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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 113: The Mysterious Case Reappears
The windshield wipers moved mechanically, the rain falling neither too heavily nor too lightly, blurring Xiao Mu's view through the taxi window. He maintained his gaze, watching the bustling pedestrians and vehicles outside.
He was about to embark on a major case; the items to be stolen were undoubtedly of great value, and it was a gang operation. This felt more thrilling than reviewing any case file. Evading surveillance, breaking in, and then returning with a full load... why did it feel like his blood was gradually surging?
Report back? Forget it, there was no chance. He didn’t dare use the provided phone, especially with Lani sitting next to him. Right, Lani, this female thief was as calm as a virgin, not nervous at all. Xiao Mu couldn’t help but turn his head and ask, “Hey, Lani.”
“What’s up, handsome?” Lani leaned in closer.
“Don’t act like that; do you think I can’t see through it?” Xiao Mu said deliberately. As he spoke halfway, he noticed Lani looking at him curiously, and he added, “You and that guy have... something going on.”
“Huh? You noticed that?” Lani replied, puzzled.
He hadn’t really noticed; he had deduced it. The moment she expressed confusion, Xiao Mu confirmed that Nie Qifeng, being such a handsome thief, must have a certain charm with women.
Lani leaned against him again playfully: “Oh, are you getting jealous? No worries, if you want a taste, there might be a chance... Why are you staring at me like that?”
“I’m just curious,” Xiao Mu replied.
“Curious about what?” Lani asked.
“Clearly you could rely on your looks to get by; why do you choose to rely on your skills instead? Isn’t that exhausting?” Xiao Mu lamented.
However, this made Lani particularly pleased. She hooked her arm around Xiao Mu's and tilted her head against him: “You’re quite sweet-tongued; I’m starting to like you... Hey, how about a date?”
“I’m afraid that guy will deal with me,” Xiao Mu said. This girl had something going on with Nie Qifeng, and their relationship was likely not superficial.
But even if it were deeper, it was still temporary. Lani pouted: “Deal with what? This time is over; I guess we won’t meet again... I’m starting to feel reluctant about you. What did you see in my eyes?”
Lani teased, her hand mischievously reaching for Xiao Mu's waist, sliding directly along his belt. The boldness startled Xiao Mu, who quickly intercepted her hand and said, "Not here. I'll show you when we're somewhere private."
"Let me share some secret adrenaline with you... Heh, handsome, you seem a bit nervous. Are you scared?" Lani said, raising an eyebrow. Her gaze shifted to something more provocative, sharp as an arrow.
However, in front of a psychological expert, such looks lost their effect. Xiao Mu reached out slowly and playfully caressed her chest, saying with a hint of mischief, "The only thing I'm afraid of is that your hands won't be quick enough. After all, this is our first collaboration."
His voice was soft and suggestive, laced with double meanings. Lani leaned in closer and whispered, "Don't worry; my skills are top-notch. This definitely isn't my first time... Who knows, we might even go for a second round afterward. You'll love it."
Even the driver couldn't help but chuckle at that. Damn it, he thought; he couldn't outplay this seductive cat. Xiao Mu felt a mix of excitement and fear; this woman seemed to have made a habit of stealing—whether it was people or things—and compared to her realism, he felt like he was just theorizing.
As they flirted, they soon arrived at their destination. At the intersection ahead, they parted ways. Not far from there was the exit of the residential area. Lani strolled toward the overpass, pulling out a miniature telescope to watch for cars. Occasionally, she glanced back at Xiao Mu's direction until he disappeared from view. He had opened his umbrella and dashed toward the back exit where Azure Head was already in position.
"Hey, hey, report in Signal; this is Brother Five."
"Received, Azure Head."
"Received, Locksmith."
"Mainboard..."
"Locksmith, Mainboard; you can go in now... Lani, keep an eye on the cars."
Xiao Mu said as he reached the back exit, standing several dozen meters away. Vehicles were streaming out of the upscale community—a prime location indeed. He estimated that a square meter would cost no less than a hundred thousand. The target was a top-floor duplex apartment nearly three hundred square meters large; just the house itself was worth millions, and whatever treasures it held must be astronomical.
Running away now? It seemed convenient enough. In that final moment, memories of his broken family flashed through his mind; then there was the police officer with a weary face; most importantly was himself—if he went through with this job, being an informant could be more troublesome than simply being a suspect. This was his last chance to slip away unnoticed.
