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墨書 Inktalez
Every case is intricately connected, and the case of 402 originated in Shaanxi Province, yet it had a thread linking it to Binhai, thousands of miles away...
On June 17th, around noon, a car with a Huibei license plate drove into Binhai City on Hunan Road. This area was close to the suburbs, bustling with a more local flavor and less urban atmosphere. The vehicle crawled along the mixed traffic, and the driver looked around as if searching for something.
Ah, found it. A nondescript small entrance with a sign in black mud and gold lettering: Qingchen Hotel.
This discovery eased his mind significantly. He parked the car at a distance and strolled leisurely to the restaurant. It was about the level of a food stall, with a dozen tables spread across two floors. It wasn't busy yet, and a pretty girl at the Bar Counter was settling accounts. A waiter invited him to a table, poured tea, and asked what he would like to eat. The man suddenly blurted out, “Is your boss named Lin?”
The waiter mechanically nodded and turned to look at the Bar Counter. The girl there asked unhappily, “Are you here to eat or looking for the boss?”
“Looking for the boss, and I’ll eat something too,” he replied with a smile. He was a middle-aged man with a bit of a paunch, looking friendly enough not to seem like a bad person.
The girl at the Bar Counter stretched her neck and shouted, “Dad, Dad... someone’s looking for you.”
Moments later, a man wearing an apron rushed out from the kitchen. He was thin and wiped his hands on his apron. The girl pointed at the visitor, and the boss approached with a bow and a smile, saying, “What would you like to eat? Our salt-baked chicken at Qingchen Hotel is famous far and wide; how about trying some?”
The man didn’t respond directly but pulled out a photo and asked the boss, “There’s a young fellow who asked me to pass on a message.”
“Ah? I don’t know him… Who is this? Hey, let me tell you, this ungrateful brat can borrow as much money as he wants outside; it has nothing to do with me... If he doesn’t leave, I’ll call the police. Qing'er, call 110.” The boss was suddenly agitated by the photo and shouted.
“Wait... I’m just asking if this isn’t your son? Is it really necessary to react like this?” the man asked curiously.
“The court has awarded custody to my ex-wife. Besides, he’s an adult now; I can’t keep raising him like he’s still a child! I warn you, his affairs have nothing to do with me... That little bastard has deceived so many people outside; it’s only a matter of time before he gets caught by the police...” The boss said angrily.
The young woman approached, linking her arm with her father's, and muttered, "Dad, don't pay attention to him... he's just here for money again."
Pulling her father away, she angrily added, "What are you still doing here? Waiting for me to feed you? Let me tell you, I won't change my last name; this isn't even his family."
The man, the ex-wife's son and the stepmother's daughter, understood the situation well. He smiled lightly and chose not to say anything more, awkwardly getting up to leave.
Once he was gone, the young woman hurried back to the bar counter to make a phone call. Just as she finished, the boss of the bar stood curiously in front of her. Seeing that the place was empty, he quietly asked, "Yi Qing, what’s going on?"
"Uncle, can you not ask so many questions? It's a mission," she replied with a smile, clearly indicating they were not really father and daughter.
Guan Yiqing was a police officer, and her distant uncle's business had come in handy.
She had already packed her things and was ready to leave. After waiting for several days, she finally got what she needed. Her uncle was anxious and pressed her, "Who is that person in the photo? You found yourself a son and changed my store's name... What am I supposed to do now that you're leaving?"
"Oh come on, Uncle, don’t change the store name... They probably won’t come back after this. Just keep running your business... I'm leaving now; if anyone asks again, just say the same thing," she replied with a smile as she stepped out, leaving her uncle feeling frustrated behind her.
She quickly got into a car parked by the roadside and handed over her phone. "They really came; good thing we were prepared or we would have been exposed."
The driver was Guo Wei from the City Bureau, responsible for liaising with various Provincial Task Forces. He glanced at her and said, "Looks like this case is significant; they traveled quite a distance just to verify things... Hey, your uncle didn’t slip up, did he?"
