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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 111: Thunderous Advice
Clang... clang... The sound of iron doors opening and closing echoed through the corridor.
Shen Lingchen followed closely behind the prison guard, carrying a few items. They had been checked; it was just some food. This visit was a special approval, the first and likely the last time he would see You Bisheng before the trial.
Clang, the door opened. You Bisheng, shackled and lounging on a concrete bed, was picking at his toes, curiously watching Shen Lingchen.
"According to regulations, five minutes," the guard said, standing at the door like a hawk. From this point until sentencing, such serious offenders would be isolated. Shen Lingchen placed his items near the door, stepped a little closer, and forced a smile. "The environment isn't bad, Master You."
"Yeah, I've never had such leisure time before, haha," You Bisheng replied with a grin.
This morbid sense of humor was something even Shen Lingchen couldn't comprehend. With shackles on and a death sentence looming, it was remarkable that he could still laugh. Shen Lingchen smiled and said, "It really is peaceful; perhaps I shouldn't bother you anymore... May I ask you a few questions?"
"Ah, no need to be polite; go ahead," You Bisheng said. There was already a strange connection between them; their conversation felt less confrontational.
"Pan Shuanglong is still resisting. They've changed interrogators several times; I'm curious about that," Shen Lingchen inquired.
"Curious why he's so stubborn?" You Bisheng replied.
"Exactly," Shen Lingchen affirmed.
"What do you think?" You Bisheng asked with a smile.
"Is there an even heavier case?" Shen Lingchen continued.
You Bisheng's laughter crinkled his eyes as he gave Shen Lingchen a thumbs-up.
But he didn't say anything further, leaving his expression ambiguous—was it an affirmation or a denial?
The communication between law enforcement and criminals was never straightforward or completely honest. Those committed to crime often held secrets they would take to their graves without revealing to the police. Besides, seeing the police in such a predicament could be quite entertaining for them.
"After pondering for a moment, Shen Lingchen said, 'The one who stabbed you in the back is named Nie Qifeng. It seems that the Brother Five in your eyes is not the same as the Brother Five in Pan Shuanglong's eyes.'
'I’ve told you, Panzi isn’t even worthy of carrying my shoes. He’s just a petty thief sent by the company; how much could he possibly know?' You Bisheng replied with a laugh.
Looking back now, it seemed that You Bisheng was quite honest in some respects. Perhaps Pan Shuanglong's position was overestimated; it appeared there was a deeper background behind him. Shen Lingchen asked slowly, 'They won’t let you off easily. According to the rules of the underworld, with this kind of black-on-black situation, they will definitely want to eliminate you completely. If they spare your life, it must mean you have a mutual friend... and that friend must have considerable influence; otherwise, they won’t be able to save you. Maybe that person is the key.'
You Bisheng was slightly taken aback, then smiled awkwardly, speechless.
'Who is he?' Shen Lingchen asked.
You Bisheng didn’t answer but instead replied with a smile, 'Do you know why I’ve survived until now?'
'Why?' Shen Lingchen inquired.
'Because I don’t know enough, and I haven’t said enough,' You Bisheng said.
'But you're still doomed,' Shen Lingchen remarked.
'True, but I’ve lived quite splendidly for half my life... Being able to live so grandly and become famous in Binhai, you don’t think I’m just some lowlife without any sense of loyalty, do you?' You Bisheng countered.
'I understand. Thank you... Safe travels,' Shen Lingchen said slowly as he turned away. There was no possibility of reconciliation between their two opposing worlds; he wasn’t prepared to reveal what he wouldn’t tell.
'Hey, Old Shen...' You Bisheng suddenly called out.
Shen Lingchen turned back, looking at him with some anticipation.
'You’re a good cop. It’s a pity that if I had met someone like you earlier, maybe I wouldn’t have ended up like this,' You Bisheng teased with a smile.
'No need to be polite. If you’re sentenced to death, I’d gladly see you off,' Shen Lingchen replied with a venomous sarcasm.
With a sudden sigh, You Bisheng wiped his face and said with a somber gaze, 'That’s why I say you’re a good cop; you can only hate people like us bad guys and will never understand why bad people are so bad.'"
As one approaches death, do their words become kind?
