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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 117: Great Courage Like Fear
Looking out the car window, the world blurred into a line as rain poured down like a waterfall. Xiao Mu, who had been trying to doze off, found himself becoming increasingly awake, much like every time he attempted to get drunk. He often wished to lose himself in alcohol, but it never quite worked out; the more he drank, the more memories surged to the forefront of his mind.
So many memories from childhood, that rebellious age when he and a group of troublemakers would huddle in the school restroom, plotting fights, stealing, and teasing their female teacher. Back then, there was no fear; if anything went wrong, their parents would take the blame.
As he grew older, his moral boundaries gradually lowered. His first experience with prostitution, his first attempt at smoking—eventually, he became well-versed in drinking, gambling, and other vices. At that time, he felt invincible; if trouble arose, his parents' money would cushion the fall.
Each mistake brought a twinge of anxiety. Over time, it seemed that making mistakes was a way to chase that unsettling feeling, allowing him to find a sense of existence in those alternative experiences. But now, he realized that the feeling had changed. After the most thrilling experiences came an inexplicable fear—something he recognized well from books: illegality, sentencing, and the long years spent in prison. He understood better than anyone how long this time around could keep him locked away.
Yes, he saw clearly how this organization controlled people—through fear and threats of death that compelled one to move forward without hesitation. It was no different from any other gang; they just executed it with more finesse.
Should he move forward? Or turn back?
It seemed that moving forward had a slightly higher chance of success. He had saved up hundreds of thousands as rewards and had deliberately gathered information during his time as an informant—enough to start anew. He even considered reaching out to schools in America; as long as they sent an invitation letter, he could leave without raising suspicion and continue his studies… The probability was indeed high. The intricate method of operation was likely so convoluted that the police wouldn't even know who their suspect was. And as for him being an informant—if he turned back now, he couldn't even clarify who was truly behind this Theft Case.
But could he really just walk away?
He found himself unable to let go. He missed the fun times with Guan Guan and those few friends who would joke around together; he even missed the days spent outsmarting his father; and he nostalgically recalled the happy moments spent extorting small amounts of money alongside Big Gourd and Erhu Lu—those harmless antics that were just enough to get them detained but were thrilling nonetheless. After leaving this life behind, it seemed like he would have to bid farewell to them forever.
Could he let it all go?
As he hesitated and lingered while driving through the West Suburb, a sudden pang struck his heart as memories flooded back—the misty day when he had leaned against Shen Lingchen's back while that police officer carried him down the mountain step by step. He had seen through this officer immediately; like Baldy, this officer was a pitiful idealist—perhaps even worse than Baldy, unable to be accepted by the system in which he found himself.
Police officers and criminals share a commonality: their contradictions often highlight their true selves. This is what makes a villain's good deeds and a hero's misdeeds deadly. Unfortunately for Shen Lingchen, he possessed such qualities while those traits in criminals remained undiscovered by him.
...
"Everyone will inevitably spend a long time in confusion, despair, helplessness, or even degradation. Many will lose themselves; this has nothing to do with their profession."
"You're right. I'm trying to get out just like you."
"You silly child, would your mother be at ease if she could see you? Come on, I'll carry you... Be good, or I'll give you a beating..."
"Mu, listen to me, first go to the hospital... then I'll take you to find your dad. If he doesn't care, I'll give him a good talking to. Don't worry, I'll make sure to bring you home safely... I'm sorry, I just realized today how much of a jerk I've been, lying to you and your dad, cutting ties and becoming an informant... I even felt proud of myself, thinking I had seen your psychological weakness..."
"That's not a weakness; that's your shining point. You actually value family more than anything else... I know you can't accept that your father has built a new family with another woman and left you behind... Try to understand, it's often the closest people who get hurt the most. If something were to happen to you, I believe the one who would be most heartbroken would be your father..."
...
Xiao Mu unexpectedly remembered every word Shen Lingchen had said. Perhaps it was because he had met him during his lowest moment that he paid extra attention to everything. At this moment, recalling it for some reason made his eyes and nose feel a bit sour; he could vividly picture Shen Lingchen bowing before his mother's grave and then carrying him down the mountain step by step.
