Officer Liu Baorui, known to his colleagues as Officer Liu, had been with the police force for over three years.
His sharp wit and efficiency had earned him the admiration of Chief Nan Hongya, who often kept him close. Liu Baorui was a staunch supporter of Nan Hongya's faction.
Being explicitly ordered by Nan Hongya to accompany Zhou Zongrong and Xiao Guodong on this mission clearly indicated a surveillance motive.
Everyone in the Yongnan County Police Department knew the intense feud between the chief and the deputy chief, and the general unease among the officers. They were all unsure where to place their allegiance, fearing that a wrong choice could jeopardize their entire future.
Chief Nan Hongya's faction was deeply entrenched in Yongnan County, with a long history and a complex web of influence.
Deputy Chief Zhou Zongrong, on the other hand, was a more recent arrival, lacking Nan Hongya's seniority. However, he was exceptionally capable and shrewd. Quietly, he had managed to win over the captain of the criminal investigation team and a number of skilled officers. By the time Nan Hongya realized what was happening, it was too late; Zhou Zongrong had assembled a formidable force that even Nan Hongya had to be wary of.
In the past two years, Yongnan County had seen several political shifts, including changes in county leadership and the succession of power in civilian organizations, leading to considerable instability.
This turbulence had only deepened the conflict between the two top officials in the police department, escalating their rivalry into an open battle.
Every officer in the department lived in a state of constant anxiety, wondering when this situation would end.
Liu Baorui was among the most anxious. As a loyal member of Nan Hongya's faction, he naturally wished for his superior's victory.
However, seeing Zhou Zongrong leading the team away from the destination Nan Hongya had specified, heading in a completely opposite direction, made Liu Baorui panic.
It was clear that Zhou Zongrong had lied to the chief. The mention of a reservoir was nonsense; the reservoir was to the south, yet they were heading north.
Liu Baorui didn't know Zhou Zongrong's exact intentions, but his sharp instincts told him this was far from a good development, especially for his superior.
A strong urge compelled him to inform his boss immediately, to report everything that was happening.
Yet, he was acutely aware that his every move was being monitored. If he pulled out his phone, the consequences were unpredictable.
An unprecedented sense of fear and panic washed over him, causing Liu Baorui to break out in a cold sweat. The car felt like a sauna, the heat intensifying his anxiety.
After an indeterminate amount of time, he felt the vehicle come to a stop, jolting him out of his daze.
Looking outside, Liu Baorui's expression shifted to one of shock. The police car had inexplicably stopped outside a nightclub.
He was familiar with this establishment, called "Night Spider," having been there a few times.
However, that wasn't the crucial point. He was perplexed as to why Zhou Zongrong had brought the team here.
"Officer Liu, you've been performing excellently on this trip!"
As Liu Baorui stood there, lost in thought, a voice reached his ears.
Captain Xiao Guodong was smiling at him.
"Cap... Captain Xiao!"
Liu Baorui swallowed nervously.
"Hand me your phone. I'll take you inside, and we'll score some points together."
Xiao Guodong said.
Liu Baorui's face contorted with indecision. His sharp mind understood that this was the moment of truth, when he had to make a definitive choice.
This decision would determine whether his future led to heaven or hell, and it would be all down to luck.
"Officer Liu, I've always thought of you as a very sharp person!"
At that moment, Zhou Zongrong, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and said.
"We all understand the situation within our unit. None of you want to work in this constant state of anxiety, do you? You all want this atmosphere to end soon."
Liu Baorui remained silent, sitting there without a word.
"Now is an opportunity to change that," Zhou Zongrong continued. "To be frank, we're apprehending a group of people today. Once they're in custody, the day when everyone can work in peace won't be far off!"
"Are you willing to join us?"
As Zhou Zongrong uttered the final question, the car fell into a deathly silence, broken only by Liu Baorui's heavy breathing.
"Deputy... Deputy Chief Zhou, I'm willing!!"
After a pause of less than three seconds, Liu Baorui took a deep breath, decisively made his choice, and nimbly pulled out his phone from his pocket, handing it over.
As Zhou Zongrong took the phone, a brilliant smile spread across his face. In the next moment, he issued a decisive command over the radio:
"Execute!"
"If anyone resists or attempts to flee, apprehend them!"
Following the order, officers rushed into the nightclub, causing chaos.
Meanwhile, Zhou Zongrong and Xiao Guodong, along with Liu Baorui and others, exited the car and strode inside.
They seemed to know the layout of the place intimately. Upon entering, they ignored the nightclub staff and headed directly for the backyard.
The backyard of the Night Spider nightclub held a hidden secret.
It led to a three-story building, with rooms tastefully decorated and bathed in pink light, creating an atmosphere that invited suggestive thoughts.
Numerous scantily clad women were present, and even in the afternoon, the place seemed to be bustling with patrons.
The police's sudden intrusion disturbed many.
Chaos erupted, with men sporting bulging bellies and little clothing scrambling to escape, wishing they had more legs.
None of them managed to get away; all were apprehended on the spot.
Zhou Zongrong and Xiao Guodong, leading the main contingent, moved forward expressionlessly, heading straight for a most luxuriously decorated room on the far east side of the courtyard.
*Crash!*
The tightly shut door was kicked open, startling the occupants.
"Deputy Chief Zhou, Captain Xiao, what brings you two my way?"
In a room furnished with elegant décor, a gaunt old man in a bathrobe sat. He was none other than Zhang Wenbo.
Behind him, two provocatively dressed, alluring women were giving him a professional massage.
Nearby, two other men were in the process of putting on their pants.
Each of them was accompanied by two high-quality escorts, their faces flushed and extraordinarily seductive, as if they had been interrupted mid-act.
These two men, upon closer inspection, were subordinates of Ding Xu, who was believed to be dead.
Faced with the sudden intrusion of the police, they did not maintain Zhang Wenbo's composure. Instead, their faces were filled with intense wariness.
"Zhang Wenbo, you are suspected of instigating murder. You are hereby placed under arrest and ordered to accompany us to the police station for investigation!"
Zhou Zongrong, without preamble, stated his purpose directly.
"Hmm?!"
Zhang Wenbo, who had maintained a calm and experienced demeanor, finally showed a flicker of emotion upon hearing the accusation.