61: Chapter 61: Skynet Tracking, Brother Dao Disappears

At the Yuezhou Municipal Public Security Bureau Command Center, a massive electronic screen displayed surveillance footage from every corner of the city.

Officer Liu stood before the screen, his brow furrowed. "How is it? Have you found any trace of Brother Dao?"

The technician shook his head. "Officer Liu, we've pulled all the surveillance footage from across the city, but since he appeared at the billiard hall three days ago, Brother Dao has seemingly vanished into thin air."

Another officer added, "His phone signal last appeared in the Eastern Industrial Zone before being turned off. We've searched all the warehouses and abandoned factories in that area, but found no suspicious persons."

Officer Liu slammed a fist onto the table. "Damn it! Every minute Miss Chen remains kidnapped is another minute of danger!"

He turned to Su Han and Su Wu, who were standing nearby. "Any clues from your side?"

Su Han shook his head. "He Yong only told us this much. Brother Dao is very cautious and never reveals his hideouts."

"Now we can only wait for the kidnappers' next instructions." Officer Liu sighed. "Is Chairman Chen ready with the ransom?"

"One hundred million in cash is being urgently mobilized." Su Wu checked his watch. "It should be gathered by tomorrow noon."

————

The next day at noon, the Chen Group Headquarters.

The atmosphere in the conference room was heavy. Several black suitcases were lined up neatly, filled with bundles of cash.

Chen Zhiyuan looked haggard, his eyes bloodshot. "The money is ready. We're just waiting for the kidnappers' call."

Officer Liu said seriously, "Mr. Chen, we've deployed police forces at all major traffic arteries. As soon as the kidnappers show themselves, we can immediately carry out an arrest."

"No!" Chen Zhiyuan stood up abruptly. "The kidnappers explicitly warned not to involve the police! If my daughter gets hurt because of this, who will be responsible?"

"Mr. Chen, please calm down." Officer Liu tried to persuade him. "There are countless cases where kidnappers kill the hostage after receiving the ransom. We cannot put all our hopes on their integrity."

Chen Zhiyuan clutched his hair in agony. "Then what better plan do you have? My daughter's life is hanging in the balance, I can't take any more risks!"

Su Han, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up. "Chairman Chen, I have a proposal."

Everyone's eyes turned toward him.

"Have the police withdraw on the surface, and I will track them in secret," Su Han said calmly. "I received professional training in the military and specialize in covert tracking."

Officer Liu's eyes lit up. "That's a good middle ground."

Chen Zhiyuan looked at Su Han hesitantly. "Are you sure you won't be discovered? The kidnappers said that if they find anyone following, they'll kill the hostage immediately!"

"I'm confident," Su Han said with a firm tone. "And I'll carry covert communication equipment to stay in touch with the police at all times."

After a heated discussion, Chen Zhiyuan finally agreed to this plan.

————

At 1:15 PM, the kidnappers' call finally came.

"Is the money ready?" The voice through the voice changer remained cold.

Chen Zhiyuan suppressed his trembling. "It's ready. One hundred million in cash, all here."

"Good." The kidnapper seemed satisfied. "Now listen carefully: drive alone with the money to the West City Cargo Pier. Remember, you must come alone. If any police are found following..."

"I understand!" Chen Zhiyuan interrupted hurriedly. "I won't risk my daughter's life!"

Hanging up the phone, Chen Zhiyuan looked at Su Han. "They want me to go to the West City Cargo Pier."

Officer Liu immediately pulled up a map of the pier. "The terrain there is complex, with containers piled up like mountains. It's indeed a good place for a transaction."

Su Han quickly scanned the map, planning potential routes and hiding spots in his mind. "Chairman Chen, do as they ask. I'll lie in ambush at the pier ahead of time and act as the situation dictates."

He turned to Officer Liu. "I need a set of plain clothes and covert communication equipment."

Ten minutes later, Su Han had changed into a dockworker's outfit, with a miniature earpiece in his ear and a police radio tucked into his waist.

