The man in green clothes behind him instantly pulled out a pistol and fired a shot at the back of Zhang Zhiyun’s head. Clean, crisp, and as fast as lightning.
What preparation? What one, two, three?
None whatsoever!
Wang Lan’s eyes widened, struggling to believe the video’s authenticity.
Killed just like that?
Wang Lan had carefully read the duty regulations for special agents of the Tianjian Bureau. Indeed, one rule stated that Tianjian Bureau special agents had the authority to enforce the law and to carry out executions. When necessary, they were permitted to execute a target first and submit a written report afterward.
But Wang Lan had always thought this power was to be used in situations like capturing Demon Clan spies—when those spies resisted arrest and posed a substantial threat to surrounding civilians, making elimination of the target the primary consideration.
He had never really thought it could be used like this.
"Wang Lan, what’s wrong? Is there a result?" Xie Sisi approached, a little nervous. Seeing Wang Lan’s pale face made her heart flutter again.
"Yes, there is. Don’t worry, you’re in the clear."
Then, another file arrived on his phone. Wang Lan hurriedly opened it. The file contained a very complete chain of evidence for Zhang Zhiyun’s cris. With testimonies and tangible evidence, it was enough to get Zhang Zhiyun a death sentence, even in a court of law.
But how could Wang Lan believe it? In just over an hour, they had gathered such comprehensive evidence?
The phone screen lit up. Xu Shiyun was calling.
"Hello!" Wang Lan answered.
"Received it?" Xu Shiyun asked.
"Xu... your way of doing things is kind of frightening. Executed just like that, with a gun? There won’t be any problems, right?"
"Problems, my ass! I’ll tell you the truth, Zhang Zhiyun was involved in quite a lot. In the past eight years, he’s been connected to at least seven or eight cases of families ruined and lives lost. That restaurant he runs? It’s just a front for his illegal activities."
"He’s both the restaurant owner and an interdiary for underground dealings: forcing minors into prostitution, extorting citizens with predatory loans, bribing governnt officials, and so on."
"If this evidence were presented in court, he’d get at least fifteen years. But I think, scum like him getting fifteen years would still be a waste of the nation’s food for fifteen years. Better to just execute him and be done with it."
"By the way, we also got him to confess to evidence of corruption among so governnt officials, as well as evidence of illegal activities by so underworld forces. Do you want it?"
"What would I want it for? You’ve already dealt with the guy."
"You don’t want it? If not, these rits will all be mine," Xu Shiyun said with a chuckle.
Huh? Wang Lan suddenly beca alert and quickly opened the system. Sure enough, there was a prompt in the system indicating a task was in progress. He didn’t even know when it had started.
Wang Lan was full of contempt for the system; it didn’t even have a notification feature.
"Wang Lan, I’ll submit the evidence of corruption among those officials to the Discipline Inspection Commission. As for the evidence on those underworld gangs, I’ll hand it over to the police. Is that division okay? You uncovered this criminal, Zhang Zhiyun. Based on your intelligence, my four brothers and I tracked him and, in doing so, uncovered this entire illegal profit chain. How’s that sound?"
"No problem. By the way, can the evidence regarding those underworld gangs be given to a specific person?"
"A police officer?"
"Yes!"
"That’s fine. We just need to notify the police departnt. Who do you want to handle it? It’s your call."
"Hu Qing. I’ll send you his contact information right now."
"Alright. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up?"
"Okay!"
After hanging up, Wang Lan frowned. Logically, this matter should have been concluded by now. But the system hadn’t issued the rewards yet. Could it be...
Wang Lan glanced at Xie Sisi, who looked nervous beside him. It must be that her trouble hasn’t been resolved yet.
Picking up his phone, he called Hu Qing. "Hello, Hu Qing, where’s the person Xie Sisi injured?"
"Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, ICU, Ward Seventeen," Hu Qing replied, surprisingly coherent.
