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Chapter 103: A Quiet Departure
Meeting with Xiao Mu was arranged a week later, with a level of secrecy comparable to that of an Undercover Officer. The City Bureau dispatched a disguised communication vehicle, which began picking people up from Xiao Mu's residence early in the morning. They proceeded at the speed of public transport, while the City Bureau's traffic command center received orders to implement controls at several intersections, all to delay the meeting time.
Xiao Mu spent ten minutes reviewing the Case Situation. Song Lijuan had been confirmed to have been deceived into the trade without her knowledge. Pan Shuanglong stubbornly denied everything, while Widow Ma, Mourning Hair, and Old Cripple had all vanished. The only clue was that they had gone to the Northwest, where they were swept up by the group Xiao Mu had gathered, which had now crumbled in an instant. Various signs made him furrow his brow tightly.
He had made some progress, but it was only a small step forward with no further developments. As a Usury debt collector, no matter how well he performed, he could only be a Lackey. Moreover, the better he played the Lackey role, the further he drifted from any real clues.
Shen Lingchen asked him casually, and after listening to Guan Yiqing, he felt there was little of substance. She had been locked on a yacht for a night and then transformed into a debt collector. What puzzled her was how Xiao Mu could recount such an experience in such a calm tone.
The strange circumstances caused Shen Lingchen to frown as well. There was now an additional lead regarding Nie Qifeng, who had a history of violence and theft; this was definitely a fierce criminal. It was not surprising that someone like You Bisheng would be intimidated by him, considering Nie Qifeng's background as a former sanda athlete from Huainan.
The clues were not clearer now but rather more chaotic. The broken threads and fragmented narratives made it impossible to piece together any coherent story.
"What do you think we should focus on?" Shen Lingchen asked directly.
"It's hard to approach them. Even if they are thieves who have completed their initial accumulation, unless they return to their old ways, how can you catch them in the act?" Xiao Mu replied thoughtfully; the bizarre narrative increasingly piqued his interest.
"Can we confirm that Rong Wu is indeed the so-called Brother Five?" Shen Lingchen inquired.
"Is there a problem?" Xiao Mu asked.
"Yes, it's a bit strange," Shen Lingchen explained. You Bisheng showed no reaction upon seeing Rong Wu's photo, while Tongs' photo startled him. Pan Shuanglong's reaction was even stranger; he did not recognize either Tongs or Rong Wu when asked suddenly, and his bewildered expression seemed genuine. The task force's judgment suggested that he truly did not know them.
"That doesn't make sense; they all call him Brother Five. How could they not know each other?" Xiao Mu pondered aloud, baffled by the methods used in the underworld.
Another critical question arose as Shen Lingchen asked, "What do you know about Xu Gang's whereabouts?"
"You might have to fish for that information. I’m not sure about the exact location... It should be a smuggling fishing boat or some other vessel. I only heard the muffled sound of an engine," Xiao Mu replied.
"A smuggling fishing boat?" Shen Lingchen inquired.
"His yacht had oak barrels filled with red wine, the original ones. They could only have been smuggled from the Sea. I calculated the time; from departure to docking at Su Hang Bay, they must have taken a circular route, traveling at a steady speed of 45 nautical miles. If you calculate using the maximum radius, that’s their contact point. I figured it’s roughly on the high seas boundary. Meeting in the dead of night—could there be any other boats?" Xiao Mu explained.
Fishing for information? Silencing someone? Guan Yiqing's heart raced as she suddenly looked at Xiao Mu, whose unyielding expression felt almost like it could burn her.
Shen Lingchen gently urged, "If you feel it's dangerous, just come back."
"That's nonsense! Do you think I can just return? If they discover my questions, they might wipe out my entire family," Xiao Mu said fiercely, feeling gratitude towards Shen Lingchen but mostly glaring in anger.
After watching him for a while, Shen Lingchen said, "I'm sorry. I will do everything I can to protect you and your family."
"Thank you. Just don’t involve them... I can’t make sense of this right now. It feels like the path is right, but the direction is wrong. Everything seems strange, yet it doesn’t connect to any Theft Case. Even if it did connect, as I mentioned earlier, they might have already accumulated enough and no longer need to rely on theft to survive," Xiao Mu explained.
"Trust me, a dog can't change its nature; sooner or later, they'll act," Shen Lingchen stated.
"The problem is, when they do act, they won’t notify me," Xiao Mu retorted.