"Comm test," Officer Liu's voice came through the earpiece.

"Copy, signal is clear," Su Han responded in a low voice.

Chen Zhiyuan looked at Su Han worriedly. "Mr. Su, I'm counting on you. Please, save my daughter..."

Su Han nodded solemnly. "I will do my best."

————

At the West City Cargo Pier, the setting sun cast long shadows from the containers.

Su Han arrived half an hour early, moving quickly under the cover of the containers.

His movements were as light as a cat's, without making the slightest sound.

"I'm in position," he whispered into the microphone on his collar.

Officer Liu's voice came through the earpiece: "Mr. Chen's car will arrive in ten minutes. The drone is airborne, but the pier area is too large and visibility is limited."

Su Han hid behind a stack of cargo crates, his eyes scanning the pier like a hawk.

Suddenly, he noticed the door of a distant container was slightly ajar.

"Suspicious target spotted, Container 7 in Zone D," Su Han lowered his voice. "I'm going to check it out."

He moved quickly through the shadows of the containers and soon approached the target.

Through the crack in the door, he saw two men with guns smoking inside.

"Confirmed two armed personnel, likely the kidnappers," Su Han reported. "But Miss Chen is not in sight."

Just then, Officer Liu's urgent voice came through the earpiece: "Mr. Chen has arrived! The kidnappers instructed him to park in the open space in Zone C!"

Su Han quickly adjusted his position, overlooking the entire pier from a high vantage point.

He saw Chen Zhiyuan's black Mercedes slowly drive into the designated spot and stop.

A man wearing a mask stepped out from behind a nearby container, pointing a gun at Chen Zhiyuan. "Get out! Bring out the money!"

Chen Zhiyuan tremblingly opened the trunk, revealing several black suitcases.

The masked man checked them and nodded with satisfaction. "Good."

"Where is my daughter?" Chen Zhiyuan asked urgently.

"We'll release her once we have the money," the masked man sneered. "Don't try any tricks!"

With that, two men came and took the suitcases away.

Chen Zhiyuan could only return to his car, waiting anxiously.

Su Han noticed the masked man glancing in a certain direction from time to time and immediately followed his gaze—it was a small cargo ship at the edge of the pier!

"The kidnappers might have the hostage hidden on the ship," Su Han reported immediately. "I'm preparing to sneak in and check."

"Be careful!" Officer Liu reminded him. "Backup will take another ten minutes to arrive!"

Su Han darted between containers like a shadow and soon approached the cargo ship.

He noticed two armed guards on the ship, alertly patrolling the area.

The cargo ship was small, only slightly larger than a fishing boat.

Taking a deep breath, Su Han slipped silently into the water, approaching the ship from below...

...

The icy seawater soaked through his clothes as Su Han approached the cargo ship silently like a fish. His hands gripped protrusions on the hull, muscles tensed, controlling the force of every inch of movement with precision to avoid making any sound.

A gruff male voice came from the deck: "Brother Dao, we've got the money. When do we pull out?"

"What's the rush?" a raspy voice responded—it was the man with the scarred face from the photo. "Once the boss confirms the money is fine, he'll naturally tell us to release the person."

Su Han's pupils constricted. As expected, there was someone behind Brother Dao!

"Where's that girl locked up? The brothers have been cooped up for days..."

"Shut up!" Brother Dao barked sternly. "The boss specifically instructed that no one is allowed to touch a single hair on her head! The big shots involved in this business could kill us as easily as crushing ants!"

Su Han felt a chill in his heart. Was there an even more complex web of power behind this kidnapping case?

He quietly retreated, submerging into the water while pressing his communicator: "Officer Liu, the kidnappers are about to move. Miss Chen is not on the ship. I suggest we play the long game to catch the big fish."

Officer Liu's hurried breathing came through the earpiece: "That's too risky! If you lose them..."

"Trust me," Su Han's voice was steady. "Tracking is what I was best at in the military."

After a few seconds of silence, Officer Liu compromised: "Keep the comms open. Backup is on standby."