274: Chapter 274 Sweeping Away Organized Crime

The night rain in Yunzhou had just stopped.

A black bulletproof maybach sped along the waterlogged asphalt road. Its tires rolled through puddles, kicking up large sprays of water.

The lights inside the car were off. Chen Fan sat in the back row, clutching that yellowed land deed in his hand.

Su Wanqing sat beside him, holding Chen Fan's left hand with both of hers. The cabin was quiet, save for the low roar of the engine.

"Boss, No. 8 Changning Street is just ahead," Hao Yu reported from the passenger seat, turning back. "Scouts sent word that Zhao Qinglong has deployed five cement mixers there. They are preparing to pour cement into the basement."

Chen Fan didn't say a word.

In his mind, the system interface was lit up.

[Core Asset Recovery Mission in progress.]

[Obtained complete architectural blueprints of the underground casino, financial transaction records, and the list of protective umbrellas.]

Chen Fan tucked the land deed into his pocket.

"Take the data intercepted by the system and send it directly to the National Ministry of Public Security's Anti-Gang Supervision Group via the highest encryption channel," Chen Fan commanded.

Hao Yu's hands tapped away on a military-grade tablet.

The progress bar reached its end.

"Transmission complete," Hao Yu said, putting away the tablet. "The Supervision Group bypassed the Yunzhou Municipal Bureau and mobilized the Armed Police Mobile Detachment and Special Police Brigade from the neighboring province. They've already arrived."

The bulletproof car stopped two blocks away from No. 8 Changning Street.

Ahead was a cluster of abandoned factory buildings surrounded by high walls. The heavy iron gates were tightly shut.

Inside the factory, the lights were bright.

Zhao Qinglong was shirtless, a dragon tattoo draped over his shoulder. Holding a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun, he was directing his subordinates.

Five heavy cement mixers were parked in the courtyard.

Thick feed pipes ran through the ventilation vents, leading directly into the basement.

"Hurry up! Connect the pipes!" Zhao Qinglong shouted and cursed. "Beijing Chen Family has given the word—the basement must be completely sealed off before dawn! If anyone screws up, I'll have his life!"

Dozens of lackeys, shirtless and drenched in sweat, were hauling sandbags and securing the pipes.

Inside the basement was Yunzhou's largest illegal casino, with a daily turnover of tens of millions. Now, for the sake of a single word from Beijing Chen Family, Zhao Qinglong was abandoning the casino and sealing it off. The things hidden inside were enough to bring eternal damnation upon Beijing Chen Family.

The cement mixer engines roared.

The first load of cement was about to be poured.

Suddenly, the massive roar of propellers came from the sky.

Three police helicopters hovered directly over the factory. Piercing searchlight beams shot down vertically, illuminating the entire courtyard in a deathly white.

Fierce winds whipped up the dust and sand on the ground.

Zhao Qinglong looked up, his eyes stung by the intense light.

Boom!

The factory's heavy iron gates were sent flying, rammed open by two anti-riot armored vehicles.

The heavy iron doors smashed into the muddy ground, creating a large crater.

Hundreds of fully armed special police and armed police surged in like a tide, carrying riot shields and automatic rifles.

Red and blue strobe lights painted the dark night crimson.

"Drop your weapons! Put your hands behind your heads and get down!" The voice from the megaphone drowned out the engines of the cement trucks.

Countless infrared aiming dots settled on Zhao Qinglong and his dozens of lackeys.

The lackeys were scared out of their wits. Iron bars and machetes were thrown to the ground as they knelt in the mud, hands behind their heads.

Zhao Qinglong's eyes turned red. He had reigned supreme in Yunzhou for ten years and had never suffered such a blow.

He raised his double-barreled shotgun, aiming at the lead special police officer.

Before he could pull the trigger—

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

A sniper on a helicopter had fired.

The large-caliber bullet punched right through Zhao Qinglong's right wrist.

The shotgun fell to the ground. Zhao Qinglong clutched his severed wrist, screaming as he collapsed to his knees.

Four special police officers rushed forward, pinning him to the ground with riot shields, pulling his hands behind his back, and snapping on heavy-duty handcuffs.

In less than three minutes, Yunzhou's largest criminal syndicate was uprooted.

The special police took full control of the scene.

Hao Yu pushed open the car door and stepped out, following the special police into the basement.

Ten minutes later, Hao Yu walked back to the bulletproof car.

"Boss, a hidden compartment was unearthed in the deepest part of the basement," Hao Yu reported outside the window. "Inside are a dozen skeletons, along with a large number of water-damaged old ledgers and letters. Initial confirmation suggests they are all evidence of The Shen Family's massacre years ago. Beijing Chen Family was desperate to seal the basement just to cover this up."

Chen Fan lowered the car window, watching Zhao Qinglong being loaded into a police van.

"Hand over the evidence to the Supervision Group exactly as it is," Chen Fan said in a steady tone. "With such ironclad proof, I want to see how Beijing Chen Family plans to turn the tables this time."

Su Wanqing leaned against Chen Fan's shoulder.

"It's over," Su Wanqing whispered.

"It's just beginning," Chen Fan said, raising the window. "Clean everything up above. Start construction tomorrow; level this foul place to the ground."

The bulletproof car turned around and drove into the night.

That same night, a massive earthquake shook Yunzhou's officialdom. The Supervision Group followed the clues and arrested over thirty officials who had served as protective umbrellas.

Half a month later.

No. 8 Changning Street.

The abandoned factory and underground casino had been completely demolished. The site was leveled into a vast open space.

Today was the foundation-laying ceremony for the Shen Garden Public Library.

Yunzhou's top official, Mayor Zhang, arrived in person, leading the municipal party committee standing below the stage. Dozens of media cameras were aimed at the podium.

Chen Fan, dressed in a black suit, stood at the center of the stage.

Su Wanqing, in a plain-colored long dress, stood by his side.

"Today, I am building a library here," Chen Fan spoke into the microphone. "Not to make money, but to commemorate my mother, Shen Qing. This was once The Shen Family's ancestral land. From now on, this place will be open to everyone for free."

Thunderous applause erupted from below the stage.

Just as Chen Fan was about to pick up the golden shovel to turn the soil—

A commotion broke out at the back of the crowd.

Security personnel on the perimeter were forcibly pushed aside.

A dozen bodyguards in black suits cleared a path, forcing their way into the venue.

A white-haired old man walked out from among them.

The old man wore an expensive custom Tang suit and leaned on a red sandalwood cane. He walked with a limp, and the wrinkles on his face were deep.

When Mayor Zhang saw who it was, he took half a step back.

This was the current head of Beijing Chen Family, Chen Jianguo.

He was also Chen Fan's biological father.

The lenses of all the media outlets turned in unison. Flashbulbs flickered frantically.

Chen Jianguo walked to the front of the podium. He threw away his cane.

Under the gaze of hundreds of people—

This high-and-mighty capital aristocrat bent his knees.

Thud.

Chen Jianguo knelt straight down in front of Chen Fan.

He looked up, tears streaming down his old face.

"Xiao Fan! I was wrong back then! I shouldn't have abandoned you and your mother!" Chen Jianguo wailed, his voice carrying through the microphone to the entire venue. "A thousand wrongs, ten thousand wrongs, they are all my fault! I beg you to come back to the capital with me and return to your roots!"

Chen Fan stood on the stage, looking down at Chen Jianguo kneeling on the ground.

The camera flashes merged into a continuous white light.

The pressure of moral kidnapping weighed down; everyone was waiting for Chen Fan's reaction.