Shen Lingchen cast a suspicious glance at him, not expecting such a reaction. You Bisheng closed his eyes and turned away, seemingly unwilling to speak further. Shen Lingchen slowly stepped back, the heavy iron door clanging shut behind him, sealing off that strange and isolated world.
It was becoming increasingly bizarre and incomprehensible. You Bisheng, who usually spoke in coarse language, had returned to his usual demeanor. Shen Lingchen wondered if he was hinting at impending death or something else entirely. He felt that there was something off in his words but couldn't pinpoint what it was. The only thing he could be sure of was that, as You Bisheng had said, it was impossible to understand their peculiar world.
When something is taken to the extreme, it can be commendable; when bad deeds are taken to the extreme, they might have a similar effect. At that moment, Shen Lingchen realized that this notorious villain had his own way of doing things; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to lead hundreds of people and dominate Binhai for years. Unfortunately, his way was something Shen Lingchen, standing in the position of a police officer, could not comprehend.
After passing through four iron doors, Guo Wei approached him, startling Shen Lingchen, who was deep in thought. He blurted out, "What are you doing here?"
"Master, there's an emergency meeting. I couldn't find you anywhere and figured you must be here," Guo Wei replied.
"Oh, the maximum-security area is isolated. I waited all afternoon for a chance to see him... What meeting?" Shen Lingchen asked.
"A case situation analysis meeting. The City Bureau and the Criminal Investigation Bureau are holding a joint meeting. The Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission and the Provincial Department's Criminal Investigation Division are also attending. They've even invited an advisor from the Provincial Department's Crime Research Division. Political Commissar Zhang Hulin said over the phone that they want to review the case situation and need us to prepare quickly," Guo Wei explained.
"It's finally here... What time does it start?" Shen Lingchen inquired.
"For confidentiality reasons, it's at midnight," Guo Wei replied.
"Let's hurry; it's our turn to be interrogated tonight," Shen Lingchen said gloomily as he rushed into the car. The two vehicles drove back to the Ten Squad task force headquarters one after another.
As midnight approached, several cars arrived at the task force headquarters. Aside from a few who were working overtime, Shen Lingchen had already sent everyone else home to rest. They had been engaged in a fatigue battle for nearly a month with no progress made; morale was low. According to industry practice, this task force would likely end up with one of two outcomes: either a change of personnel or indefinite suspension of the case. Given that no one would likely take on this case, indefinite suspension seemed more probable.
"Guo Wei, what do you think it will be?" Guan Yiqing asked Guo Wei as they tidied up the meeting room and waited by the door. Guo Wei glanced into the distance and said, "It should be the second option—indefinite suspension—there are plenty of unresolved cases."
"This is quite significant; Lin Qizhao from the Provincial Department's Criminal Investigation Division is known for handling cross-border crimes; Chen Dingli from the Crime Research Division is a PhD who studied in America and is a visiting professor at Political Science University; plus representatives from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, Criminal Investigation Bureau, and City Bureau... They must be here to review this case," Guan Yiqing observed keenly as she spotted a young superior and an elderly man with gray hair, speaking with a hint of envy.
"Strange," Guo Wei said. "You actually know him?"
"The information department has put out a warning list, and Lin Qizhao is at the top," Guan Yiqing whispered.
Guo Wei glanced at Inspector Lin Qizhao, who was walking over. After thirty years, he still looked impressive, making Guo Wei, a young officer struggling at the grassroots level, feel inferior. Even Shen Lingchen, standing beside him, seemed awkward in comparison. Not to mention the two portly Political Commissars from the City Bureau. After a long pause, Guo Wei finally managed to say, "You guys are something else; you even dare to fantasize about the leaders from the Provincial Department."
"So what? Haven't you male officers ever fantasized about the police flowers in the bureau? Don't even get me started on all the departments; they all find excuses to go to the information department," Guan Yiqing laughed.
"Oh, I see now. You seem quite pleased with yourself?" Guo Wei asked.
"Wrong. On the contrary, I left because of that," Guan Yiqing replied.
She was proud, and this statement made Guo Wei think she had every right to be. Not everyone could give up such a comfortable position. As the crowd drew closer, they fell silent and saluted a group of leaders entering the conference room. In this setting, Guo Wei and Guan Yiqing became mere assistants serving tea and water.