Guan Yiqing couldn’t help but chuckle at their exchange. Xiao Mu shot her an embarrassed glance while Shen Lingchen pondered before smiling and asking, "What’s your feeling? Tell me your feelings. You always manage to approach serious matters with a lighthearted attitude; share your thoughts with me."
A police officer's intuition can sometimes be more important than clues. Those seasoned Old Cops always seem to sniff out what criminals are hiding, and Shen Lingchen believed that Xiao Mu's instincts were far sharper than those of any officer.
"Wait, remember this..." Shen Lingchen reminded Guan Yiqing.
"First of all, this is a case done by a master, someone with a unique perspective. The substitute they found doesn't even know him, and is completely unaware. The target chosen is so hidden that even if it were stolen, they wouldn't dare to speak up. It's something deeply concealed, which only a master could accomplish. Focus on finding those around him; identifying the Locksmith is crucial."
Upon hearing this, Shen Lingchen nodded as Xiao Mu continued:
"Secondly, this person has strong control. During this time, I always felt like I was struggling in a web, afraid to move even slightly. You've seen their control; their actions are meticulous, with clear divisions of labor. The case operates like an assembly line; if you take any segment out of it, you won't know what they are actually doing... Moreover, at the slightest hint of trouble, they vanish without a trace. I almost admire them; up until now, I can't even map out the relationships among these people."
Xiao Mu expressed his deep sense of frustration, akin to a gambler being questioned about their poor skills or a lover being mocked for their lackluster performance—it's simply intolerable.
Shen Lingchen felt the same way; the lines on his face deepened as he began to experience his habitual sense of powerlessness. As an enforcer facing an endless stream of illegal activities, his abilities always felt inadequate.
"Thirdly, there's something else. I suspect there are people from them within your police force," Xiao Mu stated.
Guan Yiqing was taken aback, while Shen Lingchen asked sternly, "What's your reasoning?"
"First, Mourning Hair's hands wouldn't be so clean; there are always scattered goods coming in. It's impossible that only a few watermelon knives were found. Second, Widow Ma enjoys gambling and Mourning Hair enjoys pleasure; both of them have night lives. Yet on the day of the arrests, they were all at the company—too unusual. Thirdly, who leaked Xu Gang's identity as an informant?" Xiao Mu said sternly, fixing his gaze on Shen Lingchen as he emphasized each word: "Think carefully; it's like a test. Mourning Hair notified Xu Gang after 6:50 PM. I found out at 7:30 PM and arrived just in time to catch them... It seems like a meticulously planned operation. The informant isn't important; protecting the overall situation is what matters."
With no one left behind, Xiao Mu strained to recall this intricate scheme. It was precisely on the day Old Cripple left Suzhou and Hangzhou that the only unexpected event occurred—Panzi's arrest. If that hadn't happened, they might have eliminated Xu Gang without needing to leave.
Shen Lingchen and Guan Yiqing felt their hearts race with fear; often the unseen hand is the most terrifying. Yet where this hand comes from remains a mystery. If it originates from within, it would be even more frightening.
"Do you think Rong Wu could be this unseen hand?" Shen Lingchen asked directly.
"It's hard to say; he doesn't seem like someone who could control this group of underworld figures. However, an organizer of crime—especially professional criminals—would not personally participate in the acts themselves. If he were such a person, then finding evidence would be even more difficult," Xiao Mu replied.
This is common sense; a clever criminal does not commit the crime themselves, at most they teach others how to pull off a heist while they take their cut from behind the scenes. Even someone like Panzi knows to cultivate new talent to steal for him.
"It seems we can only wait for them to reveal a flaw," Shen Lingchen said, sounding a bit disappointed.
"There's one more thing... When I was collecting debts, I found out that a large portion of the money Nie Qifeng lent out went to public officials, including people from the police station. I was thinking, if I gave someone a few tens of thousands, could I get access to household registration information? Or when I need something done, would it be convenient to have someone who borrowed money from me? Tongs are quite famous in the Dongjiang area; in such circles, disposing of stolen goods isn't difficult... Nowadays, private lending is rampant; you can even mortgage your wife for something valuable," Xiao Mu said.
Shen Lingchen and Guan Yiqing were amused by Xiao Mu's words. Shen Lingchen nodded and said, "Alright, let's go back and digest this properly. We need to come up with a feasible plan as soon as possible... The contact method remains the same; for urgent communication, use the preset password via text. Time's running out, so prepare yourself."
