their task was to follow orders and ensure the safety of the Internal Line, but they had no idea who or where it was.
Lian Qiang returned to the observation point, tossing the late-night snack box aside. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed Ma Fenghuo and the driver sneaking around, peering intently at the surveillance monitor. He approached them suspiciously and asked curiously, "Oh, are you watching something interesting?"
The driver quickly covered up, "No, they're just discussing their dreams."
There was definitely something going on. Lian Qiang pushed the driver aside and leaned closer to the camera. At a glance, his jaw dropped. He saw Xiao Mu and Jia Fangfei passionately kissing on the sofa in the room. Jia Fangfei was straddling him, looking incredibly alluring as they kissed. With both hands raised, she had already pulled off her shirt, revealing her fair skin.
"Go away... let me see..."
"Don't crowd, don't crowd; I haven't seen it yet."
"Oh... oh my gosh, they're really going at it?"
"Qiangzi, didn't they just meet yesterday?"
Lian Qiang corrected with a smile, strictly speaking, it had only been half a day.
Whispers of surprise erupted again. Wow, they were getting intimate in no time—master-level skills! Oh wow, look at those two in the monitor; it seemed like they were about to strip completely! Oh wow, Xiao Mu carried Jia Fangfei into the bedroom like a lamb and then pulled down the curtains... oh wow, now we can't see anything.
The driver hurriedly turned on the audio feed. Oh wow, there were wild laughter and excited shouts; various sounds rose and fell, stirring endless imagination. It made everyone's hearts race wildly. For a good ten minutes, the moans and teasing never ceased. After listening for a long time, it finally quieted down.
It felt like an emotional rollercoaster akin to a climax; hearts fluttered as everyone remained unsatisfied when suddenly another voice came through:
A woman's voice—Jia Fangfei—playfully scolded Xiao Mu, "You really are a trickster for bringing me to your place."
"I'm not lying," Xiao Mu denied.
"Isn't it you who talked to me about investing hundreds of millions to control the funds?" Jia Fangfei complained.
"You heard it wrong; just read 'funds' backward," Xiao Mu teased.
"Read it backward? Funds becomes... gold resources... sperm?" Jia Fangfei fell into the trap.
"Exactly! Just now, I invested hundreds of millions in you... that kind of sperm... haha..." Xiao Mu's mischievous laughter echoed.
"You're awful, you rogue!" Jia Fangfei pouted and playfully tackled him.
Lian Qiang and the others were stunned for a few seconds before bursting into laughter together.
Thousands of miles away, in the project team, the room full of overtime workers erupted in laughter. Even Director Fan, who rarely smiled, showed a grin, or perhaps it was a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Indeed, who is fooling whom?
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