181: Chapter 181 My money doesn't work here?

Beep, beep, beep... The busy signal on the phone was like a loud slap, striking Pei Shaoting across the face.

He held his phone, standing in the blinding sunlight, and was stunned for a full half-minute.

Uncle Liu was a powerful Deputy Mayor of Donghai City, and whenever he visited the Pei Family in the capital, he was always jovial and relaxed. Yet now, upon hearing the name "Gu Changan," he didn't even dare to show his face?

"Make me return to the capital? For training? To be a sacrificial lamb?" Pei Shaoting gritted his back teeth.

Time ticked by second by second. For a full forty minutes, Pei Shaoting stood outside that dilapidated iron gate of the Bureau of Anomalies.

The back of his custom-made white suit was already soaked with sweat, sticking to his body in an extremely uncomfortable way.

Those twenty retired special forces bodyguards were even more drenched in sweat from the heat, yet they dared not move a single step.

"Young Master, why don't we head back to the hotel first? This is too demeaning." The head bodyguard wiped his sweat and cautiously advised.

"Shut up!" Pei Shaoting kicked the tire of the SUV.

"If I leave like this today, how will I ever show my face in the capital's circles again? What kind of person could make Uncle Liu feel intimidated? I insist on seeing him today!"

Just then, footsteps echoed from within the Bureau of Anomalies building.

The gate creaked open from the inside.

Gu Changan had just finished a meeting, holding a document in his hand as he walked down the stairs. Chen Xiaobei followed behind him, carrying a thermos.

Pei Shaoting narrowed his eyes, sizing up the man before him.

A black casual jacket, a plain white shirt, no luxurious accessories; he looked just like an ordinary low-level clerk running errands.

Moreover, he looked even younger than himself, completely lacking the inscrutable Aura of a big shot.

"Are you Gu Changan?" Pei Shaoting sneered, striding forward to block Gu Changan's path.

Gu Changan stopped and glanced at him: "Who are you?"

These three words completely ignited the fire in Pei Shaoting's heart. In the capital, who didn't bow and scrape and call him Young Master Pei upon seeing him?

"Don't play dumb. My people have been waiting outside for you for forty minutes." Pei Shaoting pulled a pure black metal bank card from his inner jacket pocket, the surface inlaid with tiny diamonds.

"Slap!"

Pei Shaoting raised his hand and slammed the black card against Gu Changan's chest. The action was extremely arrogant.

The black card slid down Gu Changan's jacket and fell to the ground, emitting a crisp metallic sound upon impact.

"I don't like beating around the bush, and I don't want to make things difficult for someone just earning a fixed salary." Pei Shaoting said, hands in his pockets, chin slightly raised.

"There is fifty million in this card. As for the matter involving Wang Fugui and Li Xiaoyao, let's consider it water under the bridge. Take this money, and in the future, if you encounter any Pei Family businesses in Donghai City, just turn a blind eye. Let's part on good terms and consider ourselves friends."

Fifty million. In Pei Shaoting's view, it was enough to shatter the psychological defenses of an ordinary civil servant.

Gu Changan didn't move. He looked down at the black card on the ground, then turned to look at Chen Xiaobei behind him.

"Xiaobei, is the body camera on?"

Chen Xiaobei immediately reached out and tapped the micro-camera flashing red on his chest: "Director Gu, it's been on since he started tearing up his watch at the gate. It's currently recording in high-definition, 360-degree audio and video. The quality is 4K."

Pei Shaoting's expression changed slightly, and he frowned: "What do you mean?"

Gu Changan pointed at the card on the ground, his tone as flat as if he were commenting on the weather.

"Take a look at Article 389 of the Criminal Law. Giving property to state functionaries for the purpose of seeking improper benefits constitutes the crime of bribery."

"The amount on that black card was fifty million, right?" Gu Changan crossed his arms over his chest. "The amount is particularly huge. The circumstances are particularly serious. According to the law, it should be punished with fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years or life imprisonment, and a fine or confiscation of property."

Gu Changan looked at Pei Shaoting, his eyes devoid of even a shred of fear.

"Your actions, as well as what you just said, have already constituted the objective elements and subjective intent of the crime of bribery. The recording has been uploaded in real-time to the national government cloud for backup, kept on file as evidence."

Gu Changan took a step back, clearing the card at his feet.

"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll give you a chance. Pick up the card yourself and take it back. I'll treat what just happened as you not being in your right mind, and I won't file a case for now."

Pei Shaoting's face turned livid instantly.

In the capital, countless people queued up just to find a way to give him money. Today, he had proactively tried to throw money at someone, only to have it treated as criminal evidence, and he was even being forced to bend down to pick it up!

"Gu Changan, you are courting death." Pei Shaoting's voice dropped completely, his tone carrying undisguised murderous intent. "Do you know what kind of background the Pei Family has in the capital? Do you know what position my uncle holds? I can decide how long you can sit in that chair in Donghai City with just one phone call!"

He thought that bringing up his Family's background would make the other party hesitant.

Gu Changan didn't even change his expression. He walked over to the trash can nearby, threw in the waste document he had been holding, and clapped his hands.

"I've heard this spiel at least twenty times." Gu Changan turned around and looked directly at Pei Shaoting.

"Some of those who said such things are currently locked up on the third underground level serving as biological batteries." He pointed beneath his feet. "Some are in the northwestern desert swinging sledgehammers to build high-speed rail tunnels. Others are in prison reforming themselves."

Gu Changan paused, his tone icy.

"As a result, they are all much more sensible than you now. At least they know how many pages are in the Criminal Law."

"You're looking for death!" Pei Shaoting was completely enraged, his eyes turning red with anger.

He clenched his fists tightly and bellowed: "Get him!"

The twenty retired special forces soldiers in black suits behind him immediately drew their tactical batons, stepping forward in perfect unison.

A murderous Aura instantly enveloped the entire gate, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense and explosive.

Chen Xiaobei was startled and instinctively reached for the service weapon at his waist.

Gu Changan, however, stood where he was without moving an inch. He leisurely took his phone out of his pocket, tapped the screen a few times, and sent a message.

"Fighting?" Gu Changan looked up, gazing at Pei Shaoting with a half-smile. "Are you sure you want to play this game at the entrance of a national administrative agency?"

Pei Shaoting sneered: "With just you few security guards, even if I tore this building down today, no one would dare say a word!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a low engine roar suddenly came from the distant street.

In less than two minutes, six armored Special Police vehicles drove in simultaneously from both ends of the street.

With black bodies and bulletproof glass, the red and blue strobe lights on their roofs weren't even turned on, as they cut into the scene silently at high speed.

"Screech—" A piercing sound of brakes rang out. The six armored vehicles directly blocked Pei Shaoting's ten Cullinans in the middle, forming a perimeter.

The doors did not open. No Special Police officers got out. They just sat there quietly.

But those pitch-black firing ports, as well as the acoustic dispersal devices mounted on the roofs, had all locked onto Pei Shaoting and his bodyguards.

That silent pressure of heavy firepower belonging to the state apparatus instantly froze the formerly aggressive special forces bodyguards in their tracks.

They were holding batons, while the vehicles opposite were equipped with riot guns and live ammunition. This was not a confrontation on the same level at all.

Gu Changan put away his phone and looked at the pale-faced Pei Shaoting.

"Young Master Pei. Are you going to take your people back first, or do you want to stay here and talk with me a little longer?"