The meeting got straight to the point, with documents and images presented. The Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission provided records of multiple inquiries regarding Wang Zihua and Kang Zhuang. Shen Lingchen succinctly reported on the progress of the case situation. The updates from Guo Wei and Guan Yiqing were essentially templates; in reality, progress was limited to discoveries in two neighborhoods. Before investigations could commence properly, Pan Shuanglong was arrested, which led to issues in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Meanwhile, Song Lijuan, a female civil servant involved in renting properties, had only minor involvement in the case. The two lines of inquiry were tangled and unclear, making it difficult to discern any coherent narrative. Even when mentioning Rong Wu and Nie Qifeng briefly, Shen Lingchen concluded without clarity on what should be prioritized.
The expressions on several leaders' faces indicated their dissatisfaction. City Bureau Commissioner Zhang tapped his fingers on the table and scolded, "Look at you, Old Shen! Since Song Lijuan is involved in this case, measures should be taken. How can you determine her minimal involvement based solely on her word?"
Shen Lingchen's expression turned slightly difficult as he replied, "Commissioner Zhang, until we have further evidence, it's better to proceed cautiously. If we take measures—whether detaining or interrogating—against an ordinary person without solid grounds, it would ruin their life."
Guan Yiqing felt a slight shift in her perception of her mentor upon hearing this.
However, those above were not receptive to caution. A representative from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission asked sharply, "What about Pan Shuanglong? It's been days since his arrest; haven't you made any progress? You haven't even clarified his relationship with Wang Zihua regarding the theft case?"
"Captain Ma," Shen Lingchen began carefully, "Pan Shuanglong has been stealing since he was fifteen; he's thirty-eight now. His criminal history is longer than most of us have been police officers. Just look at his record; it's a textbook case of antisocial personality disorder. Interrogating someone like him isn't as straightforward as dealing with corrupt officials; most suspects with zero cooperation come from such antisocial backgrounds."
The representative from the Disciplinary Committee turned his head slightly in displeasure. Director Zheng Kegong shot Shen Lingchen a warning glance to be cautious with his words. Clearing his throat twice, he looked toward the Provincial Department representative and cautiously asked, "Director Lin, we're currently at a loss here. The pressure from above is intense while we're overwhelmed down here; this is a case from two years ago—it's hard to find a way out right now."
It was an attempt to spark ideas. Lin Qizhao held an electronic file and after listening intently set it down before fixing his gaze on Shen Lingchen. One appeared vibrant while the other looked utterly defeated—a stark contrast between them. After a moment, Lin Qizhao smiled and said, "Deputy Commissioner Shen, if I remember correctly, you're still under suspension?"
"Haha." Shen Lingchen's expression darkened slightly as he replied with a smile, "Yes."
Mentioning this matter, the faces of the City Bureau and the Criminal Investigation Bureau turned grim. This task force was not as orderly as one might imagine, especially with the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission keeping a close watch on Commissioner Zhang. Commissioner Zhang quickly explained, "Deputy Commissioner Shen specializes in tracking Theft Cases. He is quite skilled in the police circles of Suzhou and Hangzhou. We had no better options, so we invited him here."
Lin Qizhao interjected, "I don't mind who you invite, but I do mind if the investigation is conducted improperly. I have a few questions... Can you answer them?"
"My knowledge may be limited," Shen Lingchen replied.
"First, measures should have been taken regarding Song Lijuan, yet you did nothing. Law enforcement isn't about leniency; your explanation just now lacks weight. That's one of your mistakes," Lin Qizhao stated.
He looked at Shen Lingchen, whose pale face had drained of color, reminiscent of the moment he received the order for suspension—a chilling sensation. Lin Qizhao continued, "Secondly, there's a directional error. I saw the information you collected; it's all from so-called informants. This list is alarming—twenty-three brands of items, over forty types; there are brooches, pendants, wallets... Yes, there are more than thirty styles of wallets, categorized by men's and women's. How can I believe that's likely? Memorizing all these brands would take at least ten days! Can someone remember everything after just one distribution? Could it be that the informant is just fabricating stories to scam some funding? Even if we assume it's all true, what relevance does it have to this case? Are the suspects in street thefts and high-end burglaries from the same group? You haven't even touched the national database of similar or related crimes; don't you think that's completely off track?"
