Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 114: Full Police Mobilization
When Lin Qizhao arrived at the scene, it was already surrounded by police cars, with the barricade tape stretched directly across the vehicles. However, from his intuition, he sensed that it was likely futile; with such heavy rain, any traces would have been washed away completely.
He hurriedly brought two colleagues to the site, where Zheng Kegong from the Criminal Investigation Bureau and Commissioner Zhang from the City Bureau were already present. The leaders of the City Bureau were on their way. The three exchanged glances, all wearing expressions of shock—not because of the severity of the case, but because someone had predicted this incident just hours before it occurred.
“How similar is it?” Lin Qizhao asked Zheng.
“We're looking into it... How audacious! To commit a crime in a place like this?” Zheng Kegong replied angrily, disbelief evident in his tone.
Lin Qizhao surveyed the area, noting the standalone multi-story buildings. The decor and environment indicated that the residents were either wealthy or influential. From the entrance to the buildings and the residents themselves, the surveillance here was directly linked to the 110 command center. Committing a crime in such a place was tantamount to signing one's own death warrant.
“I left for just over ten minutes, and as soon as the movement alarm went off, we rushed over,” one of the community security guards emphasized.
“I didn’t see anyone! We have three shifts covering twenty-four hours; it’s impossible!” another guard insisted.
“Move aside, move aside…” Several medical personnel emerged from a nearby building carrying a stretcher. On it lay two individuals—high-end security hired by the victim—who had lost consciousness after realizing their belongings were missing.
“It’s escalated… this time it’s gone even higher,” Lin Qizhao murmured. Taking advantage of the homeowners' absence, ignoring alarms and attacking security personnel indicated that this method was at least a level above what had been seen in Wang Zihua's case.
“They left for just an hour, and things went missing. I refuse to believe they left no traces behind.”
Zheng Kegong was furious. According to him, the victim was a Hong Kong businessman named Shen who was temporarily residing in Binhai and had been investing in antiques and paintings for years. His report had even reached the office of City Bureau leadership directly.
“Old Zheng… how long will it take? Every second counts now,” Zhang Hulin reminded him.
“Footprints, fingerprints—anything left behind will be found as quickly as possible. I refuse to believe they’re invisible and can evade so many surveillance cameras,” Zheng Kegong asserted.
At that moment, Lin Qizhao, who was quick to react, sensed something was off. He said directly, “Director Zheng, you’re being too optimistic… look.”
Oh, it was raining moderately—not too heavy—but enough to blur car windows. Capturing images through rain-soaked glass would be extremely difficult. Director Zheng Kegong remarked, “No matter how difficult it is, it's still better than having no leads.”
"You are mistaken; they can selectively destroy things, and on top of that..." Lin Qizhao pointed at the crowd of onlookers, a sea of colorful umbrellas. The two leaders were taken aback. Lin Qizhao continued, "Entering the community in this weather is like going in with a covered face. Any angle of peeking would certainly be too low to see under the umbrellas... It's quite imaginative; they wouldn't have really walked in, would they?"
The three were left speechless. As they proceeded with the on-site investigation, they entered the building and took the elevator to the designated floor. A dozen police officers had already marked the area extensively; there were footprints and even a butt print from someone who had entered. The reconstruction of the crime method revealed that they had used technical means to unlock the security door and the hidden room door, then employed something resembling metallic reflective paper to block the surveillance cameras inside, before disabling the IP transmitter. The two had carried out their actions calmly.
The antique was equipped with an anti-movement alarm, yet these individuals managed to enter and leave within twenty minutes. The police car responding to the alarm was stuck in traffic during peak hours, arriving at the scene over forty minutes later.
The only witness left behind was a small dog, lying in its owner's arms, looking as if it could cry but couldn't.
The owner wasn't particularly sorrowful; there were more salespeople from insurance companies present than police officers, all verifying claims with faces turning pale, more anxious than the officers themselves.
"From the time the owner left until returning home, it was twenty-five minutes... That's too short; it's impossible to disable all the surveillance. There should be suspicious individuals present," Lin Qizhao stated. "Even if they were covered up, the security at the entrances should have seen something."
"We're currently questioning them."
"Have you calculated the volume of the items taken?"
"We're calculating it now, but it should be substantial—jade, paintings, inkstones, brush washers, and even bronze artifacts... They would need several large bags."
"Then there should be some evidence from the surveillance at the entrance of that unit."
"There isn't any. The public power supply for this building went out before and after the incident, meaning that power for floor monitoring, lighting, and alarms was cut off while residents and elevators remained operational."
"Get the property management here."
Lin Qizhao caught onto this similarity. In the case involving Wang Zihua and Kang Zhuang, the method of disrupting power lines was unique; they used calculated acid dripping to corrode insulation layers so that when the incident occurred, there just happened to be a power outage.
