293: Chapter 293 Exposing the Mole Hidden Within the Security Bureau (Part 2)

Ye Qingcheng stepped inside, with Han Hao following closely behind.

Huang Hansheng, who had been sitting on his chair feeling restless, immediately sprang up like a coil. With a professional smile plastered on his face, he hurried toward Ye Qingcheng, extending his hand and chuckling with forced ease, "Ah, Captain Ye, you're finally back. Look at this misunderstanding; I just came over to get a handle on the situation. This young comrade here probably didn't report things clearly to you, making you have to run down here personally so late at night."

Ye Qingcheng raised her hand slightly, briefly touching Huang Hansheng's hand before letting go. A faint smile played on her lips. "It's fine, just doing my duty. Director Huang, I should apologize to you first. I should have reported tonight's operation to you beforehand; it was an oversight on my part. I hope you don't mind."

Hearing this, Huang Hansheng felt slightly more at ease, thinking he might have lucked out and passed the ordeal. His tone relaxed a bit. "Hey, we're all doing this for work. Logically, the affairs of the Special Operations Department don't need to be reported to a Deputy Director like me. It's just that a batch of weapons and equipment was mobilized tonight, and as the Director on duty, I felt I should look into it. I was also afraid of bothering you, Captain Ye, so I came over myself to take a look. I hope I didn't cause any trouble."

“Director Huang is too polite,” Ye Qingcheng responded with a smile. She gestured for Huang Hansheng to sit while she gracefully took the seat opposite him. Turning to Han Hao, she instructed, “Little Han, pour a cup of water for Director Huang.”

“Yes,” Han Hao replied, turning toward the water dispenser.

Huang Hansheng waved his hands hurriedly, appearing somewhat constrained. “Ah, no need, no need. Since Captain Ye is back, I'll just say a few words and head out.”

While he was speaking, Han Hao had already placed a cup of warm water in front of him.

Ye Qingcheng said with a smile, “Apologies, Director Huang. Conditions are limited here, so there's no good tea to serve. We'll have to use water instead.”

“Captain Ye is being too kind; water is perfectly fine,” Huang Hansheng said, picking up the cup and taking a symbolic sip.

At that moment, Ye Qingcheng shifted the topic and threw out her first question: “How did Director Huang learn about tonight's operation? I recall emphasizing to the team that tonight's operation was top secret and not to be disclosed to anyone outside.”

“Cough...” Huang Hansheng was caught off guard by Ye Qingcheng's sudden question. The water he had just sipped nearly sprayed out, and he began to cough repeatedly from choking.

Ye Qingcheng handed a pack of tissues to Huang Hansheng and said calmly, “Don't be nervous, Director Huang. It's just casual conversation, nothing more.”

Huang Hansheng took the tissues, wiped his mouth haphazardly, and forced himself to remain calm as he replied, “Cough, well, I'm the Director on duty. Xiao Liu from the Equipment Department called to report it to me.”

“Is that so? But I heard that you didn't go to the bureau at all tonight, Director Huang. Did Xiao Liu call your personal phone to report?” Ye Qingcheng's gaze began to sharpen, carrying a hint of scrutiny.

“Uh...” Huang Hansheng froze, fine beads of sweat already seeping from his back. He gave a light cough, trying to hide his internal panic. “Yes, it was a phone report. My mistake. Normally I should have been at the bureau for the night shift, but something came up at home, so I was a bit late. It's my fault.”

“Oh, I see. It's inevitable for things to come up at home; that's understandable,” Ye Qingcheng said flatly, before immediately pivoting again. “However, how did Director Huang know that the person arrested was a woman, and even know exactly that she was being held here?”

Huang Hansheng's forehead was now covered in sweat. Ye Qingcheng gave a cold smile and teased, “What's wrong, Director Huang? Are you feeling unwell?”

“Uh, no... To be honest, there's a former subordinate of mine, Xiao Chen, in the action team tonight. I gave him a call, and that's how I found out.” Huang Hansheng's voice trembled slightly.

“Oh? Then it seems the confidentiality discipline of the Modu Branch needs to be strengthened. Don't you agree, Director Huang?”

“Yes, yes, it's my fault. I'll go to the organization to submit a self-criticism tomorrow. Then, I'll have the entire staff review the confidentiality regulations thoroughly!” As Huang Hansheng spoke, he stood up and gave a forced laugh. “Captain Ye, it's getting late, I won't disturb you further. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now.”

“Wait, Director Huang, don't be in such a hurry. You haven't seen the person yet, why are you leaving already?” Ye Qingcheng also stood up.

“Captain Ye must be joking. Since it's a top-secret operation, I naturally have no right to interfere. I won't see her.” Huang Hansheng forced a smile.

“That won't do. You should see her. Perhaps you two even know each other,” Ye Qingcheng said, her hand resting lightly on Huang Hansheng's shoulder.

