196: Chapter 197 Wang Tianhua, you can't escape!

Outside a private villa area in the suburbs of Jiangcheng, a fleet of black Mercedes-Benzes sped along the winding mountain road, their tires kicking up gravel that sparked in the night.

Wang Tianhua sat in the back seat of the lead car, clutching a black briefcase filled with cash and bank cards. His fingers gripped the handle so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The trees outside the window blurred past, yet he still felt the car was moving too slowly, glancing at the rearview mirror every few seconds as if pursuers might appear at any moment.

"Faster! Faster!" he growled at the driver in the front, his voice thick with irrepressible panic. "Is everything ready at the private airport? Did the people from the Tianming Group say what time we take off?"

The driver wiped the cold sweat from his brow and nodded quickly. "Chairman Wang, the airport said the private jet is already warmed up; we can take off as soon as we arrive. The Tianming Group also said that after flying to international waters, another plane will pick you up and take you to South America. You'll be able to spend your golden years there in peace..."

"Spend my golden years in peace?" Wang Tianhua gave a self-deprecating laugh, though there wasn't a hint of relief in his eyes.

He knew that the Tianming Group's so-called "sliver of hope" was only because he still had a shred of utility—as long as he escaped to South America, he might still hold onto some of the Tianhua Group's overseas assets, which could be useful to Tianming in the future.

But an unease lingered in his heart, growing stronger ever since he learned that Wang Haoyu had killed someone in a hit-and-run and that he himself had become a target of a nationwide manhunt.

Just then, as the fleet rounded a bend, a blinding array of headlights suddenly flared up ahead—at least twenty black Audis were blocked across the middle of the road. Their bodies were covered in matte black film and their windows were tightly shut, but one could vaguely see bodyguards in black suits sitting inside, gripping rubber batons with an imposing presence.

"Screech—!" The driver slammed on the brakes, and the Mercedes skidded along the road, leaving a long trail of rubber before coming to a halt just in front of the Audi fleet. The cars behind also braked hard, and the convoy instantly fell into chaos.

"What's going on?!" Wang Tianhua bolted upright, his heart suddenly tightening. "Is it Zhang Fan's people? Or the police?"

Before the driver could answer, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the sky—two police helicopters emerged from the clouds. Their powerful searchlights instantly locked onto the Mercedes fleet, the beams sweeping over the cars and blinding everyone. Then, ropes were dropped from the helicopters, and SWAT team members in black uniforms slid down like panthers, swiftly surrounding the entire convoy.

"Freeze! Police!"

"Everyone out of the vehicle! Hands behind your heads!"

The SWAT team's shouts echoed in the night, carrying an irresistible authority. Sitting in the car, Wang Tianhua looked at the armed SWAT officers and the expressionless bodyguards in black suits (he recognized them as the core security teams of the Song and Lu families—the Song family controlled Jiangcheng's finance, while the Lu family had extensive local connections; together, they could block almost every exit in Jiangcheng). In an instant, his strength vanished, and he slumped into his seat.

He finally understood that he never had a "sliver of hope" from the very beginning.

The Tianming Group's so-called "arrangement" was perhaps only to lure him out of hiding, making it easier for Zhang Fan to set his trap.

And the power Zhang Fan had mobilized was far more terrifying than he had imagined—not only did he have a top-tier private security force, but he could also move the official SWAT and economic investigation forces. This wasn't a "business competition" at all; it was a "scorched-earth revenge" capable of overturning the rules of an entire city.

The car door was yanked open by a SWAT officer, and a pair of cold handcuffs clicked shut around Wang Tianhua's wrists. He didn't resist or struggle; he just stared blankly at the helicopters outside, muttering, "Impossible... This is impossible... The Tianming Group said they would protect me..."

"The Tianming Group?" The captain of the Economic Investigation Detachment walked over, holding a thick arrest warrant, and read out the charges in a cold tone. "Wang Tianhua, you are suspected of instigating Wang Haoyu to commit intentional homicide, using Tianhua Pharmaceutical to commit financial fraud, laundering up to 300 million yuan, and illegally transferring assets abroad... You are now under arrest. Come with us!"

