Chapter 231: A Good Chance to Catch Xu Mo

"Secret room!?" Hearing Han Fei's words, Chen Ke almost instantly perked up.

And when Han Fei spoke, he also gestured a little.

So his words were very easy to understand.

They had entered rooms 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Following Han Fei's line of thought, they realized it might actually be the case.

Perhaps, just as Han Fei said, there really is a secret room inside Room 2011!

If that's true, then that secret room must be the hideout of the two Escapees.

"I'll go fetch that lock‑picking master!" one officer volunteered.

Having said that, he immediately jogged away.

……

Ten minutes later, the officer returned with the lock‑picking master who had just left.

Before coming up, the officer had already explained to the master why they needed him.

So the master didn't ask any further questions.

After arriving, without a word he pulled out his lock‑picking gear and began to work.

In just a couple of tries he pried open the door of Room 2011.

Then he looked at Han Fei.

"Comrade police, do you need me to stay a bit longer? If you have to pick more locks later, it would save you from calling me again."

Han Fei smiled and shook his head.

"No need, master, thank you very much for your cooperation, you may go about your business."

"Alright then…" the lock‑picking master said, half‑doubtful, and left.

Under Han Fei's lead, the officers entered Room 2011 again.

This time, their goal was crystal clear: find the secret room!

Having inspected the two neighboring rooms, they roughly understood the layout of rooms facing this direction.

So they knew the secret room's location—the wall on the east side!

Of course, merely knowing the location wasn't enough.

They still had to find the secret room's door, and then break through it.

After all, they couldn't expect the Escapees hidden in the secret room to open the door for them.

Unless those two Escapees are mentally defective enough to open the door for the officers coming to capture them.

Finding the door is a technical task.

Since it's a secret room, the door must be well concealed.

If it were a door you could spot at a glance, it wouldn't even qualify as a secret room.

"Let's all look together, pay close attention; the secret room's door is definitely on this wall!" Chen Ke said.

Han Fei waved his hand: "No need to make it so troublesome."

Speaking, he pulled out a box of cigarettes he carried.

He intended to use the airflow to locate the secret room's door.

Even the most concealed secret-room door must have some gap; it can't be as airtight as a wall.

Gaps create airflow, and airflow affects the smoke's direction, so they could use the smoke to find the door.

Han Fei explained his idea to everyone.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he sensed something was off.

Chen Ke also sensed something was off.

When they first entered the room, they had smelled a faint scent of smoke.

At that time they thought it was the two Escapees smoking.

Now it seems...

It doesn't seem to be that way!

That smoke might have nothing to do with the two Escapees hidden in the secret room.

If they're both hidden in the secret room, why not just smoke there?

Why would they risk being caught by smoking outside?

So it's likely someone got here before them.

And also used Han Fei's method to search for the secret room's door.

Realizing this, Han Fei and Chen Ke exchanged a glance.

They simultaneously uttered a name.

"Xu Mo!"

At that moment, Han Fei's expression was extremely grim, as if he had swallowed a fly.

"He wouldn't have been beaten to it by Xu Mo again, would he?" Chen Ke said blankly.

"Not necessarily," Shen Manni shook her head: "Given Xu Mo's style, he would definitely bind the person, leave them in the living room waiting for us to catch them, and would also find ways to notify us, lead us to pick up what's ready, or simply dump the bound person next to the police car."

She paused, then continued.

"This time he didn't inform us, so I guess either he never came here at all, or he hasn't had time to act yet; either way, those two Escapees are probably still in the secret room."

Hearing Shen Manni's words, Han Fei pressed his chin and thought for a moment.

It was indeed that situation.

If Xu Mo catches the Escapees before they do, he will certainly find a way to let them know.

The first time he pretended to be a client and called him, drawing the Police to the hotel.

The second time he simply threw the person next to the police car.

As for the third time, Xu Mo didn't go out of his way to notify them, because it was simply unnecessary.

It should be known that Xu Mo deliberately chose to hang those two Escapees in an alley where people throw trash; even if he didn't inform the Police, anyone discarding garbage who saw the two hanging bodies would surely call the police.

According to Shen Manni's analysis, the two Escapees must still be in the secret room!

Thinking of that, Han Fei's expression finally relaxed a bit.

At last there was a time when she was ahead of Xu Mo.

Han Fei lit a few cigarettes, held them upright against the wall and began observing.

Using this method, she quickly pinpointed the location of the door.

What they had to do next was to break the door.

Once the door's position was confirmed, breaking it became relatively easy.

With so many of them, even a single foot each could kick it open.

Chen Ke reached out and pounded the door a few times with a clanging sound.

"People inside, stop hiding and come out, or we'll take forced measures."

After waiting a dozen seconds, there was no sign of movement.

Chen Ke decided to take forced measures.

First courtesy, then force; the courtesy phase was already over.

The other side still showed no intention of coming out voluntarily, which couldn't be blamed on him.

Chen Ke lifted his foot and gave the secret room's door a hard kick.

The design of this secret room was clearly the result of considerable effort.

In order to hide the door as much as possible, the entire house's walls were tiled, including the door.

The narrow gaps between the tiles perfectly concealed the door seam.

Had Han Fei not realized the house's odd layout, they might never have discovered that there was a secret room in 2011.

But a door is a door; it can't compare to a wall, and it couldn't resist being kicked.

Chen Ke, the practitioner, kicked with all his might about ten times, and the door opened.

After kicking the door open, Chen Ke went inside.

He glanced around and did not see the two Escapees.

However, Chen Ke noticed a half‑eaten self‑heating hot pot on the table.

"What are you still hiding for? Come out! There's a self‑heating hot pot on the table, do you really think I'm blind!?" Chen Ke said helplessly.

The words had just fallen.

The two Escapees crawled out from under the bed.

Their mouths still had oil stains that hadn't been wiped clean.

Looking at the police officers in front of them, the two awkwardly scratched their heads.

"Take them away!" Chen Ke waved his hand at the police officers.

However, at that moment, Han Fei looked at the two Escapees and asked.

"Did you just come out of the secret room? Did you ever smoke in the living room?"

The two shook their heads in succession.

"No, the secret room has an exhaust system; if you want to smoke, just do it inside."

Hearing this, Han Fei turned around and said to the police officers.

"The one who was smoking is Xu Mo; he really did come here. Come, go down with me, seal off the entire building."

If nothing unexpected happens, Xu Mo is still in this building, and this is a good chance to capture Xu Mo!