After returning from Xu Qingshan’s ho, Wang Lan quickly regrouped with Xu Shiyun. As for Xu Dongdong’s matter, it was handed over to the police departnt for handling. This was the second ti Wang Lan witnessed the capabilities of the Tianjian Bureau’s intelligence departnt.
The first ti was when he resolved the trouble with Xie Sisi. In just about an hour, they had thoroughly investigated Xie Sisi’s matter and executed her on the spot, nearly cremating the body imdiately afterward.
This ti, it only took half a day to track down Xu Donghai’s movents over the past six months, including the contacts he had made.
In the Star Mansion’s top floor, Wang Lan’s ho printer buzzed rapidly, printing out faxed docunts. These were intelligence reports collected from various stations of the intelligence departnt. Wang Lan and Xu Shiyun only needed to filter out the useful information from these reports.
"Apart from being a mber of the Commoner Genius Association, Xu Donghai also took private jobs on the side? No wonder he could afford a B-level Star Martial Skill and three C-level Star Martial Skills despite his family’s financial conditions."
"He quit the Commoner Genius Association a week ago..." Wang Lan sighed while holding the report. "Did he leave because he obtained the Demonic Transformation Potion and climbed onto a higher branch, or did he steal the potion from the Commoner Genius Association?"
"Wang Lan, you suspect your classmate? Duan Ziqi, right?"
"Yes!"
"Indeed. The initial cri scene was at the school, but neither Xu Donghai nor Duan Ziqi are boarding students, so it’s not necessarily related to students. Moreover, if it’s almost certain that the Demon Clan doesn’t want you to participate in the provincial tournant, the likelihood of a student being involved is low. Look at this information: Ancient City District, underground casino boss Li, known as the Vampire. He runs underground casinos and issues high-interest loans, leading people to financial ruin. However, for so unknown reason, the Ancient City District police departnt has never clamped down on this area. Not long after Xu Donghai awakened as a Star Martial Warrior, he connected with this Li. While working for him, Li always wore a mask, earning the nickna Ghost Face in the Ancient City’s mafia. Only a few of Li’s close confidants knew Ghost Face’s real identity was Xu Donghai."
"Wang Lan, do you rember the forr Crow?"
"You suspect Li is like Crow?"
"Very likely! I even suspect that Li, just like Crow, is a hidden Star Martial Warrior."
The more information was collated, the clearer it beca that Xu Donghai’s interactions pointed in three directions. The first was his relatives. However, his entire family had been murdered, with only a brother-in-law surviving because he was away on a business trip. This made it unlikely that Xu Donghai had obtained the Demonic Transformation Potion from them.
The second direction was the school, or perhaps the Commoner Genius Association. But as Wang Lan knew, the Commoner Genius Association’s activities were limited to school. There, they exchanged cultivation insights and verified thods and ideas with each other. They didn’t interact closely after school. In the words of the wealthy students, they were just a bunch of cannon fodder huddling together and wailing.
The third direction, of course, was Li’s side, which Xu Shiyun felt was the most probable. After discussing with Wang Lan, they decided to gather intelligence around Li and act tonight to take down Li and his operation in one fell swoop.
Li’s ability to run an underground casino in the Ancient City District for so many years without being eradicated ant he had so survival tactics. To avoid alerting the enemy, this operation would be led by the Tianjian Bureau, with the police departnt providing support. For the Tianjian Bureau, dealing with a mafia gang was overkill.
As night fell and the city lights began to shine, the famous entertainnt streets of the Ancient City District dazzled with lights and colors. But if soone looked down from the sky, they’d see that several streets spreading outwards from a central, palace-like building were quietly being cordoned off by police cars.
As the night grew darker, the blockade of the streets intensified. Slowly, those in the underground forces of the Ancient City District began to sense sothing unusual about tonight.
"Is it Li’s territory?" A middle-aged man missing two fingers stood on his balcony, deeply puffing on a cigar. "What on earth has Li done recently to make the police departnt willing to disrupt the balance to go after him?"
"I haven’t heard anything. Could it be related to the debt collection before the New Year? That doesn’t seem right either. Li is very asured in his actions; it’s usually the crooked rchants who get heavy-handed."
「At Hanjing Juegong, the top floor of the only five-star hotel in the Ancient City District, a young girl in a black lace dress played idly with a feather fan in her hand.」
"Miss Ji, you called for ?"
"Tell the girls to clock out early tonight."
"Ah? Why?"
"Haven’t you seen the big move from above? Although it’s aid at Li, innocents could be affected. Call the sisters working on Li’s turf to evacuate imdiately. Whatever it takes, just run if you can."
At that mont, it wasn’t just the hostesses who were on the run; Li’s subordinates also realized sothing wasn’t right. This wasn’t so routine inspection; this was an ambush without any prior warning.
Starting from three streets away, they gradually sealed off Li’s den as tightly as an iron wall.
At this mont, Li was reflecting deeply on what he had done over the past year. The Ancient City District had a triple power standoff, maintaining a balance that had ensured it was the safest area in Suzhou City for the past two years. Although attributing the district’s good order to the influence of the mafia was quite shaless, in Li’s words, as soone from the underworld and a gang leader, as long as he didn’t initiate trouble or unrest, he deserved a good citizen award.