He knew that this old cop had planted a seed of good deeds in his heart, right in the softest part of it. He couldn't suppress it; that seed would grow wildly at the right moment when he was ready to give up.
"Master... my asthma is acting up, let me get off... at the next stop."
Xiao Mu weakly said, his voice filled with exhaustion. He opened his eyes from his struggle; through his blurry vision, he seemed to see a projection—a wooden box containing a person being lifted onto the deck by a hooded figure and then pushed into the Black Sea with a loud splash.
In truth, my emotions were controlled by fear. Afraid of prison in front and death behind; this was merely two choices: danger and greater danger, with no room for escape.
A glimmer of understanding appeared in his eyes as he slowly released the money box tightly held in his hands...
...
...
Binhai, Criminal Investigation Bureau.
The Direct Bureau's Crime Information Center had gathered the best talents from the Criminal Investigation department across the city, all focused on tackling the sudden outbreak of a Particularly Large Theft Case.
The two suspects in custody were still being interrogated, but it was becoming increasingly clear that they had acted on impulse. Judging by their professions and backgrounds, they likely lacked the skills to break through three locked doors.
The security personnel continued their inquiries, but in the rain, asking them to recall the appearances of those umbrella-wielding individuals was nearly impossible. Everyone envied the luxury cars and beautiful women coming and going; who would pay attention to unrelated faces?
To make matters worse, the weather turned against them. Starting in the afternoon, vehicles from various Action Teams were either stuck in traffic or trapped in water. The media, eager for chaos, reported on a photo of someone rowing a boat down the street. Due to intentional news censorship, this major case had not yet spread; instead, it was overshadowed by the sudden downpour.
At 3 PM, personnel from the Provincial Department's special task force reviewed a pattern of operation. Meanwhile, Wang Zihua's task force suggested the possibility of combining cases. Director Zheng convened discussions with detectives from various teams, but the biggest challenge was not the case itself; it was the weather.
At 3:30 PM, representatives from both the City Bureau and Provincial Department arrived to oversee operations. The victim of this case was a Hong Kong businessman with significant social influence. To avoid any negative repercussions, the Provincial Department issued a strict order: this case must be solved within seventy-two hours.
By 4 PM, Director Zheng, overwhelmed with work, took a break and visited the workspace of several officers from the Task Force. His first question was, "Have you contacted Shang Linqi Zhao?"
"We've been trying to reach him," one officer replied.
"Then tell him to hurry back! And Shen Lingchen too; he's too carefree," Director Zheng snapped.
"They're already at the highway service area, waiting to depart," another officer reported.
"What do you mean? Where are they... Wait, we don't even know where the suspects are!" Director Zheng exclaimed anxiously.
Upon further inquiry, it turned out their vehicle had reached the middle of Binsu Expressway but they were unsure what these two were up to. However, an officer soon handed over some information that left him stunned. The message relayed back at noon indicated that there might be an issue with the informant; he could potentially be a criminal. Following that was another message stating that the suspects had misidentified their target. Then came instructions to check if there were any discarded umbrellas in nearby neighborhoods. After that, they needed to investigate abandoned motorcycles and raincoats.
Looking at the timeline, it seemed like a preemptive command guiding almost every step of Case Situation's progression. Director Zheng curiously asked, "What’s going on here?"
"We're not sure either; it's as if our boss has grown an extra eye—he sees things clearer than we do on-site," one officer replied.
Another person added, "Just like Deputy Commissioner Shen yesterday, it seems he received some kind of hint that allowed him to accurately guess every progress point."
Right, the informant... Zheng Kegong's mind jolted, his eyes widened as he silently cursed: Could it be that a confidentiality agreement protected a thief?
It was quite possible. Who among materialists would believe in such nonsense? He didn't dare voice this thought and instead said, "Alright, your phone lines are directly connected to the venue. Report any developments immediately... Ensure they have the technical support and command authority; it will be transferred to Lin Qizhao shortly."
He hurried off, forgetting even to return the salute from the officers...
...
"Things are chaotic at home; Old Zheng handed over command to me... Heh, the stakes are high; I can mobilize five teams of the Police Force."
Lin Qizhao handed his phone to Shen Lingchen, laughing as if mocking himself. At this moment, command was a hot potato; whoever took it on would likely bear the burden of leadership.
