Chapter 446: Case closed?

Chen, find your phone.

Just then, Grace handed the phone to Chen Yongren.

"Me?" Chen Yongren took the phone.

Why would the boss call me through Grace?

No.

There's a problem!

"Lixing, something happened— the Huang Liangshi you just arrested committed suicide out of fear." The boss's voice rang out.

"Suicide?" Chen Yongren exclaimed.

A suicide with eighteen bullets in the back, right?

Chen Yongren didn't expect those people to act so quickly.

"Not long after you left, he smashed a piece of glass and slit his own throat." The boss said in a low voice: "But we still found two suspects from the ledger he left at home."

"Ledger?" Chen Yongren was dumbfounded.

The people behind Da Cheng Company had made thorough preparations; it seems they had anticipated that one day the truth would come out, so they got ready in advance for any eventuality.

"You think they'd trust each other?" The boss sneered: "In this kind of illicit business, they definitely leave each other with leverage."

"You're so experienced— have you also done a lot of illicit work?" Chen Yongren thought to himself, but said aloud: "Understood, mutual trust— once you're on a pirate ship, nobody thinks of getting off."

"Doing ten good things together is not as good as doing one bad thing together."

"Just saying you're clever, your comprehension is high." The boss said.

"What's the background of those two other people, daring to move the National Government's funds with such gall?" Chen Yongren asked.

"A bank secretary named Ren Fa lost a lot of money in stock trading; seeing large sums of anti-war funds appear in the National Government's account, he harbored ill intentions."

"Relying on the president's trust in him, he forged the official seal, transferred public funds hoping to turn things around, but the losses only grew."

"This bastard panicked; the scraped‑together money could never plug that huge hole."

"Anyway, money is needed everywhere; sometimes temporary reallocation, then making up the paperwork later is normal, so Ren Fa thought of making money through smuggling."

"Using the profits from smuggling to fill the shortfall, as long as the moves are fast enough, one can do it without anyone knowing."

"A simple trial actually let this guy make money."

Chen Yongren pretended to believe the boss's nonsense, then asked: "How can smuggling be done without a few backers? How could one person alone smuggle goods into Chongqing?"

"Even if he could transport it, who could Ren Fa sell it to?"

"Who knows whose side he's on?"

The boss spoke with fire: "So this guy is really clever— Huang Liangshi isn't he just managing transport at the China Trust Bureau?"

"Ren Fa bribed Huang Liangshi, leveraging his connections in the transport department, using his position to commandeer trucks and move this shipment."

"Once the goods arrive in Chongqing, let Lu Qiren sell this batch to the underground black market to reap huge profits."

"Ren Fa was already in charge of the National Government's accounts; while he kept two sets of books to deceive the bank staff, he also looked for ways to make money."

"But no matter how big the profit, it couldn't match the public funds he'd embezzled; many accounts were just makeshift and wouldn't stand up to scrutiny."

"Seeing that the truth could no longer be hidden, Ren Fa decided to risk it all, pull off a big score to fill every gap at once, and earn enough to live comfortably for the rest of his life."

"Then he would quit completely and never touch such things again."

"Result?" Chen Yongren asked.

"As it turned out, I never expected the smuggled goods to be seized straight away by you, kid." The boss laughed.

"If the goods can't be sold, the funds can't be recovered; once someone discovers that the National Government's books show large sums of foreign‑exchange funds with no clear destination, they're doomed."

"Huang Liangshi was timid by nature; being the first one caught, he hadn't even been interrogated when he was frightened into suicide."

"……" Chen Yongren remained silent.

This whole operation, Chen Yongren knew too well— it was clearly an attempt to drag out a few scapegoats and forcibly halt the investigation.

From this we can see the case involves huge interests; nobody dares to investigate further.

Leaving aside other matters, how Huang Liangshi broke the glass deserves a big question mark.

"Miss Grace isn't by your side; you can just tell her this and close the case." The boss said again.

"……" Chen Yongren continued to stay silent.

"Lixing, why A Ren't you speaking?" The boss asked.

Chen Yongren snapped out of it: "No, I just didn't expect the case to go so smoothly; I feel a bit incredulous."

"These bastards have incredible gall— a low‑level bank worker actually dared to move the National Government's anti‑war funds!"

"We've already caught a bunch of moles internally; having a few termites now is hardly surprising." The boss soothed Chen Yongren's emotions.

"Lixing, you did great this time and helped us nab a bunch of termites!" The boss smiled: "He also said that once we're done with these matters, he definitely wants to meet you in person, this little relative of yours."

"By then we'll still need you, my junior schoolmate, to say a few good words for me, old brother."

"Senior, you're joking— it was you who promoted me; how could I ever forget you?" Chen Yongren said respectfully.

"All relevant personnel have been locked up in prison." The boss added: "The trial still needs time; if Miss Grace is willing, you can accompany her to have a look."

Since the boss dares to let people see them, he must have smoothed things up and down.

Chen Yongren could finally understand why the boss had called him at this point.

Take Envoy Grace to see them, wrap up the case quickly, and send off this Grace officer.

Finally, the boss again urged: "Handle this quickly; the higher‑ups are already itching to meet you."

"I know— with the National Government in this state, the higher‑ups are also heartbroken."

"Family disgrace shouldn't be aired; just nip it in the bud. Lixing, do you understand what I mean?"

Given Chen Yongren's abilities, how could he not understand the meaning of this saying?

After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Yongren hung up, his expression grave.

Lin Ke Xin also figured out from the conversation what had happened, and couldn't help but think to herself, "How ruthless."

The bosses really have a trick.

They first kill off one person involved at the source, then drag out several scapegoats, and finally utter a few words to close the case, hoping to settle the matter.

As for who exactly this matter will implicate…

Besides the real director surnamed Kong hidden behind the Trust Bureau, who would have the gall to do this?

"Chen, what happened?" Grace asked.

Chen Yongren fell silent for a moment, composed himself, and said, "Miss Grace, I think we can now close the case."

"Close the case?" Grace exclaimed.

Chen Yongren briefly related his talk with the boss: "All relevant personnel have been arrested, the evidence is solid, and they are awaiting final judgment."

After a pause, Chen Yongren joked, "Their best outcome is to have wild imaginations and become broad-minded people."

But Grace, however, felt a sense of wariness…