Siheyuan came through and sent Jia Zhang to prison

Initially, I'd felt a bit uneasy, but now I felt reassured. After all, the weapons investigation team dispatched by higher-ups were all hardened individuals who had undergone rigorous training, possessing both professional competence and solid practical experience. With their assistance, this difficult case would surely be handled much more smoothly, or at least with fewer detours.

Ma Xin listened from the side, his brows furrowed slightly. He felt that there was something unspeakably strange about this matter from the very beginning. But when words reached his lips, he realized that without solid evidence, speaking rashly would only disrupt the flow of his thoughts. So he swallowed them back, quietly keeping these doubts in mind, intending to observe more carefully later.

Zheng Qiang, however, couldn't hold back. According to the original plan, he should have eliminated the members of the investigation team at this point, absolutely not letting them mess up the plan. But he suddenly changed his mind: instead of wasting time eliminating them, he could use them in a different way. These people were highly skilled and could help him follow the clues and find the whereabouts of the reactionaries. Once he had a clear understanding of their true identity, he could then round them up and completely eliminate them. This would be more thorough and less time-consuming.

Zheng Qiang was standing by the window, pondering the pros and cons. Seeing He Feng return, he didn't want to approach him for a conversation, lest it appear contrived. However, he happened to see Zhang Shi following He Feng in. A thought struck him, and his demeanor immediately changed. He hurried over, his face etched with just the right amount of concern: "Captain Zhang, I wonder how your investigation is going over there? Any new discoveries?"

Zhang Shi also saw Director He Feng who had just returned, and said to Zheng Qiang, "Director Zheng, Director He is here too. Let's go to his office and talk about it together so I don't have to repeat myself."

Zheng Qiang was just about to take the opportunity to find out where He Feng had been and what he had done today. Upon hearing this, he immediately nodded and said, "Okay, it will be more convenient if we talk together." Then he followed the two of them to the office.

He Feng was stunned when he saw Zhang Shi and Zheng Qiang coming over together, then he smiled and joked, "What a coincidence that you two came to see me together. Is there something important?"

Zheng Qiang spoke first, his tone calm and natural: "I originally wanted to ask about the progress of Captain Zhang's investigation. I happened to see you coming back, so I thought we could come together to report so as not to waste your time."

He Feng nodded, and without further questioning, he turned to Zhang Shi: "Captain Zhang, have you come up with any results from your investigation during your recent days out?"

Zhang Shi's smile instantly faded, his expression becoming exceedingly serious. He cleared his throat and recounted every clue he had gathered while tracking Scar over the past few days, detailing everything from the weapons' hideout to the initial details of their movements. Finally, he emphasized, "Director, this situation is far more serious than we anticipated—they not only have pistols, but also a number of heavy weapons. Judging by their posture, it's clear they've been well prepared. This isn't just some impromptu attack."

He Feng stared at the photos of the dark weapons on the table with a frown on his face. These guns were unfamiliar models and it was obvious that they were not locally circulated. Could they have been brought in by the so-called "investigation team"?

As he was pondering this, Zheng Qiang beside him was already rubbing his hands together anxiously. He took two steps forward, looked at He Feng and Zhang Shi and said, "Director, Captain, in my opinion, we can't just go directly to this matter. Most of those street thugs know us, and showing up would definitely alert the enemy. I think it would be better to send someone from the gun investigation team. They have special identities, so they might not be wary. This way is safer."

He Feng raised his eyes to look at Zheng Qiang, his tone calm but with unquestionable weight: "You don't have to worry about this matter, there is something more important that needs your attention right now."

Zheng Qiang's heart skipped a beat. He'd been hoping to follow Zhang Shi to meet those armed men, ideally witnessing a conflict between Zhang Shi and the investigation team, so he could reap the benefits. He hadn't expected this assignment to be of any relevance to him. A flicker of disappointment crossed his face, but he steeled himself and asked, "Director He, what mission are you assigning me?"

He Feng pointed to a nondescript police report on the corner of the table. "Director Zheng, several bicycles were stolen from Qian Street a while ago. It may seem like a small matter, but the situation is sensitive recently, and any abnormality cannot be taken lightly. Take a few people to investigate and see if there is a gang behind this."

Zheng Qiang was deeply unhappy. He had originally planned to follow Zhang Shi to deal with the armed bandits. After all, they had weapons and might be connected to the reactionaries. He couldn't let them discover his true identity. He also knew Luo Hao would be keeping an eye on this matter. Perhaps he could follow the clues and find the reactionaries' lair, wiping them out in one fell swoop. But this arrangement clearly distracted him.

But the director's order could not be disobeyed, so Zheng Qiang could only suppress his reluctance and responded with a stiff upper lip: "Okay, then I'll take people to check it out right away." After that, he turned around and walked out quickly, with a bit of resentment in his steps.

He Feng watched him leave, then turned to look at Zhang Shi, his tone darkening. "This isn't a simple matter. You know, our area has always been strictly controlled, and there are almost no cases of privately-owned firearms. The sudden appearance of so many now is definitely not accidental. What's even more troublesome is that these weapons appeared just after the gun investigation team arrived. There might be a connection between the two."

He paused, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table. "So, I'm afraid we can't handle it alone. Tomorrow I'll take you to meet the investigation team. They have more detailed information and the authority to conduct cross-regional investigations. They're the only ones who can help you now."

Zhang Shi nodded, his eyes fixed on the guns in the photos, his pupils narrowing slightly. The wear and tear on the guns showed they'd been used frequently, far from being mere decorations. It seemed a tough battle was inevitable, and this battle was destined to be tied to the mysterious "investigation team." The air in the office seemed frozen, with only the rustling of fallen leaves in the wind outside the window, making the silence even more solemn.

When the bell rang for the end of get off work, Zheng Qiang did not go home directly as usual, but walked around a few blocks and rushed to the agreed location - he still had to find Scar. This matter was too important. He had to make sure to kill him in one shot, otherwise if he alerted the enemy, it would be very detrimental to his subsequent plans.

But this time, he had another motive in mind when searching for Scar: to find out where the guns came from. By following this clue, he might be able to uncover the reactionaries behind the hidden and transported guns and round them up. After all, the guns must have been brought in through specialized channels and contacts. By following this clue, he could uncover the entire gang's past—this was Zheng Qiang's true plan.