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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 107: Caught in a Jar
The technical support team provided detailed positioning. At eight o'clock in the evening, Shen Lingchen and his team arrived at the Zhonghai Hotel in Suzhou and Hangzhou. The owner of the phone was located right in the room.
A phone number, a nickname: Azure Head. The phone number was from Shenzhen-Hong Kong, which made Shen Lingchen suspect that this was a thief sent back by Panzi. If they could catch one, it was likely to lead to a string of others. The operation was about to begin, but he hesitated, feeling uneasy about his doubts.
"What's wrong, Master?" Guan Yiqing asked softly.
"I've caught so many thieves, yet today I feel uneasy," Shen Lingchen said. This case had become a half-cooked meal; Pan Shuanglong was the key breakthrough. He expressed his suspicion, "It's rare to see someone hiding so deeply. What if they slip up?"
"The informant provided random clues; could they be on guard?" Guan Yiqing countered.
"They shouldn't be... Let's move; we can't wait any longer." He made up his mind; this case had dragged on long enough for him to bear.
The capture plan was also random. Guan Yiqing changed into a waiter’s uniform and knocked on the door to deliver complimentary bottled water. The room was 302. As he knocked, Shen Lingchen dialed Pan Shuanglong's number using the confiscated phone... A girl opened the door, and the person playing with their phone was just answering a call, casually responding with "Brother Pan." Shen Lingchen and Guo Wei rushed in and directly pinned the suspect down on the bed.
They closed the door and cuffed the suspect. The woman who tried to shout was ordered by Guan Yiqing to squat down. Guo Wei called for the Criminal Investigation team to come over for interrogation and transport back. At that moment, Shen Lingchen's gaze fixed on the woman, his eyes narrowing.
With bare legs, black-painted nails, heavy makeup, and a strong scent of perfume—something clicked in Shen Lingchen's mind as he exclaimed in shock, "Search her bag."
Guan Yiqing dumped out the woman's bag: wet wipes, aphrodisiacs, and a long string of condoms. Suddenly, Guan Yiqing understood what kind of person she was and sternly asked, "How much for special services?"
"Who’s doing what? We haven't even started yet; she just came up," the woman replied defiantly with a glare.
It turned out she was a service worker, seemingly not connected to Azure Head who might have brought a girlfriend. But this phone had just called someone "Brother Pan." Shen Lingchen quickly stepped in front of the captured suspect and stared at him intently for several seconds before suddenly reaching out with two fingers directly poking into the suspect's eyes. The suspect recoiled in fear and shouted for mercy. Shen Lingchen didn't believe him and grabbed his hand; as he felt around, an expression of frustration instantly spread across his face.
"Whose phone is this?" Shen Lingchen asked.
"It's not mine, it's not mine, it's Azure Head's," the person replied in panic.
"How do you know, Pan Ge?" Shen Lingchen pressed.
"Well... the phone shows Pan Ge's name, doesn't it?" the person stammered.
What’s going on? Guan Yiqing and Guo Wei were stunned, unable to comprehend. Shen Lingchen quickly arranged, "Hurry, cancel the notification, never call the police."
Shen Lingchen hurriedly led the two into a small restroom, shut the door, and then squatted at the entrance with a splitting headache, holding onto the suspect's phone.
Without even interrogating him, it had come to this. Guan Yiqing cautiously asked, "Master, what happened?"
"This person is definitely not a thief... His eyes are cloudy, his reactions are slow, especially his hands—loose and rough. If he had been living off theft for years, he wouldn't be like this," Shen Lingchen said mechanically, an unexpected look of fear flashing in his eyes.
"But Master, if you say that..." Guo Wei asked uncertainly.
"We might have triggered an alert; it's a trap set by the thief..." Shen Lingchen explained quietly. It was like setting up a point in prison to wait for the suspect to verify something. The two just now might have been a warning point set by the suspect. If everything here is fine, it means the police haven't traced him yet; if something goes wrong, then danger will be detected.
"So bizarre?" Guo Wei was astonished.
"Underworld Tactics; I haven't seen someone so clever and cautious in years... Previously, the informant picked up news about someone named Azure Head deliberately appearing in front of acquaintances to leave clues, just waiting for us to take the bait," Shen Lingchen said in a very low voice, feeling somewhat speechless at the disappointing news from the informant he had high hopes for.
"So that means they are scouting?" Guan Yiqing asked. News about Pan Shuanglong in prison surely couldn't leak out; they could only test through such means. Shen Lingchen nodded and said, "We need to make a move. We might have overestimated Pan Shuanglong; these people are not under his control."
