Chapter 124: The Choice Under the Sword of Michael of the East...
Inside the fourth team's office, dark clouds loomed, and anger filled the air.
As a patient and victim, Shen Zhenzhu sat on the sofa. The dizziness had subsided, and she listened attentively as Gu Yanzheng and Lu Ye analyzed the matter.
The people involved weren't as angry as they were; instead, they were itching for a fight.
"According to Sun Jian's confession, the number of 'superiors' is uncertain, and they appear and disappear unpredictably. They change the way they issue tasks to him each time. The purpose of the photos is unclear, and there are people secretly watching him. We cannot rule out the possibility that someone has marked her house."
Gu Yanzheng slowly began to analyze the situation as calmly as possible: "Sun Jian's role is to follow and take photos. According to the requirements, he cannot harm the target, nor can he be discovered. Once discovered, there will be consequences of having the body destroyed to cover up the crime."
Lu Ye pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Destroying the evidence? That's pretty arrogant of you."
Wu Zhongguo said, "After Sun Jian was released from prison, he begged his fellow inmates to introduce him to a high-paying job. I have already checked on that fellow inmate; he was arrested for intentional homicide and executed in February of this year."
"Someone wants to buy my photos. They wouldn't happen to want to know what happened after the car accident, would they?" Thinking of the paparazzi of the past, Shen Zhenzhu asked Gu Yanzheng, "What did Sun Jian say his code name was?"
“‘Dogs’,” Gu Yanzheng said, frowning. “He said there are even more professional ones watching you. Could it be that criminals have developed a compassionate heart and are starting to care about your personal safety?”
“That’s impossible. There must be another purpose behind it.” Chen Zhenzhu leaned back against the sofa.
“More professional people are watching…” Wu Zhongguo pondered, “What kind of people would be considered more professional?”
"It must be more secretive, and it probably has a code name, which feels like the name of a criminal organization. There's also a 'superior' whose name Sun Jian doesn't even know. Sun Jian doesn't know anything when asked, and I don't think he's lying. It seems like he's just a nobody among nobodys. He doesn't even know why he's being photographed. He just knows how to do things for money."
"Could it be a spy organization?" Zhao Qiqi wondered, letting her imagination run wild. "Knowing that Sister Pearl has potential, are they planning to bribe her in advance?"
“I’m not someone you can just buy off,” Shen Zhenzhu said.
After much discussion, they could only strengthen security around Shen Zhenzhu and her family, and had no other options.
"Brother Zheng, why aren't you saying anything?" Shen Zhenzhu asked.
Gu Yanzheng said, "I'm still thinking about 'covering up the evidence.' He said he would die when he was discovered, which shows that the brutality and violence of the criminal organization are deeply ingrained. He also said that he was explicitly told not to hurt you. So... is the driver who killed you in the car accident related to this?"
These words sent chills down the spines of everyone present.
Zhao Qiqi said in astonishment, "Because she hurt Sister Pearl, she was killed? Wasn't it because she suffered internal bleeding that went undetected, and there wasn't enough time to treat her?"
“Don’t judge their behavior by normal standards,” Gu Yanzheng said. “The driver was drunk, a gambler, and had a broken family. Such a background makes him perfectly suited to take the risk. Section Chief Shen, have you noticed anything suspicious?”
"No, I only remember that the collision was very sudden, which is consistent with the characteristics of being drunk and out of control." Shen Zhenzhu tried hard to recall, but she couldn't remember the specific circumstances at the time.
Upon learning of the other person's death, Shen Zhenzhu was somewhat surprised to find that the person inside the car was more seriously injured than the person outside, and now it seemed somewhat "human intervention".
“It’s contradictory if they’re really in cahoots. One says he won’t hurt you, but the other runs you over with a car,” Lu Ye said. “I suspect they’re not in cahoots.”
Gu Yanzheng said, "From now on, Aye will protect Section Chief Shen. I will start investigating this matter. Also, I will report to Director Liu to strengthen security measures in the community and restaurants."
Shen Zhenzhu looked at Gu Yanzheng gratefully and said, "Then let me think if I have offended anyone recently that would lead to revenge."
Gu Yanzheng said, "You've arrested a lot of people, but you've also offended quite a few."
Shen Zhenzhu hugged her head and leaned back.
