385: Chapter 183: More and More People Joining in on the Fun 385: Chapter 183: More and More People Joining in on the Fun Veronica guessed correctly; the foreigners are particularly fond of the numbers seven or thirteen when conducting sacrificial rituals.
Of course, one cannot generalize, as different factions have different tastes; those related to religion prefer “three,” while the knights of the Yellowstone Throne favor “eight”…
Those who like to draw hexagrams belong to the most unscrupulous group among them, it’s just that they usually package themselves as harmless to both humans and animals.
In the center of the hexagram, that is, at the intersection of the diagonals, there is also the most important hideout, for which confessions as evidence have been obtained.
Qin Xiangdong immediately ordered the major teams scattered around the perimeter to converge toward the central point; by half past twelve, they were to assemble, block off the surrounding streets, evacuate the residents, and conduct a thorough search house by house.
According to the intelligence in the criminal suspect’s confession, this last hideout is the most important node of the sacrificial ritual, where almost all the masters within the Holy Grail Church are stationed, including at least one Holy Grail Bishop and an armed branch of the Merciful Salvation Army, complete with a sufficient stockpile of firearms and ammunition.
This was a very tough nut to crack.
“If that’s what you’re saying, I simply must lend a hand.”
After listening to Wang Yunxiao recount the whole case from beginning to end, Han Bin agreed to help without a second thought, even bringing along his entire team.
Wang Yunxiao’s earlier expression of doubt made him feel insulted, so he repeatedly insisted on taking on the toughest tasks himself.
“Actually, you shouldn’t have gone to the Special Service Bureau; you know they’re always short-staffed.
Next time something like this happens, just call me directly!
And about Old Yan, if you still think you’re short on people, I’ll call them over too.”
Han Bin patted his chest with resounding confidence.
Wang Yunxiao could tell that this big brother was bored out of his mind.
Not all the temporary teams formed back then were as busy as Wang Yunxiao’s.
Most of them weren’t officially part of the organization, merely motivated by interest.
Take Han Bin’s Squad 108, for example: he had gathered some like-minded senior brothers from the Martial Arts Association to form a patrol team dedicated to fighting the demons and evil spirits that roamed their area.
They weren’t policemen, so they didn’t have as many sources of information, and they were completely unaware of the special crackdown launched by the government over the past month, catching only some vague rumors on the Jianghu World.
Thus, the saying goes: the dry die of drought, and the drowned die of floods.
Wang Yunxiao was busy every day to the point of exhaustion, with bloodshot eyes and no appetite for lunch at noon.
Meanwhile, they had energy to burn, a bunch of robust men in the heat of summer, sitting in front of a watermelon stall and munching on watermelon…
It seemed the police station in West City District wasn’t thinking of recruiting them, or perhaps the temple was too small to support such a big Buddha.
Not every director was Qin Xiangdong; not everyone dared to risk punching a hole in the sky.
Seeing that only one hideout was left, and it might still have an arms reserve, with high risks involved, Wang Yunxiao didn’t outright refuse, “Should I call and ask?
They might really not be available.”
Unlike idlers like Han Bin, Yan Yu’an’s Squad 103 was directly under Tianmen Customs, which was not an easy post.
The last time they met, he thought Wang Yunxiao looked like he was on the brink of working himself to death.
Han Bin turned around to make a phone call and, after a while, came back to call Wang Yunxiao: “Old Yan is looking for you, he wants to speak with you.”
In those days without mobile phones, he used the public telephone at the grain and oil shop across the street.
Wang Yunxiao went over and picked up the receiver, and Yan Yu’an’s weary voice came through from the other side, “Captain Wang, I hear you’re investigating a case involving the Holy Grail Church?”
“Yes, we’re approaching the finale, just getting ready to pull out the last nail.”
Wang Yunxiao briefly updated him on the situation, “Captain Yan, if you’re busy on your side, don’t worry about it.
Old Han just agreed to help, and we also have the church assisting…”
“No, no, no!
Wait for me!
Give me the address, I’m on my way!”
Yan Yu’an was immediately energized, “Leave some alive!
Especially the core members, make sure to leave me some alive!
You have no idea how many times those bastards have vexed us, and I’ve always wanted to find them but couldn’t.”
“Leave some alive?
You make it sound easy, these people are cultists, not of sound mind.”
“Wait for me!
I’m bringing the gear over!”
Yan Yu’an arrived very quickly, and by the time Wang Yunxiao reached the place, their car had also arrived.
The team members that got out of the car were all dressed in the uniforms of the Brocade-Clothed Guard, only theirs looked even more shiny and spectacular compared to the ones Wang Yunxiao and his team were wearing.
It was obvious that they were new uniforms, not the surplus left in the warehouse, adorned with many small accessories of unclear significance, giving them a look full of democratic flair.
The final nest was located at Tianmen Ferry, which was also the riverside center of Old Tianmen.
This place had its own story.
It’s said that the founding Emperor of the former dynasty crossed the river here to campaign against the Southern Barbarians, and then pacified the world, thus the place was named Tianmen.
A few years after the new government was established, a Fengshui Master — I don’t know if he was a disciple of the Cuojin Sect — suggested to the government that Tianmen was a land where the President’s dragon prospered, holding the destiny of an Emperor, and that it would inevitably flourish for a hundred years.
On the other hand, due to Tianmen City’s special geographical environment, with nine rivers converging and facing the sea, this destiny arrives quickly but also dissipates quickly.
It was necessary to construct a landmark in the city center, right at Tianmen Ferry, to suppress the fate of Tianmen.
What the landmark was didn’t really matter, whether it was a monument, a Buddhist or Taoist temple, or if nothing else worked, financing the construction of a Ferris wheel; anyway, there needed to be something standing there.
The government was actually interested in the idea, but unfortunately, funds were tight and there were other more pressing matters, so the project was put on hold and nothing had come of it up to now.
As everyone knows, good locations are like good men: quick to get snatched up.
If you don’t make a move, someone else will.
While the government had yet to make a move, the Holy Grail Church had set their sights on this place.
When Wang Yunxiao arrived at the scene, Veronica had already led her tactical squad to pinpoint the exact location of the last nest.
It was a Western Baroque-style apartment building constructed by the riverside, covering a thousand square meters, with a garden and lawn that had been meticulously landscaped, not at all looking like a place that harbored filth and disgraced.
On the side facing the riverbank, there was even a private dock with two small boats moored.
“Consulate?”
After getting the registry information, Wang Yunxiao glanced at the details and immediately frowned.
This place was originally the Consulate of Great Britain in China.
After the British left, the Henanese…
sorry, I made a mistake, the Nederlanders bought it to continue using it as a consulate.
In name a consulate, but in reality, there was hardly any diplomatic business, just an empty shell.