He had saved up some money now—enough to leave this dreadful city and start anew. He had often thought about returning to America, going back to school to continue his interrupted studies. Perhaps by working part-time while studying for his diploma, he could land a decent job and then leave this place forever.
Just as he turned to take a few steps away, he stopped again. Half of his mind was filled with thoughts of his father's new home and their happy family life together; the other half recalled the struggles he faced on the streets. He could read his father's thoughts accurately—likely indifferent and detached—waiting for years before coming to see him again. By then, perhaps he would have become a resilient and responsible man like his father had hoped for him to be.
"I'm scared. I'm still living in his shadow... I clearly enjoy this kind of thrill, so why should I give up the chance to unravel this bizarre mystery?"
He thought about the hypocrisy of Old Cripple, the righteousness of Mao Shiping and Ma Yubing, the playfulness of Panzi, and the insidiousness of Nie Qifeng. This temporary team felt like an invisible hand was manipulating everything, and he had unknowingly become a pawn.
"Who are you? Do you want to replace someone? Or are you going all in? If it's you, it seems you shouldn't be using such a foolish method; but if it's not you, who else could organize such a team?"
He sorted through his thoughts, recalling each person he had seen. A glimmer of understanding began to emerge in his heart; it seemed he was starting to figure out where this hand was coming from, but unfortunately, he couldn't discern who it actually was.
At that moment, Lani's voice crackled through the earpiece: "Attention, attention, the target has reached the exit."
"Locksmith, Mainboard, move in now," Xiao Mu said in a tone that had become resolute as he played the role of Commander.
There was no escape; holding on might mean facing both an enemy and a friend. If they truly fled, they would likely become public enemies of both the police and criminals.
He calmly walked toward the back exit, preparing to enter from there. The two thieves had begun their work while three others were transferring stolen goods on foot to provide cover. The management of this upscale community was quite strict; three security guards stood at the exit, even on a rainy day they dared not slack off. It was bad news—one of the security guards seemed to have noticed Xiao Mu and approached him as if ready to casually ask a question at the entrance.
Xiao Mu walked steadily; with his mental fortitude, even if it were a murder scene, his heartbeat wouldn't quicken. As he approached within a few steps of the guard, Xiao Mu's hand moved as if accidentally dropping two stacked Hundred Dollar Bills onto the ground. He hurried past while the guard's eyes fixated on the money lying there.
"Thank you for your hard work," Xiao Mu said casually.
"Take care," the guard replied politely. Xiao Mu didn't even show his ID and walked right in.
The guard stepped forward calmly, making sure no one was watching before bending down to pick up the money. He returned to his post as if nothing had happened.
Having safely entered, Xiao Mu glanced back with a smirk and quickened his pace, disappearing into the well-landscaped area...
On a rainy day, it was the perfect cover for a crime.
With a click, Locksmith opened the apartment door, and Mainboard reminded him, "24 seconds."
"It's a bit cold; my hands are shaking," Locksmith said, clearly a bit nervous and excited.
The two of them held umbrellas as they waited for the elevator. As soon as they entered, they closed their umbrellas, just in time to avoid the hallway's surveillance. The elevator shot straight up to the eighteenth floor. Mainboard's hands were also trembling, which Locksmith noticed. He gave him a nudge and said, "Are you that scared?"
"Of course! How can I not be scared?" Mainboard replied.
"Once we finish this job, we can retire," Locksmith reassured himself.
"Don't kid yourself; a dog can't change its nature, and neither can a thief change their ways," Mainboard retorted sarcastically.
Ding! The elevator reached their floor. They quickly pulled up the hoods of their jackets to cover their faces, fearing that some residents might have surveillance right outside their doors. With two units on each floor, Mainboard listened for any sounds from the other unit. He gestured for them to start.
Ten seconds... twenty seconds... twenty-five seconds... When Mainboard heard faint footsteps, he whispered, "The person next door is about to come out; get ready to retreat."
"No need; it's almost done... almost..." Locksmith replied confidently. With a click, he opened the door, and they slipped inside just as they heard the sound of the neighbor's security door slamming open.
They switched positions, and Locksmith reported, "We've entered the room."
"Fourteen minutes left... backup will arrive shortly," came Xiao Mu's voice.
From three directions, three figures approached with umbrellas and could already see each other.
At that moment, Mainboard cautiously used a detector along the wall and slowly extended it into the room. Suddenly, two barks startled Locksmith so much that he fell onto the floor. A small Noble Dog dashed out and barked at them. Mainboard quickly threw his bag over it and told Locksmith, "There's a strong wireless signal here."
