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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 116: In the Balance 2
At that moment, Shen Lingchen picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks, took a bite, and then placed a fish bone in the center of the table, explaining, "There are many things you can't understand because you don't know about this poisonous thorn. This is a peculiar character. I originally wanted to throw him into Suzhou and Hangzhou to let him get a feel for Ma Yubing's background, but who knew he got tricked by Ma Yubing and ended up in He Shi's hands, resorting to street pimping."
"Ah?" Lin Qizhao was startled.
"Don't be surprised just yet. After a few days of pimping, he found some downtime and organized a Liuying Guerrilla Team, specializing in extortion, thriving with a group of fallen women... Moreover, he is from a wealthy family and was inadvertently recruited by Mao Shiping to help distribute a large batch of stolen goods, keeping the valuable ones for himself. In less than a month in Suzhou and Hangzhou, he made quite a fortune."
"Ah?" Lin Qizhao's eyes widened.
"Don't be shocked; there's more that you won't be able to handle. Ma Yubing and Mao Shiping were captured by us, and He Shi vanished. As for him, he gathered all of these people's subordinates to Binhai, hiding in the Culinary School. Not long after, he spotted a new way to make money and sent these Little Rogues into restaurant kitchens. Guess what he did?"
"Stole something?" Lin Qizhao blurted out.
"Your crime is far less than his. He specifically filmed the dark side of restaurants and then used the footage to extort them, repeatedly succeeding," Shen Lingchen said.
"Oh? I remember now; Seaview Tower closed down recently," Lin Qizhao said in astonishment. Shen Lingchen nodded. Lin Qizhao was increasingly shocked; he couldn't focus on questioning why they were using such a person anymore and instead pressed on, "What happened next?"
"Later, he was pinned inside a wooden crate by Nie Qifeng and almost thrown into the sea. He was with Xu Gang at the time; he was the last person to see Xu Gang," Shen Lingchen explained.
"They were silenced," Lin Qizhao said furiously, glaring at Shen Lingchen. Such matters could have been dealt with against Nie Qifeng long ago. Shen Lingchen disdainfully explained, "Director Lin, it's useless. Do you know how many smuggling boats are currently along the coast? It could be any one of them. Are you sure if you catch him that he'll confess?"
"True; they are much more dedicated than the police," Lin Qizhao replied. "So your informant has crossed that hurdle and should have gained absolute trust now?"
"Yes, he was recruited by Nie Qifeng and became a debt collector for Golden Summit Microloan Company. He collected debts in Binhai for two weeks and performed exceptionally well, collecting all bad debts," Shen Lingchen said.
Upon hearing this, Lin Qizhao was left speechless. One was bold while the other reckless; combined, they were invincible in both black and white worlds.
"Why were you caught?" Lin Qizhao asked directly.
"Because of a little conflict. He used that as an excuse to return to Suzhou and Hangzhou, parting ways with the gang here," Shen Lingchen replied. This turn of events made Lin Qizhao frown, and what Shen Lingchen said next sent him plummeting into despair: "He seized the opportunity while Ma Yubing, He Shi, and Mao Shiping were lying low in Suzhou and Hangzhou, called all his old subordinates back, and well, how should I put it, restructured the underground organization. He started dealing with the Street Office, urban construction, and travel agencies... for instance, parking fees, sanitation fees, urban construction fees, and so on. In a very short time, he had seemingly reformed into a gang."
Lin Qizhao involuntarily cleared his throat and stared intently at Shen Lingchen. Watching crime grow unchecked was likely not something an ordinary police officer could handle.
"Are you trying to cultivate a remarkably intelligent criminal, hoping they will recruit others?" Lin Qizhao asked.
"Or perhaps to nurture a threatening opponent, forcing them to recruit," Shen Lingchen replied. This person would be appealing to both police and criminals; either they would join forces or become enemies. There were only two outcomes—friend or foe—and they could not be ignored.
Lin Qizhao was puzzled by this. Shen Lingchen reminded him: "The Pan Shuanglong case is a bit suspicious; it's too coincidental. The arrests happened almost simultaneously. Suzhou and Hangzhou couldn't have come up empty-handed. Moreover, according to informants, those big shots who live the nightlife would be lucky to get out of bed by noon; it’s unlikely they would all be present that morning as if waiting for the police to show up."
"Are you suggesting someone tipped them off?" Lin Qizhao asked.
"I can't confirm that," Shen Lingchen shook his head. "But what I can say for sure is that in their haste, they definitely couldn't move everything they had on hand. Pan Shuanglong gathered a group of thieves specializing in high-end locations; the stolen goods have special channels for disposal. This process takes a long time. I believe there’s an undisclosed hideout in Suzhou and Hangzhou."
"The emergence of new players poses a threat to them? But how does this relate to today's case?" Lin Qizhao questioned.