"He won’t; my uncle is sharp. He actually welcomes police visits to his little shop," Guan Yiqing laughed. As she took back her phone, she curiously asked, "By the way, Guo Wei... do you think that guy really got called away by the Provincial Department?"
"Probably. The task came directly from the hall. If we hadn’t gotten involved early on, we wouldn’t even know what was happening. Right now, A Group’s Field Duty is monitoring Dr. Feng and Old Mu’s homes," Guo Wei said as he started the car. He didn’t elaborate further; under the premise of combating crime, police considered all effective methods worth trying.
On the road, Guo Wei looked at Guan Yiqing, seemingly lost in thought. He smiled and said, "What's wrong? Yi Qing, feeling uncomfortable about having a younger sister who’s a bit of a troublemaker?"
"Come on, Old Mu's family is worth over a hundred million. Xiao Mu's monthly allowance is more than my annual salary. I would love to have a brother like that," Guan Yiqing replied with a smile. At this point, Guo Wei frowned and asked suspiciously, "But you mentioned that with such wealth, what does it have to do with the Pyramid Scheme? I think this might be a sign that you’ve been developed into an informant by Shaanxi Province."
"I think it’s possible that some little secret has been uncovered... Hurry up, let’s go to Dr. Feng’s place. We need to keep Old Mu calm; the longer we wait, the worse it gets. If his real father comes looking for him, no one will be able to cover for him," Guan Yiqing said with a smile.
After exiting Hunan Road, they accelerated towards Dr. Feng's psychological clinic office building. Sometimes the behind-the-scenes work was even more troublesome than what happened in front; they had to come up with all sorts of lies to keep Old Mu reassured while waiting for that troublemaker to come to his senses...
In Tongguan City, Washington Heights Community, Zhang Quan stood at the entrance of the building, leaning against Boss's car, waiting for Xiao Mu.
The methods of criminal organizations reminded him of the leadership reports he often heard in the team: those who can rise up, those who are average step aside, and those who are incompetent fall behind. Without a doubt, Xiao Mu was among those who could rise. After spending a day with Boss, he reportedly talked grandly for hours and quickly ascended in status. Boss’s special car was at his service, and he was arranged in a unit over a hundred square meters in Washington World. Every day he had three meals accompanied by Boss, and after dinner, there were drinks and karaoke sessions. This guy seemed born for a life of indulgence; in this environment, he was thriving and enjoying himself immensely.
Around nine o'clock, Zhang Quan had to call him once before he finally got out of bed and took half an hour to come downstairs. As they approached the entrance, Zhang Quan pulled Xiao Mu into the basement without saying much and showed him two photos to memorize.
He instructed firmly, "We're at a critical moment now; never slip up... They might go to Binhai to check your background; this is about finding you a father."
"You’re crazy! How can you just find any dad?" Xiao Mu snapped back angrily.
"No choice; just make do... Also, this is your sister, named Lin Yiqing... You are Lin Qingchen's son; she is the daughter of your father's new wife. You’ve racked up debts outside and can't go home... That’s the situation. If anyone asks about it, don’t give anything away," Zhang Quan cautioned him.
"Your sister is more like it." Xiao Mu felt a pain in his stomach; these police officers were quite cunning, having prepared an escape route. However, when he saw the woman's photo, his eyes lit up. "Oh? Could this be a Police Flower?"
"It seems so. It was arranged by the 402 task force over in Binhai," Zhang Quan replied, burning the photo and walking out.
"Hey, can you introduce me to this girl?" Xiao Mu chased after him, his mind wandering.
Zhang Quan awkwardly said, "I don't know her. We're not in the same unit, and besides, I've never been to Binhai."
"Come on, aren't you all part of the same task force? You can't handle something this small?" Xiao Mu was getting angry.
