After Liu DongLi called Ai Qing to report the Love Charity incident, a dizzying series of operations unfolded.
Within ten minutes, a black-licensed sedan sped up to them. Two people politely invited them into the car, taking them to the strange agency where he had been interrogated previously.
By the time he entered, Love Charity had already been thoroughly exposed.
In the meeting room, the middle-aged man who had presided over Huai Shi's previous inquiry looked upset and remained silent.
Only Ai Qing was flipping through the stack of documents, still warm from the printer. Soon, she looked up. "Quite the bombshells… A shell company that clearly exists for money laundering actually received donations from so many people, including quite a few prominent figures in the city. No wonder the Special Affairs Department hasn't found anything after searching for so long… There won't be any leaks this time, right?"
The middle-aged man cleared his throat and said dryly, "The Special Affairs Department is the Special Affairs Department. Other departments are other departments."
"It would have been much better if it was always like this. Why bother being at the beck and call of those old leaders?"
Ai Qing glanced at him. "How many people are involved?"
"Quite a few…"
The middle-aged man sighed. "According to the investigation, this foundation regularly invites 'masters' to lecture donors on positive energy and share experiences in spiritual sublimation and health preservation. Most of the content is unreliable meditation and self-hypnosis, mixed with some jumbled Chinese studies…"
"No wonder," Ai Qing chuckled sarcastically. "Those are exactly the things the old leaders like. If this company is really connected to this case, quite a few people are going to be in trouble, aren't they?"
"The Special Affairs Department is the Special Affairs Department—"
The middle-aged man helplessly reiterated his previous statement. "There's no need for probing. We can distinguish right from wrong in major issues. Please rest assured, Inspector."
Behind them, Huai Shi surreptitiously nudged Liu DongLi with his elbow. "Hey, is an Inspector really that powerful?"
Liu DongLi rolled his eyes and whispered, "The Astronomical Society, as a subsidiary of the United Nations, has members all over the world. Its main purpose is to curb Border toxins and crimes by Sublimators… You could say that as long as it's related to Sublimators or Border Relics, she has the power to intervene. Once she's confirmed in her role, just by signing a Black Envelope, she could wipe out your entire family registry. What do you think?"
"That powerful?" Huai Shi was astonished. "Is Dongxia okay with this?"
"The primary members of the Astronomical Society's main governing body—the Jurisdiction Bureau—are the Five Constants, okay?" Liu DongLi whispered, "It's called self-regulation."
While the two were whispering, Ai Qing and the middle-aged man at the head of the meeting table seemed to have finalized some terms. After Ai Qing promised not to widen the crackdown, his complexion noticeably improved.
A voice came from the intercom on the table:
"Operatives are in position."
The middle-aged man glanced at Ai Qing. "Patch the signal through. Begin the operation."
The giant screen on the wall lit up instantly, displaying a barely discernible perspective from a head-mounted camera. Huai Shi could only see a throng of people armed from head to toe, carrying a variety of long guns and small arms. Upon receiving the command, the vehicle doors opened, and the group rushed out.
This anti-terrorist unit, seemingly appearing from nowhere, appeared to have their "Offensive" plan already prepared, their actions swift and decisive. They gained control of the entire parking lot in less than two minutes. One team stormed the monitoring room, while another sealed off the entire office building, inside and out—lowering gates, locking doors, setting up barricades, and even completely severing signals and fiber optics.
Only through the shaking of the helmet-mounted camera could Huai Shi glimpse the outside scenery.
Mother of God, does it really need to be this dramatic?
This was none other than Xinhai City center's most bustling area. The streets dozens of floors below were teeming with people, at its liveliest just before the end of summer vacation. No one would have imagined that a raid was being conducted with such intense secrecy right above them.
Just outside the corridor door, a battering ram had been silently assembled.
An order was given, followed by a loud bang.
Amidst the roar, before the people inside could react, several Shock Bombs were thrown in. After a burst of flashes and loud noises, armed soldiers entered in single file, swiftly bringing the entire outer layer of Love Charity under control.
The remaining team members breached inward. First, a scream was heard, followed by two loud gunshots, then more screams, until finally, only a shrill voice remained:
"Don't shoot! I surrender! I surrender!"
Soon, a disheveled middle-aged man appeared in the camera's view, being dragged out. He had a bullet wound in his leg, his face covered in tears and snot, and he was shouting, "I want to confess! I want to confess! I'll tell everything! It was the Master who made me do it! I don't know anything, really, I know nothing!"
After a period of chaos, the team leader reported to the camera, "He's in the middle of transferring funds. All liquid assets are being moved abroad. We found plane tickets to France in the office..."
He was preparing to flee.
In the stunned conference room, the middle-aged man's face turned grim.
If there had been any possibility of a misunderstanding before, now it seemed highly suspicious.
"—Question him!"
The middle-aged man almost snapped the pen in his hand as he gave the hateful command, "Get all the details!"
Ten minutes later, the pen in his hand truly did snap.
King Ocean, nicknamed Scabby King Ocean—that was the Master's name.
According to his police file, this man had started exploiting superstitions for money over twenty years ago, swindling pension funds from elderly men and women. He had been caught twice before disappearing. When he reappeared, he had become Pastor Wang of the Savior Father Association. His operation expanded and quickly grew out of control.
The one caught in the office was Tu Tai, one of his numerous disciples, responsible for the front operations and money laundering. He would clean the money defrauded by the Master and convert it into bearer bonds and other valuable assets.
Tu Tai, a graduate from a prestigious school, had joined the group purely for the money. He never truly admired the Master and had secretly embezzled a considerable sum. King Ocean also kept many secrets from his disciples, trusting only his eldest disciple, who was always by his side. The two parties had a mutually beneficial arrangement and coexisted peacefully. But when disaster struck, Tu Tai decisively betrayed his Master, spilling everything when questioned, even voluntarily confessing many details. This included the Master's secret illegal drug trade and a 'Miracle' Tu Tai had accidentally discovered.
"Miracle?" the interrogator asked.
"Yes, a Miracle."
Tu Tai took a sip of water, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. "King Ocean always kept a box hidden. No one knew what was inside. Whenever he led prayers, he would hide the box under the pulpit… When opened, it would emit a very pleasant scent. Just smelling it made you feel energized, unafraid of any difficulties. Those who came to my classes had no idea. They all thought he was some great Master. Pah! He was just an old swindler. I suspect the illegal drugs he distributed are also related to that thing…"
The box.
Ai Qing couldn't help but glance at Huai Shi.
They had finally made the connection.
Huai Shi also felt a weight lift from his heart. The person behind the scenes has finally been caught. I don't have to live in constant fear anymore.