Chapter 990

When Captain Hu arrived at the Everyman Grand Hotel, it was already 11:30 p. m.; Fu Xinping had already rolled up the car windows, hiding, pretending he wasn't there.

We must not add extra punctuation beyond translation. Ensure we keep the translation as a single line.

Now after all lines, output ===TITLE=== line with translation of chapter title: Who's Poking the Hornet's Nest?

Title translation: "Who Is Stirring the Hornet's Nest?" Actually literal: "Who Is Poking the Hornet's Nest?" Common idiom: "Who's stirring up a hornet's nest?" We'll translate naturally: "Who's Stirring Up a Hornet's Nest?" Let's decide: "Who Is Poking the Hornet's Nest?" The phrase "poke a hornet's nest" means to provoke trouble. So "Who's Poking the Hornet's Nest?" We'll output that.

Now

Six police cars lined up in a row.

The alternating red and blue police lights bathed the whole street like a disco.

He sat in the first car, lingering without getting out.

He gripped his phone, the screen still showing Fu Xinping's message: "Don't get it wrong, focus on sweeping Nineteenth Floor."

He of course knew what Nineteenth Floor was.

That was the administrative floor of Mortal Group, not open to business, receiving VIP clients year-round.

In all of Wuzhou, the clients worthy of the title "VIP" could be counted on one's fingers. He didn't want to go up, but Fu Xinping's calls came one after another, like a death warrant.

"Captain Hu, the brothers are all waiting for you," Xiao Wang in the passenger seat whispered.

Captain Hu took a deep breath, pushed open the car door: "Let's go, up."

A dozen or so people filed in, uniforms crisp, law enforcement recorders flashing red.

The front desk manager saw the scene, his face changed, and hurried forward: "Captain Hu, it's so late, what are you……"

Captain Hu flashed his work ID: "Routine inspection, please cooperate."

The front desk manager's smile froze on his face: "Captain Hu, our Mortal Hotel has always operated legally. Isn't tonight's big show a bit inappropriate?"

"Whether it's appropriate or not, you don't get to say—move aside."

Captain Hu's face sank, he shoved aside the front desk manager blocking the way and strode toward the elevator; those behind followed, their steps heavy like drums.

The front desk manager stood where he was, beads of sweat trickling down from his forehead to the tip of his nose.

He pulled out his phone, just about to dial, when an officer suddenly shouted: "Who are you calling? Please cooperate with the inspection!" Then he snatched the phone away.

The elevator doors opened, Captain Hu led the team inside.

The button for Nineteenth Floor lit up, the numbers climbing one notch at a time. The atmosphere in the elevator was oppressive; no one dared speak, only the law enforcement recorder's red light blinked.

With a "ding," the elevator arrived at Nineteenth Floor.

The doors opened, the hallway was carpeted thickly, the light bright yet unusually quiet, quiet as a solemn and majestic palace.

Every few meters stood a security guard in suit and leather, his walkie-talkie flashing green at his waist.

The security guards saw Captain Hu and his party.

They were all a bit shocked.

But none dared to block them.

At the end of the hallway, by the double doors of the presidential suite, stood a man built like an iron tower. He wore a black jacket, expressionless, like a statue.

Captain Hu walked over.

Three steps from the door, the man thrust out his hand, blocking him: "Where'd you come from, where you headed—don't go looking for trouble."

"!!!"

Just now, from a distance, Captain Hu couldn't make out the other's appearance.

Now taking a closer look, Captain Hu couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air. That face was somewhat familiar. This wasn't Mayor Lin's driver and bodyguard—Lao Ba?

"Mayor Lin… inside?" Captain Hu asked weakly.

Lao Ba didn't answer the question, nor did he withdraw his hand, just coldly staring at Captain Hu; at this moment, Captain Hu really felt his scalp tingle, caught between a rock and a hard place.

Captain Hu turned his head to glance at the security guards in the hallway; every one of them was staring at him, Old Hu, as if looking at an clueless intruder.

This moment's realization was painful!

Captain Hu was quite certain and sure that the person inside was Mayor Lin! Otherwise, Lao Ba wouldn't be personally standing guard at the door.

Since the person inside is Mayor Lin.

That also means he, Old Hu, might have been used as a pawn! Fu Xinping had him come here for a vice raid, clearly intending to put eye drops on Mayor Lin!

Damn it!

