Chapter 58: Using Children as Threats

Lu Cheng didn't understand; earlier they had expended so much effort and so many police forces, checking each one, yet still couldn't locate the enemy operative.

Now that they finally found him, why does Lei Zhan'ge suddenly want to halt the operation?

Lu Cheng really couldn't figure it out, but he knew that Lei Zhan'ge certainly wouldn't make such a decision without cause.

He had no choice but to act as if nothing had happened and, following Lei Zhan'ge's instructions, first went to Carriage 5.

"Captain Lei, did you just see the enemy operative?"

Lei Zhan'ge nodded, but his face showed little joy, instead filled with solemnity.

"No mistake: in Carriage 6 near the left-side window, there was a man in a military green coat who, while you were using Finger Tapping Transmission, looked up to observe you three times."

Using finger tapping as a transmission method had already been tested in several other carriages; ordinary civilians just thought he was standing there dazed, not realizing he was transmitting.

Those who could understand were, of course, the enemy operative.

Moreover, having obtained the enemy operative's exact location, Lu Cheng couldn't help but say, "Then what are we waiting for? It's definitely him; I'll cuff him right now."

Lei Zhan'ge stopped him: "Don't act rashly; this enemy operative has already noticed I'm watching him, which means our identities are exposed, and he also used Finger Tapping Transmission to convey his intent to me."

Lu Cheng listened in surprise: "What did he say?"

"He told us not to act rashly," and he also pointed to a woman sitting beside him holding a child.

Lu Cheng understood: "Threatening us? If we make a move, he'll target the child?"

Lei Zhan'ge wore a troubled expression: "That's what he means, which is why I asked you to halt the operation first. It's a bit tricky; this enemy operative is harder to deal with than we imagined."

Capturing the enemy operative is certainly important, but we cannot sacrifice the child's life; we must consider the long term and devise a solution that satisfies both...

Lei Zhan'ge waited a while without hearing a response, turned his head, and saw Lu Cheng walking toward a middle-aged man.

"Comrade, hello, here's my ID; please take a look."

The middle-aged man was chewing a big pancake; hearing the voice, he looked up at the work ID Lu Cheng held.

"Train Police? What's up? I'm eating a big pancake and haven't broken any law."

Lu Cheng tucked away the ID: "I'm not saying you broke the law. Look, at the window side of Carriage 6, there's a woman holding a child—that's the one."

The middle-aged man looked bewildered: "Ah, I see it, what's the matter?"

"Right now there's a drill on this train targeting the capture of Human Traffickers, requiring police-civilian cooperation. You've been selected as a lucky audience member; shortly we'll have you play the Human Trafficker and cooperate with us."

The middle-aged man stepped back: "You want me to be a Human Trafficker? I won't do it."

He hated Human Traffickers already, and for something that disgraces the ancestors, even pretending, he wouldn't do it.

Lu Cheng had a solution, extending a finger: "There's a reward—if you're willing to cooperate with our drill, I'll give you a Great Unity."

In an era when pork costs only 0.75 yuan per jin, a Great Unity is a very tempting incentive.

Sure enough, after hearing he could earn a Great Unity, the middle-aged man's eyes instantly lit up.

Ancestors, I'm sorry, I gave too much.

"Really? You better not lie to me."

Lu Cheng was about to speak when a woman beside him jumped in: "Comrade, why don't you look for me? Eight bucks is fine."

Even just playing a Human Trafficker for a single buck, someone would scramble to do it.

The reason Lu Cheng offered a bit more included medical expenses.

Upon hearing someone else jump in, the middle-aged man became displeased: "They approached me first; why are you snatching it? Train Police comrade, give me five bucks."

The woman was eager to earn the money and was about to shout for one buck, but Lu Cheng stopped her, saying the matter should be handled by a man, who can take a beating.

"Fine, you get ten bucks, I'll give it to you in advance."

Lu Cheng didn't have much money; this cash was the money Song Ling needed to buy shoes, and the shoes had already been obtained.

The middle-aged man took the money, thrilled: "So, what should I do? Do I still need to dress up?"

"No need for that complexity; just go straight to Carriage 6, you don't have to say anything, grab the child and run to another carriage."

"That simple?"

"Yes, can you complete the mission?"

"Then I'm all set; I'm going right now." The middle-aged man took a bite of his big pancake and shuffled toward Carriage 6.

Needn't say more; this person actually has potential to be a Human Trafficker.

The middle-aged man shuffled up to the woman, pretended to be passing by, and in a flash, snatched the child from her arms and bolted toward another carriage.

Heh heh, I'm a Human Trafficker, come catch me! So thrilling!

The woman was visibly stunned; she never expected anyone to snatch a child on a moving train.

As soon as she recovered, she shouted, "My child! My child! Someone's taken the child…"

Nowadays everyone acts like a living Lei Feng, brimming with a sense of justice; at the sound of a child being snatched, five or six men instantly sprang up to chase the middle-aged man.

Moreover, the number of righteous people kept growing, and a crowd of them surged to give chase.

Heh heh, come chase me, come chase me.

The train's cramped space meant someone quickly tackled the middle-aged man, and the others swarmed, beating the child-stealing middle-aged man with punches and kicks.

No matter when, hatred for Human Traffickers runs deep.

The middle-aged man was first left dazed by the blows, then clutched his head and shouted for mercy.

"Ow, take it easy! Isn't this a drill? Why are you actually hitting!"

"Ah, help me, stop! I'm not a Human Trafficker; this is a drill, the drill we agreed on…"

Hearing the middle-aged man's wailing, Lu Cheng walked to Lei Zhan'ge's side: "Captain Lei, the enemy operative no longer has a child to threaten; let's proceed."

Lei Zhan'ge shook his head helplessly; just moments ago he thought it was a tricky problem, yet Lu Cheng solved it effortlessly.

Indeed, as long as you don't follow the rules, nothing counts as a problem.

It's just a pity for that middle-aged man; we don't know if the ten bucks will cover his medical expenses.

But now Lei Zhan'ge can't worry about the middle-aged man; capturing the enemy operative is the top priority.

When we and Lu Cheng again headed toward Carriage No. 6, the enemy operative, having no one left to threaten, clearly panicked.

He also didn't expect that child would be suddenly taken away by a passing passenger.

Lu Cheng slipped one hand to the handcuffs at his waist, smiling, and walked over.

But at that moment, the enemy operative, evidently about to make a desperate leap, opened the carriage window and jumped out.

Lu Cheng and Lei Zhan Ge exchanged a glance and hurriedly ran over to check.

The train sped forward, the Iron Rail rushing backward, producing a "clang—clank—" sound.

But looking out from the window, there was no sign of the enemy operative who had jumped out.

Lu Cheng quickly caught on, pointed to the carriage ceiling and said, "That guy's got skill—he used an upside‑down golden hook to cling to the window and climb up."

Lei Zhan Ge said coldly, "Chase! We must not let him get away."