“We’ve never had a case like this in the city before. Lately, I feel like things are changing in Liancheng.” Wu Zhongguo said, biting his cigarette butt and gazing at the birds fluttering outside the window, “Be careful, everyone.”
***
Outside the boiler plant, a two-kilometer-long internal road leads to the winding mountain road.
Occasionally, a car would pass by, and before the torrential rain began, there would be scattered hikers wandering around nearby.
They are responsible for monitoring the area and will immediately notify the boiler factory if any unfamiliar vehicles approach.
In a hidden cellar in the factory area, Scarface angrily flicked the blood off his blade: "Throw this good-for-nothing trash out."
The mixed-race boss was pushed out of the shadows; he was missing both legs. But that didn't stop him from appreciating beautiful legs.
I just received this beautiful and powerful male athlete's leg from a clueless Chinese "puzzle collector." He fantasizes that this is the leg he owns, no, it should be said that this leg belongs to him.
Unfortunately, fresh goods have a limited shelf life, so we can only admire them through glass jars filled with formalin.
His previous beautiful legs have fallen out of favor and he has personally crafted them into a leg bone violin.
"Our losses are too great. We wanted to develop the domestic market, but 'Bead' is gone, and 'Angela' is gone too. 'Oriental Michael' was also alerted by the people that idiot sent down... Sigh, if only the criminal investigation team were as easy to bribe as they are abroad."
“I told you long ago that the mainland police are different from other places. They have a belief called ‘revolution’ and are hard to bribe. Especially the Liancheng Criminal Investigation Team, which is unbreakable under the leadership of that old man. In the end, this is not a place to stay for long.”
"But they've provoked me again!" Scarface said angrily. "They've caused me heavy losses. Are we just going to run away with our tails between our legs like this?"
"We still need to build our reputation so that overseas collectors will cooperate with us more. What could be more exciting than having a section chief from the Major Crimes Unit as an exhibit?"
"Let's start the auction early tonight, reveal the identity of 'Michael of the East,' and make our move if the price is right."
“I agree,” the mixed-race man said.
"Okay." The newly appointed Crow received his boss's order and began to publish the auction details online.
Photos of the sunken pearl from multiple angles appeared on an inconspicuous little website, and the number of visitors quickly increased.
The impressive titles such as "Chief of the Major Crimes Unit," "National First-Class Hero," and "100% Case-Solving Rate" greatly excited a group of shady "collectors" who sought "thrills," "curiosities," and "provoking the police."
Compared to those old-fashioned government officials, these fresh-faced angels with limitless potential are far more valuable to collect. Who wouldn't want to possess her at the peak of her beauty?
Just three hours later, the auction information for "Oriental Michael" became even more popular than that for "Angela".
The new crow gathered his men in the hall and announced that the price of "Eastern Michael" had soared again. However, due to the discovery of "The Dog," the difficulty of obtaining "Eastern Michael" and its price had both increased dramatically.
The mixed-race man waited behind the one-way glass for Scarface to finish his phone call.
After Scarface hung up the phone, he told him, "I've already arranged for three 'procurements' to prepare for the operation. The price of $100,000 is enough to make them fight tooth and nail for it. I can guarantee that everything will go smoothly. You just wait and see who has the ability to get her."
Seeing the mixed-race man's worried expression, he said coldly, "Are you scared?"
The mixed-race man stroked the formaldehyde jar, his eyes filled with love for the beautiful legs: "As far as I know, people can be executed in the mainland."
Scarface laughed loudly: "Someone like you is afraid of dying?"
The mixed-race man was already used to his sarcasm and revealed his true intentions: "'Oriental Michael's' price is far greater than our losses. We need to complete the transaction within a week and then I need to find a place to go on vacation."
Scarface sneered, "You make it sound so nice to just pull off a quick heist and run away."
The mixed-race person said, "I kind of regret coming to the mainland. The police here are too vigilant, and even passersby will actively stare at you."
Scarface said, "We're all in the same boat. After this job, we'll go our separate ways. I'll find a new place to work on my own and replace these useless guys."
"Whatever you want," the half-blood said. "I hope Archangel Michael will protect me... But you're too bold. I've researched Shen Zhenzhu's past. Her name has been reported to the Ministry of Public Security, and she has good relations with the provincial department. I'm just reminding you that we must strike decisively; there's no turning back."
