245: Chapter 245 The Hunt

Longwan No. 1, underground interrogation room.

The heavy, soundproof iron door closed behind Chen Fan, cutting off all sound from the outside.

The air was thick with the metallic scent of rust and blood.

Three desperate outlaws, their jackets stripped away, were tied to specialized metal chairs. Cloth was stuffed into their mouths, and they bore only a few non-lethal superficial wounds. However, their eyes were like three wild wolves trapped in a cage, staring fixedly at Chen Fan as he entered.

The man leading them had a scorpion tattooed on his neck. He struggled violently, letting out muffled, threatening growls from his throat.

Chen Haoyu followed behind Chen Fan and reported in a low voice, "Boss, the leader is 'Scorpion,' and the other two are his deputies. They're tough; conventional methods haven't worked."

Chen Fan didn't say a word.

He pulled over a chair and sat down opposite the three men, crossing his legs.

He didn't look at the three outlaws, but instead reached his hand out toward Chen Haoyu.

Chen Haoyu immediately handed over an unmarked black tablet computer.

Chen Fan took the tablet, unlocked the screen, swiped a couple of times, and then turned the screen toward the man codenamed 'Scorpion.'

A video began to play on the tablet.

The footage showed an ordinary residence in a small European town. A blonde woman was hanging laundry on the backyard lawn, while a five or six-year-old girl nearby chased a butterfly, laughing happily.

Scorpion's body froze.

The scene shifted to a man in a blue plumber's uniform appearing before the camera. He looked into the lens and calmly made an 'all set' tactical gesture.

"Your wife, Emily. Your daughter, Sophia, who just had her sixth birthday."

Chen Fan's voice rang out in the deathly silent interrogation room; it wasn't loud, but it caused Scorpion's pupils to shrink to pinpricks.

"My people are currently inspecting the sewer pipes in your backyard. Don't worry, they are very professional and won't disturb Sophia's game with the butterfly." Chen Fan's finger tapped the screen lightly, pausing the video.

"Mmph! Mmmph!" Scorpion began to struggle like a madman, making the metal chair clang loudly. The look he gave Chen Fan was filled with blood-red terror and pleading.

"Tell me, where is Xiao Ye?" Chen Fan placed the tablet on his lap. "My patience is limited. It's quite normal for a small gas leak to occasionally occur during pipe maintenance, right?"

The two outlaws beside him also stopped struggling. They looked at their leader, their faces the color of ash.

Scorpion stopped fighting.

He slumped in the chair like a puddle of mud, tears and snot mixing to soak the cloth in his mouth. He nodded desperately.

Chen Haoyu stepped forward and yanked the cloth from his mouth.

"The capital city... outskirts... private helipad..." Scorpion revealed Xiao Ye's escape plan in a hoarse voice. "He's taking the last private jet tonight... to escape back to Europe..."

Chen Fan stood up and tossed the tablet back to Chen Haoyu.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Chen Muyang's number.

"Muyang, haven't you always wanted to acquire that European company called 'Temple Capital'?"

Chen Muyang paused on the other end of the line. "Dad, that's Xiao Ye's parent company. It has deep roots. Moving against it now might..."

"Move now," Chen Fan interrupted. "I want that company wiped off the map of Europe before dawn. If you don't have enough money, draw it from the foundation."

Hanging up the phone, Chen Fan looked at Chen Haoyu.

"Notify the Shadow Guard. Level one combat readiness. Block all roads leading to the suburban airfield."

"I want to ensure he doesn't leave China's airspace."

The night was as black as ink.

On the outskirts of the capital, at a private airfield not open to the public.

Massive searchlights illuminated the runway as if it were broad daylight.

The engines of a Gulfstream G650 private jet were already warming up, letting out a massive roar.

Xiao Ye, wearing a black trench coat and carrying a leather suitcase, rushed toward the plane's boarding stairs.

Two bodyguards followed behind him, looking around warily.

"Fast! Faster!" Xiao Ye urged the pilot.

He ran up the stairs and glanced back toward the capital.

As long as he got on the plane, he would be out of China's airspace in less than three hours. By then, with the world wide open to him, he would have plenty of ways to make a comeback.

Chen Fan, just you wait! I will pay you back double for today's humiliation sooner or later!

As soon as Xiao Ye ducked into the cabin, the stairs immediately began to retract.

The plane slowly taxied toward the runway.

Just then!

Boom—!

The three-meter-high wire fence surrounding the airfield was smashed open by a heavy armored off-road vehicle, creating a massive gap!

Immediately following, over a dozen similarly modified black off-road vehicles poured through the gap like beasts of the night!

Their blinding headlights all snapped on, forming a massive perimeter that trapped the accelerating Gulfstream jet in their glare.

In the cockpit, the pilot saw the steel wall that had suddenly appeared ahead and slammed on the brakes.

The tires screeched against the ground, producing black smoke.

The nose of the plane stopped less than half a meter from the lead off-road vehicle.

The car doors opened in unison.

Dozens of Shadow Guard members in black combat gear, wielding automatic rifles, jumped out and aimed their weapons at the plane.

Inside the cabin, Xiao Ye saw this through the porthole, and the color drained completely from his face.

It was over.

The cabin door was forcibly breached from the outside with immense strength.

Two Shadow Guard members rushed in, seized the slumped Xiao Ye, and dragged him out like a dead dog.

"Let go of me! You can't touch me!"

Xiao Ye was thrown onto the cold concrete. He scrambled to his feet, straightening his disheveled collar, and shrieked hysterically.

"I have diplomatic immunity! I am a European citizen! If you dare touch me, it will be an international incident! Chen Fan can't handle that responsibility!"

The door of the lead off-road vehicle opened.

Chen Fan stepped out of the car.

Holding a kraft paper folder, he walked step by step through the blinding beams of the headlights toward the still-raving Xiao Ye.

Chen Haoyu followed beside him and asked in a low voice for instructions.

"Boss, should we dispose of him directly?"

Chen Fan did not answer.

He walked up to Xiao Ye and looked down at him.

"Chen Fan! I dare you to touch me!" Xiao Ye shouted with all his might. "My legal team will make sure you rot in prison! You're just a brute who only knows violence!"

Chen Fan finally spoke, his voice drifting slightly in the night wind.

"A brute?"

He raised the folder in his hand and tapped it lightly against Xiao Ye's face.

"I've prepared a gift for you. A gift that will let you spend the rest of your life contemplating the meaning of art."