The officers on site found property management personnel. Lin Qizhao and the two leaders led a group down to the basement level where the distribution box was located in the underground garage. Upon approaching it, it appeared intact. Lin Qizhao quickly stopped a property manager who was about to use a key and instructed Technical Investigation to carefully unlock it. When they looked inside under a magnifying glass, it showed signs of tampering; Technical Investigation nodded and said there were pry marks indicating it had been opened.
When opened, property management personnel were stunned. On A Group's red and blue wires was an insulated glass bottle wrapped in tape that was still leaking liquid. Two short-circuited power lines had already turned black, and a faint foul odor wafted from inside the box.
"It seems Deputy Commissioner Shen was right... If I'm not mistaken, we might not find any trace of the suspect in the surveillance footage," Lin Qizhao said gloomily. The more skilled the master, the simpler their methods appeared, and from what he had seen, he believed he was dealing with a true master.
The attack on the security detail, the destruction of the surveillance system, the burglary that resulted in a large number of Antiques being taken—all of it completed in just over ten minutes—filled Lin Qizhao with dread. How many people would it take to pull this off?
His judgment was soon validated. In less than two hours of reviewing the surveillance footage, over twenty detectives analyzed frame by frame but still could not determine how the stolen goods were removed. There were two possibilities: one was that they were taken away in a vehicle, and the other seemed to involve a motorcycle entering and exiting the community. However, they were all wearing raincoats, making it impossible to identify them.
As confusion spread among them, someone claimed to have found something in the video. Commissioner Zhang hurriedly inquired and upon hearing the news, his face lit up with joy. "What? You found a few people? Can you confirm it... Good, I'll head over immediately... Old Zheng, we have a lead! A resident witnessed something and took a couple of photos..."
"Well, that's a stroke of luck amidst misfortune," Zheng Kegong exclaimed excitedly.
The two hurried off while Lin Qizhao remained staring blankly at the damaged wiring for a long time. Even when his subordinates reminded him that they had confirmed two identities and were in the process of making arrests, he did not react. He simply shook his head and muttered:
"It's an illusion; this is an illusion... They must have already escaped."
Thinking of this, he called to inquire about locating Shen Lingchen. Upon hearing the address, he rushed out of the community. The area was already under lockdown, and several teams of detectives had been dispatched to question residents about photos of the two men who drove away. The images were somewhat blurry, but they had managed to identify the vehicle's license plate and captured footage of them taking items from there.
Those men showed no signs of even basic disguise; Lin Qizhao could tell at a glance that they were definitely not involved...
……………………
……………………
Leaving motorcycles in crowded residential areas or near construction sites would quickly attract idle hands or those with sticky fingers, significantly reducing hiding time.
The group returned separately. Lani was the first back, entering without even greeting Xiao Mu. Next was Azure Head, whose excited expression led Xiao Mu to guess that he was still inexperienced and somewhat nervous. The third to return was Mainboard, who took a long look before approaching Xiao Mu to grab a room key and head into the hotel. The last to arrive was Locksmith, who took a taxi back and casually walked over to Xiao Mu.
This one was seasoned; his psychological resilience was astonishing. After stealing everything, he casually discarded what he couldn't take as he walked out with an air of confidence. There was no hint of panic on his face... For such a dangerous endeavor, even an experienced thief should have shown some signs of anxiety.
He didn’t; instead, he approached Xiao Mu, threw an arm around his shoulder, and complimented him: “Brother Five, not bad! Next time we work together, I’ll be sure to call you. We really need a good backup.”
"Hey, are you looking at me?" Xiao Mu humbly replied, "Not at all, I'm just here to respond to a name. It's all thanks to you, Locksmith."
"No, no, the most important thing in this line of work is mental fortitude. If you're not afraid, your hands won't shake. You're doing well," Locksmith said with a smile.
While you observe others, they are also observing you. Xiao Mu smiled and handed Locksmith a card, whispering, "So, Locksmith, with your skills, could you teach me?"
"Haha." Locksmith chuckled, smiling at Xiao Mu for a while. It was only when they were alone in the elevator that he turned serious and said, "No."
"Don't refuse me. I'll offer you an irresistible deal," Xiao Mu said with a grin.
Locksmith looked at him warily and shook his head. "Don't be foolish. If you think you can go solo, who do you think you are? If there isn't someone powerful backing you up in this line of work, you'll end up in trouble before you even know it."
Thinking that Xiao Mu had ulterior motives, he shook his head again. "You've misjudged me. I genuinely admire you, Locksmith. In fact, I've already thought of what kind of gift I want to give you."
"Haha, you're just trying to fool me," Locksmith replied.
