The noise of a harsh brake came.
On the highway, the car stopped abruptly, with two tire traces left on the road. The driver ran out of the car in horror; his face was pale.
Fortunately, he managed to make an emergency brake, and the car behind him did the same. Therefore, there was no accident on the highway.
Of course, the drivers who were forced to stop started complaining and cursing.
But the first driver didn’t care about being scolded. Instead, he hurried to the front of his car and looked at the man who fell in front of his car.
There was a bus stop next to the incident. Hence, many onlookers were around. When a person fell in front of the car, the driver looked flustered. Soon, the crowd realized something.
The driver hurriedly explained, “I didn’t hit this person! He suddenly fell to the ground! I didn’t! I stopped!”
But the victim didn’t wake up. The driver was worried and couldn’t care less. He quickly helped the man who fell on the ground and shook him vigorously, but the man was totally unconscious.
He doesn’t look like a scammer. The driver gritted his teeth and quickly took out his phone. At this time, he could only choose to call the police and call an ambulance for help.
The ambulance arrived faster than the traffic police. The suspected driver quickly explained the situation to the medical staff. After the medical staff in the ambulance confirmed that the man was in a coma, the driver became more anxious.
The driver clearly didn’t hit the victim, but the victim fell to the ground. The driver was afraid that the victim was scared to death. In that case, he couldn’t justify and explain for himself.
Later, the traffic police arrived and hurriedly investigated the situation. After assessing the nearby surveillance cameras, the traffic police finally confirmed that the driver did not lie. The victim was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. As for the results, the traffic police was still waiting for the doctor’s diagnosis before they could conclude.
“Police officer, I didn’t hurt this person. Please believe me!” The driver was pale, and now he came to the hospital with the group.
“You didn’t hit the victim, but are you not speeding too?” The traffic police stared at the driver, “This is the hospital. Please be quiet! Let’s wait for the doctors to get the result!”
While the unlucky driver waited nervously, the doctor in the emergency room finally came out, “Police officer, this gentleman did not have any bruises on his body. The reason why he suddenly fainted was because of the wound infection. Yes, he passed out because of tetanus.”
“Tetanus?” The traffic police officer was taken aback.
The doctor frowned, nodded, and said, “For the person inside, his ear was cut off cruelly for some unknown reason. But after the cut, the wound was not treated properly. Now he is infected with tetanus. If he weren’t delivered in time, I am afraid that no one could save him.”
“His ear is cut off…” The traffic police furrowed his brows after listening. He was guessing under what circumstances would one of the ears be cut off.
Was it revenge, or was it because of other things? However, a cruel method like cutting off the ear was something only some lunatics would do. The traffic police knew that this matter was beyond the scope of his duties and simply reported it to the appropriate departments directly.
But the driver didn’t care about this. He was afraid that something might happen to this man, “Doctor, can the people in there recover?”
“The patient was delivered in time. We managed to save his life.” The doctor sighed. Obviously, the rescue was quite urgent. Hence, his nerves were tense. “Well, let’s see if we can contact his family. Let’s go through the admission procedures for him first.”
The driver thought for a while and knew some of the hospital’s rules and accommodating aspects. At this time, the driver was afraid that the victim would be delayed in treatment. If something happened one day later, the victim’s family would pursue him, which would be endless trouble.
The driver gritted his teeth and said, “Let’s do this? I’m going to help him go through the hospitalization procedure. Traffic police officer, since you witnessed the event, why don’t you also help?”
“Okay… fine.” The traffic policeman thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
They found a wallet from the patient’s belongings, which had the person’s ID: Liu Zixing.
When everything was done, the driver sat down, exhausted. He called his relatives, “Oh… I don’t want it to happen too! I don’t know if it was the guy being unlucky or me. Don’t run around if you’re already hurt! It’s tetanus, and he almost died. He even put me in a tight spot. I don’t want to talk about it. The traffic police officer is here. Traffic police officer, how is it? Have you contacted his family?”
