Chapter 25: Subconscious

Night enveloped the land, and the distant metropolitan circle once again transformed into a dazzling city that never sleeps, as if incarnating light itself.

Though it was already ten at night, vehicles on the highway continued to flow without cease.

A black stretch patrol car sped along the highway, approaching rapidly.

Inside the vehicle.

Lin Qing sat in the last row, with Teng Feiyu beside him; opposite sat the two girls, Han Ying and Zhao Jiayi, while Ruan Bing occupied the front passenger seat.

"Since today marks the first patrol for Group Seven, the station has dispatched Group Two to assist us in the search."

Lin Qing glanced around and said, "Let me repeat tonight's mission once more—

"The target location is near Xintian Century City in Changshui Street, where Teng Feiyu resides. Based on population flow, the nearby Red Oak Boxing Gym and Qingtai Hotel are the most crowded places; tonight's search will focus primarily on these two.

"Besides our Group Seven and Group Two, we have also assembled twenty temporary patrol officers to maintain order on site. We will search Qingtai Hotel first, then Red Oak Boxing Gym.

"The search level is 'Level One.' Unless suspicious persons are involved, privacy must not be intruded upon throughout the entire operation."

……

Shortly after, two black patrol cars pulled up one after another in front of Qingtai Hotel's entrance.

Members of Group Two and Group Seven had met before departure; without much exchange, they immediately began tonight's search work.

Although Qingtai Hotel was not considered particularly luxurious in Lin'an City, it was still a five-star establishment, and most vehicles coming and going were of considerable cost.

All ten members of the two groups, clad in black patrol uniforms, stepped into the hotel. Their imposing presence instantly startled every guest in the lobby, prompting the lobby manager to hurry over immediately.

"I am the leader of Group Seven, Xiaoshan District Patrol Branch. Please cooperate with our search."

This search was led by Group Seven, so Lin Qing took command of the operation. After presenting credentials for verification, Qin Qin from Group Two and Han Ying from Group Seven began cross-checking the hotel's guest registration list.

"Leader."

Teng Feiyu said, "I will go to the hotel's underground parking lot to check vehicle entry and exit records."

"Parking lot?" Lin Qing glanced at him, did not refuse, but simply said to the group leader, "Uncle Han, send someone from Group Two to accompany him."

Group Leader Han looked at one person and said, "Wang Hengyi, you go with him."

After Teng Feiyu and the other departed, the remaining team members picked up their work phones and began identifying and verifying passing guests.

Hotel searches are generally quite relaxed, with basically no danger involved.

Rarely having become a group leader, Lin Qing could finally experience the feeling of watching his team work while he merely waited leisurely on the sidelines.

Oh, this is called commanding from the scene, responsible for overall direction.

Immediately, he and Group Leader Han sat down on the sofa in the lobby's rest area.

"The patrol officer in your group named Teng Feiyu has good insight."

Group Leader Han suddenly said, "Perhaps there is something amiss with this hotel's parking lot."

"Something amiss?" Lin Qing feigned confusion.

"You have little search experience; it is normal that you did not notice."

Group Leader Han said, "From our arrival until now, only a few minutes have passed, yet according to my observation, three private luxury cars have already entered this hotel's parking lot."

"I noticed that too," Lin Qing said. "But this is a five-star hotel; it is hardly strange for guests to be wealthy."

Group Leader Han shook his head, saying, "This is a high-end hotel leaning toward business; most guests come from out of town, yet the three private luxury cars just now all bore local license plates."

"That is somewhat strange," Lin Qing nodded slightly.

Who knows what clues Teng Feiyu holds, or what merit he might uncover?

Half an hour later.

"Reporting to the leader."

Teng Feiyu stood before Lin Qing. "I have discovered an issue with this hotel's underground parking lot. May I request a Level Two Search Warrant?"

"Explain," Lin Qing looked at him.

"I checked the vehicles in this hotel's underground parking lot; most are local private luxury cars."

Teng Feiyu continued, "According to the hotel's registration list, many of these luxury car owners are locals who have stayed here multiple times before. Strangely, even when the hotel's top suites and deluxe suites are fully occupied, these owners prefer ordinary suites yet insist on staying at this hotel."

"Oh?"

Lin Qing said, "That does sound somewhat strange, but this hotel has no suspicion of illegal activity nor has any case occurred here. Based solely on such doubts, even if I apply for a Level Two Search Warrant, the authorities above likely would not approve it."

