Chapter 23

Everyone had been focused on Liu Dan’s phone, but the ringtone suddenly came from Gu Changzheng’s person. Gu Changzheng pulled out his phone, saw it was an unknown number, and pressed the answer button. A man’s voice came through.

“Major Gu, it’s Liu Baoshan! How’s it going? You’ve seen Jiang Yuanqi’s video, right? I know you’re with his wife and family. Turn on speakerphone—I don’t like dealing with relatives, their crying and nagging drives me crazy! So, Major Gu, you’ll have to help me!”

After Liu Baoshan identified himself, Gu Changzheng immediately turned on speakerphone, and the tech team began tracking immediately.

Gu Changzheng said: “We’ve received your demand! Fifty million isn’t a small amount! Give us some time to prepare—three hours is too rushed! We’ll have the full fifty million in cash ready by noon tomorrow. Don’t harm the hostage!”

“Hahaha! Hahahaha!” Though they couldn’t see the man, everyone present felt as if they could picture someone doubled over laughing on the other end of the line.

“Oh my god! I’m dying laughing! What gives you the right to bargain with me? Because you’re Major Gu? Hahaha! I don’t have time for this nonsense! Three hours! Precisely two hours and fifty-five minutes! Fifty million in cash! Not a single cent less! Old bills only! Understood? One minute late, one yuan less! Get ready to collect Jiang Boss’s corpse! Oh, and let me remind you, Major Gu—don’t even think about playing tricks! I hate these childish tricks. The consequences will be severe. Hahaha…”

“Beep-beep-beep!” The other side hung up.

Liu Dan stood up nervously, anxiously staring at Gu Changzheng: “Major Gu, what do we do? We need to raise the money fast! Jiang can’t die! If he dies, our family’s world collapses!” Tears welled up in her eyes.

Gu Changzheng stared blankly at the phone in his hand: This Liu Baoshan was completely unpredictable! He’d called his own phone directly? Is he insane? Or mentally unstable?

He glanced at the tech team; the officers shook their heads slightly. He knew the time was too short—his side hadn’t even located the caller before the call ended. Clearly, Liu Baoshan had strong anti-surveillance skills and knew police procedures well.

Gu Changzheng realized he had zero control—he was being led by the nose. After careful consideration, he decided to abandon the original plan of embedding trackers in the cash boxes. The hostage’s life came first.

“That bastard!” he cursed inwardly. Suddenly, Luo Fei walked over, face grim, and leaned close: “Major Gu, Zhang Hongyu’s been found—but he’s… gone.”

“What!” Gu Changzheng felt a sudden, violent thud in his chest. He knew exactly what Luo Fei meant by “gone.” But he never imagined anyone would dare attack a police officer! In his twenty years on the force, this had never happened.

“How did he die?”

“At his home in Fenglin Garden community—he was stabbed twice, both fatal. One through the heart, one through the neck. He died instantly.” Luo Fei spoke softly, his face filled with grief and fury. Though he hadn’t known Zhang Hongyu well, the fact that the criminals had killed a cop and stolen his weapon—so brutally—had ignited a fire in his chest. As a fellow officer, as a people’s policeman, his rage could no longer be contained.

“Besides Liu Baoshan, who else was involved in the murder and weapon theft?” Gu Changzheng asked, suppressing his anger and sorrow. Based on the scene and eyewitness accounts, Liu Baoshan had at least one accomplice—he needed to know how many were present when Zhang Hongyu was killed.

Luo Fei replied: “Major Gu, the scene showed only Zhang Hongyu and one other person—no third party. There were no signs of a struggle. The killer moved cleanly and efficiently. Zhang Hongyu barely had time to react before he was stabbed twice.”

“Oh?” Gu Changzheng frowned deeply. He hadn’t expected Liu Baoshan to be this powerful—alone, he’d killed a trained young officer in an instant!

He was a heartless, bottomless demon. After hearing of Zhang Hongyu’s death, Gu Changzheng began to doubt whether Jiang Yuanqi was even still alive. If he were, why would Liu Baoshan bother sending a video instead of letting Jiang speak directly on the phone? They had to act on multiple fronts now: prepare the cash, and urgently investigate. If they found Liu Baoshan’s hiding place, he was certain the man wouldn’t escape.

Time ticked away second by second. Liu Dan mobilized all her family and company staff overnight to gather cash. Gu Changzheng immediately reported to his superiors. Under the city committee’s coordination, the People’s Bank of Zizhen Branch provided strong support, swiftly reallocating funds—and they finally assembled the full fifty million in cash within Liu Baoshan’s deadline.

At 11:59 p.m. on July 5th, Gu Changzheng’s phone rang again. He steadied his breathing, waited until the third ring, then pressed answer and turned on speakerphone. Liu Baoshan’s voice came through: “Major Gu, is the fifty million ready?”

Gu Changzheng replied with an unshakable tone: “The money is ready. But I need to see Jiang Yuanqi.”

The line fell silent for a moment. “What? You think I’ve killed him? Hahaha! Don’t worry! I’d never kill such a rich godsend! Major Gu, rest assured—as long as the money arrives, I won’t touch the man with a single finger. Immediately prepare seventeen 26-inch suitcases. Then load them into an Iveco truck and bring them to the Jiangbei Wharf in Shadao District. You have thirty minutes. If the money isn’t there in thirty minutes, I kill him.”

“No!” Gu Changzheng suddenly shouted. “I must confirm Jiang Yuanqi is alive! Otherwise, the deal is off!”

Silence returned over the line. Gu Changzheng stared at the phone, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He was gambling—betting Jiang Yuanqi was still alive, and forcing the other side to believe he had the full fifty million ready.

After ten seconds, Liu Baoshan’s mocking laugh echoed through the phone: “Hahaha! Major Gu, don’t get worked up! I’ll let Jiang Boss speak to you! Jiang Boss, come on—tell Major Gu you’re still alive!”

Then came a sharp “shhhhh!” followed by Jiang Yuanqi’s voice: “Major Gu, it’s Jiang Yuanqi. I’m fine, no injuries. Where’s my wife? Let me speak to her…”

“Enough!” The phone was clearly pulled away from Jiang Yuanqi. “Satisfied now, Major Gu? Thirty minutes—countdown starts now. No extensions!”

The busy tone buzzed again—the other side hung up.

“Major Gu, they’ve switched numbers again—we still haven’t tracked them…”

“Understood. Luo Fei, take your team and buy seventeen 26-inch suitcases—hurry!”

Luo Fei left to carry out the order. Gu Changzheng pondered how to pinpoint their location. Suddenly—a flash of insight struck him. “I’ve got an idea!”