"Really? I actually started out as a 'chicken head.' I'm familiar with all the clubs and hotels in Suzhou and Hangzhou. I know so many beautiful women—if not a thousand, at least hundreds. There are twins and even some who've had plastic surgery to look like triplets or quadruplets... Do you know what a prized possession is? I've seen three White Tigers alone! As for beautiful shells... tsk tsk, there are plenty of those... Just teach me, and I'll bring you one every day—definitely something different each time..." Xiao Mu said, staring intently at Locksmith. His eyes were filled with longing, and a drop of shiny saliva glistened on his lips as if he couldn't believe it but also dared not doubt it. With Xiao Mu's handsome looks, he seemed quite suitable for that line of work.
"Suzhou and Hangzhou, Lotus Road, Kaislong Grand Hotel—take a look; you won't regret it... The code is Phoenix Terrace," Xiao Mu said.
"What does Phoenix Terrace mean?" Locksmith asked curiously.
"It's a famous line from Song Ci: 'On Phoenix Terrace, I recall the sound of the flute.' What a poetic name! 'On the night of the bright moon over Twenty-Four Bridges, beautiful people take turns playing the flute.' That kind of enjoyment isn't something just anyone can experience," Xiao Mu teased, making Locksmith feel restless as they exchanged knowing smiles but didn't continue further.
When they returned to the room, Lani happened to come out from Azure Head's room. As soon as they stepped out, Xiao Mu was surprised to see that Azure Head had changed outfits—he had glued on some facial hair and donned large sunglasses like a star trying to avoid paparazzi. He had already packed his bag and was ready to leave. Lani waved and said, "Locksmith, just go straight to your room."
"What about me?" Xiao Mu asked.
"Just wait a moment," Lani replied while glancing at Locksmith's goofy grin revealing his crooked teeth. She turned her head in disgust and said, "You come with me too."
As they swiped their cards to enter, Lani commanded, "Go wash your face," as her suitcase brushed open.
After changing her appearance, Xiao Mu gasped, gritting his teeth. A small expression of discomfort caught Lani's attention. She asked, "What's wrong?"
"Tsk, that guy... he's really disgusting," Xiao Mu replied.
Lani clenched her teeth and nodded solemnly, adding, "He has dandruff, skin flakes, and body odor. He’s the worst."
"What kind of makeup are you planning to give him?" Xiao Mu inquired.
"Just a casual look to send him off," Lani said.
"Shave him bald and turn him into a shrew," Xiao Mu mischievously suggested. Lani was taken aback for a moment, then her eyes lit up with a smile as she nodded enthusiastically, "Hmm, great idea! Why didn't I think of that... Go ahead and have him shaved."
A razor was handed over, and Xiao Mu took it into the bathroom to shave Locksmith. "Hey, Locksmith, Lani wants you to go bald."
"What?" Locksmith fumed.
"Come on, just follow orders... You know Lani's makeup skills. As a key figure like you, you need a complete makeover... Besides, you don't have much hair on your head anyway; it'll be easier for makeup if it's all clean-shaven..." Xiao Mu continued shaving.
Locksmith muttered a curse but had no choice but to comply. As Xiao Mu closed the door behind him, he reminded, "Locksmith, I'm throwing a banquet when I return to Suzhou and Hangzhou... You’ll definitely want to stay longer."
"That sounds dangerous; I'm not going," Locksmith refused.
Xiao Mu closed the door with a hint of disappointment and joined Lani. Curiously, he asked, "Are they all gone?"
"They're still here waiting for the police to catch them... Oh, Brother Five, what kind of makeup do you want?" Lani scrutinized Xiao Mu's face, finding it challenging since none of the looks seemed to match his natural handsomeness.
"I haven't even shown my face yet; it shouldn't be a problem... By the way, I have something else to ask," Xiao Mu said.
"Don't ask me; I'm just here to send them away," Lani seemed to know what Xiao Mu was about to ask and deflected the question.
Locksmith emerged with a shaved head, grinning so widely that Lani couldn't help but roll her eyes. He cursed as he sat down, and Lani handed him some foundation while making a phone call. When she held the phone to Locksmith's ear, he instantly brightened up.
Xiao Mu understood right away; it was a call about money. After the call ended, the makeup session began. With a swipe of foundation, a stroke of eyebrow pencil, and a wig placed on his head, along with a fake beard, Locksmith transformed from a sleazy character into a somewhat artistic-looking scoundrel. He glanced at himself in the mirror and barely recognized his own reflection. He gave Lani a thumbs-up and said, "Impressive, girl. I owe you one. I'm already starting to miss you."
"Get lost; I wasn't thinking about you at all," Lani replied while tidying up her things.
Locksmith picked up his prepared suitcase and opened it to find stacks of cash on top of some documents. He slammed the suitcase shut and picked it up, striding toward the door when he suddenly heard Xiao Mu call out, "Locksmith."
