Chapter 260: Let's Start with 100 Deaths

Lou Duan asked: "Who?"

Zhao Xing subconsciously leaned forward half a body, his ears pricking up.

Zhou Hu flipped through the photos on his phone album; the photo was taken through surveillance, showing a face that never left Qian Huan's side.

"It's this person."

Zhou Hu pointed at the person in the photo and said fiercely,

"Qian Huan went crazy for some reason this morning, patrolling every security bureau, and this person followed behind Qian Huan the whole time. I checked—this person is Shi Wuming, who entered the prison yesterday morning and joined the security team."

Lou Duan glanced at the photo on the phone and asked: "The reason?"

Zhou Hu organized his thoughts and answered methodically:

"First, I've investigated and verified the files of all the other newcomers. Although one or two are decent, they're still nowhere near good enough to bypass surveillance."

"Second, this person arrived yesterday morning, and Tian Tao's time of death was last night—too much of a coincidence, isn't it?"

"Third, entering the Second Prison requires file registration, but I couldn't find this person's file. Qian Huan took it, saying it was entered into Tian Guang Investment's side instead. Very obviously, this person is hiding a secret."

"Fourth, this person gives me a very dangerous feeling. When I locked eyes with him this morning, I felt as if my whole body was naked and my bones were seen through."

Zhao Xing spoke up beside him in agreement:

"I felt the same way. When Qian Huan patrolled our security bureau this morning, this man named Shi Wuming glanced at me, and I felt my bones turn cold."

Lou Duan heard this and slightly furrowed his brow.

With his Martial Dao cultivation, he naturally understood the weight of a Martial Artist's intuition.

One person's intuition might mislead, but two people having similar feelings made the problem impossible to ignore.

Lou Duan pondered for a moment, then sighed: "But after all, it's all still speculation and suspicion. You have no solid evidence."."

Zhou Hu's face darkened, looking dejected. Zhao Xing enjoyed seeing Zhou Hu embarrassed, but worried Station Chief Lou would just sit by and do nothing.

Fortunately, the next second, Lou Duan's tone suddenly shifted, becoming cold and ruthless:

"It doesn't matter. Having evidence is one way to play; having no evidence is another way."

Zhou Hu's face lit up, and Zhao Xing breathed a little easier. Zhou Hu asked eagerly: "Please teach us, Station Chief Lou. Without evidence, how do we frame Qian Huan?"

Lou Duan habitually touched the bridge of his nose, looking down at the water in his teacup, and said faintly: "Do you think your opponent is Qian Huan?"

Zhou Hu nodded: "It's Qian Huan, but more importantly Tian Guang Investment. Is Tian Guang Investment trying to cut our flesh?"

Zhao Xing answered: "It's Tian Guang Investment, but Tian Guang Investment is just what's on the surface. In reality, it's the Guangming Group behind them."

Lou Duan answered: "You're both right, but the one truly holding the scalpel to cut out the Second Prison is the Executive Government."

Lou Duan didn't wait for their answer, and said coldly again:

"The Guangming Group's influence in our Nine Districts is indeed great, and they've infiltrated and influenced the Executive Government's Councilors. But ultimately, they can only influence, because the scalpel that divides the meat has always been in the Executive Government's hands!"

Zhou Hu and Zhao Xing felt a chill run down their spines. They dared to deal with Qian Huan, and to some extent, dared to bare their teeth at the Guangming Group.

But they absolutely didn't have the guts to bare their teeth at the Executive Government.

The nature was different. One was at most an evil dog baring its teeth at outsiders while guarding food; the other was baring its teeth at its master. Outsiders might not dare to kill you, but the master can skin you and stew your meat and bones at any time.

Lou Duan grinned and asked: "What, are you afraid?"

Zhou Hu and Zhao Xing looked at each other, cold sweat breaking out on their foreheads at the same time.

Lou Duan stared at their stiff faces and curled his lip contemptuously:

"I'm not asking you to oppose the Executive Government, and you don't have that ability. I'm just making you understand: who exactly is this big show next meant to be performed for?"

Although Zhou Hu and Zhao Xing still didn't understand how Station Chief Lou would do it, hearing this, they both heaved a sigh of relief.

Zhao Xing asked suspiciously: "Performed for the Executive Government? Forgive this subordinate's dullness, Station Chief Lou, please explain more clearly."

Lou Duan smiled: "I ask you: suppose there's a dog, and another family's dog snatches the food from its bowl. What should this dog do?"

Zhou Hu answered without hesitation: "Bite that dog to death and snatch the food back."

Lou Duan said lightly: "What if it can't beat the other dog? What if it has no ability to snatch it back?"

Zhao Xing seemed to understand a little. He hesitated: "Then the dog can only ask the master for help, begging the master to help it get the food back?"

Appreciation showed in Lou Duan's eyes: "Good. It seems you're a smart dog."

Zhao Xing was as happy as if he'd licked a dog bone upon being praised. He asked: "But it seems the higher-ups completely don't care about our Second Prison right now."

Lou Duan took a sip of tea and asked back: "The higher-ups you mention refer to whom?"

Zhao Xing was stunned for a moment, then answered: "Of course the upper levels of our Prison System. Warden General Liu Bo, and several other station chiefs."

Lou Duan put down his teacup and said lightly: "Wrong. I just reminded you: the knife handle is in the Executive Government's hands."

Zhao Xing suddenly understood, but then became even more confused: "But if it's the Executive Government that wants to cut us out, would asking the Executive Government for help be useful?"

Lou Duan coldly laughed: "Remember this: fundamentally, the Second Prison is also the Executive Government's dog."

Zhao Xing furrowed his brow in thought, while Zhou Hu furrowed his brow, listening in a fog.

Lou Duan didn't keep them in suspense. He said:

"If a dog can't get its food back, it must ask the master for help. But just running over and barking a couple times, the master might not pay attention. So the dog has to be bitten half-dead, crawling back on its last breath. Understand?"

Zhao Xing thoughtfully seemed to understand a little.

Lou Duan continued: "It's true the Executive Government wants to sell the Second Prison to the Guangming Group for a good price. But for the Executive Government, while money might be important, it's never the most important. What is the most important?"

Zhao Xing blurted out: "Stability?"

Lou Duan coldly laughed: "Face."

Zhao Xing suddenly felt enlightened. He almost jumped up from the sofa, his eyes flashing with sharp light.

Lou Duan said lightly: "The most important survival wisdom for a dog is understanding that even when beating a dog, you must look at the master."

Lou Duan leaned back against the sofa, giving the two time to digest and ponder. After a long time, he said coldly:

"Tian Tao is dead, and Chang Wei is probably dead too. But that's not enough, far from enough. More must die."

Lou Duan stood up. His hooked nose matched his extremely grim and fierce face.

He said: "Since Prison Warden Qian likes solving personnel problems through killing, then you all help him kill a few more—who's going to look down on just one or two deaths? I remember there are over 400 prison guards in the Second Prison, right?"

Zhao Xing lowered his voice: "Should be 414 prison guards, right?"

Lou Duan gave a hehe laugh, but the laugh made people feel as if they'd fallen into an ice cellar: "Let's start with 100 deaths. If Prison Warden Qian can't kill enough, you all help him kill."

…….

Chapter End