"So you're saying they were mistaken?"
Elder Liang looked at Liu Hai.
"Elder Liang, I truly don't know what's going on. They asked me earlier, and I was just as puzzled."
"Little Jiang, can you see if there's some misunderstanding here? Little Liu didn't receive any calls from them."
"Is that so? It seems there really is a misunderstanding?"
Jiang Qixin stroked his chin and suddenly asked Liu Hai, "Did Wang Changming from the base not call you?"
"Who is Wang Changming?" Liu Hai blinked and asked.
"You don't even know Wang Changming? You worked together for many years, don't tell me you don't know him." Jiang Qixin looked at him with a half-smile.
"You mean that Wang Changming? Didn't he retire and go back?"
"Liu Hai, do you know what it means to be too clever for your own good? I believe you know we have hundreds of ways to make you speak the truth. This is to save face for you. If you persist in your stubbornness, no one can save you." Jiang Qixin said.
"Boss, the plan has been executed." Liu Hai suddenly said.
"Those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish. Pass down the order to clean up the loose ends."
"Yes. What about those businesses? And Jiang Qixin and Li Shengyun?"
"Don't touch those for now. Too much is as bad as too little. After this matter settles down, we'll play with them slowly. Let them know that some people are not to be trifled with."
"Understood."
...
The people present were stunned by Liu Hai's performance. His imitation voice was too accurate. This voice was unmistakably Elder Liang's. But it wasn't over yet.
...
"Boss, they just called from over there. They confirmed no survivors."
"He knows too much."
"Understood."
"Make it clean. After it's done, have this person leave and never return."
"Yes."
...
If Jiang Qixin still didn't understand what was happening, he would truly be unfit for his position. He looked at Elder Liang and said loudly, "Quartermaster Liang, this is how you don't know? Is this how you treat heroes?"
Quartermaster Liang knew it was all over the moment he heard Liu Hai imitate his voice. He didn't expect Liu Hai to speak to him like this in front of his face. In fact, Liu Hai was also confused. He couldn't control himself earlier, as if his tongue wasn't his own. If he had to perform seriously, he probably wouldn't be able to. It was as if a professional performer was putting on a show.
Jiang Qixin looked at Liu Hai thoughtfully, a smile appearing on his face.
"Alright, take them away. Make sure they confess everything." Jiang Qixin said to the people in the room.
"Yes." Several young men were about to escort Quartermaster Liang and Liu Hai out. While they had been polite when they first arrived, their demeanor had changed now.
Liu Hai looked at Quartermaster Liang dazedly and said, "Sir, I'm sorry. I couldn't control myself earlier. That wasn't me speaking."
"Let's go." The young men roughly pushed Liu Hai.
"Stop making excuses."
Liu Hai stumbled from the push and lurched towards the door. Seeing that the situation was not right, a young man quickly grabbed him. "You can't die right now. If you don't confess, death will likely be a luxury for you."
Quartermaster Liang looked at Jiang Qixin, wanting to say something, but ultimately did not.
...
"Boss, Quartermaster Liang confessed." In the evening, Jiang Qixin went to the office of the white-haired old man.
"Anyone else?"
"He only confessed that he arranged for people to do it. He didn't mention anyone else."
"He's tight-lipped. You know I want more than that." The old man said to Jiang Qixin.
"He's too old, and I don't dare to use force on him. Besides, his wife is still around, and we have to show some consideration no matter what."
"If you show him consideration, who will show consideration to the fallen heroes? He is already a criminal. If you can't uncover anyone else, why bother with him? If you're concerned about the person next to him, can't we just pretend not to know? Wouldn't that be better for everyone? 'Punishment does not extend to the great officers' was a law from the past, from feudal society, enacted to protect royalty. Now the people are in charge. Anyone who betrays the people has the right to judge them." The old man's words were weighty. This made Jiang Qixin break out in a cold sweat.
"Boss, I was wrong."
"I'm not asking you to admit fault; I want results. Why are these people still causing trouble? Who gave them the courage? How many people on the list you brought are related to him, do you know? The higher-ups are hesitant to act because they're concerned about old connections and saving face, but now it's a matter of life and death. If we don't act ruthlessly, they will mistake our leniency for weakness and bullying. Then it won't just be about selling secrets."
"Boss, I know what to do."
"Go and build an unshakeable case. From now on, you report directly to me and are not subject to the management of any other personnel or departments. If anything goes wrong, I will bear the responsibility." The old man said to him.
"Boss, don't worry, I will not let any fish slip through the net this time."
The old man said no more but waved his hand, letting him leave.
...
No one expected that before the previous case was even concluded, the special department would launch another wave of action. This time, the scope was wider, and more personnel were involved. For a time, everyone lived in fear, and no one dared to step out and cause trouble.
"Isn't this going a bit too far?" The old man looked at the white-haired elder.
"Only by doing this can we achieve the effect of 'beating the grass to startle the snake.' Otherwise, they will truly believe you are kind-hearted and easily bullied."
"How many people are implicated?"
"None of the families we analyzed last time escaped; they are all involved."
"They are challenging my bottom line."
"Otherwise..."
"Let's find a few representative figures to deal with first."
"I'll bring you the list shortly."
"Quartermaster Liang will be one. Find two others."
"Alright."
...
In the base infirmary, Xu Dahai finally stopped feeling dizzy. The past two days had tormented him greatly. Doctors had used all sorts of methods—CT scans, ultrasounds, MRIs—but could find no reason for Xu Dahai's dizziness. Strangely enough, the day after the middle-aged man was taken away, Xu Dahai's dizziness disappeared on its own. The first thing he did after regaining clarity was call Guo Xuyang. However, Guo Xuyang's phone was always switched off, and he couldn't get through no matter what. He couldn't believe Guo Xuyang was gone just like that. Since Guo Xuyang could guess the opponent's methods, he couldn't have lacked countermeasures.