This pointed to a critical issue that Guo Wei and Guan Yiqing had long failed to grasp. They were somewhat impressed that this outsider could see it so clearly. Shen Lingchen sighed and said, "Director Lin, crime escalation happens gradually through accumulated cases. No one can leap directly into major cases; I'm looking for their roots."
"Have you found them?" Lin Qizhao asked.
"I have found them; I will inform you," Shen Lingchen replied.
"But You Bisheng certainly hasn't told you anything. Don't you think it's a waste of time dealing with such antisocial scum?" Lin Qizhao countered. Shen Lingchen sighed again, speechless; Lin Qizhao might be right—it indeed felt like a waste of time.
"There's also a third point," Lin Qizhao pointed out. "I heard that you dispatched officers to Suzhou and Hangzhou again two days ago to arrest a drug suspect and a sex worker... Deputy Commissioner Shen, can you tell me why you're overstepping your bounds in a matter that should be handled by the precinct? Just because it was information provided by an informant? According to your records, it seems his clues were incorrect."
Shen Lingchen could only click his tongue in frustration. A member from the Disciplinary Committee added, "Our comrade here isn't being lazy in this manner; the police force we're currently utilizing is elite. We can't afford to have all our leads be wrong."
"This isn't something to rush into; sometimes case situations require patience," Shen Lingchen said earnestly.
Lin Qizhao picked up on his words and added, "But if you're going off in the wrong direction, you'll never reach your destination... I suggest you adjust your investigative approach by using our big data methods to analyze suspects. For such a significant case, it's impossible for suspects to remain completely anonymous. The only advantage you have is determining that the suspects are definitely local rather than transient criminals."
Lin Qizhao leaned back after finishing his critique and turned to Chen Dingli. The veteran cleared his throat and said, "We are here on behalf of the Provincial Department. First of all, please don't have any objections; both upper and lower levels are anxious right now, but our anxiety won't help... I have a strange thought—not aimed at Deputy Commissioner Shen—let's discuss: Is there still any possibility of solving this Theft Case that has been submerged for two years? If so, how great is that possibility?"
He looked around at everyone present; this question alleviated some of Shen Lingchen's embarrassment. Mentioning this topic made it clear how daunting it was—after a moment of silence, Commissioner Zhang cautiously spoke up: "Based on my experience, the possibility is indeed quite low."
This was the truth; Zheng Director deeply agreed and added, "To say something irresponsible—I also had ulterior motives in transferring Deputy Commissioner Shen here with an intention to shift blame—but everything he has done has been noted by me. If we uncover something, everyone will be happy; if we don’t find anything, I will share responsibility with Deputy Commissioner Shen and will request disciplinary action from the organization."
Shen Lingchen found himself in a predicament, caught between the pressure to speak the truth and the need to maintain his composure. It was a moment of reckoning; he had no choice but to lay everything on the table. The higher-ups were anxious, and that urgency trickled down to him: at worst, he would face some consequences, but it wasn't as if he had committed any crime.
“Let’s not get sidetracked; it’s not yet time to discuss accountability… Alright, based on what everyone has said, it seems the likelihood is low,” Chen Dingli interjected, holding up a list he had hastily compiled. “Twenty-seven notable antiques, jade pieces, and artworks—three have been sold and discovered. What about the rest? Why not start from there?”
“Old Chen, I’ve dealt with thieves my whole life. Trust me, collectors guard their treasures even more tightly than thieves do. Even if they know something is stolen, no one will hand it over. The purchase price might be significantly lower than the market value,” Shen Lingchen replied, explaining why he hadn’t pursued stolen goods.
“That makes sense,” Chen Dingli pondered for a moment. “But from your case report, I can’t see your direction. How do you explain that?”
“My direction is straightforward: stir things up in the underworld and get those lurking in the shadows to move. The area isn’t that large; so far, we’ve identified several suspicious connections. I believe the answers lie among them or nearby. They might even know that this investigation has resumed. If I can find one flaw, I might uncover their roots,” Shen Lingchen stated. He spoke subtly; the truth felt like a mirage—more elusive as he approached it, yet vaguely visible from a distance.