In truth, Ye Qingcheng didn't use much force, but with a guilty conscience, Huang Hansheng's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed. Ye Qingcheng was quick and caught him with a firm grip.

Subsequently, under Ye Qingcheng's 'support,' Huang Hansheng, though full of reluctance, had no choice but to follow her toward the confinement room where Zhang Min was being held.

Arriving at the door, the guard on duty saluted Ye Qingcheng and then opened the door for her.

At this moment, Zhang Min was sitting in the interrogation chair, her wrists and ankles shackled. When she saw who had arrived, her brow couldn't help but furrow, and her eyes stared at Huang Hansheng with vigilance.

“Sorry, I was delayed by some business on the way,” Ye Qingcheng said, flashing a smile at Zhang Min. She then pulled out a chair opposite the interrogation table and lightly patted Huang Hansheng's shoulder, gesturing for him to sit. “Director Huang, don't be shy, take a seat.”

Huang Hansheng squeezed out a forced smile and thanked Ye Qingcheng before slowly sitting down. However, his eyes involuntarily drifted toward Zhang Min as he secretly calculated how to deal with the situation at hand.

“Captain Ye, I remember telling you that I only trust you. If anyone else is present, I won't cooperate with the investigation.” Zhang Min's voice didn't sound nervous at all.

“Mhm, I understand,” Ye Qingcheng nodded. “You don't need to worry. Not a single word of what we discuss today will be leaked out.”

“And him?” Zhang Min tilted her chin toward Huang Hansheng and asked.

“Oh, let me introduce you.” Ye Qingcheng said, pointing her hand toward Huang Hansheng. “This is the Deputy Director of the Security Bureau's Modu Branch, Huang Hansheng. According to Director Huang himself, he's here to get a handle on tonight's operation. He also wanted to see who this woman is that our Special Operations Department went to such great lengths to capture tonight.” After Ye Qingcheng finished, she turned her gaze toward Huang Hansheng, a playful smile on her lips. “Director Huang, you've seen the person. What do you plan to do next?”

Huang Hansheng's face stiffened, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he forced a smile. “No, no plans. Since I've seen her, there's nothing more for me to do, so I'll be heading back.” As Huang Hansheng spoke, he braced his hands on the chair, making a move to stand. Unexpectedly, Ye Qingcheng pressed her hand onto his shoulder again, forcing him back down into the chair.

“Since Director Huang isn't saying, why don't I take a guess?” Ye Qingcheng leaned forward slightly, resting against the edge of the interrogation table. She continued, “On the way back, I had the technicians look into Director Huang's call records. An hour ago, you received an anonymous call, right?”

Huang Hansheng's heart tightened. He looked at Ye Qingcheng nervously, not daring to respond easily. Zhang Min, sitting opposite him, also looked at Ye Qingcheng curiously, waiting for her to continue.

“Director Huang, you don't need to say anything about it being a harassment or scam call.” A cold smile formed on Ye Qingcheng's lips. “The technicians have already checked. That anonymous call was from a satellite phone. Although it's hard to track, you were on the call for nearly ten minutes. You're a veteran of the Security Bureau, Director Huang; I believe you should know what those ten minutes signify.”

Huang Hansheng shrugged. He didn't believe Ye Qingcheng could actually find out who the other party was. Thus, he responded with feigned composure, “Captain Ye, isn't what you're doing a bit against the rules? Don't forget, you're just a captain on secondment. Even if the Special Operations Department was established, you're just a department head. What right do you have to investigate me?”

“Heh,” Ye Qingcheng sneered, her eyes like torches. “Director Huang, we're in the same trade; there's no need for this official jargon. Never mind that you're just a Deputy Director—even if it were the Director of the Headquarters, I'd still dare to investigate if there was a problem!”

“Hmph~” Huang Hansheng snorted coldly and said stubbornly, “Captain Ye is certainly fearless. Then why don't you tell me what you've found?”

“After finishing that anonymous call, Director Huang left home in a hurry. Afterward, you made two more calls—one to the Equipment Department and one to a member of tonight's action team.” Ye Qingcheng's tone was calm, but every word struck a vital point.

Huang Hansheng's heart sank, but he still maintained a facade of calm. “I thought Captain Ye had investigated some major clues. I've already explained those things to you.”

“Correct, you did explain them. However, you missed one detail.” Ye Qingcheng's voice suddenly dropped, her gaze piercing Huang Hansheng like a blade.

Huang Hansheng's heart trembled violently. His hand subconsciously moved toward his pocket, and his voice took on a quiver. “W-what detail?”

