125: Chapter 125 Operation Success

Footsteps rushed towards the Basement door.

Through the kitchen door crack, Cao Kun saw Brother Qiang and A Biao charge down, both holding knives.

Seconds later, Brother Qiang's furious roar came from the Basement: "Where is she?! Mouse?!"

Then came A Biao's startled cry: "Brother Qiang! Mouse is here! Tied up!"

"Damn it! We've been tricked!" Brother Qiang charged back up, his face ashen. "Someone took all the goods! Hurry, after them! They can't have gone far!"

"Brother Qiang, the computer... the computer's gone..." A Biao rushed down from the second floor, his voice panicked.

Brother Qiang's expression turned even uglier.

He pulled out his phone, about to make a call, then suddenly stopped, as if realizing something.

He slowly turned, his gaze sweeping across the first floor. Finally, it fixed on the kitchen door.

"Come out," Brother Qiang said, his voice icy. "I know you're in there."

Cao Kun pushed the door open and walked out.

Seeing him, Brother Qiang was stunned for a moment before a look of sudden understanding dawned on his face: "It's you... that customer..."

"More than just a customer," Cao Kun said.

A Biao drew his knife—a switchblade with a gleaming, cold edge. "Brother Qiang, it's him! The one who came yesterday!"

Brother Qiang stared at Cao Kun, a murderous glint in his eyes. "Where did you take them?"

"To a safe place," Cao Kun replied calmly.

"Looking for death!" A Biao roared, charging forward, his knife stabbing towards Cao Kun's chest.

Cao Kun sidestepped the attack, his left hand grabbing A Biao's wrist and twisting it forcefully.

A Biao let out a shriek, the crisp sound of a wrist bone cracking audible, and the knife clattered to the floor.

Cao Kun clenched his right fist and smashed it hard against A Biao's temple.

A Biao grunted and slumped to the ground, unconscious.

The entire process took less than three seconds.

Brother Qiang's face paled drastically.

He knew he had encountered a tough opponent.

"Brother, let's talk this out," Brother Qiang said, putting down his knife and raising both hands. "You can take those goods if you want them, I can give you money too. We're all just trying to make a living out here, no need to fight to the death."

"Make a living?" Cao Kun sneered. "Imprisoning girls, forcing them into prostitution, abuse, rape, murder... You call that making a living?"

Brother Qiang's expression changed. "You... how do you know..."

"Xiao Mei," Cao Kun uttered the two words.

Brother Qiang's pupils contracted. "You... just who are you?"

"The man who's going to end you," Cao Kun said.

Brother Qiang suddenly erupted into action, pulling another knife from the small of his back, longer than the previous one.

He knew some martial arts; his movements were much faster than A Biao's.

But Cao Kun was faster.

The moment Brother Qiang charged, Cao Kun didn't retreat but advanced instead, sidestepping the blade while simultaneously kicking Brother Qiang's knee.

Brother Qiang grunted, dropping to one knee.

Cao Kun wrested the knife from his hand and pressed it against his neck.

The blade was ice-cold, pressed tightly against his skin.

"Don't... don't kill me..." Brother Qiang's voice trembled. "The money... it's all upstairs... there's a metal box under the bed, thirty thousand in cash inside... and a gold chain... it's all yours..."

"Where is Xiao Mei's body?" Cao Kun asked.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about..."

The blade pressed down, breaking the skin, beads of blood welling up.

"East City... the landfill..." Brother Qiang finally said. "Dumped there..."

"Specific location."

"East Zone... Pit Number Three... in a black plastic bag... buried about one meter deep..."

Cao Kun memorized it. Then he took out his phone and dialed Liang Lingmeng's number. "You can come in now."

A few minutes later, the sound of police sirens grew from the distance.

Brother Qiang's face turned completely white.

"You called the police?" He couldn't believe it.

"Of course," Cao Kun said. "Did you think I'd carry out vigilante justice like you?"

"But... those videos... those photos... if they get out, those girls are finished..." A flicker of cunning flashed in Brother Qiang's eyes. "How about we make a deal? You let me go, I'll give you all the backups. Otherwise, even if I go in, my brothers outside will upload the videos online..."

Cao Kun smiled.

It was a cold smile that sent a shiver down Brother Qiang's spine.

"Did you think I hadn't considered that?" Cao Kun said. "Your computer, phone, external hard drives—I've got them all. As for your 'brothers'..." He glanced at A Biao on the floor and Mouse in the Basement. "They'll be joining you soon enough."

Brother Qiang tried to say more, but the Law Enforcement Bureau personnel had already rushed in.

Liang Lingmeng led the team, six Enforcement Officers, fully armed.

Seeing the situation inside, Liang Lingmeng was momentarily taken aback before directing her subordinates: "Cuff them!"

Brother Qiang and A Biao were handcuffed.

Mouse was also dragged out from the Basement; not fully conscious yet, he was handcuffed as well.

"And the girls?" Liang Lingmeng asked Cao Kun.

"Safely transported away," Cao Kun replied. "To the place you arranged."

Liang Lingmeng let out a sigh of relief.

She looked at Cao Kun, her expression complex. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Cao Kun said, handing her the bag containing the evidence. "Computer, hard drives, phones, ledger books, and the drugs. Xiao Mei's body is at the East City landfill, East Zone, Pit Number Three, buried about one meter deep."

Liang Lingmeng took the bag, giving Cao Kun's shoulder a firm pat. "Well done."

Cao Kun smiled slightly but said nothing.

He walked over to the newly captured girl.

The girl still lay on the floor, her mouth sealed with tape, her eyes filled with terror.

Cao Kun crouched down and gently peeled off the tape.

"Don't be afraid, you're safe now," he said.

The girl looked at him, tears welling up. "Th-thank you..."

An ambulance arrived, loading the girl and A Biao onto it.

A Biao was still unconscious and needed medical attention.

Brother Qiang and Mouse were escorted into a police car.

Liang Lingmeng and Cao Kun stood outside the house, watching it all.

"I'll handle the follow-up," Liang Lingmeng said. "Those girls will receive protection and treatment. As for Brother Qiang and the others... they'll never see the outside again."

"And Xiao Mei's case," Cao Kun added. "We need to get justice for her."

"I will," Liang Lingmeng nodded solemnly. "I promise."

Cao Kun watched as the police cars and ambulance drove away, disappearing into the night.

The biting wind still blew, but for some reason, he didn't feel as cold anymore.

He looked up at the sky. The clouds had parted, revealing a full moon.

The moonlight was cold, but bright.