Chapter 755

In Ba City, inside the temporary office rented by the investigation team.

Zhou Xian had obtained Xin Xiaoming's exact address from the captured suspect, but he didn't dare to act rashly.

District Two was not like District One. No matter how high the investigation team's rank was, they were restricted here. Any local judicial department could refuse to cooperate. Cross-district arrests also raised questions about criminal violations. For example, had they obtained permission from the local department to fire a gun? What would happen if there were casualties, even civilian casualties?

These matters were complicated to handle, and Zhou Xian knew that once they apprehended Xin Xiaoming, they had to leave the country immediately, without delay, lest things get complicated.

Inside the office.

Zhou Xian looked at the address and immediately issued an emergency deployment to his four core team members: "Team Two, go immediately to Xin Xiaoming's hideout to set up surveillance, but don't alert him. If he goes out, you can follow him for the time being and report to me."

"No problem," the leader of Team Two responded.

Zhou Xian turned to another middle-aged man: "You coordinate with the local police. We'll arrange the plane in advance. Once we have the person, we'll go straight to the airport."

"Yes!"

"From now on, confiscate everyone's cell phones and communication devices. Personnel participating in the arrest must be searched by their team leader to ensure they have no other items on them before being allowed into the waiting room." Zhou Xian glanced at his watch. "Before the operation begins, do not disclose any arrest information to the local police. Once the airport is arranged, we'll move."

"Yes!"

Everyone saluted in unison.

...

In the suburbs of District Two, in a very dilapidated black neighborhood.

Tan Mingchao stood in a basement, wearing a white shirt, sleeves rolled up, fists clenched, punching a burly middle-aged man.

"Bang, bang...!"

The sound of fists hitting flesh echoed, and the middle-aged man's ribs were broken. The pain caused him to pass out.

"Huff, huff!"

Tan Mingchao gasped and waved his hand.

"Splash!"

A bucket of cold water was splashed on the middle-aged man's face, and he woke up with a start.

"Will you talk or not?!" A military officer next to Tan Mingchao shouted fiercely.

"I... I swear to God, I really don't know where Xin Xiaoming is!" The middle-aged man lowered his head and said, mentally broken. "I had a good relationship with him, but... but only in terms of business cooperation... Money was more important than feelings between us. After the company had problems, that bastard disappeared immediately and didn't contact anyone. He still owes me more than four million in cash!"

Tan Mingchao looked at him coldly, reached out his hand, and the officer next to him handed him a cigarette.

"We're just business partners. I wouldn't risk my life for him..." The middle-aged man continued, "I beg you, let me go."

Tan Mingchao took a puff of the cigarette and asked him coldly, "How much profit does the Hongfang Group send you each year?"

"That... that's hard to say, but just my company alone makes two or three thousand a year," the middle-aged man replied.

"Two or three thousand???" Tan Mingchao's head buzzed when he heard this number. "Why does the Hongfang Group give the Xin family so much money?"

"I don't know about that. Xin Xiaoming is very cunning. He doesn't let us contact the people from Hongfang directly. To put it bluntly, we just launder money and do odd jobs for him, earning some benefits in the process." The middle-aged man swallowed. "But... I heard people say... it seems that Xin Chaojie promised the Hongfang Group that he would give the people from the Hongfang Group some favors in the army at the appropriate time, such as promotions and official appointments. Oh, and I also heard... that the people from the Hongfang Group met with Xin Chaojie once a few days before the military equipment incident."

Tan Mingchao looked at the man with an extremely grim expression: "Anything else?"

"I really don't know anything else... I told you, Xin Xiaoming and I are just business partners, and we're wary of each other..."

"……!"

Tan Mingchao didn't bother to listen to the rest of his words. He reached out and pulled a gun from the guard's waist, pointed it at the man's head, and cursed, "You bastards! Do you know how much effort I have to spend to smooth things over because you greedy for this little bit of money?! What the hell are you good for if you don't know anything?"

"Bang, bang, bang...!"

Tan Mingchao fired several shots in a row, directly blowing the man's head apart.

The guard was stunned for a moment, then immediately led people to clean up the body.

Tan Mingchao threw the pistol to the adjutant and cursed through gritted teeth: "It's over. If we can't catch Xin Xiaoming, our garrison is going to have an earthquake."

Why would Tan Mingchao be so upset, even to the point of killing a small commercial figure?

It was because he was completely anxious. The middle-aged man's confession made even this commander's son feel terrified!

A small company under Xin Xiaoming can get so much money from the Hongfang Group every year. What would the number be if all the companies were added together? Once this is investigated by the higher-ups, how will the garrison headquarters explain it?

A division commander under you dares to do such a big business with Hua District capital. Who would believe that you, Tan Hengqiang, didn't take any bribes? No one would believe it! Not even dogs!

In fact, Xin Chaojie had been giving Tan Hengqiang tribute for many years, and almost all the senior generals in the entire garrison were corrupt, but everyone was fine! As long as nothing happens, they are good comrades. But once something happens, even if you have a thousand reasons, you are wrong! Terribly wrong!!

Tan Mingchao walked out of the basement, looked up at the adjutant and asked, "Has the informant from the investigation team called?"

"No." The adjutant shook his head. "I was just about to tell you! The two informants from the investigation team have both disappeared. Not only did they not call us at the exact time, but they didn't even respond when we sent them the code. Their phones are turned off."

Hearing this answer, Tan Mingchao had a bad feeling. "This is not a good thing. Zhou Xian may have already found a lead."

"I called our local police contacts, and they haven't received any orders from Zhou Xian." The adjutant paused. "If Zhou Xian has found a lead, he will probably bypass the local police to make the arrest, otherwise... the news could easily leak."

Tan Mingchao's face was gloomy, and he was very frustrated because he was not part of the investigation team, had little information, and could not currently pinpoint Xin Xiaoming's location.

Standing in the hall, Tan Mingchao pondered for a full half-minute before saying in a hoarse voice, "Let our people go to the airport and to all the exit points of Ba City! At the same time, make arrangements with the local police. Once Zhou Xian succeeds, he will definitely contact the local police to send them away, so keep an eye on this side. We might find out Zhou Xian's movements."

"Yes!"

"Also, call the Zhan Chui (War Hammer) mercenaries outside the district. I must block Zhou Xian and kill Xin Xiaoming!" Tan Mingchao said through gritted teeth. "If the person goes back, things will get out of control."