Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

Cheng Du's fingers hovered above the phone screen, cold sweat trickling down his temples and soaking the collar of his police uniform.

He didn't dare to look up at Shen Zhong.

The man sat there like a lifeless statue, yet he exuded a pressure that seemed to freeze the entire space.

Li Dakang's phone call was merely a delaying tactic.

Du Cheng knew this better than anyone else.

Li Dakang only cares about political achievements and hates nothing more than others causing him trouble.

If he knew that in order to cover up the shoddy construction of the Guangmingfeng project for Zhao Ruilong, he not only illegally arrested people but also trampled on martyrs' medals...

Li Dakang would be the first to kill himself.

That hot-tempered secretary probably wanted him dead even more than the soldier in front of him.

In Handong, the one who could save his life was never Li Dakang, the municipal party secretary.

It was the provincial party secretary, Zhao Lichun.

He struggled to his feet, swaying slightly, and grabbed the desk next to him for support.

"I...I'll go fight over there."

He pointed to the windowsill in the corner of the hall, his voice hoarse.

Shen Zhong remained silent, only gently tapping the armrest of the leather swivel chair, producing a rhythmic soft sound.

one more time.

After seeing Shen Zhong's tacit approval, Cheng Du quickly walked to the windowsill, turned his back to everyone, and tried to create a false sense of security for himself.

He dialed a number that wasn't saved in his contacts.

The phone rang for a long time.

……

Meanwhile, in a luxury mansion in Mid-Levels, Hong Kong.

The pool water rippled, reflecting the dazzling night view of Victoria Harbour.

Zhao Ruilong, dressed in a silk bathrobe, lay comfortably on a beach chair, while a blond, blue-eyed private tutor taught him English words in a perfect Oxford accent.

"Progress, Mr. Zhao, progress."

The phone on the table rang at this inopportune moment, and a string of garbled characters appeared on the screen.

Upon seeing the incoming call, Zhao Ruilong frowned.

This is a one-way connection between him and Cheng Du, known to no more than three people.

Is something wrong that's calling at this time?

He picked up the phone somewhat irritably and swiped to answer.

"Feed?"

On the other end of the phone came a submissive voice, almost fawning, barely audible.

"Young Master Ruilong...something has happened..."

Zhao Ruilong sat up straight, his tone unfriendly.

"What's the panic? Is the sky falling down?"

Cheng Du, speaking into the microphone, dared not utter a single lie; he knew the consequences of trying to outsmart Zhao Ruilong.

"Shen Zhong... Shen Zhong from the Provincial Military Region, for the sake of that reporter Zhang Xiao, led his troops to surround my branch office!"

"What?"

Zhao Ruilong's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"For a journalist? He's gone mad?"

"No... young master, the key is not the reporter, it's what the reporter has."

Du Cheng's voice was choked with sobs.

"Zhang Xiao filmed the underground drainage ditch of the Guangmingfeng project."

"It's very clear in the video that the main canal is just a superficial project and has no flood discharge function whatsoever."

Zhao Ruilong shoved aside the foreign teacher next to him and jumped up from the bed.

His expensive silk robe slipped to the floor, revealing his lean body covered in signs of debauchery.

"What did you say?!"

"The video...the video is still in his hands!"

Cheng Du continued to report, each word sounding like he was reading a verdict to himself.

"Young Master, Shen Zhong came here specifically for this. If he gets his hands on the video and leaks it... the entire Bright Peak project will be finished!"

Zhao Ruilong's breathing became heavy.

The Guangmingfeng project was the most lucrative deal he made in Handong in recent years.

Bribing superiors and subordinates, collusion between officials and businessmen, shoddy workmanship—every link was rife with shady interests.

This is not just a matter of money.

This was his father Zhao Lichun's most important political achievement in his later years, and a symbol of the Zhao family's power in Handong.

If this project collapses, where will his father put his face? The Zhao family's foundation in Handong will be shaken!

"waste!"

Zhao Ruilong started cursing into the phone.

"You can't even handle one reporter? What am I paying you guys to do?!"

Cheng Du was subjected to a barrage of insults, yet he didn't dare utter a single word in rebuttal.

He had a long face.

"Young Master, now is not the time to talk about this!"

"Shen Zhong led at least one guard company and two infantry fighting vehicles, completely surrounding the branch office."

"He just shot and killed my detective captain!"

"He could interrogate me at any time, and I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it!"

Zhao Ruilong then realized the seriousness of the matter.

This is not an ordinary power struggle within the bureaucracy.

Shen Zhong directly mobilized the army and began a killing spree.

This is flipping the table, this is starting a war!

He wasn't after Cheng Du, a minor character; he was after the Guangming Peak project, after Zhao Ruilong, and after the entire Zhao family!

Zhao Ruilong paced back and forth by the pool, his mind racing.

"Listen up!"

Zhao Ruilong's voice turned cold.

"Buy me some time, no matter what!"

"We absolutely cannot let him take that reporter away, and we absolutely cannot let him get the video!"

"Also, remember who you are. What you've done has absolutely nothing to do with me or the Zhao family. Do you understand?"

Cheng Du's heart sank little by little.

He understood.

This is to make him a pawn to be discarded.

How do we stall them? Are we going to risk our lives to stall them?

If you don't let him take the person away, if you don't let him get the video, how can he stop it when faced with that dark gun barrel?

Zhao Ruilong didn't say how to save him, only that he should stall for time.

The call was disconnected.

The busy signal kept ringing in his ears, like a funeral dirge being played for him.

Cheng Du's body went limp, and the phone slipped from his weak fingers, falling onto the hard marble floor.

The screen cracked open, like a tattered spider web.

His face was ashen, and he slowly turned around.

Shen Zhong had stood up at some point and walked up to him.

The shadow cast by his tall figure completely enveloped him.

Zhou Weiguo strode forward and whispered his report in Shen Zhong's ear.

"Boss, we've retrieved all the video files from Zhang Xiao's computer at home."

These words, though not spoken loudly, struck Cheng Du like a heavy hammer blow to the top of his head.

Backup...

He personally burned the memory card, and all his electronic devices were destroyed. How could there be any backup? Shen Zhong must be trying to kill him and force him to confess in advance!

Shen Zhong stretched out his hand.

Zhou Weiguo handed them a muddy action camera, which was given to them by Zhang Xiao's grandmother.

Shen Zhong held it in his hand, tossed it gently, and then pinched it between two fingers.

He looked down at the police chief at his feet, a man who had completely lost his soul.

"Your master is telling you to stall for time, isn't he?"

The heavy voice was very soft.

"I'm giving you this chance. I'm waiting for them, but if they don't dare to come, then you have no value in living."

He paused, a subtle, enigmatic expression appearing on his calm face.

"I'd also like to see who the Zhao family will put in the spotlight this time."