Chapter 359: Is There Anyone That Stupid?

Wang Hao's phone had already been technically processed.

Any call exceeding thirty seconds would yield enough data for a base-station location fix.

However, this could only lock down a rough area, with an error margin of several hundred meters.

The error might sound large, but for the police, an area of several hundred meters in radius was entirely within controllable range.

Once that area was locked down and officers were dispatched to sweep it, the target could usually be found.

This was also a method the police commonly used for arrests.

Seeing Yu Dazhang's gesture, Wang Hao glanced at the shape of his mouth and immediately understood what he meant.

"Then I can't stay in Jianning any longer either."

Wang Hao raised his volume a few notches as well, his tone clearly a touch hurried:

"That classmate of mine knows I've been in Jianning for years. If the police get to him, he'll definitely give me up."

After saying this, he suddenly realized something and abruptly raised his head to look at Yu Dazhang.

Their eyes met; Yu Dazhang's face stiffened, and he caught on at once.

There was a flaw in this…

A time gap!

The reason Zhang Chao had only just gotten word from the Yancheng side was that the entire industrial park had been sealed off by police.

In fact, the Yancheng industrial park had already been successfully taken down by police yesterday.

So, if the "Leg" had been caught, he would definitely have followed police instructions yesterday, gotten in touch with Wang Hao, and cooperated with the police to take him down in one fell swoop.

And indeed that was exactly what had happened.

But just now, the words Wang Hao had said with his own mouth clearly showed that no one had contacted him at all.

There was only one possibility that could produce this result.

Wang Hao's middle-school classmate had withstood the interrogation and had not given Wang Hao up.

No fool would believe such a possibility.

Yu Dazhang's mind turned, and he thought of another possibility.

The hidden agent had only told Zhang Chao that the Yancheng industrial park had been taken down, without telling him the specific time.

No.

Unless the hidden agent was a brain-dead idiot, he wouldn't have left out such crucial information.

And anyone chosen to serve as a hidden agent would absolutely not be low on intelligence.

At this moment, both Yu Dazhang and Wang Hao grew tense.

The words were already out; there was no taking them back, so now they could only watch Zhang Chao's reaction.

"You mean, that middle-school classmate of yours never contacted you?"

Sure enough, Zhang Chao had also sensed something was off.

He even lowered his pitch, shifting from irritable to calm—but the calmer he got, the more panicked Wang Hao became.

Seeing that the hand holding the phone was starting to tremble, Yu Dazhang immediately pressed his hand onto Wang Hao's shoulder.

Seeing Yu Dazhang nod at him, Wang Hao gritted his teeth and answered in a firm tone:

"I haven't been in touch with him for a long time."

At this point, he could only press on and brazen it out.

"Then be careful." Zhang Chao urged:

"The police probably haven't pried his mouth open yet, but I reckon he won't hold out much longer. If he calls you, it'll definitely be to lure you in."

Hadn't spotted the flaw? Yu Dazhang was thrown off by Zhang Chao's words.

Not only had Zhang Chao not noticed, he had even helped Wang Hao come up with an excuse.

Is there anyone that stupid?

For a moment, Yu Dazhang couldn't tell.

If he were really that stupid, Zhang Chao should have been caught long ago; he could never have stayed hidden for so many years.

Yet the way Zhang Chao spoke didn't sound like an act.

"Do you have somewhere suitable to hide?" Wang Hao went with the flow:

"This came out of nowhere, I wasn't prepared. I don't dare stay at places like hotels that need an ID."

After he said this, Zhang Chao didn't answer right away but fell silent for a few seconds.

Yu Dazhang listened carefully and found that even breathing couldn't be heard on the other end—meaning Zhang Chao had cupped his hand over the phone's mouthpiece.

It seemed he was discussing it with someone beside him.

There really was someone behind Zhang Chao calling the shots.

After about five seconds, Zhang Chao's voice came through again:

"How about this—wait at home, I'll drive over to pick you up."

"Okay." Wang Hao agreed immediately:

"Come as soon as you can. Call me when you get here."

His voice was very hurried, sounding as if he were afraid the other party would change his mind.

But this was also the mindset a person should have when desperate and only thinking of escape.

"Forget the call." Zhang Chao refused:

"From now on, we can't talk on the phone anymore—it's for safety. When I get downstairs at your place, I'll honk twice, and you just come down."

"Alright." Wang Hao didn't overthink it; as far as he was concerned, it was fine as long as the other man would come.

Besides, he had police protection on his side, so he wasn't afraid of Zhang Chao pulling any tricks.

He had just finished speaking when Zhang Chao hung up the phone.

Yu Dazhang heard the busy tone on his phone and quickly asked:

"You agreed way too readily, didn't you? You should've at least asked him what car he was driving."

"No need." Wang Hao shook his head:

"He only has one car. You probably wouldn't believe it if I told you—his car isn't even as good as your SUV."

"Sometimes I find it strange too. He's clearly not short on money, but he's very low-key when it comes to material things, as if he's deliberately suppressing himself."

He is cautious enough… Yu Dazhang commented to himself, but immediately noticed something off.

With Zhang Chao's straightforward personality, he could actually manage not to show off?

And that while not being short on money.

That doesn't add up.

If he can't figure it out this way, then he'll try a different angle.

Yu Dazhang narrowed his eyes.

What is Zhang Chao's strong point?

He must have some exceptional quality in certain areas, which is why he's gone undiscovered for so many years.

An impulsive personality doesn't count—that's a flaw.

And this flaw has always been there. Just now, when Wang Hao was on the phone with him, Yu Dazhang could tell from the call that Zhang Chao had a violent temper.

Rephrase the question.

What quality in Zhang Chao can cover up the flaw in his personality?

Yu Dazhang's mind raced, and a moment later, his eyes lit up.

Execution!

Without a doubt, this is the greatest strength of an executor.

To put it bluntly, Zhang Chao's biggest strength is that he follows orders.

So he doesn't need to think for himself—he just has to strictly carry out the planner's commands.

Judging by the low-key way he conducts himself, Zhang Chao has indeed done it.

A mind that misses nothing, and an executor who strictly obeys orders—no wonder this organization has been running for eleven years.

He left the interrogation room.

Yu Dazhang gathered the provincial bureau officers together and assigned them the task:

"Head immediately to Wang Hao's residence in Jianning and set up surveillance on the surrounding area. If necessary, you may request SWAT assistance."

That depends on whether the terrain around Wang Hao's home is complicated.

If the terrain is complex with no fixed entry or exit points, then there will be problems with the police deployment.

Especially in terms of manpower—his dozen or so criminal investigators are clearly not enough.

He'll judge case by case; he trusts these provincial bureau criminal investigators will make an accurate assessment.

Then he said to Lu Zhongxin:

"Master, you and Brother Sen take Wang Hao to his home first. I'll head over shortly."

A snake without a head can't move.

Yu Dazhang also assigned a provincial bureau officer named Qi Fang to serve as operation commander.

This was Captain Hua's recommendation. Among these provincial bureau officers, Qi Fang was the most steady—one of the veteran criminal investigators, rich in experience.

Once everything was arranged, Yu Dazhang went to the Technical Division of the Municipal Bureau.

"Have you located the other party's position?"

(End of chapter)