After the report was made, the officers at the desk received confirmation—a superior would come down to escort the visitors personally.
Sure enough, less than a minute after hanging up, a team leader trotted into the hall with a courteous smile.
“This way, please!”
The team leader didn’t seem particularly nervous. He led the four down a long corridor, past two checkpoints, and finally stopped in front of a dark, heavy iron door.
Zhou Sheng’s expression darkened as he looked at the holding cell.
Just imagining Lin Fan suffering inside made his chest burn with fury.
He stepped forward and knocked loudly. “Lin Fan!”
From the other side, Lin Fan’s eyes lit up as he peeked through the tiny barred window. The voice was familiar.
“Brother Zhou!” Lin Fan greeted with a smile.
Zhou Sheng nodded but then turned sharply to the team leader, frowning.“Is this how you do your job? You’ve labeled someone a serious criminal without any investigation? Release him immediately!”
The team leader’s face turned cold at Zhou Sheng’s arrogant tone.
Hmph. The man behind me is Shen Wuxiao. What are you compared to that?
Young Master Shen’s orders weren’t something a mere official could challenge.
“I’m sorry,” the team leader replied stiffly, “but Lin Fan is charged as a serious criminal. He broke into Villa No. 19 in Jinnan Bay and murdered the son of a well-known local business owner. The evidence is conclusive.”
“We’re simply doing our duty. We won’t make random decisions without proper procedure.”
Zhou Sheng’s eyes widened. Did this guy just challenge him—him, a top official from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate?
“Very well!” Zhou Sheng sneered, pointing at the man’s law enforcement ID. “64824. I’ll remember that number.”
The team leader didn’t flinch. This was Zhonghai—home turf for people like Shen Wuxiao. Rank and titles meant little here.
Zhou Sheng’s patience was running thin. “I’ll say it one more time—release him!”
“I’m sorry,” the team leader said, not backing down. “Our orders were only to let you see him. There was no mention of releasing him. And seeing how friendly you are with this so-called ‘serious criminal,’ I have reason to suspect abuse of authority.”
“I’m from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate!” Zhou Sheng roared, his temper finally snapping.
“Even if the Emperor himself came, it wouldn’t change anything,” the team leader said defiantly.
“You…” Zhou Sheng had never been so humiliated. His fists clenched in anger.
“Comrade Zhou,” Hong Ye said suddenly, her tone sharp. “Watch your attitude.”
Her words weren’t just a reminder—they were a warning.
She was sent by higher authorities to assist with this special case. She didn’t even know Lin Fan personally.
But the sheer boldness of the local officers was enough to raise suspicion. It was odd—and troubling.
That Zhou Sheng tried to pull rank only made things worse.
Zhou Sheng managed to restrain himself. He looked at Hong Ye and remembered: this young woman was no ordinary operative.
Her family background was formidable, and she had grown up in a powerful compound. Even her childhood friends weren’t people you could afford to offend.
Just as tensions peaked, the head of the branch arrived.
“Ah! Apologies, everyone, I got held up. Sorry, sorry!” A slightly overweight middle-aged man approached with a big smile—this was Ye Jiancheng, the director of Zhonghai First Branch.
Zhou Sheng was about to speak again, but a glance from Hong Ye made him hold back.
Instead, he said coldly, “Lin Fan’s case has been flagged by higher-ups. We came with authorization to investigate.”
“But before we even looked into it, you’ve already labeled him a dangerous criminal. Don’t you think that’s a bit hasty?”
Ye Jiancheng smiled with the experience of a veteran bureaucrat. He had no intention of acting tough—just smooth things over.
“Of course, of course. If you want to question him, we’ll make the arrangements right away.”
Then he turned to the team leader. “You’ve been a little stubborn, haven’t you? These are officials here on assignment. What are you doing, making things difficult?”
“Open the door and take Lin Fan to the interrogation room.”
The team leader clicked his tongue in frustration but obeyed. He walked over and opened the cell under Zhou Sheng’s intense glare.
Lin Fan stepped out calmly, his wrists still cuffed.
Zhou Sheng’s eyes blazed when he saw the cuffs, but he managed to keep himself composed. He gave Lin Fan a small nod.
Lin Fan responded with a light smile.
He was calm because he had full faith in the message he sent last night.
After all, he was the Border Wolf King, a colonel. He had powerful contacts, people who owed him favors.
And with just one message, high-level officials had arrived from both the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the National Security Bureau.
After exchanging greetings with Zhou Sheng, Lin Fan’s eyes landed on Hong Ye.
His gaze brightened.
She was stunning—every bit as beautiful as Jiang Huaiyue.
Even dressed in a strict, professional uniform, her figure remained striking. Her tied-up hair, sharp eyebrows, and sculpted features gave her a dignified, heroic aura.
Her almond-shaped eyes were bright and filled with determination.
Her aura was like a maple leaf in autumn—warm, vivid, and full of vitality.
So beautiful.
Lin Fan had excellent taste. If he had to rate her, he’d easily give her over 95.
But Hong Ye noticed his gaze and immediately frowned. “Watch your eyes!” she snapped.
Lin Fan felt slightly embarrassed and quickly looked away.
The group proceeded to the interrogation room.
Once inside, the formal questioning began—though everyone knew it was just a formality. According to Zhou Sheng, Lin Fan would be taken away today no matter what.
But Hong Ye had her own motives. As an agent of the Second Bureau of the National Security Bureau, she had intel regarding Lin Fan. That was why she was sent.
Outside the police station, a Bugatti Veyron pulled into the parking lot and came to a smooth stop.
Shen Wuxiao had arrived.
He came to enjoy the show.
With a single sentence, he could have made sure Lin Fan never saw daylight again. But no—Lin Fan wasn’t someone he would simply let die.
He had to kill him himself.
Still, an old friend was here. So he decided to show up.
Besides, taunting Lin Fan in person would earn him a huge batch of points.
This was also the moment he would reveal himself—when “Sikong” fully became Shen Wuxiao in Lin Fan’s eyes.
As he entered the building, Shen Wuxiao noticed several shady figures lingering nearby.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out—they were with the Haisha Society.
These kinds of underground forces all had powerful backers.
They likely learned that someone from the Imperial Capital had come to protect Lin Fan, and now they were lying in wait.
To the Haisha Society, Lin Fan’s death was non-negotiable. Only his complete elimination would count as revenge.
Anyone who shielded him would become an enemy.
Unless, of course, that person was Shen Wuxiao—who had connections deep enough to crush the sky.
Usually, the saying held true: “Even a powerful dragon can’t suppress a local snake.”
But Shen Wuxiao was no ordinary dragon.
If Lin Fan walked out of the station today, there would probably be out-of-control dump trucks “accidentally” swerving into the road.
And those who came to protect him?
They’d be crushed just the same, dismissed as tragic accidents.
The excuses would be textbook: “The driver lost control,” “The brakes failed,” and so on.
But Shen Wuxiao wasn’t concerned.
He considered those people nothing more than clowns.
To think they could stop a protagonist’s destiny with one underground force?
What a joke.
The protagonist couldn’t be toppled by a bunch of small-time criminals.
They weren’t even qualified.