Chapter 479: On the Verge of Collapse

"Heh, it looks like this kid has hit a wall!"

When Chen Jiajun heard from his Secretary that Li Wenbin was looking for him, he knew that the kid must have been stumped.

According to Chen Jiajun's investigation, this group of people collaborating with Ou Wangui were clearly no ordinary individuals; he had even uncovered their identities, revealing that they were also police officers, and were once the rising stars of the Police Force.

So, after picking up the phone, Chen Jiajun said with a chuckle: "Hit a wall?"

Li Wenbin said with some embarrassment: "Ou Wangui was silenced right in front of us; now all the leads are broken."

"You! You're just too competitive, though at least you haven't lost your principles!" Chen Jiajun said with a laugh, giving Li Wenbin a nudge: "Do you know a police officer named Qiu Gangao? He is the mastermind behind this!"

"Qiu Gangao?" Li Wenbin was stunned for a moment, then quickly said: "Thank you, I'll go back and investigate right away."

"Wait, it's not shameful to call your elders when you encounter something you can't solve. You are a Superintendent now; don't just throw your brothers' lives away to fill the gaps," Chen Jiajun instructed.

Li Wenbin quickly said: "Understood, clearly!"

The events that took place in Chaguoling allowed the top brass to show off in a big way.

After all, destroying Ou Wangui's distribution site could at least curb the circulation of No. 4 for a period of time.

Therefore, the Police Public Relations Branch called in the Reporters and had several big leaders step forward to explain the situation.

The Police Force was already very skilled at this kind of routine.

However, for the people in the Serious Crimes Unit, this was undoubtedly stealing their credit.

A Police Constable from the Serious Crimes Unit said unhappily: "All these people know how to do is blow their own trumpets. They take the credit, while we risk our lives!"

Da Baisha said helplessly: "It's always been like this! What can we do!"

"Change careers!" Zhang Chongbang said with a cold joke.

Subsequently, the members of the Serious Crimes Unit stared straight at him.

Zhang Chongbang clutched his wound and smiled bitterly: "Why are you looking at me? I was joking!"

"Your level of telling cold jokes isn't even as good as mine!" Li Wenbin walked over, patted Zhang Chongbang on the shoulder and said: "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" Zhang Chongbang waved his hand and said.

Li Wenbin said with a smile: "Do you know why the brothers have complaints? Because you, as the boss, aren't doing enough! Why should they have a share of our credit?"

"Li Sir, Zhang Sir is..." the brothers under his command still wanted to defend Zhang Chongbang.

But Li Wenbin waved his hand and said: "I know, your Zhang Sir usually takes good care of you, and he is always on the front line when things happen, but that's not how the game is played!"

"I know, but it can't be changed!" Zhang Chongbang knew that Li Wenbin was telling the truth. Several of his brothers had already reached the position of Superintendent, while he was the only one who hadn't been promoted, and this was the reason.

But because of his personality, he was not prepared to change!

Li Wenbin also knew about this problem, sighed, and then said: "Alright, stop sighing. I will help you fight for the credit! They won't be able to bite off this piece of credit! Everyone will get a bonus!"

Hearing Li Wenbin's words, the members of the Serious Crimes Unit immediately cheered.

Li Wenbin's name could be said to be like thunder in the Police Force.

He was a person with connections, but he was a person with connections who had walked his path step by step, which was somewhat terrifying.

The entire top brass of the Chinese Police Force had, to a greater or lesser extent, received favors from Li Shutang, so don't look at Li Wenbin as just a small Superintendent; his words were even more effective than those of a Deputy Commissioner.

Watching his subordinates cheering, Zhang Chongbang also revealed a smile.

To tell the truth, what he owed the most was this group of old brothers under him; they had suffered quite a few losses following him.

Li Wenbin raised his hand to quiet them, then said to Zhang Chongbang: "I just received a piece of news. Do you know a person named Qiu Gangao?"

"What? Qiu Gangao?" Da Baisha immediately jumped up in shock.

Zhang Chongbang also widened his eyes and looked at Li Wenbin: "Li Sir, is it really Qiu Gangao?"