"The 402 task force is national; every province has its own... I was just joking. You really took that seriously? Just because I do a little work for the organization doesn't mean I owe you a Police Flower. You should take a good look at yourself; Police Flowers are seasoned warriors serving the people, not some petty bourgeois like you who could ever get close to them," Zhang Quan started to play coy.
Xiao Mu gritted his teeth in anger and jabbed at Zhang Quan, cursing, "Baldy, you better think this through. If I get the chance, I'll make sure you're in trouble."
"Don't start with that. We're both in the same boat; you can't scare me," Zhang Quan replied nonchalantly.
Frustrated, Xiao Mu punched him twice on the back, but to the tall and sturdy Zhang Quan, it felt more like a tickle. He then opened the car door with a feigned gesture and said, "Instructor Lin, please."
"This is so disgraceful. Look at how well Boss treats people; he even mentioned last night that whatever kind of woman he likes, he's got it covered... Sigh, poor choices in friends," Xiao Mu shook his head as he got into the car.
Zhang Quan shushed him, signaling him to be quiet. Once they hit the road, not even a joke was made.
The two drove out of the neighborhood directly to Boss's specialty goods company. It was a legitimate business, and so far, there had been no issues found regarding this company at home—not even any tax evasion problems.
It was actually quite simple; this was a case of going too far. In the current environment, a place with no issues would only make people feel that the problems were even greater...
On the other end of the clues, connected to the hidden operations of Field Duty and the project team stationed far away in the Provincial Capital, Skynet was meticulously arranging its forces, piecing together fragmented information from various nodes into coherent lines that aligned with the Case Situation.
On the 15th, Zhang Anping, also known as Zhang Fei and under the alias Zhang Guoqing, appeared in Tongchuan City.
On the 16th, while tracking Ma Jianfeng, also known as Ma Bufang, they traced him to Yulin. This missing General Manager had assumed a new identity as Ma Xiang and was traveling with a tour group.
Even more absurdly, Xu Nenghui, who had just completed a purchase, was spotted in Hohhot. The individual who had shown his face once in Fuxian, Dong Zhuo, was tracked again on the evening of the 16th and had already made it to Ordos.
Today brought new information: a detection point set up in Binhai City had triggered an alert. The police in Binhai City sent over photos of suspects who were investigating at the Hunan Road Qingchen Hotel.
He Yuguo?
It turned out to be He Yuguo. This guy hadn’t been seen since disappearing with Lu the Madman, yet here he was showing up in Binhai, and even more surprisingly, he was there to investigate Xiao Mu.
Bang! Ye Tianshu decisively slammed his hand on the table and gave Luo Guanquan a thumbs-up. Thanks to this old Scout's reminder, he handed over the information and said, “I just received news that this guy actually ran off to Binhai... You really have the experience; otherwise, we would have made a mistake this time.”
“Since he’s a con artist, don’t expect him to trust anyone,” Luo Guanquan replied as he set down the briefing document. He began outlining the whereabouts of several suspects. Director Fan had gone back to report to the Provincial Department, leaving just the two of them at home. Untangling such convoluted clues was not an easy task at all.
Ye Tianshu paced back and forth, listing the information he had become quite familiar with. "Luo Chu, at this point, I can't quite understand. Theoretically, it seems like there are significant movements happening, perhaps some hidden spots we haven't discovered... But if you look at the reports from these past few days, these elusive General Managers have been spotted in Yulin, Yanchuan, Binhai, and even Inner Mongolia. The more I look, the more confused I become."
Luo Guanquan looked up and asked with curiosity, "What are you worried about?"
"I'm worried about going in the wrong direction. We're in the Provincial Capital, while Comrade 3326 is in Tongguan, and these General Managers are spread across three provinces and several cities. The spots we need to monitor are scattered throughout the province... I can't shake the feeling that there's a tiger lurking with no way to strike," Ye Tianshu replied.
