127: A living target

From a manhole shaft near the underground warehouse, a thudding sound came from below, as if someone was climbing up the ladder inside the shaft.

As the manhole cover suddenly moved, a gap was slowly pushed open.

The surrounding rainwater poured down through the gap, drenching the person below.

"Ptooey." The person below spat, observing the front through the gap.

Seeing that there seemed to be no one in front of them, they waited for a while before slowly lifting the manhole cover and moving it aside.

A man, naked and covered in sewage, was seen stealthily climbing out of the shaft.

However, just as his upper body emerged from the shaft, his arms supporting the edge, he hadn't had time to exert force.

A low shout came from the back of his head: "Come out!"

The middle-aged man, whose figure was slightly stooped, instantly tensed up, freezing in place as if he had been electrocuted again.

Cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and he stiffly turned his head back.

Behind him stood three Police Officers in a neat line, their figures unmoving in the pounding rain, having waited for a long time like hunters waiting for prey.

Police Officer handguns and a pair of gleaming silver handcuffs were also waiting for him to appear.

Before the middle-aged man could make any move to resist, two Police Officers stepped forward and controlled him from either side.

He was dragged out of the shaft and handcuffed.

A Police Officer stepped forward, examined the man's face, and smiled, saying:

"Yan Laoqi, we finally caught you!"

He then reported the situation to the people at the entrance of the underground warehouse:

"Director Zhang, someone did indeed crawl out! The number is complete this time."

Hearing Police Officer's shout, Police Officers guarding the entrance also breathed a sigh of relief.

Director Zhang smiled and nodded, stepping towards Yan Laoqi.

Police Officers guarding the entrance also looked towards the manhole shaft.

They watched the middle-aged man, who was only wearing underwear, from a distance, observing with interest.

"Captain Liang was right, there really was a surprise at the sewer exit."

"Just wearing underwear on a rainy day, this guy really isn't afraid of the cold."

Just as the two Police Officers had their backs to the entrance of the underground warehouse.

Taking advantage of this extremely brief moment, a figure quietly emerged from the underground entrance.

He passed by almost touching their backs, silently heading into the woods.

One of Police Officers was quite alert and seemed to sense something was wrong.

He immediately turned his head and glanced behind him.

But behind him was still the half-closed iron gate, and the figure had already hidden in the woods.

"Strange, I thought I heard some movement just now..."

Police Officer looked at the woods not far away, muttering.

...

Meanwhile, Yan Laoqi was being held down on the ground, his hands cuffed behind his back.

He hadn't fully recovered from being electrocuted.

He recalled what happened when he first woke up:

It turned out that when Yan Laoqi first woke up, he found himself in a sewer shaft.

Someone had stripped him clean.

His handgun and walkie-talkie were gone, leaving him with only his underwear.

Without anything to resist with, and hearing the whistling Police Officer sirens above, he was too afraid to show his face.

Yan Laoqi simply hid in the shaft, planning to wait until Police had finished arresting the others and left before finding an opportunity to get out.

However, after hiding for a while with trepidation.

He heard footsteps above, moving along the sewer pipe.

The footsteps were exceptionally clear, walking all the way to the manhole cover of the shaft...

And finally stopped directly above his head!

Although Yan Laoqi didn't know who was above, his nerves were taut.

He covered his nose and mouth with his sewage-covered hands, the unpleasant smell stinging his throat.

Because he knew that if the person above detected any movement below, they could lift the manhole cover and see him at a glance.

However, Yan Laoqi's worries did not materialize.

The person above just stood at the manhole entrance, kicking the cover twice with their shoe sole as if playing with him.

Just as Yan Laoqi couldn't discern the identity of the person above, a strange but upright and deep voice sounded:

"Director, yes... most have been caught, now only one is missing, he should be hiding."

Upon hearing this, Yan Laoqi's hand covering his nose and mouth tightened even more.

Leaving several clearly visible finger marks on his thin face.

The people above were indeed Police Officers!

And listening to the conversation above, he was the only one left who hadn't been caught!

As Yan Laoqi was thinking this, he was at a loss for what to do.

The voice that followed from above completely unnerved him!

"The sewer? That was our oversight..."

"Okay, I'll take everyone inside and continue searching, we won't miss any corner!"

Hearing what the person above said, how could Yan Laoqi remain calm? He was practically cursing in his heart!

It was clear there were Police Officers everywhere outside, and they even said they would turn the underground warehouse upside down!

