Gao Datong walked slowly into the office, a mysterious smile on his face.
He was followed by four unfamiliar police officers, who were calm and had sharp eyes; they were clearly not from the criminal investigation department.
Zhang Jingtao's facial muscles tensed instantly, and the forced smile looked worse than a grimace.
Gao Datong didn't look at him; his gaze fell directly on the black office phone.
He extended a finger and gently tapped the telephone casing, making a soft "tap, tap" sound.
The sound wasn't loud, but it struck Zhang Jingtao's heart like a heavy hammer.
"Section Chief Zhang."
Gao Datong finally spoke, his voice gentle as if he were having a casual conversation: "Who were you talking to just now?"
Zhang Jingtao's eyelids twitched, but he pretended to be calm and said, "Director Gao, this is my personal privacy. I have no obligation to report it to you, do I?"
"Of course." Gao Datong pulled up a chair, sat down with an imposing air, crossed his legs, and exuded a powerful presence.
He said slowly and deliberately, "The telephone belongs to the government. It's inappropriate to make personal calls during work hours."
"Section Chief Zhang, do you think what I said is correct?"
"Director Gao, Jiaxing is in such a mess right now. You have more important things to deal with. Why are you fixated on my phone call?"
Fine beads of cold sweat had already seeped from Zhang Jingtao's forehead.
Gao Datong wasn't just questioning; he was judging!
"Section Chief Zhang, do you know?"
Gao Datong suddenly smiled, revealing a set of white teeth: "Our bureau's phones have a callback function."
Before he finished speaking, he had already raised his hand and pressed the red button.
Zhang Jingtao's heart was in his throat!
Beep...beep...beep...
On the other end of the phone, there was a long and monotonous busy tone.
Zhang Jingtao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but his back was already soaked with cold sweat.
"Looks like the other party is very busy." Gao Datong was not surprised. He raised his hand again and pressed it once more.
Beep...beep...beep...
Still a busy signal.
Gao Datong remained calm and composed, striking again and again.
Each press felt like a silent, agonizing torture.
Every time the busy signal sounded, it repeatedly tugged at Zhang Jingtao's nerves, bringing them to the brink of collapse.
"Director Gao, what exactly are you trying to do!" Zhang Jingtao finally couldn't hold back and roared.
He firmly believed that as long as he dragged it out until dawn, and once the people from the province arrived, this young upstart who had been parachuted in by his father would be exposed for what he truly was!
Mayor Gao and Secretary Zhou, neither of them will escape!
...
Meanwhile, in the Zhao family study.
The veins on Secretary Zhao's hand, which was gripping the microphone, were bulging.
On the other end of the phone, his old colleague "Old Yu" from the provincial government was still comforting him: "Old Zhao, you're just too suspicious! The province did receive two letters of complaint, but the Discipline Inspection Commission has already investigated and found them to be completely unfounded!"
"The whistleblower letter, was it already investigated?"
Secretary Zhao felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his blood seemed to freeze instantly.
Everything was based on the premise that "the province was going to take action against him."
Therefore, he tacitly approved of all of Shijie's crazy plans, tacitly approved of his disruption of Jiaxing, and tacitly approved of his murders and arson...
But now, that premise is false!
It's a colossal lie!
"Old Zhao? Old Zhao? Are you alright?"
"No...it's nothing." Secretary Zhao's voice was dry, like sandpaper rubbing together. "I...I just wanted to ask."
After hanging up the phone, he felt as if all his strength had been drained away, and he slumped into a chair, panting heavily.
Every single thing Shijie did was enough to bring him to his doom!
Who is it?
Who gave me false information?
A name, like lightning, cleaved through the chaos of my mind.
Zhang Jingtao!
"Zhang! Jing! Tao!"
With bloodshot eyes, Secretary Zhao squeezed out the name through gritted teeth, then grabbed the purple clay teacup on the table and smashed it hard on the ground!
You've ruined my life!!!
After the crisp cracking sound, there was a deathly silence.
After a long silence, Secretary Zhao, his hands trembling, picked up the phone again.
This time, he didn't hesitate at all and dialed another number.
The moment the call connected, all his previous emotions of excitement, anger, and fear transformed into an icy coldness.
"Zhenguo?"
"It's me."
"Sacrifice the pawn to save the king, understand?"
...
Office of the head of the Criminal Investigation Section, Public Security Bureau.
Gao Datong lost patience with Zhang Jingtao, who was stubbornly holding on.
He stood up and slammed his hand on the table with a deafening thud.
"Zhang Jingtao! Stop pretending! Yan Bin, Huang Zhengjie, and Li Bingyang's gang—their deaths are all related to you!"
"Where's the evidence?" Zhang Jingtao retorted stubbornly. "Gao Datong, investigations are based on evidence, not on your baseless suspicions!"
"I am now the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau. If I say I suspect you, then I have the authority to investigate you!"
Gao Datong refused to budge, and a crowd of police officers had already gathered at the office door to watch the commotion.
Just then.
The office door was pushed open.
A figure walked in calmly.
Another deputy director of the Public Security Bureau, Chen Zhenguo.
The moment Zhang Jingtao saw Chen Zhenguo, his tense nerves suddenly relaxed, like a drowning person grasping at a straw.
Reinforcements have arrived!
Chen Zhenguo was a staunch loyalist who was promoted by Secretary Zhao!
Gao Datong frowned slightly, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.
However, what happened next left everyone present, including Gao Datong, dumbfounded.
Chen Zhenguo's eyes were sharp as knives as he walked straight toward Zhang Jingtao.
He didn't say a word.
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