Ye Qingcheng smiled slightly, her gaze falling on Huang Hansheng's hand. “I had the technicians pull all the surveillance footage from the moment your vehicle left your residential complex. I found that you stopped midway to have contact with a man, and that man gave you a bag of something. I'm guessing that item is currently on your person, Director Huang?” A cold smile curled on Ye Qingcheng's lips. “Director Huang, it's already come to this. Do you think you can still walk out of here today? Will you be sensible and take it out yourself, or should I have someone search you?”

At this point, the last bit of hope Huang Hansheng had clung to vanished completely, but his mood actually relaxed instead.

Huang Hansheng slowly reached his trembling hand into his pocket. When he pulled it out, his fingers were tightly pinching a syringe filled with an unknown liquid.

Ye Qingcheng didn't say much. She snatched the syringe from Huang Hansheng's hand and asked calmly, “What is this?”

“An injection used for death row inmates. A mixed solution of barbiturates, muscle relaxants, and potassium chloride,” Huang Hansheng responded weakly.

“Who gave it to you?”

“A friend. I prepared the injection myself; it has nothing to do with my friend. He didn't know what I wanted these things for.”

“Is that so? I didn't think you were so loyal.” A sarcastic smile curled on Ye Qingcheng's lips. “What were you planning to do, bringing a death row injection to a safe house?”

Huang Hansheng opened his mouth, but his throat felt as if something was blocking it, and he didn't dare to speak. Seeing this, Ye Qingcheng's tone became even more severe: “If you won't say it, I'll say it for you. You came here to kill Zhang Min to silence her! That anonymous call was actually from someone in the Hongmen organization, wasn't it?!”

“Sigh...” Huang Hansheng's face instantly turned as pale as paper. He took a deep breath and let out a long sigh, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness. “Since you've already guessed it, why go through all this trouble? Why didn't you just arrest me when you came back?”

“At first, it was just a suspicion. After all, investigating these matters takes time. Otherwise, why do you think I bothered talking so much to you?” Ye Qingcheng pressed further. “Tell me, who was that anonymous caller? What exactly is your relationship with the Hongmen organization?”

Huang Hansheng gave a helpless, bitter smile and shook his head. “I have nothing to say. If Captain Ye wants to know something, you can go ahead and investigate it yourself.”

“Hmph~” Ye Qingcheng snorted coldly. She turned her gaze to Zhang Min, her tone questioning, “Zhang Min, I don't think I need to say more. You should know who wants to kill you to silence you, right?”

Zhang Min smiled helplessly, her eyes revealing a hint of dejection. “Who else could it be? It's either Zhang Yu or Boss Lei. Most likely Boss Lei. If it were Zhang Yu, he would never think of using such a clumsy method. Besides, he's currently wanted by your Security Bureau and can barely protect himself; he wouldn't expose his tracks so easily. So, it can only be Boss Lei.”

“Well then. Director Huang, our Security Bureau went to so much trouble and couldn't find any information related to Boss Lei. I didn't expect you to actually have a connection with him?” Ye Qingcheng's tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

“I don't know what you're talking about. I... I don't know any Boss Lei.” Huang Hansheng's face was pale, and his voice trembled even more.

“Director Huang, don't think that if you don't talk, I won't be able to find anything. Just now, your wife booked a flight to Australia for tomorrow morning. Do you think your family will be safe just because they've gone abroad? You're a Deputy Director of the branch, after all. How can you be so naive?”

“Ye Qingcheng, what do you mean? What does what I've done have to do with my family?” Huang Hansheng's emotions suddenly became agitated, his voice carrying a hint of anger.

“How could it not be related? From what I know, your son went to study in Australia after high school, right? Studying in Australia costs at least five hundred thousand a year, doesn't it? Your wife is a stay-at-home mother, right? Can your salary alone support your son's studies in Australia?” Ye Qingcheng's words were like sharp blades, slicing through Huang Hansheng's psychological defenses one by one.

“Ye Qingcheng, I can confess whatever you want to know, but leave my family out of it. My wife knows nothing; don't make things hard for her. Let her leave safely. I don't want her to know that something has happened to me!” Huang Hansheng's voice carried a hint of pleading.

“Director Huang, take my advice: having your son return to the country immediately is the wise move. Things aren't that great abroad. Without you, do you really think the two of them can establish themselves in Australia?” Ye Qingcheng's tone carried a hint of admonishment.

Huang Hansheng fell silent. He lowered his head, his hands hanging limply at his sides, not knowing how to respond for a moment.

Seeing that the timing was about right and everything that needed to be said had been said, Ye Qingcheng stepped forward, opened the door, and instructed the guard outside, “Take Director Huang to the confinement room next door. No need for handcuffs. Let him calm down by himself first.”

“Yes.” The guard responded, walked in, and supported the somewhat despondent Huang Hansheng as they walked out.

The door to the confinement room closed again, and Zhang Min, sitting in the interrogation chair, suddenly burst out laughing.