Now, even if he were given a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare to go up.

Yan Laoqi quickly looked around, finally looking at the narrow sewer pipes in front and behind him.

The size of the passage made it quite difficult for an adult man to squeeze through.

Fortunately, Yan Laoqi was thin and slightly stooped.

He could just barely squeeze in.

Recalling the voice from above, Police seemed to be focusing all their search efforts on the underground warehouse.

This meant that as long as he took the opportunity to crawl through the sewer.

He still had a chance to get out through an outer manhole shaft and escape Police pursuit.

With this mindset, the footsteps above also moved away, as if deliberately giving him a chance.

But Yan Laoqi did not sense anything unusual, thinking he had found a loophole.

He quickly crawled into the sewer and drilled his way outward.

However, who would have thought that Yan Laoqi crawled hundreds of meters in the sewer.

Almost naked, his skin was scraped raw.

The sewage in the wounds caused piercing pain.

Judging that he was out of the underground warehouse area, he finally saw a manhole exit ahead.

As soon as he crawled out, he was caught by Police who were waiting like hunters.

At this moment, seeing the swarming Police Officers, Yan Laoqi even doubted if he had misheard earlier.

Didn't the person who stepped on the manhole cover say that Police's main search direction was underground?

Why were so many people ambushed outside? And they were specifically waiting at the sewer exit!

Yan Laoqi had no time to think carefully, being held down on the ground by two Police Officers.

The rainwater splashing up from the ground kept hitting his face, making it difficult for him to open his eyes.

However, Yan Laoqi still squinted his eyes and looked towards the underground warehouse.

The next moment, he saw a scene he would never forget!

Through the blur of the rain curtain, Yan Laoqi saw a figure walking out of the underground warehouse.

He walked out almost brushing past the two Police Officers guarding the entrance.

And while they were looking at him, he headed towards the woods not far away.

When he saw this scene, Yan Laoqi instantly froze!

It wasn't because of anything else, but because that person was wearing a Water Products Company uniform,

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And on his head, he was wearing a familiar gray baseball cap...

That outfit, wasn't it clearly himself?!

"What the hell... am I messed up from being electrocuted? I'm seeing myself!"

Yan Laoqi muttered in his heart, and soon realized something was wrong.

Because the person wearing his clothes was not stooped.

He watched with his own eyes as the person went into the woods, disappearing behind a tree in the blink of an eye, never to be seen again.

Yan Laoqi couldn't help but recall Big Eye's description on the walkie-talkie earlier.

Didn't that unpredictable Yuan act like this before, avoiding the sight of all the thugs?!

Realizing this, Yan Laoqi couldn't help but think:

But aren't there only Police Officers in the underground warehouse now...

Even if he was Yuan, how could he just walk out so brazenly?

As this thought emerged, combined with the voice he heard in the shaft earlier...

Yan Laoqi instantly understood something!

He was being used as a target to attract attention!

There was no such thing as gathering everyone to search the underground!

Yuan knew perfectly well that someone was waiting outside the manhole exit!

That's why he deliberately went to the shaft where he had electrocuted him and said those words.

His purpose was to make himself lose his composure, crawl out through the sewer, and provide cover for his escape!

Thinking of this, Yan Laoqi was instantly furious!

Although he was currently being held down on the muddy ground by two Police Officers' knees,

But seeing Yuan's figure disappear into the woods, he still struggled desperately, unwilling to give up.

"Yuan! ...Gurgle..." Yan Laoqi wanted to roar out,

But as soon as he opened his mouth, he got mud and water from the ground in it.

He spat twice, strained his neck, and lifted his head from the muddy ground before finally shouting:

"Yuan! He's Yuan!"

"He was the one talking up there too! Damn it, he wanted me to be a living target for him!"

The surrounding Police Officers all frowned at the sound, looking in the direction Yan Laoqi was shouting.

However, by now, nothing could be seen.

Just then, Director Zhang also walked over, examined Yan Laoqi's face, and recognized his identity.

"Yan Laoqi, you can't escape this time."

Then, seeing Yan Laoqi's hoarse shouts, Director Zhang frowned slightly and said:

"What's he yelling about?"

Police Officers looked at the location Yan Laoqi was shouting at and shook their heads, responding:

"Not sure, he keeps shouting Yuan's name..."

"But Director Zhang, when Deputy Captain Zhao was arresting people inside just now, those guys inside were also shouting the same thing."