"It is highly likely that they are the masterminds!" Li Wenbin never doubted the authenticity of Chen Jiajun's intelligence.

Da Baisha immediately frowned: "If it's true, then this is trouble!"

Li Wenbin asked curiously: "You haven't told me yet, who is this Qiu Gangao!"

Zhang Chongbang said with a bitter smile: "He was also our brother once!"

"Hmm?" Li Wenbin was stunned for a moment, then looked at Zhang Chongbang in surprise: "He was also a police officer?"

Da Baisha added: "That's right, and at the time, he was the most famous one in the Serious Crimes Unit, even more valued by the higher-ups than Bang Zhu! He even took his brothers abroad for advanced studies!"

"Is there a story behind this?" Li Wenbin said to Zhang Chongbang. Zhang Chongbang said with a hollow look in his eyes: "That goes back to a kidnapping case from a few years ago! Back then, Qiu Gangao and I were called by our superiors to be in charge of a kidnapping case..."

"At 3:30 AM last night, the wealthy businessman Huo Zhaotang was kidnapped from his villa!"

Senior Superintendent Situ Jie of the Serious Crimes Unit said to Zhang Chongbang and Qiu Gangao.

The young Zhang Chongbang said with a look of surprise: "Whoa, this is no small matter!"

Situ Jie continued: "The worst part is that he was with his female Secretary at the time. The kidnappers demanded one billion and threatened Mrs. Huo not to call the police! Mrs. Huo called the Commissioner directly."

Qiu Gangao stroked his chin and said: "Could it be that the mistress wants the one billion?"

"That's possible!" Situ Jie nodded.

Subsequently, another high-ranking official said: "Situ Sir has already made it very clear just now, so this operation must be carried out in secret to avoid affecting the rescue and the safety of Huo Xiansheng!"

"These two thugs are involved in everything—gambling, drugs, and prostitution. One is called Kele, and the other is Wang Kun! Take a look, both of you!"

As he spoke, another person handed a file to the two of them.

Situ Jie continued: "Everyone listen clearly, the higher-ups attach great importance to the kidnapping of Huo Xiansheng and have repeatedly urged us to rescue him as soon as possible!"

Clearly, the top brass of the Police Force attached great importance to this matter, which was why they brought in these two rising stars of the Serious Crimes Unit.

Inside the Chinese Chamber of Commerce mansion.

Chen Jiajun was chatting with Huo Yingnan.

"Nan Ge, do you have a relative named Huo Zhaotang?" Chen Jiajun asked curiously.

The people from the Information Organization had already figured out Qiu Gangao's identity and naturally had also investigated the events of that year.

The cause of this is all because of this guy named Huo Zhaotang.

"Huo Zhaotang? Why are you suddenly talking about him?" Huo Yingnan said with a frown.

Chen Jiajun said with a smile: "I ran into a troublesome matter, and Huo Zhaotang is involved! Isn't that why I'm here to ask you? If he really is a relative of your family, I could give him a hand!"

"A relative?" Huo Yingnan sneered and said: "Speaking of which, he is indeed a relative, but he is already beyond the five degrees of mourning. Forget about giving him a hand; it would be best if such a person died!"

Chen Jiajun immediately became gossipy: "Is there a story?"

"There's no damn story!" Huo Yingnan said irritably: "He's just an ungrateful wretch, and he has already become a running dog for England. I wish I could purge him from the family."

"So that's how it is, then I can rest easy." Chen Jiajun nodded.

Huo Yingnan frowned and said: "What have you been up to lately?"

"The folks back home want me to clean up the underworld forces!" Chen Jiajun said indifferently.

"Hmm?" Huo Yingnan keenly sensed the displeasure in Chen Jiajun's tone: "What's going on?"

Chen Jiajun sneered and said: "Some people are too full of themselves, I'm preparing to find an opportunity to give them a good beating!"

Huo Yingnan quickly said: "Don't go too far!"

Chen Jiajun spread his hands and said: "That depends on how they perform!"