"ICU?" Wang Lan asked. "Is he that badly hurt?"
"Badly hurt, my ass! Just two broken ribs, no internal organ damage. But he insists on staying in the ICU. I just got back from the hospital. He was still threatening , saying if we don’t arrest the person by tomorrow morning, he’s going to pressure our police departnt through the dia."
"The chief just called too. If he really goes to the dia and pressures us, we might have to bring the Tianjian Bureau into it. You should... give the Tianjian Bureau a heads-up in advance, okay?"
"I understand. Oh, by the way, a colleague of mine will call you later to give you credit for sothing. It’s evidence of cris committed by so underworld organizations. Consider it my way of thanking you."
"We’re brothers, why the formality? If anything, my family owes you a huge debt of gratitude. If soone hadn’t reported a tip with the address today, and if two of my colleagues hadn’t been there, I would have just taken your word for it and looked the other way."
"Understood. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up."
After hanging up, Wang Lan patted the distracted Xie Sisi on the shoulder. "Let’s go. We’ll completely resolve your issue tonight, and then you can go back and get a good night’s sleep."
He drove Xie Sisi to the Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University.
It was already three in the morning, but there were still vacant parking spaces at the hospital. Wang Lan led Xie Sisi to the ICU. Actually, they didn’t even need to look for room numbers; they just had to find the door with four bodyguards in black suits standing outside.
"Who goes there?" As Wang Lan approached, the four bodyguards eyed him sharply.
Wang Lan took out his Tianjian Bureau badge. "I’m here to handle the case of Zhao Xiaoliang being attacked by a Star Martial Warrior."
"You?" one of the bodyguards questioned, clearly skeptical; Wang Lan was simply too young. However, the badge he presented made them hesitate.
"What’s the matter?" a strong, middle-aged male voice called from inside the ward.
"Soone from the Tianjian Bureau is here. He says he’s investigating the attack on the boss," a bodyguard reported.
"Then why are you still blocking him? Let him in."
The ward door opened. Lying on the hospital bed was a man who, just as Xie Sisi had described, looked strikingly like a fat pig. His bare chest was bound with a rib brace. Though he looked miserable, his complexion was rosy, and his spirits seed high.
Zhao Xiaoliang turned his head to look at Wang Lan, but the first person he saw was Xie Sisi standing behind him. Instantly, Zhao Xiaoliang’s face turned deathly pale.
"You... you! Guards! Guards!"
"Boss—"
"Boss, my ass! Call the police! Call the police! She’s the one who hit ! Quick!"
Zhao Xiaoliang might have dared to shout in front of the police, but the mont Xie Sisi actually appeared before him, he was instantly as frightened as a terrified stray dog.
Xie Sisi had a sweet face and a delicate figure. But no matter how sweet or delicate-looking a Star Martial Warrior was, she was still a Star Martial Warrior.
Even when drugged and disoriented, Xie Sisi had managed to break three of his ribs with a single blow. In her current, clear-headed state, she could slaughter him in minutes.
Having four bodyguards was useless; they were just ordinary n. Even if ordered to protect him, they might not dare lay a hand on Xie Sisi.
And the man now before him, Wang Lan, was even more terrifying. Daring to bring Xie Sisi here ant he was very likely here to back her up.
"Don’t bother the police officers," Wang Lan said, handing his ID to Zhao Xiaoliang. "Mr. Zhao, I’m Captain Wang of the Suzhou City Tianjian Bureau. This is my ID."
"Regarding the conflict between you and Xie Sisi, we’ve essentially completed our investigation. I’ve co to diate."
Wang Lan’s tone was very polite. This was because, after reviewing the evidence provided by Zhang Zhiyun, he had found no criminal evidence against this Zhao Xiaoliang.
According to Zhang Zhiyun’s statent, Zhao Xiaoliang was just an ordinary businessman who had indeed been chard by Xie Sisi over the past two weeks, which was why he had casually splurged over a hundred thousand yuan on her.