"Hehe, that's even more exciting, I like it. It's a pity that dog is locked up in the city's criminal investigation team, otherwise I would have killed him immediately."
Scarface walked to the coffee table, poured himself a full glass of vodka, gulped it down, and said, "A change of scenery is good. This damn place makes me feel restricted. After this heist, I'll fucking take a few foreign girls to international waters, sell whatever I want, and see who can catch me then."
***
At lunchtime, diners at the Tiexi Xin'er Village commercial street did not notice that there were more security guards at the entrance than usual.
Lu Ye sat opposite Shen Zhenzhu and sighed deeply: "Why do you still have a fever?"
Gu Yanzheng asked him to take good care of Sister Zhenzhu. He slept on a makeshift bed on the living room floor that night, and learned in the middle of the night that Shen Zhenzhu had developed a high fever.
"She's probably not fully recovered yet. She went for a walk yesterday and caught a chill in the wind." Shen Liuhe glanced around after learning that Shen Zhenzhu was involved in a dangerous case.
Yuan Juan was outside helping Shen Yuyuan with her hair. Yesterday, Shen Zhenzhu called the school to ask her to return to school later for the start of the semester. She and Yuan Jiangxue were so busy that they didn't notice the inconspicuous changes on the street.
Even though she wasn't feeling well, Chen Zhenzhu wanted to be with her family. She listlessly lay on the table in the corner, secretly observing the people coming and going.
Who else is secretly watching her?
“Brother Zheng said he has applied for a protection order from the Municipal Bureau. Who knows, there might be plainclothes officers coming to dinner today.” Lu Ye, who was protecting Shen Zhenzhu closely, no longer tried to hide it. He knew that the rats in the shadows had already figured out her colleagues’ relationships, so he didn’t need to pretend to be a plainclothes officer.
The thought of Shen Zhenzhu being targeted by a group of people filled the four teams with hatred, their anger turning to fists rather than fear.
Shen Zhenzhu's chin is sharp again; the chubby little flesh she gained from staying up late has all gone down in the last few days.
A refrigerated truck pulled up on the street outside Sister Liu's restaurant. Feng Dahuan got out of the passenger seat, opened the cargo door before the traffic police could chase him away, picked up two cleaned whole sheep and said repeatedly, "Comrade, I'm bringing some mutton to Sister Liu and I'll be leaving right away."
The traffic police glanced into the truck and saw various kinds of beef and mutton hanging inside, and the air conditioning inside was freezing cold.
"Hurry up, parking is prohibited here."
As Feng Dahuan walked, he muttered to himself, "Hey, I was able to park here last time. Did something happen?"
Just then, another car pulled up behind them. Qian Changda rolled down the window and said, "Old Feng, how could you forget about the beef?"
Feng Dahuan was surprised to see him coming. He glanced into the restaurant and said, "The beef is so-so today. This is a small lamb from the saline-alkali land. I brought it to my older sister so she can give it to Section Chief Shen to help him recover."
Qian Changda said, "The beef ribs I took are delicious even when stewed without any ingredients. They can also help Section Chief Shen recover."
When Shen Liuhe saw them coming from the kitchen, she came out and heard their conversation. She said with gratitude, "You're too kind. I haven't paid for the meat you gave me the other day, and you've brought meat again today."
Feng Dahuan said with a smile, "We're just using this opportunity to show off how fresh our stuff is, while we're helping Section Chief Shen recover."
Shen Liuhe said, "I can't accept it today."
Qian Changda said, "This is our token of appreciation, please accept it."
Feng Dahuan chimed in, saying, "I heard from Lao Zhou that your milk tea shop in SanSan is doing very well. He even wants to persuade you to open a flagship restaurant there. He plans to develop a chain of department stores, and the brands inside will definitely be chain operations. Your old suppliers won't be able to supply you in large quantities. This is how I got here."
Feng Dahuan's words made sense, and Shen Liuhe hesitated for a moment before saying, "Alright then, I'll accept it. Don't leave at noon, stay here and try my cooking."
"Then we won't stand on ceremony." Feng Dahuan asked with concern, "How is the child?"
Shen Liuhe sighed and said, "It's not fully healed yet."