“I can’t comprehend this. Perhaps your grassroots methods differ from our thinking, but that’s alright… Now then, I’ve checked your logs; you’ve been circling around Rong Wu, Nie Qifeng, Ma Yubing, and He Shi. Unfortunately, even Ma Yubing and Mao Shiping have gone missing. The case situation shows they are only connected to Pan Shuanglong… Yet the same case situation indicates that Pan Shuanglong doesn’t even know Nie Qifeng or Rong Wu. And your relationship chart? It’s not a tree but a circle of relationships—like a social network… With all due respect, how does this not resemble enemy intelligence work? Layer upon layer without pinpointing key points means you can’t catch anyone and solve this mystery?” Chen Dingli questioned.
His concern was that they had complicated a simple issue; a group of thieves shouldn’t have such a tightly-knit organization.
At this point, Lin Qizhao chimed in: “Deputy Commissioner Shen, you’re not suggesting this is just your speculation? A core circle, an execution circle, an outer circle—each possibly unaware of the others? It sounds like something out of espionage.”
It was Xiao Mu who brought this up. Facing the scrutiny of the group, Shen Lingchen thundered back: “Yes, it is my speculation! I’ve cracked many difficult cases—not because I’m exceptionally intelligent or possess unique skills—but because I engage with people as friends or brothers, whether they are informants or suspects. Sometimes they reveal astonishing things to me… That’s where my speculations come from; they’re not baseless.”
The conversation veered off course again. Political Commissar Zhang Hulin noticed Shen Lingchen's rebellious attitude and cleared his throat cautiously: “Ma Chu and Lin Department Head, does the Provincial Department have any plans? Perhaps we should increase manpower; they’re barely holding on and are nearing their limits.”
This was an indirect way of saying they were inadequate and needed reinforcements—a suggestion that hit home for Lin Qizhao: “I currently have no cases on my hands; I’d genuinely like to tackle this unsolved case. I wonder if Deputy Commissioner Shen thinks I’m trying to steal credit?”
“I would welcome that; I’m on leave anyway,” Shen Lingchen replied with a smile.
“No way! If I come in, you must be present too; either you let me embarrass myself or I’ll make sure you’re convinced. A modern high-tech criminal investigation team should learn to utilize big data support to find suspect leads—not like in old movies where personal heroism solves everything by just showing up at the scene,” Lin Qizhao retorted aggressively, showing no restraint in his dissatisfaction with the legendary theft case expert.
The two exchanged sharp glances like hawks sizing each other up.
“This…” Director Zheng Kegong interjected eagerly: “A competition format sounds promising; I’m in favor.”
Having someone else take responsibility was beneficial. Chen Dingli chuckled and remarked on youthful exuberance while Lin Qizhao added: “Only by working alongside experts like Deputy Commissioner Shen can we ignite our motivation. Deputy Commissioner Shen, we’ve had an unspoken understanding for a long time, but I cannot agree with your methods.”
"Then let's start the first round," Shen Lingchen said expressionlessly, drawing the attention of those present. He spoke slowly, "I suspect—note that I am merely suspecting, with no evidence... I responsibly guess that in the near future, perhaps within a day or two, there will be an astonishing theft case occurring around Binhai or Suzhou and Hangzhou. The target of the theft is likely to be high-value collectibles such as antiques; the method of theft should be similar to that of the Wang Zihua case, or even more sophisticated."
Under extreme pressure, he made this startling judgment. Suddenly, he realized what Xiao Mu was likely up to, but he had no idea who was pulling the strings behind all of this. Just like the cases laid out before him, those committing the crimes could easily become pawns unrelated to him.
The Leftover Crowd was stunned; could someone really predict future crimes? If that were possible, what would be the point of having police?
Lin Qizhao was shocked and exclaimed, "That's impossible! You guessed it without any incidents happening, and it's just a baseless guess?"
"Yes, a tipster taught me how to deduce an accurate target from subtle clues. Unfortunately, I didn't learn it well... Now, leaders, I request a two-day break. If I'm wrong, I won't come back. I've exhausted all my strength; I'm afraid I can't handle this case anymore."
Shen Lingchen stood up and saluted each leader present before pacing out of the meeting room. He hunched over as if he had aged several years. He walked past the skeptical gazes without receiving a single word of retention.
Because he seemed possessed by his thoughts; no one believed him—not even himself...
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