"Old Zheng is slippery, but at least he's a good person," Shen Lingchen commented while scrolling through his phone.
Lin Qizhao glanced over; two vehicles were parked in the service area at the junction of three cities, with routes leading east to Binhai, south to Golden Lake, and west to Suzhou and Hangzhou. There were multiple directional choices, yet their target remained elusive. Since morning, they had been idle for hours, and those in the rear vehicle were likely dozing off.
"Will he call?" Lin Qizhao asked the same question again.
"I don't know," Shen Lingchen replied once more with the same answer.
All directions hinged on one person—a special individual. In these hours, the only thing they had accomplished was thoroughly understanding the background of this Red Line Informant. Shen Lingchen shared many unknown stories with him; he even managed to get through to the Shaanxi Provincial Public Security Department and contacted someone involved in a Pyramid Scheme, learning much about past events from there.
"I still remain skeptical about this," Lin Qizhao said.
"What's the reason?" Shen Lingchen handed back the phone.
"The growth of an unrestrained personality is complex and variable. He is that kind of person; otherwise, he wouldn't survive in a Pyramid Scheme. In such a thieving gang, he wouldn't last either. In the Shaanxi Province case, he was forced into a position where he had to protect himself, and there was an undercover agent following him... This time, he is all alone. I'm afraid we can't hold onto the leads we have," Lin Qizhao assessed.
This struck at Shen Lingchen's concerns. He said urgently, "His psychological state is very unstable. When I saw him in the cemetery, it shocked me. I was prepared to end things then, but unexpectedly, he walked right into the gang... I haven't done much in this case; even the modus operandi of the Prince Hua Community theft was something he figured out. We are feeling our way across the river in practice, while he studied deviant psychology and Judicial and Criminal Psychology in America, with plenty of ready-made cases and even access to suspects in federal prisons. He has ample opportunity to analyze the minds of criminals."
"Exactly, that's what I wanted to say. The deep-seated motivations for crime lie in the desire for control and a sense of achievement. Look at his previous life; he lived under his father's shadow and always felt miserable. Conversely, in the Underworld, he found a place where he could fully utilize his intelligence. As you said, he can command dozens of people. Driven by this desire for control and achievement, I seriously doubt whether he is still the same person," Lin Qizhao remarked.
"Perhaps," Shen Lingchen hesitated.
Lin Qizhao caught his hesitation and reminded him, "Actually, you are also in doubt. The reason you kept me around is that you can't bring yourself to take action against him."
Shen Lingchen suddenly turned his head, looking at Lin Qizhao with a complex expression. Lin Qizhao continued firmly, "Set a deadline; we can't wait indefinitely. I can order a manhunt for him."
"Wait a bit longer... I've already destroyed his former life; do I really have to destroy him as well?" Shen Lingchen shook his head.
"Commissioner Shen, this isn't the time for mercy. As long as he provides valuable leads, we can treat him like an informant. Your mercy will only harm him," Lin Qizhao insisted.
"But you forget that informants inherently possess characteristics of suspects. Have you found any footage of him at the scene? Or tracked him down in Binhai? If he intends to hide, I believe it would be harder to find him than a suspect. If you've seen him, you'd be intimidated by his gaze and judgment; those eyes can see right into your heart," Shen Lingchen said, more worried that one wrong move would push Xiao Mu into complete opposition. If that happened, they might gain another highly destructive opponent.
It seemed so; Lin Qizhao clicked his tongue and began to feel conflicted alongside Shen Lingchen.
"Let's wait until dark." After a long time, Lin Qizhao reminded him. He glanced at his watch; it was nearly five o'clock. He added, "If there's no movement by dark, we'll issue a nationwide wanted notice."
Shen Lingchen stared out at the misty rain outside, bored as he watched water pooling on the car window like streams. Slowly, dusk began to settle in. After an unknown amount of time passed, he heard Lin Qizhao's voice: "Deputy Commissioner Shen, I'm ordering the wanted notice..."
It was a request for approval; Shen Lingchen chose silence. He couldn't convince himself to give up.