Locksmith turned around to see Xiao Mu's innocent gaze, filled with longing and admiration, which made him feel that he shouldn't have rejected him so harshly earlier.
"What is it?" Locksmith asked.
"Nothing much; I'll miss you," Xiao Mu replied with a smile, trying hard to convey an alternative emotion through his expressions and body language, as if he were seeing a beautiful woman and feeling excited.
"Heh, me too," Locksmith chuckled as he casually pushed open the door.
It was a failure; Xiao Mu stood there for a moment before Lani gave him a nudge to follow her. They switched rooms again, initially thinking they would stay longer, but it seemed they had misjudged the situation. This was merely a stopover for changing outfits, and now it appeared that everyone had scattered. With Binhai's extensive transportation network, they could be out of the country in just a few hours.
Xiao Mu felt like he had shot himself in the foot; instead of being the informant, he had become a suspect. If even one of those guys got caught, it would likely lead back to him.
This was truly like lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own foot.
"What's wrong?" Lani asked gently.
"Nothing," Xiao Mu forced a smile.
Lani chuckled and began applying foundation along the contours of Xiao Mu's temples. She seemed dissatisfied with something again and picked up an eyeliner pencil to enhance his lip line. His face was too youthful; she needed to make him look slightly darker and older. Lani appeared very focused on her task, so much so that she didn't notice Xiao Mu's lingering gaze on her.
"Have you learned to paint?" Xiao Mu asked.
"How did you know?" Lani asked curiously.
He guessed correctly, but Xiao Mu didn't reveal the reason. Instead, he smiled and told her, "Because you look better than any painting."
"You're such a smooth talker," Lani replied with a playful pout.
"I can guess where you're from," Xiao Mu said, pulling out one of his tricks again.
"You're just bragging," Lani said skeptically.
"If I guess wrong, I'll run out naked," Xiao Mu swore.
"Alright, go ahead and guess," Lani challenged him.
Xiao Mu focused on Lani, smiling as he said, "Fujian? No, that's not it. Fujian produces con artists, not beauties... Definitely not Guangdong; it must be... Guangxi? No, that doesn't seem right either... Hunan and Hubei? Even less likely; the beauties there are all spicy little peppers..."
As Xiao Mu spoke, Lani laughed. Suddenly, he declared, "Yunnan!"
Lani's hand trembled for a moment, her smile fading as she looked at Xiao Mu. Then she burst into laughter again and shook her head. "Wrong."
"Oh... No matter where you're from, I fear I will be thinking about you day and night from now on," Xiao Mu said with a wink, changing the subject.
While applying her makeup, Lani laughed and told him, "Next time we meet, I'll definitely give you a chance, handsome. But today... you know how it is."
The girl exchanged glances with Xiao Mu and didn't mind being flirtatious with him, but today was just not the right time. After carefully finishing her makeup, she gestured for Xiao Mu to take a look. In the mirror, Xiao Mu suddenly appeared to be over a decade older than his actual age; the foundation made his face look pale, and there was a layer of stubble on his lips and chin. The soft features of the handsome guy transformed into the rugged image of a tough man.
"You're too handsome, Lani. Are you really going out like this?" Xiao Mu touched his own face in surprise.
"There’s a car waiting for you downstairs, license plate B3209... The payment is in the box, along with the identification... and it’s the ID with this face." Lani said, gathering her things. As she was about to leave, she turned back to Xiao Mu with lingering affection, leaned in, and gently kissed him on the lips, almost nose to nose, whispering, "Goodbye."
"Goodbye, don’t forget me," Xiao Mu replied with a smile.
The elfin girl walked away with a cheerful demeanor, undoubtedly the kind of enchanting spirit that could tug at one’s heartstrings, though regrettably from the dark side.
Xiao Mu picked up the box from the bed and opened it. Inside were five neat stacks of cash—five hundred thousand in total—clearly visible. In one corner of the box lay the identification. When he picked it up to look, he couldn’t help but chuckle; it was a photo of his current face, rendered vividly.
What should he do?
Disappear with the money? Find a way to leave the country and shake off everything behind him, never to return?
The first thought that surged was this. The current situation was dire; he didn’t know where these thieves came from, their exact destination, or who was pulling the strings behind all this—certainly not just Nie Qifeng. Ironically, not only did he lack this knowledge, but having been involved in such a major case had turned him into a suspect himself. Did he even have a chance to explain? Could any explanation make sense?
Hesitation, confusion, and even a fear that made him tremble left Xiao Mu at a loss. It was an experience more tangled than mere indecision and more thrilling than excitement; caught between the luck of evading capture and the grim fate of imprisonment required courage no matter how he chose to act.
This wasn’t a choice between heaven and hell; it was a choice between hell and another hell.
As his heart raced and he found himself in a dilemma, the phone inside the box began to buzz...
Comment 0 Comment Count