A Sharp Edge Emerges From The Mist Chapter 6

Joint Action

Shuangcheng Public Security Bureau, small briefing room.

Two maps were displayed side-by-side on the projection screen. On the left was a satellite map of the old urban district, with three scattered points marked in red circles. On the right was a more abstract map of capital flow connections; at the center of a dense web of lines and nodes, the name Xinlong was written.

Lin Jianfeng stood before the screen, a whiteboard marker spinning nimbly between her fingers. She had changed into a clean, deep blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Her face showed little sign of her recent all-nighter, though the sharp light in her eyes was more intense than usual. Seven or eight people sat in the room, including the core members of her team and two colleagues from the Economic Investigation Section.

Based on current information, the Xinlong underground bank has at least three suspected operation points in Shuangcheng, Lin Jianfeng said, tapping the satellite map on the left with her marker. Point A is in the old textile factory warehouse area, using logistics as a cover. Point B is a defunct customs brokerage firm near the port area. Point C is the most suspicious—an office building on the edge of the financial district, operating under the name International Business Consulting.

Captain Li from Economic Investigation chimed in: Our preliminary surveillance found that the consulting firm at Point C has very little foot traffic during the day, but vehicles frequently enter and exit at night. Furthermore, there are frequent fund transfers between them and several shell companies registered in offshore islands. The amounts are small, but the frequency is abnormal. We suspect this is one of their core dispatch centers.

The fifty thousand yuan Zhao Ming received was ultimately transferred through a channel associated with Point C, Lin Jianfeng said as she switched the image to show the fragmented transfer records. Although they cleaned up well, the technical department recovered some deleted log fragments from the physical layer of the hard drive. These show that a week before his death, Zhao Ming used an anonymous network to access overseas websites for corporate information. His search history included keywords like Xinlong and New City Project land compensation.

A low murmur rippled through the briefing room.

It seems Zhao Ming really did catch their tail, Captain Li said, his expression grim. So he was silenced?

The motive is sufficient, Lin Jianfeng nodded. But we need evidence. We need direct proof that the Xinlong underground bank is connected to Zhao Ming’s death, and proof of their illegal role in the New City Project and other developments. Our goal in raiding these three points is to obtain core ledgers, client lists, evidence of the capital chain, and… any records or personnel directly linked to the Zhao Ming case.

She looked around at everyone. The action is set for 11:00 PM tomorrow. Our colleagues from Economic Investigation will lead the assault on Points A and B, while our Criminal Investigation team will handle Point C. The difficulty lies in the fact that Point C is located within an office building with complex surroundings. The targets are highly vigilant; any sign of trouble could lead them to destroy evidence. We need to achieve precision control without alerting the other floors.

The technical department has already mapped out the building’s security system and the surveillance layout on Point C’s floor. We can synchronize the shielding and takeover, the technician reported. However, we aren’t certain if they have independent, non-networked security equipment.

Prepare for the worst-case scenario, Lin Jianfeng said. The assault group will be divided into two teams. Team One will break through the main entrance to draw attention. Team Two will infiltrate from the adjacent vacant floor via ventilation ducts or external work platforms. The objective is their core data storage devices. The action must be fast, accurate, and quiet. The targets are likely armed; everyone must prioritize safety.

She began assigning specific tasks: who was responsible for the perimeter, who would handle technical support, who would lead the assault, and who would secure the evidence. Her instructions were clear and methodical. The atmosphere in the room gradually tightened, a mix of pre-battle focus and a faint, underlying excitement.

Just as the briefing was nearing its end, there was a soft knock on the door. An administrative officer peeked in with a subtle expression. Captain Lin, there’s… someone here to see you.

Lin Jianfeng checked the time. It was 8:40 PM. Who?

She said her surname is Shen. She’s here to… provide clues.

The briefing room fell silent instantly. Several team members exchanged looks. Shen Qingwu? At a time like this?

Lin Jianfeng’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly before she regained her composure. Ask her to wait in the small meeting room next door. I’ll be there shortly.

She quickly finished the last few points of the briefing and dismissed the meeting. The team members filed out to begin their preparations. Lin Jianfeng straightened her documents, took a deep breath, and walked next door.

Only a single desk lamp was lit in the small meeting room. Shen Qingwu stood by the window with her back to the door, watching the flashing police lights in the courtyard below. Today, she wore a long, black cashmere coat that made her figure appear even more slender and upright. Hearing the door open, she turned around. Her face was expressionless, and she held a solid black USB drive in her hand.

Officer Lin, sorry to disturb you, she said. Her voice was calm, betraying no emotion.

President Shen, what brings you to the police station so late? Lin Jianfeng closed the door but didn’t approach, leaning against the wall by the door to maintain a calculated distance.

I happened to come across something that I thought might help your investigation, Shen Qingwu said, placing the USB drive on the conference table and sliding it forward. It’s about Xinlong. More specifically, it’s about one of their core figures, several safe house addresses that person frequently uses, and… the secret codes they use for emergency contact, along with the characteristic codes for several encrypted communication channels.

Lin Jianfeng’s gaze fell on the small black drive. She didn’t pick it up immediately. Your sources of information, President Shen, are always so ‘accidental’ and timely.

