Dongjiang, Xintai Entertainment City.
The third-floor casino was still bustling with activity, with crowds gathered around every gambling table. Biao Biao, along with Li Chunlin, found Zhou Tao and Yu Dongqiang playing Baccarat in a VIP room. There were nine gamblers in this room, all bosses from Xinhe.
"Director Zhou, may I have a word?"
Biao Biao stood beside Zhou Tao and whispered an invitation.
Zhou Tao was the guarantor for the Xinhe bosses playing with borrowed chips at this casino. He and Biao Biao were the main points of contact, and they shared a twenty percent profit from the betting company. Therefore, Biao Biao seeking him out was undoubtedly for business matters. Zhou Tao immediately got up and followed him to the lounge.
"Biao Biao, what is it?"
"Director Zhou, we're pulling out. The betting company isn't extending credit anymore starting today and is beginning to collect debts. If debts can't be repaid in a short time, they'll be converted to monthly interest. Please put in a word for us."
After Yang Jian surrendered, Biao Biao had stayed at the casino for three months, having his security guard brothers resign one after another. Now, only he and Li Chunlin remained.
Zhou Tao was a little surprised. "Pulling out? Why pull out when business is so good?"
"Director Zhou, you know, Jian Ge isn't here, and we don't feel safe. Also, the trading company needs people, and we need to go help them."
"Are you suddenly leaving because you've heard some rumors?"
Zhou Tao, being an old hand, sensed that Biao Biao's actions today were unusual.
Biao Biao closed the room door and leaned closer to whisper, "Director Zhou, we're leaving tonight. You and Director Yu should also go back."
"What happened?"
"Nothing happened, we're just leaving."
Biao Biao worried about listening devices in the room, so he couldn't speak too directly. He believed Zhou Tao would understand.
Zhou Tao pondered for a moment, then nodded. Without a word, he opened the door and left.
Biao Biao followed him out, waved to Li Chunlin, and the two of them circled the venue before heading to the security department.
A Bao met them in Yang Jian's former office.
"Brother Bao, we're planning to go home tonight and specifically came to say goodbye."
Biao Biao only handled betting at the casino and wasn't a formal employee of Xintai, so he didn't need to go through resignation procedures. It was only natural to say goodbye, especially since A Bao had looked out for him after Yang Jian left.
A Bao seemed unsurprised. "Leaving tonight? Have you collected all your debts?"
"No, we'll collect them back home. Only the debts from Xinhe bosses remain uncollected. Since we're all from the same place, we can collect them when we get back."
"Alright, I'll treat you to a farewell dinner tonight."
"Thank you, Brother Bao, but there's no need. We still have some matters to attend to at the trading company. We'll eat there and then leave directly."
"Okay, let's keep in touch. Come visit when you have time."
"Take care, Brother Bao."
After Biao Biao finished speaking, he and Li Chunlin left to pack their bags and prepare to drive home.
Seeing them leave the company from the surveillance video, A Bao immediately dialed Bai Zheng's dedicated phone number.
"Master, Biao Biao is pulling out today. As of today, all of Yang Jian's people are gone, including his legal counsel, Ma Lan, who resigned two months ago."
"It seems something is indeed happening. Have there been any unusual situations at the company recently, or have any suspicious individuals appeared?"
"No abnormalities. No suspicious individuals have been found. The customers are all from different parts of the country, so it's impossible to screen them. The bosses entering the casino are all introduced by acquaintances, so plainclothes officers shouldn't be able to infiltrate."
"If there were plainclothes officers mixed into the casino, you wouldn't be able to detect them. A Bao, I won't be returning to the country for a while. You should also be prepared to evacuate at any time. Maintain secrecy; don't cause panic among employees if nothing has happened yet."
Since Yang Jian surrendered, Bai Zheng had spent most of his time abroad. He had a strong premonition that Yang Jian's departure was definitely related to the casino, not just because he was reported. Now that all his people had withdrawn, a major event might be about to happen, and the police might already be taking action.
A Bao thought for a moment and said, "Master, should we notify some of the company's senior executives and have them prepare for escape as well?"
"Don't notify them. This matter is not confirmed. What if nothing happens? Even if something does happen, someone needs to step up. We can only protect ourselves."
"Alright, I understand."
"Every man for himself, and the devil take the hindmost." A Bao knew his master intended for his subordinates to be scapegoats. Fortunately, he hadn't been abandoned by him.
Just as A Bao was preparing his escape plan, a secret meeting was being held in a conference room on the twenty-fifth floor of the Emperor Grand Hotel, across the street from Xintai Entertainment City.
Lu Jinsong, the Deputy Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Police Headquarters, personally presided over the meeting. More than a dozen people attended, all elites drawn from provincial police departments, including the Chief of Staff of the Armed Police Detachment.
"Director Liu, please brief us on your investigation into Xintai over the past three months."
At the beginning, Lu Jinsong asked Liu Changming, the deputy head of the task force, to speak. Liu Changming was the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Haidong Provincial Police Department, the only task force member native to Haidong Province. He had been vetted and found to have no connection to Xintai Company.
"Yes, the task force sent plainclothes officers into Xintai Company three months ago. It has been confirmed that Xintai Company is not only engaged in prostitution and drug trafficking but also illegally operates the largest casino in the country, located on the third floor of Xintai Entertainment City, with a total area of over five thousand square meters. This casino primarily features Baccarat, with gamblers from all over the country and dedicated VIP rooms. The daily turnover is hundreds of millions. The casino is equipped with high-tech security equipment such as surveillance and infrared detection, and has a large number of security personnel. No one entering the casino is allowed to carry weapons. The owner of this casino is Bai Zheng, a triad leader who has been entrenched in Dongjiang for many years. This Bai Zheng is very cunning; during our investigation, he rarely appeared at the entertainment city, spending most of his time abroad. The entertainment city's management is under our surveillance. However, according to the reported clues, the casino's security manager Yang Wu and casino supervisor A Feng have not been found. At least, during our investigation, these two individuals were not present in the casino. The security manager and supervisor is Bai Zheng's disciple, A Bao. I request instructions from the overall commander on whether to investigate and apprehend Yang Wu and A Feng. During the investigation, we also bribed two security personnel who were mainly responsible for security on the first and second floors. According to them, there are corpses in the septic tank behind Xintai Entertainment City, but they are unsure of the exact number. Due to Xintai Company's complete surveillance facilities and strict security measures, we are unable to survey the septic tank, but the testimony of the two security guards should be credible. Therefore, it is sufficient to prove that Xintai Entertainment City is not only illegally engaged in large-scale prostitution, gambling, and drug trafficking but is also involved in multiple homicides. This is the biggest tumor in Dongjiang, with immense social harm. It is imperative to dismantle Xintai and the criminal syndicate led by Bai Zheng."
Liu Changming briefly reported the investigation results of Xintai Company.