Chapter 843: Black and White Meeting

A few seconds later, the phone was successfully connected.

Luo Zhiwei, I am Lin Dongfan.

Lin Dongfan directly gave instructions over the phone: "The City Discipline Inspection Commission has obtained clues of Zhao Group's involvement in gangster and evil activities; the case transfer procedure is still underway. To prevent leakage and alerting the suspects, you go ahead first—immediately apply criminal coercive measures against Zhao Tianyu and bring him under control."

On the other end of the phone.

Luo Zhiwei's voice was solemn: "Mayor Lin, we have also just received Secretary Shi's oral report here. I will arrange it immediately, deploy the arrest operation."

Act quickly; Zhao Tianyu could flee at any moment.

Understood.

If there is any resistance, report to me at any time.

Lin Dongfan hung up the phone and looked at Ye Jiaying sitting opposite.

His originally solemn expression also relaxed into a smile: "Jiaying, thanks to you this time. Otherwise, the whole plan wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

You're giving me this line again; I don't want your verbal thanks.

Ye Jiaying stood up, grabbed her bag, and left.

She had walked only a couple of steps.

She suddenly turned back, smiling sweetly: "I'm not doing this for you; I'm doing it for the investment safety of Mortal Group. If this mess of Zhao Group isn't cleaned up, it will be trouble in the future."

Women, always saying one thing and meaning another.

Lin Dongfan smiled knowingly; at this moment, silence spoke louder than words.

Ye Jiaying suddenly asked enthusiastically: "By the way, the summer vacation for Fuxing and Zhao Xia is almost over, right? When are they returning to Jing?"

Next week.

Let's have a meal together before you leave; I'll treat.

Just having a meal won't do. If you really want to be a great, selfless aunt, then take Zhao Xia to the amusement park when you have time—I promised her that. These days I've been swamped with work and can't get away. Lingxi also needs to lead a team overseas for a competition, so I have no time to look after the two kids.

Sure, I'll adjust my work schedule later and take two days off to bring them out to play.

After saying that, Ye Jiaying left, treating it like handling her own affairs; in front of Lin Dongfan she never acted pretentious and never treated the Lin family as outsiders.

The office fell silent.

Lin Dongfan reopened the document and read it page by page.

The long list of bribes, the frightening data, the shocking facts—like poisonous thorns stabbing into Lin Dongfan's eyes.

Lin Dongfan picked up a pen and wrote four words: 'Eradicate evil completely!'

At the same time.

Municipal Public Security Bureau Criminal Investigation Detachment.

Zhou Zheng had just finished a case analysis meeting, just returned to his office, when his phone started buzzing nonstop.

It was an unknown number.

Who is this?

Captain Zhou, it's me, Zhao Tianyu!" the voice on the other end, clearly angry, shouted: "Are you really trying to kill me?!"

The truth having been exposed, Zhou Zheng felt no surprise.

Seeing people around,

Zhou Zheng covered the phone's earpiece, hurried to a secluded empty corner, then spoke: 'Where exactly are you again?'

First tell me, you damn, are you really trying to kill me?! In the phone, Zhao Tianyu's agitation was beyond ordinary: "If I get taken in, none of you will get away!"

First calm down; things aren't as bad as you imagine." To steady his emotions, Zhou Zheng added: "Tell me your location first, and I'll arrange your exit."

Why the hell should I trust you?!" Zhao Tianyu angrily demanded.

Zhou Zheng replied calmly: 'Even if you don't trust me, you should trust the superiors. If you get caught, nobody benefits. We'll discuss the details when we meet.'

Northern suburbs, the abandoned old cement plant.

Time.

One hour later, I'll be waiting there for you." Zhao Tianyu paused, then warned: "Captain Zhou, I advise you not to play tricks, or we'll all be in the same boat."

Cut the chatter; see you later.

After hanging up, Zhou Zheng went to the restroom, splashed water on his face, stared at the mirror for a while, and seriously assessed his situation.