Qian Changda also sighed and said, "Sister, don't worry too much. Young people recover quickly. Maybe you'll be fine soon."
Feng Dahuan also said, "That's right, we can go out now, so it must be better."
Shen Liuhe shook her head and said, "I was able to go out yesterday, but then I ran into a peeping tom, and after running a few steps I fainted."
Feng Dahuan was shocked: "What, a peeping tom?"
Shen Liuhe, based on the information given by Gu Yanzheng, said, "The person who secretly took photos of my daughter said they could sell them for money. Oh my, don't you think that's perverted?"
Feng Dahuan laughed heartily: "Young people all like to idolize celebrities, and our Section Chief Shen is the brightest star."
Shen Liuhe said proudly, "After we get him released, we'll have Captain Gu teach him a lesson."
Feng Dahuan nodded and said, "I've seen paparazzi who follow celebrities abroad, maybe this is one of them."
“Yes, we can’t let him go to jail.” Shen Zhenzhu came to their side with her hands behind her back and said quietly, “At most, we can only give him a verbal reprimand or warning. It’s really stifling. I was feeling much better, but now I feel dizzy again.”
"If you're not feeling well, go sit down." Qian Changda tried to help Chen Zhenzhu up, but then he saw a burly man appear beside her.
Lu Ye nodded to him: "Hello, I'm her colleague. I'm just checking why she's not at work yet. Is she slacking off at home? We're going to have to do all the work."
Feng Dahuan laughed heartily: "Don't push her too hard. She has a rare holiday, so let her rest well."
Shen Zhenzhu pouted and said, "That's right, Uncle Feng is right."
"I'll go cook a few dishes first, you guys sit and chat." Shen Liuhe wiped her hands on her apron and pointed to the corner, saying, "Go over there."
After she finished speaking, she went into the kitchen to start preparing the stir-fry.
Shen Zhenzhu returned to her previous position and chatted politely with Feng Dahuan and Qian Changda.
"I'll go get two cups of milk tea. Do you want some?" Lu Ye asked, standing up.
Feng Dahuan said, "I want bubble tea. I couldn't get a turn at the flagship store, so I'm not going to be polite today. I'm going to drink my fill."
Qian Changda said, "Then give me one of the same as well, thank you."
"Uncle, please don't be so polite." Lu Ye patted Chen Zhenzhu and said, "Is this for you to warm up?"
“It’s cold.” Shen Zhenzhu rolled her eyes, which made Feng Dahuan and Qian Changda laugh out loud.
Lu Ye didn't seem to be obediently queuing for milk tea and hadn't returned for a while. Chen Zhenzhu was lazily talking to them, her head resting on her arm, when she suddenly felt a scrutinizing gaze on her.
She suddenly looked up, and before Qian Changda could look away, he awkwardly shifted his gaze.
Chen Zhenzhu scratched her forehead and said, "Oh dear, I'm a little confused again."
Qian Changda asked with concern, "Didn't you say there were no internal or external injuries? How can a concussion last this long?"
Shen Zhenzhu honestly replied, "Well, they all say I have ADHD."
Qian Changda was taken aback by the straightforward honesty, and couldn't help but chuckle as he said, "Then it's better to be honest, because if you're good, everyone will be good too."
After finishing their meal, Feng Dahuan and Qian Changda exchanged pleasantries before getting into their respective cars and leaving. Before leaving, they each received a parking ticket for illegal parking.
Ring ring—
Ring ring.
The cell phone rang, and Chen Zhenzhu answered it.
Gu Yanzheng said on the other end of the phone, "The protection order has been approved. You and your family will be safe and protected. Live a normal life for now and continue to be monitored."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Brother Zheng, could you help me look into Qian Changda? I always feel something is off about him. He doesn't seem like Uncle Feng's vice president. He doesn't seem afraid of him at all."
As they got out of the car, Shen Zhenzhu happened to walk to the door for some fresh air. Qian Changda's "Old Feng" surprised her. Also, the sticky feeling of being watched that she had after Lu Ye left came from him.
“Sun Jian said they have more professional people watching you… Hmm, I will investigate. These next few days, you should stay in two places and not leave Lu Ye’s sight. Also, don’t let Sixth Sister and Yu Yuan be alone together.”
"I understand." Chen Zhenzhu asked tentatively, "Is there any 'plan' for tonight?"