The traffic police officer was puzzled but annoyed simultaneously, “I found the family members, but they didn’t want to come. When they heard that his life was no longer in danger, they ignored it. Instead, they had someone send some money over for the treatment. They even lamented that they were already very kind. I have never encountered such an irresponsible mother before!”
“Then, what should I do?” said the driver hurriedly.
“En, maybe you should go back first. I think it should be fine. I have written an oral confession. You keep your phone online these days and make sure that we can find you.” The traffic police thought for a while and felt that it wasn’t entirely the driver’s fault. There was no point in keeping him here.
The driver thought for a while and felt that it was still not safe. So, he gritted his teeth and said, “I have a suggestion. I am here waiting for him to wake up! Just in case his family will hold me accountable in the future. This is hard to say for certain! At least, I want to make it clear in person when the victim wakes up. It is his problem, not because I bumped into him, nor did I scare him into any complications!”
“Alright.” The traffic police agreed.
The traffic police officer reported the matter to the police station. He intended to transfer it to the police station. But all the police in the city were mobilized, being put to work overtime temporarily to catch a dangerous assailant.
He was notified that even the traffic police department was mobilized.
“I have something to do. If this person wakes up, you can let me know. This is my contact information.” The traffic police wrote a phone number, “I have deposited the money the victim’s family sent over for hospital treatment. Please rest assured.”
The driver nodded, only to admit that he was unlucky.
After the traffic police left, the driver bought something to eat and then stayed in front of Liu Zixing’s bed. He wanted to be alerted as soon as the victim woke up.
The driver looked at Liu Zixing in a coma, then glanced at the bandaged area on the ear, frowning. Liu Zixing’s skin was smooth, and he didn’t look like a labor worker. How could he get into such a situation?
Thinking about it, the driver sat on the folding chair, slowly getting sleepy, and shut his eyes.
Wang Yuechuan took a look at the files on the computer screen and then pulled out the USB flash drive directly. He did not destroy the USB flash drive according to 18’s instructions but dismantled the computer’s hard disk in this room, seemingly having the intention to take it away.
Wang Yuechuan glanced at the time. It was almost ten o’clock. Since 18 left, he hadn’t given much thought to the phone number he acquired. Without instructions for the next step, Wang Yuechuan did not know exactly how he should proceed.
When he was about to sort out what happened today, he suddenly heard the police car’s siren coming from outside.
Wang Yuechuan hurriedly approached the window. He came beside the window and looked down. He saw two police cars parked downstairs at this moment. Several police officers got out of the vehicle at this time and were looking up the building.
Wang Yuechuan frowned. He believed in the police’s efficiency, but he was still overwhelmed by the police officer’s efficiency at this moment. Did someone reveal my whereabouts? Is it 18?
Wang Yuechuan didn’t have time to think about it. At first, accepting the mission was his emergency escape plan not to reveal the “Book of the Dead.” But he couldn’t afford to be caught now. This was an important condition to complete the confidential mission, which he lacked specific details.
Wang Yuechuan looked downstairs again, and then another police car came. It was Ma Houde’s car.
Old Ma wasn’t an easy person to deal with. Although Wang Yuechuan disapproved of Ma Houde’s style of doing things, he had to admit that this Old Ma had formidable aspects.
Suddenly there was a knock on the private room’s door. Wang Yuechuan’s muscles tensed up. The person outside said, “Guest, please open the door? The police came outside, saying that they wanted to check the fire fighting systems. But it’s fine. Our boss knows them well. Things will get fixed soon.”
…
“Have we found the person providing the clue?”
Ma Houde glanced at the entrance of the Lanling Mansion ahead and directly asked Lin Feng next to him. Lin Feng shook his head, “The person reporting the clue used a public phone. We found nothing.”
(Translator Note: Lanling Mansion is not a hotel but a high-end lounge selling red wine. Excerpt from Chapter 160)
Ma Houde slapped his head, “It’s strange! Wang Yuechuan had just left, and someone reported it subsequently. It’s almost as if it was arranged.”