"I will help you look into this matter, don't be in a hurry to act!" Huo Yingnan was shocked and quickly said to Chen Jiajun.

Chen Jiajun was someone he had watched climb from a street thug to this position step by step, and he also knew how bold Chen Jiajun was; if he were truly pushed to the edge, it would be no ordinary matter.

Moreover, this kid had a very foul temper; once he made up his mind, no one's advice would work, and Huo Yingnan immediately felt a headache. "Alright, let's not talk about these things!" Huo Yingnan changed the subject and said: "You mentioned last time that many countries in Asia were having problems, what exactly is going on?"

Chen Jiajun said helplessly: "It's all their own doing. These idiots didn't do a good job with financial regulation and just played around blindly! In the end, they lost control."

"How are you so sure?" Huo Yingnan asked with some curiosity.

Chen Jiajun said to Huo Yingnan: "You know about Brunei, right? Brunei borders Indonesia, and my subordinates told me that the economy there is already on the verge of collapse."

"I had the actuaries and think tanks at the United States company run a model simulation. If something really happens in Indonesia, it will trigger a chain reaction, and by then, not a single country in Asia will be spared!"

Hearing this news, Huo Yingnan frowned and said: "Is it accurate?"

"How could anyone dare to guarantee such a thing? I just feel this is very likely, so I'm preparing to make some preparations in advance!" Chen Jiajun said indifferently.

Huo Yingnan thought for a moment and said: "Count me in. If you need anything, just come to me directly! I will go tell Bao!"

"It would be best if you few support me!" Chen Jiajun nodded and said.

On the other side, by the roadside, a group of people listened to Zhang Chongbang recount the cause of the incident, and they all looked sighing.

This kind of thing was clearly a violation of regulations, and Qiu Gangao, that kid, couldn't resist the temptation of a promotion and agreed to the higher-ups.

Then Huo Zhaotang and the police higher-ups turned on them on the spot and threw them, these few small pawns, away.

Anyone would find this kind of thing unbearable.

Li Wenbin looked heavy after hearing this; clearly, the trouble within the Police Force was even more serious than imagined.

Just looking at this one incident alone, one could see how dark the Police Force controlled by England was.

Zhang Chongbang said with a hoarse throat: "Actually, if I had said one word at the time, it might have been possible to avoid covering up the matter, I..."

Li Wenbin patted Zhang Chongbang on the shoulder and said: "This matter doesn't have much to do with you. The most important thing is the betrayal by Huo Zhaotang and Situ Jie! You don't need to blame yourself too much!"

Zhang Chongbang nodded: "If they really did this, I will personally bring them to justice!"

"You can't be too hasty in doing things. We only know some basic information now. As for exactly how many people they have, where they are hiding, and what equipment they have in their hands, we haven't figured it out yet, so you must follow my orders!" Li Wenbin said to Zhang Chongbang with a serious face: "Now is not the time to let emotions dictate your actions, everyone is watching us!"

"Yes, sir!" Zhang Chongbang nodded in agreement.

If the opponent really was Qiu Gangao, one truly could not let emotions dictate actions.

Because what they knew, the opponent also knew, and some were even more formidable than them; they were a truly difficult opponent to deal with.

A slight lack of attention could lead to capsizing in the gutter.

With the names provided by Chen Jiajun, the scope of the investigation for Li Wenbin and the others could be greatly narrowed.

After all, Qiu Gangao and his group had not been out of prison for long, so it was not difficult to check their whereabouts.

Unfortunately, when Li Wenbin intended to use the police's information system to investigate, he discovered that the information system had actually been tampered with.

The identity information of Qiu Gangao and his group had been directly erased from the database.

"Damn it, it must be that kid who did it!" Li Wenbin punched the table in frustration.

The other party was also a policeman and knew what methods the police would use to find them, so they hacked into the Police Station's computer and erased their identity records.

"Li Sir, what should we do now? Should we issue a wanted notice?" Da Baisha frowned and said to Li Wenbin.

"No!"

"No!"

Li Wenbin and Zhang Chongbang said in unison.