Logically, Gu Yanzheng should have made a dinner reservation with her by now.
“Yes, following the logic of the Liu Guangxia case, if the group that stole the body doesn’t manage to dispose of it within the city, they might move it outside,” Gu Yanzheng said. “If they’re willing to steal bodies, it means there’s something to gain, and they won’t easily destroy the evidence. So tonight, I’ll continue to lead my men to set up checkpoints at various intersections and conduct surprise inspections of passing vehicles.”
It was inconvenient for Chen Zhenzhu to speak in the restaurant: "Okay, I understand. I wish Brother Zheng all the best."
Gu Yanzheng chuckled on the other end of the phone and said, "If I finish early, I'll come find you for breakfast."
“Okay.” Shen Zhenzhu was happy to have dinner with her brother Zheng and readily agreed.
"What are you checking for so late at night? I haven't been drinking, officers."
The Liancheng Suteng Expressway has been gradually abandoned due to the construction of the city's third ring road. Some trucks that are familiar with the road conditions and want to avoid the expressway toll, buses that are carrying overloaded passengers, and other vehicles traveling for various reasons suddenly find that the police have set up a toll gate to stop vehicles on the one-way section ahead.
"What's in the car?" a police officer asked.
"The chickens from the chicken farm to the north are delivered to restaurants in the city every day from here."
The police officers searched the truck once and then waved it away.
Gu Yanzheng stood a few steps away without saying a word, with an unnamed path behind him.
"When many people walk on it, it becomes a road." Wu Zhongguo, wearing a reflective vest, stood behind the guard shield and rubbed his eyes: "Sigh, I'm getting old and can't keep up anymore."
"If you can't take it anymore, go and rest for a while." Seeing that he was pushing himself to the limit, Gu Yanzheng sighed and said, "I know you guys are burning with anger."
Wu Zhongguo grumbled, "I'm not old enough to need special care. If I were, I would have been transferred to the police station and wouldn't be working under you anymore."
"I understand, sorry." Gu Yanzheng patted him on the back and nodded.
Wu Zhongguo sighed, "What kind of mess is this?"
The sound of an engine came from the path behind Gu Yanzheng. He told the people in front to turn off their flashlights and wait for the vehicle to come.
The refrigerated truck, bumping along the dirt road, didn't seem to notice anything amiss, as this place was rarely manned in the past.
For some reason, the driver's right eyelid kept twitching today. As he turned onto the main road, a flashlight suddenly shone on him from the front: "Stop the car."
"Oh no!" The driver slammed on the gas, attempting to break through the checkpoint.
The agents at the front quickly pulled the tire-puncturing chains, grabbed their pistols and window-breaking tools, and charged forward without fear.
Bang bang bang!
The tires burst one after another, and the refrigerated truck suddenly veered off the road. Due to its excessive speed, it overturned almost instantly.
The window breaker quickly broke the car window and dragged the driver, who was bleeding from the forehead, out from inside.
"No, don't shoot me!" The driver knelt on the ground with his hands raised. When the police officers came forward to search him, he suddenly sprang up and tried to grab the handgun next to him.
In the blink of an eye, Gu Yanzheng kicked out from behind him with his leg, his strong leg muscles bulging, causing the driver to hit his head on the ground and bleed profusely.
Five minutes later, the scene was under control.
"Nothing was found."
No unusual items were found.
"The back of the carriage was full of fresh beef, and I didn't see any contraband."
......
The driver squatted on the ground, his hands raised to cover his head. His square face was full of fierce features, and he said with a snarling look, "We are a legitimate operating company. I'm going to sue you for this kind of law enforcement!"
Gu Yanzheng squatted down in front of him and asked in a deep voice, "Why did you rush to the post?"
Driver Xiong Kang said, "Who knows if you guys suddenly appearing here are highway robbers?"
Gu Yanzheng laughed: "Highway robbers in police uniforms?"
Xiong Kang said, "I was blinded by the flashlight and couldn't see clearly whether it was human skin or animal skin."
After exchanging a few words with Xiong Kang, Gu Yanzheng was called away by Wu Zhongguo.
“This kind of reckless person must be carrying some kind of grudge.” Wu Zhongguo said to Gu Yanzheng from a distance, “I’ll go and meet him.”
