Chapter 368: Direct Appointment! Unconditional Trust

For Zheng Ting, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

Because the rescue operation was to take place tomorrow, all the information she knew had to be extracted before the operation began.

For example, the identities of the hidden sentries and their hiding places.

Yu Dazhang estimated there was an eighty-percent-plus chance she was the organization's mole embedded in Jianning.

And a fifty-percent-plus chance she was the leader of those moles.

If both guesses were right, the information she held might even be more detailed than what Wang Hao knew.

And that information would only be useful before the operation started.

Once the operation began, those moles would surely go into hiding and look for a chance to escape.

By then, even if Zheng Ting wanted to cooperate, it would be useless.

Based on the information Wang Hao provided, the police could precisely lock down those factories and the "feet."

Add to that the attention from the provincial bureau, and tomorrow's operation was basically a done deal.

The provincial bureau's top man had come in person to take charge—no matter how big the trouble, someone would have your back.

Just charge in, that's all!

That evening.

After Yu Dazhang and the other two finished dinner and were about to head back to the hotel, Captain Hua called Yu Dazhang.

"Where are you?"

"On the way to the hotel."

Hearing Yu Dazhang's answer, Captain Hua on the other end went silent for at least three seconds before asking:

"Don't you know the big leader is here today?"

"I know." Yu Dazhang replied in a relaxed tone:

"For an operation this big, the big leader definitely has to show up to coordinate."

If it were just the police deployment of one city, Captain Hua could have coordinated and handled it—after all, he was the deputy captain of the Criminal Investigation Brigade, and his rank was right there.

Like that time at the Yancheng industrial district—Captain Hua had arranged things well, and the various police units had cooperated smoothly.

But for a joint operation spanning several cities, he was clearly out of his depth.

Forget him—even the brigade chief himself coming wouldn't be enough to coordinate an operation of this scale.

A snake can't move without a head, people can't gather without a leader.

Only the provincial bureau's top man could hold the scene together and make sure the various police units cooperated in an orderly fashion.

"If you already knew that, why are you still going back to the hotel?" Captain Hua said, annoyed:

"Come to the city bureau. The big leader wants to meet the officers handling the case in a bit."

I'm just someone from out of town, no need for that… Yu Dazhang figured that at his level, meeting or not meeting didn't matter.

The ranks were too far apart; they wouldn't even be able to talk properly.

Better to go back and rest early than to go over there and play the nodding-and-smiling act.

"I'll pass." Yu Dazhang refused:

"The big leader doesn't even know me. Besides, I'm not from around here—save the chance to show your faces for yourselves."

To his surprise, Captain Hua said:

"He knows you, and he's mentioned you several times. Actually, the main reason he's here this time is to meet you."

Yu Dazhang:????

You pulling my leg?

Am I really that famous now?

The provincial bureau's top man not only knows me but has mentioned me several times? Yeah, right.

Seeing Yu Dazhang fall silent, Captain Hua added:

"Do you think I'd joke about something like this? Hurry up, the big leader's almost here."

Hearing this, Yu Dazhang didn't dare delay. He immediately had Zhang Sen turn the car around and head for the city bureau.

If the other party didn't know someone like him, it wouldn't matter whether he went or not.

But the big leader not only knew him but had specifically come to meet him—if he refused again, that would just be too rude.

Put bluntly: not knowing what's good for him.

Arriving at the city bureau, Yu Dazhang and the other two hurried into the conference room—only to find they were still a step late.

By then the conference room was already full.

In the seat of honor sat a middle-aged man in a black police uniform. He looked to be in his mid-fifties, hair greying, his face stern and imposing, a pair of sharp eyes glinting with an intimidating light.

Yu Dazhang casually glanced at the police rank on his shoulder.

One silver olive branch and three four-pointed stars.

First-Class Police Supervisor!

Wonder if I'll ever reach that height in this life… Yu Dazhang sighed inwardly.

He didn't even dare look the man in the eye, keeping his gaze low as he looked for a seat.

"Saved you a seat."

It was Captain Hua who spoke, pointing at an empty seat across from him:

"There."

Yu Dazhang followed the direction of his finger. That empty seat was right next to the big leader in the seat of honor.

You really think highly of me… Yu Dazhang felt his heels going a little numb.

From the police rank, it was clear that the one seated right next to the big leader was the captain of the Criminal Investigation Brigade.

If he sat across from them, wouldn't that put him on the same level as this person?

Are you out of your mind?

Just as he was hesitating, Lu Zhongxin and Zhang Sen brushed past him and quickly found two seats in the lower direction to sit down.

"Sit."

The big leader spoke, and his gaze toward Yu Dazhang carried a hint of depth:

"Don't make everyone wait for you."

That look made one's blood run cold.

But when Yu Dazhang saw that look, he calmed down instead.

He walked around the conference table to that empty seat, pulled out the chair and sat down, saying nothing the entire time.

"Starting today, the task force is officially established."

The big leader's voice rang out, his gaze sweeping around the conference room before finally landing on Yu Dazhang:

"Yu Dazhang will serve as the task force leader."

Then he turned his head to look at Captain Hua:

"Hua Kaiquan will serve as the task force deputy leader. The members are…"

He read out more than a dozen names in a row, including Lu Zhongxin and Zhang Sen.

That can't be right… Yu Dazhang quickly caught on.

This wasn't a meeting at all—the big leader had come to establish the task force, and hadn't even left room for discussion, appointing people directly.

It was obvious they had already discussed it among themselves.

Once the task force was established, there was no such thing as collaborative investigation anymore—this was equivalent to Province N taking on the case.

Yu Dazhang was already mentally prepared for this.

But what he hadn't expected was that the big leader actually made him the leader.

They're not planning to let him go back… Yu Dazhang realized the other side had even cut off his retreat.

Not only would he take over the case, he had to stay as well.

After the big leader finished reading the names, he looked at Yu Dazhang again, this time with meaning and scrutiny in his eyes:

"I believe you can lead everyone in solving this vicious case."

Not necessarily… Yu Dazhang replied seriously:

"Leader, my abilities can only manage being deputy leader at most, so what do you say…"

This case was different from the previous severed-finger case.

When he was in Province S, he only needed to solve the case; there wasn't much coordination required.

But this case had far too many things requiring coordination, and his rank wasn't suited for this kind of work either.

"I know your concerns."

The big leader said in a deep voice:

"Any difficulties you encounter here can be handed to Captain Hua. If he can't handle them, you can contact me directly."

At these words, all the officers present showed looks of surprise.

Even the captain of the Criminal Investigation Corps wore an expression of disbelief.

Such trust?!

This seemed to be the first time they had met.

This was the top leader of the provincial department—his word was equivalent to an order.

From these people's reactions, one could tell the big leader had never said anything like this to anyone before.

On the provincial department's side, only Captain Hua's expression didn't change much.

He had seen Yu Dazhang's file before, so he completely understood the big leader's approach.

Some people are worth taking seriously.

(End of chapter)