If connected to an IP camera, the resident could see everything remotely. Locksmith tossed the dog into the bathroom and shut the door. They exchanged glances and covered their heads. Mainboard unfolded a reflective aluminum sheet about a meter square to cover his face and moved toward the signal's direction. Meanwhile, Mainboard sprinted upstairs. A few seconds later, after disabling the IP transmission of images, he whistled for Locksmith to head toward the hidden door. The person downstairs was already gathering items from the walls and study.
The second transmission call came five minutes later. Mainboard rushed upstairs; the door was unlocked, and the electronic password circuit board was already open. Gold powder was sprinkled on the keys, revealing the four commonly used digits. It was time for the electronics to work their magic. Mainboard connected several red, blue, and green wires, setting up for trial and error. The numbers on the screen began to jump wildly until they finally settled: password 0369.
The vault door swung open, revealing two rows of display shelves along the walls. The two men stared in disbelief, unable to suppress their shivers.
Buddha statues, incense burners, jade artifacts, bronze wares—dozens of items. The two thieves felt like mice that had fallen into a grain store, quickly stuffing their bags with as much as they could carry, eager to take it all.
Ten minutes passed. Xiao Mu leaned against a green tree, silently urging time to hurry.
Thirteen minutes in, Xiao Mu directed into the microphone, “Lani, Azure Head, get in the car.”
The three of them moved from different positions towards the motorcycle that had been prepared in the corner of the building. The keys were under the seat, and a raincoat lay in the front basket. They donned their raincoats and tossed aside their umbrellas. Once on the bike, they transformed completely, wrapped tightly in their raincoats.
The rendezvous point was by the trash can on the side of the building. Xiao Mu led the way while the other two followed behind. A minute past their deadline, Mainboard finally emerged with two black bags in hand. He placed them at the back of Xiao Mu's motorcycle. With a twist of the ignition key, Xiao Mu revved up and sped away.
The second person emerged next, struggling with two bags as well. When Lani pulled up beside him, he grumbled, “You’re a minute late.”
“There were too many good things; let’s go! There are still two bags left,” Locksmith replied.
Lani loaded his haul into his raincoat and slipped away. Azure Head arrived next and couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of them—whether they were drenched in sweat or rain was hard to tell. Half-covering his head with his hood and with smeared makeup on his face, he said while carrying two bags, “Damn it, I can’t carry any more.”
After loading two bags onto his bike, he zipped away while Locksmith and Lani still had two bags each. They dashed toward the corner of the building with an umbrella in hand when Locksmith asked, “Brother Five, what should we do?”
Xiao Mu’s unmistakable voice crackled through their earpieces: “Throw them away! Scatter and toss them as you go.”
The two hesitated slightly but were met with Xiao Mu’s angry shout through the mic: “The displacement alarm has definitely been triggered! Throw it away and move!”
The two of them gritted their teeth, moving through the flower bushes and around a few trash bins, turning a corner before quietly parting ways under their umbrellas.
"Damn it, there was nothing at all."
As they exited, Locksmith glanced back with a twinge of regret, deeply regretting throwing away a bag of antiques.
Twenty minutes later, at the bus stop on Binhai Road No. 18, an ordinary SUV parked by the roadside. On one side was an active construction site, and the road was muddy. As they approached, Xiao Mu's phone rang. He answered and heard Nie Qifeng's voice: "Open the trunk and put it in... Where are they?"
"On their way." Xiao Mu parked the car and placed two bags covered by a raincoat into the trunk. Just as he secured them, the two cyclists arrived in a rush. On the phone, Nie Qifeng asked with a laugh, "How does it feel, Brother Five?"
"It was incredibly thrilling," Xiao Mu replied, wiping the water off his face, still shaken.
After quickly loading all the bags, Xiao Mu took something from the trunk while continuing to talk on the phone. He instructed Lani and Azure Head: "Four kilometers out, at the intersection of Binhai Road, Binhai Garden Hotel. One room each; we'll meet in two hours. Do you know how to handle the car?"
"There are so many migrant workers here; they'll take care of it," Lani replied.
"Park where there are more people; don't look up... Go," Xiao Mu instructed.
Once everything was arranged, the car had already started moving without revealing its doors. Xiao Mu didn’t look back and asked on the phone, "Brother Nie, is there anything else to arrange?"
"You've handled everything; what else is there? I told you, you're a genius... See you soon," Nie Qifeng said.
"Okay," Xiao Mu replied.
