Deadly Trap

Chapter 105, Chapter 104: A Perfect Plan
This chapter can be listened to with Mika Nakashima's "Yuki no Hana".

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As the captain of the Major Crimes Unit of the Xizi District Branch of Minzhou City, Sergeant Cheng Shining, dressed in plain clothes, was leaning back against the door of their new Panamera, puffing out one cigarette after another. His coat was completely soaked and heavy, clearly indicating that he had been waiting for them for quite some time.

Seeing that Gu Mufeng walked towards him without hesitation, Chief Cheng flicked away the half-smoked cigarette, which, along with other oddly shaped cigarette butts, was crushed into the asphalt ground beneath his feet.

His eyes gleamed with a sharp, cheetah-like light, showing no intention of getting up to let them go.
“Gu Mufeng. Fine. I once said you better not let me catch you in the slightest sign of breaking the law. Otherwise, even if the sun burns you to ashes, I will personally arrest you and execute you.”

“Chief Cheng, I am just an ordinary citizen,” Gu Mufeng replied casually, “I don’t understand.”

"Gu Mufeng," Chief Inspector Cheng said calmly, narrowing his eyes slightly, "Don't you have anything to say to me about Tang Quan's death?"

Su Li was startled.

The rain was cold and stiff. Gu Mufeng and Chief Inspector Cheng's gazes clashed like knives.

"Hey. In front of that child's grave."

First, Cheng Shining hastily averted his gaze, offering a bleak smile. In the deep smile of this unshaven middle-aged man, there was a visible mix of bitterness and resignation, and at the very end, even a trace of helplessness surfaced.

"Tang Quan's case was closed after an emergency meeting yesterday. Sheng Chunqiu's case was also officially classified as such."
"Tang Quan's gang is embroiled in internal strife; Sheng Chunqiu is involved in organized crime, tax evasion, money laundering, and illegal fundraising; Butcher is assigned by the Dilong Society to infiltrate and assassinate Tang Quan."

"The municipal leadership was somewhat aware of this matter; Butcher lay low for a while, and when he made his move, he perished together with Tang Quan."

"In fact, the municipal leadership has long wanted to eradicate the underworld and, incidentally, clean up the conglomerates, but unfortunately, the cost is too high and there has been no good opportunity."

"Now the entire Minzhou police force has received a death order to completely eradicate Xinglonghui and all related criminal businesses."

"The long night in Minzhou is finally about to begin."

Looking out at the gray cemetery in the rain, along with the newly planted daisies in front of Gu Mufan's grave, the white stele forest stretches along the fragrant grass on the hillside, seemingly endless in the distance.

Cheng Shining's tone was indifferent, perhaps not particularly encouraging; he simply stated his position quietly. Suddenly, his tone shifted abruptly:

"Gu Mufeng, you really played a brilliant move."

With a blank expression, Gu Mufeng acted as if it were none of his business.

"Hmph. Stop pretending." Cheng Shining sneered coldly, his tone utterly merciless, full of sarcasm and mockery.
"What, you're so scheming, yet you're embarrassed in front of your own father and the woman you love? Don't they know you better than I do?"
"You've been keeping quiet all this time, but you've been planning something big all along."

Ignoring Gu Mufeng's indifference under the umbrella, Cheng Shining put his hands in his pockets. Like a torrent, he strode forward, head held high, and uttered a single, decisive sentence:

"Gu Mufeng, you can use a bullet as a trigger to both register the corresponding black gun in the evidence system and keep it hidden in your possession as a trump card."

"You used this to orchestrate a series of murders, turning the tables on the framed suspect and bringing the dark side of the case right under our noses, forcing us to shift our investigation focus."

"Goodness, we're working overtime in shifts, cracking down on organized crime and setting up strict controls. We're so busy at the end of the year that we can't go home. What about you?"

"You then used Butcher's former identity in the Dilong Society to make a big fuss about the old grudges between the two factions on the dark side."

"The written evidence of Sheng Chunqiu's funding of the Tianxing Gang, and even the criminal recording of Tang Quan's instigation of the murder, were sent to you long ago, yet you still persuaded the city police to hold back."

"From beginning to end, all your plans are superfluous. There's just one thing I don't understand."

