96: Chapter 96 New Map, The Death of An Zhaocheng

When Director Zhang saw Lin Ning's expression change, he burst out laughing and pointed at him. "You little rascal!"

Lin Ning didn't feel embarrassed at all. He chuckled and said, "I know you care about me. Besides, you're not losing out either!"

He gave a thumbs-up as he spoke. "In the future, you'll be the top figure in the police force here in The Capital, commanding the whole city."

Director Zhang liked Lin Ning more and more the more he looked at him. He laughed heartily, "Hahaha... Good, I'll be waiting for you to win me that 'Order of the Alliance Leader'."

Officer Li Feng understood now. He realized he was the only casualty of this shady deal! His face turned green.

Director Zhang chatted with Lin Ning for a few more minutes, repeatedly reminding him that the tracking situation from yesterday must not happen again.

Lin Ning promised repeatedly. After all, if it happened again, he'd be scared to death and wouldn't be able to worry about what happened after.

After Director Zhang left, Lin Ning looked at Officer Li Feng, who was sitting upright and seriously organizing case files at the computer.

He slumped back like he had no bones. "Don't go looking for trouble and failing to appreciate kindness! Director Zhang and I are the benefactors of your life, the stepping stones to your future!"

Officer Li Feng couldn't keep up the act either. "Can't you just say it straight?"

Lin Ning rolled his eyes. "Food fed to you is never as tasty as food you fight for."

Officer Li Feng spoke with some hesitation and conflict, "I looked up some folk proverbs, and they say doing too much 'Physiognomy' is bad. Those things like the 'Five Banes and Three Deficiencies' aren't entirely fictional."

Lin Ning was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

He stood up and patted Officer Li Feng on the shoulder. "Don't worry! I'm doing righteous work, accumulating merit and doing good. It's my destiny."

"Just wait! Daddy's going to make you fly!"

Lin Ning dodged the kick Officer Li Feng aimed at him and strode out of the Police Station.

He hopped on his electric scooter and headed straight for the jurisdiction of the Changsheng Police Station.

...

Li Xianmin picked up the phone and hesitated for a moment. He closed his eyes irritably, realizing that discovering Brian An was under surveillance had saved his life, but it had also put him in check.

But he still had to make the call. "Division Chief Chen, it's Li Xianmin. My subordinates just reported that a journalist named Brian An, whom we were screening, is being monitored by your people."

"Since there's something wrong with this kid, I'll remove him from the leadership interview list. Right, we only screened him because he was in the press group."

"If you guys are involved, there's definitely a problem. I know the rules, I won't ask. My people will withdraw now."

"Old Chen, you guys have been showing up a lot lately. Do you have some new technology? Don't forget about us if you have any secret weapons. We're under a lot of pressure with the security for the leaders!"

"Hahaha... We're just the shadows of the leaders; how could we be out in front every day? When it comes to taking credit and showing faces, it's still you guys! Alright, get back to work. Don't go hiding the good stuff! See ya!"

After hanging up, his expression darkened.

He was responsible for the daily and event security of leaders and foreign guests, so his ability to read people was top-notch. Even though Chen Zhi denied it, there was definitely something going on here.

What exactly is it???

He composed himself. He knew he was flustered, but there were more important things to deal with now.

An hour later, in a safe house Li Xianmin had arranged for himself.

He took out a satellite phone and dialed a number he had memorized.

"Artisan here."

"Code name 'Officer,' emergency. 'Cassette' is being monitored by the top investigation team. My risk of exposure is extremely high."

He spoke rapidly and then immediately turned off the phone.

Li Xianmin looked at the expensive phone, which had been used for less than thirty seconds. With a calm expression, he quickly and forcefully dismantled it into a pile of small scraps, then packed them into several bags. He flushed the core motherboard down the toilet.

He discarded the trash separately as he walked, finally taking off his transparent gloves and throwing them into a bin. He lit a cigarette and stood there, the rising white smoke blurring his features.

At the USA headquarters, the contents of the call received by the dedicated operator were rushed to the person-in-charge's desk.