"You’re overlooking something; the stolen goods from two years ago couldn’t have all disappeared. These valuable antiques won’t be destroyed or simply passed on; eventually, they will resurface... In fact, once Wang Zihua and Kang Zhuang fell from grace, those thieves would certainly become restless," Shen Lingchen said with a smile.
Oh, Lin Qizhao suddenly understood and gave Shen Lingchen a thumbs-up. From the very beginning, Shen Lingchen had been looking at the bigger picture, unraveling the truth step by step.
"No wonder I felt your task force was doing a poor job of keeping things under wraps by placing it in Criminal Investigation's Ten Squad. You intentionally leaked information so many people knew you were closely pursuing the Wang Zihua and Kang Zhuang cases while periodically questioning Song Lijuan... It’s loose on the outside but tight on the inside, keeping Pan Shuanglong secretly detained where no one can see him." Lin Qizhao remarked. This method of conveying information made him feel uneasy; he sensed that Shen Lingchen seemed to suspect his own team.
"Heh heh, you noticed too... It's not difficult to see; if you look at their methods of operation, those recruited thugs are treated like expendables—catch one batch, and they’ll quickly cultivate another. As for figures like Pan Shuanglong, Ma Yubing, and Mao Shiping—they're both pawns and could easily become discarded pieces at any moment. I’m not sure how many people they've recruited, but I do know that an exceptionally talented and audacious newcomer will inevitably catch their eye and be pulled onto their ship," Shen Lingchen said, his expression remaining emotionless as he spoke.
Lin Qizhao felt a chill. Using an informant like this was pushing it to the extreme. He cautiously asked, "So you suspect they will carry out another... similar case?"
"Yes, that peculiar informant has reached a level where no one dares to provoke him. Aside from being caught by the police, I can't think of any reason he wouldn't show up. I don't know how many secrets he has come across, but since the moment he disappeared, he has had only two choices: either be eliminated or join in on the crime. The intersection between Pan Shuanglong and Song Lijuan makes me suspect that the group from Suzhou and Hangzhou is connected to Binhai Rongwu and Nie Qifeng's group. I've been looking for stronger evidence to support this theory. Last night, I couldn't be sure; it was just a bold guess. Now, I can confirm that the suspects in the Wang Zihua and Kang Zhuang theft case are among them, and the informant definitely participated in today's incident," Shen Lingchen said with a hint of regret.
"But this approach doesn't seem very clever," Lin Qizhao replied.
"On the contrary, it's more than clever. If it weren't for our conversation, how would things have developed?" Shen Lingchen asked.
"By combining the two cases, they would relentlessly pursue the suspects involved in this incident. Their goal is to divert attention from the investigation," Lin Qizhao explained.
"Exactly. However, the problem is twofold: first, they may not find the real suspects; by the time they report it, they might have already escaped. Second, even if they identify one or two suspects, they might only lead to peripheral figures. Their methods are akin to pulling up stakes to steal a donkey; they only care about selling it for some money. By the time we clarify the case situation, they might have already vanished... The most critical point is that even if we catch all the thieves today, we probably still won't find any incriminating evidence," Shen Lingchen said.
Hearing this made Lin Qizhao rub his forehead in frustration. He massaged his temples, pondering how to crack this case. The difficult part was that even today's thieves might not be easy to catch, let alone those hiding behind the scenes.
"This is where their cleverness lies. The case from two years ago can only be pinned on today's thieves, and I dare say that today's incident will likely be meticulously designed and flawless... Choosing to commit crimes on a rainy day—ha! A single umbrella solves everything; they can escape calmly as long as not all of them are caught. Even if some of them are apprehended, they'll know little like Pan Shuanglong and become pawns... Tell me, where are the details of the combined cases? Is it related to binding acidic solution bottles in the circuit?"
Lin Qizhao nodded and replied, "Yes, sabotaging the circuit is exactly the same as in the case from two years ago."
"There you have it! If they had remained completely still, I would have had no way to act. But finally, they couldn't help but move—ha! The most clever aspect will become their greatest folly. Moreover, they unknowingly swallowed this poison from the informant," Shen Lingchen chuckled. Since taking on this case, he had never been so happy.
"How much impact can one informant really have?" Lin Qizhao asked skeptically.
Shen Lingchen silently handed over his phone and unlocked it for Lin Qizhao to see. As he flipped through several pages, Lin Qizhao's expression changed dramatically as he exclaimed, "The Red Line Informant from the Shaanxi Province Pyramid Scheme Case? I've studied that case; they caught the mastermind at customs."
"Well then, your interest is piqued now? Do you think his impact will be small?" Shen Lingchen smiled.
Lin Qizhao pondered for a moment, then expressed his doubts, "But... as you said, he probably already has a case against him. In this situation, would he choose to stand with us? A informant is the most dangerous partner, whether to us or to the Criminal, as they could easily switch sides at any moment."
His words reflected deep mistrust. Shen Lingchen replied, "That's why I'm waiting for his call. The key to breaking this case now rests entirely on him. No matter what we find at the crime scene today, those are just side clues; only he can lead us to the truth."
