21: Officer, someone threw a bathtub into my house!

At three in the morning, most of Tianqiong City's neon lights had gone out, and the city had fallen into slumber. Only above the Gu Family Manor did police lights flash, illuminating this upscale residential area.

More than a dozen police hover vehicles silently surrounded the manor. The special forces members, clad in black combat gear, disembarked from the vehicles, sealing off all exits.

The female officer in charge had the codename Iceblade. Her name was Han Qin, and she was known throughout the Tianqiong City Criminal Investigation Division as the Iron Maiden.

She adjusted the tactical glasses on her nose, the lenses currently refreshing the manor's three-dimensional structural diagram in real-time.

"Identity of the caller?"

Han Qin's voice was cold.

"Reporting, Captain. The caller's name is Gu Fan, claiming to be the eldest son of the Gu Family. The report content... is a bit strange."

A hesitant voice came through the communicator.

"Speak."

"He said... someone threw a bathtub into his house, and there might be a living person inside it."

Han Qin raised an eyebrow.

In her ten-year career, she had heard all sorts of bizarre reports, but this was the first time she'd heard of someone throwing a bathtub into a house.

It sounded more like a rich kid's prank.

"Team One and Two, maintain perimeter security. Team Three, with me. Attention, our target is the Gu Family. Stay sharp and don't give the media any ammunition."

Han Qin issued the order and strode toward the heavy, intricately carved iron gate.

When the special forces members used a professional master key to open the main door and rushed into the villa's grand hall, they were met with an even more peculiar scene.

The entire Gu Family was scattered across the living room, all injured. Some were in wheelchairs, others wrapped in bandages. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, disinfectant, and something else unidentifiable.

Seeing the police burst in, Gu Zhan and Madam Li were first stunned, then relief washed over their faces.

"Officers! You came just in time!"

Madam Li pointed upstairs and shrieked, "The murderer is upstairs! It's that rebellious son Gu Fan! He's holding us captive illegally and has beaten us all severely!"

"That's right! He's a devil!"

Gu Yu, sitting in his wheelchair, chimed in. He had just been fished out of the septic tank, washed clean, but that scent seemed to linger, making him look utterly haggard.

Han Qin's gaze swept over the family, and her confusion deepened.

"Where is the caller?"

She asked calmly.

"Second floor, he's taken over my son's room!"

Gu Zhan pointed at the stairs resentfully.

Han Qin gave her team a look. The three of them moved in a combat formation, silently and swiftly advancing to the second floor.

At the end of the corridor, a door was slightly ajar, with a faint light spilling out.

Han Qin kicked the door open and shouted sternly:

"Police! Don't move!"

The team members rushed in with guns drawn, but they didn't find the tough criminal they expected.

A young man in clean casual clothes was sitting on the sofa, holding a cup of tea. Seeing them, he showed a relieved smile, as if he had finally seen a savior.

"Officers, you're finally here!"

Gu Fan said, pointing to a huge marble bathtub in the center of the room. "Look, someone threw this into my house! There's a person inside, and he's been trying to get out all night!"

Han Qin and her team followed his direction, and they all fell silent.

In the center of the room was a massive marble bathtub, its weight estimated at over a ton. It had completely crushed the floorboards beneath it, leaving a deep dent in the floor.

Even more bizarrely, a pair of legs were sticking out from under the bathtub, twitching occasionally.

The most outrageous part was that the bathtub's drain hole had a dagger handle sticking out of it, and a faint, fishy smell was emanating from the hole.

Even the experienced special forces members were dumbfounded by this sight.

A young officer approached carefully, shining a flashlight on the legs. He then bent down to examine the dagger handle more closely.

"Captain..." he said, swallowing hard, "...this doesn't look like a prank. This looks like... a real murder case."

Han Qin's expression turned serious.

She looked at Gu Fan, who was still sitting there sipping tea, then at the bathtub and the legs sticking out.

Her gaze finally fell on the dagger handle protruding from the drain hole.

"Call the forensic team."

Han Qin ordered, "And notify the city lord's mansion."

The young officer nodded and quickly left.

Han Qin turned to Gu Fan.

"Mr. Gu, you need to come with us."

Gu Fan put down his teacup, his expression still relaxed.

"Of course, Officer. I'm happy to cooperate."

He stood up and walked towards the door.

As Gu Fan passed by the bathtub, a faint, muffled voice could be heard from underneath:

"...help..."

Gu Fan paused, glanced at the bathtub, and smiled.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine. The bathtub is very sturdy."

Then, he followed the police out of the room.