Chapter 360: A Little Too Smooth

"We've locked onto the target's approximate location." The officer from the technical division said in a steady tone.

His finger pointed at the computer screen, which displayed a map with a small red dot blinking on it.

"Since the target's GPS is turned off, we can only use base-station positioning."

The officer explained:

"The previous call lasted over a minute, which gave us enough data to work with."

"Through analysis and processing of that data, we've narrowed the margin of error to the smallest possible range."

Yu Dazhang looked at the map on the screen, a glint in his eyes:

"What's the margin of error?"

"Between 150 and 200 meters." The officer replied:

"As long as the target's phone has signal, we can keep tracking his approximate location."

The margin of error wasn't large… Yu Dazhang estimated silently.

This range was enough to observe the target's movement trajectory.

"Where is the target right now?" Yu Dazhang asked, staring at the red dot on the map.

This kind of electronic map updated in real time, and he wasn't familiar with N Province to begin with, so he couldn't use it to judge the target's exact location.

"In the outskirts of Jianning."

The officer zoomed the map out until the whole of Jianning was visible, then pointed at the red dot and said:

"When we first locked on, the target was already at this position and hasn't moved."

Zhang Chao is in Jianning too!

This was something Yu Dazhang hadn't expected.

Earlier, when Wang Hao was on the call with him, Zhang Chao's tone hadn't sounded like he was local — not even in N Province.

"The target's moving!"

The moment the officer spoke, he quickly zoomed the map back in, then stared at the red dot and said:

"Judging by the movement trajectory, the target is heading toward the city."

He really did come… Yu Dazhang hadn't expected the target to make a move so quickly.

To risk coming in person to pick up Wang Hao at a time like this — that's awfully bold.

Even if Zhang Chao is brainless, what about the person behind him?

Could that person really not have sensed the risk either?

Two possibilities:

1. Wang Hao is extremely important to them.

Important enough that they're willing to risk moving him to safety.

2. This is a deliberate slip-up on their part.

Luring the snake out of its hole.

The purpose is to probe Wang Hao's true current situation.

No.

Neither one.

Both possibilities were quickly dismissed by Yu Dazhang.

Neither one was worth Zhang Chao risking his own skin.

Could they really not have seen anything?

Because if they'd sensed even the slightest anomaly, Zhang Chao wouldn't have come in person to pick up Wang Hao.

Yu Dazhang shook his head, setting aside his doubts for the moment, then said to the technical officer:

"Sorry to trouble you, but I need you to come with me on a field run — I need to keep tabs on the target's movements in real time."

"Sure, no problem." The officer agreed at once, immediately standing up to gather his gear.

Twenty minutes later.

Yu Dazhang brought the technical officer to Wang Hao's residence.

It was an open-style residential compound — no security guards, no access control.

Wang Hao's home was at the center of the compound, in a multi-story walk-up building of six floors; Wang Hao lived on the third floor.

Inside the apartment.

Yu Dazhang took in the interior decor — it could only be called lavish; every piece of furniture was brand new.

The TV, the wardrobe — everything was the latest model, and the floor was polished to a gleaming shine.

From outside the building, no one would guess that behind the shabby-looking compound, the apartments inside would be decorated like this.

What surprised him most was that there was actually a live-in housekeeper.

A two-bedroom apartment, Wang Hao living alone, and he still hired a housekeeper?

Sure knows how to enjoy himself~

Wonder if that housekeeper is the legitimate kind.

"Why did you pick a place like this?"

Yu Dazhang couldn't quite follow Wang Hao's logic.

From the decor, he wasn't short on money, yet he'd chosen to live in this kind of old, run-down compound.

The contrast between inside and out was just too stark.

"Easy to get around." Wang Hao replied:

"The older the compound, the more entry and exit points. I used to live in a high-end compound too, but just never felt safe there."

Hearing him say that, Yu Dazhang immediately understood where the problem lay.

The target of their precautions was different.

When ordinary people have money, their first choice for buying a home is definitely a high-end complex — not only is the environment good, the security measures are also properly in place.

They were guarding against criminals.

But someone like Wang Hao is himself a criminal, so what he guards against is the police.

Then naturally he wouldn't choose a place that would box him in — with only one entrance and exit, it would give him the feeling of being a turtle in a jar.

No matter how good the security measures are, once the police arrive, those security guards will immediately cooperate with the police to catch him.

"You've thought this through pretty thoroughly." Yu Dazhang glared at him.

In that case, the dozen or so criminal investigators from the provincial bureau wouldn't really be enough.

But he believed the provincial bureau would contact the SWAT team for support — this kind of coordinated operation happened often, and they had their own contingency measures.

"Where is the target now?" Yu Dazhang looked again at the officer from the technical division.

"Entered the urban area." The officer had by now set up his laptop on the table, and the screen showed the earlier electronic map.

He operated it quickly for a moment, then said:

"Judging from the movement track and travel speed, they'll reach our complex within about ten minutes."

Coming pretty fast… Yu Dazhang thought back.

When they were at the municipal bureau, the target had just started moving and they had rushed over this way — the trip took twenty minutes, and counting the other time, it was still less than half an hour.

And the other party was driving over from the outer suburbs — that speed was already very fast.

It showed the other party hadn't hesitated at all, was even somewhat eager.

He glanced at the police walkie-talkies Lu Zhongxin and the others were carrying, thought for a moment, then finally took out his phone and dialed.

Since he had let Qi Fang serve as operation commander, it wouldn't be appropriate for Yu Dazhang to keep issuing orders to the provincial bureau officers.

Besides, he had just arrived and wasn't clear on the specific deployment situation.

The worst thing at a moment like this was issuing confused orders — a single command from an outsider could easily disrupt the original rhythm and add burden to the people on the operation.

After the call connected, Yu Dazhang said quickly:

"The target vehicle will reach the complex in a few more minutes — once the target is locked down, don't act yet; wait until Wang Hao confirms everything is correct, then make the arrest."

"Understood." Qi Fang acknowledged, then reported:

"The SWAT personnel are also in position and have been disguised and concealed — we can ensure nothing will go wrong."

Nothing will go wrong? Yu Dazhang felt that statement was a bit premature.

During the course of an investigation he couldn't even trust himself, let alone believe in any notion of nothing going wrong.

In his view, the case could change at any moment — that was the norm.

What's more, his opponent this time wasn't one person, but a gang.

"Be careful," Yu Dazhang cautioned:

"I just have a feeling the other side won't fall for it that easily."

(End of chapter)