Chapter 1 The Garrison Headquarters

Inside the Dragon City garrison command headquarters.

Tan Hengqiang felt extremely displeased after meeting with the investigation team. He could sense the upper echelons' determination to thoroughly investigate the matter, as well as Zhou Xian's complete disregard for his influence.

The military equipment incident had a massive impact. If the higher-ups insisted on a thorough investigation, it would inevitably expose a lot of rotten affairs. It wouldn't be surprising if several general-level officers were implicated.

After the military situation in Dragon City became tense, Tan Hengqiang enjoyed unparalleled prominence and was one of the most powerful regional officials. But such prominence could bring both opportunities and dangers. Many people were now hoping for him to have problems and make a fool of himself.

Moreover, Zhou Xian was not from Tan Hengqiang's faction. If he came and acted like he had absolute authority, Old Tan would also feel quite uncomfortable.

Considering all these reasons, Tan Hengqiang felt extremely agitated after returning to his office. He didn't even eat a late-night snack, but just sat alone in his chair, lost in thought.

After a short while, a knock sounded on the door.

"Enter!" Tan Hengqiang called out.

His son, Tan Mingchao, pushed the door open and walked in, his brow furrowed as he said, "Zhou Xian from the investigation team wants to transfer a regiment from our side, saying there will be an arrest operation tonight. He doesn't plan to notify the Dragon City judicial department, he only wants to use our people."

Tan Hengqiang picked up a cigar box: "If he wants a regiment, we'll send him a guard battalion as well, and you go with them."

"Yes!" Tan Mingchao responded, tentatively asking, "I see Zhou Xian has come with ill intentions. Should we create some obstacles for him, to make him understand the situation?"

Tan Hengqiang immediately waved his hand: "Absolutely not! The investigation team can directly report to the highest authorities. If you do something like that, and he reports you, wouldn't that be discrediting yourself? Such methods are meaningless. If he wants to investigate, just cooperate with him."

"Alright," Tan Mingchao replied.

Tan Hengqiang lit a cigar with a flamethrower, took a deep puff, and said, "Did Zhou Xian say what kind of operation it is? Who are they going after?"

"He didn't say," Tan Mingchao slowly shook his head, "His meaning is that the specific arresting personnel will be provided by us, but the command level will be from the investigation team. We don't know the mission, we don't know what to do, just carry a gun and follow along."

"Sigh!"

Tan Hengqiang sighed deeply and waved his hand, replying, "Alright, I understand. Go."

"Dad, don't get too worked up. Things are already like this. We'll just face whatever comes our way," Tan Mingchao comforted him, "Our garrison has more than 50,000 people. If we want him to see something, he'll see it; if we don't want him to see it, it won't be difficult to cover it up."

Tan Hengqiang slowly nodded: "Go!"

...

Dragon City, No. 99 Baiye Avenue, Longkou District.

This is the temporary office compound allocated to the investigation team by the garrison corps. It doesn't cover a large area, but the environment is very good. The compound has separate dormitories, a cafeteria, a fitness center and a series of functional buildings.

A little after 11 o'clock in the evening.

Three cars drove onto Baiye Avenue, and a young man was escorted into the main building by a dozen people.

Inside the large conference room, Zhou Xian walked out of the room with a phone in his hand and asked, standing at the door, "Have the people from the garrison finished assembling?"

"Yes, a regiment has already arrived."

"Good, good, I understand. I'll send someone over immediately," Zhou Xian hung up the phone, immediately pushed open the door, and said to the people in the conference room, "Time is tight, the mission is heavy, everyone depart as soon as possible, the plan is what I just said. First, control the leakage of information; second, everyone must keep an eye on their designated positions. Before the results come out, not even a suspected mosquito can be allowed to fly out. This clue is very important, it's the key to quickly solving the case."

"Yes!"

The forty or fifty people in the large conference room all stood up and saluted.

...

After Zhou Xian finished assigning the operation tasks in the conference room, he immediately followed his assistant downstairs.

Soon, the group arrived at the interrogation observation room, from which they could see the captured suspect.

Zhou Xian asked the investigation team member next to him with his hands behind his back, "He's told us everything, right?"

"Yes, the information we currently have is what I reported to you," the team member nodded in response, "But he doesn't know the specific location of his superior, he only knows the person is in Tianhong Port. Because I had him answer the phone earlier, it's estimated that the other side doesn't know he's been captured yet."

"Can we use him as bait?"

"Probably not. People doing this kind of work are definitely experienced. We're acting too hastily, it's very likely to alert the enemy," the team member shook his head.

"The main arrest team, move towards Tianhong Port, especially keep an eye on the coast guard there," Zhou Xian said in a serious tone, "The Tianhong Port coast guard is Lao Li's private army, they might use this channel to transfer people."

"Don't worry about that," said a deputy team leader next to him, "Our people have already arrived at customs. No ship will be able to leave the country tonight."

"Good." Zhou Xian nodded, looking somberly at the person in the interrogation room, he said with his hands behind his back, "This time, let's see where you can run!"

...

Tianhong Port, inside a dilapidated residential building.

Fei Pingsheng turned his head and scanned his surroundings, then reached out and knocked on the door.

A dozen seconds later, the iron door was opened, and A Shui whispered, "Come in quickly!"

Fei Pingsheng entered the room and immediately asked, "What exactly happened? Who's missing?"

"What we can confirm now is that two people are missing in total, one is called Xiao Hu, and the other is called Chen Xi," A Shui said in a solemn tone, "They've already lost contact. The brothers outside the district said they wanted to go look for them, but I didn't let them. I'm afraid something has already happened."

"Damn it!"

Fei Pingsheng cursed with his hands on his hips, "How much do they know?"

"They don't know too much, they don't even know the mission details, but they can definitely lead to me," A Shui immediately replied, "They've been with me for three or four years."

Hearing this, Fei Pingsheng asked, "Can you tell how long they've been missing?"

"Hard to say."

"Does he know your situation? Does he know where you are?!" Lao Fei asked again.

"He shouldn't know. Only the people here know our information in this place," A Shui replied.

After pondering for a long while, Fei Pingsheng immediately pointed at A Shui's chest and asked, "Think again, are you sure these two people won't lead to other brothers?"

"I'm sure, the superior can only lead to me!"

"Good." Fei Pingsheng immediately pointed to Zhang Chao and the others, saying, "You guys leave first, wait directly at the Erdao Street intersection. I'll have Wei Xiangzuo pick you up later."

"Alright."

Zhang Chao and the others nodded.

Fei Pingsheng took out his cell phone, looked at A Shui and said, "I'll contact Su Tianyu now, and have him send you out of the country immediately. You might have to run a little further this time."

"No problem," A Shui responded.

After the two finished communicating, Fei Pingsheng was just about to call Su Tianyu when his cell phone rang first.

"Hello, Mingyuan?"

"I'm coming to your place right away, something urgent!" Yu Mingyuan said in a solemn voice, "Don't contact anyone right now, do you understand?!"