172: Chapter 172 Disgusting

Roland was talking to someone, his smile sincere and his gestures appropriate. Lin Ning's Psychic Power gently wrapped around him—tension, excitement, and vigilance.

Three emotions were intertwined. The moment his Psychic Power made contact, the other party's subtle emotions had nowhere to hide; this ability was the source of Lin Ning's confidence.

He repeated the process.

Hans held a glass of red wine, chatting and laughing with plenty of charisma. The Psychic Power feedback: relaxation, pride, and anticipation.

Proud of what? Anticipating what?

Victor stood alone by the buffet table, eating in silence. Vigilance, impatience, and coldness.

Eva chatted with the translator, her smile gentle and her demeanor elegant. Vigilance, calmness, and disgust.

Four people, four states, one single truth: they were all acting.

The more perfect the performance, the bigger the problem.

9:45 PM.

Roland headed toward the restroom. Lin Ning followed far behind, carrying a tray.

The corridor was empty. Roland stopped in front of a potted plant, lowered his head, and his fingers quickly fiddled with something.

Lin Ning's heart skipped a beat. His body reacted extremely quickly, taking a step back and shrinking into the corner.

The next second, Roland alertly turned his head to scan both ends of the corridor.

Simultaneously, Lin Ning's Psychic Power went into full gear. It was no longer a supplementary line but spread out like a spider web, covering Roland.

He "saw" Roland confirm once more that this was a blind spot for surveillance on the way to the restroom with no one around, then quickly bend down to stuff a metallic device into the flowerpot.

Through his all-encompassing Psychic Power, he "saw" the man's fingertips tightening and trembling slightly; he "felt" his tension, vigilance, and excitement.

Lin Ning hid around the corner with his eyes closed, leaving only a trace of Psychic Power around himself while sending the rest toward the potted plant—it was a metallic object, square and cold, with precise internal parts and a timer, inside...

Lin Ning was a bit confused; this thing didn't look like any bomb-like item he had learned about in class. It was also possible that he hadn't been studying long enough and lacked experience.

He "saw" Roland enter the restroom with a natural gait. Lin Ning wanted to continue following with his Psychic Power, but the stabbing pain in his head made him pull back reluctantly.

Ignoring the dizziness and headache, Lin Ning tapped his communicator. "A3 Area surveillance blind spot, fifth potted plant, Roland placed an item. He has entered the A3 Area restroom."

After reporting, Lin Ning didn't pause and immediately left the path to return to the venue entrance.

Once Roland returned to the hall, Lin Ning uneasily probed the A3 Area again and found a team member disguised as a cleaner walking quickly toward the plant to wipe it.

The wiping motion was smooth as silk; his fingertips accurately pinched the device without making a sound. After wiping, he stood up naturally and blended into the shadows of the corridor. The whole process took less than 10 seconds, professional enough to be reassuring.

Lin Ning let out a long sigh of relief.

Captain Zhou's cold, hard voice sounded in the earpiece: "Report: Timed Smoke Generator dismantled. Maintain vigilance; there is sabotage activity."

A smoke generator? Lin Ning narrowed his eyes and sneered inwardly. This was the kind of move that didn't bite but was purely meant to be nauseating, a pure face-slapping tactic.

Lin Ning felt a bit regretful. If only his Golden Finger had silent and invisible offensive power. Although this Roland guy was finished, how could it be as satisfying as punishing him personally?

Close to 10:00 PM, Lin Ning's Psychic Power fed back Roland's increasingly high emotions—that pride, tension, and anticipation.

Between 10:00 and 10:10 PM, Roland's emotions shifted to vigilance, panic, regret, and anxiety...

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Lin Ning's eyes. He looked up and met Liu Zhao's gaze from a distance as Liu Zhao moved through Roland's area.

[Great job!]

[You flatter me, you flatter me!]

After the two exchanged glances, they went their separate ways.

In the final moments, Lin Ning moved through the venue like a butterfly, his steps elegant and composed as he conducted a grand inspection.

The four foreigners he had pointed out were all being shadowed by specialized personnel. He finally felt completely at ease.

10:30 PM, the banquet was nearing its end.

Roland couldn't wait to leave.

Victor and Eva also left one after another.

Only Hans Krause remained in a corner talking to someone, his smile gentle and his demeanor perfect, like a meticulously carved mannequin.

Lin Ning looked at the striking deep red above his head.

He should have already completed his mission. Besides, there wouldn't be any further need for him to use his Psychic Power heavily.

There were still three targets to check, and only this one was left in the venue. Should he check one more to save Chen Zhi and the others some trouble?

He bit his lip.

Locking his gaze on Hans, he tapped his Psychic Power lightly, piercing into the depths of the name.

The next moment, images flooded in—a dim room, a man tied to a chair, a cloth gagging his mouth, a face distorted by terror. Hans smiled, holding a sharp short knife in his hand. "Don't be afraid, it'll be over soon. It won't hurt."

The blade sliced through, and blood gushed out.

Hans closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his expression almost ecstatic.

The scene changed again. A forest, a fresh pit, a female corpse, blonde, young. Hans wiped the dirt off his hands and whispered softly, "The eleventh one, you are the most beautiful."

Striking up a conversation at a bar, leaving arm in arm. A bathtub, blood-red water. Hans washed his hands, humming a cheerful tune. In front of the mirror, he adjusted his tie and smiled at his reflection: "The twelfth one, happy birthday, Hans."

Lin Ning forcibly cut off the images, his stomach churning.

It wasn't a movie, and it wasn't a fantasy; Lin Ning knew these were things that had actually happened.

A serial killer.

A pervert.

But the crimes were committed abroad and had nothing to do with this country, nor did they have anything to do with Lin Ning.

Lin Ning suppressed his discomfort and exhaled a breath of turbid air. His luck was truly terrible; he had hit upon a pervert with just one probe.

The remaining two, Victor and Eva—he would leave them to the professionals.

11:00 PM, the guests had all dispersed.

Lin Ning changed back into his own clothes and stood in the back alley of the hotel, lighting a cigarette. The smoke dissipated into the night, and exhaustion finally washed over him.

Liu Zhao came up from behind and patted his shoulder: "Division Chief Chen is waiting for you in the car." Lin Ning put out the cigarette and walked toward the alley entrance.

Chen Zhi's car was parked quietly by the roadside, its lights gentle.

He opened the door and sat inside. Chen Zhi turned to look at him but didn't ask anything first.

Lin Ning spoke first, his tone carrying a hint of relief: "Roland is definitely problematic. He planted a smoke generator; you should have received the report on that. As for Victor and Eva, you guys should focus on them."

Chen Zhi frowned slightly: "What about Hans?"

A look of obvious disgust appeared on Lin Ning's face, his brow furrowing: "You can keep an eye on him, but the focus should still be on the two I just mentioned."

He rubbed his temples, looking exhausted. "I'm tired. The mission is over, right? I want to go back and sleep."

Chen Zhi looked deeply at his slightly pale face, which even makeup couldn't hide, but seeing that he didn't seem to have any other obvious discomfort, he suppressed his doubts. He didn't ask further, only nodded and started the car...