Group Leader Han also nodded slightly: "They certainly would not approve it."

"That reason is insufficient," Lin Qing looked at Teng Feiyu.

Teng Feiyu glanced left and right before speaking: "Leader, I suspect this hotel is merely a front. Those luxury car owners only pretend to check in here, registering briefly, but actually go elsewhere."

"Why do you say that?" Lin Qing asked. "I just noticed a suspicious situation."

Teng Feiyu said, "Some guests entered the VIP elevator in the underground parking lot but did not exit from the hotel's first-floor elevator lobby. I suspect that elevator has some mechanism, possibly leading to other locations."

Lin Qing, deep in thought, said, "Elevators are public spaces; a Level One Search Warrant permits checking them. Did you go inside and look?"

"I did."

Teng Feiyu nodded, saying, "That VIP elevator appeared nothing special inside; it seemed to lead only to the hotel's first-floor lobby. Therefore, I suspect someone may control it manually to allow the elevator to reach other floors, such as... underground."

Lin Qing pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Group Leader Han, saying, "Uncle Han, do you think we can apply for a Level Two Search Warrant?"

"It is indeed quite strange."

Group Leader Han nodded, saying, "We can try applying, but approval is uncertain. After all, such hotels might simply be protecting guest privacy; unless evidence of illegal activity emerges, denial would be normal."

Lin Qing hummed in agreement, said no more, immediately took out his phone, and began using the branch patrol system to apply for a Level Two Search Warrant.

He also wished to seize the opportunity to gain some merit, so naturally he would not refuse.

A short while later.

"Done." Lin Qing put down his phone, looked up at Teng Feiyu, and said, "I have submitted the application; now we wait for the Acting Captain's decision."

Five minutes later.

"Ding."

The work phone vibrated, receiving a reply.

Lin Qing picked up the phone, glanced at it, frowned slightly, and said, "Xiao Pei has rejected the application for a level-two search."

"Rejected?" Teng Feiyu frowned, fell silent, and no one knew what he was thinking.

"Let's wait until we find solid evidence."

Lin Qing hinted vaguely, then added, "The patrol team is only responsible for patrolling and searching, not solving cases. No matter what doubts exist, this is the Public Security Bureau's job."

Teng Feiyu took a deep breath and said nothing more.

"Alright."

Lin Qing activated the command mode on his work phone and said, "Everyone assemble, prepare to search the next location."

Red Oak Boxing Gym.

When the two patrol teams arrived, there were hardly any people left in the gym; only a few scattered boxers and coaches could be seen still training, along with some eating late-night barbecue.

"I am the leader of Team Seven, Xiaoshan District Patrol Branch. Here is my ID; please cooperate with our search."

After Lin Qing showed his ID, the person in charge of Red Oak Boxing Gym immediately cooperated, allowing the patrol officers to conduct identification and verification.

The boxers, coaches, and staff were all checked, and nothing abnormal was found.

He noticed that Teng Feiyu was not paying attention to those people but was observing the surroundings, occasionally tapping the walls or the floor, as if searching for some kind of mechanism.

Both the search of Red Oak Boxing Gym and Qingtai Hotel were suggestions made by Teng Feiyu.

Could there be some connection between the two? Suddenly, Lin Qing noticed that the person in charge's eyes looked a bit off; he seemed to be watching Teng Feiyu's behavior the whole time and appeared slightly nervous.

"Everyone has been checked."

Lin Qing said deliberately, "We still need to search the facilities inside the gym to confirm whether there are any illegal constructions or equipment."

The person in charge fell silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, please search."

The patrol officers began searching everywhere.

Lin Qing also walked around while observing this boxing gym.

This boxing gym didn't look very big, but the changing room area was quite large. Were there really that many members in this boxing gym?

Unknowingly, he had walked into one of the changing rooms and stood in front of a row of lockers against the wall.

He didn't know why, but Lin Qing instinctively felt there was something wrong with this changing room, even feeling that this row of lockers was a bit awkward.

This was purely an intuition, as if his subconscious was guessing this; he didn't know where this intuition came from.

However, who would not trust their own intuition? Lin Qing immediately stepped forward and opened one of the locker doors.

Nothing was found; it seemed to be just an ordinary locker.

Should we try moving it?

This thought appeared in Lin Qing's mind. He held the side of the locker and was about to exert force when—

【Current Order Level decreased by 0.6 levels】

At that moment, a line of small, blood-red characters suddenly appeared before his eyes! (End of this chapter)