Li Wenbin said indifferently: "This matter must absolutely not be leaked; it would be a huge blow to the reputation of the Police Force! Moreover, once it leaks, I suspect others will come to take over!"

Hearing Li Wenbin say this, the others immediately shut their mouths.

Just as everyone was at a loss, the office door was suddenly knocked open.

Then a member of the Serious Crimes Unit entered and said with a look of surprise: "Boss, we found some clues."

"What clues?" Zhang Chongbang was stunned for a moment and said.

The policewoman said to Zhang Chongbang: "An hour ago, the Water Police fished out a female corpse at Chaiwan Matou. The deceased was named Guan Meirou, and this watch was found on her."

"The Information Division checked the serial number of this watch and confirmed it was the one worn by Wang Kun on the day of the black-on-black incident!"

Another Police Constable added: "The last place the deceased appeared was in Wanchai, where she went to open a room with a strange man. We inquired and found out that the man's nickname is Gongzi! The CCTV captured him entering the room with the deceased, and when he came out, he was pulling a suitcase!"

Hearing this name, Zhang Chongbang immediately became alert: "Are you sure his name is Gongzi? About twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with burn scars on his face?"

"That's right, Boss, how did you know?" The Police Constable said with some surprise.

Zhang Chongbang immediately said to Li Wenbin: "It's Qiu Gangao's man. He has a guy under him named Zhao Zhiqiang, whose nickname is Gongzi! His face was scalded in prison!"

Li Wenbin's eyes lit up instantly: "Search for Zhao Zhiqiang with full force; I want to find his whereabouts!"

On the other side, Qiu Gangao and his group were preparing to stir up trouble.

After they came out of prison, they only had one thought, and that was revenge! To take revenge on everyone who had betrayed them back then.

The Hong Kong Police Force, Zhang Chongbang, the wealthy businessman Huo Zhaotang, their superior Situ Jie, and others—they did not want to let a single one of them go.

However, they had lost their financier Ou Wangui, and the money in their hands was already running low.

After all, carrying out these covert operations while avoiding the eyes and ears of the Hong Kong Police Force was quite expensive.

Therefore, the first person they intended to deal with was the wealthy businessman Huo Zhaotang.

Huo Zhaotang had collaborated with the Gweilo to establish the Pan-Asia Bank; although he was a front man, he still held shares.

So, Qiu Gangao and his group prepared to go to the Pan-Asia Bank to pull a job on him.

To cover their tracks, they specifically sought out a mainland gangster named Ma Jiaorong.

This guy ran a boxing gym as a front.

Qiu Gangao brought his men to Ma Jiaorong's boxing gym, sat down, and began to discuss the matter.

Ma Jiaorong smiled at Qiu Gangao and said: "This score is big enough!"

Qiu Gangao just smiled and said nothing.

Ma Jiaorong looked at Qiu Gangao's subordinates and said to him: "Are these little crabs of yours tough enough? Don't play me when the time comes!"

Qiu Gangao's subordinate Baozhu said coldly: "This opportunity only comes once; banks don't change their systems often, and you aren't the only one interested! Don't waste my time!"

Ma Jiaorong was not angry; instead, he laughed loudly and said: "My interest is in playing big! The most important thing is... is your intel solid enough?"

"If you want to do it, I will give you the intel!" Qiu Gangao said indifferently.

Qiu Gangao and his group did not all enter the boxing gym; they were used to being cautious and would usually leave two people outside to keep watch.

And as it happened, Gongzi was one of them.

While the two were waiting outside, they suddenly encountered patrol officers on the side of the road checking IDs.

Gongzi had just killed someone, so he immediately became nervous.

Soon, his brother A Hua noticed something amiss and immediately drove off to leave, but they hadn't driven far before they discovered that a car was following them.

As it happened, the ones following them were Li Wenbin's men.

After locating Gongzi, Li Wenbin immediately led his team to mobilize in full force.

They had anticipated that if they found Gongzi, they would be able to find Qiu Gangao and his group.

They just hadn't expected that the sudden appearance of the patrol officers would disrupt their plan. (End of chapter)