"Lin Qizhao" picked up his phone and commanded, "Attention, issue the first wanted notice for suspect 'Mulin Shen', male, 26 years old. All task forces and police units should prioritize the search for this individual. The reason for the notice: suspected extortion."
After the order was given, there was a long silence. "Lin Qizhao" could tell that he had been left with the role of the bad cop. He quietly reassured, "Deputy Commissioner Shen, you've done all you can; there's no need to watch him self-destruct."
"I don't know what to say," "Shen Lingchen" replied.
"Then just do what a police officer is supposed to do," "Lin Qizhao" said.
At that moment, "Shen Lingchen's" phone buzzed. He picked it up to find an unfamiliar number calling. His heart raced as he answered, and upon hearing a voice say hello, "Shen Lingchen's" expression changed dramatically. He covered the receiver and told "Lin Qizhao," "Quick, don't issue the wanted notice."
"Oh," "Lin Qizhao" perked up, leaning in to listen. "Shen Lingchen" asked, "Where are you?"
"I just returned to Suzhou and Hangzhou," came the calm voice of "Xiao Mu."
"What news do you have? You've been missing for days; we couldn't find you," "Shen Lingchen" said.
"Old Shen, just play along; if you don't know, then forget it," "Xiao Mu's" voice replied.
"Shen Lingchen" laughed and asked, "A major case happened in Binhai; the method of operation is quite impressive. It shouldn't be your doing, right?"
"Wrong. I orchestrated it," "Xiao Mu" stated.
"Lin Qizhao" gasped in shock, biting his tongue in disbelief. "Shen Lingchen's" hand trembled as he finally managed to ask, "You've got guts; I really didn't misjudge you. You have more nerve than any suspect I've ever seen."
"Locate this phone number; I'll give you a chance to admire it."
The voice of "Xiao Mu" revealed no emotion before the call abruptly ended.
"Move quickly, there's not much time left... Notify the rear, cancel the order," Shen Lingchen said while notifying the tracking number.
Meanwhile, Lin Qizhao shouted from the driver's seat, "What? It's already been sent out... Cancel, cancel... No reason... What do you mean, it's in the system and can't be canceled? Tell Director Zheng to answer the phone..."
The car sped through the streets, chaotic inside, heading straight for the designated signal: Wushan Square in Suzhou and Hangzhou.
As they descended from the highway into the city, police sirens blared. They ran several red lights, taking thirty-eight minutes to reach Wushan Square. The rain was light in Suzhou and Hangzhou, and by the time they approached their target, night had fallen.
Shen Lingchen, who was unflappable in front of any leader, felt like a rookie cop now—nervous, hands trembling, muscles in his face twitching. It had been years since he experienced such thrilling emotions. A informant had ultimately become a suspect in a major case, one he had orchestrated himself. He didn't know how to face this situation.
As they neared their destination, he instructed the car behind to stop. Shen Lingchen turned off the sirens. As they parked at the edge of the square, his emotions stabilized. He checked the location sent from behind; it was easy to find—right on a bench in the center of the square sat a figure clad in a raincoat. It was undoubtedly their target; on this rainy night, only hurried passersby occasionally crossed through the square.
With a click, both men opened their doors almost simultaneously. Shen Lingchen paused and said, "Department Head Lin, let me handle this; you don't know him."
"Let's go together. After all, we have to face him. My curiosity about this person has surpassed my professional ethics," Lin Qizhao replied, genuinely impressed. It was his first time seeing someone with such remarkable psychological resilience—acting before sending out any messages and returning so brazenly after committing a crime. If he couldn't explain himself clearly, he might end up locked away.
"Suit yourself; the wanted notice has already been issued. It's probably too late to stay out of it," Shen Lingchen said.
The two walked side by side without umbrellas, getting drenched as they approached the figure in the raincoat.
As they got closer, Shen Lingchen's heart raced. He couldn't think of how to greet him with his first words.
Closer still, there sat the legendary Red Line Informant—a figure who had emerged unscathed from the Underworld. Lin Qizhao felt an inexplicable excitement; someone like this deserved respect, whether as a friend or an adversary.
