Chapter 158: You Drag Me into the Water, I Pull You onto the Ship

Li Shang's palm suddenly shot out, pressing down on Ma Bin's hand, his voice carrying an unmistakable menace:

"Ma Bin, I've worked at the Patrol Bureau for so many years that I deeply understand one truth: once an arrow is loosed, there is no calling it back. Once some plans are laid out on the table, there is no retreat, and no one is allowed to back out halfway."

As Li Shang spoke, he pried open Ma Bin's fingers, pulled out the photo, and held it before his eyes to examine it closely.

Ma Bin's lips quivered; he still seemed a bit afraid: "It's too dangerous, Captain Li."

A flash of ferocity appeared in Li Shang's eyes. He pushed a wine cup into Ma Bin's hand while squeezing out a smile on his face: "Danger and danger are not the same. Some dangers are truly dangerous, while others only seem dangerous."

"Just like at the School: if dozens of students truly died, then whoever took over the Investigation would eventually trace it back to me. That kind of danger that cannot be hidden is truly dangerous."

"But the matter we are planning right now is known only to us few. As long as our plan is meticulous, we can make it seamless. And haven't you already arranged a Scapegoat?"

Li Shang lightly raised his own wine cup and gently clinked it against Ma Bin's cup, his gaze deep and meaningful:

"So in this matter, as long as we work together, if you don't speak and I don't speak, and everyone keeps their mouths shut, then no one will ever be able to trace this back to us. That is what seems dangerous but is actually a false danger—truly very safe."

Seeing Li Shang drink his cup in one gulp, Ma Bin helplessly lowered his head, the wine cup in his hand trembling slightly.

Chang Erbing let out a cold laugh, seeming somewhat impatient, and said in a rough tone:

"We've already reached this critical juncture, so what are you hesitating about? Captain Li is our Patrol Bureau's famous Divine Detective. He says there's no danger, so this matter is definitely safe. No one should expect to find any problems."

He paused, a hint of mockery in his eyes, and continued:

"Don't forget, this plan was proposed by you. That shows you don't have good intentions toward the person in the photo."

"Stop pretending. Don't say you just randomly picked someone purely to help Captain Li. Do you really think we can't see through your little schemes?"

Ma Bin sighed and explained nervously: "This Secretary Hou seems to have some secret with Boss Zheng that I don't know about. Recently, someone has been trying to pump me for information, but I really don't know anything. That day I was just in a hurry and didn't think, sigh..."

He frowned, looking full of regret: "Besides, Boss Zheng's messy affairs while he was alive were truly resolved thanks to Captain Li's help. I am grateful to Captain Li from the bottom of my heart, I..."

Ma Bin was seven parts truth, three parts lies.

For this kind of head-chopping job, if he didn't reveal some self-interest, how could Li Shang rest assured letting him join as an accomplice?

And if he didn't join, how could he quietly seize Li Shang's handle, and in the future drag Li Shang and the entire Patrol Bureau onto the Pirate Ship of Destiny?

So he had to act hesitant, half-willing half-forced, so that people would believe without doubt and forcibly drag him into the water.

Li Shang patted Ma Bin's shoulder and said understandingly: "No need to say more. I understand your concerns, but now we are ants on the same rope. We must work together to get this done. Being timid will only harm me, and harm you too."

Li Shang's tone was half comfort, half threat. With things at this point, how could he allow Ma Bin to back out?

For this kind of head-chopping matter, everyone who knows must be a participant. Otherwise, who could rest assured that you're alive and bet that you'll keep your mouth shut to keep secrets for everyone?

Don't joke. Li Shang is a Constable Chief. He knows that in this world, even dead people won't keep secrets, because there are Forensic Doctors who speak for the dead, let alone living people.

Li Shang observed Ma Bin's seemingly wavering expression and smiled: "Like this: you help me do this thing and get through this crisis. After that, we'll be brothers speaking behind closed doors. From now on, the Green Wolf Gang won't need to spend money to bribe the Patrol Bureau every month. If you have difficulties, one word from you, and I'll do whatever I can."

Li Shang appealed to emotion and tempted with profit.

Chang Erbing quietly stood up, sneaked behind Ma Bin, and his right hand reached toward the cold gun butt at his waist.

However, Ma Bin seemed completely unaware of the threat behind him. His gaze locked onto Li Shang, he sighed, and his tone carried a hint of helplessness:

"Captain Li misunderstood. I don't mean that. Compared to what we're going to do, that bit of money is nothing. Sigh... Anyway, from now on, I'll rely on Captain Li to take care of me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ma Bin raised his cup, tilted his head back, and drained the wine in one gulp.

At the same time, Chang Erbing slowly put down the gun butt in his hand, let out a hearty laugh, easily squeezed in from behind Ma Bin, picked up a wine bottle, and filled everyone's cups.

The three lightly clinked cups, and intimate smiles like those of blood brothers appeared on their faces.

Li Shang put down his cup, turned to Ma Bin, and asked: "Brother Ma Bin, time is tight. Quickly tell me in detail—how are your preparations going?"

Ma Bin gently pushed aside the cup before him, slowly took out a city map he had prepared in advance from his bosom, and spread it flat on the table.

"In the past few days, I arranged a clever subordinate to conduct a Follow Investigation of Hou Wendong. His life is very regular. Every morning at nine, he leaves home and drives to the Executive Hall to start his day's work."

Ma Bin paused and continued: "At six in the afternoon, if there are no special social engagements, he gets off work on time and goes straight home."

"The Residential Compound where he lives is a high-end community with very strict security measures, not suitable for us to take action."

Ma Bin pointed to a dot on the map, his tone becoming firm,

"Therefore, I think the best place to act should be on his way home, here."

Ma Bin's finger lightly tapped the map, and the three men's gazes all focused on the position marked with a red circle on the map.

—Xin Jia Noodle Shop.

"An inconspicuous little shop with good noodles. Hou Wendong is a regular there."

"Hou Wendong's wife passed away three years ago, and he lives alone now, so he rarely cooks at home. He mostly solves Dinner on his way home."

"This Noodle Shop is the place he frequents most. Moreover, it's located at the end of an alley, usually quiet with few people, very suitable for us to act."

Li Shang suddenly interrupted Ma Bin's words. His brow furrowed slightly, and he asked doubtfully:

"You say he's a regular, which means he's likely to come, but not certain. So, how do you ensure that on the day we act, he will definitely appear at the Noodle Shop?"

Ma Bin's expression turned serious. He answered in a deep voice: "In three days, it's the noodle shop owner's birthday. Hou Wendong will definitely go to the noodle shop that night to celebrate for her."

Li Shang was slightly stunned, then showed a smile of understanding: "Hou Wendong and this owner... hehe, now it's not hard to understand why a Councilor's Secretary would frequent an inconspicuous little noodle shop."

Ma Bin smiled slightly. He certainly wouldn't tell Li Shang that this noodle shop was opened by him specifically according to Hou Wendong's taste preferences, located on Hou Wendong's way home.

Even more, the noodle shop owner was someone Ma Bin had carefully arranged to undergo plastic surgery four years ago. Her appearance bears a seven-part resemblance to the face of Hou Wendong's late wife.

Just as Chang Erbing pointed out just now, Ma Bin indeed bears malice toward Hou Wendong, and has harbored unspeakable malice for many years.

After all, Hou Wendong's wife died three years ago, while the noodle shop owner had plastic surgery four years ago. The secret within—you savor it, you savor it carefully.

(End of Chapter)