Shen Qingwu didn’t seem to care about the sarcasm. Believe it or not, it’s up to you. This information can increase the success rate of your action tomorrow night by at least thirty percent while reducing unnecessary conflict and risk. She paused, then added, Of course, it could also be a trap. You’ll have to judge that for yourself, Officer Lin.

Why? Lin Jianfeng looked at her and asked directly. Why give this to me? If the water around Xinlong is as deep and dangerous as you say, wouldn’t it be better for you to stay out of it? Why wade into this muddy water and go out of your way to deliver intel?

Shen Qingwu fell silent for a moment. The light from the desk lamp cast a shallow shadow across her profile, making her habitually cold face show a rare hint of… exhaustion?

I told you, some waters are too deep, she said slowly, her gaze seemingly unfocused. So deep that… sometimes, even those who have been swimming in it for a long time start to feel suffocated. They start to hope that someone will throw a stone in to hear the sound it makes, or… stir things up to see if a little light can get through.

She looked up at Lin Jianfeng. In those eyes that usually resembled a frozen lake, something flickered faintly, no longer entirely filled with cold defensiveness. Zhao Ming’s death isn’t the first, and it won’t be the last. If no one touches it, more things will sink to the bottom, and the water will only get darker. She let out a self-deprecating smirk. I’m probably not a good person, and I’m in no position to talk about justice. But at the very least, I don’t want to wake up one day and find that I’ve become part of the invisible silt at the bottom.

These words exceeded Lin Jianfeng’s expectations. There was no calculation, no deal, not even a clear demand for benefit. It felt more like… a near-desperate outpouring after being suppressed for too long.

Lin Jianfeng walked to the table and picked up the USB drive. It was light, and the metal casing felt cold.

What else is in here besides addresses and codes? she asked.

There are also some processed fragments of capital flow pointing to several abnormal compensation payments during the early land requisition phase of the New City Project. They eventually flowed into overseas accounts controlled by Xinlong. The amounts aren’t massive, but they are enough to serve as a breakthrough, Shen Qingwu said. I can’t give you the raw data; the source is… inconvenient. But these fragments have been processed to look like information you could reasonably deduce from public channels or general investigation.

She was protecting her source, and she was protecting herself. She had given just the right amount—enough to push the investigation forward without drawing fire to herself.

She was shrewd, and her caution was chilling.

Even if I believe you, Lin Jianfeng gripped the USB drive, aren’t you afraid the people behind Xinlong will trace this back to you? Aren’t you afraid of retaliation?

Shen Qingwu suddenly gave a very faint smile. There was no warmth in it, only a sort of indifferent resolve. Officer Lin, from the moment I decided to pursue the truth behind my parents’ ‘accident,’ I was already standing on the edge of a cliff. One more enemy or one less makes no difference. She straightened the collar of her coat. The items have been delivered. How you use them is your choice. I should go.

She walked toward the door. As she passed Lin Jianfeng, her footsteps paused.

Be careful tomorrow night, she said in a low voice, almost a whisper. In Point C, the room in the southeast corner of the third floor—don’t enter through the main door. The windows are bulletproof glass, but the mounting bolts on the bottom left of the window frame… are a weakness. Also, they keep a Doberman that is exceptionally sensitive to high-frequency sounds. Before you move in, you’d better find a way to make it ‘quiet.’

With that, she didn’t linger. She opened the door and walked out. The sound of her high heels clicking against the floor echoed through the empty corridor, gradually fading away.

Lin Jianfeng stood where she was, the USB drive in her hand still carrying the lingering warmth of Shen Qingwu’s fingertips. Outside the window, the light from the police cruisers shifted across her face.

She returned to her office, locked the door, and inserted the USB drive into a physically isolated computer. She quickly browsed the contents. The addresses were detailed down to the room numbers and the hiding spots for spare keys to the safe houses. The list of codes and communication signatures was highly professional. Although the capital flow fragments were processed, the logical chain was clear and the direction was explicit.

More importantly, it contained a rough internal layout of Point C, even marking several locations where weapons or hidden compartments might be kept.

This wasn’t the kind of intel a common informant could provide. This required deep penetration and understanding of the target.

Shen Qingwu… who exactly was she? And how deep was she buried in this muddy water?

Lin Jianfeng pulled out the USB drive and squeezed it in her palm. The cold metal was gradually warmed by her body heat.

Regardless of Shen Qingwu’s motives, the authenticity and value of this intelligence were beyond doubt. It could save her team members’ lives and allow the operation to strike directly at the vitals.

She walked to the window and watched Shen Qingwu’s black Bentley drive out of the bureau courtyard, its red taillights disappearing into the nighttime traffic.

Thank you, she said softly to the empty night.

Then, she turned and picked up the internal phone, her voice decisive. Notify all teams. The final pre-action briefing is moved up by one hour. We have new intelligence to integrate. Also, have the technical group prepare high-frequency sonic interference equipment specifically for canine hearing. And check the window-breaking tools—focus on testing the destruction effect on the weak points of specific bulletproof glass frames.

A crisp acknowledgment came from the other end of the line.

Tomorrow night, 11:00 PM.

Whether what lay ahead was the truth or a trap, she was going to take her team and break inside to find out.