Cheng Shining turned around, raising his eyebrows coldly:

"Finally, where did you suddenly get the idea to go through all that trouble to convince the city hall to let you be the black glove and lead the operation? This back-and-forth maneuvering is time-consuming and exhausting, and the cost must be considerable, right?"
"In the end, you and 'Friday Night' were actually 'following the established plan,' cooperating with the city's crackdown on organized crime? You even had a backup plan. "To be honest, you've always been too obsessed with Xiao Fan's affairs, refusing to listen to anyone's advice; and you've told me that you 'already understood the price you would have to pay.' I've always worried... that you were already prepared to fight to the death."

"But who would have thought! In the end, you handled both personal and official matters cleanly and efficiently. The credit for the anti-gang campaign went entirely to the municipal government, and this time, who knows how many more people will be promoted; yet, not even a trace of your involvement remains!"

Silence remained beneath the umbrella. Gu Mufeng had long since averted his gaze, turning his head away without answering. He gazed into the distance at the seemingly endless cemetery. In the distance, Pear Island stretched only to the horizon.

He must be feeling a mix of emotions right now.

"Forget it. It's pointless if you don't answer."

In his coat pocket, his left hand rustled. He pulled out a small voice recorder and tossed it to Gu Mufeng. Gu Mufeng caught it easily and turned it off.

After a long silence, his voice was hoarse, as if he had caught a chill, before he slowly began to speak again:
"how about you?"

"Thanks to that bullet of yours," Cheng Shining said, his tone laced with rage, his words a mix of sarcasm and mockery.
"This month, I was transferred to Minpu in the city center. I even received a special commendation from the General Bureau, who said I'd be recognized for my merits and would be specially assigned to the anti-gang task force. It's ostensibly a lateral transfer, but it's clearly a prelude to a promotion. Aren't you happy?"

Not far behind the two, by the roadside, Su Li, supporting Gu Zhipei's wheelchair, held an umbrella and listened intently:
What Cheng Shining just said was actually what Gu Mufei had told her intermittently in the ICU when he woke up and vaguely saw her.

However, Cheng Shining could not possibly have known: despite all the scheming and plotting beforehand, Gu Mufeng truly hadn't anticipated Butcher's final ambush. He also had absolutely no intention of... personally killing Tang Quan.

He had planned for so long, yet a life-or-death accident occurred at the last minute. He was truly afraid he wouldn't have the chance to live and wait any longer.

On the day of the incident, Dai deliberately spread rumors throughout the city that the Friday Night Chief had died; the city government breathed a sigh of relief and forgave the black glove who had been used. Meanwhile, Sheng Chunqiu, who was also at the scene, was targeted by the remnants of the Xinglong Society.

To ensure his personal safety, Sheng Chunqiu had no choice but to turn himself in: tax evasion, illegal fundraising, and even involvement in organized crime were exposed, and his imperial ambitions ultimately landed him in jail.

His wife always obeyed her husband and didn't care about anything; however, his children fought fiercely over control of the Shengshi Liyong Group, causing the Sheng family to fall apart.

As can be seen, one of the four major financial groups in Minzhou has lost another member, seemingly far beyond Gu Mufeng's reach.

Su Li thought to herself: But if we're talking about fueling the fire, Gu Mufeng was completely unaware of it...

"I heard," Cheng Shining continued, seeing that Gu Mufei had been lost in thought for a long time, Cheng Shining chimed in:

"You're... leaving Minzhou?"

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Next Chapter: Mountains and Seas Await
[Author's Note | Chapter 104]

Cheng Shining was cunning. His recording pen was meant to provide evidence that Gu Mufeng would confess. Until he threw the recording pen away, Gu Mufeng wouldn't be able to answer him.

Gu Mufeng's schemes never revolved around a single trivial matter. Ever since the attack by the underworld, he had been using a single bullet as a pretext to launch a series of deadly moves and counterattacks, a strategy that was almost entirely open and aboveboard.

But the ultimate variable—regardless of the effort and resources spent maneuvering with all parties, or ultimately acting as a black glove for the municipal government—is all for one person.

I'll come back to see you clean and pure.

To be completely honest and not just make empty promises, I'll tell you personally...

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