Every word on the arrest warrant felt like a hammer blow to Wang Tianhua's heart.

He had thought he was only guilty of "instigating murder" at most, but he hadn't expected Zhang Fan to dig up everything—from his embezzlement of state-owned assets decades ago to the illicit wealth he'd amassed through counterfeit drugs and illegal transactions over the years. These charges combined were enough to keep him in prison for the rest of his life, or even face the death penalty.

"It's Zhang Fan... Zhang Fan wants to destroy me..." Wang Tianhua was hauled forward by the SWAT officers, his steps stumbling as he cried out hoarsely. "I have no grudge against him! The Tianming Group made me do it! They wanted to steal Li Yong's formula! You've got the wrong person! You should arrest Zhang Fan! Arrest the Tianming Group!"

But his cries were useless. The Song and Lu family bodyguards had already controlled the other family members in the fleet, leading them out of the cars one by one to squat by the roadside with their hands behind their heads. Meanwhile, economic investigation officers began searching the vehicles, uncovering large amounts of cash, gold bars, and forged identification documents from the trunks—the "escape route" Wang Tianhua had prepared for South America had now become ironclad evidence of his crimes.

The helicopter searchlights remained on, illuminating the entire mountain road as if it were day. As Wang Tianhua was pushed into the police car, he looked back at the black Mercedes—the briefcase in the back seat had been opened, and the cash was scattered across the seat like piles of useless scrap paper. The business empire he had spent his life building and the billions he had amassed had ultimately bought him nothing but a pair of cold handcuffs and a trial from which there was no escape.

"Wang Tianhua, you can't escape." Before the police car started, the SWAT Captain looked at him, his tone calm but tinged with a faint, unmistakable contempt. "Divine Doctor Li saved so many people, yet you instigated your son to kill him. Even without Zhang Fan, we wouldn't have let you get away with this."

The sirens of the police cars gradually faded into the night. The Song and Lu family bodyguards began clearing the scene, handing over the seized assets and personnel to the police. The helicopters slowly ascended, their searchlights dimming until they merged into the deep night.

Meanwhile, at Singularity Technology's headquarters, Zhang Fan stood before a floor-to-ceiling window, watching the distant flashing lights of the police cars. Liu Ruyan walked in and handed him a file. "Boss, Wang Tianhua has been formally arrested. His family and core associates have all been detained, and all assets under his name have been frozen. Additionally, the Song family is monitoring the Tianhua Group's overseas accounts, and no funds can be transferred, effectively cutting off their last escape route."

Zhang Fan took the document and flipped through a few pages, his gaze landing on the "List of Suspected Charges against Wang Tianhua." His expression didn't flicker. He knew that arresting Wang Tianhua was only the first step of his revenge—next, he would ensure the complete collapse of the Wang family's business empire, make everyone associated with them pay the price, and, more importantly, pry more secrets about the Tianming Group out of Wang Tianhua's mouth.

"Notify the Legal Department," Zhang Fan turned around, his tone firm. "File a lawsuit first thing tomorrow morning. We won't just pursue Wang Tianhua's criminal liability; we'll make the Wang family bear all civil compensation—funeral expenses and pensions for Divine Doctor Li, as well as compensation for the patients harmed by the Wang family. Not a single cent less. Also, have the Technology Department keep an eye on the Tianming Group's movements. I suspect they won't give up just because Wang Tianhua was caught; instead, they might take even more aggressive actions."

"Understood!" Liu Ruyan nodded and left the office.

Zhang Fan looked out the window again. The night was still deep, but he knew that the darkness belonging to the Wang family had only just begun. And his revenge was far from over—the Tianming Group was still behind the scenes, the development of the anti-cancer formula still needed time, and he had to continue carrying the original intention of "saving people" that Li Yong had protected with his life.