"What should we do now?" Guo Wei asked.
"Let's interrogate him while we still have time," Shen Lingchen replied.
This guy was easy to interrogate. Shen Lingchen solved the case in less than five minutes. His name was Zhang Jun, and he had a history of drug use. It turned out he was arranged to stay here, provided with food, drinks, and drugs, waiting for someone to assign him tasks with the phone belonging to Azure Head. As for the woman, he had called her in on a whim.
The interrogation was successful, but now Shen Lingchen and his team found themselves in a dilemma. They couldn't take anyone away and had no idea how long they would have to stay here...
...
...
People with ambitions find it hard to be happy.
Those without ambitions find it hard not to be happy.
As another day came to an end, Small Gourd and Big Gourd gathered around Xiao Mu, toasting to another big brother: Lezi.
After extorting the restaurant, they were now scheming to extort a shopping center. Lezi was already immersed in the joy of their successful scams, grinning from ear to ear. Small Gourd and Big Gourd knew that Lezi had connections in the entertainment industry; he could dig up any negative news about anyone and deliver it to the right people. He was incredibly resourceful—things that couldn’t be accomplished even with a machete could be done with just a mention on television. Everyone would be terrified.
"Lezi, what’s the plan for today?" Erhu Lu asked flatteringly, while Big Gourd quickly poured wine and inquired, "How about I find you another pair?"
Xiao Mu spat out his drink. Lezi had been here for three days, and the Gourd Brothers were enthusiastically introducing women to him. They could send one after another into his room all night long. Lezi was overwhelmed; when he frowned, he said, "Don't bring that up. I’ve come to appreciate the benefits of a celibate lifestyle."
"Really? Are you seriously planning on being celibate?" Xiao Mu teased.
"Can't you hold it together? Who can handle it several times in one night?" Lezi spoke candidly.
"It's fine, I'll give you a couple of pills, you'll be as strong as ever," Big Gourd replied.
"Alright, you two stop messing with him. Don't let him have trouble making babies once he gets a wife," Xiao Mu said, pulling the boss along while Big Gourd chuckled and took a seat.
They were dining at San Du Hotel, and throughout the meal, phone calls came in regularly. Most of the time, Xiao Mu handled everything with just a few words. The two Gourd Brothers were immensely impressed; Xiao Mu's way of dealing with things was completely different from Lame Brother's. He never resorted to slapping or punching but was far more effective than that. The lookout and scouts worked in shifts at night without any chaos. Even the Liuying Guerrilla Team was still on duty but kept under control. Of course, the brothers no longer needed to do those things; they just waited to collect their commissions.
Lezi, who was getting tipsy, was quickly becoming a fan of Xiao Mu. He threw an arm around Xiao Mu and said, "Mu, I have something to ask you, and you have to agree."
"With delicacies to eat and beautiful girls to sleep with, what more could one want? Do you still have demands?" Xiao Mu laughed.
"Listen to me; how about we... partner up?" Lezi proposed eagerly. Xiao Mu smiled and shrugged his shoulders. Lezi exclaimed, "I've lived this long and only managed to accomplish this one thing; from now on, I want to treat this as my career."
"What thing are you talking about, Lezi?" Erhu Lu asked curiously.
"Extortion! It's so much fun, and we're standing on the moral high ground—it's like being a prostitute under an archway! Oh my gosh, why do I feel so accomplished?" Lezi said.
"Get out of here; that's just short-term play. You'll get into trouble sooner or later with that long-term," Xiao Mu replied, seeing things clearly. He couldn't stand the darkness in his heart and always approached problems from that angle.
Lezi shamelessly began to plead. "Xiao Mu said we were already partners! But that doesn't count as partnership; you manage so many people! As my partner, I should have some say in decision-making." Xiao Mu was pushed to his limit. "Fine, fine! Tomorrow you can be the boss and handle things, alright? You better believe me; this is BA management style—flat organization, detailed division of labor, streamlined processes. Do you understand?"
"Are you kidding? BA management for blind followers and thugs?" Lezi scoffed.
"This is called being impressive; I'm not joking. Only this simple method works best—teaching them to do simple repetitive tasks is the most suitable approach. For example, when spying, they don't even know what they're doing. Or for lookouts—they don't know the purpose behind it. Like..." Xiao Mu explained. This insight came from the unique operational style of their gang: fragmenting and streamlining the entire process made it incomprehensible to anyone but the planner. He paused there as the other three looked at him in confusion; it seemed they didn't understand at all. Xiao Mu smiled and clarified, "Let's not talk about BA anymore; let's discuss the letter B in between."