"Well... that's because your work has been too effective. This is precisely how they operate. Look here..." Luo Guanquan activated the political map and pointed out several discovery points with an electronic pen. "The operation mode of a Pyramid Scheme is to take root in one place and then branch out. They don't commit crimes locally; instead, they transport those recruited to another location. This explains why every spot we identify is filled with people from all over, with hardly any locals involved. Even if locals join, they are lured to unfamiliar places for easier brainwashing."
"So you're saying they're preparing?" Ye Tianshu asked.
"Exactly. In Binhai, Yulin, and Inner Mongolia, there may still be places we haven't discovered. If this is preparation, then the next gathering spot will be here... a place that hasn't yet been tainted by the Pyramid Scheme." Luo Guanquan pointed to the name of a city:
Tongguan.
"Are you saying these people will quickly gather in Tongguan?" Ye Tianshu asked skeptically. If that were the case, it would be the best outcome—an opportunity to catch them all.
"Otherwise, we can't explain this situation. The well-known Chief Lecturer Yang Menglu is stuck in Tongguan; Tu Shenhao seems to hold a higher rank than Yang Menglu and is also in Tongguan. Both of our own people have been kept in Tongguan as well... Tongguan is a cross-border area that connects to Jin to the north, Hubei to the south, and Henan to the east. There's no better escape route than this; you can leave the province in half an hour," Luo Guanquan explained while pointing out Tongguan's transportation hub.
Ye Tianshu's face remained skeptical; he seemed troubled by an unexplainable knot in his heart but couldn't articulate what it was. Luo Guanquan curiously asked, "Team Leader Ye, are you worried about going in the wrong direction?"
"The direction should be correct... But why do I feel like it's too easy?" Ye Tianshu suddenly realized.
"Well, that can be explained," Luo Guanquan chuckled. "It's because what you've accomplished is incredibly difficult—you've managed to sketch out portraits of several General Managers. This is something most Pyramid Scheme cases struggle with; now that you're following their trail, it's bound to yield results."
"If that's the case, it would certainly be best... but so far, that mysterious Boss Jia hasn't shown up. According to the news from the Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce, the tip-off indicates that Manager Jia has been responsible for planning and organizing the Pyramid Scheme. The large-scale Pyramid Scheme fraud cases that have occurred in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai all stem from his planning. Several suspects who were convicted at the end of last year also mentioned stories about this mysterious Boss Jia," Ye Tianshu said.
"Hehe, I actually think we might get to see Manager Jia's true face this time," Luo Guanquan replied with a smile.
Then he looked at Ye Tianshu and gestured towards the report on the table. Ye Tianshu suddenly realized and pointed out, "Are you saying that this lead should be controlled by Boss Jia?"
In Binhai, tracing Xiao Mu's background could command He Yuguo and keep Tu Shenhao and Yang Menglu tight-lipped; it seemed there was no one else. Ye Tianshu felt a surge of excitement and anticipation.
"Based on their modus operandi, they would place a carefully crafted puppet in front to deceive others while they hide behind the scenes to profit," Luo Guanquan said with a smile. "I don't know what kind of person your informant is, but I think they must have already identified the puppet for the next scam."
Yes, having passed various tests, they should meet the usage conditions. If the puppet chosen is Xiao Mu, then the mastermind behind it would be exposed.
Ye Tianshu let out a sigh of relief. When he thought of Xiao Mu, he realized he was the only one he wasn't worried about; that kid was too much like a con artist himself—he could fool even other con artists effortlessly...
……………………………………
……………………………………
Lunch was another grand feast, and unexpectedly, Big Mouth and Big Head were both at the table. The dining location was Wang Xidu Grand Restaurant in Tongguan, serving a lavish banquet of Northwest cuisine—roasted whole lamb, salt-braised fish, hanging roasted chicken—it was truly rich and indulgent. Big Mouth and Zhang Quan couldn't help but grease their lips.
