Such a ruthless criminal group likely had some members who escaped back then.
Their disappearance in recent years may not necessarily mean they are truly behaving themselves; it is more likely that they have been doing a lot of shady things in the shadows.
If it weren't for this reopening of the old case and the discovery of clues through the welding marks, they would probably have continued to evade justice, and it's unknown when they would have been exposed.
"Investigate immediately: whether any of the three victims participated in the operation to eliminate Black Shark four years ago!"
The command had barely been given when the team members' replies came in almost simultaneously:
"We've found out! Both the engine room captain, Lan Hai, and the ship's captain, Li Mingdong, were in the raiding force back then!"
“Wang Xu had not yet joined the team at that time and was not on the action list.”
"So it really is revenge?" Xia Zhining gripped the communicator tightly.
When Feng Sixiao, who was accompanying her, heard the names of her fiancé, "Lan Hai" and "Black Shark," her brows furrowed tightly.
"After the Black Sharks were scattered, the sea has been very quiet for years, and we haven't heard any more of them."
Feng Sixiao's voice was low, tinged with the wariness of someone who had dealt with maritime crime for years, "If it really was revenge, why did they wait a year and a half to act? That's not like them..."
"It's more like they're covering something up."
She raised her head, her sharp gaze sweeping across the sea: "Back then, they were likely conducting a transaction in this area that could never be made public, probably an old business."
"Seahorse 173 posed a threat to them."
On the other end of the phone, the AR office was dimly lit, and holographic images silently swirled around Ji Shuyun.
Ji Shuyun stood in front of the control panel, his figure clearly outlined by the blue data stream.
“I suspect there are two possibilities,” Ji Shuyun’s voice came through the receiver.
"First, the remnants of Black Shark are still active, but they have changed their appearance and disappeared. They are now acting more covertly and cautiously."
He paused briefly, his fingertips tracing a path through the air, pulling up a set of maritime crime data models from recent years:
"Secondly... these people have 'retired' and make some dirty money by helping ship owners illegally modify their vessels. After all, welding is their specialty."
On the dock, Xia Zhining narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze sweeping over the brand-new hull of the small, converted boat.
“But looking at that case from three years ago,” she said softly, her voice unusually calm in the sea breeze, “the first possibility is more likely. People who have tasted huge profits find it hard to stop easily.”
In the AR office, Ji Shuyun's gaze sharpened.
"Then let's start by investigating what's right in front of us."
He raised his hand and instantly zoomed in on the image of the small, modified boat on the screen.
"Investigate the identity of the owner of the ship that was seized last month. He is very likely still connected with the remnants of Black Shark."
The dock and the office are hundreds of kilometers apart.
The brother and sister seemed to be standing in front of the same clue map, their eyes fixed on the same name.
Feng Sixiao quickly shared the newly found information with Xia Zhining and Ji Shuyun:
"The owner of the modified boat that was seized last month has been identified. His name is Xiong Zeng, 36 years old. He usually runs a small business of shipping goods. His background seems very ordinary."
A passport photo was then sent over.
Xiong Zeng had dark skin, an honest face, and a temperament no different from that of ship owners who frequently sailed at sea.
Ji Shuyun made a decisive decision: "Immediately arrange for people to secretly monitor Xiong Zeng, focusing on his social relationships and any suspicious individuals he has recently come into contact with."
"Secret surveillance?" Xia Zhining's eyes lit up, and her tone became cheerful. "Our little animal scouts are experts at this!"
Ji Shuyun's voice was tinged with expectant laughter: "Okay, Ningning, I'll report to my superiors immediately, request to meet up with you, and start the monitoring program."
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