"Well, that's right. Let's talk about something everyone can understand... Forget that, it's pointless. Eating too much makes my stomach hurt, and thinking too much gives me a headache. I need to focus on something serious. Otherwise, you all should think about what other shady dealings are out there and find a way to make some extra cash," Lezi said, worried that there weren't enough dark secrets to exploit.
"There are definitely some, especially in the construction industry. Those migrant workers listen to our orders," Big Gourd replied.
"In the factories, there are plenty of shady dealings. Those bosses are worse than roosters; they work their employees to death," Erhu Lu added.
Although these two lacked formal education, they were filled with practical knowledge and could easily rattle off a list of issues. Xiao Mu reminded them, "Just earn what you can. Don't bite off more than you can chew and choke yourself. Look at you two, so dedicated that you're discussing work while eating!"
When it came to income, Big Gourd had plenty to say, complaining, "Brother Mu, we really are getting a bit less these days. The folks below are getting too comfortable. Back when Lame Brother was around, earning a hundred a day was impressive; now look at you—Big Head and the others are making money."
"You think your authority comes from nowhere? Without food and pay, how do you expect to have a team?" Xiao Mu scolded.
"Oh right, today I saw Dog Brother; he had someone with him in the car... Brother Mu, if Lame Brother and Ma Ye come back, what will happen to our good days?" Erhu Lu asked.
This was a serious issue; no one wanted to lose their position. Small Gourd and Big Gourd both looked at Xiao Mu, who smiled slightly and said, "We'll talk about it when they return."
But even if they did come back, it would be hard to command them again. After enjoying the good life and feasting on meat and bones, how could they be content with just soup? Xiao Mu didn't reveal his thoughts but curiously asked, "Who was in the car?"
"I don't know," Erhu Lu replied.
"Dog Brother is that one..."
"Golden Treasure, right? He’s got a thick gold chain around his neck; everyone calls him Golden Dog. He started out following Lame Brother but ended up staying with Ma Ye... You think he’d want to summon the old crew? Dog Brother doesn’t even look at us."
"He's been with Ma Ye for years now, living the good life. Why would he look down on us?"
"Little brat, if you don't want to come, then forget it."
"That guy seems to have opened a Toy Store for himself, definitely making money with Ma Ye. There was a time when Lame Brother called me to help him unload goods. Damn, I was exhausted, didn't even get a meal. If it weren't for the fact that I was afraid Lame Brother would come back, I would have wanted to punch him."
Big Gourd grumbled, clearly harboring resentment towards Golden Treasure. This ignored person caught Xiao Mu's attention; he thought hard, as if he had seen him from the very beginning. When he joined Ma Yubing, he was with Black Steel. How did everything turn upside down while this person remained unscathed?
"Hey, Big Gourd, Old Horse got into trouble but didn't get caught?" Xiao Mu asked.
"Seems like he's fine... Oh right, he's been asking about you. Our drivers all know him," Big Gourd replied.
Damn... Xiao Mu thought grimly. This was probably a thorn left by Ma Yubing. The events happening here likely couldn't escape those people's notice. With that thought, his mind raced as he debated whether to expose this person. It seemed unwise; he knew almost nothing about him and lacked convincing evidence.
Hey... hey... stop pretending to be deep and mysterious, Lezi nudged him, slamming a large cup of alcohol in front of him. Xiao Mu said, "I really don't get it. Knowing they can't drink more than me, they still want to challenge."
"Drinking is for getting drunk, chasing girls is for sleeping; who’s afraid of whom... Cheers." With a clink, Lezi downed his drink in one go.
At that moment, Xiao Mu's phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at it and headed toward the restroom while saying, "You guys drink less; you're always so drunk you can't find your way home." Once he stepped away from the table to answer the call, Shen Lingchen's deep voice came through, sending chills down Xiao Mu's spine as he asked in surprise, "What? Is someone setting me up? Damn it, it's just being a thief; does it have to be like some spy game?"
"Have you noticed anything unusual these days?" Shen Lingchen asked.
As Xiao Mu walked toward the restroom, he replied, "Nothing much... Oh right, Ma Yubing has a subordinate named Golden Dog—no wait, Golden Treasure. I never managed to win him over; it seems he's been secretly inquiring about me... but I haven't done anything."