"But what if he chooses to run? Given the current situation, wouldn't meeting with the police be more dangerous than fleeing?" Lin Qizhao countered.
This was perhaps the one thing Shen Lingchen couldn't be sure about. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and after a long pause said, "If he doesn't call, what would you do if you were in my position?"
Lin Qizhao was momentarily taken aback. After a brief contemplation, he responded, "Issue a warrant. At the very least, he knows these thieves from today."
"Well, that's where we differ as police officers," Shen Lingchen smiled.
This smile provoked Lin Qizhao's curiosity. He asked, "Then Deputy Commissioner Shen, what would you do?"
"I would bend the rules and give him a chance," Shen Lingchen replied casually. It seemed that such actions didn't weigh heavily on his conscience. Lin Qizhao frowned, unable to accept this notion. Shen Lingchen glanced at him and countered, "Let me ask you again: which is harder to achieve—someone who actively commits a crime or someone who is forced into it?"
Of course, it was far more difficult for someone who was coerced; the very difficulty implied that such individuals might possess qualities superior to those who actively commit crimes. Being a police officer or a criminal is merely a matter of identity; the challenge lies in those who walk both paths and manage to survive until the end—such individuals are likely few and far between.
"I understand," Lin Qizhao quietly asked, "How long do we need to wait?"
"I don't know," Shen Lingchen shook his head. This uncertain variable was beyond his estimation. However, after much hesitation, he added, "He has sharper instincts than I do. I think at this moment, he should be on the run or has found a safe haven, just like us—caught in a dilemma of whether to move forward or turn back... How long we wait depends on him."
Lin Qizhao's expression softened as he slowly said, "I'll wait with you."
"Then let's eat. Let's see if our righteous procedures can help us catch this thief who takes advantage of others," Shen Lingchen said as he picked up his chopsticks and stopped elaborating further. Lin Qizhao followed suit but found it hard to enjoy his meal. Throughout lunch, messages kept coming in and phones kept ringing. From the initial panic of dealing with the case to gradually gaining clarity by noon, things began to settle down.
Two individuals were arrested; one was named Wang Changshui, who surprisingly worked for the property management of the community, while the other was Xu Dongdong, a young man from a wealthy family living in the same area. They confessed that they had seen something thrown by the roadside in the morning and impulsively decided to take it. One of them even sought someone to authenticate the item, and upon discovering it was genuine, he hurriedly tried to escape with it. However, they were caught by several police officers who had surrounded them.
Five hours after the incident, despite collecting traces and reviewing surveillance footage from the scene, the true identity of the thief remained elusive. The fastest to act was Lin Qizhao's subordinate, who analyzed that the theft was likely carried out under the cover of umbrellas as they walked into the community. The total weight of the stolen items exceeded two hundred kilograms, roughly equivalent to six or seven bags left at the scene. Thus, the key point lay in tracing the stolen goods.
Based on this information, this high-tech armed team identified several suspicious individuals: those riding electric bikes.
In such upscale communities, electric bikes were not overly common but still present. The property management employed cleaners, gardeners, electricians, and caretakers for the affluent residents, which added up to a considerable number. Only this method seemed inconspicuous enough; no suspicious vehicles had been found entering or exiting around the time of the incident except for three electric bikes with noticeably bulging rear seats. Given that there weren't many electric bikes in this community, it was puzzling how these three managed to get in.
A photo appeared on Lin Qizhao's phone and now lay before Shen Lingchen. It showed a side view of a person wrapped tightly in a raincoat, with a large bulge on the rear seat covered by the raincoat as they boldly left the community.
"Look at how simple this method is; it's akin to tying solution bottles on a wire—there's no mistake; it's definitely them... You can check; when they entered, they were using umbrellas. The ones stealing and those assisting were two separate groups. In some blind spot of surveillance, they must have discarded their umbrellas and changed into raincoats. We should be able to find those abandoned umbrellas in the community... Thinking further, after transferring the goods, they should have quickly discarded their raincoats and bikes nearby; we ought to find these items not far from the crime scene... Beyond that point, it might be difficult," Shen Lingchen stated.
This deduction was relayed back by Lin Qizhao and soon verified. Officers stationed in the community found three umbrellas that matched those seen in surveillance footage entering from two different directions during the time of the crime. Unfortunately, they could not identify who was underneath them.
Two hours later, an abandoned electric bike was discovered. It seemed that due to heavy rain, it had not yet been stolen and was left at a junction less than nine kilometers from the crime scene, still covered with a raincoat. The teams of investigating officers found it increasingly difficult to advance from this point.
As the rain intensified, a heavy rain warning was issued by the city meteorological station. Numerous roads across the city were flooded with countless vehicles trapped or submerged; poor weather combined with inadequate urban infrastructure became an insurmountable obstacle for law enforcement...
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