“Hmm…” Li Feng also murmured, “But Officer Ma, the higher-ups permitted us to shoot to kill if necessary. This feels like giving a show. Besides, Officer Ma, do you think Wang Yuechuan offended the higher-ups? Otherwise, why would we receive such an order?”
“This fellow came here alone. Within a few days of his arrival, his trace is gone. Who knows what he did secretly?” Ma Houde shook his head, “But since we got the instructions from the higher-ups, let’s just do what we gotta do.”
Ma Houde walked into the Lanling Mansion, “Let me take a closer investigation! Search everything for me! Don’t let anyone leave this place before we end the investigation!”
“Who are you!? Do you know who I am? Hurry up and take your men away!” A drunk young man walked out with a barely dressed woman in his arms. He yelled in displeasure, “I’m telling you. I know your chief very well!!”
Ma Houde waved his hand, “Can anyone make this guy sober? If you can’t sober him up, strip him off and throw him out into the cold weather!”
“Wait…You guys, what are you doing!? Do you know who I am!? I am… Let me go! Let me go! My uncle is Judge Wu of this city! Let me go!”
Looking at the guy who was caught and taken away, Ma Houde rolled his eyes. He glanced over as though sympathizing with the victim’s poor IQ, “It has been so long since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. We have a strict stance on crushing the abuse of power. So why are there still foolish people like him?”
Lin Feng agreed repeatedly. He dared not say that the other police officers would be lenient rather than brutal and strict as you.
“Reporting in! We have investigated all rooms, but no clues have been found!”
“Reporting in! There are no traces of people exiting from the back door!”
Not long after, police officers came to Ma Houde and reported the search situation. Ma Houde was guarding the lobby at the moment. The more news he heard, the tighter his frown, “No one? Does that guy have wings? Or is it a false report? Have you investigated it thoroughly?”
“Officer Ma, we have asked around. According to the staff’s description, Wang Yuechuan should have been here. But when we went to the room, there was no one in it. Though there are traces of fights taking place in the room, the windows aren’t broken. He shouldn’t have jumped out of the window.”
“Then, does he know how to be invisible?” Ma Houde stared back, “Search again! Could you give me a thorough search? Also, where is the person in charge here? It has been so long, yet no one brings him over.”
“Police officer, I’m here. I’m here!” It was a fat man in his thirties who was wearing a suit. He smiled, hurriedly came to Ma Houde at this time, “I’m the person in charge!”
The person in charge was quite depressed at this time. To tell the truth, this Lanling Mansion was also a place where sons of influential figures co-founded. Usually, no one checked on this place. No police officers came to this place, and no firefighters arrived to do a spot check on the fire fighting system. But, when these prideful prodigal sons heard Ma Houde’s name, they averted the situation and quickly said they were busy.
“Police officer, we are operating in a law-abiding manner, and we have not done anything illegal!”
“We’re here to arrest criminals. What’s the hurry!?” Ma Houde snorted coldly. “Are you hiding something? Did you speak to your boss secretly?”
“Police officer, wait, no! I was busy just now!”
“I don’t care!” Ma Houde snorted, “If we can’t catch the criminal this time, I have to check out this place inside out! You are suspected of soliciting prostitutes!”
“Police officer! No! Police officer! You can’t do this! This is… This is slander! This is framing! I can sue you!”
“Lin Feng, give him my ID number and let him do as he pleases. You can sue me however you like!” Ma Houde squinted, “Now, call out all the employees here! All the toilet cleaners! Don’t miss out on anyone!”
“Employees?” Lin Feng was taken aback, “Officer Ma, do you think Wang Yuechuan might have blended in with the employees?”
“Let’s not miss any possibility! Go!” Ma Houde put his hands on his waist. He looked like an eagle, patrolling the lobby.
…
In the lobby corner, a waiter lowered his head and retreated quietly, with a serious expression.
“At this time, I would rather you do a mediocre job.”
The waiter lowered his head and hurriedly walked towards the elevator.
“The person in front. Freeze!”
Before the waiter walked to the elevator, someone shouted and demanded the waiter to stop. Ma Houde frowned at this moment, walking forward quickly, and said in a deep voice, “Turn around!”