Captain Hu steadied himself, forcing a strained smile toward Lao Ba: "Misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. We got a report saying suspicious people were coming and going at Nineteenth Floor. Since Mayor Lin is inside, there must be some misunderstanding. Sorry for the disturbance. We're pulling out now, right away."

Saying that, Captain Hu waved his hand and led the team away as if fleeing for his life.

Downstairs.

Fu Xinping was still sitting in the car waiting for good news.

Seeing Captain Hu and his people come out of the hotel, Fu Xinping hastily dialed Captain Hu's phone: "How did you come down so fast? Did you catch anyone?"

Upon hearing that, Captain Hu couldn't help but wonder—how did Bureau Chief Fu know I'd come down?

He glanced around.

When he saw the black Audi parked in the lot, Captain Hu furrowed his brows, thinking: "Damn! You're actually hiding in the car spying on me! Indeed, I'm being used as a pawn……"

Anger is useless; a higher rank crushes you.

Captain Hu replied testily: "Chief, you called me out this late just to have me stir up a hornet's nest? You might as well have relieved me on the spot."

"Did you take gunpowder? You're so fired up."

Fu Xinping, sitting here, gazed at Captain Hu standing at the hotel entrance.

He pressed: "Did you actually catch them in the act?"

"Chief, what exactly do you mean? Mayor Lin is resting at Nineteenth Floor, and you want me to lead a team to search his room?" Captain Hu retorted sharply.

Fu Xinping glared at Captain Hu from afar: "Old Hu, what's this attitude! You're a police officer; cracking down on vice and evil is your duty! No matter who's inside, no matter their identity, as long as there's a report, you must conduct a legal inspection! This is your responsibility—do I need to teach you?"

"You're talking to me about duty?"

Captain Hu snorted angrily, no longer pretending, he strode toward the vehicle where Fu Xinping was, but kept the phone to his ear.

As he walked, he said: "Then tell me, who's the informant? What's the report's content? Does the informant dare to give their real name? Have you verified any of this? If you haven't verified anything, a single phone call sends me over to investigate Mayor Lin's room. Are you having me investigate a case, or sending me to my death?"

"!!!"

Facing Captain Hu striding straight toward him, Fu Xinping was left speechless, his face turning ashen.

If that guy takes a few more steps forward, his secret of watching the show from the shadows will be impossible to hide! Once this is exposed on the spot, the consequences are unthinkable!

Just as Fu Xinping was wondering how to escape this disaster,

Captain Hu, who was only ten steps from the Audi, suddenly stopped, turned his back to the car, and spoke much more firmly: "Chief, can we pretend tonight's incident never happened?"

"Are you trying to threaten me?!" Fu Xinping snapped.

Captain Hu gave a faint smile: "Misunderstood. I've been in the police for many years—honestly, you're the most decisive leader I've ever seen."

"Your words have hidden meaning!" Fu Xinping said.

Captain Hu replied:

"Chief Zhou of the Jin Kou Sub‑bureau has already fallen. In this situation, you still have the energy to crack down on vice. With your composure—like Mount Tai collapsing before you without changing expression—your decisiveness is truly beyond ordinary people. Speaking frankly."

"!!!"

Fu Xinping's face turned ashen as paper in an instant.

Zhou Haidong has fallen from power?

When did this happen?

How come I didn't know about it?

These three simple questions weighed on Fu Xinping's mind, and they were anything but simple! Zhou Haidong had fallen from power, yet as his superior Fu Xinping had received no notice at all!

What does this mean?

Thinking further, Fu Xinping grew so nervous his spine went cold.

Fu Xinping asked cautiously: "Old Hu, rumors can't be spread recklessly. How did you find out about Zhou Haidong's punishment?"

"I went to the Jin Kou Sub‑bureau today and happened to see Zhou Haidong being taken away." Captain Hu walked straight to his police car: "If there are no further orders, I'll dismiss the squad."

"!!!"

Fu Xinping glanced up at the nineteenth floor of the Everyman Grand Hotel, then at the arrogant Captain Hu; though he was unwilling, he could only hold his tongue.

To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie.

Now even Captain Hu dares to defy Fu Xinping's orders.

This means that, in their eyes, Fu Xinping is very likely to become the next Wan Xiaoqing—after taking office, the next stop is removal from power; wanting to keep his seat is as hard as climbing to heaven.