As he looked, his face grew much graver.

This situation—just a toilet! Surrounded by a bunch of rotten maggots and flies, there's no space for hardworking little bees! In such an environment, knowing the times makes a hero!

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, low clouds pressing down as if rain were imminent.

Zhou Zheng returned to the office, opened the drawer, took out his service pistol, checked the magazine, chambered a round! All the motions were smooth and continuous! Then he put on his casual jacket and left confidently.

Just as he stepped out of the office, he bumped into Deputy Captain Gao Yicheng.

Captain Zhou, heading out?

"Just personal business." Zhou Zheng patted Deputy Captain Gao on the shoulder: "Keep an eye on things at the unit; don't stop screening the surveillance for the Su Qingyu case—the superiors are urging it urgently."

Understood.

Zhou Zheng went downstairs, got into his slightly used black Volkswagen, drove out of the City Bureau compound. He checked the rearview mirror, made sure no one was following, then turned onto a side road heading toward the northern suburbs.

The abandoned old cement plant is in the northern suburbs of Wuzhou, deserted for nearly ten years.

Weeds overran the factory grounds; the shattered workshop buildings resembled the skeleton of a beast, standing silently in the twilight.

Zhou Zheng parked his car by the woods outside the factory grounds.

He proceeded on foot.

The sky was completely dark, with only a faint glow from distant streetlights.

He turned on his phone's flashlight to light the path ahead. Gravel, rebar, broken glass—each step he took carefully. Upon reaching the ruins of the third workshop, he stopped.

General Manager.

Zhou Zheng shouted, but no one answered.

For safety's sake.

Zhou Zheng gripped the gun at his waist and walked slowly inside.

The workshop was filled with discarded machinery and equipment, rust-stained, casting eerie shadows under the phone's light.

"General Manager, I'm here."

Zhou Zheng shouted again.

This time, a faint sound finally came from the corner.

Zhao Tianyu walked out from behind an old crusher, holding a phone for illumination.

Taking a closer look, Zhao Tianyu appeared much more haggard than last time we met, with stubble, sunken eyes, but the ferocity in his gaze remained.

"Captain Zhou, are you alone?" Zhao Tianyu looked around warily.

Zhou Zheng spread his arms to show sincerity: "Just me."

"Captain Zhou, that's enough." Zhao Tianyu's tense expression eased slightly, he took two steps forward but kept a safe distance: "Who sent you to help me from above?"

Zhou Zheng did not answer that question directly.

He countered: "General Manager, first tell me your plan—where do you want to go and how?"

"I have a way to get to Myanmar, then transfer to Singapore." Zhao Tianyu spoke quickly: "My passport will be ready in three days, but right now the outside is full of your police; I can't leave the city, so you need to help me."

"How do you want me to help you?" Zhou Zheng asked.

Zhao Tianyu said bluntly: "Get me a vehicle with police plates or a special permit. Then send two people to take me onto the highway. Once we reach the southwest border, I have my own arrangements."

Zhou Zheng pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Taking you to the border is no problem. But before you leave, some things need to be made clear."

"What do you mean?!"

Zhao Tianyu heightened his vigilance a notch, his eyes fixed on Zhou Zheng's every move.

Zhou Zheng calmly inquired: "Su Qingyu's disappearance, Shen Mingyang's suicide, and those destroyed company accounts... this whole mess, are you sure you haven't left any loose ends?"

"I alone do the work, I alone take the blame; after I'm gone, you can characterize it however you like—I don't mind you pinning the bill on me alone."

"This was originally your doing, so of course you should bear the responsibility."

"Then why are you asking all this nonsense?"

"What I mean is, you can walk away after slapping your buttocks, but you mustn't leave any incriminating clues, nor drag higher-ups into it."

"Damn it, bottom line, the ones truly afraid of death are you." Zhao Tianyu snorted, then pointed at his own head: "Rest assured, all the secrets are in my mind. As long as you get me out of the country, from now on you can rest easy—no one will be able to threaten you."