In places where there is light, there will also be darkness, especially in Suzhou City, with its particularly thriving entertainnt industry. "Above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou"—how did this saying co about? Just because of the beautiful scenery? Just because of the lakes and mountains?
The starry sky over the grasslands is also beautiful, and the scenery in Shu is also magnificent, isn’t it? So what’s so special?
It’s all because in Suzhou and Hangzhou, one can enjoy the pleasures of heaven. More people who were particular about leisure and had taste would even travel thousands of miles to experience the fleeting beauty of Suzhou City.
And these glitzy places had long been infiltrated by the mafia. Even if one was removed, others would still seep in. So, those who were eliminated were often the dishonest ones, those who had crossed the line in Suzhou City.
For so many years, I’ve been upright and honest. Even though I run a casino and issue high-interest loans, I’ve never targeted students, the elderly, or honest folk.
The ones I target are those crooked rchants, or the rich playboys looking for a good ti. I’ve racked my brain, but I just can’t figure out what I’ve done wrong.
Under the lights, Li’s bald head shone as bright as a bulb. In front of him was a statue of the Second Master, while in his hands, he clutched Buddha Beads. Li appeared composed, yet his two underlings behind him were panicked and sweating profusely.
"Li, are you still thinking? The police are about to co knocking! Let’s run!"
"Yeah, I’ve got your clothes ready, and even brought you a wig. The brothers will cause a distraction; you take that chance to break out in the chaos. As long as you’re safe, the brothers will be too. Just getting you out gives the brothers hope."
"Yeah! Li, at tis like this, it’s us brothers you can count on. When you’re in trouble, we stick by you every step of the way. And where is Ghost Face now? If he were here, he could get you out with his skills. Who knows, maybe he’s the one who stirred up today’s trouble."
SNAP! The Buddha Beads in Li’s hands shattered, spilling to the ground.
"Ghost Face... he had sothing on today, so he couldn’t co... He asked for leave a few days ago. But now that you ntion it, I do think it’s possible." Saying this, he picked up his phone to make a call.
When he heard the ssage that the number he dialed was not in service, Li’s face imdiately turned pitch black.
"Li, let’s run!"
"We can’t. With such a big operation, how could they not be fully prepared? All of you might be able to run, but I alone can’t. If you want to run, go ahead."
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! A round of applause rose as Xu Shiyun and Wang Lan silently ascended from underground. This scene took Li’s breath away.
"Star Martial Warriors? Is this necessary? Did you really need to use Star Martial Warriors to catch ?"
"Li! Ghost Face works for you, right?" Xu Shiyun didn’t like to beat around the bush. Once the intimidating effect was achieved, he got straight to the point.
"So it really was him... Am I being dragged down by him? Even if I have to die, I accept it. But could you two gentlen at least tell how I was set up?"
"He’s in cahoots with the Demon Clan. Since he happens to be one of your n, logically, you’re also implicated in dealings with the Demon Clan..."
"I..." Li’s eyes bulged as he pointed to his own head. "Brother, that’s not fair reasoning! My relationship with Ghost Face is strictly business. He was recomnded to by Mr. Qi. If anyone is his superior, it’s Mr. Qi, not ."
"Mr. Qi? Which Mr. Qi?" Wang Lan asked eagerly, his brow twitching.
"Mr. Qi’s na is Duan Ziqi. People in our circles call him Mr. Qi, and over ti, it just stuck."
"Duan Ziqi? The Duan Ziqi from Suzhou No.1 Middle School?" Wang Lan asked, his eyes widening once more.
"Yes. Who in the Ancient City District doesn’t give face to Mr. Qi? He never gets involved in the business of the Ancient City District. However, by rule, we have to donate ten percent of our yearly profits to the orphanage. It’s like earning so good karma for us. If you’re looking into Ghost Face’s dealings with the Demon Clan, you shouldn’t be coming to ."
"Ten percent each year, that’s quite a lot. You’re generous, aren’t you?"
"Hehehe... They call Li, but in the Ancient City District, the real boss is Mr. Qi. The rest of us are just small fry."
"So, we got the wrong person?" Wang Lan didn’t doubt Li’s words. He hadn’t known that Duan Ziqi had arranged Xu Donghai’s association with Li. If he had, he would have targeted Duan Ziqi directly. In Wang Lan’s view, Duan Ziqi was far more suspicious than Li.
Hearing Wang Lan’s words, Li’s face brightened. "Right! You definitely got the wrong person! You can ask around on the streets what kind of person I, Li, am. I hate traitors the most! This is all a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding."
"If it’s a misunderstanding..." Wang Lan turned to look at Xu Shiyun. "Shall we call Hu Qing to make the arrest?"
Li was about to express his gratitude, the words on the tip of his tongue, but they caught in his throat.
What does that an? Still getting arrested? Wasn’t it all a misunderstanding?
Wang Lan smiled at Li’s bewildered look. "Well, now that we’re here, how can we return empty-handed? It would be a waste to make a trip for nothing, right?"
"I’ll pay..." Before Li could finish his sentence, Wang Lan grabbed his throat. A surge of Star Power flowed into Li’s body.
"AH! HOT! HOT! HOT!"
Wang Lan released Li’s throat. "No Star Power resistance. He’s indeed an ordinary person."
Xu Shiyun took out his phone. "Inspector Hu? Ti to close the net."
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