Gu Yanzheng put on gloves and said, "I'll check the car again. There's no way I won't find something."
He entered the overturned refrigerated truck compartment, where stacks of bloody beef lay haphazardly. The compartment was extremely cold, suitable for transporting fresh meat, but also for transporting corpses.
Gu Yanzheng searched around and came out of the carriage but found no problem. Not far away, Xiong Kang shouted, "I'm going to sue you! You overturned my car, let's see how you compensate me! I abide by the law, and you treat ordinary people like this without any evidence. You just want to embezzle money!"
"I suspect you're driving under the influence. You reek of alcohol. Tsk tsk, dangerous driving." Wu Zhongguo joked with him, squatting down with a smile. "Don't shout. We don't let people we've caught go easily. We'll take you to the hospital for a blood test for drunk driving later. How do you think your luck is?"
"What luck?" Xiong Kang said through gritted teeth, "Are you trying to double-cross us? Just tell me how much money you want."
...
Gu Yanzheng told Wu Zhongguo to follow him around, trusting in Old Wu's methods and patience.
Upon entering the driver's cab, Gu Yanzheng first felt a temperature lower than that of the passenger compartment.
Something's not right.
He searched the console, and everything he touched fit perfectly.
"A crowbar," Gu Yanzheng said.
The operative behind him immediately handed it to him, peering inside with curious eyes.
Gu Yanzheng wedged the crowbar under the driver's seat, inserted it into the gap, and pulled hard. The driver's seat, which had been intact, looked like a box that had been flipped open.
Gu Yanzheng threw away the crowbar, tapped the groove under the seat, bent his elbow, and suddenly slammed it down hard.
The invisible wooden board was shattered into pieces, and a chill emanated from within.
Xiong Kang stubbornly continued arguing with Wu Zhongguo, while Gu Yanzheng, carrying a can of items, walked over and stood behind Wu Zhongguo, watching Xiong Kang expressionlessly.
Cold sweat immediately appeared on Xiong Kang's forehead.
Wu Zhongguo noticed his change, turned around, and jumped to the side in fright: "What the hell is that?"
Inside the sealed glass jar that Gu Yanzheng was holding was a woman's head. Her long black hair was floating in the formaldehyde, and her pale face and gray eyes were silently staring ahead.
“If I’m not mistaken, this is Liu Guangxia’s head.” Gu Yanzheng held the glass jar in one hand and pointed to the missing left earlobe, saying, “Although her appearance has changed from when she was alive, there are still some distinctive features here.”
"Good heavens, are you even human? Not only did you steal a corpse, but you also cut off the head and transported it away? Where are you taking it? Who is the recipient?" Wu Zhongguo roared, pointing at Xiong Kang, "Theft and intentional damage to a corpse are also crimes!"
As a released prisoner, Xiong Kang was well aware of the principle of "leniency for those who confess and severity for those who resist".
He vehemently denied everything before evidence was available, but immediately changed his tune once evidence was found. His fierce face became easy to talk to: "Government, someone paid me a high price to transport it. I'm just an accomplice at most. Please don't get it wrong."
"Ha, still a seasoned veteran." Wu Zhongguo felt uneasy about "Liu Guangxia." He turned to the officer behind him and said, "Take her to the criminal investigation team."
Gu Yanzheng made a major breakthrough, sweeping away his previous gloom. After returning to the fourth team, he personally interrogated Xiong Kang.
"I don't know much about the government. I'm just a deliveryman." Xiong Kang was polite. He first got a cigarette, which he smoked hard, and then he got a cup of hot water.
"Confess everything you know." Gu Yanzheng sat down imposingly, and due to the special nature of the case, the video recorder beside him was also turned on.
Xiong Kang knew he couldn't escape this time. He looked up and saw the sign behind Gu Yanzheng that read "Confess and you will be treated leniently; resist and you will be punished severely." He hardened his heart and said, "Those beasts are no good."
Wu Zhongguo put down his pen, glanced at Xiong Kang who was no better, and suppressed a grumble.
Gu Yanzheng said, "Then you confess."
Xiong Kang kicked off his shoes and said to Wu Zhongguo, "Take them off."
Wu Zhongguo was about to explode in anger when Gu Yanzheng held him down, got up, walked to Xiong Kang, and looked down at him.