However, despite spending over a hundred thousand yuan, he hadn’t even managed to touch Xie Sisi’s hand. Zhang Zhiyun, aware of Zhao Xiaoliang’s intentions, had proactively contacted him, saying that if Zhao Xiaoliang paid one million yuan, he would guarantee Xie Sisi would willingly spend the night with him.
Zhao Xiaoliang, his judgnt clouded by lust, hadn’t thought much of it and assud it was Xie Sisi’s idea. Later, at the hotel, although he sensed Xie Sisi might have been drugged, he was already overco by his desires. Driven by lust, he had still planned to go through with it.
But ultimately, nothing had actually happened, and without substantial evidence, Zhao Xiaoliang couldn’t be convicted. This was why Wang Lan was being polite. If he had evidence of Zhao Xiaoliang’s cris, he wouldn’t have been so courteous; he would have beaten him up first and then had Hu Qing arrest him.
"diation? I don’t accept diation! We’ll see each other in court! Hmph, a Star Martial Warrior attacked . That’s attempted murder! Unless..." Zhao Xiaoliang’s eyes flicked towards Xie Sisi, but he quickly shut his mouth.
With Captain Wang from the Tianjian Bureau present, it wasn’t appropriate to discuss his terms. I’ll wait for a private opportunity, Zhao Xiaoliang thought. She won’t refuse. Either complete the deal or go to jail—a smart person knows how to choose.
"Mr. Zhao, please ask your bodyguards to step out for a mont."
Fear instantly appeared on Zhao Xiaoliang’s face. "Wh-what are you going to do?"
"You don’t need to be nervous. If I wanted to do sothing, your four bodyguards wouldn’t make a difference, here or not. Unless, of course, you’ve hired Star Martial Warriors. What I’m about to say isn’t suitable for outsiders to hear."
"I..." Zhao Xiaoliang’s eyes flickered. Deep down, he recognized the truth in Wang Lan’s words. Subconsciously, he also respected Wang Lan’s status as a Tianjian Bureau special agent.
"You all step out. Stay alert to the situation inside. If you hear anything unusual, call the police imdiately!"
"Yes, Boss!"
Once the bodyguards had left, Zhao Xiaoliang looked at Wang Lan, his face grim. "Captain Wang, can we talk now?"
"Xie Sisi is an external associate of our Tianjian Bureau. Although her conflict with you was a private matter, the Tianjian Bureau still needs to get involved."
"As for why you were injured, you know perfectly well. To put it bluntly, you attempted rape, and Xie Sisi acted in self-defense. You’d be the one spending a few years in jail, while she wouldn’t face any trouble at all."
"Are you trying to scare ? Do you have any evidence? I negotiated a price with Xie Sisi; it was consensual! You can check how much money I spent on her. My injuries are my evidence! You think you can overturn this without any proof? Not a chance!" Zhao Xiaoliang retorted, refusing to be intimidated.
"Mr. Zhao, do you know Zhang Zhiyun?"
"The owner of Cloud Sea Restaurant? Yes, I know him. So what? Zhang Zhiyun negotiated the price with on Xie Sisi’s behalf. I don’t think his testimony would count as evidence for you. He’s an involved party too!"
"It’s good that you know Zhang Zhiyun. Mr. Zhao, please don’t get angry just yet. Let show you sothing."
With that, Wang Lan took out his phone and played a video.
The video, of course, showed high-definition footage of Zhang Zhiyun being executed by gunshot. Zhang Zhiyun’s face was quite distinct; Wang Lan was sure Zhao Xiaoliang would recognize him.
As Zhao Xiaoliang watched the video, his expression changed repeatedly. Wang Lan could even clearly hear Zhao Xiaoliang’s heartbeat accelerating.
BANG!
A gunshot rang out in the video.
Zhao Xiaoliang’s hand trembled, and the phone slipped from his grasp, falling onto the hospital bed.
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