"Oh? Is that so..." Director Zhang's expression became serious, and he looked back.

He looked at the surrounding woods, but said nothing, remaining silent for a moment before turning to Police Officers and saying:

"Alright, prepare to withdraw, have them bring out everyone inside."

"Yes!" Police Officers responded in unison.

In a moment, two groups of people also came out from the entrance of the underground warehouse.

At this point, the half-closed iron gate was wide open, and the first to come out were Liang Yuzhu and Lin Jia.

She was still attending to Lin Jia's emotions, trying to minimize her psychological trauma.

"Director Zhang." Liang Yuzhu saw Director Zhang and first raised her hand in a salute.

Director Zhang responded solemnly, then a smile appeared on his face.

He praised without reservation: "Captain Liang, this operation was very successful!"

"Not only did we catch Wang Lin and confirm his kidnapping charges in advance, but the group of thugs he hired are also not simple."

"After we get back, we'll question them properly, which should help solve quite a few old cases, and your commendation ceremony isn't far off, hehe."

However, Liang Yuzhu seemed to not care about what Director Zhang was saying at all.

She casually agreed on the surface, but her eyes were searching outside.

As early as when she came out of the underground warehouse, Liang Yuzhu had observed the clothes of the captured thugs.

The sleeves of their left arms were clean, without any bloodstains.

Clearly, Yuan was not among them.

And the situation outside was still unknown.

Soon, Zhao Hu also came out of the underground warehouse with the people he had apprehended, constantly communicating on his walkie-talkie.

Seeing this, Liang Yuzhu directly asked: "Zhao Hu, how many people were caught in total this time?"

"Thirteen thugs, a total of fourteen including Wang Lin."

"Fourteen..." Liang Yuzhu muttered, her brow furrowing slightly.

Could it be that Yuan really escaped from this encirclement?

Liang Yuzhu didn't necessarily want to catch Yuan and see his true face.

Instead, she was worried about his injuries, not knowing the specific situation.

If he were with Police, he could definitely be sent to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible.

Now that Yuan was nowhere to be seen, he wouldn't be foolish enough to go to a hospital for his gunshot wound.

Does he have his own way of treating it? Liang Yuzhu thought to herself.

Just then, Zhao Hu also stepped forward, holding a pile of handguns in his jacket pocket.

He reported the earlier findings to Director Zhang:

"Director Zhang, when we were arresting the criminals just now, we found that they had all been electrocuted by someone, and their handguns were missing."

"Afterwards, we searched some hidden locations nearby and found these handguns and bullets, not a single one missing."

"It seems someone hid their handguns in advance, which is also an important reason why we didn't engage in a firefight with them and successfully apprehended them without any casualties."

"Oh? Something like that happened..." Director Zhang looked at the apprehended thugs, clearly also surprised.

There were more than ten of them, and most were on Police's wanted list.

He couldn't believe that with just two people infiltrating, their threat level was reduced to the minimum!

"Captain Liang, did you do this?" Director Zhang couldn't stop smiling, his eyes revealing undisguised admiration.

Although this Captain of the Criminal Investigation Team often zoned out during meetings, he really didn't drop the ball at crucial moments!

However, Liang Yuzhu was stunned for a moment.

She had just learned that the thugs' handguns had all been confiscated before Police arrived.

Her mind immediately recalled what Yuan had told her when he was disguised.

He said he would try his best to deal with the thugs underground and take their handguns to minimize the danger of rescuing Lin Jia...

Thinking of this, Liang Yuzhu honestly shook her head.

Seeing that the expression on her face didn't seem faked at all, Director Zhang also couldn't help but be startled.

The smile on his face froze, as if he had thought of something, and he asked doubtfully:

"Not you?? Then could it be... that Yuan did it?"

Liang Yuzhu didn't speak this time, but the result was obvious.

Director Zhang couldn't help but take a sharp breath.

He had originally thought that Liang Yuzhu's friend was good at collecting intelligence for cases.

But now it seemed, he had some other abilities as well.

"Let's withdraw..." Director Zhang glanced at the surrounding woods and said:

"Also, the person Wang Lin kidnapped, take her back to the station first for a statement, and also comfort her."

Meanwhile, in this pouring rain, with the rainwater beating down on him.

Su Yue endured the pain in his left arm, found his direction, and continued to head into a spot in the woods.

...

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