They were getting closer, closer. The two of them saw the man covering his hand, looking at his phone. As they approached a bit more, they noticed he was staring at the stock market curve on his screen. With the light from the screen illuminating his face, Shen Lingchen felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Lin Qizhao also realized it. The man, who looked to be in his thirties, was clearly not Xiao Mu. He exclaimed in disbelief, "Have we been played?"
"It's not... him," Shen Lingchen muttered, stunned. He asked in a low voice, "Who are you?"
"With such poor eyesight, how can you say who I am?" Xiao Mu replied.
"It’s you? How did you change so much?" Shen Lingchen was taken aback. It was indeed Xiao Mu's voice. He bent down to take a closer look; there was a faint resemblance, but the difference was too great. He looked like a middle-aged man now, aged over a decade. Lin Qizhao curiously asked, "Is it really him?"
Shen Lingchen nodded. It was only then that Xiao Mu pressed something on his phone and put it into his pocket. He raised his eyes to look at the two and asked, "Who is he?"
"Let me introduce myself. I’m Lin Qizhao; I've heard a lot about you," Lin Qizhao said, extending his hand amicably.
"Sorry, I generally don’t trust people I don’t know," Xiao Mu ignored him and stood up, handing a suitcase to Shen Lingchen. Shen Lingchen asked in surprise, "What is this?"
"The reward for stealing antiques—five hundred thousand. I spent some on travel expenses; it’s all yours," Xiao Mu said. Shen Lingchen immediately inquired, "How many people were involved? Who are they?"
"There are five of us including me: Locksmith, Mainboard, Azure Head, and Lani—four men and one woman. Two are locksmiths and three are lookouts; one of the lookouts is a makeup expert—well, that’s my face right now. We five were the ones who pulled the stunt; during the operation, Nie Qifeng should have been behind providing support... I’m just telling you this; can you find them?" Xiao Mu countered.
The two were momentarily speechless; they had almost missed him earlier due to how incredible his disguise was. Seeing their silence, Xiao Mu added, "Nie Qifeng was in charge; he recruited everyone involved. By now, he should have already slipped away."
"Is that all?" Lin Qizhao asked in astonishment; it felt like nothing had been revealed.
"That’s already quite a lot; how much more do you want to know?" Xiao Mu replied as he stood up to leave. Lin Qizhao directly blocked his path and said, "I’m sorry, but you can’t leave just yet; you need to cooperate with us to solve this case."
"You’ve only known about this case for a few days; how can you boldly claim you’ll solve it? Show me what you've got," Xiao Mu retorted sharply, making Lin Qizhao feel awkward under the scrutiny. Shen Lingchen quickly stepped in to stop Lin Qizhao while Xiao Mu casually walked away just like that.
"Lin Qizhao was anxious, whispering, 'Deputy Commissioner Shen, you can't be joking about this. How could you let him go?'
Shen Lingchen grasped Lin Qizhao's arm and said, 'Department Head Lin, you're the one joking. I've already recognized him as my master. You treat me with such respect, yet you dare to speak rudely to him... Don't worry, he has nowhere to go.'
Indeed, there was nowhere to go. If something went wrong, either An Sheng would take a pirate ship into the water or sink it on land; there were hardly any other options.
As expected, Xiao Mu's destination was a police car. He swaggered over and got into the driver's seat. The two felt a rush of joy and quickly jumped in beside him. Xiao Mu reached for the keys, started the engine with a roar, and sped away.
'Hey, hey... where are we going?' Shen Lingchen asked in confusion.
'To catch someone and find the loot. Damn it, I have to do this my way,' Xiao Mu replied. 'After tonight, we'll be even.'
'Wait a moment, Mr. Mu,' Lin Qizhao said politely. He inquired, 'Our team hasn't caught up yet; the Police Force needs some time to mobilize.'
'Ha ha, who said I need your team?' Xiao Mu laughed. 'Your team only has a gun; mine may not have guns, but we have everything else.'
While driving, Xiao Mu's phone rang. He was indeed directing the operation. On the call, he commanded fiercely: 'Block him off; don't let him escape!'
Who were they after?
Shen Lingchen and Lin Qizhao exchanged worried glances. This informant was even more formidable than the police—driving a police car with sirens blaring down the streets of Suzhou and Hangzhou. What on earth did he intend to do? For a moment, they couldn't keep up with his line of thought..."
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