He walked away without any hurry, even he found it strange that despite being involved in something illicit, he felt such a strong sense of accomplishment.
Eight o'clock had passed...
Nine o'clock had just gone by...
Lin Qizhao sat at his desk, his fists pounding against his forehead anxiously. Shen Lingchen's words felt like a spell cast upon him, making it impossible to ignore yet equally difficult to take seriously. He couldn't possibly alert all the police units about a potential major theft case, could he? But failing to do so left him with an unsettling sense of doubt.
As he reviewed the progress of the case, he found himself reassessing Shen Lingchen. From the words of You Bisheng, who was detained in the holding cell, he had unraveled a list of suspects led by Ma Yubing, Mao Shiping, and He Shi. Based on speculation, he had pinpointed a potential peripheral figure used by the criminal gang, Song Lijuan. The trail of clues had also led him to Rong Wu and Nie Qifeng, as well as two companies: Golden Cauldron and Mao Ye Investment Guarantee. He sensed that the issues at play could be significant, especially considering Rong Wu's background and Nie Qifeng's criminal record, which suggested a rise to wealth through dubious means. Almost everyone involved had a history of theft.
In truth, it all came down to evidence. If Pan Shuanglong hadn't been unexpectedly arrested and if Suzhou and Hangzhou hadn't acted hastily, Lin Qizhao believed Shen Lingchen's gains would have been even greater—not to mention he still had an elusive informant.
"Have you contacted Commissioner Shen yet?" Lin Qizhao asked again.
The officer shook his head. The special task force was already aware of last night's developments and looked at Lin Qizhao with curiosity. Three members were missing—Shen Lingchen and two of his apprentices had not reported for duty.
"Boss, do you think those three are feeling emotional?" one officer whispered.
"There's no way they aren't; we've overstepped," Lin Qizhao replied, clapping his hands to draw everyone's attention. "Comrades, given the heavy rain today, we won't assign field duties. Instead, let's have an open discussion about the case. You all have been in contact with it longer than I have and know more details. Speak freely; I have just one question—non-professional: Is there any possibility of solving this case? How likely is it?"
No one answered. He called on an ordinary detective from the Ten Squad. The detective hesitated before saying, "Director Lin, we've been at this for over two months now; you can see the situation yourself. All we've found are peripheral leads, and we're far from any valuable clues."
"What do you think?" Lin Qizhao asked another officer.
"Director Lin, it's obvious—cases that can't be resolved at higher levels usually end up on our shoulders in the Criminal Police Force."
This blunt truth elicited laughter from the group, but Lin Qizhao remained serious. He suddenly said, "Let me tell you something: Last night Deputy Commissioner Shen—the head of this temporary task force—said that within the next couple of days, a particularly large theft case is going to occur, and its method will be similar to the theft case we are currently handling... What do you think?"
A collective gasp filled the room; it seemed no one believed him as they stared at Lin Qizhao in shock.
At that moment, Lin Qizhao smiled. "It seems you don't really understand Deputy Commissioner Shen. I believe there's a very high possibility of this happening, and I'm starting to trust him more and more. It seems he's setting up a very large trap—one that we can't quite comprehend."
Just one day after arriving, had Lin Qizhao also fallen into madness?
His team looked at Lin Qizhao in confusion as he organized, "Who among you knows how to contact those who are absent? Make sure to inform them. We need to have an open discussion. We are here to help, not to take credit. Just like the person who spoke earlier said, if I valued my reputation, I wouldn't even need to be here; I could just let you all handle it with the Police Force, right?"
After a round of awkward laughter, he gained the understanding of his team. Just then, someone received a call, and the phones on the table began ringing frantically, as if possessed. Lin Qizhao felt a chill run down his spine and mechanically said, "Answer quickly... something might have really happened."
The Case Situation came from the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Over two hours ago, a major theft occurred at Tangchen Premium Community on Yangjiang Road. According to the victim's report, stolen antiques were valued at over sixty million yuan.
Thud... Lin Qizhao fell heavily into his chair as if struck by lightning. The room fell silent; both the old and new teams, along with more than ten officers, swallowed hard as if they couldn't digest this news. As they snapped out of their shock, whispers filled the air; Shen Lingchen's already dwindling authority suddenly surged.
"Quickly, find Deputy Commissioner Shen immediately... The golden time for solving this case is only forty-eight hours. This time, we might uncover both new and old cases together."
Lin Qizhao said anxiously as several volunteers stepped forward. A group hurriedly rushed downstairs, splitting into several cars and vanishing into the rain like a gust of wind...
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