Presley looked at the content. It was only a few words, but it made a sense of anxiety rise in his heart. It was happening again. Over the past month, sleeper agents who had been well-hidden were 'suddenly' being exposed one after another, some even during their silence periods.

Pinching his aching forehead, he picked up the phone and gave two brief, direct orders.

In the X District of Yanjing, Brian An greeted his colleagues with a polite smile and headed out for lunch.

It was a habit he had developed while studying abroad; no matter how busy he was, he wouldn't eat takeout, preferring to go hungry instead.

He would wait until he was finished to find a small Western restaurant that suited his taste, filling his stomach while soaking in the flowing cultural atmosphere. This wasn't basic survival; it was the life he had always pursued.

As he crossed the street, he looked at the restaurant across the way with its strong Art Nouveau style, feeling quite good.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, a car that hadn't slowed down rounded the corner and came charging toward him. He reacted quickly, dodging to the side.

Someone, in their panic, slammed hard into his back. The sudden, immense force caused him to stumble forward a few steps.

"Bang!" "Bang!" Two dull thuds rang out one after the other.

The screams of bystanders erupted.

In Brian An's final vision, the storefront—adorned with grapevines and asymmetrical iris curves—was gradually covered in blood red.

...

At Zhang's Fried Liver Shop in Shili Lane, Lin Ning suppressed his inner distaste as he took a bite of a bun followed by a spoonful of fried liver.

He was sitting with his back to the red-named gang, but since there were few people in the shop and it was relatively quiet, their conversation and movements reached his ears clearly.

Bah! Scum!

They were openly discussing things like secret recordings of 'one-night stands' and how much they had earned by posting them on foreign adult websites.

Given their behavior, the fact that they hadn't been reported or caught could only mean that the relationship between the police and the public in Officer Yang Jun's jurisdiction was mediocre.

The main thing is, can you damn well say the website name clearly? What kind of accent is that?

After finishing their meal, the group walked out, laughing and talking about going home to play ranked games together and how to get girls to buy them skins.

A few steps behind them, Lin Ning also rose to leave.

A newly developed virgin territory really has high value.

This was the third group he had followed.

With the improvement of his Psychic Power, Lin Ning could practically follow ordinary people with his eyes closed without any fear of being discovered, as he could always sense their movements in advance through his psychic tactile feedback.

There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, and the midday sun was so bright it seemed to refuse to allow a single shadow to exist in this world.

Lin Ning let the gentle breeze brush against his face and let out a long yawn, "Ahhh..."

Food coma.

He leisurely followed these five scumbags into the Meiyi Residential Area, easily watched them enter Unit 301, then continued up two more floors before heading back down.

After exiting the apartment building, he took a careful look at the building number and took out his phone to call Officer Li Feng.

These guys didn't need to be handed over to Jin Er and his group; since they had spoken so clearly, he would just report them directly.

"They were discussing criminal details in broad daylight; I'm pretty helpless too."

"Yeah, I'll send you the address first. Also, my recorder should have captured their 'confessions.' I'll send it to your email in a bit."

"Alright, don't worry. They're all just a bunch of nobodies!"

He hung up and yawned again.

Lin Ning realized he had become lazy. Back when debt was hanging over his head, he had nearly walked himself to death with eighty thousand steps a day, yet he had remained mentally excited.

Now, he just wanted to go home and sleep... and maybe 'critique' the content of that website.

Pulling himself together, he found a cafe, took out his laptop, compressed the audio from his bracelet, and sent it to Officer Li Feng.

He took a sip of coffee.

And looked out the window.

A white Corolla Hybrid slowly pulled up to the curb. A man stepped out from the back seat, and the moment he stood still, he suddenly turned his head, his gaze colliding with Lin Ning's.

Their eyes met.

The man's gaze was extremely sharp, filled with coldness and vigilance.

Lin Ning's gaze was calm, with a hint of bewilderment.

Two seconds later, the Corolla started up and drove away.

Lin Ning looked as if he were drawn to it, took a glance, then withdrew his gaze. He picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and looked back at his laptop screen.

A red name! A deep red name! It was so damn red it was turning black!