During the meal, Tu Shenhao noticed Xiao Mu's elegant chewing several times; he dabbed his mouth softly like a woman and occasionally exchanged knowing smiles with Yang Menglu, seemingly expressing unspoken admiration and satisfaction with Xiao Mu's appearance.
After lunch, they switched vehicles, sending Zhang Quan and Big Mouth off in another car. This vehicle was personally driven by Boss Jia, taking Yang Menglu and Xiao Mu away while arranging for Zhang Quan and Big Mouth to return to the company.
Zhang Quan felt a bit frustrated. Trusting someone like a Thug was on a completely different level than with Xiao Mu, and the sudden turn of events made him realize that things were about to begin.
"Are we starting?"
It seemed so. In the car, Yang Menglu turned back with a smile, looking at Xiao Mu in the back seat. From her angle, she could catch the glance Tu Shenhao gave her, and she asked, "Linzi, are you satisfied with everything?"
"Yeah, it's pretty good," Xiao Mu nodded. Just as Yang Menglu was about to speak, he added, "Just missing some beautiful women."
Tu Shenhao burst into laughter. "Now that's the spirit of a hero!" Yang Menglu chuckled and said, "Then let me introduce you to a beauty."
"Are we going to work now? Hey, Yang Jie, wouldn't it be better if we teamed up? A golden boy and a jade girl, invincible together," Xiao Mu replied. Yang Menglu couldn't help but laugh and said, "I could be your aunt at this point; how can I still be a jade girl?"
"Of course! In my eyes, you're as elegant as an orchid," Xiao Mu teased. It was truly a pity he hadn't managed to flirt with this 'aunt.'
Tu Shenhao couldn't hold back his laughter any longer, gasping for breath as he said, "Looks like Linzi has a special fondness for you."
"Alright, enough of this banter. Starting today, no more eating, drinking, or playing around. Focus on preparing. When you meet her later, she'll teach you what to do... Linzi, is that okay?" Yang Menglu stated directly. Tu Shenhao felt that this arrangement was a bit abrupt and his heart skipped a beat.
Xiao Mu leaned in and asked, "How much are you giving me?"
Tu Zong's heart stopped racing for a moment; this approach reassured him. He smiled and replied, "So how much do you want?"
"That depends on how big the deal is. We need to ensure a win-win situation; otherwise, there's no point in collaborating if one of us ends up losing," Xiao Mu said.
"Ha ha, I love to hear that," Tu Shenhao said.
"You won't lose out, but how much you can earn depends on your abilities," Yang Menglu replied lightly, glancing at Xiao Mu with a fleeting look of regret in her eyes.
The journey wasn't far; they were heading to the Jinke Kaiyue Commercial District, where the contact was already waiting. Xiao Mu understood what Yang Menglu meant by introducing a beautiful woman. It was rare for her to speak the truth, and indeed, the person waiting was a stunning beauty. Dressed in a deep blue business outfit with black stockings and high heels, her graceful figure stood there like a rose blooming in midsummer.
She approached with a smile and extended her hand, looking Xiao Mu up and down with delight. "Oh, you're much more handsome than I imagined... Nice to meet you, I'm Jia Fangfei. I'll take care of everything from here."
"Sure... I'm happy to help," Xiao Mu replied elegantly, nodding and giving an ambiguous smile, winking lightly with his right eye, sending out a flirtatious gaze.
Jia Fangfei led Xiao Mu into the building while Tu Shenhao and Yang Menglu stayed behind. The two watched as Xiao Mu and Jia Fangfei walked away until they disappeared from sight. Everything seemed natural, yet Tu Shenhao felt a bit uneasy about it. He questioned, "Does this guy have no curiosity at all? How can he just follow her without asking what they're doing?"
"With such a captivating beauty accompanying him, do you think anything else matters?" Yang Menglu laughed.
Indeed, if one didn't indulge in romance at a young age, it would be a waste. Tu Shenhao laughed heartily, praising Yang Menglu for understanding men so well. He invited Yang Menglu into the car, driving off without a care for what was about to happen there...
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