"Be careful; something might happen," Shen Lingchen said quietly.
"What kind of trouble?" Xiao Mu's heart raced as he cursed under his breath. Just when things were finally looking up after a few good days and his career was just starting to take off, trouble was brewing again. Yet he couldn't afford to doubt Shen Lingchen's judgment; after all, experience counted for something.
"Who would have thought that this time Shen Lingchen couldn't clarify things either?" he said, "You're on the enemy's side, and you're asking me?"
"But I don't know! I'm the big brother now, and I have no one above me," Xiao Mu replied.
"You little brat, do you think you can get away with your misdeeds so easily? Be careful; there might be some movement soon." After Shen Lingchen finished speaking, the line went dead with a click.
Xiao Mu stood in the bathroom, stunned. Reflecting on his actions, he felt a flush of shame and embarrassment. This Gold Medal Informant had passed on false information—was he trying to get Old Shen killed?
Wait, that’s not right. It wasn’t just Old Shen who would be in trouble; he would be too. If Panzi's elusive gang of thieves found out about the message he spread, the consequences... He shivered at the thought, feeling an urgent need to relieve himself as he pushed open the bathroom door.
As he entered, darkness enveloped him. Before he could shout, something stuffed his mouth...
…………………………
…………………………
"Is it them?"
A van pulled up in front of the hotel, and the driver asked.
On the second floor, three men sat by the window, drinking and enjoying themselves.
"That's them—the two under Old Cripple. The other one is hard to see," one of them said.
"It should be them. The three are inseparable; Old Cripple has his territory all around Zhengmin Road. Everyone knows it's Wood Master's territory now—darker than Old Cripple himself. They’re in cahoots with the Street Office and Urban Development, swaggering down the streets collecting fees without anyone daring to stop them," another added.
"It seems... the news about Old Cripple and Ma Yubing should be with them," the driver said.
"Can't be wrong, they all came out together," came a voice from the darkness, suggesting there was another person present.
"Alright, don't make too much noise. You all guard the restroom and exit through the back door," the driver instructed. A few people got out of the car and headed straight into the hotel. After surveying the layout, they waited in the restroom, and it wasn't long before someone arrived.
Lezi had drunk too much. As he reached the restroom door, he was seized by two individuals who covered his head and dragged him away. They passed through the kitchen and flashed their police badges without saying a word before swiftly leaving.
A row of stunned Masters watched in disbelief as the figure disappeared. Finally, one of them asked in confusion, "Who was that just taken away?"
Indeed, not long ago, someone had also been taken away in a similar manner.
"Get to work, what are you staring at?" the Head Chef said impatiently, causing everyone to drop the matter.
The only two left, Big Gourd and Erhu Lu, had also nearly forgotten about it as they continued drinking. However, they soon realized something was off—where was everyone else? Big Gourd said, "Hey, where is everyone? Did someone fall into the restroom? I'll go check."
"Damn it, don't go! Finish this half bottle first," Erhu Lu shouted. Big Gourd swayed as he cursed, "To hell with that! I'm not drinking anymore; I’m going to find a place to have some fun. Once I’m satisfied with drinking, I’ll come back."
Just as they were arguing, a young man approached and called out, "Hey, Gourd Brother, the car is downstairs waiting for you."
"Hey! Brother Mu and Lezi aren’t drinking anymore?" Erhu Lu casually remarked.
The young man replied nonchalantly, "Yeah, they want you to come down."
As they stumbled along, each draping an arm over the young man's shoulder, Big Gourd asked, "Hey, who are you?"
"I'm not... your little brother, are I?" the man laughed.
"Nonsense, my little brother is right in my pants, haha." Big Gourd leered, and the other man awkwardly laughed along. Erhu Lu tugged at this man's ear and asked, "Who are you hanging out with?"
"Aren't I just following Wood Master and Gourd Brother?" the man mumbled.
This response was satisfying to hear. Erhu Lu let out a burp from the alcohol and patted the young fellow on the back. "Ah, kid, you've got some good sense. Tomorrow I'll promote you."
The two of them chattered as they went downstairs, swaggering out with a wave of their hands, instructing the new little brother to take care of things: go pay the bill.
The young man was left in a mix of laughter and frustration. He quickly pulled out his money, not bothering to collect change, and chased after Big Gourd and Erhu Lu straight to a van. As the door opened, one was tossed in while the other received a kick from behind. With a pull from above, both entered the van, which roared to life and sped away in a cloud of black smoke...
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