59: Chapter 59: Damn it!! Who is it?!

"Su Han, Su Wu's..." He paused, "family."

Officer Liu nodded thoughtfully. "This gentleman is right. The kidnappers knew about the bodyguards, which means they've likely been monitoring Miss Chen, or..."

"Or there's an inside man," Su Han finished his sentence, his gaze sweeping across everyone in the meeting room.

Chairman Chen's expression shifted. "Are you saying someone in my company is colluding with the kidnappers?"

"We can't rule out that possibility," Officer Liu said seriously. "From now on, all high-level executives of the Chen Group will be under investigation. At the same time, we'll arrange for plainclothes officers to protect you, in case the kidnappers change targets."

Su Wu stepped forward. "Chairman Chen, our Su Clan Security bears an inescapable responsibility for this. I request to participate in the rescue mission to make up for our failure."

Chairman Chen gave a cold laugh. "To let more of your people go to their deaths?"

"Chairman Chen," Su Han interjected calmly, "I suggest a two-pronged approach. The police can investigate through standard procedures, while we act in the shadows. The kidnappers explicitly said not to call the police; if they notice large-scale police movement, they might do something desperate."

Officer Liu frowned. "Sir, solving cases is the responsibility of the police. It's best if your security company doesn't act on its own to avoid interfering with the investigation."

Su Han smiled slightly. "Of course, we will fully cooperate with the police. We are just providing some... professional advice."

He pulled an identification card from his pocket and handed it to Officer Liu. "Perhaps this will alleviate your concerns."

Officer Liu took the ID, and his pupils suddenly constricted—it was a military Special Forces identification card.

"I see..." Officer Liu gave Su Han a complex look and returned the ID. "I understand. Mr. Chen, this... gentleman can indeed provide professional assistance."

Chairman Chen looked at the interaction between the two with confusion, but in his current desperation to save his daughter, he didn't care to ask more. "As long as my daughter can be brought back safely, I'll cooperate with any method!"

...

Leaving the meeting room, Su Wu punched the elevator wall, letting out a dull thud. "Damn it!! Who exactly is it?"

"Big Brother, let's go to the hospital to see Old Zhao first." Su Han pressed a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe he can provide some clues."

————

Outside the Intensive Care Unit of Renhe Hospital, the smell of disinfectant was pungent.

Through the glass window, a middle-aged man covered in tubes could be seen lying on the hospital bed, the monitor emitting rhythmic beeps.

"The doctor said the bullet pierced his lung and he lost too much blood," Su Wu's voice was hoarse. "Even if he survives, he might... never be able to work in this industry again."

A nurse walked over. "Are you family members? Visitors aren't allowed right now."

"I'm his boss," Su Wu said. "Has he regained consciousness? Did he say anything?"

The nurse shook her head. "He's been in a coma. However..."

She lowered her voice. "The person who brought him in said he kept repeating the word 'cufflink' before he collapsed."

Su Han and Su Wu exchanged a look.

"Thank you." Su Wu tucked a business card into the nurse's hand. "If he wakes up, please contact me immediately."

Leaving the hospital, the two immediately drove to the scene of the incident.

On the way, Su Wu explained, "Old Zhao is a veteran who has been with me for eight years; he's one of the company's top bodyguards. To be able to take down both him and Ah Qiang (the deceased) at the same time, the opponents are definitely not ordinary kidnappers."

"Cufflink..." Su Han was thoughtful. "This might be a key clue."

————

In the outskirts of Yuezhou, the Emerald Lake Villa District.

This was the residence of the eldest Miss Chen. The environment was quiet and security was tight. At this moment, a police line had been set up in front of Villa No. 12, and several criminal investigators were examining the scene.

Su Wu showed his security company ID to the officer on duty and was granted access to the perimeter area.

"Miss Chen goes to the gym every morning at 10:00 AM; the route is fixed."

Su Wu pointed to a tree-lined path. "Old Zhao was driving, and Ah Qiang was in the passenger seat. The kidnappers ambushed them right here."

Su Han squatted down, carefully observing the road surface.

There were several obvious brake marks on the asphalt, and scattered bloodstains had already been circled with chalk.

"This wasn't an ordinary kidnapping," Su Han said suddenly. "Looking at the brake marks, the kidnappers forced the vehicle to stop head-on."

Su Wu's expression became even more grim. "Even though we're a security company, regulations state we can only carry certain other weapons; firearms are off-limits. The kidnappers had guns; it's only reasonable they couldn't protect her."

Su Han searched slowly along the roadside and suddenly found a small, shiny object in the grass.

He picked it up carefully.

"Big Brother, look at this."

It was an exquisite silver cufflink, engraved with fine patterns, glinting in the sunlight.

Su Wu leaned in to examine it. "This isn't standard issue for our security company."

His eyes suddenly widened. "Wait, this pattern... I think I've seen it somewhere before."

Su Han tucked the cufflink away and walked to where the kidnappers' car had been parked.

There were several distinct tire tracks on the ground. He squatted down and measured the tread with his fingers.

"Big Brother, look at this tire tread." Su Han pointed to the ground. "Tires with this specific pattern are very rare on the market."

Su Wu looked closely and suddenly took out his phone to snap several photos. "Right! I remember a case last year where the kidnappers used this kind of imported tire! I remember Old Zhang mentioning it..."

The two looked at each other and immediately understood what the other was thinking.

Su Wu immediately dialed a number. "Old Zhang, help me check which vehicles in Yuezhou have had Continental ContiSportContact 5 tires replaced in the last month... Yes, the ones with that special tread."

Hanging up, Su Wu explained, "Old Zhang runs a repair shop and is well-informed on the streets. One of these tires costs four to five thousand; not many people change them."

In less than half an hour, Old Zhang called back.

According to Old Zhang's reply, the owner was unknown as it was a car with cloned plates. All that was known was that the person who changed the tires was a relatively famous local thug who often hung around the pool halls in the Old Town area.

He was always surrounded by a group of people. Old Zhang also sent a photo, which was a screenshot from surveillance footage.

Over half an hour later.

In the Old Town of Yuezhou, narrow streets were lined with old-style buildings from the 80s and 90s.

Su Wu parked the car at the entrance of an alley and pointed to the flickering neon sign ahead. "That's the 'Grand Duke Billiards Club.' Old Zhang said the thug who changed the tires often hangs out here."

Su Han sized up the pool hall through the car window.

Several young men stood at the entrance with cigarettes in their mouths, exaggerated tattoos on their arms, letting out crude laughs from time to time.

"Big Brother, you wait in the car. I'll go in and take a look." Su Han unbuckled his seatbelt.

"No!" Su Wu grabbed him. "Third Grandpa, this place is a den of dragons and snakes; it's too dangerous for you alone."

Su Han gave a light laugh and patted Su Wu's hand. "Don't worry, dealing with people like this is exactly what I learned in the army."

Before Su Wu could say anything else, Su Han had already pushed the door open and stepped out of the car.

Today he was wearing a simple black T-shirt and jeans, looking just like an ordinary college student.