Xiong Kang was intimidated by his intimidating aura. He rubbed his heels together and quickly took off his left shoe: "Government, the delivery address and suggested menu are tucked inside the sole. You can see them by flipping up the insole."
Address and menu?
Just as Gu Yanzheng was about to reach for it, Wu Zhongguo walked over wearing gloves and said, "Be careful of bacteria, athlete's foot is harmful."
“I don’t have athlete’s foot,” Xiong Kang said.
Wu Zhongguo flipped open the insole and found a piece of paper underneath.
Upon opening, you'll see the recipient's address written on it. The menu below states: 'If the item begins to decompose, we recommend crafting it into your desired human bone ornaments using the following methods: such as a skull fishbowl, skull ashtray, skull jewelry box, etc. All required materials are commercially available. If you require assistance, please contact us. The crafting method is as follows…'
Xiong Kang lowered his head, bit his paper cup, and took a difficult sip of water. After moistening his throat, he noticed that the police officers hadn't spoken for a long time, so he considerately gave them some time to breathe.
“They not only deal in corpses, but they also sell them. They are extremely cautious, and I still don’t know how they operate,” Xiong Kang said. “I also discovered the problem with the ‘company’s’ delivery by accident. It’s obvious that they need me to deliver beef from the production area. Hey, I found it strange. They pay more for each delivery, and the license plate number is different each time.”
Xiong Kang said self-consciously, "Later, one time after I delivered a package, I realized the person picking it up was wrong. I secretly observed and discovered that the person had moved my driver's seat. After the company found out I knew, they specifically arranged for my superiors to talk to me, saying that this was specifically for 'necrophiliacs,' and that there are people abroad who believe in Satan and are particularly fond of corpses and human bone products; some even peel off human skin to make paintings. They also said that we have quite a few perverts here, with fetishes for hands, feet, arms, and thighs—"
"Alright, alright, stop talking about this." Wu Zhongguo couldn't take it anymore, and rubbed his temples hard a few times to prevent his blood vessels from bursting: "Who are you talking about as your superior?"
When he mentioned "superiors," it was the same thing the person who secretly photographed the sunken pearl said.
Gu Yanzheng had a bad feeling.
“At first, there was a young man with a non-local accent, I couldn’t tell exactly where he was from, and he was dressed very fashionably,” Xiong Kang said. “But he was the only one who could contact me directly, I couldn’t contact him. But this time it was a different person, I didn’t see his face clearly.”
"You can't contact your supervisor when you're delivering goods?"
Xiong Kang said, "Sure."
Gu Yanzheng raised his eyelids and glanced at him.
Knowing his words were contradictory, Xiong Kang quickly said, "There's a cell phone in the car. You can call him unless there's a serious problem. Otherwise, you'll be fined."
He would usually call me to ask how I was doing, where I was, and to warn me not to say anything inappropriate.
Upon hearing this, Gu Yanzheng called over an officer to bring over a mobile phone: "Is this it?"
"Yes, yes, and there's a number on the back too. Mine is 005." Xiong Kang exclaimed, "Street business is still the most profitable. You can just hand out cell phones like that."
Where is the phone number?
Xiong Kang pointed to his head and said, "Make memorize it, and I'll write it down for you."
"Write it down." Gu Yanzheng asked, "Who is your company's boss?"
Xiong Kang said, "The company's full name is Juzhongcai Cold Chain Transportation Company. I don't know anything else about it, and I've never met anyone there."
Gu Yanzheng whispered a few words to Wu Zhongguo, who was taken aback. He nodded and left, returning a few minutes later to place a photo in front of Xiong Kang: "Do you know her?"
Xiong Kang said in a slippery tone, "Want me to be introduced to someone?"
He glanced down and blurted out, "'Michael of the East'? You know her?! That's incredible! I heard they're going to sell her next week, and the price is going up every day. I bet they've already found a buyer."
......
In the fourth team's office, Gu Yanzheng stood facing the window, saying nothing.
Wu Zhongguo was still on the phone with Shen Zhenzhu, who said, "My analysis of this group of buyers reveals that some are subculture groups like Goth, punk, and metalheads. They are involved in core elements of death, darkness, and mysticism, and promote an anti-mainstream and anti-traditional lifestyle. Others are trying to share and show off rare and exotic handicrafts within their small circles to gain community recognition and status."