"By the way, help me find a few people."
"Find people?"
"Yes, those Gourd Brothers."
"What about them?"
"Those two are reckless; they might come in handy. Their names are Hu Yiming and Li Xiaoyong. I suspect they’ve been caught by that police station or Branch. Find a way to get them out. As we just discussed, being here as Lackeys means they can't access anything valuable; we need to find a way to stir things up. I still haven't thought of a better plan."
"Hehe... Understood. I'll find them as soon as possible..."
Shen Lingchen understood Xiao Mu's intention; useless people have their uses, especially those who are single-minded—everyone likes to use such individuals.
As the car got stuck in traffic once again, the disguised communication vehicle's door swung open. Xiao Mu jumped out and quickly walked towards the next bus stop, disappearing into the bustling crowd in the blink of an eye on the surveillance screen.
"Check where those Gourd Brothers are," Shen Lingchen instructed.
Guan Yiqing searched for information on Skynet, retrieving data from various police stations and the case situations of Branch security incidents. Soon, she received news that Erhu Lu and Li Xiaoyong had been detained at Wangpo Bridge Detention Center, charged with attempted extortion and sentenced to a month in custody. Several others were involved in the same case and had also been locked up; however, there was no news about Big Gourd or Hu Yiming, suggesting he had not yet been caught.
"This is a case of brothers in misfortune; where there's one, there's bound to be another. Send two officers to keep watch and see if he shows up among those being fed and clothed," Shen Lingchen instructed.
For some reason, Guan Yiqing found it amusing to look at the suspect photo of Erhu Lu. This competition had reached its darkest hour, and she truly had no idea where the next glimmer of hope would come from...
Turning page after page through the dense financial records, Nie Qifeng noticed that the two finance staff members in the company lowered their heads in embarrassment.
Some individuals were just too outstanding, overshadowing others. Nie Qifeng estimated that they could recover around a million. It wasn't that he couldn't retrieve the money; it was just that doing so at such a low cost was impossible. In usury business, without causing chaos and stirring up trouble for borrowers, no deals could be made. Usually, he would have to hire tough-looking individuals who weren't afraid to fight, but this time, it was all unnecessary.
"How's he doing here?" Nie Qifeng asked casually.
He rarely visited; most business was conducted over the phone or discussed during meals. The accountant in charge of daily affairs, Li Derli, replied confidently, "He’s polite and diligent, gets the most work done without ever complaining."
Another cashier chimed in, "He's really impressive. I thought he wouldn't last long, but once he came on board, I noticed the others were struggling to keep up."
"Wow, this kid could be a manager! Ha ha! Go on then... Hey, bring me a cup of hot tea," Nie Qifeng ordered as he passed over the account book. He felt a surge of excitement; he genuinely believed he had struck gold. Old Cripple and Panzi hadn't exaggerated at all—this was indeed a treasure, a fierce warrior among them.
Before the tea arrived, there was a loud knock at the door. Frowning slightly, he watched as a woman entered uninvited. A waft of fragrance followed her as she flopped onto the sofa with an air of exhaustion. Nie Qifeng frowned again and asked, "Oh, Yingzi, did you play cards all night again?"
The woman hummed in response, saying she passed by and was just taking a break because she was tired.
She lay back on the sofa, tossing her handbag aside, her body sprawled out in a way that left Nie Qifeng feeling quite frustrated. He told her, "Your brother doesn't want you involved in our business, and you just won't listen, will you?"
"Business my foot! It's just usury, and you're pretending to be a manager... Ugh, my head hurts. Hey, is anyone out there? Bring me a glass of water!" the woman shouted. Nie Qifeng felt as if he had met his match and could only comply. He brought in a cup of tea and placed it on the table, asking, "Have you eaten breakfast?"
"Just got up. Did you eat? Ah, forget it; I don't feel like eating," she yawned widely, taking a sip of water. She looked around the rental company's office and exclaimed, "Brother Nie, this place isn't bad! How about I come here to be your manager?"
"I can't afford to let you lose money here for even a few days. Just drop it," Nie Qifeng replied dismissively.
"You're so stingy... Then lend me some money," she said, reclining back and rolling her eyes at him.
Suddenly, Nie Qifeng understood and asked with irritation, "You came all this way just to ask for money, didn't you?"