I will analyze these in detail later. In short, it belongs to a kind of necrophilia. They belong to a group of people who believe in death and have extreme artistic aesthetics. They like dark aesthetics, and their threshold for consuming horror cultural products has been raised over a long period of time. They need more rebellious pleasure to challenge social norms and break the consensus of politeness, or to satisfy some of their own psychological defects.
Wu Zhongguo, who had never been exposed to dark aesthetics before, asked Shen Zhenzhu, "Did these all come from overseas?"
"Very likely. The rise of the internet and the lack of regulation have allowed some people to access illegal websites."
Shen Zhenzhu added, "By the way, some of them suffer from severe psychological disorders and cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality, projecting their interests onto their real bodies. Many notorious serial killers abroad have this tendency. For example, Jeffrey was known as the 'Monster of Milwaukee.' After killing someone, he would keep the corpse and 'love' it, and he would also dismember the corpse, leaving the head, bones, genitals, etc. as love keepsakes."
And then there's Edgeon, who makes lampshades, chair covers, vests, masks, and other items from human skin; he even uses skulls to make soup bowls and thigh bones to make knife handles—"
"Alright, alright, I'll take care of catching them. We'll analyze the rest together once you get here." Wu Zhongguo felt a chill run down his spine; despite his age, Shen Zhenzhu's words sent a shiver down his spine.
Shen Zhenzhu's judgment was consistent with Xiong Kang's. The thought that Shen Zhenzhu had become the target of such people filled him with righteous indignation, and he wished he could grind them to dust.
"Captain Gu." Zhao Qiqi rushed in from outside, holding the information about Juzhongcai Transportation Company, and said, "According to the business registration documents, the company is just a shell. However, an experienced accountant noticed some issues with the annual accounts and is helping to investigate. Captain Gu?"
Wu Zhongguo was almost frightened by Gu Yanzheng's expression and tried to comfort him: "Xiong Kang is just a nobody. Don't be fooled by what he says to us. Who knows if it's true or false?"
Wu Zhongguo had long since noticed Gu Yanzheng's feelings for Shen Zhenzhu, but since she didn't say anything, he just watched with amusement. Now, those people had really messed with the King of Hell; one can imagine how furious Gu Yanzheng was.
Not to mention Gu Yanzheng, Wu Zhongguo, thinking about his wife being turned into "Oriental Michael," also wanted to shoot them all and beat them into honeycomb briquettes to vent his anger.
"Come on, I still have some questions. Let's talk about it. Let Captain Gu think about the next steps over there." Wu Zhongguo had stayed up all night, and the tea in his cup was so strong it could be eaten as a meal.
Zhao Qiqi said, "Okay, let's look for more suspicious points. Sister Pearl always says that clues are always hidden in the nooks and crannies."
...
Dark clouds, like a wall, gradually approached, foreshadowing the coming storm.
After an unknown amount of time, Gu Yanzheng stood motionless in the same spot, so long that he seemed to become a statue.
His heart was filled with rage. How could anyone dare to touch the person right under his nose, someone with such power and status?
The criminal gangs are lawless and their crimes are blatant. Are there still any eyes watching her from places where they can't see her?
This thought was like a dark cloud hanging over Liancheng, threatening to devour him completely.
Gu Yanzheng suddenly made up his mind and strode towards the door.
"Captain Gu, where are you going?" Qin An stood at the door holding the report he had worked on overnight and said, "Based on the way Liu Guangxia's head was made, I suspect it's the same group that made the 'eye wall' a while ago. I've already sent the report to their forensic experts. If the amount of formalin and other solution materials are consistent, then it can be confirmed."
"Go to Director Liu's office, wait for me."
Gu Yanzheng already knew the answer to the "choose one of two" dilemma.
He ground his back teeth; the criminal gangs must be eradicated as soon as possible.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Old Gu: Eliminate the stumbling blocks on the road of love at the root.
***
See you tomorrow, there's a red envelope coming! [Let me see]
An extra 3,000 words! Thank you for the nutrient solution! [kiss]
***
The psychological analysis and case studies are sourced from books such as "Criminal Psychology," "Criminal Psychological Profiling," "Abnormal Psychology," and the internet.
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