"Oh come on, Brother Nie! Lend me some; I'm almost out of gas money... How about I pawn my car to you? You do lend at usury rates, right? What’s the interest?" she inquired. But as soon as she asked Nie Qifeng, it became awkward for her, so she decided to ignore him.
When her attempts to persuade him failed, the woman began to play hardball. She said seriously, "If you don’t give me money, I’m not leaving."
"Then I'll call your brother. If he says to give it to you, then I will," Nie Qifeng threatened to make a call. The woman jumped up in alarm and snatched his phone away. Nie Qifeng chuckled at her and said, "Ha! You want to shift the debt onto your brother again? I mean Yingzi, how old are you? Why don't you find something proper to do instead of gambling every day? Besides, with your luck being so terrible, have you ever won?"
"Oh Brother Nie... please help me! I really have no money left. What am I supposed to do? I can't ask my brother..." Yingzi pleaded, wrapping her arms around Tongs and acting cute while trying to cling onto Nie Qifeng. He stood up and pulled her into his chair sternly saying, "If I say no, then it's no. Figure it out yourself... How can I give you money? If your brother finds out, I'll be in trouble."
"So you're not giving it to me?" Yingzi was furious.
"Absolutely not," Nie Qifeng firmly stated without compromise.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Tongs called for the person to come in, and Xiao Mu entered. Seeing Yingzi's furious expression made him pause as she pointed at him with an angry finger and shouted, "Get lost!"
"Who the hell is this crazy woman?" Xiao Mu exclaimed in surprise.
"What? What did you say?" Yingzi shot back, slamming her hand on the table.
"Oh, feeling bold enough to ask for a repeat?" Xiao Mu replied, noticing Tongs stifling a laugh. He realized he needed to figure out how to handle this situation, but it was proving to be quite a challenge.
This challenge was indeed difficult to navigate. The girl looked stunning, but her temper was something else entirely. She stormed over, waving her hands and ready to slap. Xiao Mu turned and ran, with Yingzi chasing after him. "You little brat, stop right there... How dare you insult me!"
"Who the hell do you think you are, causing trouble at the company... Dami, Er Dou, get her!" Xiao Mu shouted as he dashed around the table.
However, his shout fell on deaf ears. Dami and Er Dou were too scared to move and instead huddled in the corner. At that moment, Xiao Mu realized he might have made a mistake by provoking her. The girl was fierce; she swung a keyboard and threw a file box around, turning the office into chaos. No one dared to intervene. When she cornered Xiao Mu again, she kicked out at him, making him hop around while clutching his backside. As she went for another kick, Xiao Mu didn't care about appearances anymore; he quickly ducked under the table just in time. The girl twisted and ended up falling hard on the ground with a thud, crying out in pain and frustration, tears streaming down her face as she yelled, "You all ganged up on me... You bastard, you absolute bastard..."
Not one to back down from a fight, she took off her high heels and hurled them at Xiao Mu. Finally managing to escape, he slipped out through the front door with Dami and Er Dou nervously following behind him as they all ran together.
As they took the elevator down, Xiao Mu said with lingering fear, "Who was that?"
"Man, you're brave! You even dared to mess with her," Dami said anxiously.
"Yeah, we really stirred up trouble this time; we should get out of here fast," Er Dou added.
"But seriously, who is she?" Xiao Mu asked in confusion.
"She's the boss's boss's sister," Dami explained.
"What?" Xiao Mu was taken aback.
“That's the boss's sister up there. She often comes asking for money and never pays it back. Nie Zong dotes on her a lot,” Er Dou explained.
“Oh, that's bad. I thought she was just a little fling that Brother Nie was too shy to deal with. Is it serious?” Xiao Mu asked.
Both nodded; the situation was quite serious.
“Alright then... tell Brother Nie that I'm quitting. I can't afford to be retaliated against. If I can't handle it, I might as well avoid it.”
Once they exited the elevator, Xiao Mu had already taken off his suit jacket and tossed his phone into Da Mi and Er Dou's arms, finding the perfect excuse to escape. He left the building, hailed a cab, and jumped in, speeding away.
In the rearview mirror, he noticed a bright red Porsche parked at the entrance, modified and familiar in appearance.
Oh right, he recalled having seen this car with Le Zi outside the arcade. They had both been too shy to approach the owner. What a pity; he remembered her as an aloof and proud beauty, but the reality was quite disappointing...
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